Fredericksburg City Public Schools (FCPS) students and staff were honored at the Virginia General Assembly for their work on the FCPS Youth Mental Health Taskforce. The delegation, invited by State Senator Tara Durant, spent the day in Richmond serving as legislators and meeting with state officials.
The students arrived at the Virginia General Assembly Building at 9:45 a.m. January 29, 2025, where they met with Senator Durant before touring the historic Capitol. They then participated in a Q&A session with legislators, discussing the importance of youth mental health initiatives.
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Dr. Babur Lateef, Chairman At-Large of the Prince William County School Board, has entered the race for Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor, positioning himself as an education-focused candidate in a crowded Democratic primary. With years of experience overseeing Virginia’s second-largest school division, Lateef brings a track record of pushing for increased teacher pay, improved graduation rates, and infrastructure investments—all issues he hopes to prioritize at the state level.
An Education-First Platform
Lateef, an ophthalmologist and longtime public servant, has served on the Prince William County School Board since 2018. Under his leadership, teacher salaries have increased by 61%, making the county more competitive with neighboring school divisions. Additionally, the county’s graduation rate has risen to 95%, the highest in its history.
“We know the biggest impact on student performance is the quality of the teacher in the room,” Lateef said during a recent appearance on the Potomac Local News Podcast. “Our commitment to teacher pay has helped us retain top educators and improve student outcomes.”
If elected Lieutenant Governor, Lateef says he will advocate for increased state funding for public schools, citing Virginia’s historically low contribution to education compared to other states. He believes more money should be returned from Richmond to local districts to help fund essential programs, maintain school facilities, and reduce the financial burden on county governments.
“Virginia ranks 42nd and 43rd in the nation in state funding for public education,” he noted. “That means less affluent school districts are paying more for education than their counterparts in other states. We need to change that.”
A Record of Advocacy and Leadership
Lateef has championed several education reforms in Prince William County, including a cell phone ban in classrooms, expanded specialty programs, and increased career and technical education investments. He has also emphasized the importance of extracurricular activities such as robotics, debate, and academic competitions to prepare students for high-paying jobs in the future.
“We’re seeing record amounts of scholarship money awarded to our students,” he said. “That’s real money in the pockets of real families, helping kids access higher education and better opportunities.”
His leadership in one of Virginia’s most diverse counties—where the student population reflects a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds—has shaped his perspective on equity in education. He has called for the state to lift support caps on key school positions, including counselors and instructional coaches, to provide students with more resources.
Lateef Opposes Expansion of Gambling in Virginia
Babur Lateef voiced strong opposition to the expansion of gambling in Virginia, particularly the push to install skill-based gaming machines in convenience stores and grocery outlets.
Lateef criticized efforts to increase gambling accessibility, arguing that such measures do not align with the real concerns of Virginia families.
While acknowledging that casino projects, such as The Rose in Dumfries, have been approved through local referendums, Lateef drew a sharp distinction between those developments and placing gambling machines in everyday retail spaces. He called the latter “predatory gambling” and warned of the risks associated with exposing children to flashy, attention-grabbing slot machines in highly trafficked areas.
He also questioned the necessity of gambling revenue as a funding source for the state. “If your best idea for raising money is putting slot machines in convenience stores, that’s just an awful idea,” Lateef said. “We’re running surpluses in the state—our lawmakers should be working harder to come up with better solutions.”
Instead of expanding gambling, Lateef advocated for diversifying economic development strategies, pointing to the success of data centers in Prince William County as a potential model for other areas. He suggested that distributing data center projects across the state could generate significant local revenue without the social costs associated with gambling.
Statewide Impact and the Race Ahead
Lateef’s bid for Lieutenant Governor comes when education remains a hot-button issue in Virginia politics. He has argued that strengthening public schools should be a bipartisan priority and has pledged to work across party lines to secure more student funding and resources.
His campaign is also expected to focus on other economic issues, including workforce development and infrastructure improvements. Lateef has expressed support for expanding data centers across Virginia to boost local economies rather than concentrating them in just a few areas.
As he competes in a crowded field of Democratic candidates, Lateef hopes that his record in Prince William County will set him apart. With primary elections approaching, his ability to mobilize educators, parents, and voters who prioritize school funding could be a deciding factor in his campaign.
“We have a responsibility to invest in our kids,” he said. “If we do that right, we’re investing in Virginia’s future.”
As of February 3, 2025, the Democratic primary for Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor race features a competitive field of candidates, including Alex Bastani, Carl Eggleston, Ghazala Hashmi, Aaron Rouse, Victor Salgado, and Levar Stoney. Each candidate brings a unique background and policy focus, setting the stage for a dynamic contest as they vie for the party’s nomination. With education, economic growth, and healthcare emerging as key issues in the race, voters will have a range of choices in shaping Virginia’s leadership for the coming years.
