TimesDispatch.com | News Roundtable; How the Times-Dispatch Covers Education

Road projects throughout Prince William County were scaled back or axed after state officials trimmed $2.9 billion, or 29 percent, from the commonwealth’s six-year transportation plan, according to a draft released Wednesday. The cuts became necessary as Virginia revamped its transportation plan to compensate for a shortfall in funding, higher maintenance needs and unrealistic project…

FICTION | 652 pages | Scholastic | $29.99 SLIDESHOW  Harry Potter goes on sale in Woodbridge In this latest adventure for Harry, author J.K. Rowling richly fleshes out the personalities of our favorite Hogwarts students. We’ve watched them grow for years, and now their adult personalities are emerging. Love, at least in potion form, is in the air….

MANASSAS –The look on Hylton girls basketball coach Melvin Smith’s face said it all. With five seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Bulldogs leading by 15 points, the host Stonewall Raiders were called for their 24th foul, forcing Smith into an exasperated laugh. Hylton was about to win its 12th straight contest but…

Another $2,525 has been collected this week for the 9-11 Liberty Memorial fund. “We’re 10 percent of the way with a grand total of $31,808.49,” said Janet Ellis, chairman of the 9-11 Liberty Memorial Committee. The group is committed to raising $300,000 in order to build and maintain a tribute to those area residents who…

What would you say if you had an employee who came to you every year asking for a raise that exceeded the growth of the company? His argument to you for needing the additional money is that he can’t afford to pay for his transportation maintenance or for a halfway decent education. You might concede…

It’s not a permanent solution for Dumfries, but it does help. David Whitlow of Ashland has been named Dumfries interim town manager. “I’m excited about being here,” Whitlow said. He spent much of his first day meeting with the town’s department heads and then touring the town with Mayor Melvin “Mel” Bray. “[Whitlow] is a…