Happy Thursday, everyone. Thanks for starting your day smarter with us here at Potomac Local News. Here’s what’s happening in our communities today.

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Dead heat: With a week to go, Virginia’s statewide races for governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general are tied, according to our survey of likely voters in the Nov. 2 general election.

Teacher union takeover: The Virginia Education Association took sweeping oversight of its Prince William chapter Monday night, entering into a memorandum of understanding with the Prince William Education Association’s executive board that strips the local chapter of much of its autonomy.

Flood watch: Water levels will rise in our area as a storm affects the region Friday, say the National Weather Service. A coastal flood watch will be in effect Friday morning into Saturday morning with water levels rising one to two feet higher than normal in coastal areas. 

Walkout: Dozens of Loudoun County Public School students briefly walked out of classes this week chanting “Loudoun County protects rapists,” in protest over how the schools handled sexual assault.

Fred Vets Day: Veterans Day on Thursday, November 11, kicks off in downtown Fredericksburg with a Walking Procession starting at 10 a.m. Visitors are invited to watch the procession along the Washington Avenue Mall from Memorial Park to William and Barton Street. 

Datacenter growth: Prince William officials are reviewing multiple proposals to build data centers on 2,000 acres in the Rural Crescent adjacent to the Manassas National Battlefield Park. An upcoming meeting will detail the work and the natural environment that would be lost.

Chinn turns 30: The Chinn Regional Library in Woodbridge turned 30-years-old. The community came together on Saturday, October 23, to celebrate. Chinn is one of seven “full service” libraries in Prince William County and was built in conjunction with the Chinn Aquatics and Fitness Center at 13065 Chinn Park Drive.

More days off: On Tuesday, the Stafford County School Board approved three additional holidays for all division staff and students. November 12, February 18, and April 15 will now be full days off instead of regular school days. The new holidays create four-day weekends for division staff and students.

Aging high rises: Following the collapse of a 40-year-old high-rise in Surfside, Fla., officials in Fairfax County and across the country are looking to prevent a similar tragedy. County staff has identified 202 high-rises in the area at least 25 years or older, including 100 that are 25-30 years old, 41 that are 30-35 years old, and 46 that are 40 years old or more.

ICYMI: On Monday, a Manassas City Councilman stepped down after being at the center of a federal investigation into his campaign practices and dropping his bid to keep his seat on the council.

It’s the middle of the week. Thanks for starting your day smarter with us here at Potomac Local News. Here’s what’s happening in our communities today. 

Homeless nights: Streetlight Ministries in Woodbridge is negotiating with local hotels to arrange for alternative overnight accommodations for up to 30 homeless men, women, and families seeking shelter between Nov 1-Mar 31. These rooms will also be used to provide temporary housing to those who test positive for the coronavirus, medically fragile seniors, and those waiting for admission into family shelters. 

Get printed: Prince William County residents can now schedule times for fingerprinting services through the Police Department’s website. Appointments are available now for November.

Fighting hunger: Stafford County schools are once again banding together to fight hunger for a 1oth year. The school division is accepting donations of canned food for its annual event scheduled for November 1.

Good riddance: Prince William residents are reminded they can dispose of used motor oil and oil filters as well as anti-freeze and lead-acid car batteries at the Prince William County Landfill or the Balls Ford Road Compost Facility convenience centers. They should never be placed in the regular trash or poured down a drain because doing so poses harm to the environment, humans, and animals.

Labor lags behind: Virginia’s gross domestic product, per-capita income and labor force growth have trailed the national average, based on numbers from about the past 10 years, according to a report from the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission.

Cigna deal: Cigna and Mary Washington Health Alliance have reached a multi-year agreement that ensures Cigna customers will have access to Mary Washington’s hospitals, facilities, and physician network for quality care. The new agreement is effective December 1, 2021.

Early voting up: Early voting in Prince William County for Virginia governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and House of Delegates candidates is picking up steam in the final weeks before the Nov. 2 election.

Thanks for starting your day smarter with us here at Potomac Local News. Here’s what’s happening in our communities today.

$27 million: Extending a Metrorail line to Triangle in Prince William County would cost as much as $27 billion. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation estimates that it nears completion of a study of transit options along the U.S. 1 corridor.

Halloween safety: Common injuries on Halloween are slips, trips, and falls which are four times as likely to occur on Halloween than on any other night of the year. Follow these tips to have a S.A.F.E. H.A.L.L.O.W.E.E.N.

Ghost and ghouls needed: Patriot Scuba is looking for a few good ghouls ages 14+ to help out with the haunted maze during Occoquan’s Spirits & Spirits weekend of October 29 and 30.

Silver stars: The Stafford Hospital Auxiliary has begun their annual Stars of Love campaign. With a minimum donation of $10, a silver star bearing the name of an honoree will be placed on Stafford Hospital’s holiday tree or can be picked up to display at home. Donations are made annually to recognize loved ones, new babies, children or grandchildren, parents, and those who have passed away.

Sleepless in Va.: In Virginia, about 2,574,000 adults — or 38.6% of the 20 and older population — do not get enough sleep, compared to 35.2% of adults nationwide. The share of adults reporting insufficient sleep in Virginia is the 10th highest among the 50 states.

FredNats hospitality: The Fredericksburg Nationals have promoted Ticket Sales Account Executive Ally Chism to Special Events & Hospitality Manager. FredNats Ballpark will now host many events from weddings, private dinners, retirement parties, concerts, and other stadium rentals.

Thanks for starting your day smarter with us here at Potomac Local News.

• Here’s what’s happening in our communities today. 

