VIRGINIA BRIEFING

Police said initial reports indicated that the men had just committed an armed bank robbery in Prince George's County. As a result, police -- some armed with rifles -- fanned out across Alexandria's south side in search of the suspects, one of whom was thought to be armed with a rifle or shotgun. Fairfax County police assisted in the search.

Police later said they were unable to confirm the armed robbery report or the existence of a gun and disbanded their formal search for the missing suspect about 1:30 p.m.

-- Leef Smith

ARLINGTON SCHOOLS

Slimmed-Down Budget Is Submitted

Arlington County School Superintendent Robert G. Smith yesterday proposed a $410 million budget for fiscal 2008 that includes taking over the operation of Head Start classes, expanding an elementary school foreign language pilot program, updating technology and giving a 2 percent raise to all staff members.

The proposed budget represents a 4 percent increase over last year's spending plan, a smaller increase than in recent years.

"County tax revenues are not growing at the rates experienced in recent years because of expected stabilization in the area real estate market," Smith said. Cuts in the proposed budget include the elimination of a supply warehouse and reductions in central administration staff.

-- Tara Bahrampour