“Harris Teeter stores in the District will have some more requirements and limitations for customers starting Wednesday,” DC News Now reports.
The bag checks will affect customers who shop in Washington, D.C. Locally, the grocery chain has locations in Bristow, Manassas, and Woodbridge.
Prince William Parks and Recreation sponsors today’s weather forecast.
Summer Job Alert: Parks and Recreation Hiring Seasonal Workers Now! Want to earn some extra cash this summer and enjoy your job at the same time? PWC Parks and Recreation is now hiring for seasonal jobs.. Camp Counselors, Lifeguards, Cooks and more…
As a cold front sweeps through the region today, residents can expect a change in weather patterns, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service. The front is set to bring isolated to scattered rain showers, primarily along the I-95 corridor and eastern zones, with a chance of a rumble of thunder as it moves through. The highest likelihood of thunderstorms is predicted for central Maryland and much of Northeast Maryland, where the Storm Prediction Center has issued a General Risk advisory.
Temperatures are expected to vary across the region, with highs ranging from the middle 60s to lower 70s from west to east. As the front passes through, temperatures will drop, leading to cooler conditions tonight. Patchy frost could develop depending on the extent of clearing behind the front, with lows expected to range from the upper 30s to middle 40s.
Following the passage of the cold front, dry conditions will return on Thursday through Friday evening as high pressure builds into the area. Thursday will see cooler temperatures, with highs in the upper 50s and lower 60s, while Friday’s highs will remain cool, ranging from the upper 50s to lower 60s.
Overnight temperatures will be chilly, with Thursday night expected to be cooler than Friday night. However, Friday night’s lows could be higher than initially forecasted, contingent on the development and progression of a warm front advancing northeastward into the region. This warm front brings the possibility of light rain in spots Friday night.
“On Sunday afternoon, nearly 100 people gathered in a Taco Bell parking lot less than a mile from the clinic’s doors with a shared aim: taking ownership of its now-precarious future. Many carried red signs with white lettering that read: “Support the Moss Free Clinic,” as well as hand-crafted messages critical of Mary Washington Healthcare, which decided it will cease discussions with the clinic’s Board of Directors regarding funding.” reports Fredericksburg Free Press.
Free Irish Music Concert
Welcoming Spring with music from the Emerald Isle, the New Dominion Choraliers offer a FREE concert on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City.
Joined by Legacy Brass and members of Old
The 1.2-mile improvement, located in the Gainesville Magisterial District, includes not only the widening of the roadway, but also a 16-foot-wide grass median, a 10-foot-wide shared-use path and a 5-foot-wide concrete sidewalk along the south and north side of the road respectively.
Prince William County Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Weir thanked the staff and all involved in building and completing the $64-million project. “Glad you brought it in on time and under budget … congratulations,” Weir said.
Prince William County Department of Transportation Director Rick Canizales spoke of the work being done throughout the area to help move the county toward its strategic goal of easing congestion and improving mobility. “I’m very excited about this project, about another ribbon cutting here in Prince William County, another ribbon cutting here out on the west end. We just had one a few months back on the other side of this bridge… that great interchange out there. Well, this is the adjacent site,” said Canizales.
Completing the stretch of road that runs parallel to Interstate 66 will also improve commerce in the industrial area the road serves. The I-66 Express Mobility Partners contributed roughly $48 million in concessionaire funding toward the project.
“The Authority did recommend $48 million in concessionaire funds that was a part of the Transform I-66 Outside the Beltway Project,” said Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) Chief Executive Officer Monica Backmon. “We were extremely pleased to be in a position to do so. It kind of rounds out the improvements that we put on University Boulevard extension, Prince William Parkway at University and the OmniRide Western Maintenance Facility. We reduce congestion. We move people, and that has an economic impact component to it, but it also means that people are spending less time commuting so that they can do other things.”
