Following inquiries by Virginia and Maryland’s Senators, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) disclosed today, Jan.17, that it is losing, on average, $400,000 each weekday during the government shutdown. In response, the Senators issued the following statement:

All 35 Virginia State Parks have special programming over Spring Break March 30-April 15 and cabins, lodges and campgrounds are open and ready for visitors. The popular activity of geo-caching is available at all the parks.

An April 28 presentation by noted small horse farm expert Jane Meyer of Australia will be coupled with a visit to Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District's model horse farm in Gainesville VA. Register by April 18 with PWSWCD.

The Prince William County VA Police Department invites County residents to help observe pedestrian and bicyclist safety during the “Street Smart” education and enforcement campaign during the week of April 1-7.

Prince William County VA Police Department has posted a lookout and a Crime Solvers for a suspect in the armed robbery of the Bank of America in Gainesville shortly after noon today.

Prince William County VA School Board has approved its $861 million operating budget for 2012-13. This includes step increases for the school division's approximately 5,000 teachers and 5,000 support personnel. The spending plan requires $5 million in new cuts to cover the cost of the pay increases, according to Phil Kavits, director of communications.

School caution lights that flash when students are attending Prince William County VA public will continue to flash as usual during the schools' hiatus for spring break, April 2-9.

Little wigglers will probably giggle and stay glued to their seats when you take them to see "ZooZoo" at the Hylton Performing Arts Center in Manassas on Sunday, April 22, at 2 p.m. Using no dialogue, a talented cast plays mischievous animals and inanimate objects that adopt human characteristics. Each take lasts about four to seven minutes. See Spare Time.

Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is pushing the Plant More Plants campaign to help improve the Chesapeake Bay. The campaign encourages residents to help protect the Chesapeake Bay while having fun, improving their yards and reducing polluted runoff.