Morning Brief: Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 — Sunny Saturday, Miller to lead White House, Stafford crash charges

Good morning, Fredericksburg.Saturday brings sunshine and a high near 62°F after Friday's rain. On Friday, President Donald Trump named Stephen Miller his new chief of staff, and prosecutors filed charges in the fatal Stafford County crash on I-95. The U.S. added 165,000 jobs in October, far more than the 65,000 economists polled by Reuters had forecast. Two community events are on today: a veterans social at noon and a data-center meeting at 3 p.m.

Today's weather

The National Weather Service forecast for Fredericksburg (grid LWX/85,43), updated 9:53 a.m. EST and retrieved 10:32 a.m. EST, calls for sunny skies today with a high near 62°F. Northwest wind 7 to 14 mph. No weather alerts are in effect for the area.

Tonight: Mostly clear, low around 36°F. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday: Patchy frost early, then sunny, high near 65°F. Southwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Sunday night low around 38°F.

This forecast is for the Fredericksburg city grid point. Nearby counties can see locally different amounts and timing.

Source: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov)

Miller named White House chief of staff

President Donald Trump announced Friday that Stephen Miller will become White House chief of staff starting Monday, Nov. 9, replacing Susie Wiles. Trump announced the change in a Truth Social post, calling Miller "one of my most trusted advisors." Wiles, who submitted her resignation Thursday evening, moves to the Trump political operation. Miller, 41, has been deputy chief of staff and the architect of the administration's immigration agenda. The shake-up comes days after Republicans lost their majorities in the House and Senate in Tuesday's midterm elections.

Source: USA Today; CNN

Stafford crash: driver charged

Prosecutors have charged the driver in Friday's fatal crash on Interstate 95 in Stafford County. Malik Jeremiah Thomas, 25, of Fredericksburg, was arrested at the scene for driving while intoxicated and later charged with two counts of aggravated involuntary manslaughter, Stafford County Commonwealth's Attorney Eric Olsen said. Thomas's blood alcohol concentration was 0.17 percent, more than twice Virginia's legal limit of 0.08 percent, according to Olsen. He is scheduled to be arraigned Monday, Nov. 9. Each manslaughter count carries up to 20 years in prison if he is convicted. The charges are allegations, and Thomas is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

The crash happened around 1:53 a.m. Friday near mile marker 141, when a Dodge Charger traveling at a high rate of speed struck the rear of a Nissan Rogue, Virginia State Police said. A mother died at the scene and her young child, under 5, later died at a hospital. The father, who was driving the Rogue, was seriously injured.

Source: Potomac Local (quoting Commonwealth's Attorney Eric Olsen and Virginia State Police)

What matters today

The Stafford County NAACP hosts a Veterans Appreciation Social from noon to 3 p.m. at Quantico Gardens Restaurant, 3987 Richmond Highway. The free gathering honors veterans past and present, with light hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. Admission is free, but seating is limited and advance registration is required.

Protect Stafford holds a public information meeting at 3 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church, 1193 White Oak Road, on the King's Highway Corridor data center proposals in southern Stafford County. The four interconnected projects — Forest Lane, Sisson North, Sisson South and Simms Farm — are scheduled for a rescheduled Planning Commission public hearing on Nov. 18 at 6 p.m.

Source: BLK FXBG Radio; FXBG Advance

What to watch

Monday, Nov. 9: Stephen Miller begins as White House chief of staff. Malik Jeremiah Thomas is arraigned in Stafford County. VDOT begins work to repair the I-95 bridges over CSX Railroad in Caroline County at mile marker 103, about a mile south of Exit 104 (Carmel Church). The $13.3 million project will replace bridge decks and repair beams; completion is expected in May 2028.

Thursday, Nov. 12: Kalahari Resorts' Spotsylvania waterpark hotel is scheduled to open, with Amtrak shuttle service noted in prior local coverage.

Source: Virginia Department of Transportation; Kalahari Resorts (via prior local coverage)

Notes — Weather: NWS grid LWX/85,43 for Fredericksburg city; generated/updated/retrieved times as stated above. Crash reporting attributes official accounts via Virginia State Police and Commonwealth's Attorney Eric Olsen as relayed by Potomac Local; victim identities were not released in those updates. Featured image is an original Go Fredericksburg illustration (no news photograph).