VIRGINIA BRIEFING

UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT

Homes Searched in Hunt for Arlington Woman

Several homes were searched late Tuesday and yesterday as investigators continued to hunt for an Arlington County college student who was last seen over the weekend near the University of Vermont, where she is a senior.

Police in Burlington, Vt., said they executed search warrants -- including one that was served at a house in nearby Richmond, Vt. -- but declined to say what was found, if anything, that might lead them to Michelle Gardner-Quinn, 21.

Also yesterday, more than two dozen volunteers, led by Gardner-Quinn's brother, combed through bushes and back yards in the area where she was last seen early Saturday. They looked for her clothing, including a gray peacoat and a green cardigan, police said.

Gardner-Quinn, who is majoring in Latin American studies and environmental science, disappeared after a night out with friends. She was last seen about 2:15 a.m. walking toward campus with a man whose cellphone she had borrowed. Her parents reported her missing Saturday night after she failed to meet them for dinner.

Police also said that they had located a man who was driving a white hatchback and had tried to lure a woman into his vehicle about 20 minutes after Gardner-Quinn was last seen. Police said he was interviewed but was not considered a suspect.

-- Jamie Stockwell

NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Clinic Serving HIV-AIDS Patients to Stay Open

The Whitman-Walker Clinic will maintain its Northern Virginia operation and location beyond 2006 because its financial outlook has improved considerably, chief executive Donald Blanchon said yesterday.

When the nonprofit organization had severe budget problems nearly 18 months ago, its office at Lee Highway and George Mason Drive remained open only through temporary funding from the state and local governments. Since then, Blanchon said, it has increased the number of people treated there by increasing the primary care provided.