Rising costs of rights of way acquisition resulted in the city of Temple recently transferring nearly $2 million in funds from future segments of the outer loop to cover expenses on two ongoing projects. Traci Barnard, Temple finance director, said the city recently moved about $1.9 million from the future project to cover large increases in right of way and utility relocation costs on the Loop 363 project (between Fifth Street and 57th Street) and the FM 2305 widening project (between FM 2271 and Texas 317).

FORT WORTH (AP) - Saying Texas firearm laws are overly restrictive, a group of gun advocates is lobbying state lawmakers to permit wearing handguns in plain view. With the legislative session scheduled to begin in January, supporters of “open-carry laws” have placed ads on billboards in Houston and San Antonio and on taxis in Austin.

The city of Temple kicks off its Bells & Bows Christmas celebration tonight with the annual tree lighting at the Temple Municipal Building, then festivities get into full gear with the Christmas parade, which will wind its way through downtown streets. Mary Alice Marshall serves as grand marshal for this year´s parade.

It´s a simple and humble piece of equipment. You could even say it´s kind of squat and ugly, like a bulldog. Yet for the last 60 years, Ford´s 8N tractor has earned the respect of landowners, contractors and small farmers for its reliability and versatility. Woodrow Marek keeps a 1952 model around for mowing and other chores on his 15 acres near Temple. He first bought a Farmall, but grew frustrated because of the difficulty hooking up implements.

HOUSTON - For years it´s been known as the hospital of last resort for the uninsured and indigent in Texas. Whether they drove hundreds of miles on their own or were shuttled in vans and buses by their local governments, they have come to the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston from 160 of the state´s 254 counties.

NEW YORK - A week before the final standings are released and the Bowl Championship Series is already ticking people off. Oklahoma - not Texas - is headed to the Big 12 championship game with an inside track to the national title game by moving ahead of the Longhorns in the BCS standings Sunday.

HOUSTON - Jacksonville enters tonight´s matchup with the Houston Texans as a team in disarray. Fred Taylor doesn´t know what the problem is, but the 11-year veteran called this team the worst he´s ever been on. This season´s 4-7 start has been a shocking turnaround from last year´s 11-5 regular season finish and trip to the second round of the playoffs.

LANDOVER, Md. - The New York Giants have shoved every distraction aside, including a shooting incident involving their star receiver, to become as dominant as, say, a Chicago Bulls team with Michael Jordan. Perhaps that´s no coincidence.