The Texas Department of Transportation has the money to complete Interstate 35 projects and “there´s no need to even slow down on that project,” said state Sen. Troy Fraser, R–Horseshoe Bay. The assertion came a day after Bell County commissioners discussed an e–mail from a TxDOT official that indicated projects to widen I–35 from two to three lanes through Bell County could be in danger.

Gene Pemberton wasn´t born in Temple, but he got here as soon as he could – at age 2. Back in 1942, Pemberton´s father, an engineer for the Santa Fe Railroad, moved the family from Cameron. In the ensuing six decades, the 1958 Temple High School graduate has become a fixture in the community. For 31 years with Temple–based American Desk, he sold stadium seats to such major sports venues as the Georgia Dome. He´s entertained Temple Wildcat football fans with lively radio broadcasts for more than 20 years, officiated high school basketball for 23 years, and he´s the first and only Houston Astros team chaplain.

People have nicknamed it “the Garth Dome” for 20 years. Others likened it to a flying saucer. Detractors called it a “tin can.” The Bell County Expo Center, that colossal disc perched just south of Belton on Interstate 35, has been a hub for conventions, rodeos and shows as well as the butt of countless jokes. Even those wags who cobbled together Child Help Inc.´s Rank Amateur Night in 1987 penned a parody about its shape. “Thanks for the mammary,” a quartet crooned to the tune of Bob Hope´s theme song.

ABOARD THE USS TARAWA, Persian Gulf - From a computer screen on this amphibious assault ship, U.S. sailors kept close watch on a 6–week–old drama more than 2,500 miles away involving pirates from Somalia and a Danish merchant vessel. A second U.S. warship was off the coast of Somalia near the captive vessel, a 115–foot tugboat called the Svitzer Korsakov with an international crew.

WAYCROSS, Ga. - A group of third–graders plotted to attack their teacher, bringing a broken steak knife, handcuffs, duct tape and other items for the job and assigning children tasks including covering the windows and cleaning up afterward, police said Tuesday. The plot involving as many as nine boys and girls at Center Elementary School in south Georgia was a serious threat, Waycross Police Chief Tony Tanner said.

ROGERS - The defending District 25-2A-champion Rogers Eagles aren´t ready to hand over their title quite yet. Behind solid pitching and defense - the staples that carried an experienced Rogers team to the Class 2A state championship last season - the young and maturing Rogers squad dealt the No. 2-ranked Salado Eagles their first district loss with a 3-2 victory Tuesday night at Clary-Neal Field.

BRENHAM - It was a scene that had played out twice before, maybe not a recurring nightmare, but certainly not a dream ending for the Belton Lady Tigers. The Woodlands utilized its direct style to neutralize Belton´s speed, and the Lady Highlanders took command early and never looked back en route to a 4-1 victory Tuesday night in a Class 5A Region II girls soccer quarterfinal at Hohlt Park.

KILLEEN - The Temple baseball team´s play halfway through the District 13-5A season has the Wildcats thinking big. “I think we´ll make a run to the playoffs,” second baseman C.J. Reid said.

OKLAHOMA CITY - With Tennessee´s best player struggling to keep her left arm in its socket, the fate of a basketball powerhouse depended on someone digging through laundry in the team bus. Candace Parker´s shoulder needed to be stabilized, and someone needed to find a sleeve to do it. Needless to say, college basketball´s winningest coach was a little bit antsy.

SAN ANTONIO - Tony Parker scored 26 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 116-92 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night for their eighth straight win. The NBA´s defending champions remained second in the Western Conference, percentage points behind the New Orleans Hornets. The Warriors, in a three-way race with the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets for the final two playoff spots, dropped their 20th straight in San Antonio since the Spurs drafted Tim Duncan in 1997.