News In Brief

WE REALLY APPRECIATE THIS

Ever get a handwritten "thank you" note from the tax collector? You would if you lived in Salem, N.H. Thirty residents came forward last month to advance the city a combined $50,500 so it could pay some of its bills until the legislature settled on a new tax formula to pay for public education. Those who end up owing even more will be billed for the remainder when Salem finds out what its rate is. One of the 30 didn't want her share sitting in the bank "because Christmas is coming, and she was afraid she'd spend it," said tax collector Cheryl-Ann Bolouk.

YOU WANT FRIES WITH THAT?

If McDonald's is any indication, normality finally may be returning to Bosnia. The world's largest fast-food chain was reported dotting the "i's" and crossing the "t's" on a

license to open several outlets in the Serb half of the ethnically divided republic - one of the few European countries still without the golden arches.

10-year US housing program to build 1 million dwellings

Fourteen cities have been selected as test communities by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for a program designed to create 1 million new dwellings over the next decade. Each is planning to streamline the process with technical aid from HUD. For example, Louisville, Ky., plans to consolidate inspections, permitting, licensing, and code-enforcement functions and assist in reducing construction cost and time by waiving certain impact fees. The cities selected:

Baltimore

Buffalo, N.Y.

Chicago

Cincinnati

Columbus, Ohio

Dayton, Ohio

Houston

Louisville, Ky.

Philadelphia

Sacramento, Calif.

Tampa, Fla.

San Antonio

St. Louis

Washington

- Associated Press

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