North County Times - North San Diego and Southwest Riverside County News - NCTimes.com

SACRAMENTO -- California parents would face jail and a fine for spanking their young children under legislation a San Francisco Bay area lawmaker has promised to introduce next week.

TALLIL AIR BASE, Iraq -- The top U.S. commander in Iraq predicted Friday that some of the extra troops President Bush is sending could make an impact and start returning home by late summer, an optimistic note in contrast to skepticism of the plan back home.

TEMECULA ---- Tiffany Smith got it done on the inside, Eleese Nickelson drained a few big shots from the outside and Vista Murrieta's girls basketball team held off a late Temecula Valley run Friday night to grab its fourth straight Southwestern League victory, 64-59.

SAN MARCOS ---- For 31 minutes, 57 seconds, sophomore Shea Prince sat at the end of the bench as his Escondido High teammates slugged it out with Mission Hills in a key Valley League boys basketball game Friday night.

WASHINGTON -- Mental health screening isn't consistent for U.S. troops returning from war, and if they don't say they need help they often don't get it, the Army's top medical officer said Friday.

San Diego and Riverside counties were added Friday to a list of counties eligible for federal assistance to farmers whose crops were damaged by the recent cold weather.

Interfaith Community Services commends Sam Abed for calling on all of North County's cities to share responsibility for helping the homeless. We are eager to work with the Escondido City Council to implement a regional task force that will find new ways to more effectively address the needs of the less fortunate in their communities of choice.

LONDON -- Mutations in the bird flu virus have been found in two infected people in Egypt, in a form that might be resistant to the medication most commonly used to treat the deadly disease, the World Health Organization said Thursday.

WASHINGTON -- Bindi Irwin is ready to continue her famous father's work spreading the wonder of wildlife.

WASHINGTON -- That age-old stereotype about dangerous women drivers is shattered in a big new traffic analysis: Male drivers have a 77 percent higher risk of dying in a car accident than women, based on miles driven.

If you're like most people, chances are you did some entertaining during the holiday season. Though the decorations are down and the candy, cookies and treats devoured, there are probably telltale signs that have left your home looking a little worse for the wear.