Friday, March 22, 2002
OnStar provides help, security
Thousands of people in the United States lock themselves out of their vehicles every month.
No joke: Mercedes not just any car
Not just any car would lure comedian Jay Leno away from his TV job.
Don't forget to lock your doors
DETROIT -- Toyota Camry was the most stolen vehicle model for the fifth-straight year on an annual list that monitors trends in auto theft.
BMW takes ultimate gamble
DETROIT -- At first glance, things have never looked better for BMW.
Drivers need more data on hybrids
A new study by J.D. Power & Associates finds that, despite car makers' protests that the market is limited, as many as 60 percent of new-car buyers would be willing to consider a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle if one were available in the same class of car or truck they had just purchased.
Toyota is betting a retread will take hold
"Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose." That's French for "Here we go again."
Automakers experimenting with technology to create 'smart' vehicles
WASHINGTON -- The scene is familiar to anyone who has navigated a supermarket parking lot: A man gets into his car to leave and an absent-minded shopper abandons a cart behind him. The driver begins backing up.
2003 Range Rover: Up to the challenge, off road and on
TAIN, Scotland -- It is the most beautiful Range Rover ever made. It's also the most capable. It had to be. Failure to make the 2003 Range Rover the best ever would have rendered the brand commercially moribund.
Metals
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices Thursday.
The miracle of loooong life
How do we explain miracles? "The laws of nature that are temporarily suspended or superceded by the supernatural laws of God."
'Old Lutheran' brand -- with Martin Luther bobblehead -- adds a touch of humor
MOORHEAD (AP) -- You might be a Lutheran if you only serve Jell-O in the proper liturgical color for the season.
Churches
The following worship services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church, Brainerd, in observance of Holy Week: Palm Sunday worship, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. with palm processional and Holy Communion featuring resident orga
Churches provide links between jobless, jobs
EDEN PRAIRIE (AP) -- It's Ash Wednesday at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie, and the Rev. Rod Anderson is ringed by supplicants. They silently wait for a word from the good book that sits open before him.
Men of all faiths invited to Holy Week retreat in Buffalo
Christ the King Retreat Center in Buffalo, 26 miles west of the Twin Cities, invites men to participate in its Men's Holy Week Retreat next week.
Here's another view on origin of the universe and life
The Rev. Bob Kemper presents a view accepted by many conservative Christians regarding the origin of the universe and life in his column of March 15. His view depends on accepting the Bible as an inerrant book that can be trusted in all details.
Authors dispute meaning of Crucifixion, cross
It's the most familiar symbol you can imagine, but ponder for a moment how odd it is that Christians display an "emblem of suffering and shame," as the hymn says.
Sertoma essay winners named
Three Brainerd School District fifth-graders were recently named winners of the 2002 Sertoma National Heritage Essay Contest by the Brainerd Noon Sertoma Club.
Brainerd math teacher wins national award
When people pass Don Karlgaard's classroom at Brainerd High School, they see energetic students working together to solve mathematic problems.
School lunch menus
BRAINERD/PILLAGER -- NO SCHOOL. Spring break.
Defending ourselves
When is freedom worth fighting for? That's a tough question, because I've always believed fighting and war won't solve our problems. It doesn't prove anything. We have men and women in our country that are willing to sacrifice their lives and families for the sake of our country. I know it's patriotic and heroic, but no matter what the situation is, people are being killed. This is what I've always known and believed, but after the tragic events of Sept. 11, my whole point of view has changed. Our country seems to have no choice but to defend itself. Fighting back seems to be the only answer. If we don't fight we may lose our freedom completely and that would be the worst.
Don't take freedom for granted
I believe that freedom is always worth fighting for. Years ago many people fought for freedom and made America the greatest place on earth to live.
We'll fight for freedom
Freedom is worth fighting for when terrorists crash planes into two important buildings in our world. Freedom is worth fighting for when Japanese bomb your ships, declaring war. When someone threatens our freedom, we fight back.
For Zelinskes, Potlatch is a family affair
Potlatch, for Ken Zelinske, was more than just a place to work.
Creative recyclers find new uses for old pantyhose
DEAR ABBY: It looks like the laugh is on me. Months ago, while reading your column in the morning paper, my husband and I had quite a laugh about the 90-year-old woman who recycled everything and found an unusual use for the "panty" part of control-top pantyhose. She said she used them "to keep her 90-year-old breasts under control." (She'd cut off the legs, cut out the crotch and wear the remainder like a strapless bra.)
