November 7, 2006

NEW YORK -- Polls in New York City and throughout the state are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. The New York Public Interest Research Group and Common Cause New York are running a nonpartisan voter help line. Voters can call (212) 822-0282 to locate a polling site, get advice on voting rights or report problems at the polls. Voters can also call the New York City Board of Elections toll free at 1-866- VOTENYC (1-866-868-3692). Alternate-side street-cleaning regulations in New York City are suspended. Other regulations remain in effect. NEW JERSEY -- Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voter assistance is available toll free at 1-877-NJVOTER (1-877-658-6837). CONNECTICUT -- Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can locate their polling places by calling their local town or city hall.

Overheated Expectations? For a combination of reasons, including bullish prognostications by handicappers and polls that promise a blowout, Democrats' hopes have soared. But those expectations may be overheated. By Adam Nagourney, Page A18 Furor Over a Telephone Blitz The Republican Party's sweeping computerized telephone blitz in several dozen races that are likely to determine control of the House has set off a furor over campaign tactics. By Christopher Drew and Carl Hulse, Page A18 Bush and Rove, Still Strategizing George W. Bush and his political partner Karl Rove ended their last campaign together in the sliver of northwestern Florida that arguably gave them their 2000 victory. By Jim Rutenberg, Page A18

Despite an elaborate sendoff, a team of tugboats failed to pull the U.S.S. Intrepid out of the mud off Manhattan.

TXU Corp is embarking on nation's single largest coal-oriented construction campaign, with plan to add more than 9,000 megawatts of new capacity, equivalent of 3.5 percent of nation's current coal-fired capacity; capacity is enough to power millions of homes, using coal from other giant pits like one in Fairfield, Tex, and still more in Wyoming; TXU is spending $10 billion on 11 new coal power plants that will produce copious amounts of global warming gases for decades to come; TXU says it is considering 7,000 to 14,000 more megawatts of capacity in other parts of country, possibly including Northeast and Midwest; whatever coal-burning plants cost to ecosystem, it could be immensely profitable bet; company executives say plants will provide cheap electricity for Texas, make lots of money for shareholders, conserve more valuable natural gas and reduce pollutants that make smog; outside groups, including Public Citizen, Pew Center for Global Climate Change and Natural Resources Defense Council say TXU is embarking on its immense construction campaign without taking account of its role in emerging environmental catastrophe; TXU chief executive Mike McCall comments; graph; map; photos (L)

Adrienne Shelly's death was initially suspected to be a suicide, but investigators say a building worker admitted to the murder.