21.   The Knicks are well aware of what they need to do as their regular season nears its end.

22.   U.S. refiners are producing less gasoline in favor of heating oil as the driving season nears an end and colder weather approaches.

23.   As debate season nears, the new poll by Zogby International indicates that Nader could play an important role.

24.   As the busy holiday travel season neared, two major U.S. airlines were attempting to head off flight delays they blamed on disgruntled mechanics.

25.   As the busy holiday travel season neared, two major U.S. airlines continued to grapple Tuesday with flight delays they blame on disgruntled mechanics.

26.   Buchanan, McCain argued, has little money and will fade as the election season nears.

27.   More flooding also could strike the southern coast as the typhoon season nears its peak, the headquarters said.

28.   Parma, meanwhile, faces a pivotal match at Fiorentina as the season nears the halfway point.

29.   Robert Streed, senior investment counselor at Northern Trust in Chicago, said he expects only isolated reports of weak profits as the third-quarter reporting season nears.

30.   The U.S. flu season is nearing its peak, with a rising number of cases in the past several weeks, the government said Thursday.