The Manassas City Council honored Police Chief Douglass Keen for serving as the cityās interim leader for over a year. The council recognized Keen for his dedication and leadership during a transition period.
During the Monday, February 10, City Council meeting, officials commended Keen for his role in ensuring the smooth operation of municipal services, overseeing key infrastructure projects, and helping secure a AAA credit rating upgrade for the city. Mayor Michelle Davis-Younger led the tribute, reading a proclamation that highlighted Keenās achievements:
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On Feb. 5, the Board formally met for the first time to discuss the intent, purpose and goals of the committee. The first mention of the committee in the new Board term was at the Jan. 28 meeting by Board member Sara Brescia.
Many of the other Board members expressed interest in forming such a committee but wanted to move quickly due to President Donald Trump's swift actions on immigration.
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The Manassas Park Governing Body has appointed Kevin Moreau to fill a vacant seat on the Governing Body (City Council) following the recent election of Alana Mensing as mayor. Moreau will serve as an interim council member untilĀ aĀ special election fills the vacancy.
During a short meeting on February 13, 2025, council members voted in favor of Moreauās appointment, with one abstention. Moreau was selected from a pool of applicants, including former council members and community leaders seeking to serve the city.
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The statement, released during the commissionās monthly meeting, seeks to reassure residents that county protections remain in place regardless of potential changes at the federal level brought on by President Trumpās executive order "Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.ā
The commissionās decision to issue the statement sparked discussion among its members, with some questioning the urgency and others supporting action. Chair Curtis Porter defended the timing, emphasizing the importance of preventing confusion and ensuring residents know their rights under county law.
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On Wednesday night, the Fredericksburg Planning Commission voted 4-3 to reject a proposed Technology Overlay District (TOD) that would have allowed data centers and technology-focused development in Celebrate Virginia South, near the Fredericksburg Nationals baseball stadium. The motion to approve the district failed by a 4-3 vote, and a second motion recommending that the City Council require Special Use Permits (SUPs) for data centers instead passed by the same margin.
The vote came after a lengthy public hearing in which residents, environmental advocates, and commissioners raised concerns about transparency, environmental impact, and infrastructure readiness.
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McDade proposed an operating budget of $1.9 billion, a 6.2% increase ā or $111.3 million ā from what PWCS received in fiscal year 2025 at $1.8 billion. According to theĀ United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of January, the national inflation rate is 3%.
āEach year, our budget is driven by the strategic priorities set forth in our long-term plan,ā McDade said in a press release about the budget. āWe are focused on investing in people, programs and initiatives that directly enhance student achievement and well-being.ā
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Although the area has already braved several winter storms in 2025, Fredericksburgās Coldest Night of the Year (CNOY) is still eight days away.Ā
On February 22, 2025, Micah Ecumenical Ministries will host its annual CNOY fundraising walk. Participants will meet at the downtown Riverfront Park at 4 p.m. to begin check-in before the walk starts at 5 p.m.
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Board Chair Suzanne Seaberg opened the discussion by acknowledging the Manassas Education Association notification that they intended to begin their campaign: "The MEA would like to initiate their collective bargaining campaign. So we can talk about that in the future, or if you have any questions now, we can try and address them. Weāre gonna have to budget more money for the attorneys. Itās gonna be a lot."
Board Member Sara Brescia questioned the necessity of the MEAās formal notification. "I donāt think they had to tell us that they were initiating a collective bargaining campaign." However, she noted that the MEA may have wanted to inform the board before making a public announcement. "They wanted to let us know before they put it on Facebook and heard it from somebody else."
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The president framed the order as a defense of women's athletics against unfair competition, stating, "Under the Trump administration, we will defend the proud tradition of female athletes, and we will not allow men to beat up, injure, and cheat our women and our girls. From now on, womenās sports will only be for women."
Merianne Jensen and her two daughters, Prince William County Public Schools students, attended the ceremony. Jensen emphasized the importance of the executive order, saying, "Being the mother of two daughters, their safety is the most important thing, and itās important they are not put in physical danger playing against a male in sports."
