Winnsboro Today, Winnsboro TX

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Georgian Police Arrested
Tuesday, as Georgia and Russia exchanged prisoners of war in one part of Georgia, Russian forces returned to the port city of Poti and seized 21 Georgian military police officers. This according to Georgian interior ministry officials. The military police officers were disarmed and transferred to the nearby town of Senaki, where Russian forces have established a base. The Russian military said its forces are picking up roving Georgian forces who have not returned to their base.

Major Fire in Egyptian Parliament Building
A massive fire broke out in an Egyptian parliamentary building in downtown Cairo on Tuesday. Flames were evident on the top floor of the three-story al-Rai building, where lawmakers hold meetings. Egyptian officials had no details on casualties. Media reports said six people sustained injuries.

NATO Asks Russia to Honor Cease Fire
On Tuesday, NATO asked Russia to honor all six points of a cease-fire agreement brokered by the European Union last week to end the fighting in Georgia. NATO officials said there can be “no business as usual” with Moscow until it does so. NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said Russian forces are still inside Georgia despite the agreement to withdraw.
Russian officials responded by saying the NATO report is biased and there should be pressure on Georgia as well as Russia to abide by the agreement.

Attack in Algeria Kills 43
According to a statement by the interior ministry of Algeria, an attack on a military school there on Tuesday killed 43 people and wounded another 38. The attack has been called a terrorist attack, and it occurred early Tuesday morning at a school in Boumerdes, about 40 miles east of the capital city of Algiers.

Heavy Fighting in Afghanistan
Over the past 24 hours, Taliban militants in Afghanistan have attacked an American base, ambushed French soldiers, and assaulted a Canadian foot patrol. Authorities said at least eight insurgents and one NATO interpreter died in the incidents, which came after authorities tightened security on Monday in anticipation of militant actions on the country’s Independence Day. Several suicide bombers struck an American base in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan on Tuesday, but U.S. and Afghan forces repelled the onslaught. Ten French soldiers have been killed in fighting near the Afghan capital of Kabul.

Sumo Wrestler Charged With Drug Possession
Police in Japan arrested 335-pound Sumo wrestler, Soslan Aleksandrovich Gagloev on Monday after finding a third of a gram of marijuana in his wallet. If convicted, he faces a sentence of forced labor for five years. Fans of the sport have long expected humility and dignity from their sumo wrestlers, so the drug arrest has stunned people in Japan.

Explosion Kills 23 in Pakistan
A blast at a hospital in northwest Pakistan killed at least 23 people Tuesday, authorities said. Another 15 to 20 were injured. The explosion occurred near the emergency entrance to the Dera Ismail Khan District Hospital, said Malik Naveed, inspector general of police for the North West Frontier Province, where the district is located. The bomb went off while a crowd gathered outside the hospital to protest the shooting death of a Shi’ite Muslim leader.

Inflation at Record High in Zimbabwe
According to a report from the Central Statistical Office in Zimbabwe, the country's inflation rate has soared in the past three months and is now at 11.2 million percent. That is the highest in the world. Official figures dated Monday show inflation has surged from the rate of 2.2 million percent recorded in May, despite the government’s price controls. Once considered the breadbasket of Africa, Zimbabwe has been in the throes of an economic meltdown ever since the land reform program started that has decimated commercial agriculture.

Tropical Storm Fay Makes Landfall
Tropical storm Fay came ashore early Tuesday at Cape Romano just south of Marco Island in southwestern Florida and the center is now located near Moore Haven, Florida. Forecasters dropped hurricane warnings after Fay made landfall because the storm never reached the 74 mph (119 kph) threshold necessary for hurricane status. The storm is bringing heavy rain and wind, with the possibility of tornadoes increasing as temperatures rise Tuesday.

Sales Incentives at GM Dealerships
On Tuesday, General Motors Corporation announced that it is extending an employee discount to customers on nearly all of its 2008 vehicles and some 2009 models. This special offer begins Wednesday, August 20 and ends September 2. The sale is geared toward clearing inventory, and is also in celebration of the company’s 100th anniversary.

Heavy Rain And Flooding in South Texas
The Rio Grande Valley's main highway was open to traffic again Tuesday as flooding receded following a deluge of up to 13 inches of rain across southern Texas.The rain flooded an estimated 750 homes Monday in Starr County. Flooding was also reported Tuesday in parts of northwest Texas. A flash flood warning was in effect from Decatur to Wichita Falls, and some roads were blocked by standing water, including sections of Interstate 44 between Wichita Falls and Burkburnett. The National Weather Service posted flood warnings for other parts of northern Texas as well. In the Dallas suburb of Garland, a buildup of rain water was blamed for the collapse of the roof on a strip shopping center early Tuesday. Eight businesses were damaged, but no injuries were reported.

Olympic Coverage
For daily updates on your favorite events click HERE This is a link to Sports Illustrated Online. For Those who would like a little flavor of the area, we offer two articles of interest. For travel information within Beijing, click HERE . For a list of restaurants to visit click HERE

Nationwide Crackdown on Drunk Driving
Troopers with the Department of Public Safety will work with local police and Sheriff’s departments to help make the streets and highways safer now through Labor Day. Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest, is a nationwide effort to curb drunk driving and prevent accidents.

Fines for Unethical Behavior
The Texas Ethics Commission is considering a recommendation that would make politicians responsible for paying their own fines they incur when when they break rules on campaign finance. The current law lets political donors pick up the tab.

"Blue Alert" Program For Texas
A "Blue Alert'' network has been established in Texas to help spread the word out about fleeing criminals after a law officer is wounded or killed. The Blue Alert is similar to Amber Alerts for cases of child abduction and Silver Alerts used for missing senior citizens. Florida uses a similar program.

East Texas Teen Wins Singing Competition
Sixteen-year-old Cheyane Smith of Ore City won the singing competition at the annual Texas Country Music Hall Of Fame competition that took place over the weekend in Carthage. This win allows her to move on to a statewide competition later this year as well as other competitions in Branson and Nashville.

Texas DPS Names Interim Director
The Texas Public Safety Commission has named Texas Highway Patrol Major Stan Clark of Garland as the interim director of the Texas Department of Public Safety. His appointment is effective September 1, 2008 and will continue until a permanent director is named.