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

Efforts targeting rampant Metrobus fare-evasion gather steam

By Scott McCaffrey
A Metrobus makes its way down Columbia Pike (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

What percentage of Metrobus riders hop on and travel to their destination without paying? It’s higher than you might think.

The current figure is “approaching 70%,” said Matt Letourneau, the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) representative on the board of directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA).

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News

Falls Church seeking grant to aid restoration of historic farmhouse

By Scott McCaffrey
Cherry Hill farmhouse (City of Falls Church)

Restoration of the historic Cherry Hill Farmhouse was Falls Church’s gift to future generations during the American Bicentennial of 1976.

And now, city officials hope to use the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday to secure vital infrastructure improvements for the 180-year-old structure.

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News

Arlington Democrats, Republicans polar opposites on referendums

By Scott McCaffrey
'I Voted' stickers for Arlingtonians (staff photo)

Arlington’s Democrats and Republicans have squared off with diametrically opposing positions on the county’s package of bond referendums.

The Arlington County Democratic Committee earlier voted to support the five bonds on the Nov. 5 ballot, while the Arlington County Republican Committee more recently opted to oppose all five.

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News

Columbia Pike drivers, residents, businesses face another year of discomfort

By Scott McCaffrey
Columbia Pike Multimodal Street Improvement Project overview (via Arlington County)

The still faint light at the end of the tunnel grows stronger week by week for Columbia Pike.

But that may be cold comfort for those facing at least 12 more months before years of construction are wrapped up.

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Events

Dorie Miller American Legion Post set to honor its namesake

By Scott McCaffrey
Doris "Dorie" Miller wearing his Navy Cross, 1942 (via U.S. Navy/National Archives)

American Legion Dorie Miller Post 194 and its auxiliary will celebrate their namesake during a special event in Arlington on Friday, Oct. 11.

The second annual “Dorie Miller Day” commemoration ceremony will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the county government’s headquarters at 2100 Clarendon Blvd.

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News

Falls Church mulls more towing restrictions, briefly pauses accessory-dwelling preliminaries

By Scott McCaffrey
A new accessory dwelling unit by Backyard Homes in Arlington (courtesy photo)

There will be a several-week delay, pushing the matter into November, before Falls Church officials return to the issue of accessory-dwelling units.

The request to hold off for an additional two weeks was made by city staff as they work through potential zoning language before heading to the City Council chambers.

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News

Arlington voters test-drive local candidates in 15-minute increments

By Scott McCaffrey
County Board candidate Madison Granger, in purple, at 2024 "candi-dating" event (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Arlington’s embrace of a more urban future was among the topics of discussion as local candidates recently competed in the political equivalent of speed-dating.

Hosted Oct. 6 by the League of Women Voters of Arlington & Alexandria City, the event gave voters the chance to spend 15 minutes at the table with each aspirant for County Board and School Board posts. When time was called, candidates stayed put and attendees rotated to the next table over the course of two hours.

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News

Airport redevelopment plan a work in progress

By Scott McCaffrey
Terminal 1 redevelopment proposal at Reagan National Airport (courtesy of Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority)

The money is about to start flowing, but the details remain a work in progress on redevelopment of a key portion of Reagan National Airport.

The board of directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) last month agreed to spend up to $108 million over an eight-year span for architectural and engineering services in preparation for redeveloping Terminal 1 and adjacent areas at the airport.

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News

Arlington GOP ramps up complaints about sign-stealing, other harassment

By Scott McCaffrey
A Trump campaign sign being removed in Clarendon (via Arlington GOP/X)

Arlington’s GOP chair is crying foul over what he says are attacks on the party’s campaign signage.

“Not a day goes by that I don’t hear from Republican voters about stolen, damaged or vandalized Republican yard signs,” Arlington County Republican Committee chair Matthew Hurtt told ARLnow. He pegged assaults on signs in the hundreds.

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News

Falls Church election officials take steps to address security issues

By Scott McCaffrey
Falls Church voting map (courtesy City of Falls Church)

Hoping for the best but being ready for the worst seems to be the focus of Falls Church officials when it comes to Election Day security measures.

“Is Falls Church likely to be a low-risk area? Sure,” city registrar David Bjerke told Electoral Board members on Oct. 1.

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