BELTON - Bell County residents who live near Belton should no longer expect the Belton Fire Department to be the first responder at a fire. Belton

WASHINGTON (AP) - In a calculated snub of President Bush, the Democratic-controlled Senate Foreign Relations Committee dismissed plans for a troop buildup in Iraq on Wednesday as

WASHINGTON (AP) - The minimum wage increase that was supposed to zip through Congress veered onto a collision course Wednesday as lawmakers argued over business tax breaks that would be attached to ensure Republican support. Democratic leaders in the House began laying groundwork to blame the Republicans for any impasse. Senate Democrats, however, cautioned their House colleagues not to jeopardize legislation they

The average price of regular gasoline in a Temple survey dipped below $2 per gallon Wednesday for the first time since June 2005. Regular fell 8 cents from last week to an average of $1.99 per gallon. Occasionally, there have been individual stations with the price below the $2 mark. But Temple Daily Telegram records show no regular gasoline average below $2 since June 2005.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - U.S. and Iraqi troops battled Sunni insurgents hiding in high-rise buildings on Haifa Street in the heart of Baghdad Wednesday, with snipers on roofs taking aim at gunmen in open windows as Apache attack helicopters hovered overhead. Iraq said 30 militants were killed and 27 captured.

With the call for more biofuel production from President Bush

The Houston Astros have had plenty of success during the last three seasons. They advanced to the seventh game of the National League Championship Series in 2004, reached their first World Series in 2005 and entered the final day of the 2006 season with a shot to make the playoffs.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Tracy McGrady scored 37 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 90-85 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night. Rafer Alston had 19 points and Juwan Howard added 11 as the Rockets snapped a three-game losing streak.

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Unseeded and ranked No. 81, Serena Williams made it back to a Grand Slam final with a 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over Nicole Vaidisova at the Australian Open on Thursday. Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champ, weathered Vaidisova

SAN DIEGO (AP) - As many times as Tiger Woods has played and won at Torrey Pines, he has never figured out the patchwork shades of blue in the Pacific Ocean below the cliffside course. Looking out from the fourth green Wednesday morning, his New Zealand caddie told him the darker the shade, the colder the water. It was a fitting start to his 2007 season, staring at segments that represent old and new, but blending.

DALLAS (AP) - Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin will have to wait to dominate an All-Star game. The young sensations will surely get their chance. This night belonged to one of the NHL