Supervisors voted to set the county’s real estate property tax rate at 86.5 cents per $100 of assessed value and maintain the food and beverage, or “meals,” tax at 3% in order to fund local schools following聽聽from the school division. Schools were set to have $31 million slashed from the previously agreed upon budget and revenue sharing agreement.

After extensive debate, the board voted along party lines for the adjustments, with a 5-3 vote settling the real estate and meals tax changes while also raising the computer and peripherals, or “C and P,” tax at $4.50 per $100 of assessed value. The computers tax generates over $550 million in revenue from data centers.

The county’s over $2 billion budget sends $1.1 billion to the school system.

Entering Tuesday’s meeting, county schools were set to lose the $31 million under County Executive Christopher Shorter’s recent budget proposal at an 85-cent tax rate. That was coupled with the board’s initial decision to exclude the additional computers tax revenue from the schools.

Ultimately, however, the board voted 5-3 along party lines to keep the additional $0.35 per $100 in assessed value in C and P revenue 鈥� from the $4.15 tax rate in fiscal 2026 鈥� subject to the revenue-sharing agreement with the schools, which remains unchanged with the schools receiving 57.23% of county revenue.

The school system will receive a $123.5 million increase in funding from last year.

The board’s three Republicans 鈥� Brentsville District Supervisor Tom Gordy, Woodbridge Supervisor Jeannie LaCroix and Coles Supervisor Yesli Vega 鈥� cast the dissenting votes on the tax rates, lamenting a lack of meaningful tax relief聽 and changes from the聽

The average homeowner will see $56 in real property tax relief, according to Budget Director David Sinclair. At the 85 cents per $100 of assessed value, which the supervisors signaled last week, homeowners would have seen an average $145 decrease in their tax bill.

Other last-minute additions to the budget on Tuesday included two full-time equivalent employees for the commonwealth attorney’s office and $1 million for firefighter physicals.

The 2027 fiscal year begins July 1.

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Congressman Eugene Vindman, who represents Virginia鈥檚 7th Congressional District, submitted a statement to the Congressional Record honoring Wise鈥檚 鈥渙utstanding service鈥� to the community.

Wise, 18, has been working as an EMT at the Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department for over a year.聽聽in a front-page story earlier this month.

In the Congressional Record, Vindman recounted an experience Wise had when he was just two months into training as an EMT. In January 2025, Wise was at the fire station in Woodbridge completing training on intubation skills when a call came in for a 73-year-old woman who had stopped breathing.

When Wise arrived, another unit on the scene had already started chest compressions, and Wise was given the opportunity to put in an airway, which consists of placing a tube down the patient鈥檚 throat and attaching a breathing device to it.

鈥淪o I go ahead and I place it in, and it works well, I get a good response on the ventilations,鈥� he said聽. Eventually, they loaded the patient into the ambulance and drove her to the hospital. During the drive, Wise said, he sat by the patient鈥檚 head, 鈥渂reathing for her, making sure that her chest is rising adequately.鈥�

The patient was later discharged from the hospital, healthy.

鈥淭his experience didn鈥檛 deter him, instead it strengthened his commitment to public service and deepened his understanding of what it truly means to serve, no matter how big or small the call could be,鈥� the Congressional Record reads.

Vindman also recognized some of Wise鈥檚 other achievements, including his membership of the Trail Life USA scouting program for over 11 years, serving in multiple leadership roles, including first officer and high school chaplain. Wise took on the responsibility of assisting the troop master in management and communicating with the committee chair to discuss ways to improve the organization.

Wise is also a varsity basketball player with the Northern Virginia Homeschool Athletic Association.

鈥淚 want to personally thank EMT Wise for his dedication to serving his community and I wish him continued success as he works toward becoming a crew leader within his EMT team,鈥� Vindman concluded. 鈥淚 ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing EMT Wise for his courage, leadership and selfless service, which stands as an inspiration to us all.鈥�

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LeDoux鈥檚 brother Patrick LeDoux was killed Nov. 16, 2024 by a聽聽on Interstate 95 near Quantico.

“It has been a rough few years for the family, that hit us very hard, and this one is bringing all of that back 鈥� since we really just started to be able to grieve Patrick鈥檚 loss,” their sister Nicole Pope told InsideNoVa.

Joseph LeDoux took care of his mother and special needs sister and his death is “more than complicated for the family and questions regarding their security,鈥� Pope said.

The crash happened about 2:30 p.m. April 10 on Harbor Drive in Lake Ridge. Police said LeDoux, driving a 2014 Hyundai Sonata, “entered Harbor Drive from a private road” and was hit by a 2018 Dodge Durango traveling south. He died at the scene, according to Prince William County police Sgt. Justin Adams.

