FORT HOOD - Spc. Dortire Jones is ready for a night on the town.

BELTON - A change in how Bell County fire departments respond to blazes outside Belton has some rural residents concerned. The Belton Fire Department is one step closer to handing its county fire responsibilities to other fire departments after a meeting between fire chiefs on Monday.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Accounts of the bloody battle near Najaf have produced more questions than answers, raising doubts about Iraqi security forces

AUSTIN (AP) - Merck & Co. is helping bankroll efforts to pass state laws requiring girls as young as 11 or 12 to receive the drugmaker

BELTON - Turtle Creek Village Apartments, already the largest apartment complex in the city, has plans to become even larger. The Belton City Council approved a site plan for a project last week that will add another 72 units in six buildings to the 310-unit complex.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal scientists want to tighten smog standards, a step that would allow tens of millions of Americans to breathe easier. The plan also would run head-on into President Bush

Russ Permenter came up big for the Temple Wildcats on Tuesday night against Killeen Shoemaker at Wildcat Gym. He used his 6-9 frame to score a season-high 37 points, grab 14 rebounds and block 10 shots. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, they made 24 turnovers and the Grey Wolves executed better down the stretch to give Shoemaker a 68-61 win.

Bret Stafford played four seasons of high school football, and three of them were as a Temple Wildcat. However, in May he

AUSTIN - Whether the current Mary Hardin-Baylor men

SALADO - The Salado boys and girls basketball teams each needed a home win against Troy on Tuesday night to put itself in prime playoff position. They both succeeded as the Lady Eagles scored 30 of the game

LITTLE RIVER-ACADEMY - Terms such as

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