Erase crayon marks
Dear Heloise: How do I remove crayon marks from walls? -- Nick, Via E-mail
Men suffering domestic abuse can find help they need
DEAR ABBY: In the past, you have printed letters from men who have been physically abused by their wives. We want to thank you for helping to make the public aware of this aspect of domestic violence. Make victims of domestic violence face grave difficulties. Chief among them is having few places to turn for information and help.
Children naturally push the limits of adults' power
QUESTION: Why can't parents get children to obey just by explaining what they want them to do? Why is it so often necessary to punish or raise our voices to get them to cooperate? Why can't they just accept a few reasonable rules and avoid all that conflict? It just doesn't add up to me.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Wednesday cattle: 500 estimated.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Thursday cattle: 300.
Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Tuesday 161, a year ago 161.
Bake a great pie, without all the fat
You can have your pie and eat it, too -- pie that tastes as good as Grandma used to bake but without all the fat.
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting doesn't have to be bad for you
Sounds too good to be true or at least low-fat, but this recipe lets you have your cake and eat its cream-cheese frosting, too, without suffering undue guilt.
Pastry chef says chocolate is both magical, versatile
CHICAGO (AP) -- Pastry chef Jacques Torres says chocolate is both a magical and versatile product.
'Pasta presto' can be served in 20 minutes
This "pasta presto" will please cooks, who can prepare the dish in about 20 minutes.
Accident
LITTLE FALLS -- One person was injured Wednesday in a single-vehicle accident on Highway 10 north of Little Falls at Morrison County Road 76.
Planning commission to meet Tuesday
The Brainerd Planning Commission will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday at city hall.
Crime
THEFT -- Alan Lougee, Merrifield, Tuesday reported the theft of two chain saws worth about $600.
Court
WALKER -- Joseph Lagou, 34, Walker, has been charged with felony telecommunications fraud for allegedly running up 3,453.86 minutes or 57.5 hours on a Cass County Jail-issued calling card.
Hoch shares lead with Mickelson, DiMarco
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- For four hours, Scott Hoch sat on the couch and watched shot after shot land in the murky lagoon surrounding the famed 17th hole.
Nonwinner leads in Tucson
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Good things seem to happen when Ashli Bunch plays golf in Tucson.
Kennedy postpones decision on where he'll run
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rep. Mark Kennedy still can't decide who to try to represent next year, people south of the Twin Cities or north.
Bad politics
Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., was taken to task in a Washington Post editorial reprinted in Wednesday's Dispatch for launching a vendetta against Democrats after the Senate Judiciary Committee, in a party line vote, killed the nomination of his home-state friend, U.S. District Judge Charles Pickering, to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Starr to head legal team fighting campaign finance legislation
WASHINGTON (AP) -- In a case expected to move quickly to the Supreme Court, former Whitewater Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr and a group of prominent election law attorneys will argue that campaign finance legislation passed by Congress is unconstitutional.
House agrees on plan to split INS
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The embattled Immigration and Naturalization Service would be dismantled under a plan agreed to by both House Republicans and Democrats.
Senate vote supports renewable power sources in energy bill
WASHINGTON -- The Senate moved Thursday to require utilities to generate a larger share of their electricity from sources such as solar and wind power, a potentially significant shift in national energy policy.
House passes contract bill minus same-sex benefits
ST. PAUL -- Doing an apparent end-run around state bargaining law, the House passed a bill Friday adopting all parts of negotiated union contracts except a provision that would give health benefits to gay and lesbian partners of public employees.
Senate OKs transportation funding package
ST. PAUL -- Minnesota motorists would pay at least 6 cents more for a gallon of gas under a bill that passed the Senate 39-26 Thursday.
Bush administration scraps consent forms in patient privacy rule
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Doctors and hospitals could disclose private information about patients and provide other medical services without prior consent under proposed Bush administration revisions to Clinton-era patient privacy rules.
State sees rise in tuberculosis cases
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota was among 20 states that saw an increase in tuberculosis cases last year, a coalition of more than 80 national public health organizations said.
Letter home: Your child is overweight. Signed, your school
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Some parents are getting letters home from school these days, but not because their youngsters are acting up or flunking out. The problem is their children are too fat.
Is your house chipping, peeling, faded?
Take a close look at your house. Are the shutters faded? Is the clapboard peeling? Is there mildew on the window frames? Cracks under the eaves?
