By Laura Tillman, The Brownsville Herald, Texas Jul. 14--Even after losing her teeth to unmonitored diabetes, Esperanza Chaidez admits that fighting against her affinity for candy and ice cream is an enduring and sometimes losing battle.

By Kevin Sieff, The Brownsville Herald, Texas Nov. 18--Salvation proves too expensive for the uninsured When Michael Moore's film crew first arrived in Cameron Park to film "Sicko," a documentary about the American health-care system, Joe Gallegos was already pallid and underweight.

By Ginny Hoyle, The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C. Sep. 6--HILLSBOROUGH -- Ninety-one students have transferred from Central and Efland-Cheeks elementaries after both schools failed again to meet federal standards -- and that's costing the district more than $31,000.

By Cathy Locke, The Sacramento Bee, Calif. Jul. 19--A long-stalled fee increase to help pay for parks and recreation facilities needed to serve new development in El Dorado Hills won final approval last week.

By Lynn Brezosky, Associated Press LAS MILPAS, Texas -- Sixty-six-year-old Zulema Hernandez's small home is brightly painted, with a side door opening up to a patio fragrant with potted herbs and flowers. Neighbors wave as they drive by over smooth, paved streets.