WOODBRIDGE, VA — On Thursday at 2:27 PM, police were called to a home on Castlebridge Ln. due to an assault report. A 20-year-old woman witnessed an acquaintance, later identified as Prince Jakim Isaiah Maldonado, trespassing in her backyard.
As she tried to enter her home, Maldonado followed and forcefully entered, assaulting her and brandishing a firearm. He prevented her from calling emergency services by breaking her phone, although another family member was able to alert the police. Maldonado fled before officers arrived but was arrested on May 20.
The victim sustained minor injuries. It was later discovered that Maldonado had taken the victim’s vehicle without permission, which was subsequently recovered and returned. Maldonado, 24, from Dumfries, faces multiple charges including strangulation, armed burglary, abduction, and illegal possession of a firearm, among others.
He remains in custody with a pending court date.
He was captured by the U.S. Marshals.
- Virginia man wakes up to email announcing $2 million Powerball win
A Fairfax County resident discovered he had become a millionaire after checking an overnight message from the Virginia Lottery.
VIENNA, Va. — A Vienna resident claimed a $2 million Powerball prize after waking up in the early morning hours to an email from the Virginia Lottery informing him of the win.
The anonymous winner purchased his ticket online for the May 18 Powerball drawing. Around 3:15 a.m., he received notification that he had matched enough numbers to secure the $2 million prize.
“It feels surreal,” the winner told lottery officials when claiming his winnings.
The winning numbers for the May 18 drawing were 4, 13, 34, 61 and 65, with Powerball 12. The Fairfax County man used Easy Pick, allowing the lottery system to randomly generate his numbers.
Virginia law allows lottery winners of $1 million or more to remain anonymous, and the Virginia Lottery does not publicly identify those winners.
The winner said he plans to use the money to pay off his mortgage, invest a portion of the prize and help family members.
Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. The odds of winning the jackpot by matching all six numbers are 1 in 292.2 million, while the overall odds of winning any Powerball prize are 1 in 25.
Virginia Lottery proceeds support K-12 education across the state. Fairfax County received more than $56 million in lottery funding for schools during the last fiscal year. Statewide, the lottery generated more than $901 million for K-12 education in Fiscal Year 2025.
Key Points
- Vienna resident won a $2 million Powerball prize from the May 18 drawing.
- The winner learned of the prize through a Virginia Lottery email around 3:15 a.m.
- He plans to pay off his mortgage, invest and help family members.
- Virginia man wins $5.68 million jackpot after late-night online game session
Lottery Winner – A big pile of money.A Chesterfield County player struck a multimillion-dollar Virginia Lottery jackpot just minutes after logging on to play.
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. — A Chesterfield County resident won a $5,683,499 jackpot while playing the Virginia Lottery’s Virginia Cash Expander Jackpot online game, according to lottery officials.
The winner, who remains anonymous under Virginia law, said the win came late at night after he and his wife had finished watching television. After his wife went to bed, he logged on to play Virginia Lottery games online.
Just five to 10 minutes later, he hit the jackpot.
“Look at this, and tell me I’m not going crazy!” he recalled telling his wife after waking her up to show her the prize-winning screen.
The couple said they were unable to get back to sleep after realizing he had won more than $5.6 million.
Virginia law allows lottery winners of $1 million or more to claim prizes anonymously, meaning the Virginia Lottery does not release their identities publicly.
The winner told lottery officials he plans to use the money to help take care of his family.
Virginia Cash Expander Jackpot is one of the Virginia Lottery’s online instant games and features a progressive jackpot that increases until won. Players must be at least 18 years old and physically located in Virginia to participate.
Lottery officials said all profits from Virginia Lottery games support K-12 education across the state. Chesterfield County received nearly $43.4 million in lottery funds for K-12 education during the last fiscal year. Statewide, the lottery generated more than $901 million for K-12 education in Fiscal Year 2025.
Key Points
- Chesterfield County man won a $5,683,499 Virginia Cash Expander Jackpot prize.
- The jackpot was won during a late-night online gaming session.
- The winner plans to use the money to support family members.
- Hampton teacher’s thank you note turns into $2,500 surprise prize
A middle school math teacher was selected from thousands of Virginia educators after receiving a special code through the Virginia Lottery’s Thank a Teacher campaign
HAMPTON, Va. — What started as a simple thank you note ended with a surprise celebration and a cash prize for a Hampton middle school teacher after he was selected as a grand prize winner in the Virginia Lottery’s Thank a Teacher campaign.
Parker Kiser, a math teacher at Cesar Tarrant Middle School in Hampton, was randomly selected to receive a $2,500 cash prize through the annual program.
In addition to Kiser’s award, Cesar Tarrant Middle School will receive a $2,500 credit for school supplies from program partner The Supply Room.
The Virginia Lottery said Kiser’s entry was chosen from thousands submitted by teachers across the Commonwealth who entered a prize drawing using a unique code included on Thank a Teacher notes.
Lottery officials and program partners surprised Kiser with the news during a presentation at the school on June 2.
