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

Metro officials eye impacts of return-to-office push by incoming Trump administration

By Scott McCaffrey
Commuters wait for a train at the McLean Metro station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

It’s something that hasn’t been seen in nearly five years: A large percentage of the federal workforce exclusively back in the office — with many using Metro to get there.

But the incoming Trump administration has signaled it plans a major back-to-the-office push, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) leaders are watching carefully to see how it plays out.

Go to Metro officials eye impacts of return-to-office push by incoming Trump administration Read more
Countywide

Silver Line riders may see more trains, faster trips in their future

By Scott McCaffrey
Silver Line signage at Reston Town Center station (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Riders on Metro’s Silver Line and other lines serving Fairfax County could see a number of service improvements coming down the track.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s board of directors got a first look at the transit agency’s fiscal year 2026 budget conditions and, if funding allows, potential service improvements at a meeting of its finance and capital committee last Thursday (Nov. 21).

Go to Silver Line riders may see more trains, faster trips in their future Read more
Countywide

Passengers at Dulles expected to grow, costs to airlines drop in 2025

By Scott McCaffrey
The James A. Wilding Arrival Hall at Dulles International Airport (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) expects performance at Dulles International Airport to have a solid tailwind throughout 2025.

The authority’s calendar-year-2025 budget projects 13.7 million passenger enplanements at the airport in the coming year. If it transpires, passenger counts for 2025 would rise slightly from updated 2024 projections and be up 10.5% from 2019, the last year before arrival of Covid sent air travel into a tailspin.

Go to Passengers at Dulles expected to grow, costs to airlines drop in 2025 Read more
News

County board allows housing on vacant commercial sites in Springfield

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax County is considering allowing multi-family residential development at existing office and retail sites on Springfield Blvd and Amherst Avenue (via Fairfax County)

Redevelopment of vacant commercial parcels in Springfield into housing is one step closer to reality, though there are still contentious issues to be worked through later in the process.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Comprehensive Plan amendments on Tuesday (Nov. 19) to permit up to 732 multifamily units and ground-floor non-residential uses on multiple parcels along Springfield Blvd and Amherst Avenue.

Go to County board allows housing on vacant commercial sites in Springfield Read more
Countywide

Boosters, critics of Fairfax County casino gird for 2025 legislative battle

By Scott McCaffrey
Roulette table and chips (via Kaysha/Unsplash)

With just seven weeks before the start of the 2025 General Assembly session, supporters and opponents of a proposed casino operation in Tysons are dusting off their arguments and ramping up their efforts.

In the latest round in the fight, advocates on both sides of the issue used a public hearing on the county’s draft 2025 legislative priorities and the public comment period at the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday (Nov. 19) to focus attention on the matter.

Go to Boosters, critics of Fairfax County casino gird for 2025 legislative battle Read more
Countywide

Advocates for Palestinians call for Fairfax County to divest from Israel

By Scott McCaffrey
Pro-Palestinian protestors at a Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Activists calling for Fairfax County leaders to take a stance on the violence currently devastating the Middle East have again found themselves met with silence.

At the Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday (Tuesday), resident Rob Bradley used the public-comment period to urge local leaders to pass a resolution calling for an unconditional ceasefire between Israel, Hamas, which governs Gaza, and Hezbollah, the paramilitary group in Lebanon.

Go to Advocates for Palestinians call for Fairfax County to divest from Israel Read more
Countywide

Fairfax’s Democratic supervisors seek a game plan for second Trump era

By Scott McCaffrey
Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay addresses the incoming Trump administration's potential impact on Fairfax County (via Fairfax County Channel 16)

Fairfax County supervisors want to ensure the county government isn’t caught flat-footed by public policy revisions undertaken by the incoming Trump administration and Republican Congress.

Supervisors voted 9-1 along party lines yesterday (Tuesday) to direct County Executive Bryan Hill and staff to analyze potential impacts on everything from federal government employment and commercial real estate to transportation and climate change.

Go to Fairfax’s Democratic supervisors seek a game plan for second Trump era Read more
Countywide

Per-square-foot home costs continue rising across Fairfax County

By Scott McCaffrey
Home porch (via Francesa Tosolini/Unsplash)

Homebuyers across Fairfax County paid, on average, 7.8% more per square foot in October than they did a year before.

Fairfax’s average per-square-foot price of $374, up from $347 in October 2023, was in the middle of the Northern Virginia pack, but the year-over-year increase was on the high side across the D.C. region and broader Mid-Atlantic corridor.

Go to Per-square-foot home costs continue rising across Fairfax County Read more
Countywide

More funds to evaluate facility conditions approved by Fairfax County School Board

By Scott McCaffrey
A rendering of Armstrong Elementary School's main entrance after planned renovation (via FCPS)

Fairfax County School Board members hope an infusion of $3 million in additional cash will help create an objective evaluation of public school facilities as new renovation timetables are developed.

Board members voted 11-0, with one abstention, on Thursday (Nov. 14) to add the funding to $2 million previously appropriated. It will support upcoming work by consultants evaluating the conditions of all schools, athletic facilities and administrative buildings.

Go to More funds to evaluate facility conditions approved by Fairfax County School Board Read more
Countywide

FCPS superintendent secures early, 4-year contract extension

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid has had her contract extended (via Fairfax County Public Schools/YouTube)

Dr. Michelle Reid is going to stick around as superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools.

Though her existing contract was set to run through June 2026, the Fairfax County School Board voted yesterday (Thursday) to give Reid a new four-year contract that could bring her annual salary close to a half-million dollars by its conclusion.

Go to FCPS superintendent secures early, 4-year contract extension Read more
View More Stories