The crash remains under investigation.

Pope said the family recently went through the court case for the drunken driver involved in the 2024 crash that killed Patrick C. LeDoux, who was 25.

Patrick’s southbound 2014 Chevrolet Cruze was struck by a 2018 Volvo XC90 traveling the wrong direction on I-95, state police said at the time. The Volvo’s driver, Jibril N. Ibn Jeter, 48, of Fort Washington, Md., pleaded guilty to aggravated involuntary manslaughter and a felony DUI charge, according to court records. He was sentenced in September to 15 years in prison.

础听聽is helping the LeDoux family with funeral costs and had raised more than $7,000 as of Thursday morning.

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In a unanimous vote after a closed session, the board opted to remove the county from the appeals.

The board narrowly approved the Digital Gateway rezoning on Dec. 13, 2023, under then-Chair Ann Wheeler, a Democrat and data center proponent, following a marathon 27-hour public hearing.

Chair Deshundra Jefferson, also a Democrat, succeeded Wheeler in January 2024 and presented a contrasting viewpoint as a data center critic.

The PW Digital Gateway was again halted in a unanimous聽聽Virginia Court of Appeals ruling that consolidated the two major legal challenges to the project 鈥� with the Oak Valley Homeowners Association and American Battlefield Trust as chief plaintiffs, respectively.

Issues of improper public notice were front and center at a聽聽Court of Appeals hearing on the Digital Gateway matter.

Developer-defendants Compass and QTS can still appeal the ruling to the Virginia Supreme Court, but the county itself will not appeal.

At full buildout, the Digital Gateway near Gainesville would be the largest data center corridor in the world, with over 22 million square feet of data centers spread out across over 2,100 acres in western Prince William. The project would include 37 data centers, roughly the size of 144 Walmart supercenters.

According to Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry, the county may still respond to pleading orders or any other requests made by the Virginia Supreme Court or the Virginia Court of Appeals despite no longer actively appealing.

In a statement, the Coalition to Protect Prince William County lauded the vote.

鈥淣ever before has such a small group of people made such a difference to their community and to their state than Prince William County residents,鈥� the statement read. 鈥淭he Oak Valley lawsuit plaintiffs withstood the onslaught of the storm that QTS and Compass brought to their front door.聽 They were able to bend and never break.聽 The American Battlefield Trust and the four remaining citizen plaintiffs in the parallel lawsuit never gave up and are a testament to their love of their community.鈥�

鈥淭he Coalition to Protect Prince William County is forever grateful to the residents and to this board for stepping through the door that we worked so hard to open,鈥� the statement added.

The Oak Valley Homeowners Association opined that the case entailed a universal impact.

鈥淭his case has never been just about Oak Valley,鈥� a news release stated. 鈥淭he real victims were the citizens of Prince William County, who would have suffered 鈥� each in varying degrees 鈥� from the unchecked and predatory expansion efforts of a multi-billion-dollar global data center industry. The residents of Oak Valley, along with our neighboring communities, are deeply grateful that the County will no longer expend taxpayer funds to fight against its own citizens. This litigation should never have happened.”

Mac Haddow, the association鈥檚 president, spoke to the efforts of Wheeler鈥檚 lame-duck board in the final weeks of 2023.

鈥淭he truth is, it is the taxpayers of Prince William County [who] were compelled to accept the financial risks for proceeding with a flawed rezoning hearing,鈥� Haddow said in the release. 鈥淭he obvious solution was to just readvertise the hearing, but with then defeated Ann Wheeler headed out the door, the County Attorney appears to have followed the data center operators in proceeding.鈥�

Concurrently, the American Battlefield Trust praised the board鈥檚 vote for its protection of Manassas National Battlefield Park.

The park was the site of the Battles of First and Second Manassas 鈥� which resulted in nearly 27,000 casualties combined during the American Civil War, according to a release from the trust.

鈥淭oday, the Board listened to what their constituents, numerous judges, and we have said for years: the rezonings for the Prince William Digital Gateway mega-development were not only detrimental for Prince William County, but illegal,鈥� said David Duncan, the trust鈥檚 president, in the release. 鈥淲e are incredibly grateful the board arrived at this conclusion, and hope this signals the end for this nightmarish threat to the hallowed ground of Manassas.鈥�

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The city will now seek formal Federal Aviation Administration approval to implement the name change.

The resolution seeks to change the airport鈥檚 commercial name while retaining the airfield鈥檚 dedicatory name, Harry P. Davis Field, and its FAA location identifier, HEF. The action reflects the city鈥檚 effort to better position the facility within the competitive Washington aviation market and support its anticipated transition from a general aviation airport to one capable of handling commercial passenger service as early as 2027.

