The Virginia Department of Transportation says drivers in Frederick County should see improved traffic flow following the retiming of traffic signals at

21 intersections. The changes include six intersections on Route 277, Fairfax Pike, between Route 11 in Stephens City and Warrior Drive; six

intersections on Route 522, North Frederick Pike, between Indian Hollow Road and Westminster Canterbury Drive/Rivendell Court; and nine

intersections on Route 11, Valley Pike, between Renaissance Drive and Shawnee Drive, including intersections near Route 37 and the Interstate 81

ramps. VDOT says the adjustments are intended to reduce delays and fuel consumption while also improving safety and reducing rear-end crashes. The

signal-timing project covered corridors in three Shenandoah Valley counties and cost approximately $460,000. Using 2025 dollar values, VDOT

estimates the improvements will produce more than $2.7 million in annual savings from reduced travel time, fuel consumption and vehicle emissions.

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Washington County, Maryland officials are studying a series of potential restrictions on future data center development as a temporary moratorium

remains in effect. The Board of County Commissioners approved a 12-month moratorium on June 30 that temporarily stops the county from accepting,

processing or approving data center applications. County officials say the pause is intended to give them time to study the land use and determine how

future proposals could fit community and long-term planning goals. Among the potential regulations under consideration is a minimum 1,000-foot

setback from existing or future homes and a maximum noise level of 50 decibels at the property line. County staff is also recommending consideration

of water-use and energy plans, air-quality and environmental studies, noise barriers and restrictions on backup energy sources. Another proposal would

limit data centers to land zoned Planned Industrial and require developers to obtain a special exception. That process would require review by the Board

of Zoning Appeals and a public hearing before a permit could be issued. The county is also studying a possible excise tax or impact fee associated with

data center development. Planning Commission workshops are scheduled for October and November, with discussion of proposed local regulations

expected in December and January. A draft zoning amendment is currently scheduled to be available for review in March, followed by possible

consideration by the Board of County Commissioners next spring. Washington County says no data center or data center construction has been approved

by the county. The current moratorium applies only to unincorporated areas of Washington County and does not govern zoning within municipalities

such as Hagerstown, Williamsport, Boonsboro and Smithsburg.

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The Harrisonburg Fire Department is preparing to mark Fire Prevention Week with a focus on the safe use and charging of lithium-ion batteries. Fire

Prevention Week runs October 4 through 10. This year’s theme, “Charge Into Fire Safety — Safe Charging Is a Superpower,” focuses on everyday

charging habits that can help reduce the risk of lithium-ion battery fires. The Harrisonburg Fire Department will also host several public events

throughout October. Sweet Sounds of Fire Safety will be held Wednesday, October 7, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Kline’s in downtown Harrisonburg. Children

under 12 can receive a free scoop of ice cream while learning about fire safety. A Sensory Friendly Boo Bash is scheduled for Saturday, October 10,

from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fire Station 5. The event will include games, activities and emergency vehicles in a sensory-friendly environment. The

department will also host Trunk or Treat October 30 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Building on North Main Street. Harrisonburg firefighters

will participate in other community events during October, including the Skeleton Festival on October 24 and a Community Services Board Trunk or

Treat on October 27. Fire Prevention Week has been observed nationally for more than a century and commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of October

1871. Harrisonburg officials are also reminding residents of the importance of having a home fire escape plan and two possible ways out in case one

escape route is blocked by smoke or flames.

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A Loudoun County elementary school teacher has been charged with assault and battery following an investigation involving a student. The Loudoun

County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that 49-year-old Valerie Bowen of Ashburn, a teacher at Horizon Elementary School, has been charged with

assault and battery. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the school resource officer assigned to Horizon Elementary was notified Thursday, October 1, of

an alleged incident involving Bowen and a student. The Sheriff’s Office then opened an investigation into the allegation. Bowen was issued a summons

and is scheduled to appear in court. Authorities have not released additional information about the alleged incident or identified the student involved.

The Sheriff’s Office says the investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information relevant to the case is asked to contact the Loudoun County

Sheriff’s Office at 703-777-1021.

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Berkeley County is preparing to reorganize how emergency medical services are administered beginning next summer. The Berkeley County

Commission has adopted an order to dissolve the Berkeley County Emergency Ambulance Authority and transfer its operations to a new county

department called Berkeley County Emergency Medical Services. The change is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2027, allowing time for the

administrative transition. County officials say residents should not see a change in the level of ambulance service as a result of the reorganization.

