Woodbridge Man Sexually Abused Child Under 10 For Several Years, Police Say Woodbridge Man Sexually Abused Child Under 10 For Several Years, Police Say
Woodbridge Man Sexually Abused Child Under 10 For Several Years, Police Say A 52-year-old Virginia man is behind bars after being arrested in Fort Myer for allegedly sexually assaulting a young child over the course of more than two years, police said. Woodbridge resident Gabriel Benitez Vasquez was taken into custody after detectives with the Prince William County Police Department concluded an investigation into the reported assaults, authorities announced on Thursday, Aug. 7. The investigation found that the victim, who was under the age of 10 at the time of the alleged assaults, was sexually abused on more than one occasion between January 2019 and March 2021 b…
Repeat Jobless Claims Hit Four-Year High Amid Weak July Jobs Report Repeat Jobless Claims Hit Four-Year High Amid Weak July Jobs Report
Repeat Jobless Claims Hit Four-Year High Amid Weak July Jobs Report The number of Americans continuing to file for unemployment benefits has surged to its highest level in nearly four years, according to new federal data. Continued unemployment claims topped 1.97 million during the week ending on Saturday, July 26, the Department of Labor said on Thursday, Aug. 7. That's the most since early November 2021, when the insured unemployment level reached 2.04 million. Repeat claims rose by 38,000 from the previous week. The DOL data signals that more jobseekers are struggling to find work and remain on unemployment. In the Northeast, se…
New DNA Tech Convicts Man In 25-Year-Old Rape Case In Western Mass New DNA Tech Convicts Man In 25-Year-Old Rape Case In Western Mass
New DNA Tech Convicts Man In 25-Year-Old Rape Case In Western Mass More than two decades after a woman on a walk in Western Massachusetts was pulled into the woods and raped, justice has been served, authorities said.  Jamie Dodge, now of Maine, pleaded guilty to aggravated rape and kidnapping in a 2000 sexual assault, the Worcester County District Attorney's Office said.  He was sentenced to 12 to 15 years in state prison, followed by three years’ probation. “This resolution brings a long-overdue measure of justice and accountability,” said Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni. “For 25 years, the victim in this case lived without answers…
Coastal Concerns Grow As Atlantic Tropical Activity Ramps Up Coastal Concerns Grow As Atlantic Tropical Activity Ramps Up
Coastal Concerns Grow As Atlantic Tropical Activity Ramps Up The Atlantic hurricane season is ramping up, and forecasters are urging caution as several areas of tropical activity could impact the US Southeast and the Caribbean in the coming days. “The tropics were unusually quiet last August and into the start of September," AccuWeather Lead Hurricane Expert Alex DaSilva. "The activity we’re seeing in the Atlantic basin right now is typical, not unusual. Every season is different." From Friday, Aug. 8 to Sunday, Aug. 10, meteorologists are closely monitoring conditions near the Southeast coast, where a medium risk of tropical development could b…
Felon With Gun Stashed In Knee Brace Busted In DC After Lewd Act: Officials Felon With Gun Stashed In Knee Brace Busted In DC After Lewd Act: Officials
Felon With Gun Stashed In Knee Brace Busted In DC After Lewd Act: Officials An “aggressive panhandler” with dozens of arrests on his record—as well as prior convictions in Maryland and Virginia—is heading back to prison after DC police say they found a loaded gun tucked inside his knee brace. Lawrence Jordan, 44, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, according to federal officials. Jordan was caught on Nov. 23, 2023, when officers responded around 6:15 a.m. to the 1300 block of H Street NE for a report of aggressive panhandling, officials said. Police recognized J…
59 Pounds of Pot Seized From Germany-Bound Suitcases at Dulles: Vegas Woman Busted 59 Pounds of Pot Seized From Germany-Bound Suitcases at Dulles: Vegas Woman Busted
59 Pounds of Pot Seized From Germany-Bound Suitcases at Dulles: Vegas Woman Busted A Las Vegas woman’s trip to Germany was cut short at Dulles International Airport in Virginia — thanks to the 59 pounds of weed federal officers say she tried to fly out with. US Customs and Border Protection officers arrested 42-year-old Aleshia Anne Pinheiro at Washington Dulles International Airport on Sunday, Aug. 3, after discovering more than two dozen kilograms of marijuana packed into her luggage, officials announced Tuesday. Investigators said they were scanning passenger baggage bound for Frankfurt when they came across two hard-sided suitcases packed with 50 vacuum-sealed package…
Spotsy Man Dies After Car Plunges Into Embankment In High-Speed Crash, Sheriff Says Spotsy Man Dies After Car Plunges Into Embankment In High-Speed Crash, Sheriff Says
