POOCH PATROL — Billings firefighter Ben Jares, center, heads out on an ice rescue sled Friday to retrieve Duke, a St. Bernard dog who was frozen to the ice on a pond at Peter Yegen Jr. Golf Club in Billings, Mont. Despite suffering from the cold and exhaustion, Duke was treated at a veterinary clinic and released to his owners that afternoon.

WASHINGTON — The head of the agency that insures bank deposits said today it has plenty of money to cover any failures this year.

Sheila Bair, the chairwoman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., said the agency has set aside $22 billion to cover any projected losses over the next year, leaving $19 billion. The deposit insurance fund now stands at its lowest level in nearly a quarter-century and is raising the assessment on banks and thrifts to give it more money in reserve.

"We'd like a bigger cushion. We'd like to be prepared for all contingencies, so we are increasing our reserves, our assessments, so that should bolster our reserves some more," Bair said.

Just 2½ months into the year, 17 federally insured banks have failed. The FDIC believes U.S. bank failures will cost the deposit insurance fund more than $65 billion over the next four years. The FDIC insures bank accounts for up to $250,000.

"Overall, we're fine. But it is important for people to understand, we're backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. The money will always be there. We can't run out of money," Bair said.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Two science teachers who have spent the past five years under NASA's tutelage are about to graduate with high-flying honors.The space shuttle flight Wednesday night of Joseph Acaba and Richard Arnold II will mark the first time two former teachers have rocketed into space together. And during the two-week construction mission to the international space station, both will attempt multiple spacewalks — the most dangerous job in orbit.The flight on shuttle Discovery was delayed a month because of concerns about hydrogen gas valves in the engine compartment. After extra tests, NASA deemed the spacecraft safe to fly.

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The home state of Marlboro and the world's largest cigarette factory is set to ban most smoking in restaurants and bars.Gov. Tim Kaine plans to sign legislation today in Virginia Beach that takes effect Dec. 1.Kaine worked for years for a total ban on smoking in all restaurants. The bill that lawmakers passed last month falls short of that but generally restricts smoking to separate rooms that have their own ventilation.Virginia has grown tobacco for 400 years. Philip Morris churns out Marlboros and Virginia Slims at the world's largest cigarette factory in Richmond.