TODAY'S TOP STORIES James Michael Broomas is charged with indecency with a child. Alleged Montrose predator arrested On Tuesday, a CPA who confessed to being Spanky, a man who has achieved almost legendary status among the street kids in Montrose, was arrested at his office, said an HPD investigator. James Michael Broomas, 50, was charged with indecency with a child, accused of having sexual contact with a 15-year-old boy in 1999, and police said more charges could follow. Getting ready for the fans E. Joe Deering / Chronicle Shirley Gohde, exhibit technician at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y., works on a display of baseball jerseys from the 1920s for the John Hancock All-Star FanFest at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The first 250 fans at FanFest can attend the opening ceremony scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday. Nolan Ryan will throw out the first pitch. Full story. • Houston product Crawford at home among the stars • Complete Chronicle coverage of the All-Star gamr Family has `sign' that abducted Marine is OK Rudy T expected to become Lakers' next coach Nolan Ryan will open festivities at FanFest Harris County woman awaits execution date Houston product at home among the All-Stars Newspaper gaffes are exclusive mistakes Need to be perfect makes treating anorexia hard OTHER NEWS Metropolitan • Council weighs tax break for hospital system • HISD near deal to sell complex • LULAC urges police shooting probe • Final arguments heard in stadium-death trial State • LULAC laments absent candidates • Rock-chanting killer to be executed today • North Texas project to train bilingual teachers Nation • Oregon archdiocese files Chapter 11 • Bush undecided on who, when to name CIA chief • Branson fears gambling vote will tarnish image • Brando cremated in private World • Sharon's term cut by one year • Blair says alleged WMD may never be discovered • AIDS tightening grip on globe • Papers: Official steered contracts to cronies • Diana memorial gets ambivalent reception Sports • Astros take another step backward in loss to Padres • Rice's Wilson, Ohio St. hook up again • Phelps seeks to equal Spitz at Olympics • Shock's guarantee stumps Comets • Mayo's disaster boosts Armstrong at Tour de France Business • Tariffs ordered for shrimp; prices could jump • Budget-priced Chinese cars hit early bump • Oil price leap likely to raise cost at pump • Older Americans take on more debt, pay dearly • Annoying species inhabit all workplaces Arts and Entertainment • Review: 'Arthur' takes old legend in new direction • New York Times offering news on cable channel • 'Arthur' fights to get away from magic, romance • Record industry's new label for artist ventures: risky Lifestyle/Features • Student wants to move home; stepmom's in way • Restaurant lets customers decide if meal worth it • Subway artist makes people smile, quick buck • MeMo: Quasi-patriotism. Clone fantasies. Back to top     Countdown: 6 days to go Our columnist discovers the hip and accessible boutique Melodrama. WEATHER Today: High: 93° Low: 76° Current: 79° Scattered Clouds Humidity: 89% Wind: South 5 Pollen: Low Ozone: Good Q&A;: Got sports questions? Ask columnist Richard Justice here Interactive: • Clemens' good work goes for naught LANCE WATCH: • Overall: 5th, 0.16 behind R. McEwen • Today: Stage 3: 54th • Tour de France MLB: Houston at San Diego (Wed., 9:05) Padres 5, Astros 3 WNBA: Shock 82, Comets 63 ROAD TO ATHENS: • Complete coverage TODAY IN HOUSTON GETTING AROUND • Road closings: West Loop: Northbound, Fournace to Westheimer, two alternate lanes closed 9 tonight to 5 a.m. Thursday; southbound entry ramp from San Felipe closed through Aug. 15; southbound entry ramp from Woodway closed indefinitely; southbound exit ramp to San Felipe closed through Aug. 8. • Real-time traffic DATEBOOK JUST FOR FUN • Simon and Garfunkel: The much-discussed reunion tour hits Houston. $50-$225. 8 p.m. Toyota Center, 1510 Polk St. Search our events calendar for more things to do. ON TV: • American Masters: The show features little-seen footage and audio tapes to profile Judy Garland. At 9 p.m. on PBS. • TV listings COMING THIS WEEK Will Ferrell stars as a 1970s television anchorman in the new film, Anchorman. Entertainment writer Bruce Westbrook reviews the comedy, and staff writer Andrew Guy talks with Houston TV anchors about the job -- and how it's portrayed in the movies. Friday in Houston. INSIDE MeMo: Kyrie O'Connor A CULTURAL BLOG Gas prices: Look up Texas pump prices, find the cheapest gasoline near you, calculate the cost of your next road trip. Hurricane guide: Be ready and keep track of the storms.

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