Canizales spoke of the cooperation between NVTA and the county. “Our partnerships that we have together … make these great, regional, local and statewide improvements that we need, not only to move people within the county, but to move commerce, to move bike and ped[estrian] for better safety along the corridor,” Canizales said.
Virginia Department of Transportation Area Construction Engineer Velji Desai also spoke of the cooperation with the county. “In Northern Virginia, we have a great partnership with all the counties, including Prince William. We really enjoy working with the county,” Desai said.
Currently, the county’s transportation capital improvement program exceeds $1.3 billion and consists of various multimodal projects, from sidewalk and traffic safety projects to major interchanges and road widening projects.
Watch the BUZZ video about the event!
For more information about transportation and mobility projects in the county, visit pwcva.gov/transportation.
Prince William Parks and Recreation sponsors today’s weather forecast.
Summer Job Alert: Parks and Recreation Hiring Seasonal Workers Now! Want to earn some extra cash this summer and enjoy your job at the same time? PWC Parks and Recreation is now hiring for seasonal jobs.. Camp Counselors, Lifeguards, Cooks and more…
Residents of the Mid-Atlantic region woke up to frosty conditions early this morning, with temperatures dropping below freezing in some areas. A Frost Advisory remained in effect until 8 a.m. for central and Northeast Maryland, extending south to the Virginia Piedmont and parts of southern Maryland, while a Freeze Warning lingered until the same time for portions of the Shenandoah Valley and Potomac Highlands.
However, relief is on the way as high pressure shifts eastward throughout the day. This shift will prompt southerly winds, ushering in warmer temperatures. Expect mostly sunny skies with highs reaching the upper 60s to low 70s.
As the day progresses, a shortwave from the Great Lakes will track southeastward toward the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. While moisture is limited, a few showers are possible later tonight into early Wednesday morning. Cloud cover will increase overnight, with lows around 54°F and south winds picking up to 9 to 11 mph, gusting up to 18 mph.
Wednesday will bring a chance of showers, primarily before 8 a.m., followed by gradually clearing skies. Cloud cover will decrease throughout the day, leading to mostly sunny conditions with a high near 75°F. Winds will shift from southwest to northwest, ranging from 8 to 11 mph, potentially gusting up to 20 mph.
By Wednesday night, expect partly cloudy skies with lows dipping to around 41°F. A north wind at 7 to 9 mph will prevail.
Looking ahead, Thursday promises mostly sunny conditions with a high near 65°F. A gentle north wind of around 6 mph will provide a pleasant backdrop for outdoor activities.
Town of Occoquan Mayor E-Newsletter: Join us on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., for the dedication of the Town of Occoquan’s LOVEworks sign in River Mill Park (415 Mill Street, Occoquan), designed by artist Darby Leondra. This event is free and open to the public.
The president was joined by the Secretary of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, the AmeriCorps CEO, and members of Congress to announce $7 billion in grants through the EPA’s “Solar for All” grant competition, which provides funding to states, municipalities, and nonprofits to deliver residential solar power to 900,000 households in low-income and disadvantaged communities.
Additionally, the president announced the start of the American Climate Corps, a federal jobs initiative to hire 20,000 Americans to build clean energy and climate resiliency projects around the country. The American Climate Corps is modeled after the Civilian Conservation Corps, a workforce initiative started by then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt following the Great Depression in 1933. The Civilian Conservation Corps developed and built the Prince William Forest Park in Triangle.
“It’s fitting to be here in Prince William Forest Park … [the Civilian Conservation Corps] put Americans to work to conserve our country’s natural resources. Thousands of young Americans built this park, providing jobs, recreation, hope and healing at the time,” the president said. “We know today, we face another kind of existential threat that requires equally bold and clear action.”
Biden said the effects of climate change were wide-reaching across the globe, and that last year’s Earth Day was the hottest Earth Day on record. In announcing the “Solar for All” program, Biden said that energy costs are some of the biggest costs for low and moderate-income families. The program will save households more than $350 million in electricity costs annually – or approximately $400 per household – according to a White House statement.
