PacifiCorp, one of the two US bidders for Energy Group, is understood to be looking for a partner in case it needs to raise its offer from the present level of pounds 4.35bn. The Oregon-based electricity company, which is fighting Texas Utilities for control of Energy, the parent company of Eastern Electricity, is thought to have made approaches to several other American utilities about launching a joint bid.

A VETERAN with explosives and a rifle crashed his car through a gate at a Veterans' Administration office and began a stand-off, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of residents. The man, whose name was not released, broke into the Veterans Affairs Regional Centre armed with explosives, and making demands. He was not holding hostages.

On why cruickshank is right to refer, how to resolve the Engergy Group stalemate, and the Bank's problem with interest rates

MPs are set to attack "nasty and dirty" tactics used in the takeover battle for an English electricity firm in a Commons debate today.

Energy battle hots up

A pounds 4bn bid battle for Energy Group, owner of Eastern Electricity, moved a step closer last night after US regulators cleared Texas Utilities, the Dallas-based power group, to launch a takeover offer. Texas said it had been given approval to bid for Energy Group following a meeting with the Texas Public Utility Commission, the state utility watchdog, on condition that it supplied the regulator with additional confidential documents. The group needed permission to invest 30 per cent or more of its capital overseas.

Texas Utilities, the Dallas power supplier considering a bid for Energy Group, yesterday pledged that any takeover offer should not meet with opposition from regulators.

IN HER mind, Karla Faye Tucker must have already have died a hundred times. But shortly after midnight, her legal remedies exhausted and the pleadings of the international community set aside, she walked into the death chamber of Huntsville Penitentiary. At 37 minutes before one o'clock, tied down on to a trolley by six leather straps, she surrendered her body to the cold and silent flow of poisons from a needle leading into each arm.

In a case that is dividing America, a woman is due to be executed tomorrow for a murder she committed almost 15 years ago. The campaign for a reprieve has brought together feminists, liberals and the Christian right. And the final decision on her fate may rest with George Bush, governor of Texas and son of the former president.

OPRAH WINFREY, the empress of TV talk shows, was described last year by Life magazine as the most powerful woman in America. She has a couple of challengers now in Hillary Clinton and Monica Lewinsky but neither possesses anything like the influence over the hearts and minds of American women that la Winfrey does.

A woman on death row had her bid to stay her execution rejected by a court in Texas last night.

If, after much tweaking of wires and banging of keys, you've finally got the computer you bought for Christmas connected to the Internet, congratulations - your problems are just beginning. Charles Arthur, Science Editor, on what to beware when you're surfing.

Cults do not get much more cultish than Butch Hancock. Unjustly a complete unknown to the vast majority of the music-buying public, Butch Hancock is a hero to students of "alternative country". Having started out alongside Joe Ely and Jimmie Dale Gilmore in the legendary Flatlanders in the 1970s, he went on to carve out an idiosyncratic solo career while pursuing his other interests, including photography, art and leading river- raft trips - pushing out tapes on his own Rainlight label. With unique takes on politics and life, such as "Talkin' About That Panama Canal" and "Smokin' In The Rain" taking their place alongside songs such as "West Texas Waltz" and "If You Were a Bluebird" that have been made - relatively - famous by Ely, much of this material now appears on two compilations. But as with the Austin, Texas scene's other oddball multi-talented genius, Terry Allen, Hancock has an independent attitude worthy of somebody often seen as the Lone Star State's answer to Dylan and has therefore enjoyed a career more stop-go than his devoted fans would like. Tuesday, however, sees a rare London appearance at The Weavers, and a new album, "You Coulda Walked Around The World", is imminent, too.

James Albert Michener, writer: born New York 3 October 1907; married 1935 Patti Koon (marriage dissolved 1948), 1948 Vange Nord (marriaged dissolved 1955), 1955 Mari Yoriko Sabusawa (died 1994); died Austin, Texas 17 October 1997.