Spotsy Man Dies After Car Plunges Into Embankment In High-Speed Crash, Sheriff Says A speeding driver who wasn’t wearing a seatbelt was killed in a violent crash in Virginia, officials confirmed. Andre’ Johnson, of Spotsylvania, was pronounced dead on Sunday, Aug. 3, after his white 2010 Ford Crown Victoria veered off the road in the 6800 block of Towles Mill Road and plummeted down an embankment, according to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office. “Mr. Johnson was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash,” Major Delbert Myrick said in a statement. “Preliminary findings indicate that speed may have been a contributing factor.” Deputies responded to the scene jus…
Virginia’s Tax‑Free Weekend Is Back — 3 Days To Shop Without Sales Tax Virginia’s Tax‑Free Weekend Is Back — 3 Days To Shop Without Sales Tax
Virginia’s Tax‑Free Weekend Is Back — 3 Days To Shop Without Sales Tax Are you ready, Virginia shoppers? The Commonwealth’s annual Tax‑Free Weekend is back, running Friday, Aug. 1 through Sunday, Aug. 3. For three days only, all state and local sales tax disappears on qualifying items—Virginia’s base state sales tax is 5.3% in most areas, so the savings add up quickly. That means clothing and footwear under $100 per item, school supplies under $20, energy‑efficient appliances, and select emergency‑preparedness gear are all fair game. It’s the perfect moment to refresh your closet and your cart. Shop fashions for back‑to‑school and beyond at Shein, TJ Maxx,&nbs…
Tornado Warnings, Flash Flooding Slam Maryland, Virginia As Severe Storms Move In Tornado Warnings, Flash Flooding Slam Maryland, Virginia As Severe Storms Move In
Tornado Warnings, Flash Flooding Slam Maryland, Virginia As Severe Storms Move In With a cold front moving into the region, forecasters are cautioning residents and business owners in the DMV area to be prepared for wicked storms and possible flooding.  Multiple rounds of thunderstorms are possible on Thursday, July 31, with widespread totals of one to two inches, and bringing the potential for rain rates of one to two inches in 30 minutes in some areas. Tornado Warnings were also issued on Thursday in parts of Maryland and Virginia. According to the National Weather Service, localized rainfall could hit up to six inches in some metro areas, and "multiple instances…
Nervous Fredericksburg Driver, Passenger Caught With Drugs, Gun In Traffic Stop: Police Nervous Fredericksburg Driver, Passenger Caught With Drugs, Gun In Traffic Stop: Police
Nervous Fredericksburg Driver, Passenger Caught With Drugs, Gun In Traffic Stop: Police Acting guilty can get you caught—and that’s exactly what happened during a routine traffic stop in Virginia that led to major charges, police said. Ashlee Brown-Stone and Robert Robinson Jr. proved to be poor actors after being pulled over on Monday, July 28, by an officer who noticed their vehicle driving on Race Street near Emancipation Highway. What drew the officer's attention? The vehicle had no front license plate and improperly displayed registration decals, according to the Fredericksburg Police Department. Police said the pair avoided eye contact and appeared visibly nervous durin…
Energy Drink Cans Contain Vodka Seltzer, FDA Recall Warns: What To Know Energy Drink Cans Contain Vodka Seltzer, FDA Recall Warns: What To Know
Energy Drink Cans Contain Vodka Seltzer, FDA Recall Warns: What To Know A popular energy drink is being recalled because some of its cans were accidentally filled with hard seltzer. High Noon is recalling certain 12-packs of its vodka seltzer, the Food and Drug Administration said on Wednesday, July 30. The alcoholic beverage was discovered in cans labeled as Celsius energy drinks. The recall affects certain High Noon Beach Variety Packs sent to distributors and retailers in several states, including New York and Virginia. The packs of 12-ounce cans were shipped between Monday, July 21, and Wednesday, July 23. Some cans in two production lots are labeled …
Patient Tries To Disarm Officer After Breaking Free At Sentera Medical Center, Police Say Patient Tries To Disarm Officer After Breaking Free At Sentera Medical Center, Police Say
Patient Tries To Disarm Officer After Breaking Free At Sentera Medical Center, Police Say A man being evaluated at a Virginia hospital allegedly broke free from his restraints and tried to take an officer’s gun, police said. Anthony Jermaine Bowles, 33, of Woodbridge, was in custody for an evaluation at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center on Opitz Boulevard in Woodbridge around 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 29, when he became combative and removed his restraints, according to the Prince William County Police Department. Police said Bowles left the room, and a struggle ensued with the officer. During the encounter, Bowles “attempted to reach for the officer’s firearm,” the departm…