“‘Solar for All’ will give us more breathing room and cleaner breathing room,” Biden said. “It’s going to also create 200,000 good paying and union jobs over the five years in communities that need it the most.”
In addressing jobs, the president said the American Climate Corps would “bring out the best in young people to do what’s best for America.” Americans can apply to join the Corps through a newly launched website, climatecorps.gov, which will feature 2,000 positions in 36 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, and are hosted by organizations specializing in clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience.
“You’ll get paid to fight climate change, learning how to install those solar panels, fight wildfires, rebuild wetlands and weatherize homes, and so much more that will protect the environment and build a clean energy economy,” Biden said.
According to a White House statement, Corps members will have access to an apprenticeship program from the North American Building Trades Unions’ nonprofit partner, TradesFutures. The statement also said 13 states have already launched statewide Climate Corps programs and will work with the American Climate Corps to provide increased opportunities and projects to combat climate change.
Derrick Anderson, a Republican congressional candidate for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, countered the president’s assertions and said his energy policies benefit other countries rather than Americans.
“Joe Biden’s energy policies are benefitting China — with our taxpayer dollars —while Americans are hurt badly. Biden is helping the same country that’s buying up land near our military installations and is sending military-aged males over our porous border,” Anderson said. “Biden should be apologizing to Virginians, not giving speeches. When I’m in Congress, I’ll do everything I can to reverse Biden’s mess.”
The president will participate in additional events this week to commemorate Earth Week and highlight his administration’s actions against climate change, according to The White House statement.
Today’s visit marks the second to Prince William County in 2024. He kicked off his campaign with Vice President Kamala Harris in January at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. President Barack Obama visited Prince William County in 2012, marking the last time a Democrat running for the White House visited the county, once regarded as a must-stop bellwether for national elections for candidates of both the Democratic and Republican parties.
Obama held a campaign rally at Richard G. Pfitzner Stadium, formerly the home of the Fredericksburg Nationals (Potomac Nationals), where he arrived via helicopter.
Editor’s note: Potomac Local News covered this story remotely and was not provided with advance notice of the president’s visit.
Kevin Sandell is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.
In a letter addressed to the Chair and the Supervisors of Prince William County, Commonwealth’s Attorney Amy Ashworth outlined her intention to withhold prosecution of certain misdemeanor charges, effective May 1, 2024, if county leaders don’t give her more employees.
According to the letter, the Prince William County Prosecutor’s Office is operating with 26 fewer positions than required. A recent time study showed the office has a deficit of seven attorneys and 19 administrative staff, Ashworth wrote.
On April 18, 2024, supervisors voted in a straw poll and decided to fund an additional four attorneys and four administrative staff for Ashworth’s office. Ashworth asked for 16 new people and asserted that the office cannot sustain its current level of service and must take steps to reduce the caseload. As it stands, Ashworth is set to receive $13 million from the county government to operate her office for the coming fiscal year, starting July 1, 2024. The figure does not include funding from Manassas and Manassas Park cities, for which Ashworth also prosecutes criminal cases.
In response to the straw poll, Ashworth wrote supervisors and listed a series of Class 1 and 2 misdemeanors to which she may no longer assign a prosecutor, including petit larceny, shoplifting, narcotic charges, underage alcohol offenses, disorderly conduct, obstruction of justice, escapes, obscenity, false identification and false report to police, destruction of property, trespassing, reckless driving (unless fatal), and all traffic and operator license misdemeanors.
The Prince William Board of County Supervisors is set to approve its entire FY 2025 budget tomorrow.
“The bottom line is that this office was not properly staffed and funded for decades as the County grew up around us,” Ashworth wrote in an email to Potomac Local. “The time study was able to finally give us a clear staffing standard across the state for all prosecutor’s offices.”
Ashworth, a Democrat, was re-elected to office in November 2023 and is in the first year of her second four-year term.
