Thursday, March 22, 2001

Weighing the dangers of driving while distracted
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Banning bikinis would do more for traffic safety than banning hand-held cell phones in this tropical city.

Mazda hopes to revive sales with sporty new lineup
NEW YORK -- Hoping to reverse five years of slumping U.S. sales, Mazda Motor Co. on Tuesday unveiled plans to downsize its product line, phasing out some vehicles and rolling out new ones that emphasize an image of sportiness and fun.

Cadillac Escalade is attention-grabber
If the big, in-your-face grille on the 2002 Cadillac Escalade isn't enough to grab your attention, the V8 just inches from that grille certainly will.

Toyota, Honda top most-stolen list
DETROIT -- The Toyota Camry and Honda Accord have topped another list of most-popular vehicles nationwide, but it's a list you won't see touted in advertisements or commercials.

Chrysler accused of reselling 'lemons' to consumers
DETROIT -- Chrysler has spent $1.3 billion since 1993 buying back vehicles with chronic defects, then reselling the bulk of these "lemons" to consumers, a safety group says Chrysler documents show.

School vouchers popular in Milwaukee, but question remains:
MILWAUKEE -- Low-income parents here can use taxpayer dollars to send their children to a private school that emphasizes African heritage. Or one that uses Montessori's hands-on approach. Or another that requires students to wear school uniforms.

Four was cozy, but three's a crowd
DEAR ABBY: "Stan" and I have been married 45 years. He was always a loving and attentive husband. Two years ago, things began to change.

Conquering the praline problem
Dear Readers: When is a SWEET PRALINE not as sweet? When the recipe doesn't turn out quite right. I have printed Caroline's Texas Microwave Pralines recipe twice, and a few readers have let me know that they have not been successful making these yummy bites of heaven.

Parents willing to listen will have children willing to talk
DEAR ABBY: I read your column daily and have found the questions concerning when to talk to children about sex very interesting.

Good houseguest
Dear Heloise: Your list on how to be a good houseguest prompted me to add a few more:

Government begins seizing sheep suspected of mad cow disease
GREENSBORO, Vt. -- Federal agents early Wednesday began taking away sheep feared infected with a version of mad cow disease. It was the first time U.S. farm animals had been seized because of concerns over the disease.

Researchers, neighbors: Hog farms harming health
SLATER, Iowa -- Don Dubois says he has had nagging, pounding migraines for the last three years -- ever since his neighbor, Tom Uthe, began to raise thousands of hogs in confinement buildings.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Wednesday cattle: 550.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Tuesday cattle: 900.

Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Wednesday 161, a year ago 291.

Honey Lemon Tart has a tangy taste of spring
A dessert with a tangy taste of spring, Honey Lemon Tart would be equally appropriate as part of a meal or as a snack with tea or coffee. The honey tempers the tartness of the lemon, to keep a pleasant balance of flavor.

Tips on cooking on a budget, and all for a good cause
NEW YORK (AP) -- The name and concept of a CBS Saturday television segment have been translated into a book: "Chef on a Shoestring" (Simon & Schuster, $23 hardcover).

Mushroom sauce looks rich, but isn't
The deeply flavored port mushroom sauce in this recipe is reminiscent of a classic bordelaise sauce but is made in a fraction of the time. It's practically fat-free and it's versatile -- try it with lamb, venison or pork, besides the beef called for here.

Spreads for bagels are packed full of veggies
I really enjoy bagels and have been trying a couple different filling recipes that are so delicious spread on bagels.

Metals
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices Tuesday.

Accident
CROSBY -- Two people were injured in a single-vehicle accident reported at 10:29 p.m. Wednesday on Highway 6 near Crosby, north of the Mississippi River bridge, the State Patrol reported.

Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to a false fire alarm at 2:51 p.m. Tuesday at Baxter Elementary School.

Metals
Gold - $262.00 troy oz., Handy & Harman (only daily quote).

Courts
The following recently appeared in Crow Wing District Court:

Duval hoping TPC gets him back on track
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Lee Trevino is fond of saying that a hurt golfer is a dangerous golfer. David Duval is a hurt golfer. How dangerous he is will be determined this week when he tries to beat Tiger Woods and the rest of the field at The Players Championship.

Ventura proposes sweeping teacher employment change
ST. LOUIS PARK (AP) -- Gov. Jesse Ventura floated a proposal Wednesday to reclassify teachers as essential state employees, which would remove their right to strike.

Bush won't send troops to Macedonia
WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is not considering sending troops to Macedonia or increasing the number of U.S. peacekeepers in neighboring Kosovo, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Wednesday.

