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Potomac Local News

Potomac Local News

by Uriah Kiser

Manassas School Board Chaos: Member Sues Over Illegal Secret Vote

Chaos inside Manassas City Public Schools has nothing to do with educating children and everything to do with politics. School board member Sarah Brescia has filed a lawsuit claiming a majority of the board conducted an illegal electronic and telephonic vote outside public view, in clear violation of Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act. Support Potomac Local News Become a Member → https://potomaclocal.memberful.com/join Brescia filed a petition for a writ of mandamus on August 11 in Prince William County General District Court. She alleges board chair Jill Spall and member Diana Brown, among others, directed Superintendent Dr. Kevin Newman to launch a full investigation into her using outside counsel after Brown emailed complaints tied to a TikTok video posted by school employee Michael Gramajo. Gramajo is the partner of 2026 school board candidate Marcus Still. Brescia says the interactions cited were either false, distorted, or occurred in her private capacity — not during official board business. A prior Manassas City Police internal investigation into related claims against Brescia was found unfounded. At the August 11 school board meeting, Brescia laid out the entire sequence. No other board members addressed it. The division’s only response so far has been a generic statement about focusing on the start of the school year. The case is scheduled for hearing Tuesday, August 18 at 11 a.m. in Prince William County General District Court on Lee Avenue. Meanwhile, Diana Brown has begun soliciting donations despite not being up for election until 2028. Manassas City Public Schools remains one of Virginia’s lowest-performing divisions on SOL scores, yet board energy is being consumed by this internal political fight rather than student outcomes. Uriah Kiser breaks down the timeline, the FOIA issues, the political connections, and why this story matters for Northern Virginia families who expect their school board to put kids first. Like, comment, and subscribe so you never miss local accountability reporting. Turn on notifications. Download the podcast wherever you get your shows, and sign up for the free daily newsletter at potomaclocal.com. Follow Potomac Local News: • YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@PotomacLocal • X → https://x.com/PotomacLocal • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/PotomacLocal • TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thepotomaclocal

Ebony Lofton on Dumfries Town Council Race & Rose Gaming Impact

Ebony Lofton is running for Dumfries Town Council and she’s not mincing words about how Rose Gaming revenue, empty buildings, and everyday quality of life should shape the town’s future. In this Potomac Local News podcast conversation, host Uriah Kiser sits down with the longtime Dumfries resident, former PRTC bus driver, banking professional, and Economic Development Authority treasurer. Lofton walks through her background in the 1.7-square-mile town, her previous campaigns, and why she’s jumping back into the race focused on accountability, transparency, and putting residents first. She details her early opposition to the Rose Gaming Resort through the “No Dice for Dumfries” effort, the environmental questions around the landfill site, and how the sudden influx of gaming tax dollars has transformed the town budget while raising questions about priorities. Lofton points to repeated council pay raises, the $1.2 million ARPA purchase of the old rescue squad building (once used as a campaign backdrop), and the lack of meaningful progress on a community center that residents can actually use today. The conversation turns to practical needs: better grocery and retail options beyond gas stations, vape shops, and fast food; using tools like C-PACE; supporting local entrepreneurs; and treating Dumfries residents like VIPs instead of afterthoughts at big events. Lofton also talks about door-knocking year-round, holding regular town halls, listening more than speaking, and serving as a bridge builder across political lines in a race where seats are officially independent. Whether you live in Dumfries, Prince William County, or follow Northern Virginia local government, this interview gives a clear look at one candidate’s vision for the town’s next chapter. Support Potomac Local News Become a Member → https://potomaclocal.memberful.com/join Like this video, leave a comment with your thoughts on Dumfries priorities, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss local coverage. Download the podcast wherever you listen. Follow Potomac Local News: • YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@PotomacLocal • X → https://x.com/PotomacLocal • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/PotomacLocal • TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thepotomaclocal

