Lisa Zargarpur
- Prince William Supervisors Vote Unanimously to End By-Right Data Center Development
An 8-0 board vote advances Tom Gordy’s 90-day grace framework, shrinks the 2016 overlay, and leaves residential and school setbacks for later Planning Commission action.
- Prince William Votes 8-0 to End By-Right Data Center Development Countywide
Future projects will need special-use permits after supervisors settle on a 90-day grace period and leave residential setbacks for later hearings.
- Prince William Supervisors Unanimously Block $300M Vint Hill Switching Station
Board denies Dominion special use permit after residents and supervisors say the utility failed to clarify data-center loads near Braemar and Vint Hill housing.
- Washington Manassas Airport Awarded 1.1 Million for New Control Tower
The grant is part of nearly $40 million Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced for 65 public-use airports statewide.
- Prince William Planners Recommend Ending By-Right Data Centers
The Planning Commission backed a smaller opportunity overlay, a 120-day grace period and a 500-foot buffer before a Sept. 22 board hearing.
- Manassas Shooting Suspect's Criminal History Raises Questions on Bond Decisions
A 16-year-old girl died as an innocent bystander in a shooting at the First Friday event in Old Town Manassas on September 4, 2026.
- Manassas Shooting Suspect Had Prior Convictions and Pending Charges
Authorities in Manassas have charged 21-year-old Tasheem Rashad Douglas with second-degree murder and related firearm offenses following a shooting on September 4, 2026.
- Victor Angry Says Local Governments Should Lead on Collective Bargaining
In 2020, the General Assembly made a deliberate decision: it lifted Virginia’s longstanding prohibition on public-sector collective bargaining and gave local governments the authority to decide whether and how to implement it. That framework was intentional.
- Prince William County Middle School Basketball Program Has a 100-Game Winning Streak
The coaches of the Potomac Shores Middle School Boys’ Basketball teams didn’t need to teach this lesson because they haven’t had the opportunity yet. Marlon Marshall, the Varsity Coach, and Mark Marshall, the JV coach, both have a perfect 100-0 record.
- How an AI-Enabled Teacher in Prince William County Provides Immediate Feedback to Students
Students in Diana Betancourt’s third-grade class at Neabsco elementary school read a story about raccoons who are smarter than dogs and cats on Thursday afternoon. The current curriculum focuses on animal behavior.
- New proposal from grid operator PJM would require data centers to bring their own power
Data center with transmission lines in Prince William County, VA. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) PJM, the regional grid operator for most of the East Coast, is asking federal regulators to approve a rule requiring new large-load customers, namely data centers, to bring their own power supply to the grid. With Virginia among the 13 […]
- Prince William County Approves $20 Million Capital Investment Boost for Parks and Recreation in FY2027
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors recently approved a substantial financial commitment to the local parks system as part of the upcoming fiscal year budget. The fiscal year 2027 budget includes a $20 million increase in capital investment specifically designated for the Department of Parks and Recreation. This funding boost aims to address backlogged […]
- Prince William County Supervisors Adopt Budget with Reduced Real Estate Tax Rate
The Prince William County Board of County Supervisors recently approved a fiscal year budget that reduces the real estate tax rate while simultaneously expanding funding for local schools and public safety. Following extensive public hearings, the board voted to lower the real estate tax rate from $0.906 to $0.865 per $100 of assessed value for […]
- Prince William County Allocates $1 Million for Expanded Firefighter Cancer Screenings
The Prince William County government has officially allocated one million dollars toward expanded medical physicals for local firefighters. This significant financial commitment is specifically designed to support early cancer detection among first responders who face elevated occupational risks. The funding represents a major component of the newly adopted fiscal year budget and underscores a gro
- As Virginia officials weigh data center pushback, report details industry’s public service funding
As a single mother balancing work against earning a nursing degree, Yvettrise Hoskie thought homeownership was out of her reach. Now, she’s settling into a Henrico County townhome development. The county’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund helped with her downpayment, but the financial assistance was made possible by one of the state’s more controversial neighbors — […]
- Prince William County FY2027 Budget Adds 85 Public Safety Roles and 59 Special Education Assistants
