WASHINGTON (AP) A New York woman died of inhalation anthrax on Wednesday, the fourth person to perish in a spreading wave of bioterrorism. A co-worker underwent tests for a suspicious skin lesion, heightening concern the disease was spreading outside the mail system. Despite an intensive four-week investigation by the FBI and health experts, Attorney General John Ashcroft said,

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) Heavy bombers went into action over northern Afghanistan on Wednesday, pounding front-line Taliban positions in a dramatic increase in U.S. support for opposition forces on the battlefield. In this southern stronghold, Taliban authorities took the first foreign journalists allowed into the city since the airstrikes began to the ruins of a hospital they claimed was badly damaged in U.S. military assaults earlier in the day. There was no independent confirmation of the claim, which said 15 people died and 25 were seriously wounded. Low-flying American jets and what appeared to be high-flying bombers struck Taliban positions about 30 miles north of Kabul, raising huge clouds of smoke as they unleashed bombs and missiles.

About 40 people gathered Wednesday at the Temple Senior Fellowship Center to celebrate Halloween with a lunchtime party, complete with costumes and scary music, to show Halloween is not just for children.

WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. economy, weak from a yearlong slowdown and battered by the terrorist attacks, declined in the July-September quarter in the strongest signal yet the country has slipped into a recession. The Bush administration insisted that quick congressional passage of a stimulus package could avoid a full-blown downturn. Private economists said the real worry now is whether a mild recession will become something much worse as a result of more threats of terrorist attacks.

The United Way of Central Texas has raised $282,304, or 31 percent of the 2001 campaign goal, Executive Director Ann Thompson said Wednesday.Last week Mrs. Thompson reported $208,772, or 23 percent of this year

The Copperas Cove Bulldogs have little to worry about heading into Friday's 7:30 p.m. game against the Temple Wildcats. Unbeaten and ranked No. 2 in the state in Class 5A by The Associated Press, they've already clinched a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season."They're a very talented team that deserves to be the No. 2 or even the No 1 team in Class 5A," Temple coach David Beal said. "They have talent at every position and have tremendous team speed. They're obviously great in the kicking game, which has added to their season and makes them a great football team."One couldn't say that about the Bulldogs (8-0 overall, 3-0 in District 13-5A) five or six years ago. Back then Cove was the perennial doormat of the district, but now those days are long gone. by Will Wright

HARKER HEIGHTS

The Temple College men's basketball team will begin its regular-season schedule at 7:30 p.m. today with a non-conference game against Navarro College in Corsicana.Coach Kirby Johnson guided the Leopards to a 27-5 record and a trip to the NJCAA Region V Tournament semifinals last season, but this TC edition will feature an entirely new cast of players. Among the top incoming freshmen are 6-7 forwards Edjuan Green and Jamil Aliyy, 6-5 wing Chris Burns, and 5-10 guard Sergio Sanchez.TC will battle Trinity Valley Community College at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Athens before playing its home opener against Mountain View College at 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday.Coach Kim Sebek's Lady Leopards will begin their regular season at 3 p.m. Friday against LSU-Eunice at the San Jacinto Classic in Houston. TC, which went 14-16 last season, will play tournament host San Jacinto at 3 p.m. Saturday before facing Blinn College in its home opener at 5:30 p.m. next Wednesday.A complete season preview of TC's men's and women's teams will appear in the Nov. 7 edition of the Telegram.

NEW YORK (AP)