The seemingly endless sunshine that illuminated Tracy this week seems the perfect initiation for a new home solar system.At least, Bryan and Stacey Watson sure think so.The couple beat out 15,000 contestants to win a free home solar system through BP Solar and "Evan Almighty," a Universal Pictures movie that was filmed using energy from solar panels.The Watsons, with their 1-year-old son, Chance, basked in their win Thursday while a team from 1st Light Energy Inc. installed 25 solar panels on top of their home, which sits just north of Schulte Road.The system comes with a wireless module that shows how many kilowatts the panels have converted into energy and how much energy the family's used on any given day.The Watson's utility bills typically range from $150 in the winter to $250 during the heat of summer.

CSU team to show its bulls today

With his thick brimmed black cowboy hat above his brow, Scott Martell proudly follows in his grandfather's boots. Martell describes his grandfather as a really good cowboy and believes the cowboy lifestyle was bred into him.

Though it's not always a leisurely life, it suits him well. Originally from Hudson, Martell has been around horses and cattle his whole life. So when picking a career, working with animals seemed natural.

"It's easier to get along with animals," he said. "They are a lot simpler and I'm a simple guy."

And while that may be the case, the cattle industry is not nearly as simple as one would think. As Martell puts it, people don't always realize the education that is needed to stay competitive within the industry. At one point, Martell considered becoming a veterinarian, but ended up switching paths.

Schools’calendar familiar

Columbia Public Schools students would start the 2008-09 school year on Tuesday, Aug. 19, and would have the Nov. 4 presidential Election Day off under a calendar being proposed by the district.

The calendar essentially mirrors this school year, with a mid-August start date, a two-week winter break and a weeklong spring break. The calendar also has four built-in snow days that, if used, would require students to be in school until June 3, 2009.

The calendar would end first semester before the winter break, a schedule change implemented for the first time this year.

"We asked teachers on a survey if they liked the semester ending prior to the winter break, and they were just overwhelmingly supportive," Assistant Superintendent Lynn Barnett said. "Parents and children weve talked to have been very supportive of it, too, so it looks like something well continue."

The public can weigh in on the calendar through a survey posted on the districts Web site, www.columbia.k12.mo.us.

CBS’s Smith ‘Admired’ Kucinich ‘Since He was Mayor of ...

Kucinich presided over the city's plunge into default in 1978. The collapse attracted international ridicule and, except for a brief sojourn on the City Council in the early 80's, left the obstreperous boy wonder in political exile for 15 years...[he] was elected mayor in 1977 and governed the city with a tight circle of friends. But Cleveland's finances, already troubled, spiraled out of control. The climactic moment came in December 1978, when the city was unable to meet $14.5 million in bond obligations. Despite pressure from the business community, Mayor Kucinich refused to sell the municipal electric system to cover the debt. Cleveland went bust, as did his career.

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