Prince William County officials have outlined significant investments in both public safety and education for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2027 budget. The newly proposed financial plan includes the addition of 85 new public safety positions and 59 new teacher assistants specifically designated to support students with disabilities. These targeted allocations reflect a broader county strategy […]
- Virginia Environmental Agency Reviews Data Center Emissions Analysis
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality examined concerns raised about air emissions from a data center facility in Loudoun County. Director Michael Rolband received an analysis from the Piedmont Environmental Council in March and directed staff to review its findings on potential health effects. The report focused on a Vantage Data Centers site in Sterling […]
- Prince William County Approves $20 Million Increase for Parks and Recreation Capital Investments
Prince William County officials have approved a significant financial commitment to local green spaces, authorizing a twenty million dollar increase in capital investment for the Department of Parks and Recreation. This substantial funding allocation aims to enhance existing park facilities and expand public access to new trails, playgrounds, and community spaces throughout the region. The […]
- He Cannot Speak With His Voice. Virginia’s Schools Still Wouldn’t Listen
Noah does not speak with his voice. He speaks with his hands, with the careful shape of signs his family has worked hard to learn, with the urgency in his eyes when something is wrong, and with the full weight of a body that needs constant, skilled attention just to stay safe. At school, at […]
- Prince William County Schools Announce $2.9 Billion Budget Featuring Major Technology and Robotics Investments
The Prince William County Public Schools system is set to advance its technological capabilities through a newly proposed $2.9 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This substantial financial plan includes significant allocations for state-of-the-art robotics centers and immersive learning technologies aimed at modernizing the educational experience. The comprehensive funding package also i
- She Asked for Help. The School Answered With Suspension
Maya is thirteen years old and already exhausted by the gap between who she is and what the school day demands of her. She is bright. She wants to do well. After one of her hardest moments she wrote an apology, asked for alternatives, and said she wanted to be a good leader. Yet the […]
- Virginia’s Children With Disabilities Keep Crying Out. Their Leaders Keep Looking Away
She is eleven years old and already carries a weight no child should have to bear. On some mornings she still wakes with the quiet hope that today might be different — that the classroom will feel manageable, that the adults will notice when her body starts to tighten, that someone will offer the support […]
- Fight-or-Flight at Six Years Old: One Girl’s Lawsuit Accuses Virginia of Betraying Children With Disabilities
Ava is six years old. On good days she can sit for a short stretch of time with a favorite book or a quiet activity, her small hands moving carefully, her focus intact for a few precious minutes. On harder days the world itself feels too loud, too bright, too unpredictable. Fluorescent lights hum. Classroom […]
- Record $1.1 Billion Transfer Approved for Prince William County Schools in FY2027 Budget
The Prince William County government has officially advanced a record-breaking $1.1 billion funding transfer to the local public school system for the upcoming fiscal year. This unprecedented financial commitment represents a 12.5 percent increase in department spending, adding $123.5 million over the previous year’s adopted budget. The massive allocation is driven by a longstanding revenue-sharin
- Loudoun Parent Alleges Multi-Year Failure to Educate Son with Complex Disabilities, Seeks Private School Placement and Hundreds of Thousands in Relief
Thomas is a 10-year-old boy who lights up when he talks about fishing or riding his bike through the neighborhood. A brown-belt in taekwondo, he has a soft spot for animals—especially therapy dogs—and has spent hours learning to care for them. He is energetic, curious, and, by many accounts, eager to please when the conditions […]
- Balancing Growth and Community Impacts Through Cost-Effective Infrastructure
Loudoun County and broader Northern Virginia face escalating demands for high-voltage transmission infrastructure to support the region’s dense concentration of data centers. Dominion Energy has advanced several projects, including elements of the Loudoun Reliability Loop linking the Aspen, Golden, Mars, and Wishing Star substations near Ashburn. These lines, operating at 500 and 230 kilovolts, ar
- Prince William County Schools Proposes $2.94 Billion Budget with Major Investments in Robotics and Virtual Reality