Assistant Airport Director Jolene Berry, speaking on behalf of Airport Director Juan Rivera, told the council the rebranding would enhance the airport鈥檚 visibility and better reflect how travelers search for flights.

鈥淲hen folks are looking for a ticket, they’re flying into the D.C. area, and so that’s why Washington would go first, and then Manassas,鈥� Berry said.

Berry said the change applies only to the airport鈥檚 commercial branding and does not alter the historic designation of the airfield.

鈥淭he name 鈥� we are proposing would be Washington Manassas Airport. The airfield is still Harry P. Davis Field. We’re not asking to change the airfield,鈥� Berry said.

The potential name change comes as the airport works toward adding commercial airline service, scheduled to begin in the first half of 2027.

City officials said the renaming aligns with industry naming conventions for airports near major metropolitan areas and is intended to improve recognition among airlines, travelers and businesses.

The Manassas Regional Airport Commission previously recommended three potential names: Washington Manassas Airport, Washington Manassas National Airport and Washington Manassas Regional Airport. The 鈥淣ational鈥� option was later removed following feedback from federal regulators and legal concerns, leaving Washington Manassas Airport as the preferred choice.

Berry said the commission undertook an extensive public and stakeholder engagement process.

Tenants and fixed鈥慴ase operators were notified, a public work session and town hall meeting were held, and the experiences of other airports that underwent similar name changes were studied. She added the estimated $500,000 cost for updating major signage would be funded through the airport鈥檚 budget, 鈥渟o there’s no taxpayer money being used.鈥�

Public feedback on the proposal was mixed.

An online survey received 159 responses, with 58% opposing the name change and 42% supporting it. Opponents expressed concerns about preserving the city鈥檚 identity and questioned the need for rebranding, while supporters said incorporating 鈥淲ashington鈥� would make the airport more recognizable and help attract airlines and economic investment.

Council member Theresa Coates Ellis acknowledged the limited number of survey responses but said the long鈥憈erm benefits justified the decision.

鈥淚 do appreciate the 159 responses from the community with the survey, but 鈥� that seems really low,鈥� Coates Ellis said. 鈥淚 am supporting Washington Manassas Airport 鈥� if we’re looking at trying to have a successful airport, it is the right thing to do.鈥�

Council member Sonia Vasquez Luna highlighted the airport鈥檚 role in Virginia鈥檚 aviation landscape and its future ambitions.

鈥淚 believe for years the airport has been 鈥� one of the busiest airports in Virginia when it comes to general aviation,鈥� she said, adding that she would support the name change in part because costs would not fall on taxpayers.

Council member Tom Osina framed the decision as part of the airport鈥檚 evolution.

鈥淥ur airport has had three names,鈥� he said, noting that each change was done 鈥渢o intentionally reposition the airport鈥� as it evolved from a small strip to a municipal and then regional facility.

According to the resolution, the airport opened June 8, 1932, and was renamed in 1994 to Manassas Regional Airport, Harry P. Davis Field, in honor of a former mayor who played a key role in its early development.

The incoming airport operator, Avports, has also endorsed the new name, calling it 鈥渁 meaningful and strategic step forward鈥� that would enhance the airport鈥檚 competitiveness and regional visibility.

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Rick Canizales, the county鈥檚 director of transportation, spearheaded a presentation on the initiative during the board鈥檚 meeting Wednesday.

Canizales said the widening for the 2.5-mile stretch is not yet included within the county鈥檚 Capital Improvement Program, nor is the project鈥檚 projected debt service in the county executive鈥檚 five-year plan.

Nevertheless, Canizales said his team is working with the Virginia Department of Transportation to create a piecemeal approach similar to the county鈥檚 past widening of Route 1.

鈥淗ow do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time,鈥� Canizales quipped to the board.

Funding for included $200 million authorized by voters in a 2019 bond referendum, with the cost of the widening estimated at $400 million as of 2020, according to Canizales鈥� presentation before the board. The county reimbursed the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority for nearly $7.5 million in funds for the cancelled project.

Canizales鈥� presentation sought direction from supervisors on four items:

• Should staff continue to move the project forward?
• Will bonds be utilized to fund the project?
• What funding will be used to pay the debt-financing of the project?
• Should VDOT continue working on preliminary engineering/designs to move this project forward?

Chair Deshundra Jefferson, a Democrat, said the board is 鈥済onna have to prioritize鈥� ahead of its April 14 budget markup and April 21 budget adoption 鈥� with 鈥渢ough choices鈥� and 鈥渇inancial discipline鈥� needed in the coming weeks.