New Reporter for Stafford & Prince William Supervisors Joins Potomac Local

Potomac Local is expanding its coverage of the boards that set your tax rates, fund your schools, and decide the future of data centers across Northern Virginia. Meet Emilie McGinnis, the new reporter who will cover both the Prince William Board of County Supervisors and the Stafford County Board of Supervisors starting September 7. In this episode of the Potomac Local News Podcast, host Uriah Kiser sits down with Emilie for an introduction to the audience. A senior at Colgan High School who has lived in Prince William County her entire life, Emilie joined Potomac Local as an intern earlier this year. She has already contributed to reporting, including the story on Manassas School Board candidate Marina Dove and the candidate’s public calls to return religion to public schools. Emilie discusses her interest in how local policy shapes everyday lives, her work pulling meeting transcripts and turning them into stories, and her plans to compare the very different governments and priorities of Prince William and Stafford. Uriah and Emilie dig into the structural differences between the two counties—Prince William’s county-executive model versus Stafford’s elected constitutional officers—and preview the big issues ahead: data centers, school funding formulas, and the significant tax increase that took effect in Stafford on July 1. Emilie shares why local government reporting matters to her, her first experiences with AI-assisted workflows, and her longer-term goal of becoming an international human rights lawyer. This is the start of deeper, consistent coverage of the two boards that most directly affect residents in the Potomac Local footprint. Emilie will be on the podcast regularly to break down what the supervisors are deciding and why it matters to people who live here. Support Potomac Local News Become a Member → https://potomaclocal.memberful.com/join Like this video, leave a comment with questions for Emilie or story tips from your neighborhood, and subscribe so you never miss new episodes. Turn on notifications to stay current on Stafford, Prince William, and Northern Virginia government news. Follow Potomac Local News: • YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@PotomacLocal • X → https://x.com/PotomacLocal • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/PotomacLocal • TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thepotomaclocal

Low Turnout, High Stakes: Virginia’s Delayed Primaries Explained

Virginia just wrapped an unusually late primary season, and the results are in. Retired Army Maj. Gen. Bert Mizusawa locked up the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate with about 51.5 percent. In the 7th District, Doug Ollivant dominated with roughly 57 percent. In the 10th, Dave Beckwith ran the table near 72 percent. Low turnout, delayed voting, and big questions about voter fatigue now hang over every race heading into November. On this episode of the Potomac Local News Podcast, Uriah Kiser sits down with regional editor Kelly Sienkowski to break down the numbers across Stafford, Prince William, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and beyond. They dig into why an August primary after a failed redistricting attempt produced such sparse turnout—roughly 237,000 votes statewide in the Senate race out of more than six million registered voters. They examine how military backgrounds dominated the winning tickets, why anti-Trump messaging fell flat in the 8th District Democratic primary that Don Beyer easily held, and whether the purple 7th District continues its slow conservative drift. Kelly interviewed multiple candidates ahead of the vote and shares what she heard on the ground. The conversation also turns to the issue that refuses to leave Northern Virginia politics: data centers. With roughly 600 already online or planned, power bills, water use, and land pressures are uniting voters across party lines. The State Corporation Commission is pressing Dominion for more answers this fall, and candidates staked out very different positions on moratoriums versus local control versus on-site generation. Source: https://www.potomaclocal.com/2026/08/05/ollivant-wins-gop-nod-in-competitive-7th-district-beckwith-advances-in-10th-as-mizusawa-to-face-warner/ Support Potomac Local News Become a Member → https://potomaclocal.memberful.com/join Whether you live in Woodbridge, Stafford, Culpeper, or Loudoun, these results set the November matchups that will shape representation for Northern Virginia and the rest of the Commonwealth. Watch the full breakdown, then let us know in the comments what issues you want candidates forced to address before Election Day. Like this video, subscribe for more independent local coverage, and turn on notifications so you never miss an update from the region. Follow Potomac Local News: • YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@PotomacLocal • X → https://x.com/PotomacLocal • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/PotomacLocal • TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thepotomaclocal Free daily email newsletter: potomaclocal.com

