BELTON - The reaction to a lethal injection case in Kentucky by the United States Supreme Court has Bell County District Attorney Henry Garza asking that the execution of convicted murderer Denard Manns be delayed. According to an Associated Press article, the high court´s examination of Kentucky´s lethal injection procedures has caused a delay in carrying out executions in other states.

CAMERON - The addition of science labs will expand the academic offerings available to high school students and adults at the Temple College Cameron Education Center, said Dr. John Bicknell, the center´s director. Steady growth indicates a need for expansion, and for almost two years, officials have been working on plans to add science labs and more classroom space.

BALTIMORE - A grieving father won a nearly $11 million verdict Wednesday against a fundamentalist Kansas church that pickets military funerals out of a belief that the war in Iraq is a punishment for the nation´s tolerance of homosexuality. Albert Snyder of York, Pa., sued the Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified damages after members demonstrated at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.

Annexation might be in the city´s near future when the Temple City Council considers items related to city-initiated annexation and, separately, a voluntary annexation request during its regular meeting beginning at 5 p.m. today at the Municipal Building. City Manager David Blackburn said city staff members were still in the process of preparing a packet of information that would include details and maps of the annexation recommendations for the council members as of Wednesday. Until the packets are completed, specific information on the city areas that could be part of an agenda item related to city-initiated annexation would not be available, he said.

NOLANVILLE - Bell County commissioners soon may hear a request for a burn ban as vegetation spurred by heavy rains earlier this year dries out. An example of the potential threat came at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday as a fire in the engine compartment of a 1988 Mercury Grande Marquis started a grass fire along U.S. 190 in the westbound lane near the foot of Nolanville Hill.

Last season, the Temple College men´s basketball team had everything coach Kirby Johnson wants - talent, experience, depth. The Leopards even had something of a home-court advantage in the NJCAA Region V Tournament, getting to play at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor´s Mayborn Campus Center in nearby Belton.

The Temple College women´s basketball team begins its season today at the Breakfast Rotary Classic at South Plains College in Levelland. The Lady Leopards will get to face three of the other five teams at the Classic, beginning with Northern Oklahoma at 7 p.m. today, followed by the Wayland Baptist junior varsity at 3 p.m. Friday and Colby (Kan.) at 1 p.m. Saturday.

CLEVELAND - LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers raised a championship banner, then they collapsed. Jason Terry made six 3-point shots and scored 24 points and Dirk Nowitzki added 15 as the Dallas Mavericks, whose NBA title pursuit last season ended with a stunning first-round exit against Golden State, opened 2007-08 with a 92-74 victory over the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.

PRAIRIE VIEW - Get ready for another shocker that fits right into this crazy year in college football. Prairie View A&M is on the verge of a winning season.