Alex Bastani is an attorney and labor rights advocate known for his progressive stance on workers’ rights and economic justice. With experience in public service and community organizing, Bastani has positioned himself as a candidate focused on fighting income inequality and strengthening labor protections in Virginia.
Carl Eggleston is a longtime community leader and former Farmville town councilor with a history of public service and civic engagement. A small business owner, Eggleston has been an advocate for economic development in rural communities, emphasizing the need for investment in small businesses and infrastructure in underserved areas.
Ghazala Hashmi has served as a state senator representing Chesterfield County since 2020. She made history as Virginia’s first Muslim state senator and has been a vocal advocate for education reform, healthcare access, and reproductive rights. As chair of the Senate Education and Health Committee, she has sponsored legislation focused on expanding early childhood education and increasing funding for public schools.
Aaron Rouse is a former NFL player turned Virginia Beach city councilor and state senator. Since his election to the Senate in 2023, he has focused on social justice, criminal justice reform, and economic opportunities for underprivileged communities. Rouse, who also runs a nonprofit supporting underserved youth, has been a strong advocate for expanding access to affordable housing and creating pathways for workforce development.
Victor Salgado is a federal prosecutor and law professor who entered the race as an outsider with a focus on ethics reform and government accountability. With experience in prosecuting corruption cases, Salgado has positioned himself as a candidate dedicated to increasing transparency in state government and ensuring fair access to legal resources for all Virginians.
Levar Stoney is the former mayor of Richmond and a seasoned political leader who has championed racial equity, economic development, and education reform. Stoney, who previously served as Virginia’s Secretary of the Commonwealth, is best known for leading efforts to remove Confederate monuments and invest in Richmond’s public schools. His campaign emphasizes reducing poverty, expanding healthcare access, and ensuring economic opportunities for all Virginians.
With such diverse candidates, the Democratic primary is expected to be a highly contested race, with each hopeful offering distinct visions for Virginia’s future.
Repairs are needed across the entire structure, and park management is working diligently to complete the necessary fixes as quickly as possible.
“Most of the bracing has broken underneath, and the roof portion of the pier also has extensive damage to the pillars holding it up,” said Kenneth Ashdown, Leesylvania State Park Manager. “It is not safe for the pier to be open to the public at this time, and we hope to have this repaired as soon as possible.”
Although the fishing area is closed, the rest of the park will remain open for visitors. However, Ashdown noted that the repairs might impact the upcoming night fishing programs scheduled for March. Efforts are underway to find an alternative location for these events.
Visitors should check the park’s website for updates before planning their trips.
As a reminder, water temperatures in the Potomac River are currently around 35°F at the Little Falls Pump Station, as the National Weather Service observed. Those planning to fish or visit the river should be mindful of these cold conditions.
January 2025 has been a frigid month for the region, with temperatures significantly below normal. Overall, the average monthly temperature was 29.8°F, 4.5°F colder than usual. There were several days with low temperatures dropping below freezing, including a particularly frigid day on January 21, when the high was just 20°F, and the low dropped to 11°F, a departure of -18.4°F from normal.
Snowfall was also a significant factor, with 8.9 inches recorded for the month, further contributing to the cold conditions.
For more information about Leesylvania State Park, visit the park’s webpage.
Amid heightened immigration enforcement under President Trump’s executive orders, local communities are grappling with confusion and fear sparked by social media posts warning of ICE raids and undercover operations.
The president issued numerous Executive Orders, some of which reinforced the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws. In addition to targeted raids on known criminals across the country, the Trump administration has mobilized troops at the U.S.-Mexico border and reinstated the previous “Remain in Mexico” policy. This policy requires individuals seeking asylum to stay outside the U.S. while awaiting a decision on their applications.
These enforcement measures have sparked concern among those residing in the country illegally. Despite the Trump administration’s assurances that it is focusing on illegal immigrants with criminal convictions, certain groups have seized on the uncertainty, pushing political agendas that confuse the undocumented community, causing fear and confusion. Numerous social media posts, in both English and Spanish, warn people to avoid common locations like grocery stores and shopping centers to prevent encounters with ICE.
Meg Carroll, a retired Manassas City Police Lieutenant and current manager of the Georgetown South Community Council Foundation posted a photo online of a Jeep with standard Virginia plates leaving the Georgetown South neighborhood in Manassas. In the post, she claimed, in both English and Spanish, “I can confirm that ICE is in the area traveling in unmarked cars with all windows blacked out,” seemingly using her law enforcement background to lend credibility to her assertion that ICE officers were operating undercover in the area. Carroll did not respond to a request for comment before publication.
