Franklin County officials have privacy agreements while deliberating a data center, resident FOIA shows // Mineral town council members sue, alleging FOIA law violation // FOIA reveals Richmond uses people’s cell phone data to determine staffing, planning for public parks

The postcard depicts an aerial view of woodlands, cleaved roughly in half by a shimmering body of water. Just below the horizon, the text reads, “Significant new funding for Fredericksburg City Schools.” Then, in larger font at the center of the frame, “1500 Gateway delivers it, without raising your taxes.” The 1500 Gateway project, twice recommended for denial by the Fredericksburg City Planning Commission, is back for a third attempt to construct a data center campus along an 84-acre tract near Cowan Boulevard and Interstate 95. And, ahead of a public hearing before City Council tentatively scheduled for Aug. 25, developer Penzance has launched a public engagement campaign including mailers to city residents, recorded-message phone calls and individuals solicited to support the project during public comment sessions at school board and city council meetings over the past few months. “There has been a public campaign in a way that I don’t have a memory of ever happening before in the city,” Ward 3 Councilor Susanna Finn told the Free Press in an interview.

Documents obtained by Loudoun Now through a Freedom of Information Act request show Purcellville Town Manager Kwasi Fraser has not been paid by the town since June 4. The status of Fraser’s employment is unknown, but he was placed on paid administrative leave in July 2025 following his arrest alongside Vice Mayor Carl “Ben” Nett on charges of bid-rigging and conspiracy. … Neither Mayor Christopher Bertaut nor other Town Council members have responded to a request for comment on why the town has stopped paying Fraser or the status of his employment. The town has also declined to comment due to personnel matters. However, the timing of the halted payments aligns with an order from Circuit Court Judge Randy Bellows approving a motion from Special Prosecutor Eric Olsen to suspend Fraser and Nett following legislation introduced by Sen. Russet Perry (D-31) and Del. John McAuliff (D-31) that went into effect earlier this year.

When The Daily Progress asked Tuesday when Albemarle County Police Chief Sean Reeves would return from the medical leave that began nearly three months earlier, county spokeswoman Abbey Stumpf gave no indication his tenure was about to end. “At this time, Colonel Reeves remains on medical leave,” Stumpf wrote in a Tuesday afternoon email. “We will provide an update to the community when that status changes.” Less than 48 hours later, on Thursday morning, the county announced that after 25 years with the Albemarle County Police Department and a 30-year law enforcement career Reeves will retire effective Oct. 1.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is moving to equip officers with body cameras in the next two months but the agency’s policy gives it broad control over what footage will be made public by specifying any releases must be in its “best interests.” After years of delays, ICE said its field officers nationwide will have body-worn cameras by the end of September. The rollout comes after recent fatal shootings by officers enforcing President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown have intensified pressure for accountability that the cameras could provide. But the agency’s body-worn camera policy could mean taxpayers who are pitching in tens of millions of dollars to pay for the cameras may be kept in the dark about some high-profile confrontations, at least in their immediate aftermath. The policy says ICE will promptly release video of shootings and other encounters in which its agents cause death or serious injury only after determining “it is in the best interests of the agency” to do so. That gives its director discretion to release recordings that reflect well on the agency’s image while working to keep others secret, experts on body camera policies said.