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

Fairfax joblessness up 62% since start of current Trump administration

By Scott McCaffrey
Virginia Career Works Northern Region table at a University of Virginia job fair in August 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The number of Fairfax County residents counted as unemployed has risen 22% year-over-year and 62.5% since the beginning of the second Trump administration, according to new data.

A total of 23,518 residents were recorded as seeking jobs in February, according to data reported last week by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.

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News

Fairfax City leaders ratify county partnership for health, community center complex

By Scott McCaffrey
Updated design of Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center (via City of Fairfax)

Fairfax City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday night (April 28) to move forward with a plan for construction of a combined $127.2 million Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center.

The city government will cover about $54 million in construction costs, with the Fairfax County government paying the rest. The two will also split operating costs once the facility opens, based on usage rates.

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Countywide

Most of Fairfax County reporting lower apartment rents vs. spring 2025

By Scott McCaffrey
A now leasing sign for Avalon Apartments in Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Apartment rents dipped year over year across most of Fairfax County in April, according to new data.

Seven of eight different geographic corridors of the county posted declines of between 0.8% and 2.9%, according to figures reported yesterday (Tuesday) by Apartment List.

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Countywide

Fairfax County board agrees to reduce tax rate, restore some proposed cuts in budget

By Scott McCaffrey
Board Chair Jeff McKay (screenshot via Fairfax County)

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors informally adopted a $5.9 billion fiscal year 2027 budget this morning (Tuesday) that includes a small reduction in the real estate tax rate, more reserve funding and changes to proposed cuts.

The 8-2 vote during the “markup” session is a precursor to the board’s final adoption of a new budget next Tuesday, May 5, that will take effect on July 1.

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Countywide

Fairfax detective, victim rights specialist among those honored with state awards

By Scott McCaffrey
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones with 2026 Unsung Heroes Award recipients (courtesy Office of Attorney General)

Two Fairfax County Police Department employees were among 19 individuals statewide honored yesterday (Friday) at Virginia’s ninth annual Unsung Heroes Awards.

Presented by the Virginia attorney general’s office, the awards honor those in and out of government who provide extraordinary support for, and a voice to, victims of crime.

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Countywide

Langley HS student advocates for county to spend more on library materials

By Scott McCaffrey
Kingstowne Regional Library patrons checked out its offerings during opening day on April 11, 2026 (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Fairfax County supervisors are being asked to provide additional funding for library materials, with some advocates stressing the value of increasing print holdings.

“Libraries are in fact in desperate need,” Langley High School junior Mia Nash told the Board of Supervisors at an April 15 public hearing on the fiscal year 2027 budget.

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Countywide

Advocates: Housing funding is investment in Fairfax County’s long-term vision

By Scott McCaffrey
Fairfax County officials in 2025 broke ground on an affordable housing project at 2990 Telestar Court in Merrifield (staff photo by Jared Serre)

Housing advocates used last week’s Fairfax County budget hearings to press for local leaders to turn their affordable housing aspirations into reality through increased funding.

“The market on its own … is not building near enough affordable homes,” said Reston resident John Dister, one of several housing advocates to address the Board of Supervisors on April 15, one of three days of public hearings on the fiscal year 2027 budget.

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News

Gum Springs leaders rally to save ‘pillar of community’ from county budget axe

By Scott McCaffrey
Gum Springs Community Center human development specialist Terence Trent (screenshot via Fairfax County)

Civic leaders in Fairfax County’s oldest African American neighborhood are pressing local leaders to avoid a proposed budget cut that would eliminate a key staff position in their community.

The proposed reduction would “significantly affect the Gum Springs community’s future,” said Linda Brown of the New Gum Springs Civic Association.

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Countywide

Fairfax County started 2026 with more jobless residents than it did 2025, latest data shows

By Scott McCaffrey
Virginia Career Works Northern Region table at a University of Virginia job fair in August 2025 (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The number of jobless residents in Fairfax County jumped by more than a third — 33.8%, to be precise — year over year to start 2026, according to new state data.

A total of 23,749 county residents were reported seeking work in January, up from 17,744 a year before, based on figures released April 16 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement.

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News

County board OKs new Penn Daw fire station with shelter, supportive housing

By Scott McCaffrey
Planned Penn Daw Fire Station with supportive housing and emergency shelter (via BKV Group/Fairfax County)

Fairfax County supervisors on Tuesday (April 14) unanimously approved the plan to build a new Penn Daw Fire Station, supportive housing and an emergency shelter facility on a 3.5-acre tract just east of Richmond Highway.

The approval marks a significant step forward in a capital project that has been in the works for more than a decade.

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