I’m excited to share that we’ve just published our sixth "Meet the Principal" post, and even more profiles are coming!
Our Manassas Local Editor, Caitlyn Meisner, is working diligently to spotlight nearly two dozen new principals who have just started their roles in Prince William County this year.
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This past week, we broke a big story and garnered international attention for our reporting.
Kelly Sienkowski’s story about the security breach at Quantico Marine Corps Base—home to the Marine Corps War College, The Basic School that makes Marine Corps Officers, the FBI Academy, where all employees receive onboarding and training, and many other high-value assets—happened because she was curious about what happened in our community.
She heard rumors, she investigated, she pressed officials for more information about why it was covered up, and she connected the dots between the attack at Quantico, other U.S. military bases, and the White House.
Many national and international news organizations have taken an interest in us and cited our work. The DoD invited us to participate in a working group at Fort Belvoir to discuss our story and what we learned. We politely declined, as we’ve already reported everything we know.
While all of this newly-acquired attention is nice, our sole interest continues to be reporting the local news for you and your family, the people who live in our communities of Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Woodbridge.
We remained focused on bringing you information about the latest restaurants, school news, adoptable pets, the landfill’s summer hours, and countless other local tidbits you won’t find anywhere else. If you value this type of information, please become a member and support our work.
If you’re a business owner or nonprofit trying to build your brand, we’ve never had more readers than we do now. Consider becoming one of a limited number of our regular newsletter sponsors and get in front of nearly 4,000 people each weekday.
Thank you.
Mom always had a knack for seeing through our schemes, didn’t she? Like most mothers, she had an uncanny ability to uncover the truth, whether it was about your mischievous adventures with your little brother, your school report card, or the wild tales spun by crazy Uncle Jim.
In the same vein, Potomac Local is committed to keeping our community informed. With 14 years of dedicated service to our community, we’ve honed our skills in uncovering local happenings, cultivating reliable sources, and delivering timely news updates.
This past week, we’ve shared stories that are enough to raise the eyebrows of any curious mother.
- This concerning incident at Quantico Marine Corps Base would earn a disapproving headshake from any mother.
- Dumfries’ extravagant over-budget splurge on its 275th-anniversary gala would surely cause an eye roll from Mom.
- Germanna’s proud moment of graduating nearly 900 students, a milestone any mother would beam with pride over.
- And the introduction of new restaurants in our area, offering exciting culinary prospects that would pique your mom’s interest.
Every day, we strive to serve our community with integrity and diligence. But we can’t do it alone. Our members play a crucial role in funding our investigative reporting and ensuring we’re there to cover the next breaking story.
This Mother’s Day, honor the woman who always sought the truth and supported your endeavors by giving her a gift that reflects those values—a membership supporting trusted, independent local news.
Consider a Potomac Local Gift Membership—an offering that not only keeps your mom informed but also supports the journalism she values, or get your own membership today!
Happy Mother’s Day,
Uriah Kiser
Founder, Owner, Publisher
Potomac Local News
That’s the question I’m often asked.
“Hey, Uriah, $54 a quarter for a membership? That’s $216 a year! I want to keep up with local news, but that’s too steep. Do you have an annual membership plan that costs less?”
The answer: Yes, we do, and we’re offering it now until Dec. 1, 2023, so hurry and become a member today. It’s the last time we’ll sell our Annual Membership plan in 2023.
It’s likely to be more expensive in 2024 (as costs on almost everything continue to rise), so lock it in now.
Stop the Paywall and take advantage of the best deal of the year. Click here to purchase an Annual Membership for $108 and save HALF.
You may also purchase a Gift Membership for a friend or loved one so they can keep connected to their community.
You’ll get access to all of our great, original community reporting. If you’re not already a member (thank you to those who are!), click here to see what you’re missing.
Limited Availability
We sell Annual Memberships four times a year. If you have wanted to become a member and get 100% access to our original local news reporting at BIG SAVINGS, act now!
Hurry! Purchase an Annual Membership for only $108 until Dec. 1, 2023. Afterward, you won’t be able to purchase an Annual Membership until we’re well into 2024.
New features on the way
Get the latest news about the local stories that affect you and your family the most; New fun and exciting things to do, new restaurants and businesses in your neighborhood, and where the new data centers are being built. Learn how you can have a voice in local government and keep the lights shining on local politicians — some of whom would rather our reporters not report what they see.
