SPORTS: Battlefield High golf team wins opening meet; Lyles wins Olympic gold. PAGE 11
August 8, 2024 | Vol. 23, No. 33 | www.princewilliamtimes.com | $2.00 Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.
‘Divine 9’ groups energized by Harris campaign Although local Black alumni fraternities, sororities are officially nonpolitical, many members are lining up behind one of their own. By Evelyn Mejia Staff Writer
In 2019, one of Vice President Kamala Harris’s first stops for her then-presidential campaign was the Pink Ice Gala for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. in South Carolina, where Harris spoke to thousands of her fellow sorority sisters about her plans if elected. Although Harris’ presidential campaign fell short then, her sorority sisters and thousands of members of other “Divine Nine” organizations continued their support when she was selected as Joe Biden’s running mate. For decades, members of Black Greek-letter fraternities and sororities have helped shape communities across the country, including Prince William County. Now, with one of their own vying for the nation’s highest office, the groups are energized and preparing to launch a massive voter registration campaign. See DIVINE 9, page 2
PHOTO BY DOUG STROUD
Kappas on Juneteenth: Vice President Kamala Harris is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. The “Kappas,” as they are known, are one of the largest local alumni chapters of “Divine Nine” fraternities and sororities. Its members recently marched in the Juneteenth parade.
Prince William middle, high school classes to be ‘cellphone free’ this fall By Cher Muzyk and Meghan Mangrum Staff Writers
PHOTO BY DOUG STROUD
Thousands turn out for back-to-school community event: Francisca Koduah, of Dumfries, looks over different-colored backpacks with her son, Borketey Anna, 9, during the Prince William County schools community back-to-school event on Saturday, Aug. 3 at Unity Reed High School. Read more online at princewilliamtimes.com
88 DULLES, VA
What’s your JAM? Check out the news in Just A Minute princewilliamtimes.com/newsletters
Woodbridge man dies in officer-involved shooting, page 3 News
Prince William County middle and high school students will return to “cellphone-free” classrooms when they head back to school this month. The school division is implementing new rules prohibiting cellphone use during instructional time in all K-8, middle and high schools, except at the Independence School, according to the school division’s website. Previously, cellphone policies were left up to individual schools, according to Meghan Silas, a school division spokesperson. That will continue to be the case for the division’s elementary schools, she said. The school division said the new cellphone policy is needed to “support students in their academic success by removing a major distraction,” according to the division’s website. See CELLPHONE, page 5
Prince William County Fair opens this weekend, page 7 Scan below to check out The JAM