The Prince William County Public Schools system is charting a new technological course for its students with the proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget. Superintendent LaTanya McDade recently introduced a $2.94 billion funding plan that heavily emphasizes advanced classroom technologies and specialized learning centers. This comprehensive financial blueprint outlines significant investments in augmented
- Prince William County Public Schools Approves $2.9 Million for New Special Education Staff
Prince William County Public Schools has announced a massive financial commitment to expanding specialized student support as part of its newly approved budget. The district will allocate $2.9 million specifically to hire additional staff aimed at assisting students with disabilities. This funding is embedded within a broader multi-billion dollar financial plan that transitions the district […]
- Prince William County Supervisors Discuss $34 Million Energy Relief Proposal
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors held deliberations on a proposal for a $34 million household energy rebate program. The measure seeks to offer financial assistance to residents dealing with energy expenses through a dedicated relief fund. Discussions focused on the structure and potential distribution of support to eligible households. Details of the Proposed […]
- Prince William County FY2027 Budget Lowers Property Taxes While Raising Utility Fees
Prince William County residents will experience a complex shift in their local financial obligations as the newly adopted fiscal year 2027 budget takes effect. While the overall real estate tax rate will see a notable reduction, local property owners will simultaneously face increased costs through adjustments to specific county services. The finalized budget explicitly includes […]
- Prince William County Allocates $5 Million to Affordable Housing Reserve Fund
The Prince William County Board of County Supervisors has officially allocated a five million dollar contribution to the Affordable Housing Reserve Fund for the fiscal year 2027 budget. This latest financial commitment brings the total cumulative investment in the reserve fund to twenty-one million dollars over the four-year period spanning from fiscal year 2024 to […]
- Prince William County Advances Fiscal Year 2027 Budget With Major Compensation Increases and Firm Fund Balances
Local leaders in Prince William County are moving forward with a Fiscal Year 2027 budget that prioritizes substantial compensation increases for public employees alongside strict financial reserves. The comprehensive financial plan features a significant total compensation investment of thirty-three million and seven hundred thousand dollars across various county departments. A focal point of the
- Prince William County Allocates Additional $5 Million to Affordable Housing Reserve Fund
Prince William County officials have proposed a $5 million contribution to the Affordable Housing reserve fund as a central component of the upcoming fiscal year 2027 budget. This latest financial commitment brings the total local investment in the housing reserve to a significant $21 million over the period spanning from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal […]
- Prince William County Advances Strategic Land Acquisitions and Conservation Efforts in Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
Prince William County is actively executing a series of strategic land purchases and real estate investments as part of its Fiscal Year 2027 budget planning. Local officials have allocated millions of dollars toward essential public safety infrastructure, economic redevelopment, and environmental conservation initiatives across the jurisdiction. These targeted financial commitments reflect a broad
- Prince William County Advances Historic FY2027 Budget Focusing on Education and Public Safety
Prince William County officials are advancing a comprehensive fiscal year 2027 budget that prioritizes significant compensation increases for public school employees and first responders. The proposed spending plan features a record-breaking financial transfer to the local school division alongside targeted investments in public safety retention. Local leaders emphasize that these robust financial
- Prince William County Allocates Millions for High School Robotics and Virtual Reality Technologies
Prince William County public education officials have officially outlined a comprehensive budget strategy for fiscal year 2027 that prioritizes advanced technological infrastructure in local high schools. The newly proposed educational budget totals approximately $2.9 billion and represents a significant shift in long-term financial investments for the entire district. A central component of this
- Data centers want to build their own gas turbines. Would that skirt state renewable energy laws?
