The National Council of State Tourism Directors bestowed its Mercury Award on Virginia for Best Travel Web Site among states at the organization's recent annual convention. Virginia reports the site was accessed by more than 6.3 million unique visitors in the 12 months following the 2011 relaunch.

Prince William County VA detectives are currently on scene in a Woodbridge neighborhood investigating a shooting involving two victims, both adult males. A suspect has been detained, according to police spokesman Officer Jonathan Perok.

As a big weekend for visitors approaches in Manassas VA, the city manager has announced that Lake Jackson Drive, which has been closed, will reopen today, Aug. 24, a week earlier than planned. Many events in connection with the historic 1863 Second Battle of Manassas will be held this weekend.

Using I-66 from the Capital Beltway west may best be left for another weekend. Motorists can expect 30-minute delays and are strongly urged to use an alternate route during the weekend construction that starts at 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 24, on Interstate 66 at the Capital Beltway, according to a news release from the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Prince William Hospital, which is building a new hospital in Haymarket, has partnered with Ronald Reagan Middle School in Haymarket VA to offer free physicals on Aug. 29 to middle school students who plan to try out or participate on any Prince William County athletic, dance, cheer or intramural team for which a physical examination is required.

Special tours highlighting significant events of the campaign and battle of Second Manassas, talks related to the battle and the Civil War in 1862, living history and historic weapons demonstrations are open to the public throughout Manassas National Battlefield Park and beyond the park boundaries in the local community beginning Aug. 25-26.

Prince William County VA Police Department's crime report for Friday, Aug. 17 includes report of human remains found by a Manassas area homeowner in the woods behind his residence. The remains were transported to the medical examiner's office for further analysis.

Amanda Wilder, a former special education teacher in Prince William County VA and an assistant principal in Fauquier County VA, will begin Aug. 20 as principal at Haydon Elementary School in the city of Manassas VA.