WASHINGTON (AP) - The top U.S. commander in Iraq told a Senate panel Thursday that improving security in Baghdad would take fewer than half as many extra troops as President Bush has chosen to commit. Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his nomination to be Army chief of staff, Gen. George Casey said he had asked for two additional Army brigades, based on recommendations of his subordinate commanders. Bush announced Jan. 10 that he would send five extra brigades as part of a buildup that would total 21,500 soldiers and Marines.

BELTON - The two eastbound lanes of U.S. 190 were closed at George Wilson Road after a three-vehicle accident in which one person was critically injured. The victim was taken by life flight to Scott & White Hospital in Temple. The extent of his injuries were unknown. The accident occurred at 10:15 a.m. and involved a dump truck and two support vehicles for street sweeper. The Belton Police Department said the highway probably would not reopen to traffic until about 1 p.m.

Youth will be served, the saying goes, and that is especially true for the week of the Bell County Youth Fair and Livestock Show. This year

Temple residents could get additional tools to improve their neighborhoods after the city council passed the first reading of an ordinance allowing the creation of neighborhood code enforcement boards Thursday during its regular meeting. The council will have the second reading and final approval of the ordinance during its Feb. 15 meeting.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate voted overwhelmingly Thursday to boost the federal minimum wage by $2.10 to $7.25 an hour over two years, but packaged the increase with small business tax cuts and limits on corporate pay that could complicate its path to become law. The increase in the minimum wage, the first in a decade, was approved 94-3, capping a nine-day debate over how to balance the wage hike with the needs of businesses that employ low-wage workers.

BELTON - Expect at least one change on the Belton school board this year as Paul Sanderford, Area 5 trustee, announced Thursday that he will not file for re-election because he wants to spend more time with his family.

HOUSTON (AP) - Oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp. on Thursday posted the largest annual profit by a U.S. company - $39.5 billion - even as earnings for the last quarter of 2006 declined 4 percent. The 2006 profit topped the previous record, also by Exxon Mobil, of $36.13 billion in 2005. The record earnings amounted to roughly $4.5 million an hour for the world

BELTON - Mary Hardin-Baylor might be playing well enough to beat just about anybody. But for now anyway, the Crusaders have to be content with beating up on the American Southwest Conference West Division. UMHB was two steps better than Texas Lutheran in every aspect - shooting, rebounding, defensive pressure - as the Crusaders stormed to their 12th consecutive victory with a 71-51 win over the Bulldogs on Thursday night at Mayborn Campus Center.

Three Temple High School senior girls basketball players were involved in an auto accident Thursday and taken to a hospital, where they were treated and released by evening. Temple coach Don Layton said doctors originally thought Natasha Patterson, 17, had muscle pulls in her back and neck and suspected a severe case of whiplash, but tests proved negative.

BELTON - It wasn

BELTON - One season removed from its namesake moving from Temple to Belton,

If all the evidence is taken at face value, the Class 5A Region IV team championship trophies for both boys and girls swimming will remain on the Gulf Coast along with most of the individual hardware. This is the grisly reality facing most of the entries, including Temple and Belton, in the region

MIAMI (AP) - He points, he pivots, he barks out more orders than a coffee shop waiter at lunchtime. When quarterback Peyton Manning is running the show for the Indianapolis Colts, it