An orange garage door? Maybe not
Paint companies are eager to help consumers struggling to decide what to paint the house, the shutters, the downspouts, the door. They offer sample color chips and cards; their computers can match paint to what's already on the house, to a competitors' color or to a customer's favorite geranium red.
Housing briefs
Kevin T. Goedker, a real estate agent with Goedker Realty Inc., recently earned the e-PRO certification.
Water woes
Water is a precious commodity in many drought-stricken areas of the country. It's also one of the single biggest enemies to one's home -- especially water produced from rain or snow.
Design K-10 gives energy conservation a try
I have a soft spot for small homes that think big. Design K-10 is a classic ranch that hopes to harness the sun with a sun room and a wall of angled windows.
For many Americans, houses are crucial to sense of identity
In the movie "Father of the Bride: Part II," Steve Martin and Diane Keaton sell the house where they lived for almost two decades, the home where they raised their kids.
Tips to remove snow from roof offered
How much snow can your roof safely hold?
Ready, Set, Grow! Garden Expo set April 13
The Ready, Set, Grow! Garden Expo will run April 13 at Brainerd High School.
Mix and match different elements in your gardens
HACKENSACK -- Master Gardener Mary Parrish advocates flowers in vegetable gardens and herbs in flower gardens.
Know which vegetables to plant together, and which to keep apart
HACKENSACK -- It is as important to vegetable gardening success to know which plants to separate as it is to know which will benefit each other by planting together, said Master Gardener Mary Parrish.
Economy, weather, Sept. 11 push homeowners insurance costs
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesotans could see double-digit increases in their homeowners insurance premiums as the industry struggles from severe weather, an ailing economy, costly home repairs and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Corner lot would suit angled solar home
Angled to capture as much sunlight as possible, this passive-solar design, Plan K-10, by the Homestore Plans and Publications Designers Network, is practical yet innovative, and would nicely complement a corner lot. Its floor plan has 1,756 square feet of living space.
Spring brighteners
Craving floral color instead of winter white?
Working with concrete acid stain
Recently, wife Carol told us about an attractive floor finish that she had discovered in a new local eatery. She said the floor was rich looking and was something she hadn't seen before.
Learn how to create conservation easement
HACKENSACK -- The conservation easement, as a land and financial planning tool, is a relatively new concept in Minnesota. Learn about the conceptual legal and economic aspects of the conservation easement process from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. April 17 at Union Congregational Church in Hackensack.
Local brief
WALKER -- A special meeting of the Cass County Board will be 10 a.m. Friday at the county courthouse.
Grand jury to be called in Moon slaying
Crow Wing County Attorney Don Ryan today said he would convene a grand jury in regard to the Billie Joe Moon murder case.
Ex-CBIR bookkeeper pleads guilty to embezzling charge
MINNEAPOLIS -- A former bookkeeper at Colonel's Brainerd International Raceway pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling more than $100,000 from the race track.
Huskies at state
The Pillager Huskies boys' basketball team is in St. Paul at the state tournament. Look for game details Sunday.
This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1982) - Because Garrison Elementary School is the smallest of five local schools that could be closed, residents there are afraid their protests will be drowned out by the roar of larger communities trying to save their schools.
Little Falls school referendum set April 29
LITTLE FALLS -- The Little Falls School Board is asking district residents to support a referendum this spring.
Correction
A Cass County Board story in Wednesday's Neighbors section listed an incorrect bargaining unit that settled a contract for 2002-2004.
School bond recount set
It's official.
Referendum backers spent $15,000 on vote
Proponents of the Brainerd School District's $59.9 million bond referendum spent nearly $15,000 to convince other residents to vote with them. No information was yet available on how much money was spent by those opposed to the referendum.
Bright colors
Easter lilies abound for the holiday, but greenhouses are also full of stunning color this time of year. Look for the story in Friday's Housing section.
Snowy first day of spring
Whittier Elementary School students Cassie Flannagan (left), Corrina Schmidt and Jake Crawley headed down the sidewalk with a neighborhood dog in tow after school Wednesday. Snow flurries whipped through the trees as the trio walked home on the first day of spring. (Dispatch Photo by Steve Kohls)
This was Brainerd
MARCH 22 - 60 years ago (1942) - The Brainerd Office of the United States employment service won a leading place on the honor roll of the service in February, showing a 176 percent increase in job placements by comparison with February 1941.
Baxter addresses building code concerns
BAXTER -- An attempt to get a certificate of occupancy has left one Baxter resident with a house that isn't up to code.