'Millionaires' amendment added to campaign bill
WASHINGTON -- The Senate voted Tuesday to protect candidates of modest means from being swamped by wealthy opponents who fund their own campaigns, brushing off warnings from Democratic leaders that the move could endanger broader legislation to curb special-interest influence on elections.

Ventura offers tax relief for farmers
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Minnesota farmers would receive $64 million in lower property taxes and sales tax exemptions under Gov. Jesse Ventura's budget proposal for the next biennium.

Bush threatens veto of patients' bill of rights
ORLANDO, Fla. -- President Bush, demanding "a new approach," vowed Wednesday to veto any patients' bill of rights legislation unless it strictly limits the ability of consumers to sue insurers or health maintenance organizations.

Campaign reform coalition holds -- so far
WASHINGTON -- The bipartisan Senate coalition behind campaign finance legislation is holding firm into a fourth day of debate, but the toughest tests are yet to come in the struggle over a bill to curb the influence of money in politics.

Exposure to questionable chemical higher than expected, study reports
ATLANTA (AP) -- Americans' bodies harbor surprisingly high amounts of mercury and a questionable chemical used in soap and cosmetics, federal health officials reported Wednesday in a landmark study on environmental toxins in the body.

Estrogen use could increase risk of dying from ovarian cancer
WASHINGTON -- Women who take the hormone estrogen for 10 years or more after menopause substantially increase their risk of dying of ovarian cancer compared with women who do not take the hormone, according to a study released Tuesday.

New kind of pacemaker relieves congestive heart failure
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A novel kind of pacemaker can substantially boost the pumping power of victims of congestive heart failure, offering an entirely new way of treating perhaps 1 million Americans with bad hearts.

Genes of both fathers and mothers play role in pregnancy complication
The genes of both fathers and mothers appear to play a role in pre-eclampsia, a dangerous and sometimes deadly pregnancy complication that is on the rise among American women, a study found.

Eggs and Issues
Central Lakes College hosted an Eggs & Issues Breakfast on Saturday that more than 100 people attended.

Cass adopts changes to personnel rules
WALKER -- The Cass County Board on Tuesday approved four changes to the county personnel rules.

Brainerd, Pillager students learn about various careers
More than 30 presenters gave 600 high school students from Brainerd and Pillager information on what it takes to become professionals in dozens of careers Friday at Career Exploration Day on the Brainerd campus of Central Lakes College.

Little Falls wildlife manager finds awards, rewards in his work
LITTLE FALLS -- A scoop into a fish tank for minnows and a tall hunting tale told in a Fergus Falls bait shop hooked Gary Johnson on the outdoors.

Cass will no longer use Northern Pines for mental health services
WALKER -- The Cass County Board voted Tuesday to terminate financial support and withdraw from membership in the Northern Pines Mental Health Board, effective at the end of this month.

Aquatic program in Crosby helps those suffering from arthritis
CROSBY -- When Janice Rogers first started the arthritis therapy program in the Hallett Community Center pool, the 85-year-old Deerwood woman was so stiff from arthritis she couldn't balance on her own in the water, and spent most of the class holding on to the sides of the pool for safety.

Area briefs
LITTLE FALLS -- Learn about two lumber barons of Minnesota, Charles A. Weyerhaeuser and Richard Drew Musser, during a tour of Linden Hill in Little Falls at 1 p.m. Monday, April 2.

Cass department sets policy to handle zoning violations
WALKER -- The Cass County Environmental Services Department has set a procedure policy for handling zoning violations.

Child placement bill down in Cass
WALKER -- Bills that Cass County received for out-of-home child placements in February this year were the lowest since last July.

Cass to buy sign that shows motorists' speeds
WALKER -- Cass County Sheriff Randy Fisher obtained county board approval Tuesday to buy a demonstrator trailer and speed advisory sign for $7,700.

Cass debates program's costs to educate severely emotionally disturbed children
WALKER -- School superintendents and the Cass County Board are at odds over who should pay for educating severely emotionally disturbed children in a program near Walker.

C-I graduate seeks success as a boxer
CROSBY -- As a high school quarterback and point guard, Tony Bonsante was the general of his teams, an extension of the coach, a leader of his teammates.

Catch 'The Bullet' in his next fight on ESPN2
CROSBY -- If you've never seen someone hit by bullet then 8 p.m. Friday set your television to ESPN2 and see if you can catch a bullet.

Cass awaits census data
WALKER -- Auditor-Treasurer Sharon Anderson told the Cass County Board on Tuesday that 2000 census reports should be received by April 1.

Flying favor
Lincoln School fifth-grader John Miller (left) was ready for takeoff with pilot Bob House on Wednesday at the Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional Airport.

Unfinished Baxter home is a concern
BAXTER -- A house at 4010 Cedardale Lane that has been under construction since 1998 has set city officials into action.

