Knowing the ropes NELVIN C. CEPEDA / Union-Tribune Crew members aboard the Colombian tall ship Gloria rode high on the rigging as the vessel entered San Diego Bay yesterday. Click for larger image

What's Inside TV channels aimed at babies? France says, 'Mais, non' Spurned 'Bachelor' Most e-mailed U-T stories Rice signs pact with Poland for missile system Would-be protesters sentenced in China Campaign ads get more pointed Southern Calif. water tunnel nears completion Nevada cuts benefits for welfare recipients More News

When he took out a $206,000 home-equity line of credit in 2007, Kevin Hall thought he'd secured all the funding he'd ever need for a major remodeling project at his Carlsbad home. That's why his heart skipped a beat when he went online in February to transfer money from his account. He discovered that his credit line had been slashed to $72,000. Formal notification wouldn't arrive in the mail for several weeks.

BAGHDAD – Iraqi and U.S. negotiators have completed a draft security agreement that would see U.S. troops leave Iraqi cities as soon as June 30, Iraqi and U.S. officials said yesterday. In Washington, a senior military official said the deal is acceptable to the U.S. side, subject to formal approval by President Bush. It also requires final acceptance by Iraqi leaders, and some members of Iraq's Cabinet oppose some provisions.

2008 OLYMPICS: BEIJING

BEIJING – The Netherlands Antilles is a collection of Caribbean islands just off the coast of Venezuela, with a population of 225,369 and a lone Olympic medal in its history.

SAN FRANCISCO – New York is wooing cyclists with chartreuse bike lanes. Chicago is spending nearly $1 million for double-decker bicycle parking. San Francisco can't even install new bike racks.

MADRID, Spain – A jetliner heading to the popular Canary Islands vacation resort destination crashed during takeoff yesterday, turning a wooded area off the end of a runway into a hellish scene of charred bodies and smoldering wreckage.