Press release:

Brew Republic Bierwerks, a craft brewery known for great beer and delicious food since 2016, took home three medals at the 2024 Virginia Craft Brewers Guild’s Virginia Craft Beer Cup on Monday night.

A record 128 breweries competed in this year’s competition, including 20 new participants. Brewers submitted up to four beers each, judged in 33 different categories. This year’s competition saw a record 473 beers entered—it continues to be the largest state competition of its kind in the United States.

Brew Republic won three medals this year:
Inception Imperial Coffee Stout won a bronze medal in the strong ale category. Inception (11.6% ABV) features coffee beans infused with the previous batch of beer, then beer infused with those coffee beans, then later more coffee beans infused with this beer, for a dizzying inception.

Weizenbock won a silver medal in the German and American wheat category. Weizenbock (10.7% ABV) was brewed in collaboration with the founding brewer of Brew Republic. Born of our Hefe yeast, banana and clove dominates, closely followed by a sweet breadiness from Munich and caramel malts.
Eisbock (last year’s gold medal winner) defended its crown and won gold for the second time in the strong European lagers category. Eisbock (10.3% ABV) is a strong lager—a Dopplebock that is taken to freezing temperatures, which removes some of the water content to strengthen the beer further.

Our Eisbock will be featured at the Virginia Governor’s Mansion at an event later this year.

These three medal winners, along more than a dozen more of our delicious beers, are available on tap in the Brew Republic taproom, located in the Stonebridge shopping center in Woodbridge, Virginia. To-go formats are available as well in limited quantities. All our beer is brwered is brewed on-site, just steps from the taps that serve it.

Brew Republic also features a kitchen with a rotating selection of entrée sized and small-plate menu items, all designed and crafted by the brewery’s chef and kitchen team. The food is prepared to pair with the beer, and uses fresh and locally-sourced ingredients when available.

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At a press conference Thursday night, Derrick Anderson, the Republican candidate for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, spoke about the riots at Union Station on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, where pro-Hamas protestors defaced federal monuments and burned the U.S. flag. Anderson, an Army Green Beret, drew on his military service to underscore the gravity of the protestors’ actions and the impact on national unity.

“Hamas is coming” was scrawled in red across the face of the Columbus Monument at Union Station, alongside slogans, such as “free Gaza” and “all Zionists are bastards.” The riots coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress.

Anderson described the flag burning as a personal affront. “As someone who’s a former Green Beret who spent over 10 years in the U.S. Army, someone who did over 150 funerals in Arlington National Cemetery where I laid that flag on our service members before their family members saw them laid to rest, it hit hard to me, it hit incredibly hard,” he said. He recounted his experiences in Afghanistan, including the loss of five of his own soldiers and returning home with their flag-draped coffins for their last fight home. Anderson emphasized that the desecration of the flag at Union Station symbolized a broader disunity within the country.

Anderson criticized his opponent Eugene Vindman for remaining silent in the wake of the riots, calling for greater transparency and action from political leaders. “My opponent has been silent until a few minutes ago, but that’s a day late and a dollar short. It’s time for leaders to act and say what they mean. Transparency is important, and the folks here in the 7th Congressional District deserve transparency, they don’t need a politician that waits to see where the political headwinds blow before standing up for something” he asserted.

Vindman posted to his X account one minute before Anderson began his scheduled press conference, writing, “Violence and destruction are not peaceful protests; it’s not about left or right, it’s about right and wrong. And it was wrong when rioters stormed the Capitol on January 6, and it’s wrong when anti-Israel protesters assaulted police officers and spray-painted Hamas slogans on Washington, DC monuments. I ask my opponent to join me in calling out all forms of violence immediately.”

Violence and destruction are not peaceful protests; it’s not about left or right, it’s about right and wrong.

And it was wrong when rioters stormed the Capitol on January 6 and it’s wrong when anti-Israel protesters assault police officers and spray paint Hamas slogans on… https://t.co/LRYdVMDXQc

— Eugene Vindman (@YVindman) July 25, 2024

Condemnation of Pro-Hamas Support
The candidate also highlighted the role of foreign influence in the protests, referencing reports that Iran had been funding some of these demonstrations. “Our enemies are watching—Iran, China, Russia. In fact, we just saw reports that Iran has been funding some of these protests that are happening in Washington, D.C. and continue to happen,” he said.