Jefferson cited funding for parks and trails projects as well as the county鈥檚 long-anticipated indoor sports complex in Woodbridge as top pursuits.

Kenny Boddye, the Democratic Occoquan District supervisor, encouraged the widening project, opining 鈥渢his is a much more tangible thing鈥� to talk to community members about.

Canizales added the ongoing Yorkshire Small Area Plan in the Coles District will guide the design of the Route 28 project.

Republican Yesli Vega, the Coles District supervisor, emphasized the value of Route 28 as a 鈥渞egional artery,鈥� with the ensuing need for matching funds and grants in addition to existing revenue-sharing agreements with the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority.

State Sen. Danica Roem, D-30th District, said surveys and town halls during 2019 yielded 1,334 responses regarding Route 28 redesign plans.

The public鈥檚 desires for the project included a shared-use path 鈥� which eventually led to the installation of , Roem said, to avoid utility relocation and eminent domain issues, as well as a raised median along Route 28.

Roem also praised At-Large Planning Commissioner Mark Scheufler鈥檚 idea for a 鈥渕uch more surgical widening,鈥� which would include an OmniRide bus connection from the Manassas Park area to the Vienna metro station, which she said should be undertaken concurrently with any Route 28 redesign plans.

草莓传媒’s Neal Augenstein contributed to this report.

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On March 26, jurors found 29-year-old Grorethas McKinnon Jr. guilty of second-degree murder, Prince William County Commonwealth鈥檚 Attorney Amy Ashworth鈥檚 office said in a Monday news release. McKinnon faces up to 40 years in prison at his sentencing scheduled for July 2.

Another man involved in the murder, 29-year-old Drew Buchanan of Woodbridge, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count of first-degree murder. He faces life in prison at his sentencing set for June 12.

The convictions stem from the Feb. 2, 2024, ambush-style shooting of Egypt Carter, a North Carolina resident, at the Orchard Mills apartment complex in Dale City. The murder was allegedly orchestrated by Carter鈥檚 husband, Lionel Carter III, 34, who is serving a 30-year sentence at Sussex State Prison for the 2014 second-degree murder of his high school sweetheart, Kadijah Stewart, in Chesterfield.

Authorities allege Carter hired the suspects to kill his wife and lured her to the area of Brickwood Drive and Bronson Court in Dale City under the ruse of picking up narcotics for him.

Egypt Carter was reportedly sending her location via Telegram to an unidentified individual known as 鈥淢r. Robot,鈥� whom she knew, according to the release. Detectives also learned Carter had come to Prince William County to 鈥渕ake a play,鈥� typically referring to a narcotics transaction, prosecutors said.

Just after 2 a.m., police responded to a shooting and found Carter鈥檚 Toyota idling in a cul-de-sac, the release said. Her car had come to rest against a parked vehicle off Benita Fitzgerald Drive.

鈥淲hen the officer approached the vehicle, a female victim was found in the driver鈥檚 seat suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body and head,鈥� the release said. 鈥淭he driver鈥檚 side window was halfway down and two holes from an apparent projectile were observed.鈥�

The victim, later identified as Carter, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Based on an informant鈥檚 tip, Drew Buchanan was identified as a suspect and later arrested.

The informant also told detectives McKinnon asked Buchanan to commit the murder in exchange for cash at the behest of someone in prison, the release said. The plot was organized over social media and by text message.

Detectives interviewed Buchanan, who confessed to shooting Carter, the release said.

A sample of Buchanan鈥檚 DNA was compared to the DNA found on the cartridge casings at the murder scene, and Buchanan could not be eliminated 鈥渁s a contributor,鈥� the release said.

On Buchanan鈥檚 phone, detectives found calls with a number known to belong to McKinnon at the time of the murder, an Apple maps search for the murder location an hour before the crime and web history showing the user searched for news about the murder after the shooting, the release said.

A search warrant was served on McKinnon鈥檚 known Instagram account, which revealed his communication days before the murder with someone serving time in prison, leading to other text messages linking him and Buchanan to the crime, the release said.

A Prince William County grand jury indicted Lionel Carter for aggravated murder in December 2024. A jury trial is scheduled in Prince William County Circuit Court beginning April 27.

鈥淭his was a tragic loss for the family of Egypt Carter and a technically challenging case for the commonwealth as much of the evidence corroborating the statements of the co-conspirator was coded communications via messaging apps,鈥� Ashworth said in a statement. 鈥淲e are grateful that the jury understood what really happened in this case and found Mr. McKinnon guilty and responsible for the senseless death of Egypt Carter.鈥�

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Early voting for the April 21 special election will close April 18. On the ballot is a question asking residents whether Virginia鈥檚 constitution should be amended to allow the Virginia General Assembly to adopt new congressional districts. The mid-decade redistricting plan has been championed by Democrats to secure more seats during the 2026 midterm elections.