Brainerd council backs study
The Brainerd City Council on Monday approved the city's participation in a regional wastewater study with other units of government.

Group calls attention to Youth Service Day
Youth As Resources of Crow Wing County recently announced support of National Youth Service Day, a 48-hour event April 20-21.

Correction/clarification
The academic status of area students was reported incorrectly in Extra Credit on Page 3A March 12.

CORRECTIONS /CLARIFICATIONS
The residence where a boy died Monday from asphyxiation was listed incorrectly in a Page 1A story Wednesday. The residence was in southeast Brainerd.

Baxter approves three Menards development agreements
BAXTER -- The Baxter City Council on Tuesday approved three development agreements with Menards.

Park dedication fees also to increase
Building permit and park dedication fees will be increasing in Baxter.

District fails in bid to force insurance to pay settlement
The Brainerd School District was informed Monday that its motion for summary judgment seeking specific coverage from its former insurance carrier was denied.

Local brief
The annual storm spotters meeting will be 6:30 p.m. April 5 in the Crow Wing County Service Building.

Cass approves changes for more office space
WALKER -- The Cass County Board voted Tuesday to spend up to $7,500 to move the wall between the administrator and clerical offices to expand the clerical space.

This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981) - The Brainerd Kixters took first place Saturday in Minnesota State Danceline competition. The Kixters were one of 26 teams competing in the Class AA category.

Hanging death of teen investigated
Brainerd police and the Crow Wing County coroner's office are investigating the Monday hanging death of a teen-age boy.

Scheeler un-annexes panel
While one member announced his resignation, Brainerd's Annexation Subcommittee met with an Oak Lawn Township representative Tuesday to discuss annexation concerns.

Local briefs
STAPLES -- Doug Birk of the Minnesota Archeological Institute will be the guest speaker at the annual meeting of the Wadena Historical Environmental Learning Program at 3 p.m. Sunday in the large meeting room at North Central Service Coop, 200 First St., on the north side of Highway 10 in Staples.

Sandy Cowell area teacher of the year
Sandy Cowell of Brainerd declined a nomination the past two years to vie for the Brainerd Teacher of the Year honor.

CORRECTION/CLARIFICATION
In a Page 1A story March 14, the name of Mike Lehn, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities project director for automotive collaboration, was misspelled.

Youth ministries to provide grief counseling after student's death
Brainerd Area Youth Ministries is helping Franklin Junior High School students deal with the death of one of their classmates.

Brainerd council given good news on project
The Brainerd City Council on Monday received a letter from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn, indicating the interchange project on the south end of the Highway 371 bypass will begin this summer, two years ahead of schedule. The project is expected to be completed in 2003.

Local briefs
St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd is one of 11 outstate hospitals that would be reclassified and receive an increase in Medicare payments if legislation backed by Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., is adopted.

This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981) - Mrs. Conrad Bye and Jennifer Raddatz, representing the Crow Wing County 4-H Council presented Ralph Klapperich, president of First Federal Savings and Loan, with a certificate of appreciation from the National 4-H Council for sponsoring 4-H calendars that are distributed to 4-H families each year.

Park Rapids man linked to burglaries
WALKER -- Joseph Jay Christofferson, 22, Park Rapids, has been charged in Cass County Court in connection with burglaries at six businesses from Pine River to Walker and the school in Walker.

Spring runners
As they trained for a triathlon scheduled May 18, Erik Bohn (left) and Aaron Mertes were dressed for spring Tuesday despite a wall of melting snow near the north parking lot of Brainerd High School. (Dispatch Photo by Steve Kohls)

Hwy. 371 route options aired
LITTLE FALLS -- Lyle and Wanda Warum worry about the future of Highway 371.

Bogdanovich, wife split up
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The wife of producer-director Peter Bogdanovich has filed court papers citing irreconcilable differences to end their 12-year marriage.

Dow turns bearish
NEW YORK -- The Dow Jones industrial average accelerated its decline Thursday, falling more than 300 points and joining other major market indicators in bear market territory.

Procter & Gamble cuts 9,600 jobs
CINCINNATI (AP) -- The Procter & Gamble Co. will cut about 9,600 jobs worldwide -- 9 percent of its work force -- as it tries to restore long-term growth, the company said Thursday.

Fed signals it's ready to intervene to stem recession
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve is sending a strong signal that it stands ready to do whatever is necessary to keep the economy from falling into recession. That could include another interest rate cut before the Fed's next meeting in two months.

Boeing's headquarters to fly away
In a stunning blow to its hometown, Boeing Co. said Wednesday it was moving its corporate headquarters out of Seattle, where the company had grown from a fledgling wooden airplane maker to the world's largest aerospace concern.

