Youngkin calls raid on Trump club a ‘stunning move’ by feds —
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin called the federal raid on former President Donald Trump’s home at Mar-a-Lago a “stunning move by the DOJ and FBI” and implied it could be politically motivated. [Virginia Mercury]
Discover Occoquan coming up — The annual Discover Occoquan week of activities kicks off this Saturday, August 13. This weekend will feature the start of the Scavenger Hunt Passport Event, the naming of our Town Hall Building for the late Mamie Davis and June Randolph, and our 14th annual Duck Splash race, the proceeds of which benefit the Occoquan 501(c)(3) organization Patriots for Disabled Divers. [Press release]
Free expungement clinic to be held in Manassas — On August 20, 2022, an Expungement Clinic will be held in Manassas. This is the second expungement clinic to be held in the area. [Press release]
Tens of thousands of students in Northern Virginia go back to school — Backpack. Check. Peanut butter sandwich. Check. There is an air of excitement in Northern Virginia as roughly 73,000 students in six school districts head back to classes Wednesday. [WTOP-FM]
Ridership drops could mean less funding for Virginia transit agencies — A handful of Virginia transit agencies are projected to see a drop-off in state funding support following back-to-back years of federal and state relief due to the pandemic. [Virginia Mercury]
Nasdaq falls 1.19% as negative Micron guidance weighs down tech stocks — U.S. markets declined as chip stocks continued to struggle Tuesday, dragging down the tech market…Tuesday’s decline came as shares of chipmaker Micron fell 3.74% after the company warned that its revenue could fall short of its prior guidance, citing “macroeconomic factors and supply chain constraints. [UPI]
OmniRide to host public hearings to discuss proposed changes to routes — The regional transportation provider aims to change routes along the Interstate 66 and 95 corridors, local routes, and routes that serve disabled residents. [Press release]
Spanberger talks supply chain in Stafford — As part of U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger supply-chain tour Monday, the 7th District representative stopped by the McLane Company warehouse in Stafford County. [Fredericksburg.com]
Virginia weighs changes to ‘fuzzy’ recall system that lets judges remove local officials — Activists in Virginia are increasingly turning to the state’s court-driven recall process to try to take out their frustrations on local officials they feel have done something wrong. In Prince William County, activists have launched recall efforts against two county supervisors over their alleged connections to the data-center industry as the county considers a massive data center project.” [Virginia Mercury]
Stafford education group requests response to convocation that sent 8 to hospital — The Stafford Education Association is requesting that the school division make restitution payments to staff following Friday’s convocation event, during which 80 individuals required medical treatment due to soaring temperatures. [Fredericksburg.com]
Friends of the Occoquan Fall River Clean-Up 2022 — The Friends of the Occoquan team and mascot Sheba invite you to come out and be a River Hero at its annual Fall River clean up. [Press release]
Manassas Park cancels football season — Due to small participation numbers, Manassas Park High School will not field a football program on any level this fall. Since starting July 28, Manassas Park averaged a turnout of 11 players over the seven days it conducted a practice. [Insidenova.com]
Yesli Vega boosts national profile with CPAC appearance — Virginia Republican congressional candidate Yesli Vega, who is running against Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) in the competitive 7th District, made a foray into the national conservative spotlight Friday with a brief appearance onstage in Dallas at one of the GOP’s largest annual gatherings, the Conservative Political Action Conference. [The Washington Post]
Three new Prince William County judges sworn in — Three judges have been sworn into the local court system over the past five weeks: Katherine McCollam to Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on May 25, Robert Coleman to Circuit Court on July 15 and Abigail Miller to General District Court on July 29. Judge Robert Coleman Coleman becomes the seventh circuit court judge, following efforts by local officials to expand the number of judges because of over-crowded dockets, increasingly complex cases and a growing backlog. Coleman has already made news by granting bail to a suspected killer. [Insidenova.com]
Mandi Spina Named New Deputy Director of Prince William County Department of Development Services — The Prince William County Department of Development Services has selected Mandi Spina as its new Deputy Director. Ms. Spina has nearly 10 years of experience supporting the Department in increasingly senior roles. She previously served as Senior Human Resources and Administration Analyst. [Prince William County Government]
New medical examiner sworn in — Prince William County Circuit Court Clerk Jacqueline Smith swore in three people to positions in the county and Manassas City. Chelsea Kadak is the new medical examiner, Robert Fox to the Manassas Board of Zoning Appeals, and Samuel Snow to the Prince William County Board of Equalization. [Twitter]
A new Commanders football stadium in Virginia seemed like a sure thing last month. Today, a public-private deal to build a stadium and practice facility in the commonwealth is all but dead.
As you know, the Horner Road Commuter Lot in Woodbridge is one of the sites considered for a stadium and practice facility. Some local leaders salivated over the prospect of $24 billion in economic impact for the county, while others fear the crime and traffic a new stadium complex would bring.
This week, State Senators Jeremy McPike (D, Prince William) and Scott Surovell (D, Fairfax) said a bill to create a stadium authority is all but dead due to comments from Washington Commanders defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio on Wednesday, when he referred to the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6 as a “dust-up.”
This morning, I spoke with State Senator Bryce Reeves (R, Spotsylvania) who said politics has entered the bid to bring the NFL team to Virginia. But there’s also the economic realities, too, added Reeves.
“It is in the best interest of taxpayers, and does it make the best sense,” asked Reeves. “Dan Snyder [Commanders team owner] just purchased one of the most expensive mansions in Virginia on the Potomac River, and poeple see that and wonder if the team is doing well, why does it need taxpayer support?”
In other community news:
Torch run: The Special Olympics Torch Run passed through Prince William and Stafford counties in the past 24 hours on its way to Richmond. Torch runs are taking place June 5-10, covering 5,100 miles for 51 athletes competing this week in Orlando at the 2022 USA Games.
