State Senators and Delegates who represent parts of Prince William County at the state legislature (General Assembly) will conduct a hearing for the public on Saturday, Jan. 7, from 3 to 5 p.m., at Prince William County government's James J. McCoart Administrative Building, off Prince William Parkway at 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, VA 22192.

Prior to the 2012 Virginia Construction Code being adopted, the Building Official was primarily required to enforce requirements related to swimming pool safety barriers and swimming pool electrical requirements. Prince William County must now also enforce circulation design, diving water envelopes, new barrier requirements and energy conservation requirements, according to the county's Building Official. The comment period, procedures and time line are described below. Comments due by Jan.11, 2017.

See your tax money at work. Manassas City Public Schools will host community tours of the new Baldwin Elementary and Baldwin Intermediate schools on Monday, Dec. 19 from 5 to 8 p.m. Division staff will provide guided tours throughout the evening and the public is invited to attend.

The governor discussed revenues and taxes, spending and saving and said Virginia is currently missing out on $250-300 million a year that it could collect under the Marketplace Fairness Act. He is asking Congress to pass this legislation so internet sales are taxed the same was as brick-and-mortar sales.

Hoping to bring down the cost of generic drugs, Virginia's Attorney General Mark R. Herring on Dec. 16 joined with 18 other state attorneys general in filing a federal lawsuit against six generic drug-makers. The suit alleges that the firms conspired to artificially inflate and manipulate prices and to reduce competition in the market for two drugs in the United States: doxycycline hyclate delayed release, an antibiotic, and glyburide, an oral diabetes medication.

Prince William County VA police blotter for Dec. 14, 2016.

Governor McAuliffe’s budget proposal for 2017-18 includes $31.7 million in new funds to expand and improve treatment for mental health and substance abuse disorder services in state facilities, community services boards, and in local and regional jails as well as a comprehensive evaluation of Virginia’s behavioral health system.

The public is invited to learn about and provide input on two important initiatives tonight, Dec. 14, at the Virginia Department of Transportation’s District Office in Fairfax. There will be an open house, atown hall meeting on prioritizing transportation projects in the region, and a public hearing to receive formal comment on the Atlantic Gateway projects.