Stocks still lower in response to Fed rate cut
NEW YORK (AP) -- Investors pushed blue chip stocks lower Wednesday, once again expressing their disappointment over the Federal Reserve's interest rate policy.

California governor blames utilities for their role in statewide blackouts
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Gov. Gray Davis said the state's two largest utilities are partly to blame for this week's widespread blackouts because they've failed to pay millions of dollars owed to environmentally-friendly power generators.

GAO finds loopholes in gun background checks
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Undercover congressional investigators using fake IDs were able to skirt mandatory background checks and purchase guns in all of the five states where they tried, according to a report issued Wednesday.

Nice day to play hoops
University of Iowa students took advantage of warm temperatures with a game of basketball Wednesday behind Burge Hall on the UI campus in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo)

Court rules that employers can force workers into arbitration
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Employers can force workers to take job-related disputes to arbitration rather than to court, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday in a decision that will have broad effects on American workplaces.

U.S. orders more than 50 Russian diplomats to leave
WASHINGTON -- President Bush's national security adviser said Thursday that 51 Russian diplomats are being ousted from the United States because their large presence here "is just not representative of the kind of relations we would want to have with Russia."

EPA revokes arsenic standards
WASHINGTON -- EPA Administrator Christie Whitman on Tuesday rescinded a Clinton administration decision that would have significantly reduced the amount of arsenic allowed in the nation's drinking water.

Jobless claims dip, still point to weaker demand for workers
WASHINGTON (AP) -- New claims for state unemployment insurance dipped last week, but still hovered at a level suggesting that employers' demand for workers has eased.

Submarine skipper accepts responsibility for collision
PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii -- Saying he is worried about being "sacrificed" by the Navy to placate the Japanese, the skipper of the submarine Greeneville said Tuesday that he takes full responsibility for the deadly collision with a Japanese fishing vessel but he also blamed his crew for disobeying orders.

Consumer prices rise
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Consumer inflation rose 0.3 percent in February as falling prices for energy products blunted rising costs for food and prescription drugs, which posted the biggest increase since the middle of 1998.

High court acts in two cases
WASHINGTON -- Hospitals cannot test pregnant women for drugs without their consent and turn the results over to police, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday in a decision that bolstered the Constitution's protection against unreasonable searches.

Baby dies in car after mother says she forgot him
DALLAS (AP) -- A 5-month-old baby died in his car seat while his mother was at work at a nearby restaurant. The distraught woman told authorities she must have forgotten to drop him off at day care.

Discovery returns first space station crew to Earth
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Discovery glided to a pre-dawn touchdown Wednesday, bringing the first residents of the international space station home from their 4 1/2-month voyage.

UCLA inspired about playing Duke
PHILADELPHIA -- It wasn't simply another pep talk. UCLA basketball players received a spur-of-the-moment blessing from two L.A. stars of the game Monday morning as they wrapped up practice at Pauley Pavilion.

Report says Davis to be offered four-year contract
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) -- Indiana University moved closer to hiring a basketball coach Wednesday amid a report that Mike Davis would be offered a four-year contract.

Ice is thicker than blood for hockey twins
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) -- Brian Catlin knows which teams he'll be rooting for in the semifinals of this weekend's NCAA women's Frozen Four. After that, though, there could be trouble.

HELP WANTED?
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) -- After six months, of dealing with comparisons to Bob Knight and questions about the future, Mike Davis finally got the answer he wanted -- he will coach the Indiana Hoosiers for the next four seasons.

Stanford player fulfilling father's dream
Casey Jacobsen has always been a long-range plan -- from birth, to jump shot, to Stanford and, soon, to NBA arcs of triumph.

Red send Henson back to Yankees
BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) -- Drew Henson is back with the only baseball team that can lure him away from the NFL. Now he'll have to decide whether he wants to be a quarterback or a third baseman.

Kwan is on solid footing despite a faulty skate
VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- For an instant, Michelle Kwan felt as if the ice had melted beneath her.

Vols' coach who just didn't win enough of the big games quits
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Jerry Green won plenty of games at Tennessee, but not enough of the big ones.

Scoreboard
TV-Radio Radio guide -- WYRQ-FM (92.1), KFML-FM (94.1), KKIN-FM (94.3), KTCF-FM (101.5), KTIG-FM (102.7), WCCO-AM (830), KWAD-AM (920), KKIN-AM (930), KTLF-AM (960), 3WI-AM (1270), KVBR-AM (1340), KLIZ-AM (1380), KLLZ-AM (1600)

NCAA puts Buffalo men's team on two years' probation
AMHERST, N.Y. (AP) -- The Buffalo men's basketball program was put on two years' probation by the NCAA on Wednesday for recruiting violations under former coach Tim Cohane.