The Thank a Teacher campaign is held each year in conjunction with National Teacher Appreciation Week and allows Virginians to send messages of appreciation to K-12 public school teachers throughout the state.
Each thank you note includes artwork created by Virginia students through the annual Thank a Teacher Art Contest and contains a code that teachers can use to enter prize drawings.
According to the Virginia Lottery, a record 225,650 thank you notes were delivered to teachers across Virginia this year.
Since the program launched in 2016, more than one million thank you notes have been sent to public school educators statewide, and more than two dozen teachers have received prizes through the initiative.
The program is a partnership between the Virginia Lottery, Brightstar Lottery, NeoPollard Interactive and The Supply Room.
The Virginia Lottery noted that all lottery profits support K-12 public education across the Commonwealth. Hampton City Schools received more than $24.7M in lottery funding for education during the last fiscal year.
Key Points
- Hampton teacher Parker Kiser won a $2,500 grand prize through the Virginia Lottery’s Thank a Teacher campaign.
- Cesar Tarrant Middle School will also receive a $2,500 school supply credit.
- More than 225,000 thank you notes were delivered to Virginia teachers this year.
- Virginia Democrat Party Political Organizer Sues to Block White House UFC Event
A Virginia woman is seeking a court order to stop a proposed UFC event tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebration, arguing the event and related construction would cause both aesthetic and physical harm.
A retired federal employee from Alexandria, Virginia, has filed a lawsuit seeking to block a planned UFC event on White House grounds that has been discussed as part of celebrations marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The plaintiff, Susan F. Douglas, argues in court filings that temporary structures associated with the event would negatively impact views of historic landmarks and interfere with her ability to enjoy public spaces in Washington, D.C.
Key Points
• Lawsuit seeks to halt a proposed UFC event connected to America’s 250th anniversary
• Plaintiff claims event-related structures would cause “aesthetic injury”
• Filing also cites mobility concerns tied to osteoarthritis and access restrictions
According to the complaint, Douglas regularly visits downtown Washington and views areas surrounding the White House and National Mall. The lawsuit argues that temporary event infrastructure would diminish her enjoyment of those locations.
“The erection of the Claw and other structures for UFC Freedom 250 is causing and will continue to cause Douglas aesthetic injury,” the filing states, arguing that the installations would reduce the “personal enjoyment, experience of beauty, and feelings of national pride” she experiences when visiting the area.
Plaintiff cites health concerns
The lawsuit also raises concerns about physical access to areas affected by security measures and event preparations.
Court documents state that Douglas is nearly 70 years old and suffers from osteoarthritis in both knees. The filing says she has undergone physical therapy and other treatments and may require knee replacement surgery in the future.
Attorneys for Douglas argue that road closures, pedestrian restrictions and altered access routes associated with the event would force her to travel longer distances on foot, causing additional physical pain.
“The UFC Freedom 250-related closures and access restrictions described above have injured and will continue to injure Douglas by causing her to suffer physical pain,” the complaint states.
Event tied to America 250 celebration
The proposed UFC event has been discussed as part of broader celebrations surrounding the nation’s semiquincentennial, or 250th anniversary.
Supporters have characterized the event as a high-profile patriotic celebration intended to attract large crowds and national attention. Critics have questioned whether combat sports events belong on White House grounds and whether temporary construction could affect historic vistas and public access.
The lawsuit is one of the first legal challenges targeting the proposed event. A court has not yet ruled on the merits of the claims.
Broader debate emerges
The filing has generated significant discussion online, with supporters of the event criticizing the lawsuit as an attempt to block a public celebration, while others argue that citizens have a right to challenge government decisions that affect public spaces and historic landmarks.
Whether Douglas has legal standing and whether the alleged injuries are sufficient to justify court intervention are expected to be key questions as the case moves forward.
- Wrong-Way Driver Killed in Head-On Crash on Chincoteague Causeway
A 25-year-old Accomack County man was killed after driving the wrong way on the Chincoteague Causeway and colliding head-on with another vehicle, according to Virginia State Police.
ACCOMACK COUNTY, Va. — Virginia State Police are investigating a fatal two-vehicle crash that claimed the life of a 25-year-old man late Friday night on the Route 175 Chincoteague Causeway.
The crash occurred at approximately 10:17 p.m. when a 2000 Ford Explorer traveling eastbound in the westbound lane struck a 2014 Toyota Camry head-on, authorities said.
Key Points
• Wrong-way driver killed in head-on crash on Route 175 Chincoteague Causeway
• Impact sent Ford Explorer over a jersey barrier and into a marsh
• Driver of the second vehicle suffered minor injuries
According to state police, the Ford Explorer was traveling in the wrong lane on the causeway when it collided with the westbound Toyota Camry.
The force of the crash sent the Explorer over the jersey wall and into a nearby marsh.
Driver pronounced dead at scene
The driver of the Ford Explorer was identified as Tyler W. Crockett, 25, of New Church.
Troopers said Crockett died at the scene as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
Camry driver injured
The driver of the Toyota Camry suffered minor injuries and was treated following the collision.
Authorities have not released additional information regarding the injured driver.
Virginia State Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.