Referendum opponents spent $3,285
The People for Postponement of District 181 Referendum filed its financial report today stating it spent $3,285 to ask voters to defeat the Brainerd School District's $59.9 million bond referendum.
Potlatch close to challenge charities
Brainerd charitable organizations are considering financial shortfalls as Potlatch contributions will fade with the plant's closing.
Federal aid may be on way
Potlatch employees can expect to receive good news in the mail in the days ahead because foreign imports contributed to the impending loss of their jobs.
Samuelson seeks help for workers
Sen. Don Samuelson, DFL-Brainerd, said today he's been in contact with Attorney General Mike Hatch, U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar and state agency personnel to discuss options that might be available for Potlatch employees.
Local briefs
The Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department, along with the Brainerd Optimist Club, will host the annual Easter egg hunt at 10 a.m. March 30 at Lum Park.
School bond recount sought
Opponents of a Brainerd School District $59.9 million building bond intend to request a recount of the March 12 referendum.
Brainerd Kixters receive awards at banquet
The Brainerd Warriors Dance Team, the Kixters, had its award banquet Sunday.
Whitewater report concludes no evidence of perjury by Clintons
WASHINGTON -- Bill and Hillary Clinton made "factually inaccurate" statements to federal investigators during the eight-year Whitewater probe and a jury could have concluded that Hillary Clinton took part in keeping subpoenaed records hidden, but there was not enough evidence to prove the Clintons committed perjury or obstructed justice, according to the final report of the independent counsel released Wednesday.
Indicators remain flat
NEW YORK (AP) -- A key gauge of U.S. economic activity remained flat in February following four straight months of gains, suggesting a rocky economic recovery in the months ahead, a private research firm said Thursday.
National briefs
ATLANTA (AP) -- Herman Talmadge, the former governor and U.S. senator who directed Georgia's most potent political machine for more than 30 years and served on the Senate Watergate committee, died Thursday. He was 88.
Mortgage company agrees to repay customers in $60 million settlement of federal charges
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A California mortgage company accused of deceiving poor and elderly homeowners into taking out loans with large hidden fees has agreed to a $60 million deal to settle federal and state charges.
Bush says he'll sign campaign finance reform
WASHINGTON -- The Senate approved a landmark revision of federal campaign law on Wednesday, sending President Bush a bill to check the rising flow of huge donations into U.S. politics.
Stamp cost rising 3 cents
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Americans will be paying an additional 3 cents to mail a letter this summer.
Consumer prices up
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Higher prices for clothing, medical care and airline fares contributed to a mild 0.2 percent rise in consumer inflation in February.
Bush pushes efficient, high-tech border security system
EL PASO, Texas -- President Bush vowed Thursday to create a "smart border" with Mexico, saying he wants to speed the flow of people and goods across the frontier but target would-be terrorists and those who smuggle drugs and immigrants into the United States.
Justice anti-terrorism investigators want to interview more foreigners
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) -- Attorney General John Ashcroft said anti-terrorism investigators will seek voluntary interviews with about 3,000 more foreign visitors in the United States.
Employee kills three at Indiana business, then shoots self
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- An employee shot and killed three people at an aircraft parts plant Friday morning, then led police on a chase that ended when he shot himself to death, authorities said.
TV sex, violence on the decline, study finds
An analysis of television content shows steep declines in the portrayals of sex and violence on the small screen over the last couple of years, surprising the media watchdog group that conducted it.
Dog owner faces up to life in prison after rare murder conviction in mauling death
LOS ANGELES -- Rejecting defense arguments that the attack couldn't have been foreseen, jurors returned a murder conviction against a woman whose dogs ripped open a neighbor's throat, killing her in their San Francisco apartment hallway. The woman's husband was convicted of manslaughter.
Prosecutors say five bodies pulled from reservoir were abducted, killed by Russian mob
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Nick Kharabadze's world was a blend of Russia and Hollywood. Fine Russian ceramics and film posters share space in the kitchen of his family's two-story home in the Hollywood Hills.
Safety board blames pilot for crash of EgyptAir Flight 990
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday blamed the crash of EgyptAir Flight 990 on the action of its copilot, who cut power to the engines and sent the plane downward to the sea.
Kennedy still deciding where he will run for re-election
WASHINGTON -- With party officials, financial backers and relatives to consult, Rep. Mark Kennedy will wait until Friday to announce whether he'll run for re-election in the 2nd District or the 6th District.