Selma 'Sally' M. Stricker
PEQUOT LAKES -- Selma "Sally" M. Stricker, 79, Pequot Lakes, died Wednesday, March 21, 2001, at Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby.

Donald M.A. Wiggins
BAXTER -- Donald Maynard Allen Wiggins, 71, Baxter, died Monday, March 19, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.

Floyd J. Mertens
STAPLES -- Floyd John Mertens, 77, Staples, died Wednesday, March 21, 2001, at Greater Staples Hospital.

Dean D. Carlson
NISSWA -- Dean Douglas Carlson, 67, Nisswa, died Tuesday, March 20, 2001, at his home.

Dora E. Hardy
IRONTON -- Dora E. Hardy, 87, Ironton, died today, March 22, 2001, at Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby.

Raymond E. Doust
Raymond E. Doust, 66, Brainerd, died Monday, March 19, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Floyd J. Mertens
STAPLES -- Floyd J. Mertens, 77, Staples, died today, March 21, 2001, at Greater Staples Hospital.

Mildred H. Davidson
Mildred H. Davidson, 89, Brainerd, died Wednesday, March 21, 2001, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village.

Dale O. Vansickle
Dale O. Vansickle, 75, Brainerd, died Wednesday, March 21, 2001, at his home.

Elmer J. Morris
STUART, Fla. -- Elmer James Morris, 85, Palm City, Fla., died Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001, at the Hospice of Martin and St. Lucie Residences in Stuart, Fla.

Lloyd D. Giddings
STAPLES -- Lloyd David Giddings, 94, Staples, died Tuesday, March 20, 2001, at Greater Staples Care Center.

Nickolas R. Beckenbach
Nickolas R. Beckenbach, 13, Brainerd, died Monday, March 19, 2001, in Brainerd.

Selma Stricker
PEQUOT LAKES -- Selma Stricker, 79, Pequot Lakes, died today, March 21, 2001, at Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby.

Kathleen L. Tucker
LITTLE FALLS -- Kathleen L. Tucker, 99, Little Falls, died Sunday, March 18, 2001, at St. Otto's Care Center in Little Falls.

Robert Elling
AITKIN -- Robert Elling, 58, Aitkin, died today, March 22, 2001, at his home.

Samuel David Parker
LITTLE FALLS -- Samuel David Parker, infant son of Marlin and Shannan Parker, Little Falls, was born and died Tuesday, March 20, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Open Forum
Adele Berlin's questioning the historical accuracy and veracity of the Old Testament book of "Esther" on Page 11A, March 2, needs a response.

OTHER OPINIONS The Rich pardon
Former President Bill Clinton's pardon of financier Marc Rich has by now been roundly condemned across the political spectrum; everyone assumes it was tawdry.

Open Forum
As a former paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division throughout WWII I would like to submit the following letter.

The sky is not falling
Chicken Little Democrats are clucking that the financial sky is falling and it's all President Bush's fault. The talking points have gone out from Terry McAuliffe, Chairman of the Democratic National Committee: Blame Bush for the stock market decline, layoffs, polluting the Earth, lying to members of his own Cabinet and not even living up to his father's administration (which Democrats also unfairly maligned). That's quite a record after just two months in office.

Health care taxes - Dispatch editorial
Creating a fair tax system is a complex task. In a system where money is often borrowed from Peter to pay Paul, deciding if an action is fair usually depends on whom you ask.

The Brainerd Dispatch's editorial positions
Editorial views in The Brainerd Dispatch represent a consensus of opinion by members of the newspaper's editorial board.

How to reach your senators, representatives
Sen. Paul Wellstone

Campaign finance and TV
WASHINGTON--The Sunday television talk shows were focused on campaign finance reform, but no one was rude enough to suggest that TV itself is at the heart of the problem. The same subject is conspicuous by its absence in the campaign finance debate now under way in the Senate. For a change, the lawmakers are arguing seriously how to regulate the money coming into politics from business, labor and wealthy individuals. But they are ignoring where that money goes.

Wheat and chaff in the Senate
The following editorial appeared in today's Washington Post:

The Dispatch's editorials
Editorial views in The Brainerd Dispatch represent a consensus of opinion by members of the newspaper's editorial board.

Gibbs team looking for a first-quarter rally
Joe Gibbs once said the most difficult lesson in his transition from NFL coach to NASCAR team owner was learning how to lose. Losing is one thing. Watching your teams border on self-destruction is quite another. No Gibbs team ever stays down long, but clearly the troops must rally before it's too late.

NASCAR Winston Cup
The 2001 NASCAR Winston Cup schedule (winners in parentheses) and driver point standings:

Petty's makeover
Huddled in the back of a hauler, Richard Petty listened as his three drivers compared notes. Practice ended hours earlier, but Petty wanted each driver and crew chief to explain to the others exactly how their car was running.

