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

‘Palestine Alphabet Book’ placed under review at Falls Church library

By Scott McCaffrey
A Falls Church Library Board of Trustees meeting (via City of Falls Church)

A children’s book about Palestine is under review at a Falls Church library following a complaint alleging antisemitic language.

“P is for Palestine: A Palestine Alphabet Book” is the work in question. Library Director Megan Dotzler said at a Feb. 5 meeting that a complaint had been lodged, leading to the review.

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News

Beyer: Arlington Democrats need to run up vote totals in November

By Scott McCaffrey
Rep. Don Beyer speaks to Arlington Democrats, February 2025 (screenshot via Arlington Democrats)

Will the Arlington electorate deliver a record-setting vote for Democrats in November’s statewide elections?

Rep. Don Beyer (D-8) proposed this goal at the Feb. 5 Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting.

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Schools

APS transgender policy faces dilemma after change in athletic league’s rules

By Scott McCaffrey and Dave Facinoli
Arlington School Board 2025 (screenshot via Arlington Public Schools)

A major policy shift by the Virginia High School League (VHSL) could impact how Arlington Public Schools approaches transgender athletes.

VHSL announced this week that it will follow an executive order from President Donald Trump that attempts to ban students born male from competing on girls teams, threatening financial sanctions if schools don’t comply.

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News

Ebbin measure aimed at local-government transparency delayed for more study

By Scott McCaffrey
Sen. Adam Ebbin (via adamebbin.com)

Arlington leaders had their worries addressed, but concerns expressed by leaders in Fairfax County helped to kill, for 2025, a bill aimed at ensuring transparency in local-government decisionmaking.

The measure, patroned by Virginia Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39), had sailed through the upper chamber unanimously on Jan. 31.

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News

Pike leaders envision economic-development gains in wake of transportation pains

By Scott McCaffrey
Columbia Pike approaching S. Greenbrier Street, before and after transportation upgrade (Arlington County)

With three years of a sometimes harrowing transportation-improvement effort coming to a close by the end of the year, the Columbia Pike corridor is primed a new chapter of growth.

“We are, together, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel” on road, transit and pedestrian/bicyclist upgrades up and down the 5-mile corridor, said Hui Wang of the Arlington Department of Environmental Services.

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News

‘Second signature’ towing debate has arrived in Falls Church

By Scott McCaffrey
Advanced Towing tow truck outside the company's lot in Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Falls Church officials appear split on whether it’s a good idea to impose a “second signature” requirement before vehicles are towed from private property.

But before the matter circles back to City Council members for a final decision, it will move through at least one advisory body and a public-review process.

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News

Bill to ease liquor restrictions gets support from Arlington restaurateurs

By Katie Taranto and Scott McCaffrey
Drinks at Salt in Rosslyn in 2021 (courtesy of Salt)

A state bill that would loosen restrictions on liquor sales is picking up support from members of Arlington’s restaurant scene.

Restaurants with mixed beverage licenses in Virginia are mandated to make at least 45% of sales from food and no more than 55% of sales from liquor-based mixed beverages. Senate Bill 1163 would lower the food sale requirement to 30%, allowing higher revenue percentages from liquor — something multiple restaurant owners told ARLnow they would welcome.

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News

Democratic School Board contenders, challenger to Del. Hope kick off campaigns

By Scott McCaffrey
Monique Bryant (screenshot via Arlington Democrats)

Arlington Democrats now have two candidates vying for an open School Board seat.

Monique “Moe” Bryant and June Prakash formally kicked off campaigns Wednesday night (Feb. 5) at the monthly Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting.

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News

Electoral Board: One fewer early-voting site would work for June primary

By Scott McCaffrey
Voting at Arlington Central Library on Nov. 7, 2023 (staff photo by James Jarvis)

The Arlington Electoral Board believes three, rather than four, early-voting locations should be fine for June’s primary election.

Board members voted 3-0 Tuesday (Feb. 4) to ask County Board members to consider removing Long Bridge Aquatics & Fitness Center from the list of early-voting sites for the primary.

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News

Deer culling efforts unlikely in Falls Church as leaders plan hunting ban

By Scott McCaffrey
Deer in a local neighborhood (Flickr pool photo by Wolfkann)

Deer culling efforts are unlikely to get off the ground in Falls Church any time soon, city leaders indicated this week.

“There’s no evidence that there’s an overpopulation of deer,” the city’s animal-control officer, James Overholt, told City Council members during a Monday night work session.

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News

Centennial of Bozman’s birth a chance to reinvent ‘Arlington Way’

By Scott McCaffrey
William and Ellen Bozman in 1990s (via GazetteLeader archives)

The upcoming birth centennial of an Arlington civic icon may be an opportunity to reimagine “the Arlington Way” of community-based, consensus government.

County Board Chairman Takis Karantonis tells ARLnow he wants to use the 100th anniversary of the birth of the late Board member Ellen Bozman in April both to honor her legacy and lead to the county into the future.

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