Things are tough all over, and that is especially true for food pantries in the Bell County area that are not only experiencing shortages of food, but an increase in clientele. Cynthia Russell, executive director of the Churches Touching Lives For Christ ministries, sees it up close every day.

The Temple Police Department will likely get 10 new cars in the 2009 budget instead of the five cars originally budgeted. During a recent budget workshop, the Temple City Council requested City Manager David Blackburn free up funding for the extra cars using funds from the city´s information and technology department. Those funds were originally meant for projects related to its municipal wireless broadband network.

The Temple Independent School District received an overall rating of “academically acceptable” for the 2007-08 school year, according to ratings released Friday afternoon from the Texas Education Agency. Overall, six of TISD´s 10 schools eligible for a rating received an “academically acceptable” review, while two schools, Cater Elementary and Meridith-Dunbar Elementary, received “academically unacceptable” ratings.

GONZALES - Violating Gonzales High School´s dress code is not a crime, but some of the offenders are about to start looking a lot like convicts. Soon after classes begin Aug. 25, violators of the district´s beefed-up dress code must don navy blue coveralls unless they get another set of clothes from home - or serve in-school suspension. The outfits aren´t just styled like prison jumpsuits - they´re actually made by Texas inmates.

After a two-year hiatus from coaching, Tim Thomas wanted to return the sideline. He´ll get that opportunity this winter at Wildcat Gym.

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Brett Favre´s reinstatement to the NFL was held up again Friday as the three-time MVP mulled getting paid not to play through a marketing deal with the Green Bay Packers that could resolve the standoff over his retirement. The potential agreement, worth a reported $20 million for 10 years, might end Favre´s bid to return just months after he retired. It also likely would keep him from reporting to Packers training camp and a team that is not planning to have him as its starting quarterback for the first time since 1992.

MACAU - The Americans are headed for Shanghai. They look ready to go right to Beijing. With Kobe Bryant defending the way he did last summer and Dwyane Wade soaring again, the U.S. Olympic basketball team has easily won its first three exhibition games.

ARLINGTON - Texas Rangers outfielder David Murphy had been inconsistent hitting against left-handers this season. The Toronto Blue Jays twice intentionally walked batters to set up a lefty-on-lefty matchup with Murphy, who came in hitting .237 in such situations.