Stormy days: After a beautiful Sunday, today will be a bit dicier as storms are expected to move into our region after 5 p.m. They’ll linger into the overnight hours and again early Tuesday morning. 

Tanyard Hill: If you use Tanyard Hill Road in Occoquan as a cut-through to avoid traffic (you know you are), the road will be closed this week due to paving. Tanyard Hill Road/Union Street between Old Bridge Road and Commerce Street will be closed to through traffic nightly, weather permitting, Wednesday, October 27 through Friday, October 29 between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. each night for paving.

New signal: A new traffic signal is now in service at Sudley Manor Drive and Seymour Road that aims to improve safety and accessibility for pedestrians and drivers and improve operations at the intersection, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Crash victim: A fundraiser is collecting donations for the family of 19-year-old Ryan Khazmo, who was killed in a car crash in Bristow on Saturday. Khazmo was a 2020 graduate of Osbourn Park High School, where he played on the wrestling, football, and robotics teams. Khazmo was also scheduled to graduate with a degree in Maritime Welding Technology from Advanced Technology Institute in November 2021. 

Bourbon makers: Want to know what goes into making some of the best Virginia-made bourbons you’ll ever taste (Seriously, I always keep a bottle of this in my collection)? Join the Prince William Chamber of Commerce members on Thursday, October 28 at K.O. Distilling in Manassas from 5:30 – 7 p.m. for a tour of the distillery and a night of networking with fellow Young Professionals.

New Todos store: Today at 4 p.m., in your email box, Potomac Local News members will get an inside look at the new Todos Neighborhood Market opening in Woodbridge next month. Despite rising prices and a shortage of workers and supplies, the new market is the latest and largest location for the longtime independent grocer that’s grown to serve the entire community. 

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• Have a great Monday, everyone, and we’ll see you again at 4 p.m.

Good Saturday morning, here’s a quick look at what’s making news today and some events happening in our area.

• Thanks to everyone who continues to send me their events with a link to their press release already on the web or a “view as a webpage” link in their emails.
• It’s very helpful.

It’s Spall: The Manassas School Board unanimously voted on Thursday, October 21 to appoint Jill Spall to serve the remaining 14 months of former Chairman Sanford William’s term. Williams resigned on October 1 and went to California. Spall was one of seven who volunteered to fill the seat and one of only three who were interviewed for the job.

Passenger delays: Metro’s trains will continue to run on their current reduced schedule at least through October 31. As a result, OmniRide passengers who transfer to Metrorail may experience commute delays, OmniRide told its riders on Friday, October 22. 

Spooky movie night: It’s a spooky season in Occoquan as the town will show Disney’s “Hocus Pocus” at River Mill Park at 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $5 each, and those ages 12 and under get in free. Bring your lawn blankets.  

Backing the blue: After a 2-year hiatus, the Prince William Chamber of Commerce Valor Awards will return in person with a special luncheon to honor our military, both active duty and veterans. This event will take place on Wednesday, October 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Woodbridge, at 2500 Neabsco Common Place.

Thefts quadruple: Lock up your catalytic converters. A new study looks at the number of thefts per 100,000 registered automobiles. It shows Virginia ranks 35th in the country, with 25 thefts per 100k registered vehicles, and that’s up from 12 thefts per 100k which had initially been reported in May. This year alone, the number of catalytic converter thefts across the state is by 371% over 2019, with 790 thefts statewide.

Cone zone: We’ve got road work to contend with all week, from Quantico to Fredericksburg and points in between. Know where they are before you go.

Good morning. Here's a look at what's happening in our area today.

Parents rally: Lt. Governor candidate Winsome Sears will be in North Stafford on Friday, October 22, joining Rep. Rob Wittman for a rally to support parents rights when it comes to their right to be involved in their child's education in public schools. The GOP-led event will take place at Coffee Bar 1010 at the Quantico Corporate Center, from 6 to 8 p.m. This is the second appearance of a top-of-the-ticket candidate in Stafford County this week, after Glenn Younkin rallied more than 100 people outside the county government center on Tuesday.

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Good morning. Here's a look at what's happening around our area today.Good morning. Here's a look at what's happening around our area today.

Kamala Harris changes venue: It looks like Vice President Kamala Harris will visit the old Dumfries-Triangle Rescue Squad building on Graham Park Road in Dumfries on Thursday afternoon to rally for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe. Yesterday, it appeared the Vice President was going to occur with McAuliffe in the nearby Potomac Shores neighborhood. Thursday's event is slated to run from 4 to 7:30 p.m.

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Veep to Dumfries: Vice-President Kamala Harris is set to campaign for Terry McAuliffe at Potomac Shores near Dumfries on Thursday. Harris is one of the multiple people from the Biden administration to campaign with the Democrat seeking a second term as governor. Others include President Biden, who joined McAuliffe in Arlington earlier this year, and First Lady Jill Biden, who stumped for McAuliffe on October 15. Their visits come after McAuliffe said President Biden is unpopular in Virginia.

Youngkin barnstorms region: Meanwhile, Republican Glenn Youngkin will campaign today at the Stafford County Government Center at noon. The event will occur at the county's war memorial across the parking lot from the government center. Youngkin was in Manassas on Monday to stump for office at the city's GOP headquarters. Youngkin will be in Fairfax later today to make a campaign announcement.

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With Boards of Supervisors meetings in Prince William and Stafford counties this week, it's shaping up to be a busy one for us.

In Prince William, we'll be hearing more about the county's data center overlay district -- an area county officials say is ripe for more large data centers that power the web.

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