Road work: Expect to see orange cones on I-95 this week between Fredericksburg and Prince William County [Press release]
Schools budget hearing: The Prince William County School Board will hold a Public Meeting on the Superintendent’s Proposed FY 2023 Budget on Monday, February 7, 2022. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m., at the Kelly Leadership Center, located at 14715 Bristow Road, Manassas, Virginia and will be open to the public. Citizens must wear face coverings. [Press release]
Historical marker: Fredericksburg on February 10 will unveil a historical panel commemorating the Walker-Grant High School demonstration that occurred in June 1950. [Press release]
Stafford’s pleas for help ignored: According to internal emails, a Stafford County administrator begged for the National Guard’s help but the request was ignored. [WRIC-TV]
Swap your SmarTrip card: Metro is upgrading their faregates systemwide and OmniRide will be upgrading fareboxes on the Express buses in the fall. [Press release]
On the reservation: Virginia State Parks announced the launch of a new online reservation site for campgrounds, cabins, yurts and picnic shelters aimed at improving the visitor experience with better maps, faster reservations and an improved loyalty program for our customers. [Press release]
New space:Â In December of 2021, House of Mercy Food Pantry and Thrift Store was graciously donated three construction projects by HomeAid, in conjunction with Merritt Construction Services. [Press release]
Congresswoman weighs in: U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton has penned a letter to the Prince William Board of County Supervisors outlining her concerns about the potential “negative impact” of allowing 2,100 acres near Manassas National Battlefield Park to be replanned for data centers. [Prince William Times]
Universities drop vax mandates: At least four universities — Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Virginia, Virginia Tech and George Mason — announced Monday they had ended their student vaccine requirements, in light of an opinion released Friday by Attorney General Jason Miyares saying they weren’t legally entitled to. [Richmond Times-Dispatch]
Gov wants an end to vax mandates for healthcare employees:Â Gov. Glenn Youngkin is requesting an exemption to a federal rule requiring many health care workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19. [Virignia Mercury]
Street expansion: The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will begin construction next week to improve the Lafayette Boulevard and Harrison Road intersection in Spotsylvania County. [Press release]
Rappahannock libraries launch new website for deaf: Central Rappahannock Regional Library has partnered with the Library of Virginia to launch the Virginia Deaf Culture Digital Library, or VA DCDL (deaflibva.org). This resource is the result of a two-year collaboration between CRRL Access Services Librarian Babak Zarin and the Library of Virginia. [Press release]
Road winding: A combined safety and paving project in Stafford County will begin this week to slightly widen shoulders and deliver a smoother travel surface on several secondary roads. [Press release]
Respect the battery:Â February 18 is Battery Day. A day to pay homage to an everyday item that humans often take for granted. [Press release]
Racial report:Â The Prince William Board of County Supervisors will soon review and discuss the report from its Racial and Social Justice Commission. [Insidenova.com]
Ideal land? Dominion Energy’s plan to build a landfill to bury coal ash at its Possum Point Power Station on Quantico Creek is already running into opposition, although one local official says the plan could lead to one of the most valuable redevelopment opportunities in the region. [Insidenova.com]
Best in biz: On Thursday, February 24, the Chamber will celebrate 12 years of Excellence in Business for Prince William, Manassas, and Manassas Park. [Press release]
Dumfries to Kings Dominion: Drivers can expect mobile work zones to remove storm debris from shoulders and median in Stafford, Spotsylvania and Caroline counties this week. [Press release]
New badges:Â Residents of Fauquier County and the cities of Fredericksburg and Harrisonburg were among the 58 new Virginia State Police (VSP) Troopers who officially graduated on Friday. [Press release]
Fewer homes sold: A total of 761 homes were sold in Prince William County in December 2021, a decrease of 8.3 percent compared to December 2020 at 830. [Press release]
New vets center: Delegate Briana Sewell has introduced House Bill 432, asking Virginia’s Department of Veteran Services to create a veterans care center in the eastern portion of Northern Virginia. [Insidenova.com]
NASA chooses Manassas students:Â A team of students from Metz Middle School was selected as one of 57 winners in an inaugural nationwide challenge designed to attract, engage and prepare future science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals. [Press release]
Prince William libraries an innovator: The Urban Libraries Council announced Prince William Public Libraries  as one of 10 Top Innovators during the 2021 Innovations Celebration held virtually on January 21. [Press release]
Whole Foods announced: Prince William County could get its first Whole Foods Market as part of a new development proposed but not yet approved for Dale City. [Prince William Times]
Free rides: Fredericksburg Regional Transit (FRED) will begin fare free service on all routes beginning Monday, February 28, 2022. FRED received grant funding through the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) through the Transit Ridership Incentive Program (TRIP). [Press release]
Fredericksburg VRE improvements: Rehabilitation of the Virginia Railway Express’ (VRE) Fredericksburg station took a step forward on January 21, 2022 when the commuter rail service’s Operations Board approved a task order for construction management services. Construction on the $5 million project is expected to begin this summer, following the selection of a construction contractor. [Press release]
New election districts:Â Stafford County Government staff have prepared four election district map proposals for the Board of Supervisor’s consideration. [Press release]
Walk-a-thon to benefit literacy:Â Walk, run, or bike to support adult literacy in our community in BEACON for Adult Literacy’s 2nd Annual Virtual Walkathon, April 10-30, 2022. [Press release]
County needs poll workers: Stafford County is looking for more poll workers to help make sure our elections are safe, secure and accessible. [Press release]
Million dollar donation: The Large Rehearsal Hall in the Hylton Performing Arts Center’s Education and Rehearsal Wing, which opened in 2019, will be named The Jacquemin Family Foundation Rehearsal Hall in their honor. [Press release/George Mason University]
Masks mixed bag: Small showdowns between Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s executive order granting parental choice over masks and the Prince William schools universal mask mandate continue to play out in county schools, with some parents pledging to keep sending their children to school maskless. [Insidenova.com]
Another data center meeting: Prince William County officials are trying to handle the hundreds of residents who want to speak at Thursday’s listening session on the proposed PW Digital Gateway. [Insidenova.com]