Aeshah Sheikh, chief of staff for Virginia Senator Saddam Azlan Salim (D-37 Fairfax), and wife of Raheel Sheikh, the current Occoquan Planning Commissioner and former Democratic Party candidate for the Coles District Board of County Supervisors, also shared an alert claiming ICE presence in Manassas. When asked what the post aimed to achieve, Sheikh did not respond to requests for clarification.
These are just two of many social media posts we reviewed—some from individuals trying to inform the community, but most contributing to unnecessary panic with exaggerated claims.
Community leaders are calling for calm.
Prince William County’s Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega expressed concern over the spread of misinformation and fear-mongering, particularly by groups and individuals claiming to represent the Hispanic community. She said in an emailed statement, “They are promoting false narratives about ‘raids’ targeting churches and schools in our county, despite there being no evidence to support these claims.”
Manassas City Councilwoman Sonia Vasquez Luna, a legal immigrant from El Salvador, shared that she had encountered similar posts urging people to avoid certain areas and warning about ICE vehicles using plate readers to identify undocumented individuals.
Vasquez Luna explained that these claims play on the fear that people in the country illegally must disclose personal information, like their birthplace and current address when registering their vehicles. Those critical of the activist groups say they manipulate these fears to push a narrative that frightens the very people they claim to help. While she understands why immigrants would have these fears, Vasquez Luna advised the public to consult immigration lawyers to better understand what immigration officials can and cannot do.
When asked if the Biden administration’s open border policies contributed to the rapid enforcement measures under Trump, Vasquez Luna refrained from placing blame solely on Biden: “All administrations are to blame for what is happening because no one has done anything to really address it.”
Vega emphasized that “immigration officials have to act within the confines of the law,” and that the rules immigration officers follow do not differ for those living in the country illegally.
The U.S. Constitution guarantees Fourth Amendment protections, ensuring that individuals are secure in their persons and property and cannot be forced to produce citizenship documents on demand. It also prohibits searches of homes without a valid warrant or exigent circumstances. The Fifth and Sixth Amendments also grant rights to refuse to answer questions from officials and to be represented by a lawyer, regardless of immigration status.
Prince William County police outlined its stance on immigration enforcement in their manual, which states that officers do not assist in civil immigration enforcement and generally are not permitted to inquire about an individual’s immigration status during routine interactions. The policy emphasizes that officers will protect victims and witnesses of crimes, irrespective of their immigration status, in an effort to encourage crime reporting.
In a series of tweets, Manassas City Police acknowledged the growing concerns prompted by social media posts, including allegations of immigration checkpoints. However, they clarified their position: “The Manassas City Police Department has not, and will not, undertake any type of immigration-related investigations. We are not authorized to enforce federal immigration laws and cannot lawfully do so.” They encouraged residents to contact the non-emergency line with any concerns, regardless of their immigration status.
Regarding protections for crime victims, Manassas Police spokesman Brett Stumpf reminded the community that Virginia law protects residents who report crimes, witness incidents, or are victims, regardless of their immigration status.
One of President Trump’s recent Executive Orders removes the designation of certain sensitive places, such as schools and houses of worship, as safe zones from immigration enforcement. This change allows for enforcement in these areas, which were previously used as refuges by individuals seeking to evade immigration authorities.
Vega, who works as a Prince William County Sheriff’s Deputy, stated, “It is possible that criminals seeking to evade the law may try to exploit our places of worship and schools.”
She also cautioned against relying on information from groups with potential political motives, saying, “These fear-mongering tactics are being used to manipulate and divide our community, not protect it. These groups prioritize personal gain and political agendas over the well-being of the people they claim to serve.”
The Laken Riley Act, signed into law last Wednesday by President Trump, expands the list of crimes that trigger mandatory detention for non-citizens arrested or charged with offenses like rape, theft, assault on a police officer, or crimes that result in injury or death. It also allows states severely impacted by the migrant crisis to sue federal officials who fail to act. This bipartisan law passed both chambers of Congress with broad support.
Activists have focused their efforts on two local congressmen, Eugene Vindman and Suhas Subramanyan, who were among the 50 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 12 in the Senate who joined Republicans in voting for the law to remove criminal immigrants.
“You know what they called Obama, right? Deporter-in-Chief,” Vasquez Luna said, alluding to the fact that former President Obama deported more than 3.1 million people to the US illegally. During Trump’s first term, he deported about 1 million. Now, in his second term, immigration officials have arrested 5,500, but Trump vows to deport “a lot more.”
The Stafford County Board of Supervisors is progressing toward finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Economic Development Authority (EDA) and the Department of Economic Development.
The draft MOU aims to clarify the roles and responsibilities of both entities in promoting economic growth and business attraction within the county. However, concerns raised by some Board members suggest that the document may need further refinement before it can be adopted.
