1.   In the Senate, the Commerce Committee said Wednesday that it would postpone the beginning of its hearings by a week until mid-September.

2.   NHL owners have threatened to postpone the beginning of the season, scheduled to start Saturday, because players have yet to sign a new collective bargaining agreement.

3.   Some schools postponed the beginning of the second semester because classrooms cannot be heated properly.

4.   Some schools postponed the beginning of the second semester as classrooms cannot be heated properly.

5.   The commotion postponed the beginning of the play by a half-hour.