According to Thalia Simpson, a spokesperson for the Prince William County Office of Elections, total turnout in the county for early voting was 16,635 through March 27 鈥� which includes 5,187 in-person votes and 11,448 mail-in ballots 鈥� representing 5.01% of the county’s 332,197 registered voters.

The Office of Elections did not provided a breakdown by magisterial district.

“We don’t want to be the reason that anybody can sort of infer who has voted, who might be voting which way,” Simpson told InsideNoVa in a March 30 phone call. “So we don’t release that granular level at this stage.”

Satellite locations in Prince William County will open next weekend, April 11. The six locations include:

• Office of Elections聽鈥斅�9250 Lee Ave., Suite 1, Manassas, VA 20110 (currently open for early voting since March 6)
• A.J. Ferlazzo Building聽鈥� 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22191
• Brentsville Courthouse聽鈥� 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow, VA 20136
• Dumfries Community Center聽鈥� 17757 Main St., Dumfries, VA 22026
• Haymarket Gainesville Library聽鈥� 14870 Lightner Road, Haymarket, VA 20169
• Woodbridge DMV聽鈥� 2731 Caton Hill Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191

Drop boxes for mail-in ballots will also be available at all six voting locations. Voting hours are as follows:

• Weekdays:聽8:30 a.m. 鈥� 4:30 p.m., until 7 p.m. on Wednesdays
• Saturdays, April 11 and April 18:聽8:30 a.m. 鈥� 5 p.m.
• Sunday, April 12:11 a.m. 鈥� 5 p.m.

Statewide, 619,741 ballots have been cast across the commonwealth through Wednesday, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project. This includes 412,502 in-person and 207,239 by mail.

According to reporting from the Virginia Mercury, several majority-Republican jurisdictions have already cast between 10% and 15% of their ballots among registered voters, indicating strong GOP turnout.

But Simpson cautioned early numbers may be misleading, as the populations may be smaller than in areas with hundreds of thousands of registered voters, rendering it easier to cross the percentage threshold.

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It was January 2025, and a 73-year-old woman in Prince William had stopped breathing. Wise was at Station No. 2 in Woodbridge 鈥� in a classroom completing timely EMT training on intubation skills 鈥� when the call came in. His unit responded to the woman at a loss for breath.

When Wise arrived, another unit on the scene had already started chest compressions. A fellow medic asked Wise whether he had put in an airway before. Wise replied he had, in fact, just learned how to do that.

Wise told InsideNoVa putting in an assisted airway consists of placing a tube down the patient鈥檚 throat and then attaching a breathing device to it.

鈥淪o I go ahead and I place it in, and it works well, I get a good response on the ventilations,鈥� he said in an interview. Eventually, they loaded the patient into the ambulance and drove her to the hospital. During the drive, Wise said, he sat by the patient鈥檚 head, 鈥渂reathing for her, making sure that her chest is rising adequately.鈥�

The patient was later discharged from the hospital, healthy.

Although Wise said that when he first walked onto the scene he was overwhelmed 鈥� this was something he鈥檇 never seen before 鈥� he decided to take action despite the fear in the back of his mind.

鈥淚n that moment, I had to make a decision on whether or not I was going to allow that fear of what was going on cloud me from being able to help her, or if I was going to suppress it for the moment in order to provide the best care that I could,鈥� he said.

Wise made the right decision in suppressing that fear and taking action. A moment of reflection came afterward, when his unit returned to the station and the crew sat down to discuss the call 鈥� a department policy after every 鈥渂ig call鈥� a unit makes to help team members process and talk through what just transpired.

The response earned Wise national recognition and the Passion for Public Service Scholarship from the National Society of High School Scholars.

What it means to serve

The January 2025 call and the many others he鈥檚 been a part of since then taught Wise what it means to work in a 鈥渟ervice position,鈥� he said.

鈥淣o matter how big or small the call is, everyone requires the same amount of passion for care that you have,鈥� Wise said. 鈥淪o you should treat everyone with the respect that they deserve.鈥�

EMTs, medics and other first responders, are in a 鈥渟ervant鈥� position, he said, and he鈥檚 learned how to demonstrate a 鈥渟ervant attitude,鈥� even if the call doesn鈥檛 appear to be an emergency.