Baxter stripped of bronze medal
LONDON (AP) -- British skier Alain Baxter was stripped of his Olympic bronze medal in the slalom on Thursday after testing positive for a banned stimulant at the Winter Games.
Bowa suspended; Durazo has surgery
The Arizona Diamondbacks lost another power hitter to an injury, while the New York Yankees are thankful they have depth on their pitching staff.
National briefs
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- The University of Arkansas' top executive upheld the dismissal of Nolan Richardson, saying Thursday that he concurred in a campus chancellor's decision to fire the basketball coach.
Schizophrenia comes between basketball-playing Cooks
MADISON, Wis. -- Friday night he won't see the Kansas Jayhawks try to make a move toward the Final Four, where he took them a quarter-century ago.
NHL taking long look at warning for the fans
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The NHL is taking more steps to warn fans of hazards after the death of a 13-year-old girl hit by a hockey puck.
Missouri marches on
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- No 12th seed has ever charged through the NCAA tournament with Missouri's combination of scoring and style.
Slutskaya leads after short program
NAGANO, Japan (AP) -- Irina Slutskaya moved into a commanding lead in the women's event at the World Figure Skating Championships on Friday after Michelle Kwan made a mistake in the short program.
Upsets surface in NCAA wrestling
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- The NCAA wrestling tournament opened Thursday with a few upsets in the early rounds, while Cael Sanderson continued to chase history, pinning two opponents in pursuit of a perfect college record.
Walton passes along Wooden tradition
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Fifteen years ago, the wisdom was scribbled on Luke Walton's lunch bags.
Kent State wins in OT
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Kent State coach Stan Heath cherishes every moment he spent and every nugget of knowledge he absorbed from Michigan State's Tom Izzo.
Women hit round of 16
Louisiana Tech is out, but Brigham Young is still playing. The nation's top scorer is playing the nation's top team. And Tennessee and Vanderbilt might get a chance to settle the debate over who really should have been the No. 1 seed in their region.
Indiana stuns Duke
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- For nearly 40 minutes, Duke had faced the wrath of a hostile crowd and the burden of expectations as it watched its national championship defense begin to slip away with a growing sense of desperation. Then, suddenly and strangely, it was over, in an inelegant, decidedly un-Duke-like scene of frustration and anger.
Death overshadows victory
ST. PAUL (AP) -- A win was hardly consolation for the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Sooners overcome Arizona
SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- A day after calling Hollis Price underrated, Arizona coach Lute Olson underestimated him.
Alfred Lund
NISSWA -- Alfred Lund, 83, Nisswa, died Wednesday, March 20, 2002, at home.
Douglas D. Johnson
Douglas D. Johnson, 82, Brainerd, died Wednesday, March 20, 2002, at home.
Elsie Lowder
IRONTON -- Elsie Lowder, 95, Ironton, died Friday, March 22, 2002, at Cuyuna Regional Care Center in Crosby.
Alfred Lund
NISSWA -- Alfred Lund, 83, Nisswa, died Wednesday, March 20, 2002, at home.
Douglas D. Johnson
Douglas D. Johnson, 82, Brainerd, died Wednesday, March 20, 2002, at home.
Thomas R. Louden
Thomas R. Louden, 72, Brainerd, formerly of Minneapolis, died Tuesday, March 19, 2002.
Alois 'Al' Ringwelski
LITTLE FALLS -- Alois "Al" Ringwelski, 84, Little Falls, died Tuesday, March 19, 2002, in Wilsonville, Neb.
Mathew A. Hines
Mathew A. Hines, 24, Brainerd, died Tuesday, March 19, 2002, at St. Cloud Hospital.
Marie Sandberg
PEQUOT LAKES -- Marie Sandberg, 92, Pequot Lakes, died Tuesday, March 19, 2002, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
A taxing situation
The warning was sounded at the time by a few lonely legislators but Gov. Jesse Ventura's 2000 reduction in license tab fees was such a feel-good measure that few citizens foresaw the problems it would cause.
Vox Pop
Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Time to start speaking the truth
I am proud to have spoken out against Operation Enduring Freedom on Friday. It's about time people start speaking the truth. When one's government is committed to killing peasants in distant parts of the globe one should ask hard questions. Perhaps the type of questions one might face in the afterlife. What would Jesus do?
The Dispatch's editorial views
Editorial views in The Brainerd Dispatch represent a consensus of opinion by members of the newspaper's editorial board.
Tell us your opinion
The Dispatch encourages readers to sound off in the Open Forum.