We have several new features coming in 2024 that will be exclusive for our members, including deeper dives into crime trends, new restaurants, and local entertainment news. You don’t want to miss a post.
Growing the future of local news reporting
Your membership helps pay our community reporters to bring you the original reporting of local news and information you’ve come to rely on, from what’s happening on your street to your child’s school.
Your membership helps grow the next generation of local news reporters. Many of our writers and reporters are high school and college students working to build a resume and body of work to obtain future employment. They’re getting real-world experience covering local government, which many students may never get in high school or college.
Upgrade and save
Existing Quarterly members who upgrade to an Annual Membership during our Fall Membership Sale save over $100.
Existing Quarterly Members can log in to our account by going to the Members menu at the top of the site, selecting Account from the drop-down list, clicking Subscriptions on the left side of the Account page, and then clicking Change Plan.
You can select Change Plan, upgrade to our Annual Plan, and pay only the difference. Your new renewal date will become the date you purchased your Annual plan.
As always, thank you for purchasing a plan and being a member supporting local news and our small business.
Thank you,
Uriah Kiser
Founder and Publisher
Potomac Local News
On the current trajectory, by the end of next year, the country will have lost a third of its newspapers since 2005. Discouragingly, the growth in alternative local news sources — digital and ethnic news outlets and public broadcasting — has not kept pace with what’s being lost.
As a result, most communities that lose a local newspaper do not get a replacement.
Treat your customers fairly, tell the truth
I worked at three of our area’s now-shuttered newspapers: Potomac News, Manassas Journal Messenger, and Stafford County Sun. I sold advertising and later reported the news in what became my most fun job ever.
My role as an ad sales rep, and later as a breaking news reporter, allowed me to see all facets of the community — building relationships with business owners and policymakers and putting me at the center of the breaking news that shaped the conversation in our region.
Since founding Potomac Local News in 2010, I’ve tried to carry on the traditions I learned while working in the local newspaper business in our area: Treat your customers fairly, tell the truth, and always deliver for the readers, members, and advertisers.
The future of local news
While the future of local news outlets looks bleak across the country, there are a few bright spots, such as new online-only local news outlets springing up to do their best to fill the gap. The most promising is knowing you support our efforts to bring our communities from Manassas to Fredericksburg authentically local, honest journalism, community news, and events.
Members like you help pay for our original reporting, supporting a team of young and experienced freelance journalists with a stake in our communities. The future of local news gathering is that they’re committed to asking tough questions, telling the truth, and reporting what they see.
I value your trust, so we don’t report fake news.
Your support also helps me continue our mentorship program for our reporters in high school and college, providing them with experience they may not receive otherwise.
Hurry before December 1
Our Fall Membership drive is open, and it’s the last time this year you’ll be able to get an Annual Membership for $216 $108 until Friday, December 1, 2023. Afterward, you won’t be able to buy an annual plan until we’re well into 2024.
Our members receive 100% access to our original journalism, community news, and events and know they’re supporting a small, independent online news outlet with the community’s interest at heart.
Please click here to become a member today. Already a Quarterly Member? Click here to sign in, then upgrade your existing account to an Annual Membership, and save.
Thank you,
Uriah Kiser
Potomac Local News
Founder & Publisher
Our Quarterly Membership Sale starts now! Stop the Paywall and take advantage of the best deal of the year. Click here to purchase an Annual Membership.
You may also purchase a Gift Membership for a friend or loved one so they can keep connected to their community.
Limited Availability
We sell Annual Memberships four times a year. If you have wanted to become a member and get 100% access to our original local news reporting at BIG SAVINGS, act now!
Hurry! Purchase an Annual Membership for only $108 until Dec. 1, 2023. Afterward, you won’t be able to purchase an Annual Membership until we’re well into 2024, and the price will likely increase.
New features on the way
Get the latest news about the local stories that affect you and your family the most; New fun and exciting things to do, new restaurants and businesses in your neighborhood, and where the new data centers are being built. Learn how you can have a voice in local government and keep the lights shining on local politicians — some of whom would rather our reporters not report what they see.
We have several new features coming in 2024 that will be exclusive for our members, including deeper dives into crime trends, new restaurants, and local entertainment news. You don’t want to miss a post.
