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.

News

At Tysons rally, labor groups press Spanberger to sign Fairfax casino bill

By Scott McCaffrey
Proponents of Tysons entertainment complex rally at site (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Members of labor groups rallied Wednesday (March 25) in support of plans by Comstock Companies to develop an entertainment complex anchored by a casino in Tysons.

“Fairfax residents deserve to have good jobs,” said Emebet Samuel Kassa of UNITE HERE Local 25, which represents unionized hotel, restaurant and casino workers across the area.

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Countywide

Facility upkeep, traffic camera enforcement among priorities for additional funding

By Scott McCaffrey
Department of Management and Budget director Philip Hagen (screenshot via Fairfax County)

After reviewing its third-quarter financial picture, the Fairfax County government has identified about $52 million in additional funding that local leaders could spend or save, as they desire.

“There’s a number of good news stories in here,” Board Chair Jeff McKay said after a March 24 staff presentation to the Board’s Budget Policy Committee.

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News

Dulles Airport’s incoming Concourse E set for another major step forward

By Scott McCaffrey
Interior construction work inside future Concourse E at Dulles International Airport (via MWAA)

Dulles International Airport is about to mark another milestone as the opening of its 14-gate Concourse E draws closer.

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority expects to take possession of concessions facilities from Turner Construction Co. on March 30. On April 1, contractors for restaurants, retail outlets and other concessionaires will be able to start work on their spaces.

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News

Fairfax City Council member named a ’40 Under 40′ honoree for N. Va. leadership

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax City Council member Anthony Amos (via campaign website)

A member of the Fairfax City Council has been named one of Northern Virginia’s “40 Under 40” for 2026 in honor of his professional and civic contributions.

Anthony Amos will be among those celebrated at two events set for April 14, jointly sponsored by Leadership Fairfax and the Leadership Center of Arlington.

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Countywide

Compromise on ActiveFairfax plan aims to ease tensions between trail users, nature advocates

By Scott McCaffrey
Bicycle riders on trail (via Vito Natale/Unsplash)

Fairfax County staff have revised language in the proposed Active Transportation and Trails Plan in an effort to smooth out friction between advocates for pedestrians/bicyclists and environmental issues.

The Fairfax County Planning Commission on Wednesday night (March 18) reviewed the proposed changes and recommended approval of the new plan by the Board of Supervisors when the issue is addressed in May.

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Countywide

Iran war has caused steep reduction in flights from Dulles to Middle East

By Scott McCaffrey
Emirates has reduced service to Dulles, including replacing A380 aircraft (above) with smaller 777s (courtesy Emirates)

War in the Mideast is having an impact on passenger activity at Dulles International Airport.

About two-thirds of flights from Dulles to the broader Middle East region have been cancelled since the U.S. and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) President and CEO Jack Potter told the authority’s board of directors on March 18.

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News

Fairfax County OKs Chantilly land sale to data center builder, as some cry foul

By Scott McCaffrey
Security gate blocks access to the Fairfax County Police Department's training compound in Chantilly (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Rebuffing concerns raised by residents on both environmental and transparency grounds, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved the sale of 41.7 acres of county-owned land in Chantilly for development as a data center.

Without making any comments, the supervisors voted 9-0 on Tuesday (March 17) to sell part of the police department’s training facility at 3721 Stonecroft Blvd to Starwood Capital Group under the name SCG Capital Holdings LLC.

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Countywide

New Va. data show extent of Fairfax’s unemployment uptick during 2025

By Scott McCaffrey
Job seekers at a Virginia Universities Career Fair in Merrifield in August 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County ended 2025 with nearly 20% more residents unable to find work than it started the year.

New figures reported yesterday (Wednesday) by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advance pegged the county’s unemployment rate at 3.3% in December. Though down from 3.8% in November, it was up from 2.7% at the start of the year.

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Countywide

Volunteer Master Gardeners honored for 50 years of service in Fairfax County

By Scott McCaffrey
County supervisors on March 17, 2026 honored Fairfax County Master Gardeners (courtesy Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (March 17) lauded 50 years of service by the county’s Master Gardeners program.

During a presentation, Board Chairman Jeff McKay praised the “dedication, expertise and spirit of service” of volunteers who have supported the effort over the past half-century.

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News

Affordable housing approved for emptying Franconia Governmental Center site

By Scott McCaffrey
Rendering of affordable housing on Franconia Governmental Center site (via Soto Architecture & Urban Design/Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved a rezoning of the former Franconia Governmental Center site that will permit it to be redeveloped with affordable housing.

Though criticized by some, the proposed 120-unit apartment building won support from housing advocates, and the overall development plan “improved dramatically” during a lengthy community review, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk said after yesterday’s 8-0 decision.

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