The Blue Ridge Leader

12/16/2025

County ordinances amended related to tax requirements and exemptions https://blueridgeleader.com/county-ordinances-amended-related-to-tax-requirements-and-exemptions The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors recently approved several amendments to the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County regarding certain tax requirements and exemptions related to the transient occupancy tax, surviving spouses of armed forces members killed in the line of duty and
solar equipment. During the Board’s Dec. 10, public hearing, the Board approved the following two items:

Amending Chapter 878 – Transient Occupancy Tax

The Board amended Chapter 878 – Transient Occupancy Tax to exempt business owners who offer overnight stays only through online platforms from filing with the county monthly if they file an annual affidavit by Jan. 20 with the Commissioner of the Revenue. A change in state law by the General Assembly in 2025 permits this change.

The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors recently approved several amendments to the Codified Ordinances of Loudoun County regarding certain tax requirements and exemptions related to the transient occupancy tax, surviving spouses of armed forces members killed in the line of duty andsolar equipment.

12/16/2025

The Battle of Purcellville https://blueridgeleader.com/the-battle-of-purcellville By Vice Mayor Carl “Ben” Nett

After a two decade career in national security positions with the Secret Service, the CIA, and the Department of Defense, holding an active TS//SCI security clearance throughout, followed by a second career as a small town cop with the Purcellville Police Department—graduating first in class from the Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Training Academy in December 2022, receiving the Sheriff’s Meritorious Action Award in 2023, and being named Officer of the Year in 2024—I appreciate this opportunity to explain, after so much negative publicity, why I, after winning election to the Purcellville Town Council, was framed with eight sustained administrative charges, Brady listed, fired, indicted, and now decertified. Did I wake up one morning, take a crazy pill and suddenly decide to betray my own core values and lifetime of public service, or could it be that I am the victim of a weaponized police department working in conjunction with corrupt prosecutors, coordinating closely with opposition Town Council members, to violate my civil rights under color of law in retaliation for my political votes? I firmly assert the latter, which is why I initiated a meeting with the FBI and why I am urging the Department of Justice to initiate a civil rights investigation into the Purcellville Police Department and the Loudoun County Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.

12/12/2025

First Lady and Santa arrive by Osprey to celebrate Toys for Tots tradition https://blueridgeleader.com/first-lady-and-santa-arrive-by-osprey-to-celebrate-toys-for-tots-tradition By Valerie Cury

“This Christmas season, you, your friends, and your families should wish for the ultimate gift—love. After all, love travels further than Santa’s sleigh and America’s Ospreys,” said First Lady Melania Trump during a holiday visit to Marine Corps Base Quantico. Mrs.

12/12/2025

Subramanyam hosts dialogue on data centers and power lines https://blueridgeleader.com/subramanyam-hosts-dialogue-on-data-centers-and-power-lines By Valerie Cury

U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10) hosted the first in a series of District Dialogues on Thursday, Dec. 4, addressing data centers, power infrastructure, and increasing utility costs in Northern Virginia’s 10th Congressional District. The event, held at Stone Hill Middle School in Ashburn, allowed residents to share their perspectives directly with the Congressman, local officials, and fellow community members.

“We all are responsible for figuring out how to solve some of the problems we’re facing,” Subramanyam said, opening the discussion.

12/09/2025

VSP investigating fatal crash on Greenway https://blueridgeleader.com/vsp-investigating-fatal-crash-on-greenway Virginia State Police is investigating a fatal single vehicle crash that occurred this evening, (Dec. 8, at approximately 4:47 p.m. on Rt. 267—Dulles Greenway near Exit 6 in Loudoun County.

A vehicle was heading eastbound on Rt. 267 when it lost control, went off of the right side of the Greenway, and rolled over multiple times. The driver, James E. Beach, 29, of Manassas, Va., was ejected and died at the scene.

12/09/2025

Justice Department sues Loudoun County for violating equal protection of Christian student https://blueridgeleader.com/justice-department-sues-loudoun-county-for-violating-equal-protection-of-christian-student The Justice Department announced on Dec. 8 that it filed legal action against the Loudoun County (Va.) School Board (Loudoun County) for its denial of equal protection based on religion. The suit alleges that Loudoun County applied Policy 8040, which requires students and faculty to accept and promote gender ideology, to two Christian, male students in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

“Students do not shed their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K.