Virginia Primary Results: Ollivant Wins GOP Nod in 7th District

Virginia primary night delivered clear winners in two key Northern Virginia congressional districts, and Potomac Local News has the full local breakdown. Doug Ollivant secured the Republican nomination in the 7th District after a three-way race, setting up a general-election matchup against Democratic incumbent Eugene Vindman. In the 10th District, retired Air Force Col. Dave Beckwith took the GOP nod and will face Democrat Suhas Subramanyam. The 7th remains one of Virginia’s most competitive purple seats; the 10th leans more Democratic. We cover the candidates, the districts (Stafford, eastern Prince William, western Prince William, Loudoun and beyond), and what these results mean for Northern Virginia voters. Also in this episode: Manassas celebrated the ribbon cutting of the brand-new $56 million Jenny Dean Elementary School on August 4. Designed for about 900 students, the facility replaces the original 1963 building and opens to students August 12. We share photos from the event and the community turnout. National Night Out brought neighbors and police together across the region. Special thanks to Sue Nelson Sargent for the College Heights photos from Fredericksburg. Events also took place in Spotsylvania, Woodbridge, Manassas, Manassas Park, Haymarket and Dumfries. Stafford’s big celebration at Stafford Marketplace is still ahead in early October. Additional local updates include the planned Route 15 railroad overpass in Haymarket, Prince William’s Traffic Awareness Month visual (a 54-foot ladder illustrating the force of a 40 mph crash), OmniRide’s 40th anniversary, the restored soda fountain opening Friday in Fredericksburg, progress toward commercial flights at Washington Manassas Airport, and a proposed $93 million interchange near the airport. Support independent local journalism that covers Stafford, Prince William, Manassas, Fredericksburg and the broader Potomac region. Support Potomac Local News Become a Member → https://potomaclocal.memberful.com/join If you value accurate, community-focused coverage of Northern Virginia politics, schools, transportation and local life, become a member today. Your support keeps the newsroom running and the local reporting free from corporate pressure. Like this video, leave a comment with your take on the primary results or the new school, subscribe to the channel, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode. Download the Potomac Local News podcast wherever you listen, and sign up for the free daily email newsletter at potomaclocal.com. Follow Potomac Local News: • YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@PotomacLocal • X → https://x.com/PotomacLocal • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/PotomacLocal • TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thepotomaclocal Sources and more details available at potomaclocal.com.

Manassas Airport Clears Federal Hurdle for Commercial Flights

Manassas Airport just cleared another federal review hurdle on the path to commercial passenger flights, while a new elementary school prepares to open and a former Stafford sheriff’s deputy faces serious federal charges. In this episode of the Potomac Local News podcast, Uriah Kiser breaks down the latest developments across Northern Virginia and Stafford County. Manassas Regional Airport—now rebranded Washington Manassas Airport—has advanced in the federal process that could bring scheduled commercial service. Destinations and airlines remain unknown, but the review is moving forward. Potomac Local will deliver a multi-week series of reports starting with today’s 4 p.m. newsletter at potomaclocal.com. School is set to begin next week on August 12 in Manassas. Jenny Dean Elementary will open its doors as part of a broader wave of new schools—three in Stafford County and two in Prince William County. Uriah also shares his thoughts on the earlier start date and why he refuses to declare summer over with weeks still remaining. In Stafford County, court documents detail federal charges against former patrol sergeant Justin Foreman, 37, for knowingly receiving visual depictions involving minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The Stafford County Sheriff’s Office confirms he is no longer employed. Potomac Local has filed a Freedom of Information Act request for employment and salary details and will follow up. Other stories include a delayed Republican primary tomorrow in Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, where three candidates seek the nomination to challenge Democrat Eugene Vindman in a competitive purple seat; a sewage spill update in Aquia Creek near Crow’s Nest Natural Preserve; and bipartisan calls from Senators Richard Stuart and Russet Perry for a special session after a groundwater report sat for months under Governor Abigail Spanberger. The report raises alarms about water supplies east of I-95 and future data center growth. Community notes: Birmingham Green’s Jazz on the Green networking event is set for September (5–7 p.m.), and the Art Factory partners with the Did Lake Foundation for an ice cream social tomorrow from 5–7 p.m. in downtown Manassas. Support independent local journalism that covers the stories Northern Virginia and Stafford residents actually need. Support Potomac Local News Become a Member → https://potomaclocal.memberful.com/join Like this video, leave a comment with your thoughts on the airport expansion or the primary, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an update from Potomac Local News. Follow Potomac Local News: • YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@PotomacLocal • X → https://x.com/PotomacLocal • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/PotomacLocal • TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thepotomaclocal

