Members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and their families often qualify for special tax benefits. An IRS news release describes some of the most common deductions and exclusions and tells where to get more information.

Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell said he plans to establish a task force to review school safety best practices, needs and funding challenges at all educational levels~ from kindergartens to colleges.

Congressman Gerry Connolly, who represents part of the Prince William County VA area, will hold a telephone town hall on Dec. 17 at 8 p.m.

Christmas Eve service times were incorrect for Centreville Baptist Church in the Christmas church roundup on page 19 of the Dec. 14 Bull Run Observer. Four services were listed in the roundup. Correctly, there is one service at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

Prince William County Police and Fairfax County Police are working together in an abduction-armed robbery case that appears to have begun in Fairfax and ended in Prince William.

Marshall Elementary School in Manassas VA was evacuated as a precautionary measure, according to an 11:45 a,m. news release from Prince William County Public Schools.

Residents of the Town of Occoquan, VA and other Prince William and Fairfax residents who live near the Occoquan River will hear siren blasts Thursday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m., as Fairfax County Water Authority tests the new sirens it has installed.

Prince William County VA police department's crime report for Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012 includes an arrest in a 2008 armed robbery at the Shoppers Food Warehouse in Gainesville VA.

Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative will accept evergreen Christmas wreaths, garland and trees at its Gainesville technical center in the front parking lot in the area designated by orange safety cones from Dec. 26 to Jan. 11.