Earnhardt, newspaper head back to table
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- The Orlando Sentinel will get a chance to air its concerns that a NASCAR medical expert viewed Dale Earnhardt autopsy photos while the newspaper didn't get the same chance.

Attorney general files suit against Allina
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch filed a lawsuit accusing Allina Health System of spending millions of dollars on such items as golfing trips, spas, image consultants and other items and asking the company to hand over thousands of financial documents.

Universities condemn use of American Indian nicknames
ST. CLOUD (AP) -- A gathering of representatives from Midwestern universities produced a statement condemning the use of American Indian nicknames for sports teams.

No charges to be filed against Northwest pilot
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Local and federal prosecutors decided not to file criminal charges against a former Northwest Airlines pilot who allegedly flew under the influence of alcohol, Minnesota Public Radio reported Wednesday.

Two Wisconsin utilities to add 975 megawatts in plan to avoid energy crisis
Two utilities will add 975 megawatts to Wisconsin's electric power grid to help avoid an energy crisis similar to the one in California, which was forced this week to do the first deliberate blackouts since World War II.

Joint U of M, Vikings stadium proposed
ST. PAUL -- The Minnesota Vikings and the University of Minnesota have tentatively agreed on an on-campus site for a new football stadium, although a university official stressed Wednesday they don't have a formal agreement.

Man found slain in south Minneapolis
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Police on Wednesday were investigating a shooting death in south Minneapolis.

Northwest, mechanics continue hearings
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The way Northwest Airlines mechanics see it, they're not just negotiating a contract, they're crusading to save the aviation industry from "reckless neglect of its own human infrastructure."

Finance professor says stadium loan could cost taxpayers $40 million
ST. PAUL (AP) -- A proposed interest-free state loan to help build a new stadium for the Minnesota Twins probably would cost taxpayers at least $40 million, according to a Saint Paul Pioneer Press analysis published Wednesday.

State prepares plan for foot-and-mouth disease
ST. PAUL (AP) -- There's no sign of foot-and-mouth disease spreading to the United States, let alone Minnesota, but if it does turn up here, state officials are ready.

Boy who wandered in freezing weather discharged from hospital
ROCHESTER (AP) -- A 2-year-old Wisconsin boy who nearly froze to death last month after wandering outside in subzero temperatures has been sent home from the hospital with a positive prognosis.

Oakdale to absorb cost of chasing cows
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The city of Oakdale will not bill the farmer whose three pregnant cattle were chased by police and a volunteer search-and-rescue squad for more than 24 hours after escaping a trailer, city officials said.

Search for fugitive in mall ends
BLOOMINGTON (AP) -- The nation's largest shopping mall was closed for eight hours Tuesday as police searched inside for a federal fugitive wanted in three states who apparently escaped on a motorized cart.

Blood tests urged for students in science class
WILLMAR (AP) -- Elementary school officials urged blood tests for 20 pupils who shared two lancets to prick their fingers during a science class project, possibly exposing them to each other's blood.

Relatives, FBI fear violent end to hunt for fugitive Zappa
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The longer Anthony Zappa runs, the more authorities and his family fear a violent outcome.

House panel endorses measure requiring officials to disclose outside earnings
ST. PAUL -- Gov. Jesse Ventura and the four other state officers would be required to disclose their outside earnings beginning in August under a bill endorsed by a key House panel Wednesday.

Staples-Motley breezes past Becker
MOORHEAD -- Dennis Green should hire Lynn Peterson as the Vikings' defensive coordinator.

Second half dooms Pine River-Backus
HIBBING -- Pine River fire trucks and police cars weren't needed for an escort Tuesday night as the Pine River-Backus Tigers were denied a trip to the final four at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

Tigers wind up with a season to remember
HIBBING -- The Pine River-Backus Tigers boys' basketball team was in unknown territory Tuesday.

Close games made it enjoyable
Through the years the Brainerd Warriors adapted floor hockey team has been noted for its staunch goaltending. Ben Solseth backstopped the Warriors to a state title in 1998. Dustin Scherfenberg was in goal in 2000 when Brainerd was state champion again.

Nelson fills scoring void for BHS
The Brainerd Warriors adapted floor hockey team had one of the state's leading scorers in Nick Praska when it won the state championship last season. Praska had 38 goals and 52 points as Brainerd won 12 of 13 games on its way to the title.

Scoreboard
Area events

Local shorts
Scott Parsons of the Sertoma Liftathon will be the speaker at the Brainerd Sports Boosters Club meeting which begins noon Thursday on the second floor of Central Lakes College.

Could this be the year? Peterson's Cardinals shooting for first state title
With the exit of DeLaSalle from the Class AA state boys' basketball tournament the Staples-Motley Cardinals are the only team remaining from last year's tournament.