“The Commonwealth of Virginia does not fund prosecution of misdemeanor cases – only felonies. In smaller jurisdictions, it is easier for the prosecutor to just handle all the misdemeanors as well. However, other large jurisdictions do not handle all of the misdemeanors as [Prince William County] does,” Ashworth adds.
Acknowledging the impact of this decision, Ashworth emphasized the need to focus limited resources on misdemeanors deemed most critical, such as DUI, weapon offenses, and violent crime.
Ashworth’s threats to cut prosecutorial services garnered a quick response from supervisors.
“She claims her predecessor understaffed his office. I don’t recall anyone claiming Paul Ebert [Ashworth’s predecessor] didn’t prosecute enough. The question is efficiency. If Fairfax can do more with less, why can’t she?” asked Gainesville District Supervisor Bob Wier.
During a presentation earlier this month, Ashworth told the Board of County Supervisors that of her 54 office employees, 29 were prosecutors when she took over from her predecessor Paul Ebert, Virginia’s longest-serving prosecutor from 1968 until his retirement in 2019. Since that time dozens of full-time positions have been added to the Commonwealth Attorney’s office, resulting in nearly 80 employees.
“By supporting eight new positions in FY25, in addition to fulfilling the three-year staffing plan introduced by Ms. Ashworth in 2021, I am confident that this Board has provided the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney with the necessary resources to fulfill its prosecutorial duties to our residents,” said Occoquan District Supervisor Kenny Boddye. “These new positions will make our Commonwealth’s Attorney office the largest in Virginia, eclipsing even the staffing levels of Fairfax County, which serves more than two times as many residents.”
Since she took over, the Board of County Supervisors has increased funding for her office by $6.4 million and added 32 employees. This represents a cumulative percentage increase of about 93.5% over five years. All the while, Ashworth is pursuing fewer cases than her predecessor, choosing to indict 75 felonies on average per month compared to the 350-per-month average Ebert pursued.
Despite Ashworth having successfully lobbied to increase her office budget to the largest it has ever been in county history, she has the fewest average prosecutions of her predecessors. Meanwhile, the county’s murder rate has doubled, and violent crime increased by 70% since 2019.
In a letter to constituents, Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega called Ashworth’s letter a “dangerous temper tantrum” describing it as “a stain on the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office and unbecoming of an elected official.” She also questioned how a 2% increase in caseload could represent a $2 million budget request.
Both Weir and Vega pointed to neighboring Fairfax County, which cut misdemeanor prosecutions and has subsequently seen a rise in overall crime, with Vega rhetorically asking, “How has that worked out for them?”
In addition to the potential for increased crime in Prince William, the change would also increase the workload of Prince William County Police officers. In her letter, Ashworth clarified that while her office will no longer prosecute these offenses, the burden of prosecution will shift to the arresting police officer, who must handle traditional prosecutor duties such as subpoenaing witnesses, answering discovery, and presenting evidence in court.
“There will be an additional burden on the department in that we will need to train officers on how to do the legal courtroom work traditionally done by the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office,” said Prince William County Police Chief Peter Newsham. “This will also likely result in officers spending more time in court and less time in the community.”
Newsham added that there likely would be a “negative impact on conviction rates during the learning curve.” adding, “Our officers are committed, dedicated, and professional, but they are not lawyers.”
“I don’t think this board responds well to threats and Prince William County does not have an unlimited source of revenue,” Weir added when asked if Ashworth’s threats would lead to him consider changing his vote. “We’re growing the government at a level that is unsustainable given the revenues.”
The Board of County Supervisors meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at the McCoart County Government Building, 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed online.
Alan Gloss is a freelance reporter for Potomac Local News.
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Spring Ceili: An Irish Music Festival
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County and McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance invite you to join them at our Ceili, a grand celebration of Irish music and dance.
A gathering of performance groups throughout Prince William County