Staffing, employee retirement and benefits and ambulance fees are also expected to remain unchanged. Fees currently collected by the Ambulance

Authority will continue to be used exclusively for emergency medical services in Berkeley County. County officials say the change is intended to

eliminate duplicative administrative functions and bring EMS, fire, emergency communications and emergency management under more direct

oversight of the Berkeley County Commission. The current Berkeley County Emergency Ambulance Authority was chartered as a public corporation in

1988 and serves as the county’s official 911 emergency medical provider. According to the county, the agency currently includes approximately 85

EMTs, advanced EMTs and paramedics along with six administrative employees. It operates nine ambulances each day from eight EMS coverage

stations, including five stations located at volunteer fire departments. The administrative transition to Berkeley County Emergency Medical Services is

scheduled to be completed by July 1, 2027.

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The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors has formally opposed the proposed Valley North transmission line that could cross western Loudoun County.

During its September 15 meeting, the Board approved a resolution opposing the Valley North project as proposed.

The project calls for construction of a new 765-kilovolt overhead transmission line connecting substations in Hardy County, West Virginia, and Frederick County, Maryland.

In Virginia, the proposed line would travel through a roughly 30-mile corridor crossing portions of Frederick and Clarke counties as well as western Loudoun County.

Valley Link Transmission Company LLC, a consortium involving Dominion Energy, FirstEnergy Transmission and Transource Energy, is developing the project.

The company plans another open house this fall to gather public input as potential routes are further refined.

An application for the project has not yet been filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

Valley Link is preparing for an application to the SCC in 2027.

The State Corporation Commission, rather than Loudoun County, has authority over the location and construction of high-voltage transmission lines in Virginia.

Loudoun County officials say the county has no formal regulatory role in approving the project but can participate in SCC proceedings and provide testimony.

According to the county, the SCC considers factors including the need for a proposed transmission line, impacts on electric reliability, the environment, scenic assets, historic and cultural resources and economic development when reviewing high-voltage transmission projects.

Loudoun County is also working on amendments to its 2019 Comprehensive Plan intended to improve the county’s ability to guide the location, development and management of high- voltage transmission corridors and other electrical infrastructure.

As of September 2026, the Valley North project remains in the planning and public-engagement stage, with no application yet before the SCC.

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The future of a proposed data center campus in the Kernstown area remains uncertain after its conditional-use permit did not appear on the September

23 Frederick County Board of Supervisors agenda. The Winchester Gateway project calls for a data center development on approximately 72 acres in

Frederick County. The project’s conditional-use permit had previously gone before the Frederick County Planning Commission. Following its review,

the Planning Commission unanimously recommended denial of the CUP, forwarding that recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. The permit had

been expected to advance to the Board for consideration, but the applicant pulled the CUP ahead of the September 23 meeting. Frederick County’s

official agenda for the September 23 Board of Supervisors meeting does not include the Winchester Gateway conditional-use permit. The Planning

Commission serves in an advisory role on county planning, zoning and land-use matters. Conditional-use permits ultimately require legislative approval,

including public hearings before both the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors. With the CUP no longer before supervisors at the September

23 meeting, no Board vote on the Winchester Gateway proposal took place. The project’s next steps remain uncertain.

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Harrisonburg City Council has considered an ordinance that would prohibit the city from procuring or using automatic license plate recognition systems.

The proposed ordinance, identified as ORD 26-023, appeared on the September 22 City Council agenda. According to official City of Harrisonburg

documents, Council had directed City Attorney Chris Brown during its September 8 meeting to prepare an ordinance prohibiting the city’s procurement

or use of Automatic License Plate Recognition, or ALPR, systems. Brown subsequently presented the proposed ordinance to City Council for

consideration at its September 22 meeting. The measure represents the latest step in the city’s consideration of license plate reader technology.

Discussion about drafting an ALPR ordinance had appeared as a separate item on the September 8 City Council agenda. The September 22 meeting

agenda lists the measure as "Consider approving the enactment of an Ordinance Prohibiting Procurement or Use of Automatic License Plate

Recognition Systems by the City. As of the city’s latest online meeting record, minutes from the September 22 meeting remain in draft status.

Harrisonburg’s legislative system notes that actions taken on legislation and their results are not yet available through that record.

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