Virginia’s surging energy demands require more power generation infrastructure to be built, a slow process that’s delaying new data centers waiting to be connected to the grid. Dominion Energy, the state’s largest utility, has an estimated 70 gigawatts worth of projects in their queue that need more power sources online before they can link to […]
- Prince William County Schools Unveil Budget Reallocating Funds to Robotics and Immersive Technologies
The Prince William County Public Schools system has introduced a comprehensive budget that dramatically shifts its educational investments toward advanced technology. This newly proposed financial plan totals an unprecedented $2.9 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. Officials have structured the budget to prioritize cutting-edge educational tools over traditional infrastructure expansion. The pr
- Prince William County Advances FY2027 Budget with Major Investments in Public Safety and Special Education
The Prince William County government has officially advanced its fiscal year 2027 budget, placing a heavy emphasis on public safety and special education funding. Local officials approved the addition of 85 new public safety positions alongside 59 new teacher assistants specifically designated to support students with disabilities. This comprehensive financial plan aims to address rapid […]
- Prince William County Public Schools Secures 6.27% Average Pay Increase for Staff in Historic $2.9 Billion Budget
Historic Budget Approval for Local Schools Prince William County Public Schools employees are slated to receive an average compensation increase of 6.27 percent under the latest fiscal year budget. This significant financial adjustment is explicitly designed to help the school division attract and retain high-quality teachers and support staff in a highly competitive regional labor […]
- School Board Member Highlights Effects of State Rules on Discipline
Prince William County School Board member Justin Wilk spoke at a board meeting regarding new state regulations passed in Richmond. These measures have introduced changes to how schools handle student discipline matters. The comments focused on the practical implications for maintaining order in educational settings. Justin Wilk stated that recent actions from the state capital […]
- Prince William County Directs $5 Million to Affordable Housing in FY2027 Budget
Prince William County officials have finalized the fiscal year 2027 budget, which includes a notable five million dollar contribution to the local Affordable Housing reserve fund. This latest financial commitment brings the total county investment in affordable housing initiatives to twenty-one million dollars spanning from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2027. Local leaders designed […]
- Prince William County Approves FY2027 Budget with Major Hiring Push for First Responders and Sustainability
Prince William County is preparing for significant workforce expansion in the upcoming fiscal year, driven by the newly outlined FY2027 budget. The comprehensive financial plan includes the addition of 129.28 full-time equivalent positions across various local government departments. This expansion targets critical service areas, specifically bolstering environmental sustainability initiatives and
- Prince William County Approves Historic $1.1 Billion Transfer to Public Schools
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors has officially approved a substantial financial package that includes a massive $1.1 billion transfer to Prince William County Public Schools. This historic funding allocation represents a 12.5 percent increase in department spending over the previous fiscal cycle, injecting an additional $123.5 million into the local education system. Local […]
- Northern Virginia’s Data Center Boom Threatens Family Health with Expanding Power Lines and Substations
Rapid data center construction across Loudoun and Prince William Counties is forcing a massive expansion of high-voltage transmission lines and substations that scientific research associates with higher rates of childhood leukemia and other serious illnesses. Loudoun County already contains the world’s densest concentration of these facilities, with roughly 250 operational data centers and more t
- Prince William County Approves Historic $1.1 Billion Transfer to Public Schools
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors recently approved a historic budget measure that will transfer an unprecedented $1.1 billion to Prince William County Public Schools for the upcoming fiscal year. This massive allocation represents a 12.5 percent increase from the previous fiscal cycle, injecting an additional $123.5 million directly into the local education system […]
- Prince William County Public Schools Approves Historic Budget Featuring 6.27% Average Salary Increase
Prince William County Public Schools employees are set to receive an average salary increase of 6.27 percent following the implementation of a new collective bargaining agreement. The compensation adjustment is a central component of the newly proposed 2.9 billion dollar budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This financial plan aims to maintain the school division’s […]
- Prince William County Allocates One Million Dollars for Expanded Firefighter Cancer Screenings
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors recently approved a significant measure to protect the long-term health of local emergency responders by allocating one million dollars for expanded firefighter physicals. This new funding specifically targets early cancer detection for members of the Prince William County Fire and Rescue System. The financial commitment represents a complete […]
- Substantial Compensation Increases Approved for Prince William County Employees in Fiscal Year 2027 Budget
Prince William County has finalized its fiscal year 2027 budget, which features substantial compensation increases across multiple municipal departments and public schools. The comprehensive spending plan allocates a significant financial investment toward employee retention and recruitment efforts in a highly competitive regional market. Local officials have structured the compensation adjustment
- Prince William County Proposes $29.9 Million to Fully Fund OmniRide and Advance Transportation Improvements
Prince William County officials have unveiled a proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget that includes a significant investment in local transportation infrastructure and public transit services. The comprehensive financial plan allocates $29.9 million to fully fund the local subsidy request for OmniRide, the primary transit provider for the region. This funding initiative is carefully designed to […]