Congressman Rob Wittman’s Support
Congressman Rob Wittman (R), who represented part of Prince Willliam County until redistricting in 2021, who joined Anderson at the press conference, echoed his sentiments. Wittman condemned the burning of the U.S. flag and the display of pro-Hamas and Palestinian flags, describing these actions as disrespectful and un-American. “It was disrespectful. It was disloyal to who we are as a nation. Those things can’t be allowed to occur without speaking out against those efforts,” Wittman stated.

Wittman’s district’s boundaries shifted out of Northern Virginia and further southeast, toward Virginia’s Northern Neck and Williamsburg.

First Amendment and Moral Rights
Anderson reiterated his support for the First Amendment but stressed the difference between the legal right to protest and the moral rightness of actions. “While you might have the right to do something, it doesn’t necessarily make it right. And that’s something that we’ve lost as a country,” he said.

Accountability and Prosecution
When asked about the potential for prosecutions following the riots, Anderson noted the lack of specific laws against flag desecration but highlighted other illegal activities, such as graffiti and assaults on law enforcement. He emphasized the need for accountability and consequences for breaking the law.
Call for Unity

Anderson emphasized the need for national unity and common sense throughout his remarks. He called on the residents of the 7th Congressional District to demand transparency and accountability from their leaders and to work towards a more united country. “We see hope. We see a future for our country. But it takes all of us coming together and being unified,” Anderson concluded.

Anderson faces Vindman in the November 5 General Election. Early voting for that election begins on September 20, 2024, at local voter registrar’s offices. Some of the jurisdictions included in the district include eastern Prince William County, Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George countries, and Fredericksburg city.

Prince William County

In March 2024, detectives launched an investigation into multiple sexual assaults in Woodbridge, Prince William County, involving a female victim under 18 and her acquaintance, Keith Richard Wilson, who allegedly assaulted her on several occasions, including in a commuter parking lot. Wilson, who had a supervisory role over the victim in the Civil Air Patrol, was charged with two counts of indecent liberties and turned himself in on July 22; his court date is pending, and he was released on a $25,000 unsecured bond.

Sexual Assault Investigation – On April 5 at 2:51PM, detectives began an investigation into sexual assaults that were reported to have occurred in the Woodbridge area of Prince Wiliam County in March 2024. The investigation revealed the female victim, who was under the age of 18 at the time of the offenses, was sexually assaulted by an acquaintance, identified as the accused, on more than one occasion. One incident occurred in a vehicle at the Occoquan Commuter Lot located near Gordon Blvd. and Old Bridge Rd., while a separate incident occurred in a parking lot located in the 5100 block of Dale Blvd. The victim later reported the incidents to a family member who contacted the police. The victim and accused were both members of the Civil Air Patrol at the time of the offenses where the accused had a supervisory role over the victim. Following the investigation, detectives obtained arrest warrants for the accused, identified as Keith Richard WILSON, who turned himself in to police on July 22.

Arrested on July 22:
Keith Richard WILSON, 48, of 2919 Madeira Ct. in Woodbridge
Charged with 2 counts of indecent liberties by a person in a supervisory relationship Court Date: Pending | Bond: $25,000 Unsecured

On July 22, police were called to the Longview Condominiums in Woodbridge after a Good Samaritan found a 6-year-old girl unsupervised and poorly clothed. Following the investigation, the mother, Lidia Violeta Perez, returned home and was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor; she has been released on a court summons with a pending court date.

Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor – On July 22 at 5:42AM, officers responded to the Longview Condominium complex located in the 13600 block of Lynn St. in Woodbridge (22191) to investigate a found child. The investigation revealed a Good Samaritan located the victim, a 6-year-old girl, outside unsupervised wearing insufficient clothing. While investigating the incident, the mother of the child, identified as the accused, returned home. The child was unharmed and turned over to known parties. Following the investigation, the accused, identified as Lidia Violeta PEREZ, was charged.

Charged on July 22: [No Photo Available]
Lidia Violeta PEREZ, 30, of the 13600 block of Lynn St. in Woodbridge
Charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor
Court Date: Pending | Status: Released on a Court Summons

In Prince William County, a catch-and-release style revolving justice system keeps more criminals on the street in the name of fairness.