Local shorts
Natalie Dunphy, Megan Whalen and Mandy Hanson have been named to the All-Central Lakes Conference girls' hockey team.

Stoll remembers the start of S-M's tradition
MOORHEAD -- Dale Stoll's heart may have been pounding for the Staples-Motley Cardinals but his allegiance was with the Becker Bulldogs.

Banta A team ready for state VFW hockey tourney
When the Brainerd boys' Bantam A hockey team takes the ice in the state VFW hockey tournament Friday through Sunday at Fairmont, it will be with the hope that its goalies can continue to keep the puck out of the net and that one of its moms can start putting it in.

Season's over but Gophers aren't ready to quit
MINNEAPOLIS -- After another valiant comeback had fallen short and ended Minnesota's season Monday, the conversation soon turned to Rick Rickert, Jerry Holman and the Gophers' prospects for next season.

Rickert, Duluth East advance to semifinals
Prized University of Minnesota recruit Rick Rickert will make an early visit to the Twin Cities Thursday.

Girls have co-players of the year
MINNEAPOLIS -- Voting for the Associated Press girls' high school player of the year was so tight, any of five players could have won.

Wild coach, GM fined for outburst
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Minnesota Wild coach Jacques Lemaire and general manager Doug Risebrough were each fined $5,000 for their criticism of referee Brad Meier after an overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on March 11.

Big 8th dooms Twins
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- Josh Hamilton's RBI single capped Tampa Bay's three-run eighth inning and gave the Devil Rays a 6-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.

Timberwolves 109, Mavericks 97
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota jumped to a 28-9 lead and never trailed Wednesday night, beating Dallas 109-97 in NBA action.

Knoblauch's lessons in left begin in earnest
TAMPA, Fla. -- Tucked away on a field behind the main stadium, while many teammates were finishing their morning coffee, Chuck Knoblauch already was at work Tuesday learning his new position. He was positioned on the wet grass, awaiting fly balls, as outfield coach Lee Mazzilli studied his every movement.

Wild battle Nashville to 0-0 tie
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Goalie Jamie McLennan must be wondering what he has to do to get a win for the Minnesota Wild.

Boys' state basketball schedule
CLASS 4A

New books include three for Irish eyes
During the month that boasts St. Patrick's Day, it's appropriate that the parade of new books includes novels by three popular Irish novelists -- Maeve Binchy, Morgan Llywelyn and Patrick McCabe.

ABC wins ratings week; XFL football hits historic low
NEW YORK -- How low can the XFL go? To history-making depths, much to NBC's chagrin.

Stephen King's 'Dreamcatcher' heads list of new thrillers
An alien spacecraft has crashed into Earth, and its occupants have brought a little gift -- a contagious cancer.

Folk concert
Martin Simpson, one of the best acoustic guitarists around, will perform this weekend in the Grassroots Concerts series. The

Acoustical guitarist to perform in Pequot
PEQUOT LAKES -- If you are an aspiring acoustical guitarist, take note. A world-class master of the instrument is coming to town.

Entertainment Calendar
Live music - For week of March 22-28; bands perform from 9 p.m. to close with no cover unless otherwise noted.

Best books
Hardcover fiction

Fund-raising event to feature live, silent auctions
LITTLE FALLS -- The Great River Arts Association's annual fund-raising event will feature a live and silent auction of works donated by dozens of area artists.

Only a freshman, Lykins already an accomplished cello and trumpet player, pianist
Scott Lykins is nearing the end of his freshman year, but he's already accumulated an impressive list of performance credits as a musician.

No lack of things to do across state
Some of the tourism events around the state of Minnesota, as provided by the Minnesota Office of Tourism.

Semisonic sets up another round for success
MINNEAPOLIS -- Semisonic frontman Dan Wilson bought himself a new piano as a reward for the success of "Feeling Strangely Fine," the 1998 album that opened with the Grammy-nominated "Closing Time."

Thanks to good character development, '15 Minutes' is action thriller worth seeing
"15 Minutes" has nothing new to say about the power of the media and our intoxication with lurid and dehumanizing "reality TV."

Oscars to boast international look
LOS ANGELES -- The Oscars have taken on more of an international flavor than ever before.

Best videos
Weekly charts for the nation's most popular videos as they appear in next week's issue of Billboard magazine. Reprinted with permission:

'All About Chemistry' gets better with a few listens
"All About Chemistry" (MCA) -- Semisonic

C-I Concert Choir, vocalists earn superior ratings
CROSBY -- The Crosby-Ironton High School Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, Girls' Triple Trio, Boys Quartet and soloists and ensembles, directed by Wayne Ellingsen, participated in the subsection vocal music contest March 14 at Crosby-Ironton High School.