During a work session on January 28, 2025, Liz Barber, the county’s Director of Economic Development, presented the draft MOU, highlighting the extensive process that led to its creation. The document was developed over the past year, with input from both county administration and EDA members. Its goal is to establish clear guidelines and expectations for the EDA and the Department of Economic Development, particularly regarding the administrative processes, division of duties, and collaboration between the two bodies.
The EDA has seven members who assist the Board of Supervisors in attracting and financing industry and commerce to the community.
Most recently, the EDA was instrumental in hammering out a performance agreement with Amazon Web Services for the Old Potomac Church Data Center Site. Barber explained that whenever the Board approves an incentive agreement of Supervisors, the EDA serves as the conduit for reimbursing agreed-upon fees after the project completes certain milestones. These milestones ensure the necessary capital and infrastructure improvements are made. Without the EDA, Stafford County could not offer competitive incentives to secure essential projects like the AWS data center.
It was also active in the Stafford Germanna Community College expansion by contributing $750,000 toward the newly opened Stafford location for Germanna Community College.
The MOU outlines key responsibilities, including financial procedures such as access to EDA bank accounts, passwords, and loan underwriting processes. Barber emphasized that the document was designed to provide stability and consistency, ensuring that regardless of staff changes or leadership transitions, the roles and responsibilities of both entities remain clear. As Barber explained in a recent communication, the lack of an MOU to date has created challenges, and this new document will formalize existing operational guidelines that both entities have been following informally.
“There is no MOU in place to date, prompting the need and interest in having one to go forward,” Barber said. “The interest in generating this document is likely driven by the desire to create consistency, which will alleviate confusion as new staff, elected officials, and EDA members come and go through the years.”
However, Board members voiced concerns over the document’s alignment with the county’s strategic goals. Supervisor Pamela Yeung, for instance, questioned whether the MOU sufficiently reflects the county’s vision for economic development, especially in light of the upcoming strategic plan being developed. Yeung noted that the EDA’s strategic plan is waiting to be updated, and she expressed reluctance to move forward with the MOU until there is more clarity about how both entities’ strategic goals will align.
“I just feel that when reading through it, I saw a reference to staff, and I wasn’t sure who the staff was. Was it the county staff, the ED staff, or county administration staff?” Yeung remarked. “Without the strategic plan, it’s hard for me to support this right now.”
Another concern some members, including Supervisor Darrell English, raised was the need for a more robust, long-term strategy to guide the county’s economic development efforts. While the MOU establishes basic administrative procedures, questions remain about the direction of business incentives, the role of the EDA in site development, and how both entities can work together to attract the types of businesses that align with Stafford’s growth goals.
“I feel like we need more than just administrative guidelines,” English said. “We need something that will help define the county’s approach to business development and create clear goals for the EDA.”
Barber responded by explaining that the MOU was intended to be an “evergreen” document capable of evolving with the county’s strategic goals. She emphasized that the Economic Development Department has been working closely with the EDA to ensure that both entities are aligned. However, further changes could be made as the county’s strategic plan is finalized.
Despite the concerns, Barber expressed confidence that the MOU, once approved, will provide a clear framework for the future. “This is about creating guardrails for us to work together effectively,” she explained. “It’s important that we move forward with a solid foundation, even as we continue to refine our goals.”
In the coming weeks, the Board will continue to discuss the MOU’s details and ensure they align with the county’s strategic goals and the evolving role of the EDA. Supervisors also emphasized the importance of revisiting the MOU regularly to adapt to changing economic conditions and ensure the county’s economic development efforts remain dynamic and effective.
The Virginia House of Delegates Subcommittee of the Cities, Counties, and Towns Committee rejected a bill that sought to regulate the siting of data centers near schools, parks, and residential areas. Delegate Ian Lovejoy (R-22, Prince William County) presented HB1984, which would have required local government approval for data center developments only if they were located at least a quarter mile away from such properties. The subcommittee voted 8-0 to “lay the bill on the table,” effectively killing it.
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In a recognition at the school board meeting, Healy was lauded for her commitment to students, families, and educators. Throughout her tenure, Healy has served alongside 33 board members and held leadership roles, including seven years as chair and one year as vice chair. Her guidance has been instrumental in navigating the board through significant growth, challenges, and transformations within the school system.
"Mrs. Healy’s wisdom and dedication have ensured that our decisions remain student-centered and focused on our future," said school board chair Maureen Siegmund. Healy’s legacy includes the opening of one-third of the county’s schools during her tenure, as well as overseeing renovations and rebuilds across the district. She will continue to serve through the current term, which concludes in 2028, marking an unprecedented 28 years of service.