鈥淭he biggest thing that I鈥檝e learned as a volunteer EMT 鈥� is to just treat everyone with respect and to be a servant to those who you are serving,鈥� Wise said.

Wise, who lives in Woodbridge and attends Logos Classical Academy in Lorton, is working toward becoming a crew lead.

He was first introduced to first responder work while working as a lifeguard at a sporting facility, which had EMTs on staff. He said he began to think about how he could contribute more and felt the next step would be to become an EMT. Coincidentally, one of his friends was an EMT and recommended he join the fire department.

Most of his ideas of what EMT work looked like stemmed primarily from TV shows, which, he said, he now knows are largely inaccurate depictions of the work.

鈥淟ooking back on it, I can firmly say that television does not portray it adequately at all. It is a very different environment than what I would have anticipated, but I do very much enjoy it,鈥� Wise said.

Wise said media depictions of EMT work are often over-dramatized, while in reality, 鈥渆verything is a lot calmer.鈥�

鈥淚 had no idea what I wanted to be when I grew up before I started volunteering at the fire department,鈥� Wise said. 鈥淏ut after being involved with patient care, I can鈥檛 even imagine what else I would do.鈥�

He told InsideNoVa he plans to pursue a medical degree, though at the time of the interview he was not yet sure where he would be attending college.

Will Lam, 19, met Wise while working at the OWL volunteer fire department. Wise was assigned to his crew, and Lam ultimately became one of Wise鈥檚 mentors.

Though they no longer work together 鈥� Lam now works as a firefighter in Fairfax County 鈥� Lam remains one of Wise鈥檚 mentors and wrote a recommendation letter for Wise鈥檚 scholarship application.

As Lam and Wise got to know each other, Lam said he learned about Wise鈥檚 desire to go into the medical field and his 鈥渆nthusiasm and passion to help others.鈥�

That desire and enthusiasm to help others, Lam said, is what makes Wise uniquely-suited for work as an EMT and beyond in the medical field.

鈥淗is ability to work with others, and truly care about them and their situation,鈥� Lam said. 鈥淏ut also that curiosity 鈥� he is always asking questions, trying to learn more, better himself, fine tune his skills.鈥�

Lam himself, despite being older and in a leadership position, said he learned from Wise what it means to be a 鈥渟ervant leader.鈥�

鈥淛ust throughout all of his sacrifices that he makes for the department and for those around him, he just takes up his additional responsibilities without hesitation,鈥� Lam said. 鈥淭hat really taught me a lot.鈥�

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Under the school system鈥檚 policy 729, which sets the guidance for cellphone-free education, AI-enabled glasses meet the definition of cellphones or personal electronic communication devices and are subject to the same restrictions, according to a news release from the school system.

鈥淚n recent months, schools nationwide have seen an increase in student use of this technology,” the release said. “In response, the Virginia Department of Education and the College Board have provided guidance on how AI-enabled glasses should be managed in educational settings. PWCS is aligning with this guidance to protect student privacy and support safe, focused learning environments.”

AI-enabled glasses are wearable devices that can discreetly record, process and display information using artificial intelligence.

All Prince William County schools will follow this guidance:

Elementary schools and combination schools (K-8, Traditional):

• AI-enabled glasses may not be worn or used at any time during the school day
• Devices must be turned off and stored upon arrival at school and remain stored until dismissal
• Storage means the device is not worn on the face or head and is placed in a backpack, in the student鈥檚 locker, in a locked pouch or in a designated place in the classroom

Middle and high schools:

• AI-enabled glasses must be turned off and stored from bell to bell
• Devices may only be used before the first bell and after dismissal, provided use does not violate the division鈥檚 code of behavior
• Storage means the device is not worn on the face or head and is placed in a backpack, in the student鈥檚 locker, in a locked pouch or in a designated place in the classroom

Prohibited uses (all students)聽鈥斅爐he following uses of AI-enabled glasses are always prohibited on school property, school buses and school-sponsored events:

• Audio, photo or video recording of students, staff or visitors without explicit permission
• Use in restrooms, locker rooms or changing areas
• Livestreaming or AI-assisted analysis of people or environments
• AI impersonation or altered media involving students or staff
• Accessing or creating content that is obscene, harassing, threatening or disruptive to a K-12 learning environment

Transportation (all students):聽AI-enabled glasses on school buses are permitted when used in compliance with prohibited use and:

• They do not distract the driver
• They do not compromise student safety

The wearing of AI-enabled glasses is always prohibited during any assessment, including daily class assessments, nationally normed external tests such as the SAT, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Cambridge and Standards of Learning assessments.