Open Forum
I want to have a say about the school referendum passing.
A warm embrace of the 'Outside'
This editorial appeared in Wednesday's Los Angeles Times:
Open Forum
I am taking the present incident to express my concern for the many employees of the Potlatch Brainerd Mill (known to me as the NW Paper Mill) who were laid off on March 18, 2002. I received this information from The Dispatch's page on the Internet and know the importance of that plant to the financial livelihood of the Brainerd area residents.
Trevor John's last-lap disappointment brings fifth-place finish
LAKE GENEVA, Wis., -- Trevor John of Crosslake aboard his Polaris was passed on the final lap by Tucker Hibbert and settled for a fifth-place finish in the Pro Stock class final at the World Snowmobile Association's Snocross Worldwide Championship Series finale Sunday.
Winston Cup schedule
The 2002 NASCAR Winston Cup schedule (winners in parentheses) and driver point standings:
Missing snowmobiler rescued in woods near Hoyt Lakes
HOYT LAKES (AP) -- A snowmobiler was rescued early Thursday after spending a chilly 29 hours lost in the woods near Hoyt Lakes.
House panel strips same-sex benefits to state workers
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Led by Republicans, a Minnesota House committee took away the health benefits of gay and lesbian partners of state employees in a bill that now goes to the House floor.
Funding of smoking-ban efforts to be restructured
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Responding to criticism of its lobbying tactics on county and local leaders, the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco said it would change the way it funds advocacy programs.
Montevideo man charged in Operation Candyman
MONTEVIDEO (AP) -- A second Minnesota man has been charged as part of the federal investigation into child pornography called Operation Candyman.
Police seize illegal drug khat at Somali restaurant
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Police said they seized 180 pounds of khat, a mild narcotic leaf usually grown in Africa, and arrested four people in raids on an apartment and a Somali restaurant.
Coleman challenges Wellstone to raise all his money in-state
WASHINGTON -- On the day the Senate passed a long-debated campaign finance bill, GOP senate challenger Norm Coleman offered to raise money only in Minnesota and not use unlimited "soft money" contributions if Sen. Paul Wellstone would do the same.
Ballpark bill sent to House floor
ST. PAUL -- A slightly modified version of a stadium financing plan proposed by Gov. Jesse Ventura is headed to the House floor for a vote after clearing the Ways and Means Committee by a comfortable margin Wednesday night.
Lucky for Twins, state's bond expert is also a baseball fan
ST. PAUL -- Peter Sausen joined the state finance department 20 years ago this month and has since sold billions of dollars in bonds and played a key role in restoring Minnesota's image on Wall Street.
Senate turns to cigarette tax to balance budget
BYLINE3: ST. PAUL -- The DFL-controlled Senate scrapped a plan Wednesday to raise income taxes in favor of a bigger hike in tobacco taxes to help close the remaining budget deficit and replenish reserves.
State alleged investment fraud case with ties to Brainerd is settled
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission says a Minnesota man, his company and a commodity pool he operated have agreed to pay nearly $800,000 in restitution and penalties to settle a commodity pool fraud case.
Routine state functions complicated by contract moratorium
ST. PAUL -- For the last 12 years, the annual job fair at St. Cloud Technical College featured motivational speakers who offered job-search and interviewing pointers to graduating students.
MSU-Moorhead student, track team member dies of encephalitis
MOORHEAD (AP) -- A freshman at Minnesota State University, Moorhead, died of encephalitis at a Fargo hospital.
Police seize military-style guns in biker group investigation
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Military, high-caliber guns were seized along with a book of bomb designs and dozens of other items as part of an investigation into the Hell's Outcasts biker group, authorities said.
Local sports shorts
Mike Zauhar is the only Brainerd Warrior on the All-Central Lakes Conference boys' basketball team.
WARRIOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Chris Nelson had every right to be disappointed when he wasn't named to the all-tournament team at the adapted floor hockey state tournament last weekend.
Scoreboard
BOYS BASKETBALL
Boys' state tournament
Tuesday, March 19
Scoreboard
BOYS BASKETBALL
Huskies hope third time is the charm
PILLAGER -- The Pillager Huskies' motto might be "If at first you don't succeed, try and try again."
Local sports shorts
Chris Jordan has been named most valuable player of the Brainerd Warriors adapted floor hockey team.
Jefferson ousts No. 2 North
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Bloomington Jefferson didn't make a single field goal in the fourth quarter against No. 2 Minneapolis North -- and still won.
