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

First candidates emerge in race for Falls Church City Council

By Scott McCaffrey
City Council agenda-setting meeting (City of Falls Church)

The race for four seats on the Falls Church City Council is underway.

Incumbents Laura Downs and David Snyder have already qualified for the Nov. 4 ballot. Several other aspirants, including incumbent Marybeth Connelly, have started the process of qualifying, city elections director David Bjerke told ARLnow.

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News

Impending REAL ID deadline brings surge of customers at Arlington DMV sites

By Scott McCaffrey
REAL ID countdown clock at Reagan National Airport (courtesy MWAA)

Customers are flocking to Department of Motor Vehicles locations across the country, including in Arlington, as a deadline to get REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses approaches.

Arlington’s two service centers were recently singled out by DMV officials as areas where customer traffic had increased significantly in the run-up to the May 7 deadline changing access rules for airline flights and government buildings.

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News

Plans to add 73 units at Shirlington House cruise through initial review meeting

By Scott McCaffrey
Architectural rendering of proposed new apartment building on Shirlington House parcel (via Snell Properties)

A developer’s plans to add 73 units while retaining the existing Shirlington House apartment building have cruised relatively unscathed through the county’s site-plan review process.

“It’s a good project,” James Lantelme, a member of the Planning Commission who serves on the panel evaluating the proposal, said on Monday.

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News

Agency envisions bus rapid transit along Columbia Pike and across the Potomac

By Dan Egitto and Scott McCaffrey
A proposed network of bus rapid transit lines across Northern Virginia (via NVTA)

A new long-term “blueprint” to dramatically expand Northern Virginia’s bus rapid transit lines calls for significant investment along core Arlington routes.

A draft Bus Rapid Transit Action Plan, unveiled yesterday (Wednesday) is meant to guide agencies throughout the region as they consider future transit investments. A proposed map of possible BRT lines envisions two routes connecting Columbia Pike to Crystal City and D.C., and another route running east from Falls Church into Rosslyn, across the Potomac River and into Georgetown.

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News

Tysons casino proponent donates $15K to Arlington delegates

By Scott McCaffrey and Jared Serre
Dels. Alfonso Lopez, Patrick Hope and Adele McClure (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

A developer hoping to bring casino gambling to Northern Virginia has contributed $15,000 to two of Arlington’s state delegates.

Incumbent Del. Patrick Hope (D-1) on March 26 received a $10,000 campaign contribution from Reston-based Comstock Hospitality Holdings, which for the past two years has worked to secure General Assembly approval to allow for a casino in Tysons.

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News

Falls Church payments for Arlington firefighters and EMS could jump 20%

By Scott McCaffrey
Fire Station #6 serves Arlington and Falls Church (via Arlington County)

The amount that the City of Falls Church pays Arlington County for fire and ambulance services could be about to surge.

Under a proposed new agreement, the projected cost of these services would increase by 20% — from an anticipated $3.24 million to $3.89 million.

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News

Arlington ambulance fees are increasing to at least $1,000 per trip

By Scott McCaffrey
An ACFD ambulance drives down Wilson Blvd (file photo by Jay Westcott)

Fees for Arlington ambulance trips are going up in July, with baseline costs increasing to between $1,000 and $1,500.

The newly approved Fiscal Year 2026 budget will raise fees for transport to $1,000 for basic life support and $1,500 for advanced life support, plus $18 per mile. Current rates are $750 and $1,000, depending on the level of service, plus $15 per mile.

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Schools

Potential cuts to special education funding could add more difficulties for APS budget

By Scott McCaffrey
APS director of secondary special education Kenneth Brown (screenshot via APS)

Possible reductions in federal funds for special education could put more stresses on Arlington Public Schools’ budget proposal.

“There are questions, concerns, uncertainties” about the Trump administration’s plans for special education funds, said Kenneth Brown, the school system’s director of secondary-level special education, at an April 10 School Board meeting.

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Schools

School Board candidates call for better public engagement at APS

By Scott McCaffrey
School Board candidates June Prakash and Monique "Moe" Bryant (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The two candidates vying for the Democratic School Board endorsement in Arlington say school leaders must do better in listening and acting on community input.

“Conversations need to be happening with staff, students and community,” said June Prakash, who is competing with Monique “Moe” Bryant for the seat being vacated by Board member Mary Kadera.

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News

New Green Valley farmers market draws a crowd with fresh produce and hot bites

By Scott McCaffrey
Green Valley farmers market (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

With beautiful weather and tables loaded with local goods, the new Green Valley farmers market’s second week in business attracted a host of vendors and shoppers.

The market’s opening day earlier this month had been marred by a combination of cold and rainy weather. On Friday, however, plentiful sunshine and temperatures in the 70s — combined with plentiful fresh produce and ready-to-eat offerings — made for an almost picture-perfect evening from 4-7 p.m.

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News

New county fees raise concerns for Arlington performing arts groups

By Scott McCaffrey
The Arlington Cultural Affairs building at 3700 S. Four Mile Run (via Arlington County)

Arlington County is changing the way it bills performing arts groups for services, raising concerns among some advocates.

Beginning July 1, the county will shift from charging groups a 10% surcharge for tickets to charging an hourly fee for each staff member or contractor who provides services at a county- or school system-owned theater facility.

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News

New accessory dwelling policy approved in unanimous Falls Church vote

By Scott McCaffrey
An accessory dwelling unit by Backyard Homes in North Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The Falls Church City Council has reached a compromise on accessory dwelling units, allowing for by-right development on most single-family parcels.

The unanimous 7-0 vote followed public discussions with the public last summer and nearly a year of further deliberation. Most public speakers showed up in support of the decision, although some controversy remains on issues such as setbacks.

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