Texas OKs standards for elective Bible classes
By JIM VERTUNO Associated Press Writer
      AUSTIN (AP) - The Texas State Board of Education gave final approval Friday to establishing Bible classes in public high schools, rejecting calls to draw specific teaching guidelines and warnings that it could lead to constitutional problems in the classroom.
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KC Early Childhood Center meets all criteria for national re-accreditation
      The Kilgore College Early Childhood Center found out this month that it has met all standards by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and will be reaccredited for the next five years. "We were just thrilled," said Lara Pauley, the center's director. "Our staff has worked so hard for this.
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New bank to open in Kilgore
      BankTexas, a Quitman-based bank that traces its roots to the 18902, has received permission from the Office of the Controller of the Currency to open a branch here. The "bank store" location will be at the new travel plaza under construction at the corner of Hwy. 42 and I-20.
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Main Street coordinator speaks to Kilgore Rotary Club
By GREG COLLINS for the News Herald
      Fallon Burns, Main Street coordinator for the City of Kilgore, was the guest speaker at the Kilgore Rotary Club meeting Wednesday. Burns spoke about exciting opportunities for Kilgore to revitalize its downtown, some things which have already been started and have shown success.
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Blood supply declines, need rises
      With the busy summer months well underway, Carter BloodCare Stewart Center is working to keep ahead of the daily demand for blood. Levels of O positive and most Rh-negative blood types are still low. Regular donors go on vacation, schools are out, and gasoline cost has also become a factor for donors.
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Beijing begins massive Olympic shutdown
By STEPHEN WADE AP Sports Writer
      BEIJING (AP) _ Beijing's Olympic shutdown begins Sunday, a drastic plan to lift the Chinese capital's gray shroud of pollution just three weeks ahead of the games. Half of Beijing's 3.3 million vehicles will be pulled off the roads and many polluting factories will be shuttered.
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Oil markets looking for signs of bubble burst
By ADAM SCHRECK AP Business Writer
      NEW YORK (AP) - Prices at the pump pulled back from record highs Friday as another slide in oil capped crude's biggest one-week drop in more than three years. Gasoline dropped by nearly a penny at filling stations across the country. If crude prices hold at current levels or head even lower, drivers may see further relief at the pump in the coming days.
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New Hampshire will accept free oil from Chavez after all
By NORMA LOVE Associated Press Writer
      CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - Two years ago, New Hampshire refused to accept heating oil from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the pro-Castro U.S. critic who once called President Bush "the devil." But with fuel prices rising, well, free oil is free oil.
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Report: Jeffs married under-age daughter to adult
      HOUSTON (AP) - Polygamist leader Warren Jeffs married his daughter to the 34-year-old son of his chief deputy the day after her 15th birthday, according to photos, diaries and a marriage record kept by his sect and obtained Friday by the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News.
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Shakesspeare Garden gets a Master Gardeners (interns) touch
      The Shakespeare Garden was the beautification project of five Gregg County Master Gardeners interns this year, and they have done an outstanding job of planning, planting, watering and weeding the garden. These gardeners were Virginia Hudson, Cherisa York, Richard Martin of Kilgore, Nita Garner and Elizabeth Monroe from Longview.
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