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

Westbound Wilson Blvd could drop to one lane near Seven Corners

By Scott McCaffrey
Wilson Blvd looking east at Arlington-Fairfax border (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Efforts to improve pedestrian safety amid a planned redevelopment project could bring a reduction to the number of lanes on Wilson Blvd just west of Arlington.

In the Seven Corners area, west of the Arlington/Fairfax county line, the Fairfax County Department of Transportation has floated the idea of reducing westbound Wilson Blvd from two lanes to one.

Go to Westbound Wilson Blvd could drop to one lane near Seven Corners Read more
News

Preservation panel opposes making applicants pay for historic-district submissions

By Scott McCaffrey
Febrey-Lothrop House, also known as the Rouse Estate, prior to its demolition in 2021 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A proposal to impose fees on applications for new historic districts in Arlington is drawing criticism from members of the county’s historic-preservation panel.

Kaydee Myers, chair of the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB), argued that the small number of applications submitted annually would result in minimal revenue, but imposing a fee could dissuade future applicants.

Go to Preservation panel opposes making applicants pay for historic-district submissions Read more
News

Solar panels coming to Central Library and three other county facilities

By Scott McCaffrey
Workers installing solar panels (via Arlington DES)

County Board members have approved new rooftop solar panels at four more county buildings, including Central Library.

Collectively, the installations are anticipated to save the county government about $850,000 in utility costs over a 25-year period.

Go to Solar panels coming to Central Library and three other county facilities Read more
News

Reagan National banks on spring break reversing traffic slump

By Scott McCaffrey
A Delta flight at the gate at Reagan National Airport (staff photo)

This winter’s “snowcrete” storm cost Reagan National Airport some passengers, but the looming spring-break season may turn things around.

January’s enplanements at Reagan National stood at just over 820,000, down 5.1% from a year before, according to data presented March 18 to the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) board of directors.

Go to Reagan National banks on spring break reversing traffic slump Read more
News

NEW: Historical-review panel supports partial preservation of Melwood site

By Scott McCaffrey
The former Nelly Custis School, now owned by Melwood (via Google Maps)

A key county advisory panel has recommended giving historic protections to portions of the former Nelly Custis School in Aurora Highlands.

The 7-4 vote by the Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board on March 18 sends the matter to the Planning Commission and County Board. And it complicates efforts by Melwood and Wesley Housing to redevelop the 1.7-acre site at 750 23rd Street S. for affordable housing.

Go to NEW: Historical-review panel supports partial preservation of Melwood site Read more
News

Number of unemployed Arlington residents jumped 23% in 2025

By Scott McCaffrey
Recruiters talk to job seekers at Amazon career day in Crystal City (file photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington ended 2025 with 23% more residents unemployed than at the start of the year.

In December, 4,676 Arlington County residents were looking for jobs and 147,611 were employed in the civilian workforce, equating to a 3.1% unemployment rate. That’s a sharp increase from January 2025, when 3,814 were unemployed for a jobless rate of 2.5%.

Go to Number of unemployed Arlington residents jumped 23% in 2025 Read more
News

Eden Center’s ‘underutilized’ police substation reopens after renovations

By Scott McCaffrey
Police Chief Shahram Fard cuts ribbon to reopen police substation (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Falls Church and business leaders celebrated the reopening of a renovated police substation at the Eden Center yesterday (Wednesday).

“This really represents a recommitment,” Mayor Letty Hardi said at the ceremony. “We are really excited. Public safety works best when it is rooted in the community.”

Go to Eden Center’s ‘underutilized’ police substation reopens after renovations Read more
Schools

New fraud hotline and conflict-of-interest policy coming to APS this spring

By Scott McCaffrey
2026 School Board members (via Arlington Public Schools)

The Arlington School Board is poised to adopt more comprehensive conflict-of-interest rules, while also authorizing a hotline for staff to report suspected financial impropriety.

Assuming the pair of new policies is adopted at the March 26 School Board meeting, the new hotline for waste, fraud and abuse will be in operation “in the coming weeks,” said Steven Marku, the school system’s director of policy and legislative affairs, at a March 12 meeting.

Go to New fraud hotline and conflict-of-interest policy coming to APS this spring Read more
News

Treasurer shifts toward short-term investments as Arlington budget picture worsens

By Scott McCaffrey
Arlington Treasurer Carla de la Pava (via Arlington County/YouTube)

Arlington’s treasurer is taking a more conservative stance on investments amid fears that local tax revenue could run short in the coming months.

“I have decided to make all of our investments fairly short-term,” Carla de la Pava told County Board members at a March 3 budget hearing. “Right now, it has been the wisest [action]. The safety of having liquid assets during this time of chaos has been really important.”

Go to Treasurer shifts toward short-term investments as Arlington budget picture worsens Read more
Schools

County proposal to withhold extra tax revenue from APS prompts criticism

By Scott McCaffrey
Belinda Folb speaks at County Board meeting (screenshot via Arlington County)

County leaders are considering criticisms of a proposal to exclude new tax revenue from a sharing agreement with Arlington Public Schools.

Despite some pushback at a Saturday meeting, County Board members largely defended County Manager Mark Schwartz’s proposal, noting current fiscal pressures.

Go to County proposal to withhold extra tax revenue from APS prompts criticism Read more
News

Arlington’s three-bedroom apartments are among the region’s most expensive

By Scott McCaffrey
Rosslyn buildings, including Central Place and 1812 N. Moore Street, as seen from 'The View of D.C.' observation deck (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Arlington has some of the most expensive three-bedroom apartments in the D.C. area, with a median asking price of $3,700 last month.

That equates to $44,400 on an annual basis — 17% higher than the median cost for a two-bedroom Arlington apartment and 55% higher than renting a one-bedroom unit, according to data provided by Zumper to ARLnow.

Go to Arlington’s three-bedroom apartments are among the region’s most expensive Read more
News

Electric ART buses lose battery much faster in the winter, new data shows

By Scott McCaffrey
An ART bus driving in the snow on N. Courthouse Road (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

County officials now have real-world data on how Arlington Transit’s electric buses operate in winter’s chill.

Frigid temperatures in late January created unique challenges for the county’s fleet, draining batteries more quickly than normal and sometimes requiring a midday recharge, said Ryan Jones, a transportation planner who briefed the county’s Transit Advisory Committee on March 10.

Go to Electric ART buses lose battery much faster in the winter, new data shows Read more
View More Stories