A shooting at Manassas Mall on July 9, 2024, left two people injured, including one of five suspects in the case, underscores a more significant problem with the justice system in a much more progressive Prince William County.

At odds are those who want to reform the judicial process to make it more fair for criminals and those who wish to prosecute crime to get them off the streets for a determinate period. Caught in the middle are county residents.

Revolving Justice System and Its Implications

In a July 10 letter to her constituents, Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega, whose district borders the Manassas mall, highlighted two cases where individuals previously accused of felony offenses were released from custody and re-offended. In the mall shooting, she highlighted that 18-year-old Daevon Russell, one of the individuals involved in the gun battle that left a shooter and a bystander wounded, had been previously arrested after an August 2023 shooting for reckless handling of a gun causing permanent bodily severe injury, a felony.

Court records show Russell went to a classmate’s house and shot the cousin of the classmate, who was also inside the home, without provocation. Russell ran from the home, leaving the victim there to bleed. The victim went into cardiac arrest several times on the life flight to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where doctors were able to stop the bleeding and save his life.

Controversial Decisions and Judicial Diversion

When the case went to court, Judge Petula C. Metzer, on a recommendation from county Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth, released Russell with nothing more than a promise to appear and the stipulations that he “not consume intoxicants and have no contact with the victim.” Ashworth claimed her office argued for no bond at a previous hearing, but she could not produce the bond document to prove her claim.

There was no stipulation in Metzler’s order to not possess or carry a firearm. Russell is now accused of going to the mall armed and getting into an altercation in the food court that escalated to shots fired between the two groups.

In a separate case in her letter, Vega highlighted Arial Moya Claros, who has 11 previous charges involving alcohol and family violence over the last two years, before his arrest on July 7, 2024, for felony abduction by force and misdemeanor domestic violence assault and a second driving while intoxicated (DWI) charge.

Six months earlier, in a January 2024 case, Claros’ landlord sought a restraining order against him after the landlord claimed Claros “took the eviction process personal” and claimed Moya Claros was caught on camera attempting to damage the landlord’s vehicles. A verbal confrontation ensued, and the police responded. The landlord also claimed in his petition for a restraining order that Claros followed his pre-teen daughter home, and she had to hide and call her parents because she was scared.

Claros’ case was adjudicated in a family court diversion program in the two earlier domestic violence instances. Had he been convicted in either of the other domestic violence cases, he would be facing a Class Six felony charge for the Domestic Violence assault, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in jail.

Now, he faces only a misdemeanor assault charge because there were no convictions in the earlier cases, for which carries a much lighter potential sentence. Despite his history of violence and the escalation of violence with this same victim, Claros was released within hours of his arrest on a simple promise to appear.

Commonwealth Attorney Amy Ashworth points to Virginia law that judges only consider convictions, not pre-trial adjudications, when making bail decisions. This requirement by the code to only consider convictions and Ashworth’s focus on diversionary programs sidesteps the more intense consequences convictions provide for re-offenders.

Citing a long-standing prohibition on making statements about open cases, Ashworth said that her office “takes domestic violence cases very seriously and would never agree to a bond if [her office] believed the accused was a danger to anyone or there was a risk the accused [would abscond].” She also said that her office makes good faith recommendations to the judges regarding bail and diversion, but “the Judges unfortunately do not issue reasons for the decisions that they make.”

Diversion Programs vs. Public Safety

Diversion is a broad term referring to alternatives to prosecution that minimize an offender’s exposure to the criminal system by offering an alternative to prosecution and incarceration. These programs bank on an offender’s desire to stay out of jail, to get them on a path to not re-offend.

Diversion programs can help first-time offenders, but experts warn that overusing them for repeat offenders could weaken domestic violence prosecutions. This overuse might unintentionally support the ongoing cycle of violence that victims experience.

Elisa Castillo, director of domestic violence services at Action in Community Through Service (ACTS) in Prince William County, said, “Diversion programs have their place, but some people, for whatever reason, don’t take the chances they are given seriously and jail has to be part of the equation.”

With Ashworth’s election in 2019, county prosecutors shifted focus from a reputation of being tough on crime to a more diversionary justice system that incarcerates fewer criminals and focuses prosecutorial efforts on programs to rehabilitate criminals before they go to jail. The result is a record-low incarceration population in the county lockup and a heavier workload on the probation office.