Violations involving AI-enabled glasses will follow the same progressive discipline structure used for cellphone violations, in alignment with the code of behavior, including:

• Device surrounded
• Parent/guardian notification and pick up
• Disciplinary referrals
• Additional disciplinary actions for repeat or severe violations

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The brief appearance of Virginia bluebells has become a welcome sign: Winter is over, and spring has arrived.

Northern Virginia鈥檚 iconic bluebells are on pace for their typical early April show.

The Virginia bluebell, known scientifically as Mertensia virginica, is a native woodland wildflower found throughout the eastern United States and parts of Canada. The plant grows naturally in moist forests and floodplains from the Northeast to the Southeast and west into the Midwest along rivers and streams.

The flowers are known for their bell-shaped clusters that begin as pink buds before opening into soft blue or lavender blooms. They typically grow one to two feet tall and are classified as spring ephemerals, meaning they appear early in the growing season, bloom briefly and then disappear by early summer once tree canopies fill in and block sunlight.

In Northern Virginia, the bloom typically begins in late March, with the most vibrant displays appearing in early to mid-April.

Matt Felperin, a naturalist with NOVA Parks, said the peak at Bull Run Regional Park and other popular sites generally falls in the first half of April. Peak bloom usually lasts only about a week to 10 days before the flowers begin to fade.

鈥淭hey tend to run in the first two weeks of April, and I imagine it鈥檒l be about the same this year,鈥� Felperin told InsideNoVa.

Large colonies of bluebells can create sweeping carpets of color across woodland floors.

鈥淚t is dynamic, and even when some are coming up early, there鈥檒l still be a late wave too,鈥� Felperin said.

He added while this winter has been 鈥渧ery untypically rough,鈥� that alone does not determine when the bluebells bloom.

鈥淭his month, the weeks leading up to bloom does have an impact. But if it鈥檚 cold all winter, it doesn鈥檛 mean anything,鈥� he said.

Instead, he said, more recent weather patterns will likely shape the timing. 鈥淚 imagine that with some of the warmer weather we鈥檝e had, it should lead to a typical early April bloom.鈥�

The 鈥榟ot spots鈥�

Several parks and natural areas across Northern Virginia are known for particularly large bluebell displays. One of the region鈥檚 most prominent locations is Bull Run Regional Park north of Manassas, where over 150 acres of bluebells grow along floodplain forests near Bull Run and Cub Run. Trails through the park attract thousands of visitors each spring hoping to see one of the East Coast鈥檚 largest bluebell stands.

For those hoping to see the most impressive displays, Felperin pointed first to Bull Run.

鈥淭hey have a specific Bluebell Trail, and it is just absolutely magical,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey stretch along the floodplains as far as I can see. So that is definitely our hot spot for bluebells.鈥�

He added that other sites in the region also put on a strong spring display.

鈥淲e also have some good ephemeral blooms going on at Ball鈥檚 Bluff Battlefield Regional Park, and I believe Seneca Regional Park also has some good blooms,鈥� Felperin said. 鈥淛ust keep in mind, those two parks do have more limited parking. Bull Run is definitely kind of the headliner.鈥�

Other popular viewing spots include Riverbend Park along the Potomac River in Great Falls, Manassas National Battlefield Park and Merrimac Farm Wildlife Management Area, where wetlands and floodplains support large seasonal blooms along Cedar Run.

Several events in the region celebrate the bloom. The annual Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farm brings visitors together for guided wildflower walks, nature programs and educational exhibits highlighting the area鈥檚 habitat and wildlife.

Another spring celebration, Bluebells at the Bend at Riverbend, features nature walks, environmental exhibits and family activities along the Potomac.

Outside Northern Virginia, regional events include Bluebell Festival at Shenandoah River State Park, scheduled for April 4 and featuring guided hikes, music and vendors.

Along with timing and location, Felperin offered one simple piece of practical advice for visitors heading out to see the flowers.

鈥淕ood shoes for the mud,鈥� he said. 鈥淧retty muddy. That鈥檚 like the biggest piece of advice I have for anyone who鈥檚 going to come visit for the bluebells, wear good boots for the mud.鈥�

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The new system is being introduced because the park frequently reaches capacity during peak summer periods, which results in turning many guests away, Virginia State Parks said in a notice on its website.

Park officials say requiring reservations will help reduce overcrowding, ease traffic congestion and protect the natural resources of the park along the Potomac River, while also guaranteeing admittance for visitors who plan ahead.

There will be a non-refundable $2 transaction fee, assessed by the software vendor, for reservations, which must be made before the day of arrival, no later than 11:59 p.m. Same-day reservations are not permitted, the website said.

Annual pass holders will also be required to reserve spots, but will have the parking fee waived.