Growing the future of local news reporting
Your membership helps pay our community reporters to bring you the original reporting of local news and information you’ve come to rely on, from what’s happening on your street to your child’s school.
Your membership helps grow the next generation of local news reporters. Many of our writers and reporters are high school and college students working to build a resume and body of work to obtain future employment. They’re getting real-world experience covering local government, which many students may never get in high school or college.
Upgrade and save
Existing Quarterly members who upgrade to an Annual Membership during our Fall Membership Sale save over $100.
Existing Quarterly Members can log in to our account by going to the Members menu at the top of the site, selecting Account from the drop-down list, clicking Subscriptions on the left side of the Account page, and then clicking Change Plan.
You can select Change Plan, upgrade to our Annual Plan, and pay only the difference. Your new renewal date will become the date you purchased your Annual plan.
As always, thank you for purchasing a plan and being a member supporting local news and our small business.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Uriah Kiser
Founder and Publisher
Potomac Local News
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season are upon us. I’m surprised at how fast it creeps up on us every year.
This Thanksgiving, as we do each year, will take a break for a holiday and reflect on the many blessings in our lives.
This is my 13th Thanksgiving as the founder and publisher of Potomac Local News. I’m grateful for the many people like you, our members, advertisers, and freelance writers I’ve had along the way who have helped me build this business into a product you read and trust daily.
This year, we’ve made strides with the local school divisions in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties and Manassas to bring on work-based learning students who are eager to help us write stories, post content to our website, and tell the stories of our communities. I’m proud of our student interns and of the work they’ve done.
Thank you to our members whose financial support goes to pay for the program to give these opportunities to high school and college students.
On Thanksgiving, I look forward to spending my day with my family, away from a computer screen. I hope you, too, take some time to enjoy the holiday.
We’ll see you again on Friday.
Oh, and don’t forget about the upcoming Small Business Saturday. So many mom-and-pop merchants in our community need your support to keep the lights shining.
Potomac Local News Fall Membership Sale is Friday, November 24, through Friday, December 1, 2023. You can purchase an Annual Membership for only $108 during this time.
You’ll save over $100 during this sale by purchasing an Annual Membership vs. a Quarterly Membership sold all other times of the year.
Quarterly members may upgrade to enjoy the savings.
You may also purchase a gift membership for a friend or loved one so they can keep connected to their community.
Limited availability
We sell Annual Memberships four times a year. If you have wanted to become a member and get 100% access to all of our original reporting on community meetings and local news on our website, now is the time!
New features on the way
We have several new features coming in 2024 that will be exclusive for our members, including deeper dives into crime trends in our area, new restaurants opening in our area, and local entertainment news. We are a firehouse of community information, and you don’t want to miss a post.
Trusted original reporting
Your membership helps pay our community reporters to bring you the original reporting of local news and information you’ve come to rely on us for. We’re working to bring you the local news daily, from reports from city council meetings to what new businesses are opening on my street to what’s happening in my child’s school.
Many community reporters are high school and college students working to build a resume and body of work to obtain future employment.
Stop the paywall
End the frustration of hitting the paywall when you click on a headline, become a member, and support us as we cover our communities by taking advantage of this quarterly sale by clicking here Friday, Nov. 24, through Friday, Dec. 1, 2023.
After December 1, 2023, you won’t be able to purchase an Annual Membership until we’re well into 2024.
Quarterly Members may upgrade to save!
Existing Quarterly Members can log in to our account by going to the Members menu at the top of the site, selecting Account from the drop-down list, clicking Subscriptions on the left side of the Account page, and then clicking Change Plan.
You can select Change Plan, upgrade to our Annual Plan, and pay only the difference from there. Your new renewal date will become the date you purchased your Annual plan.
As always, thank you for being a member supporting local news and our small business.
Happy Thanksgiving,
Uriah Kiser
Founder and Publisher
Potomac Local News
We’re joining our friends, family, and neighbors to mark the occasion and will take the day off. I hope you do something fun on the 4th of July, too.
Here are a few celebrations for Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Here’s a list of holiday closings.
We’ll resume our regular posting schedule when we return on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.
Please email news tips and photos. And please consider becoming a member to support local news in our communities.
Thank you,
Uriah Kiser
Founder and Publisher
Potomac Local News
