Temple residents and officials turned out for the 23rd National Night Out on Tuesday at 26 block parties scattered throughout the city. Linda Blackmon, block captain for the party at Francis Graham Hall, 100 N. 7th St., said she was prepared to feed 300 people from the hall and the neighborhood.

State accountability ratings released by the Texas Education Agency on Tuesday rank three Temple schools as recognized and one as exemplary. Last year, Temple had two recognized schools and no exemplary schools. Kennedy-Powell is one of four exemplary schools out of all 102 schools in Bell County. Other exemplary campuses include Nolanville Elementary, Cedar Valley Elementary and Venable Village Elementary.

HAVANA (AP) - Fidel Castro said Tuesday that he was stable and in good spirits after surgery, according to a statement read on state television, as the Communist government tried to impose a sense of normalcy on the island

NOLANVILLE - A tiny brush blaze that started when a farmer

WACO (AP) - Among the dozen or so congressional seats Republicans are hoping to pick up this fall is the district that includes President Bush

AUSTIN - For Texas football coach Mack Brown these days, the food tastes a little sweeter, the breeze feels a little cooler and the smiles last a little longer. It comes with the territory as the coach of the defending national champion. Brown recalled moments from the Longhorns

AUSTIN - Dynamic quarterback Jerrod Johnson of Humble will play for Texas A&M beginning this fall. All-state center Marcus Zarosky of Cameron Yoe also will attend A&M but doesn

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Gary Matthews Jr. hit his second grand slam this season to highlight an eight-run fourth inning, and Adam Eaton pitched the Texas Rangers past the Minnesota Twins 9-0 Tuesday night. Michael Young also homered for Texas, which won for only the second time in nine games.

DALLAS (AP) - Coming out of high school, Troy Aikman wasn