A suicide bomber struck a crowd of funeral mourners Monday north of Baghdad, taking more than 30 lives at the end of one of the deadliest months of the war so far for U.S. forces. At least 104 American troops were reported killed in April. The rising toll among Americans pointed to a potentially deadly trend: More troops exposed to more dangers as they try to reclaim control of Baghdad under the joint security plan being implemented by U.S. and Iraqi forces.

Scott and White announced Monday that it has entered an agreement to jointly own and operate a 120-bed acute care hospital with Lake of the Hills Medical Center in the Marble Falls area. The facility is expected to be completed in 2009 and could cost $100 million, according to Dr. Alfred Knight, Scott and White president and CEO. He said the facility could result in 400 to 500 full-time jobs.

BELTON - A convicted child molester who jumped bail more than 10 years ago is headed back to Bell County to face three counts of aggravated sexual assault after being arrested in Stonewall, Okla., last week. Troy Glen Jernigan, 52, is being held at the Pontotoc County Jail in Oklahoma while he awaits extradition to Texas.

JARRELL - Landowners protesting the planned expansion of a quarry operation near Jarrell agreed not to file a motion to overturn a permit for the operation of a rock crusher at the site in exchange for reimbursement for part of the landowners´ legal fees and other concessions. Sam Thomas of Round Top Ranch in Williamson County and Kirk Michaux of Solana Ranch near Salado were among those who sought to overturn the permit to operate a rock crusher at the northwest corner of County Roads 344 and 305 in Williamson County.

BELTON - Five voting locations opened Monday across Bell County for registered voters to cast their ballots early in the state´s constitutional amendment election. Those same five locations also will be the only polling places for the May 12 election.

About 40 residents took part in the first of four planned public meetings on the process to update the city´s comprehensive plan, broaching subjects as diverse as neighborhood dogs barking too loudly to the merits of tax incentives for incoming industry. The meeting, held at Lamar Middle School, located in Temple City Council District 1, on Monday, is part of the overall process by the city and its consultant, Kendig Keast Collaborative of Sugar Land, to gain public input on issues such as housing, neighborhoods, community appearance, transportation and commercial revitalization among other topics for use in updating the city´s plan. The comprehensive plan will provide details of community development for 2007 through 2015 and general guidance for 2016-2025.

DALLAS - With stubble on his cheeks and resignation in his voice, Dirk Nowitzki didn´t look or sound anything like a dominant player determined to prevent one of the most embarrassing, stunning upsets in NBA history. Maybe he was sapped by the long flight back from Oakland and film session that immediately followed. Or perhaps the listless appearance was just further proof of how much the Golden State Warriors have flustered Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks while winning three of the first four games in this first-round series.

HOUSTON - A change of scenery was just what the Houston Rockets needed to regain control of their playoff series with Utah. Tracy McGrady had 26 points and a career-high 16 assists, and the Rockets beat the Jazz 96-92 on Monday night to take a 3-2 lead in their best-of-seven series.

Jerry Jones will spend almost as much time next season rooting against Cleveland as he will rooting for his Dallas Cowboys. That´s because the Cowboys now have the Browns´ first pick, courtesy of Cleveland´s desire to get back into the first round of last weekend´s draft to grab Brady Quinn as he went into free-fall. Dallas finally gave the Browns the pick they needed to take the Notre Dame quarterback - for Cleveland´s first pick next year.

TORONTO (AP) - Roy Halladay got into a rhythm and retired the Texas Rangers in a hurry. Halladay threw a five-hitter, Aaron Hill hit a two-run homer and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Rangers 6-1 Monday night.