Garnett holds off Grizzlies
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Shane Battier's best shooting performance as a pro wasn't enough to put the Memphis Grizzlies over the top.
Edmonds powers Cards
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) -- Jim Edmonds went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, a two-run triple and a double as the St. Louis Cardinals came from behind to beat the Minnesota Twins 8-6 Wednesday night.
For Minnesota, St. Cloud State, success on ice yields cash
ST. CLOUD (AP) -- It cost St. Cloud State less than the University of Minnesota to get to this weekend's NCAA hockey championships. But both schools make a cool profit from the game.
2002 Minnesota Boys State Basketball Tournament
CLASS A
High school league looks for ways to limit prep free agency
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The Minnesota State High School League is looking for ways to quiet the outcry over what amounts to free agency among prep athletes.
Lakeville's Liz Podominick is Girls' Player of the Year
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- With Lakeville's victory in last year's Class 4A state championship barely five minutes old, Liz Podominick was already thinking bigger.
Fine Arts Student of the Week
Mark Roelofs is the fine arts equivalent of a two-letter sports star.
Piano recital
Piano students of Sally Sundberg
Party for the Arts
Impersonations of America's pop and political icons will be the order of the day Friday at the annual Party for the Arts fund-raising event at the Falls Ballroom in Little Falls, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Piano students perform in Junior Music Festival in Pequot Lakes
PEQUOT LAKES -- A total of 210 piano students participated in the 22nd annual Junior Music Festival March 2 at Pequot Lakes School.
Best books
1. "2nd Chance" by James Patterson with Andrew Gross (Little, Brown)
Spring keyboard festival set in Little Falls
LITTLE FALLS -- St. Francis Music Center, Little Falls, will hold its Spring Keyboard Festival on April 19-20 at the center. The Keyboard Festival is open to piano students of all ages from throughout central Minnesota.
Aitkin commerce, sport show this weekend
This is the Explore Minnesota events report from the Minnesota Office of Tourism. For lodging specials currently being offered, check out the Web site www.exploreminnesota.com.
Tempo tidbits
Shane Cole, the Little Falls music promoter, has scheduled an informational meeting April 25 to respond to questions about the recent Geoff Moore concert in Charles Martin Auditorium in Little Falls.
Aitkin concert to feature Celtic music
AITKIN -- The Aitkin Area Chamber of Commerce will present a Celtic music concert Saturday in conjunction with the Aitkin Area Commerce and Sport Show featuring music in the style of Scotland, Ireland and Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.
Aitkin students to stage 'Oklahoma!'
AITKIN -- The Aitkin High School Choir will present the classic Broadway show, "Oklahoma!" by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, at 7:30 p.m. April 4, 5 and 6, as well as 2 p.m. April 2, at the school.
Swanville native cooks up another murder mystery novel
Mystery writer Joanne Fluke picks up the telephone in her suburban Los Angeles home, a full-course meal-for-12 simmering on her kitchen stove.
Academy Awards return to Hollywood
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- After 40 years in various Los Angeles venues, the Academy Awards return Sunday to Hollywood itself, to a glittering new theater -- Oscar's first permanent home.
Guthrie to premiere two plays in upcoming season
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Guthrie Theater will offer the world premieres of two plays in the 2002-03 season -- an Arthur Miller work and a play by Jane Martin -- alongside its mainstay classics.
McKeehan of DC Talk, guitarist Keaggy to perform
A local youth organization is going out on the proverbial limb to promote "community service" among the young people it serves.
Ann-Margret to star in 'The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' at Orpheum
MINNEAPOLIS -- For hormonal-addled males of a certain persuasion, nirvana once meant a night in a brothel with kitteny Ann-Margret.
It's Good to Sing Concert set April 6
The Harmony Engineers will host the third annual It's Good to Sing Concert April 6 at Tornstrom Auditorium, Washington Middle School, Brainerd.
Clairvoyants aren't seeing things in new whodunits
One psychic prematurely predicts an acquaintance's death, while another seer apparently failed to see her own murder, in new mystery novels by Andrew M. Greeley and Anne Perry.
CLC students to reprise 'Welcome to Our World'
Students in the Occupational Skills Program at Central Lakes College will present an encore performance of "Welcome to Our World" at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Bob Dryden Theatre on the Brainerd campus.
Entertainment Calendar
For week of March 21-27; bands perform from 9 p.m. to close with no cover unless otherwise noted.
