PASSING AWAY THE TIME ON A SLOW SUMMER DAY

Passing away the timeon a slow summer day
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Nicholas Alkire, 8, of Garfield, Ark., tries to find his balance while getting a boost from his older brother, Gabriel, 9, to reach a ring on the playground equipment at Memorial Park. The boys were with their grandmother while waiting for their mother to get off work.
Iraqi police take controlof their first province
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Iraqi forces for the first time took over security responsibility for an entire province Thursday, a milestone in the American plan to transfer control of the entire country by the end of next year. British Maj. Gen. John Cooper signed the document turning over responsibility for Muthanna province, a relatively peaceful, sparsely populated Shiite province that had been under British and Australian control. "It is a great national day that will be registered in the history of Iraq," Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said in a ceremony in the provincial capital of Samawah. "This step will bring happiness to all Iraqis."
Inspectors quadrupleBig Dig problem spots
BOSTON -- Inspectors on Thursday quadrupled the number of possible ceiling bolt problems in a Big Dig tunnel where a woman was crushed by falling concrete, adding to the urgency of the debate over who should ensure the safety of the troubled project. The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority said inspectors found additional bolt assemblies that were separating from 3-ton concrete roof panels, raising the number of potential defects to 240, compared with previous inspections that found 60 defects. The earlier problems were enough for officials to order a sweeping review of every roadway, tunnel and bridge in Boston's highway system.