A power company official said today that most of the people in a cluster of north central Massachusetts towns who are still without electricity after a Dec. 12 ice storm will have their service restored by Tuesday.

Source: http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/12/by_globe_staff_40.html

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The University of Chicago is joining a nationwide trend of allowing male and female students to live not just on the same dorm floor, but in the same dorm room.

The school sent a letter out to parents last week informing them of the decision. The school says it was a student-led initiative that isn't aimed at romantic couples. However, the school says couples won't be banned from asking to be roommates when the program begins next month.

Nationally more than 30 campuses allow co-ed dorm rooms.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081222/ap_on_re_us/co_ed_dorm_rooms

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A compromise has been reached to let Iraq's parliament vote on a resolution allowing non-US forces to remain in Iraq beyond the end of 2008, MPs say.

On Saturday, they rejected a bill which gave the 6,000 troops from the UK and other states a legal basis to stay once the UN mandate expires on 31 December.

A resolution would allow the government to sign deals with each country.

The 140,000 US troops are allowed to remain until the end of 2011 under a separate status of forces agreement.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7794646.stm