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

County Board may consider gas leaf blower ban this summer

By Scott McCaffrey
Leaf cleanup in Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A potential ban on gas-powered leaf blowers in Arlington is moving forward, with county staff preparing draft regulations for community and County Board consideration.

Board action as early as this summer could start the clock ticking on a multi-year phaseout period.

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News

Historic preservation position is cut from budget, limiting services

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

Budget cuts at Arlington’s historic preservation office could keep services relatively bare-bones, county officials acknowledge.

“We will need to be doing some adjustments — see what other options we have,” said Lorin Faris, the county government’s historic preservation supervisor, at the May 20 meeting of the county’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB).

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News

Sen. Favola turns focus to flipping seats in Virginia primary, considers reelection bid

By Scott McCaffrey
State Sen. Barbara Favola (file photo)

As she mulls over her own political future, Arlington’s senior state senator is seeking to help Democrats pick up seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Despite the Democratic redistricting map being overturned by the Virginia Supreme Court, Sen. Barbara Favola (D-40) believes her party has a chance in November to flip several of the five Virginia congressional seats currently held by Republicans.

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News

Chamber of Commerce honors local businesses, names new Hall of Fame member

By Scott McCaffrey
2026 Arlington Best Business Awards recipients (courtesy Arlington Chamber of Commerce)

The Arlington Chamber of Commerce on May 19 celebrated businesses and organizations that combine organizational success with a commitment to the broader community.

The 40th annual Best Business Awards drew 250 local leaders to Army Navy Country Club for “the premier celebration of businesses of all sizes in Arlington,” Chamber president/CEO Kate Bates said.

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News

Reagan National opens 600+ new parking spaces ahead of summer travel

By Scott McCaffrey
The departures lanes at Reagan National Airport (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Reagan National Airport’s parking crunch has become a little less challenging as the busy summer travel season arrives.

More than 600 new spaces became available this week, part of a parking expansion in the airport’s economy lot.

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News

Number of jobless Arlington residents up 50% since start of Trump administration

By Scott McCaffrey
Job seekers at a Crystal City career fair (file photo by Jay Westcott)

The number of Arlington residents counted as unemployed is up 11.4% year-over-year and has increased 50% since the start of the Trump administration, according to new state data.

A total of 4,814 county residents were looking for work in March, according to figures reported May 19 by the Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement. That’s up from 4,358 a year before and up from 3,212 in December 2024, the last full month of the Biden administration.

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News

County Board OKs sale of $208M in bonds, supporting infrastructure and other priorities

By Scott McCaffrey
County Board Chair Matt de Ferranti (screenshot via Arlington County)

The Arlington County Board has authorized staff to move forward with the sale of $208.4 million in 20-year general-obligation bonds.

The county government has tried to defer major bond sales as long as possible over the past two years, citing concerns about the region’s economic health and the county’s revenue conditions. But the time has come to move forward with the next sale, Board Chair Matt de Ferranti said on Saturday.

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News

County manager proposes $4.3B capital plan, seeks five bond referendums

By Scott McCaffrey
County Manager Mark Schwartz unveils capital improvement package (screenshot via Arlington County)

County voters are likely to see nearly a quarter-billion dollars spread over five local bond referendums on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Revenues from future bond sales would support County Manager Mark Schwartz’s proposed new 10-year, $4.3 billion capital improvement plan, unveiled on Tuesday evening.

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News

Chronic homelessness rises in latest Arlington count, though overall rate holds steady

By Scott McCaffrey
Volunteers and government personnel fanned out across the region in February for the 2026 Point-in-Time count (via Council of Governments)

Arlington’s level of homelessness was largely stable from 2025 to 2026, but the number of those considered chronically homeless showed a year-over-year increase.

A total of 29 single adults in Arlington were counted as chronically homeless in this year’s Point-in-Time Survey, a one-night regional tally of those experiencing homelessness across the region. That’s up from 23 a year before.

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News

‘Data walks’ offer window into prosecution and diversion programs in Arlington

By Scott McCaffrey
Commonwealth's Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti and members of her staff (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A pair of open-house-style events held over the weekend provided local residents an up-close look at the inner workings of the commonwealth’s attorney’s office.

The two Interactive Data Walks on Local Prosecution and Diversion Programs aimed to demystify the work of the prosecutor’s office, Commonwealth’s Attorney Parisa Dehghani-Tafti told ARLnow.

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News

Arlington leaders still analyzing local impact of new ‘Faith in Housing’ legislation

By Scott McCaffrey
Central United Methodist Church and Unity Homes building in Ballston on April 30, 2026 (staff photo)

Arlington leaders are still working through the implications of a change to state law making it easier for religious organizations to build affordable housing.

The Faith in Housing Act removes some, but not all, local regulatory approval for affordable housing constructed on land owned by nonprofit organizations, including religious groups. Despite some concerns from various local governments around the commonwealth, the measure had the backing of Democrats in the General Assembly and ultimately was signed by Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D).

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Schools

APS plans more limited access to iPads, promises more public engagement

By Scott McCaffrey
A student looks at an iPad (file photo)

Arlington Public Schools leaders are planning further limits on some grade levels’ access to digital devices, promising more opportunities for public feedback.

Superintendent Francisco Durán updated School Board members on May 14 regarding the status of changes and what is coming next for the program that once provided every student with a MacBook or iPad.

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