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

Revised charter aims to give more sports a place on Fairfax County Athletic Council

By Scott McCaffrey
Players engage in a match at the Pickleball Club of Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Changes to membership on the Fairfax County Athletic Council could give a seat at the table to representatives from a wider array of sports.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on June 9 approved the body’s first significant charter change since 2004, slightly adjusting slots on the 23-member council.

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Countywide

Sales, prices rose in May as Fairfax’s spring real estate market finds its footing

By Scott McCaffrey
A real estate sign announces that a house for sale in Vienna is under contract (file photo)

A combination of more sales and higher average prices pushed Fairfax County’s real estate sales volume up 17% year-over-year in May, according to new data.

A total of 1,427 residential properties went to closing last month, up 11.7% from 1,278 in May 2025, according to figures that MarketStats by ShowingTime reported June 10 based on data from Bright MLS.

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News

Robotics teams from Marshall, Hayfield honored by county board for international success

By Scott McCaffrey
Marshall High School students at FIRST World Robotics Championship (via FCPS)

Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (June 9) honored students from robotics teams at two schools for participation in recent international competition.

The Hayfield Secondary School Night Hawks and Marshall High School Gryphon Robotics each competed in the FIRST Robotics World Championship, held in Houston April 29-May 2.

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News

Construction ramps around the clock to prepare Dulles Airport’s Concourse E for fall opening

By Scott McCaffrey
Construction work at the concessions area of Dulles International Airport's new Concourse E (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

With just over three months to go, a crew of 600 workers is shifting into round-the-clock mode to ensure Dulles International Airport’s $700 million Concourse E is ready on time.

“These guys are working hard to get this done,” Airport Manager Richard Golinowski said during a Wednesday (June 10) media event spotlighting progress on the 14-gate facility to be used by United Airlines.

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Countywide

Fairfax County board OKs pilot program for reduced 20-mph speeds on certain roads

By Scott McCaffrey
A 20-mph speed limit sign (via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has approved what amounts to a pilot program that will look at the impacts of reducing some road speeds from 25 to 20 mph.

Board members voted 10-0 yesterday (Tuesday) to take advantage of powers delegated by the General Assembly in 2024, giving localities the power to reduce speed limits on certain roadways under control of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

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Countywide

Fairfax County salutes Va. Declaration of Rights, as nation’s 250th birthday approaches

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax County 250th Commission display at ViVa Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County residents still have plenty of opportunities to commemorate the nation’s 250th birthday with reflection, celebration and an eye toward the future.

“It’s amazing to look at our plans for June, [and] just wait until you see July and the rest of the year,” Elizabeth Maurer, chair of the Fairfax County 250th Commission, said when briefing the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors yesterday (Tuesday).

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Countywide

Lack of agreement on state budget puts Fairfax County leaders on edge

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax legislators listen to public testimony in advance of the 2026 General Assembly session (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Fairfax County leaders are reacting with a mix of anxiety and irritation to the continued lack of a state government budget.

“This is not a trivial issue — it’s not the way a state like Virginia should be acting,” Fairfax Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at the Board of Supervisors’ meeting today (Tuesday).

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News

Redevelopment of Reston’s Bowman House tract wins support of planning commission

By Scott McCaffrey
EYA development proposal looking from Old Reston Avenue to South entrance (via Vika Virginia/Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Planning Commission on June 3 recommended approval of redevelopment plans for a 5.2-acre Reston site that will retain the historic A. Smith Bowman House as its centerpiece.

The unanimous vote sends the project to the Board of Supervisors. A public hearing has been set for July 14.

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News

Planning commission backs more density, community amenities for Lorton

By Scott McCaffrey
The Workhouse Art Center in Lorton (staff photo by James Cullum)

The Fairfax County Planning Commission on June 3 added its support to a plan to guide development of key Lorton areas for the next two to three decades.

The Lorton Core Study, now headed to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for final consideration, envisions a more urban and connected community.

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Countywide

Shrinking N. Va. job market flagged as a concern at regional economic forum

By Scott McCaffrey
Panelists Taylor Chess, Jason Stanford, Ryan McLaughlin and Terry Clower at a George Mason University regional economic forum (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

More than 20,000 Fairfax County residents were counted as jobless for the 10th consecutive month in new employment data.

With 612,551 Fairfax residents employed in the civilian workforce and 20,272 looking for jobs, April’s unemployment rate of 3.2% was up from 2.8% year-over-year, according to data reported June 3 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.

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