Author: Scott McCaffrey

A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.

Countywide

Fairfax County unemployment up from a year ago, while national rate stays flat

By Scott McCaffrey
Job candidates waiting for an interview in an office (photo via Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash)

The number of Fairfax County residents counted as unemployed rose 17% year-over-year in March, and was up 52% from two years before, according to new state data.

A total of 22,680 county residents were included in the ranks of unemployed for the month, according to figures reported May 19 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.

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Countywide

Revenue concerns may prompt Dulles Toll Road rate increase earlier than expected

By Scott McCaffrey
Dulles Toll Road gate in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Lower-than-projected use and revenue could trigger rate increases on the Dulles Toll Road in advance of the previously anticipated 2028 time frame.

Total toll road revenue for 2025 was down 2.3% year-over-year to $198.4 million in 2025, according to figures presented yesterday (Wednesday) to a Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) board of directors committee.

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Countywide

Fairfax supervisors to consider property tax rebates for years county is flush with cash

By Scott McCaffrey
Tax office in the Fairfax County Government Center (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (May 19) took the first step toward considering giving property owners tax rebates in years when the local government shows a significant budget surplus.

In a unanimous vote, supervisors agreed to a request by Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, directing staff to begin looking at the technical and cost implications of such a proposal.

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News

County board approves apartments to replace offices at ‘gateway’ to Tysons

By Scott McCaffrey
Approved design of 1950 Old Gallows Road residential project (via Torti Gallas and Partners/Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved plans on Tuesday (May 19) for 304 units of multifamily housing to replace an aging office building at 1950 Old Gallows Road in Tysons.

The development team, county staff and community “have worked together to create what I think is a much better” project than initially proposed, Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchick said.

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Countywide

McKay publicly apologizes for calling School Board member a ‘bimbo’ in heated texts

By Scott McCaffrey
Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay at May 19, 2026, Board meeting (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay publicly apologized this morning (Tuesday) for calling a school board member a “bimbo” during a heated text-message exchange over budget issues.

His language, directed at Hunter Mill District Representative Melanie Meren, was “unacceptable,” McKay acknowledged during the county board’s May 19 meeting.

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News

NOVA’s Class of 2026 urged to be proud of their past, embrace the future

By Scott McCaffrey
Northern Virginia Community College 2026 commencement (screenshot via NOVA)

Seven years ago, Jonathan “Jack” Ham took his newly earned associate’s degree from Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and stepped into the next phase of his life.

Then, on Monday morning (May 18), Dr. Ham — just 24 hours removed from having received his medical degree at the University of Virginia — stepped to the stage of EagleBank Arena in Fairfax to inspire NOVA’s Class of 2026.

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News

More input sought on planned bus rapid transit service in Route 7 corridor

By Scott McCaffrey
Participants at community forum discuss Envision Route 7 efforts (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) has embarked on a new round of community engagement in its Envision Route 7 effort to upgrade transit options.

NVTC has opened an online feedback form, asking a host of questions about how bus riders in the Route 7 corridor between Seven Corners and Alexandria’s Mark Center/Southern Towers areas currently interact with the system, and what they would like to see in the future.

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Countywide

Goal of 10K affordable units in reach, but success not guaranteed, Fairfax housing chief says

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax County officials in 2025 broke ground on an affordable housing project at 2990 Telestar Court in Merrifield (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Will the Fairfax County government be able to meet its goal of 10,000 new affordable housing units by 2034? The county’s top housing official is optimistic but hedging his bets.

“We do feel like we’re very much headed in the right direction,” said Thomas Fleetwood, director of the county’s Department of Housing and Community Development.

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News

Different paths converge as Mason celebrates its over 12,000 spring graduates

By Scott McCaffrey
George Mason University 2026 commencement ceremony (screenshot via George Mason)

The night before freshman orientation at George Mason University, 17-year-old Saniya Dilip Darediya sat in her room and cried.

Having just arrived in the U.S. from India, she recalled, “I was scared and afraid I might not belong here.”

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Countywide

Staff proposal for new ‘trash tax’ wins few backers among Fairfax County supervisors

By Scott McCaffrey
Trash collection bin outside a townhouse in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County supervisors have reacted tepidly to a staff proposal for imposing what might be termed a “trash tax” on Fairfax’s property owners to support solid waste disposal.

“I don’t think we’re ready. It’s kind of a hard sell,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said in response to the proposal, floated at the May 12 meeting of the board’s Environment Committee.

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