Minnesota community college students to perform free public concert in Breezy
BREEZY POINT -- About 300 community college students and faculty arrived at Breezy Point Resort today for the two-day Minnesota Fine Arts Festival.

Tempo tidbits
The Great American Think-Off is probing the legality of assisted suicides in its annual essay contest, the winner of which is deemed "America's greatest thinker."

Aitkin students receive 24 superior ratings for vocal solos/ensembles
CROSBY -- Vocal music students from Aitkin High School participated in the subsection solo and ensemble competition March 14 in Crosby.

Seagal storms back to box-office prominence
LOS ANGELES -- With an assist from rapper DMX, Steven Seagal has regained his box-office luster as his action flick "Exit Wounds" debuted as the weekend's top movie.

Best music
Weekly charts for the nation's best-selling recorded music as they appear in next week's issue of Billboard magazine. Reprinted with permission.

When dividing parents' estate, it's the small, sentimental items that can lead to family fights
LONGVILLE -- Small personal property items can cause more long-term conflicts in families than distributing major real estate among family members.

St. Patrick's Day Parade winners listed
CROSSLAKE -- Dozens of floats competed for a traveling trophy in one of two categories as a part of the 2001 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Crosslake on Saturday.

Passing the time and the miles counting cows and other 'wildlife'
Counting cows is a game I remember playing as a child. There's really not much to it, but it can occupy children who are old enough to count for the balance of a long car ride.

Area Briefs
PEQUOT LAKES -- Mike and Mary Sams of Cass County were among the more than 90 young farmers to attend the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Conference on Feb. 23-25 in St. Paul.

The Weather Elsewhere
Temperatures indicate Tuesday's high and overnight low to 8 a.m. Eastern Time.

State forecast for North Dakota
This morning...Cloudy west and south with scattered fog...Freezing drizzle...And flurries. Decreasing cloudiness northeast. This afternoon...Cloudy west and central with a few flurries. Partly to mostly sunny east. Highs 25 to 35.

Iowa state forecast
Dense fog advisory west central into northeast iowa through mid morning...

Wisconsin state forecast
Dense fog advisory through mid morning for much of southern wisconsin...

Melting snowmen
Weather drawing by Gregory Brown of Gayle Kub's first grade class at Lowell school.

Minnesota state forecast
Dense fog advisory southeast this morning...

State forecast for North Dakota
Today....Becoming partly to mostly cloudy. A few sprinkles west and central. Highs in the mid 30s northeast to around 50 southwest.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Patchy morning fog northwest...Then mostly sunny. Morning clouds with scattered sprinkles or flurries central and southeast... Then becoming partly to mostly sunny. Highs in the 40s to around 50.

State forecast for South Dakota
Dense fog advisory parts of southeast this morning...

State forecast for South Dakota
Dense fog advisory east this morning...

Regional Weather
HighLowPR

Regional weather
MINNESOTA

Iowa state forecast
Dense fog advisory far northwest this morning...

Minnesota state forecast
dense fog advisory parts of the south this morning...

The Weather Elsewhere
Temperatures indicate Wednesday's high and overnight low to 8 a.m. Eastern Time.

What's Doing
The Brainerd American Legion will serve homemade hamburger baskets from 5-8 p.m. Friday. There will also be a meat raffle beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

Dutch report first confirmed cases of foot-and-mouth; Britain struggles
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- The Dutch government said Wednesday it had confirmed the first cases of foot-and-mouth disease in the Netherlands, making it the second country on the European continent to detect the livestock ailment.

Mission Control: Mir stabilized for descent
KOROLYOV, Russia -- One day before the Mir's fiery descent into the South Pacific, Russian ground controllers powered up the station's computer-controlled orientation system early Thursday and successfully stabilized it.

Macedonian police move into hills to combat rebels
TETOVO, Macedonia (AP) -- Police armed for combat moved Thursday into the hills above Tetovo and sent ethnic Albanian rebels retreating, police said. But reports of fighting and sightings of dug-in guerrillas suggested the insurgents were resisting.

Macedonia ends artillery barrage, lays down ultimatum to rebels
TETOVO, Macedonia -- An ominous calm settled over Macedonia's second-largest city Wednesday after government forces handed ethnic Albanian rebels an ultimatum giving them 24 hours to end their insurrection or face all-out assault.

McCartney debuts as published poet
LIVERPOOL, England (AP) -- Sir Paul McCartney, making his debut as a published poet, drew an excited hometown crowd at a book signing Wednesday.

Ireland confirms first case of foot-and-mouth
DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) -- The first cases of foot-and-mouth disease were confirmed Thursday in the Republic of Ireland, despite desperate efforts that went as far as canceling St. Patrick's Day parades.