Virginia Senate Primary: David Williams on Debt & Affordability

David Williams enlisted in the Navy in Norfolk, became a Marine Corps infantry officer with two combat tours in Iraq, served as a State Department diplomat, and rose to CIA Chief of Station. Now the combat veteran and intelligence officer is running in Virginia’s August 4 Republican primary for U.S. Senate, arguing the Commonwealth needs someone who can actually beat longtime incumbent Democrat Mark Warner in November. In this Potomac Local News interview with Kelly Sienkowski, Williams identifies the $38 trillion national debt as the country’s top national-security threat and ties it directly to the affordability crisis hitting Virginia families. He calls for permanent extension of no-tax-on-tips, no-tax-on-overtime, and expanded child tax credits, plus ending taxes on Social Security for seniors. He says the path to paying for relief is cutting waste, fraud, and abuse—including improper Medicaid payments and foreign spending that does not serve American interests—while expanding domestic energy production to lower fuel costs. Williams criticizes Warner for voting to shut down the government more than a dozen times while continuing to collect his own paycheck, noting the real pain it caused federal workers, contractors, and Marine reservists who needed drill pay for mortgages. He says senators must work across the aisle when it serves Virginians, cites overwhelming public support for the SAVE Act, and promises to represent the entire Commonwealth rather than follow party orthodoxy. Among the three Republican candidates, Williams argues the decisive question is who can actually win—uniting the GOP base, independents frustrated with Richmond, and at least 15 percent of the African American vote that proved decisive in past close races. Support Potomac Local News Become a Member → https://potomaclocal.memberful.com/join Virginia’s Republican primary is days away. Watch the full conversation, leave your questions in the comments, like the video, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you stay ahead of the races that shape the Commonwealth. Follow Potomac Local News: • YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@PotomacLocal • X → https://x.com/PotomacLocal • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/PotomacLocal • TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thepotomaclocal

Virginia Senate Primary: Kim Farington on Fraud & Affordability

Kim Farington deferred her federal retirement after 33 years of service because she says she saw too much fraud and too many inefficiencies she could not fix under existing law. In this Potomac Local News interview, the CPA, cybersecurity and financial-management small-business owner, patent-holding inventor, and wife of a retired Navy captain explains why she is running in the August 4 Republican primary for U.S. Senate in Virginia. The winner will face longtime Democratic incumbent Mark Warner in November. Farington tells Kelly Sienkowski that affordability is the top issue for Virginians. Her plan centers on helping the small businesses that make up 99.6 percent of the state’s employers, incentivizing manufacturers to fill vacant buildings and hire Virginia residents, creating a cybersecurity center of excellence to tackle hundreds of thousands of open jobs, and recovering what she estimates is at least $236 billion in known fraud. She says she already saved more than $1 billion in taxpayer dollars while working at the White House by finding efficiencies. She criticizes the use of government shutdowns as a political tactic, calls China and artificial intelligence the nation’s top national-security concerns, and says she is eager to work with the Trump administration’s Anti-Fraud Task Force while remaining data-driven enough to challenge any administration when the facts require it. Farington contrasts her coalition-building civilian experience and extensive listening tour (more than 55,000 miles) with what she describes as Mark Warner’s long tenure, missed meetings with small-business owners, and disconnect from everyday Virginians. Support Potomac Local News Become a Member → https://potomaclocal.memberful.com/join Virginia’s Republican primary is only days away. Watch the full conversation, share your questions in the comments, like the video, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you stay informed on the races that shape the Commonwealth. Follow Potomac Local News: • YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@PotomacLocal • X → https://x.com/PotomacLocal • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/PotomacLocal • TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thepotomaclocal

Can a Blue-Collar Pastor Flip Virginia’s 7th District?

