Fire destroyed a block-long downtown building in Stamford, forcing as many as 200 people to evacuate the area, officials said. And as initial results indicate that the Iraqi government will be led by Shiite Muslims with ties to Iran, U.S. the better the chances the sport will grow," American skip Pete Fenson said.The Canadians already think of curling as a national pastime, ranking somewhere behind hockey, closer to lacrosse, and they have long excelled in international competition. Like they do in clubs.That, or give viewers a shot or seven of whatever the studio audience is drinking.mary.mcnamara*`Thank God You're Here'Where: NBCWhen: 9 tonightRating: TV-PG (may be unsuitable for young children). The timing of the Missouri indictments could not have made the administration's aims more transparent.This administration is also politicizing the career staff of the Justice Department. Other retailers that recently beat expectations included Federated Department Stores Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp and J.C. But that would require a bipartisan sales pitch to a skeptical electorate.

French President Jacques Chirac to British Prime Minister Tony Blairg Cuban leader Fidel Castro on President Bushh President Jefferson on French leader Napoleon Bonapartei Chavez to Bushj. The top eight picks in the first round of the 2005 NFL draft won guaranteed payments of at least $13 million up front, but the average guarantee was only $1.4 million for second-round picks and $526,000 for third-rounders. No Mexican president has ever assumed office with a smaller electoral mandate -- Calderon won just 35.7% of the vote.Lopez Obrador, 52, promised a New Deal-style investment in infrastructure and new subsidies for the poor.Calderon's support was strongest in northern Mexico and among the middle class and affluent. plans to acquire a Berkeley-based maker of premium dark chocolate bars and baking products.Hershey did not say how much it would pay for Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker Inc. There have been several close calls, notably the attempt by Briton Richard Reid, known as the "shoe bomber," to ignite explosives packed into his basketball shoes aboard a Paris-Miami flight in December 2001.Anti-terrorism officials also had noticed that an increasing number of extremists born and raised in Western Europe were making lengthy and difficult journeys to commit suicide attacks in Iraq and other countries considered the holy war front line.One case now seems a harbinger of the London bombings: Two Britons of Pakistani descent killed three people in a beachfront cafe in Tel Aviv in 2003 after managing to slip into Israel.

Diemer Water Treatment Plant serving Orange County opened early Saturday, nearly a day ahead of schedule, after improvements were made to ensure the future availability of drinking water.The plant supplies 95% of the water used in south Orange County and half of the countywide total.The Yorba Linda facility was shut down March 25, prompting a potential water crisis prominently announced on Orange County freeway signs.. The law targets low-income residents without insurance and those who can afford coverage but have none.Effective July 1, 2007, the plan will require all residents to obtain health insurance or face possible tax penalties.A state-authorized pool will be created to help connect insurers with individuals whose employers do not offer health benefits; low-income residents will be eligible for government--subsidized discount plans and, in some cases, free coverage.The program will be mostly paid for with existing state money, federal matching funds and $125 million from the state's General Fund.The landmark health reform bill was immediately hailed as a possible national model.But Massachusetts, with a population of 6.3 million, enjoys a number of economic and demographic characteristics that would make its plan difficult to duplicate in such a large and diverse state as California with 37 million people.Some key differences:* California has roughly 6.5 million uninsured residents, compared with Massachusetts' 600,000, thus a much larger share of the population would require financial assistance.* California's employers are less likely to offer healthcare coverage. You'd pass an electronic sensor and get your bill in the mail.In theory, because they'd be going faster, more cars would be able to move through the two fast lanes than through the remaining slower lanes, and all the lanes could move faster than they otherwise would. FOXBORO, Mass. And a spokeswoman for Jefferson said he would reject the latest push to remove him.The matter appears headed for a vote by all of the House's Democrats, setting up a debate over Jefferson, who is being investigated by federal officials in a bribery case.The case received national attention recently when it was revealed that FBI agents had reported finding $90,000 wrapped in foil in a freezer during a search of Jefferson's Washington home in August.Although no charges have been filed against Jefferson, Pelosi called for him to give up his committee post after news stories about the $90,000.

"Valero wants to grow right along with [California's fuel] demand and serve the market," said Rich Marcogliese, Valero's senior vice president for refining.Oil executive Thomas D. But Susan Groesbeck gave me some doubts about trappers, saying she pulled up to a stoplight near UCLA and saw an unusual sight in a nearby car."I ... Five other forums were scheduled in Mexican cities."This is the start of a coming together that will be more real, more palpable with the Mexicans living in the United States, because in PAN we believe Mexico is a country that transcends its borders, and we feel a debt to the Mexicans who have come to the United States over the years," said Romero, the senator.As Mexico's three major parties prepare to add a new and distant constituency to the political landscape, political leaders expect to keep a close eye on voter interest in the race in Southern California, home to one of the largest populations of Mexicans in the world.Experts estimate that between 3 million and 5 million Mexicans in the U.S. Like its owners, the Casa de la Malinche is warm and inviting.The second-floor salon, where Lazo and Garcia do much of their entertaining, pays homage to their famous mentors, or maestro Rivera and maestra Kahlo, as the couple refer to them.