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

Arlington lags months behind in release of County Board minutes

By Scott McCaffrey
The Arlington County Board at its June 15, 2024 meeting (via Arlington County)

Arlington residents for several years have been following the saga of Missing Middle. Now it’s a case of missing minutes.

Minutes, which give a description of the proceedings of each County Board meeting and chronicle the actions taken, haven’t been posted for public review since April.

Go to Arlington lags months behind in release of County Board minutes Read more
Schools

APS leadership starts early to avoid repeat of 2023 health-care debacle

By Scott McCaffrey
Members of the local teachers union, Arlington Education Association, protest the Kaiser contract termination during the Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, School Board meeting (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Leaders of Arlington Public Schools are getting an early start on health-insurance renewal, while bringing employees into the conversation from the very beginning.

The goal, Superintendent Francisco Durán told School Board members Tuesday (Oct. 29), is to do better than in 2023, when confusion over a change in health-care providers and poor communication with the rank-and-file about it sparked outrage and led to an auditor’s investigation.

Go to APS leadership starts early to avoid repeat of 2023 health-care debacle Read more
News

Leftover funds from Falls Church budget likely to be used for new park

By Scott McCaffrey
Trees at the Fellows property in Falls Church (via City of Falls Church)

Members of the Falls Church City Council appear ready to jumpstart plans for the city’s newest park.

As they determine what to do with the city government’s $5.3 million fiscal 2024 surplus, Council members seem enthusiastic to allocate $1.5 million to complete design and move forward with construction on what they call the Fellows site.

Go to Leftover funds from Falls Church budget likely to be used for new park Read more
News

New Falls Church police chief: ‘We’re making progress’ on road safety

By Scott McCaffrey
Police Chief Shahram Fard (City of Falls Church)

Falls Church’s new-in-2024 police chief wants one of his eventual legacies to be safety improvements that benefit the drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists who share the city’s roads.

“I’ve made it a priority — we have stepped up enforcement,” Shahram Fard told City Council members Monday night (Oct. 28). “I take traffic safety very, very seriously.”

Go to New Falls Church police chief: ‘We’re making progress’ on road safety Read more
News

Gulf Branch, Long Branch nature centers expanding hours next month

By Scott McCaffrey
Gulf Branch Nature Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington’s two county-government-operated nature centers will see their operating days doubled in two weeks.

The county’s Department of Parks and Recreation has announced plans for Long Branch and Gulf Branch nature centers to be open six days a week for the winter season, starting on Tuesday, Nov. 12.

Go to Gulf Branch, Long Branch nature centers expanding hours next month Read more
News

Arlington Independent Media boosters gear up to rebuild finances, operations

By Scott McCaffrey
Arlington Independent Media staff at work in earlier times (via Arlington County)

Arlington Independent Media now has new board of directors and the outlines of a battle plan to bring itself back from the brink of extinction.

“We’re not giving up the ghost,” the organization’s outgoing secretary, Claire Seaton, said at the end of AIM’s annual membership meeting, held Sunday (Oct. 27).

Go to Arlington Independent Media boosters gear up to rebuild finances, operations Read more
News

New county LGBTQ+ advisory panel starts prioritizing issues to tackle

By Scott McCaffrey
LGBTQ+ rainbow pride flag (Photo by Sophie Emeny via Unsplash)

The Arlington government’s new LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee held its first meeting this week, electing a chair and vice chair and beginning to set priorities.

“I want to hear the different ideas everyone has, and how we can work together,” said Laman Ben-Trahoret, a committee member, on Monday (Oct. 21).

Go to New county LGBTQ+ advisory panel starts prioritizing issues to tackle Read more
News

City Council candidates offer top ways to improve Falls Church transportation

By Scott McCaffrey
City Council candidates Laura Downs and John Murphy (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

At the recent Falls Church Chamber of Commerce candidate forum, the two aspirants running in the special election for City Council were posed this hypothetical situation.

“If you had $50 million handed to you,” they were asked, “how would you use it to make transportation better in the city?”

Go to City Council candidates offer top ways to improve Falls Church transportation Read more
News

At forum, Beyer unenthusiastic about need for federal probe into jail operations

By Scott McCaffrey
2024 Arlington NAACP candidate forum (via Arlington NAACP)

U.S. Rep. Don Beyer says he does not, at present, desire to see a federal investigation into conditions at the Arlington County Detention Facility.

But speaking at a Monday (Oct. 21) candidate forum hosted by the Arlington NAACP, Beyer (D-Va.) did seek more interaction between local officials and their federal counterparts on the issue.

Go to At forum, Beyer unenthusiastic about need for federal probe into jail operations Read more
View More Stories