Overnight campers and paid boat storage users are not required to have a reservation.

Day-use reservations are per vehicle, and individuals can make up to five reservations per person.

Additionally, leaving the park and returning on the same day is prohibited for day-use reservation holders to prevent “shuttling people” who lack reservations, the website said.

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The phenomenon, which was reported across a wide area stretching from Gainesville to Leesburg and beyond, brought dozens of inquiries to the NWS Sterling forecast office this weekend.

The loud clap of thunder was the result of a lightning strike that occurred in southern Frederick County, Maryland, just before 10:50 p.m. Friday, the weather services said in a social media post.

“The resultant thunder shook the windows at our office here in Sterling near Dulles Airport, as well,” forecasters wrote.

The exceptional noise was attributed to two main factors: the nature of the lightning and a natural “echo chamber” effect.

First, the strike was identified as a positive cloud-to-ground lightning strike. This type of strike originates from the top of a thunderstorm rather than the base and carries “a lot more power than usual,” the NWS said.

Second, a temperature inversion was present near the ground. Typically, air cools with height, but this inversion meant air a few hundred to a couple thousand feet above the ground was actually warmer than the air at the surface.

“While not rare (they actually happen most nights), that inversion creates a barrier that sound ‘bounces’ off of, so it acts like an echo chamber – making an already powerful and loud strike seem even louder!” the NWS wrote.

For more information on the science behind the sound of thunder, go to .

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LaCroix, a longtime Woodbridge resident and local businesswoman, prevailed with a plurality of the just under 1,700 votes 鈥� edging Democratic nominee Muhammed Sufiyan “Sef” Casim by around 250 votes, 43.7% to 37.1%.

Write-in candidates received 19.2% with approximately 745 votes.

Pam Montgomery, former chief of staff to Del. Margaret Franklin, the outgoing Woodbridge supervisor and current Virginia House of Delegates representative for the 23rd District, ran a write-in campaign following the resurfacing of Casim’s derogatory online remarks toward the African American community from 2012-2015.

Casim’s social media controversy led to a splintering of local Democrats between him and Montgomery, stirring uncertainty as to the viability of their respective candidacies and the lack of a clear majority in the typically left-leaning district.

According to Thalia Simpson, a spokeswoman for the Prince William County Office of Elections, exact write-in tallies will be revealed on Friday along with the remainder of results certification.

LaCroix, who did not face a GOP primary opponent last month, had previously run for the seat, losing the 2023 Woodbridge District race to Franklin 鈥� with the Democrat claiming nearly 63% of the vote.

LaCroix listed public safety, education and “smart growth” as her top campaign priorities.

“Woodbridge has been growing without a plan, and overcrowded schools and constant traffic jams are making life harder for everyone,” she said on her website. “I will fight for Smart Growth that fixes our roads and supports our schools before we add more large developments. Let鈥檚 protect our green spaces and keep our neighborhoods great places to live.”

The supervisor-elect will join Tom Gordy of the Brentsville District and Yesli Vega of the Coles District as the board’s Republican supervisors.

Casim defeated Montgomery in the Feb. 7 Democratic primary, with Casim receiving 291 votes to Montgomery鈥檚 258.

Casim also ran against Franklin in the Dec. 16 Democratic primary for the Virginia House of Delegates 23rd seat. Montgomery won 225 votes to 109.

Franklin replaced Del. Candi Mundon King in a special election after the latter was appointed secretary of the commonwealth under Gov. Abigail Spanberger.

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The Haymarket resident was named to the United States team after Liu withdrew from the world championships, which are scheduled to run March 24-29 in Prague.

Liu won the gold medal last month at the Milan Cortina Games.

Everhardt got this chance after she was listed as the second alternate following her fifth place performance at the U.S. Senior Nationals in January.

Bradie Tennell, who finished fourth at Senior Nationals, was the first alternate, but declined to compete at the world championships.

Everhardt had medaled her first two trips to nationals, placing fourth in 2024 and third in 2025. The top four finishers medal.

At senior nationals, Amber Glenn became the first U.S. woman to win three consecutive gold medals since Michelle Kwan, who won eight straight from 1998-2005.

Liu was second and Isabeau Levito third. Glenn finished with a total of 233.55 points between the two programs. Liu was second with 228.91, Levito third with 224.45, Bradie Tennell fourth with 211.48 and Everhardt fifth with 209.47.

Liu is the reigning world champion. Levito was the 2023 U.S. champion and Tennell was a 2018 Olympian.

Glenn, Liu and Levito secured the three spots available on the U.S. Olympic Team, which was officially announced Jan. 11.

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