12/09/2025

LCSO Investigating Stabbing in Sterling https://blueridgeleader.com/lcso-investigating-stabbing-in-sterling The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) is investigating a stabbing that occurred on Sunday, December 7, 2025. At 10:13 p.m., deputies responded to the 100 block of North Aspen Avenue in Sterling and discovered that one adult male had been stabbed multiple times before being transported to a nearby hospital by a family member where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Preliminary findings indicate that the incident is isolated to the parties involved. The investigation remains active and ongoing.

LCSO is asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has relevant information to contact Detective Mitchell at 703-777-1021.

12/09/2025

PRCS hosts Get to know the Arts in Loudoun Exhibition https://blueridgeleader.com/prcs-hosts-get-to-know-the-arts-in-loudoun-exhibition The Loudoun County Art Advisory Committee and Parks, Recreation and Community Services will present Get to Know the Arts in Loudoun County, a special exhibition showcasing over thirty arts organizations and groups from across the county.

The exhibition highlights the diverse arts community in Loudoun County and celebrates the successes and contributions of local organizations working to create a more vibrant and creative environment. Groups from a variety of artistic disciplines are featured in this show, including performing arts, literary arts, visual arts, and arts education. Each piece reflects the unique vision and mission of the organization it represents.

Get to Know the Arts in Loudoun County will be on display from Dec. 9, through Jan. 30.

12/09/2025

Leesburg Christmas and Holiday Parade Dec. 13 https://blueridgeleader.com/leesburg-christmas-and-holiday-parade-dec-13 The Town of Leesburg will host its annual Christmas and Holiday parade on Saturday, Dec. 13 beginning at 6 p.m. To prepare, King Street will be closed to vehicular traffic at 5:15 p.m. from Battlefield Parkway to Catoctin Circle.

12/09/2025

Loudoun surplus auction of 2025 features bargains https://blueridgeleader.com/loudoun-surplus-auction-of-2025-features-bargains Just in time for winter weather, the final Loudoun County government surplus auction of 2025 features a 2015 RAM 5500 HD 4×4 Dump Truck with bed and a snow plow. Other items include a 2014 Ford F-150 XL 4×4 Truck, an IndeeLift floor lift, an assortment of Avaya telephones and accessories, inflatable archery targets, exercise equipment and outdoor trash cans. In addition, the auction includes a large assortment of books, office furniture, computers, printers and more.

12/09/2025

Overbuilt utilities, oversized consequences https://blueridgeleader.com/overbuilt-utilities-oversized-consequences Dear Editor;

I notice that the issues behind the catastrophe in Purcellville and the coming debacle in Paeonian Springs and Waterford arise from the same terrible policy. That is, to overbuild a major utility service in anticipation of substantial future growth. Which, in turn, actually creates that growth by raising costs hugely for current users, pressuring them to allow more growth to absorb those higher costs.

This, of course, is a policy suggested, supported and encouraged by some land owners and some local developers to create growth and wealth for themselves at the expense of the public. We are now seeing the terrible consequences of this policy unfolding in Purcellville—but there is still time to avoid this disaster from an overbuilt water system between Paeonian Springs and Waterford.

12/04/2025

Trump administration moves to overhaul Dulles Airport https://blueridgeleader.com/trump-administration-moves-to-overhaul-dulles-airport President Donald Trump said Tuesday, Dec. 2, that his administration will launch a major reconstruction of Washington Dulles International Airport, arguing the facility has fallen far short of its potential.

“We are also going to rebuild Dulles Airport because it’s not a good airport,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. “It should be a great airport, and it’s not a good airport at all. It’s a terrible airport.”

The president praised Eero Saarinen, architect of the airport’s landmark main terminal. “He was one of the greatest architects in the world at the time,” Trump said, noting that despite the celebrated design, “they have a great building and a bad airport.” He said, “It’s got a beautiful terminal.”

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority issued a statement in response, saying it appreciates the administration’s interest in improving Dulles. “The Airport Authority appreciates the administration’s interest in making improvements to Washington Dulles International Airport. We look forward to seeing the results of the U.S.