Prince William County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Terry Fearnley said the jail population hovers around 540 and represents only the worst of the worst offenders. That number is about half of the jail’s average under former county prosecutor Paul Ebert, who retired after 50 years. Under Ebert, the jail averaged 1,000 inmates.

The jail population is not a bellwether of a healthy justice system but can indicate problems. According to Steve Austin, the county’s director of criminal justice services, referrals from the courts to his pretrial release program have risen nearly 19% during Ashworth’s tenure. Yet, recidivism rates, or the number of accused who commit additional crimes, in his programs have increased by two percentage points in the same period.

Ashworth has said that she does not maintain recidivism statistics, so we are unable to compare how many times people not involved in pre-trial supervision re-offend on her watch. In a statement to Potomac Local, Austin said he could not pinpoint why the recidivism rate in his program has increased despite increased staffing and budgeting.

Community Impact and Political Reactions

Supervisor Vega, reserve Prince William sheriff’s deputy, has been critical of Ashworth’s soft-on-crime policies for some time. She highlighted the two cases because they are “but two examples of the catch and release justice system she sees under Ashworth’s watch.” Vega said she has a unique vantage point of the justice system, previously as a patrol cop and now in her reserve capacity working in the courthouse. “I hear complaints from law enforcement officers telling me that they are dismayed how quickly people they arrest for serious crimes are back on the streets within hours of their arrest and back re-offending, and I hear from constituents that are worried about how unsafe our community has become.

Ashworth is a founding member of the Virginia Progressive Prosecutors for Justice (VPPJ), a left-leaning political activist group. VPPJ has been a leading proponent of justice reforms in Virginia that make crime less detrimental for criminals in the name of equal justice.

VPPJ has called for the state legislature to end mandatory minimum sentences and cash bail. A 2021 letter to the General Assembly argued that these reforms would make it more fair for poorer Virginians. Ashworth does not think making the accused put up collateral to leave jail will help criminals return to court, “Requiring a cash bond punishes people for being poor, and it makes bail bond companies rich,” she said.
With the largest prosecutorial team in the commonwealth, Ashworth has made headlines for prosecuting significantly fewer cases and instead focusing on diversionary efforts as an alternative to prosecution. On average, Ashworth’s predecessor, Paul Ebert, prosecuted 350 felony cases monthly. Ashworth comparatively averages to indict 75 125 felonies per month despite a massive influx in funding and personnel.

Her opponents have blamed the lack of prosecutions as the reason for the county’s alarming 70 percent increase in violent crime between 2019 and 2023. In an unsuccessful bid to unseat Ashworth in 2023, Matt Lowery held a press conference highlighting the rise in violent crime last year. “Ms. Ashworth has charted a course virtually identical to the ultra-liberal prosecutors all around us, and Prince William County residents have paid the price with their property, with their health, and even sometimes with their lives,” Lowery said.

In a 2019 interview with Potomac Local News, Ashworth stated that the fair handling of domestic violence cases was one of her top three issues when running for office. “I will assign a senior attorney to exclusively handle domestic violence so we can pay more attention to the serious domestic violence cases and sort out the minor ‘push-and-shove’ cases,” Ashworth said.

According to The National Domestic Violence Hotline, domestic abuse almost always escalates to something bigger without intervention. This escalation appears to be present in the Moya Claros case, where he is now accused of abducting his victim by force- a felony- in his current case.
Russell’s trial on the December charges is set for August 5, 2024. He remains at the Prince William Adult Detention Center with no bond after his arrest for the Manassas Mall incident. He’s scheduled for a preliminary hearing on the mall charges on September 19, 2024.

Moya Claros’ case is set for another adjudication hearing on November 19, 2024. He remains free on a promise to appear.

*This story has been corrected.

Costco Wholesale is set to expand its fuel station at Potomac Mills Circle. The current setup, which features eight fuel pumps, will be increased to twelve fueling positions. The expansion aims to improve service efficiency for the members.

The expansion request involved amending the conditions of the Special Use Permit, approved by the Board of County Supervisors on July 16, 2024. This amendment will add more fueling positions and revise the existing layout to enhance circulation within the station.

