No chicken in the pot, no lights, no TV. And no dominoes. North Temple residents are coping with the aftermath of a storm that roared through Central Texas early Wednesday morning, leaving about 12,000 homes and businesses in the dark. Thursday morning, about 500 Temple customers had been without electricity for more than 24 hours.

WASHINGTON - The physician in charge of the post-traumatic stress disorder program at the Olin E. Teague Veterans Center in Temple told staff members to refrain from diagnosing PTSD because so many veterans were seeking government disability payments for the condition. “Given that we are having more and more compensation seeking veterans, I´d like to suggest that you refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out,” Norma Perez wrote in a March 20 e-mail to mental-health specialists and social workers at the VA Center in Temple. Instead, she recommended that they “consider a diagnosis of Adjustment Disorder ... “

BELTON - The Bell County Commissioners Court issued a local declaration of emergency in the wake of Wednesday´s storm, which has turned curbsides in Salado and Little River-Academy into repositories for broken trees. The storm generated downbursts of winds at more than 70 miles an hour but it was not a tornado, said Dennis Baker, Bell County emergency management coordinator.

The Temple City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission got its first look at an update to the city´s comprehensive plan during a joint workshop Thursday. The meat of the plan includes chapters on urban design and future land use, growth plan, transportation, housing and economic development. There are also chapters on community overview and implementation of the plan.

AUSTIN - Along with the price of groceries and fuel, Texans are about to see a bump in the cost of many other homegrown goods and services, too. That´s because the state´s new business tax, due for the first time next month, is hitting independent businesses harder than many had budgeted for. From the cost of a plate of barbecue to an air conditioner tune up, they´re raising their prices accordingly.

The United Way of America announced ambitious 10-year goals Thursday aimed at giving more to programs related to education, income and health care. If the initiative were successful it would cut in half the high school dropout rate and the number of families struggling financially.

AUSTIN - Rogers pitcher Dylan Kuehn nearly shut down No. 4-ranked Lexington´s high-powered offense. But the senior right-hander´s effort wasn´t enough.

BELTON - Game 1 was a 20-2 Salado slaughter. In the District 25-2A rivals´ April 8 rematch, lightning showed up just in time in the sixth inning as Troy escaped with a 5-2 win.

BASTROP - It wasn´t necessarily a traditional cleanup hitter performance, but it was exactly what the Granger Lions needed. Sophomore Dylan Barbiaux drove in three runs with an infield single and a triple and Alec Wade pitched a shutout to lead Granger to a 5-0 victory over Fayetteville in the opening game of their Class A Region IV quarterfinal baseball series on Thursday night.

BRASELTON, Ga. - Copperas Cove product Davis Dewald found his groove Thursday to help Mary Hardin-Baylor stay in the hunt at the NCAA Division III Men´s Golf Championships. Dewald fired an even-par 71, and UMHB posted a third-round 298 - its lowest of the tournament - as the Crusaders remained in a tie for seventh place heading into today´s final round at Chateau Elan Resort.

SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Spurs´ Big Three came through. Now they have to win one on the road to keep their reign as NBA champions alive. Manu Ginobili scored 25 points, Tim Duncan had 20 points and 15 rebounds, and Tony Parker added 15 points to lead the Spurs to a 99-80 victory over the New Orleans Hornets in Game 6 Thursday.