Rick Smithers is not currently a resident of Virginia’s 7th District—but he says he’ll move the day after the primary if voters choose him. In this Potomac Local News interview, the pastor, veteran, construction business owner, and recent public-policy doctoral graduate lays out why he’s running in the Republican primary for the seat that includes Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Prince William and surrounding localities. Republican primary Election Day is Tuesday, August 4. The winner will face incumbent Democrat Eugene Vindman in November. Smithers sits down with Kelly Sienkowski to discuss the cost-of-living pressures hitting Northern Virginia and Central Virginia families, his plan to cut “frivolous” spending and foreign aid he considers unnecessary, the proper (limited) federal role in K-12 education, government shutdowns, and how he would work with—or challenge—President Trump when principles collide. Smithers emphasizes blue-collar experience pouring concrete, 32 years of marriage, pastoring Crossroads Community Church, and putting faith first. He argues Republicans must unite or risk losing the battleground district that affects the entire Commonwealth. He also addresses constituents who have lost federal jobs and says government should never use shutdowns as a political tactic. Support Potomac Local News Become a Member → https://potomaclocal.memberful.com/join If you care about Stafford County, the broader 7th District, or Virginia’s direction on taxes, energy costs, borders, and education, this conversation is essential viewing before you vote August 4. Like, comment with your questions for the candidates, subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss local coverage that actually matters to Northern Virginia and the Potomac region. Follow Potomac Local News: • YouTube → / @potomaclocal • X → https://x.com/PotomacLocal • Facebook → / potomaclocal

No Rules Against AI Essays in Manassas City Schools

Manassas City Public Schools just voted 6-1 to leave the door wide open for students to use ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, and every other generative AI tool to complete their homework and turn it in as their own. No explicit ban. No clear language in the Student Code of Conduct. Teachers are left guessing what they can actually enforce. On Tuesday night the Manassas City School Board rejected language that would have treated unauthorized use of generative AI the same as traditional plagiarism. Sara Brescia was the only member who fought to include it. The rest of the board, including Diana Brown (who also serves on the Northern Virginia Community College board), sided with concerns about expensive detection software, imperfect tools, and practical enforcement headaches. Dr. Kevin Newman told the board the division had already tested detection software and it didn’t perform as expected. Board members pointed to roughly 50% error rates, including human-written work flagged as AI-generated. Brescia called the software debate a red herring and argued teachers have been spotting plagiarism for decades through simple knowledge of their students’ work. The timing is striking. Manassas SOL scores remain well below state averages. Reading sits at 55% (state 74%), science at 48% (state 71%), and multiple schools are rated off-track or in need of intensive support. Only Osborne High and Weems Elementary earned on-track status. Math showed modest improvement, but persistent gaps remain for English learners, students with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students. With school starting in just a few weeks, Manassas students now face a code of conduct that does not specifically prohibit turning in AI-generated essays, code, or answers as their own work. Teachers who try to draw a hard line risk standing alone without policy backing. Those who look the other way send a different message about accountability. This is the Potomac Local News Podcast with Uriah Kiser. Full breakdown of the vote, the arguments on both sides, and what it means for classrooms this fall. Support Potomac Local News Become a Member → https://potomaclocal.memberful.com/join Follow Potomac Local News: • YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@PotomacLocal • X → https://x.com/PotomacLocal • Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/PotomacLocal • TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thepotomaclocal Sign up for the free daily email newsletter at PotomacLocal.com so you never miss a local headline. Like, comment, subscribe, and turn on notifications if you want more independent coverage of Manassas, Stafford, and Northern Virginia schools and government.

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