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

Dulles airport’s year-to-date passenger numbers slip after record-breaking year

By Scott McCaffrey
Travelers at Dulles International Airport walk to security on their way to their gates (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Economic headwinds and the Middle East military conflict are impacting the bottom line at Dulles International Airport.

Through July, the airport’s year-to-date passenger count of 16.3 million was down 2.6% from 2025 figures, according to new data reported by the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

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Countywide

Fairfax County aims to become ‘a player’ in regional economic development dealmaking

By Scott McCaffrey
Woman in a lavender knitted top speaks into a microphone, hands raised in a gesturing moment in a conference room.
Fairfax County Department of Economic Initiatives Director Rebecca Moudry (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Fairfax County leaders are setting the stage to become more aggressive and nimble in competing for economic development deals.

That could include new financial incentives for businesses seeking to relocate to or within the D.C. region.

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News

County board OKs $900,000 to plan for future Chantilly arts center

By Scott McCaffrey
Older woman with short gray hair and glasses speaks at a microphone in a formal meeting room, wearing a blue-green abstract blazer.
Supervisor Kathy Smith makes a case for Chantilly Arts Hub funding (screenshot via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors earlier this month allocated nearly a million dollars to continue planning for a Chantilly arts hub.

The funding came from dollars left over at the end of the county’s fiscal year 2026 budget and was requested by Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith.

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News

Fairfax leaders hopeful two-way I-95 toll lanes plan can fix ‘biggest mistake’ in Va. highways

By Scott McCaffrey
Aerial view of a multi-lane highway surrounded by green trees, with heavy traffic on the right and lighter traffic on the left lane Waves into the distance under a blue sky.
Backup on I-95 corridor with Express Lanes in center (via Transurban/Virginia Department of Transportation)

Fairfax County leaders have reacted favorably to a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) proposal for expanding Express Lanes on I-95 to reduce traffic bottlenecks.

VDOT officials sketched out their plan on Tuesday (Sept. 22) for converting the existing reversible I-95 Express Lanes, which can be used only in one direction at a time, into a bidirectional network running 45 miles from Fairfax south to Spotsylvania County.

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News

VDOT returns with revised plan for I-495 Southside Express Lanes

By Scott McCaffrey
Multi-lane highway with cars traveling in both directions under a bright blue sky filled with fluffy white clouds; concrete barriers run along the median and roadsidelamps line the road.
I-495 heading west near Alexandria (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

State transportation leaders are back with a new plan for extending the I-495 Express Lanes on the highway’s south side that they hope will win buy-in from leaders on both sides of the Potomac River.

Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) officials briefed the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors’ Transportation Committee on Tuesday (Sept. 22) on a revamped design that would allow both for Express Lanes and future Metrorail service on the Woodrow Wilson Bridge.

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News

Fairfax County to start electronic monitoring for noisy vehicles in early 2027

By Scott McCaffrey
Exhaust pipes for a BMW car parked in Fairfax City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County officials plan to launch a 90-day pilot program in January to test automated technology that will target drivers of excessively loud vehicles.

Fairfax County Police Department officials outlined plans for the program yesterday (Tuesday) to members of the Board of Supervisors, which responded generally favorably.

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News

County board approves speedier review of Mount Vernon Country Club upgrades

By Scott McCaffrey
Entrance to Mount Vernon Country Club with brick signs on both sides and a delivery truck turning into the driveway behind landscaped trees
Entrance to Mount Vernon Country Club (via Google Maps)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors last week fast-tracked consideration of plans by the Mount Vernon Country Club to update facilities on its 128-acre site.

Mount Vernon District Supervisor Dan Storck suggested the proposal has generated no pushback, allowing for a truncated review process once it clears the county’s planning commission.

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Countywide

N. Va. Senior Olympics sets new participation record, with Fairfax leading the way

By Scott McCaffrey
Female runner in an orange tank top and bib 110 sprints on an indoor track while a group of onlookers with race bibs watches in the background.
A runner in the women's 60-meter competition at the 2026 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Fairfax County is leading the way in terms of representation in the record-breaking 2026 Northern Virginia Senior Olympics.

A total of 1,356 residents aged 50 and older from across the local area are competing in 96 events at 34 locations during the 22 days of competition.

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News

County board allows nearly 3,000 homes on Merrifield apartment site

By Scott McCaffrey
Merrifield at Dunn Loring Station apartments sign (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive plan amendment last Tuesday, Sept. 15 that could lead to nearly 3,000 new multifamily units near the Dunn Loring Metro station in Merrifield.

The vote was another procedural step forward in allowing Malkin Properties to replace its existing 706-unit Merrifield at Dunn Loring Station apartment complex with up to 2,975 units located in high-rise and mid-rise buildings.

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News

MWAA now expecting October opening for Dulles Airport’s Concourse E

By Scott McCaffrey
Interior of an airport terminal with a banner reading ‘Dulles International’ and ‘New Concourse E Arriving 2026’ on a concrete wall, escalators and travelers with luggage in the background.
A banner advertises Dulles International Airport's upcoming Concourse E over an entrance to the security screening lines (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Dulles International Airport is counting down to the planned opening of the new 14-gate Concourse E serving United Airlines, but the count will run a little longer than initially hoped for.

The opening has been pushed back from late September into October but prep work is continuing as planned, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) board of directors was told on Wednesday (Sept. 16).

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