Renn completes deal with cable company to air TV show
Country singer Wayne Renn of Brainerd has finalized a deal with Charter Communications, opening the way for his television debut April 2.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Windy and cold. Areas of light snow showers and flurries ending this morning. Highs in the teens and 20s.
Iowa state forecast
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 30s northeast to mid 40s southwest.
Minnesota state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly sunny. A chance of snow showers northeast. A little warmer with highs in the 20s to lower 30s.
Wintry weather in spring
Weather drawing by Kendra Berg of Jan Wilcox's kindergarten class at Lowell school.
Clouds and sun
Weather drawing by Josalynn Koon of Gayle Kub's first grade class at Lowell school.
State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Sunny. Breezy east. Highs in the 20s.
State forecast for north dakota
A wind chill advisory remains in effect for western and central north dakota this morning...
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly or mostly sunny. A chance for flurries north and east this morning. Highs in the 20s to lower 30s.
State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Mostly sunny and cool. Highs in the 20s to mid 30s.
Minnesota state forecast
Today...Blustery and cold. Increasing clouds north and central. A chance of snow showers northeast. Highs 10 to 20.
Iowa state forecast
Today...Scattered flurries or light snow this morning...Then becoming sunny. Cold and windy with highs in the teens and 20s.
State forecast for south dakota
Today...Clear to partly cloudy and cold statewide. Windy in the east. Scattered snow showers ending early southwest. Highs from 10 to 15 northeast to the teens to lower 20s elsewhere.
Red River spring flood risk considered low
FARGO, N.D. -- Cities along the North Dakota-Minnesota border face a slim threat of Red River flooding this spring, the National Weather Service said Friday.
What's doing
Howell Movement. Ann Whalen and Phyllis DeRosier, 49.5; Clayton Haglin and Bill Black, 49.5; Clif Johnson and Don Rasmussen, 45; and Patrick Spradlin and Bruce Eastman, 44.
Names and faces
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- The host of "Wall $treet Week With Louis Rukeyser" said Thursday that he leaving the show, becoming a victim of a maxim he is fond of reciting: The only constant is change.
Senior menu
Lutheran Social Service Senior Nutrition Program, Mississippi Terrace
Mideast truce talks resume as suicide bomber attacks
JERUSALEM (AP) -- As Mideast truce talks resumed Friday, a Palestinian man blew himself up at an Israeli military checkpoint in the West Bank, wounding an Israeli officer in the third suicide bombing in three days.
Weapons cache found in Afghanistan where Operation Anaconda took place
BAGRAM, Afghanistan (AP) -- An enemy weapons cache was discovered where the biggest U.S.-led offensive of the Afghanistan conflict took place earlier this month, a U.S. military spokesman said Friday.
U.S. fighter jet crash kills pilot
BERLIN (AP) -- A U.S. fighter jet on night maneuvers crashed in Germany near Trier, killing the pilot, the military said Thursday.
Car bomb explodes outside U.S. Embassy in Peru, nine killed
LIMA, Peru (AP) -- A car bomb exploded outside the U.S. Embassy in Lima, killing at least nine people and injuring dozens in an audacious late night attack just three days before President Bush visits the Andean capital. U.S. officials said Thursday that Shining Path rebels were suspected.
Ailing Thatcher to stop lecturing
LONDON (AP) -- Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has suffered a series of small strokes and is retiring from the public lecture circuit, her office said Friday.
Chinese court sentences American engineer to five years imprisonment
BEIJING (AP) -- An American electrical engineer whose detention has drawn protests from Washington was sentenced by a Beijing court Thursday to five years in prison for obtaining state secrets and giving bribes.
11 charged in Pearl murder
KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) -- The alleged mastermind of the kidnapping of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and 10 accomplices were charged in his death Friday in a special anti-terrorism court.
Truce talks called off after suicide bombing
JERUSALEM (AP) -- A Palestinian suicide bomber blew himself up in a main downtown Jerusalem shopping area Thursday, killing himself and two bystanders. At least 42 were inured, police said.
Pope breaks silence on sex abuse by Catholic priests
VATICAN CITY (AP) -- Pope John Paul II on Thursday broke his silence on the sex abuse cases rocking the Roman Catholic Church, saying the "grave scandal" was casting a "dark shadow of suspicion" over all priests.
52 wounded in grenade explosions
SRINAGAR, India (AP) -- Attackers hurled grenades at a bus stand and marketplace Friday, wounding 52 people in a rare attack on civilian targets in Indian-controlled Kashmir.