Fredericksburg Free Press â Community leaders and local officials in the Fredericksburg area are grappling with how to protect undocumented immigrants in the context of mass deportation efforts directed by President Trump and enforced by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).Â
One aspect of the presidentâs new border policy is particularly troubling to some in the Fredericksburg area â the removal of the protection of migrants at schools, churches and hospitals. Â
Spotsylvania County Public School Superintendent Clint Mitchell sent a letter to the âSCPS communityâ stating that school officials and administrators will not inquire about the immigration status of students, or their families and that confidential student information will only be disclosed to authorities âin strict compliance with state and federal laws.âÂ
A majority of the residents who spoke during Wednesdayâs public input session about Fredericksburgâs proposed Technology Overlay District acknowledged or even supported the cityâs pursuit of data centers, reports the Fredericksburg Free Press.
Rather, itâs the terms and timetable governing said pursuit that comprised most of their questions asked during a joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council.
More than one speaker noted that adjacent jurisdictions, such as Stafford County, have taken up to six months from initiating the public process to voting for a data center. By contrast, Fredericksburgâs city council first discussed a Technology Overlay District in detail on Dec. 10 and could vote on related resolutions and ordinances as early as its Feb. 25 meeting.
After 17 years as a teacher, Spotsylvania's Leslie Robinson has learned how to make her students laugh. In almost two decades, Robinson has taught every grade level from pre-school to adult high school, and currently teachers High School Family and Consumer Sciences in Spotsylvania County Public Schools. She is also a popular social media content creator, with thousands of followers and views on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Robinson said she loves bringing comedy into her classrooms, saying it helps students retain more information and also lets them find enjoyment in learning. Making the jump from the classroom to the public was a logical next step - Robinson said, âit only made sense to share that same energy and approach with fellow teachers.â Robinson honed her comedy skills in the classroom, saying, "Teenagers are the toughest audience out there," and finding the ability to both connect with them and make them laugh is akin to "surviving 'audience boot camp.'"Â
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Fire investigators are still searching for answers in two recent fires that caused significant damage in Fredericksburg and Woodbridge.
In Fredericksburg, the December 5 blaze at Eagle Village Shopping Center began in the warehouse of Play It Again Sports and quickly spread, destroying multiple businesses. Despite extensive efforts, investigators have been unable to determine the fireâs cause.
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Fredericksburg’s Winter Restaurant Week is happening now! From Friday, January 17, through Sunday, January 26, 2025, you can explore the cityâs vibrant food scene and enjoy unique dishes at participating restaurants. Itâs a perfect way to support local chefs and try something new while collecting stamps for the Restaurant Week Passport program.
Hereâs how the passport works: Pick one up at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center, participating restaurants, or print it online. Collect stamps by dining at at least five participating restaurants to qualify for prize drawings. Drop off your completed passport at the Visitor Center by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28, or mail it in.
Do you have an event you’d like to share? Submit it for free using this link: form.jotform.com/221630757468058. Simply fill out the form with your event details and share it with the community today!
The Fredericksburg City Council took a significant step toward attracting data center development on Monday, January 14, by voting unanimously to initiate amendments to the cityâs 2015 comprehensive plan, unified development ordinance (UDO), and zoning map. The proposed changes aim to establish a Technology Overlay District (TOD) that would designate roughly 250 acres in the city as a site for data centers and related uses near the Fredericksburg Nationals stadium.
Currently, the city does not have server farms like those sprouting up in surrounding jurisdictions, such as Stafford, Spotsylvania, Prince William, and King George counties. Unlike their neighbors, the city has far fewer acres of land to devote to the sprawling tech campuses.
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The University of Mary Washington (UMW) has reopened Goolrick Pool for the spring 2025 semester following a six-month, $1.5 million renovation. The upgraded facility, which first opened in 1969, now boasts modern features designed to enhance functionality and extend the life of the historic pool.
The reopening came just in time for the Eaglesâ first home varsity swim meet of the season on Saturday, Jan. 18, which was also Senior Day.
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With the swearing-in of Donald Trump as America's 47th President on Monday, considering the new administration, we asked some of the Fredericksburg area's elected representatives about their visions for 2025.
Senator Mark Warner (D) said:
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This winter, the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is rockinâ with the sounds of Elvis Presley as the high-energy bio-musical Heartbreak Hotel takes the stage.
Created by the visionary behind the Tony Award-winning Million Dollar Quartet, the production delves into the life of the King of Rock and Roll, exploring his rise to stardom and the challenges that shaped his iconic legacy.
