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

MWAA almost ready to unveil Dulles expansion plan sought by Trump

By Scott McCaffrey
The future terminals envisioned by the Dulles Airport master plan adopted in July 2025 (via MWAA)

The public may soon get a look at the multi-billion-dollar expansion proposal for Dulles International Airport.

Jack Potter, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), said Wednesday (July 15) that the internal plan had passed an important milestone.

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News

County board offers fee relief to Burke area residents impacted by microburst

By Scott McCaffrey
The wreckage of a smashed bus shelter on Burke Road near Peppercorn Drive after a June 22, 2026 thunderstorm (staff photo by Mary Stachyra Lopez)

Fairfax County supervisors have taken a step to ease the burden of Burke-area families impacted by last month’s microburst.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously yesterday (Tuesday) to waive costs for homeowners depositing debris at the I-66 Transfer Station or I-95 Landfill through July 29.

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Countywide

Fairfax Tree Commission could be axed in merger of environmental advisory groups

By Scott McCaffrey
Tree branches hang over Anderson Road in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Update — The dissolution of the Fairfax County Tree Commission and replacement of the Environmental Quality Advisory Council with a county environmental commission were approved on Aug. 25 with 9-1 and unanimous votes, respectively. 

Earlier: The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Aug. 25 to consider eliminating the Fairfax’s Tree Commission and consolidating some of its responsibilities with those of the Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC).

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News

McKay: Route 1 BRT remains on track despite less-than-requested regional funding

By Scott McCaffrey
Residents attend an in-person update on the Richmond Highway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project at the Gerry South Hyland Government Center on Jan. 15, 2025 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Fairfax County will receive less regional funding than desired for its planned Richmond Highway (Route 1) Bus Rapid Transit system, but a top elected official says that won’t derail the nearly billion-dollar effort.

The county government submitted a request for $463 million from the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (NVTA) to support the proposal.

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Countywide

Fairfax County homes market posts higher sales, prices in first half of 2026

By Scott McCaffrey
A for sale sign for a house in Vienna coming soon to the market (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County home sales increased year-over-year during the first six months of 2026, with average, median and per-square-foot sales prices also up.

A total of 6,289 residential properties changed hands between Jan. 1 and June 30, according to figures reported Friday (July 10) by MarketStats by ShowingTime.

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Countywide

New demographic data predicts a big rise in Fairfax County’s senior population

By Scott McCaffrey
Seniors represent a growing segment of Fairfax's population (via Vitaly Gariev/Unsplash)

Fairfax County will see significant growth in its 65-and-older population over the coming 20 years, according to newly released government estimates.

The county’s senior population is expected to grow from about 190,000 today to about 320,000 by 2045, significantly outpacing total county population growth.

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Countywide

Fairfax County begins to assess local impact of changes to state cannabis laws

By Scott McCaffrey
Cannabis cultivation (via Richard T/The CDB on Unsplash)

Fairfax County leaders have begun working to determine what local steps are needed to implement changes in state cannabis laws, and what regulatory powers they will have.

“We want to make sure we put in place what we need to put in place,” Board Chair Jeff McKay said at the July 7 meeting of the Board of Supervisors’ Land Use Policy Committee.

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Countywide

Fairfax County leaders, staff gear up for impacts of ‘Faith in Housing’ legislation

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax County approved plans in 2025 for townhouse development on part of St. Paul's Lutheran Church's property in Idylwood received Fairfax County's approval (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County staff are beginning preparations for adhering to a new state law loosening zoning regulations on development of affordable housing.

Legislation known by proponents as the “Faith in Housing” bills was enacted by the General Assembly and signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) earlier this year. Set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, it requires localities to establish a streamlined process for construction of affordable units on land owned by religious organizations or nonprofit groups.

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Countywide

Fairfax County hunts for ways to ease zoning rules for home-based day care

By Scott McCaffrey
Student in child care (photo by Gabe Pierce/Unsplash)

Fairfax County supervisors have directed staff to consider ways to reduce bureaucratic hurdles for those seeking to provide child care services in their homes to the public.

Getting approval from the county government “takes way too long,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said at a Land Use Policy Committee meeting yesterday (Tuesday).

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Countywide

Rising trash disposal costs might leave Fairfax property owners, officials holding their noses

By Scott McCaffrey
A Fairfax County solid waste management truck at the I-66 Transfer Station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax officials acknowledge they have no easy solutions to offset rising costs of operating the local government’s trash collection facilities.

Fairfax property owners might need to pay for future funding shortfalls — a possibility that may be equally unwelcome to county supervisors as they prepare for an election year in 2027.

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