STAFFORD — Move over, Tyra Banks. Local senior citizens will strut their stuff on the runway during the second-annual Top Senior Model Contest on July 11.

STAFFORD — On Tuesday at 12:30 p.m., following a brief ribbon cutting ceremony, MediCorp Health System and Stafford County will officially open the Courthouse Road entrance to Stafford Hospital Center’s medical campus.  Located east of U.S. 1 on Courthouse Road, the entrance will provide another main access point to the hospital medical campus.

Washington, DC – This July 4th, the Trust for the National Mall will co-host with the National Park Service and its partner Eastern National a tent with information, games, and other activities for families visiting the National Mall.  The tent will feature information about the day’s events, including activities taking place on the Mall as well as the fireworks display that evening.

MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO — Marine Corps Base Quantico is scheduled to host its 25th annual Independence Day celebration at Lunga Park on Saturday. 

STAFFORD — City police arrested a man for assault and battery, abduction, breaking and entering, public intoxication, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and destruction of property.

STAFFORD — Stafford Hospital Center will host a free Summer Safety Fair on July 11.

STAFFORD – Visitors to Stafford County can find plenty to do July 4th to celebrate our nation’s independence. The following events are planned throughout the county:

RICHMOND — Virginia is for Lovers, the official state tourism slogan for Virginia, was recently named one of the top 10 tourism marketing campaigns of all time.

STAFFORD — City police are searching for a Fredericksburg man wanted for domestic assault and battery, malicious wounding, abduction, and destruction of property.

Condemned killer Paul Warner Powell wants to be executed in Virginia’s electric chair.

STAFFORD — A Colonial Forge High School English teacher and Forensics coach died Sunday from injuries sustained in a car accident. She had been visiting family members in Egypt at the time.

Stafford offices, departments and facilities, except the Regional Landfill on Eskimo Hill Road, will be closed July 3 in observance of Independence Day, July 4. County pools, Aquia Landing and the Historic Port of Falmouth will all be open July 3 and July 4.

RICHMOND — Traffic crash fatalities are on the decrease across the Commonwealth, and Virginia State Police are encouraging all motorists to continue to make safety behind the wheel a priority during the upcoming Independence Day holiday. As of June 29, there have been 345 reported traffic fatalities compared to 412 this time last year. 

STAFFORD — A Stafford man accused of robbing a Wawa on Garrisonville Road faced a jury trial last week.

It could be a return to the sky for more travelers this Fourth of July weekend. AAA says the number of area residents taking to the roads for the holiday weekend may fall by nearly 3 percent.

Michael Jackson is most fondly remembered for his original style of music and revolutionary dance moves.

STAFFORD — Thomas Krems was sentenced last week in Stafford County Circuit Court to 50 years in prison with all but seven years and two months suspended.

STAFFORD — A new trial has been set for a Dumfries man accused of committing a murder in Fredericksburg.

STAFFORD — From corn-shucking contests to an evening spent at on the National Mall, watching as fireworks explode to the 1812 Overture, Stafford is a gateway to terrific Fourth of July celebrations.

CULPEPER — Veronica Dubose, 29, was among nine killed last week when two trains collided on Metro’s Red Line in the worst accident ever in the 30-plus year history of the regional transit service.

STAFFORD — Jermaine Montgomery was sentenced this week to three life sentences for the murder of Chinese-food delivery driver Yong Hui Zhang.

The Museum of the Confederacy definitely is coming to Appomattox, museum and town officials say, but it may take a little longer than first anticipated because of fundraising issues.

The following was taken from calls to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office from June 22-29:

STAFFORD — Some car vandalisms took place between the evening of June 24 and the next morning in the Crescent Point area of Stafford, according to the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office. 

WOODBRIDGE — Two BRAC Community Information Fairs are planned for this month.

Republican Bob McDonnell last week became the first candidate for governor to go on television in the general election campaign.

New state laws that ban text messaging while driving and get tougher on drunken drivers take effect this week.

Air Force Airman Christina L. Anable graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

No more texting while driving. No more loitering on bridges. And no more smoking in many restaurants.

Prince William County police say they’re still searching for two gunmen who forced their way into a Dale City house and shot two men.