Good morning, Fredericksburg.

Sheehy Subaru and Pete’s Barbershop partner for a back-to-school drive that supports kids.

The event offers free student haircuts on Aug. 8 and collects school supplies from July 20 until Aug. 7.

Spotsylvania School Board member Jennifer Craig-Ford asked local legislators to seek guidance from the attorney general on whether testing teachers without suspicion is allowed, and Sen. Tara Durant (R-Fredericksburg, Stafford) urged the board to reconsider the policy after a teacher incident raised safety concerns in the community.

Stafford County will receive $3.2M from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to support its Head Start programs—offering early education and family support for local children.

Rep. Eugene Vindman announced the funding earlier this week.

The City of Fredericksburg is upgrading overhead streetlights to LED fixtures, with 257 lights funded by $70,000 slated for completion by year's end and 1,021 lights funded by $150,000 expected by mid-2027.

The shift will cut energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Fredericksburg is testing a new pedestrian safety plan where walkers carry bright flags + reduce accidents at key crosswalks as part of a year-long pilot program.

VDOT stated lane closures for road work will affect I-95 and local roads in Fredericksburg and nearby areas from July 26 through Aug.

1, weather permitting. Drivers in Stafford County will face restrictions beginning as early as 9 p.m. (exit 143 near Aquia/Garrisonville) and should check 511 Virginia for updates.

An investigation by Housing Rights Initiative found over 100 instances at Greystar properties in Virginia and other states where voucher applicants were denied, possibly violating state laws that require landlords with four or more properties to accept rental assistance; advocates say such discrimination harms low-income families and raises costs for taxpayers.

Fredericksburg is converting all City-maintained streetlights to LED by mid-2027 to cut energy use, costs and emissions — a key part of meeting its 2035 goals.

A federal judge ruled Thursday, July 23, that the FDA did not sufficiently justify its 2023 restrictions on mifepristone - a drug used for ending early pregnancies.

The decision orders a review of the restrictions while the FDA continues its broader safety review.