FBI Academy graduate: Manassas Park Police Captain Frank Winston graduated in the 282nd session of the FBI National Academy. He spent 10 weeks in Quantico, Virginia at the FBI Academy where the training focused on graduate-level academics, and physical fitness. [Manasass Park Police/Facebook]
Balls and strikes: A growing shortage of referees is impacting these recreation leagues, and the City is in need of more sports officials to referee in every sport. [Fredericksburg City Gov’t]
Extended lane closure: Drivers should expect possible delays on I-66 East due to an extended closure of the left lane between Route 29 (Lee Highway) in Gainesville and Route 29 in Centreville beginning on or about Tuesday, June 14. This section of eastbound I-66 will be reduced to three travel lanes, with the left lane (HOV lane) closed around-the-clock, for approximately six days. [VDOT]
Prince William County
May was a violent month in Prince William County when four people were shot and killed. Over the past few weeks, many people asked me, “When is the police chief going to comment on the recent violence.”
This week, he did. Police Chief Peter Newsham briefed the Board of County Supervisors on the recent crime wave, including an update on a 9-year-old girl who was struck by a stray bullet at, according to Newsham, may suffer repercussions for the rest of her life.
Read our story: Prince William crime wave update: Girl, 9, shot, to suffer ‘injuries that may last a lifetime’
Stafford County
In Stafford County, it seems like we’ve been writing about parking problems at the Historic Port of Falmouth for years. The popular swimming hole on the Rappahannock River draws thousands from around the region to its beach each summer, creating parking issues and taxing first responders who are often called to rescue people who become stranded on river rocks or go missing in the water.
Next month, out-of-towners will pay the park a $25 entrance fee. Read our story on the county Board of Supervisors’ decision to charge the fee: Non-Stafford County residents to be slapped with $25 parking fee at popular park
In other community news:
At capacity: A new report estimates that Prince William County could run out of space to meet the demand for the data center industry by 2035. [Insidenova.com]
Music on library steps: Central Rappahannock Regional Library’s 37th Annual Music on the Steps series will be presented on the front steps of Fredericksburg Branch, 1201 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg. [Central Rappahannock Regional Library]
I’ve always considered a daily news roundup post an important feature to have on PotomacLocalNews.com. Consistently producing the post on a basis is another story. Like any job, the demands of the day pull me in many different directions.
Some days, we do well by posting the stories we’ve already written, to say nothing about what others are reporting.
So, here goes another one of my attempts to share some of the local news I think is important for you to know, collected from multiple sources like other local news websites and social media.
We’ll call it Publishers Notes because, that’s what they are, notes of news rounded up by me, the publisher. Other iterations of this post have been called News & Notes, Newslinks, and Flash Cube (a nod to the prehistoric days of photography, when some cameras used disposable flash bulks to light the picture.
Here are my notes:
Flood watch: The region is under a flood watch until 3 a.m. Thursday, June 9, 2022. Strong storms and gusty winds are possible. [NWS/Twitter]
Rabid animal: There’s a rabid fox on the loose in Fairfax County, near Springfield. The animal bit a cop, who then shot and killed the rabid animal. If you or anyone you know was bitten or scratched by the animal between June 4 and 5, call the Fairfax Health Department at 703-246-2433. [Fairfax County Government]
How’s life? The Community Healthcare Coalition of Greater Prince William wants to know your opinion about living in the region. It has a survey it would like you to fill out. [Manassas Park Government / Twitter]
Equine escape: In what is the funniest press release of the day, here’s a tale of two horses that escaped their confines this morning in Stafford County. [Stafford County Sherriff’s Office/Facebook]
Reports: Commanders’ stadium would have $24 billion in economic impact; vote to be delayed
A 33-page report from the Department of Education details how state policy choices and priorities over the last decade have resulted in lower student achievement in reading and mathematics, wider achievement gaps, reduced transparency, and eroding parent confidence in the Commonwealth’s public schools. [Insidenova.com]
COVID-19 is still ‘surging’ in Prince William as county enters ‘medium’ community level
Prince William County entered the “medium” level of community transmission, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as of Thursday, May 19, and remained there this past Thursday, May 26. The metric is based on rates of community transmission as well as the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations per 1,000 residents. [Prince William Times]
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Slipping schools: A 33-page report from the Department of Education details how state policy choices and priorities over the last decade have resulted in lower student achievement in reading and mathematics, wider achievement gaps, reduced transparency, and eroding parent confidence in the Commonwealth’s public schools. [Press release]
Route 28 bypass: Design work is underway on Prince William County’s $300 million Route 28 Bypass, while Fairfax County has begun construction on its major Route 28 widening. [Insidenova.com]
New E-ZPass Express lanes proposed on Beltway: The Virginia Department of Transportation is now turning its attention to the southern end of the Capital Beltway. [FFXnow.com]
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Teacher union fight: The Prince William County School Board has once again moved the deadline for the county’s teacher’s union to present the signatures it collected in support of collective bargaining, this time saying the union has until May 4 to present its union cards for verification. [Insidenova.com]
Former Stafford County Admin gets a new job: After a tumultuous year, Wethersfield, Conn., on Monday night, chose Frederick Presley, the former Stafford County Administrator whose last day was April 22, 2022. [Hartford Currant]
Poster child: The Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) and the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) announced a Prince Willam County student a national winner in a multi-state Kids Safe Online Poster Contest.[Virignia IT Agency]
Ousted: The Democratic caucus in the Virginia House of Delegates removed former Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn as their leader Wednesday without electing a successor, creating a leadership vacuum just as they headed onto the floor for a full day of voting on almost 150 vetoes and amendments from Gov. Glenn Youngkin. [Virginia Mercury]
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