The Costco fuel station is located on the north side of Potomac Mills Circle and New Bedford Way, near the intersection of Gideon Drive and Telegraph Road.

The Prince William County Planning Commission recommended approval of the expansion on April 24, 2024. Following a staff review, the recommendation for approval was upheld.

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Prince William County recently completed a significant road project in Woodbridge to improve the region’s traffic flow and pedestrian safety. Another project now underway in Lake Ridge aims to do the same.

Summit School Road Extension

Following a groundbreaking ceremony, Lake Ridge’s Summit School Road project is now underway and marks the county’s infrastructure development. This 1.2-mile extension stretches from Kinnicutt Drive to Telegraph Road and will be transformed into a four-lane divided roadway. The project will widen Telegraph Road from Caton Hill Road to Prince William Parkway, increasing it from two to four lanes. Enhancements include a raised grass median, a five-foot sidewalk, and a ten-foot shared-use path to accommodate additional pedestrian traffic.

In addition to this project, the Horner Road Commuter Lot, already the largest in Virginia, will expand with 57 new parking spaces. County officials said this extension alleviates congestion and improves mobility along Minnieville Road.

The project, which had a $40 million budget, received $38 million from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) and $2 million from the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) for the commuter lot expansion. Kimley-Horn and Associates handled the design, initiated in December 2019, while Sagres Construction Corporation undertook the construction starting in June 2024.

Neabsco Mills Road Widening

The Neabsco Mills Road Widening Project spans the Neabsco and Woodbridge Magisterial Districts in Woodbridge. This project improved and widened Neabsco Mills Road from Smoke Court to Route 1, transforming it into a four-lane divided roadway with pedestrian facilities on both sides. The project also enhanced the intersection at Neabsco Mills and Route 1 and adjusted the road’s alignment to meet current design standards.

With a budget of $34.3 million, the project was fully funded through federal, state, regional, and local sources, including $8.9 million from NVTA 30% funding. Rinker Design Associates (RDA) began the design phase in June 2017, and Sagres Construction Corporation commenced construction in October 2022.

The improved roadway and pedestrian facilities significantly enhance access to key local sites such as Freedom High School, Northern Virginia Community College’s Woodbridge Campus, and various retail, hospitality, and residential areas.

These projects are part of Prince William County’s broader transportation capital improvement program, which exceeds $1.3 billion and includes various multimodal projects. These initiatives range from sidewalk and traffic safety projects to major interchanges and road widening, all aimed at enhancing transportation infrastructure across the county.

The projects follow the opening of a new interchange at Prince William Parkway, Dumfries, and Brentsville Roads outside Manassas.

Correction: An earlier version of this article reported that the Summitt School Road project was completed. 

On Friday, July 19, 2024, the Prince William Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the grand opening of Urban Air Adventure Park in Woodbridge. The event will occur at 4:30 p.m. at Urban Air Woodbridge, 14173 Crossing Place, Woodbridge.

Urban Air Adventure Park offers a variety of attractions for visitors of all ages. These attractions include trampolines, an indoor sky rider, a ropes course, climbing walls, and the Warrior Course. Additionally, the park features Spin Zone Bumper Cars, Laser Tag, Virtual Reality experiences, Mini-Golf, Bowling, and indoor Go-Karts. Younger visitors can enjoy the Tubes Playground and Flash Pads, while those seeking more thrill can try the Leap of Faith, Twist Tower, and Trapeze.

Urban Air Adventure Park was founded in 2011 and has since grown to become the largest adventure park operator in the world, with nearly 290 locations open and under development. The company aims to provide fun and challenging experiences for kids, helping them achieve goals they never thought possible.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony will mark the official opening of the park, which will operate Sunday to Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

A medical examiner is working to determine the cause of death of a man's body found in a pond at Northern Virignia Community College Woodbridge Campus. The body belonged to 20-year-old Osman Sesay. Police said he had not been reported missing.

We first told you about the discovery on Friday.

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Police have found what appears to be a body floating in a lake at the Woodbridge Campus of Northern Virginia Community College.

“We are awaiting additional [information] to confirm, but it is most likely a person,” said Prince William police spokeswoman Renee Carr. “There is no public safety threat and no immediate indication of foul play.”

Rescue crews were called to bring a boat to pull the object from the water.

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