Thursday, June 20, 2002
Latest innovation is electronically controlled all-wheel drive
Just when you thought Volvo already had all the safety features available, the automaker introduces the first Volvo with electronically controlled all-wheel drive.
VW bringing back modern version of old Microbus
It was just a box on wheels, sketched in 1947 and designed to carry people and their things. But the notoriously noisy and underpowered Volkswagen "Microbus" would become a counterculture icon in the 1960s when hippies painted flowers on them and surfers strapped boards on their roofs.
Adventure-seekers skittish about flying after Sept. 11, prefer comfort
NEW YORK -- For years, Lou Holtmann meant to take a vacation with his children and grandchildren, but the scheduling "never worked out." After Sept. 11, he decided it was time, and so he bought five recreational vehicles for road trips this summer.
The safest way to get to school: It's the big yellow bus
WASHINGTON -- When Heather Smith began driving a school bus 27 years ago, bus drivers learned on the job as they built up their biceps turning huge steering wheels. "When I first started, we had little training," said Smith, who drives a bus in Berlin, Conn.
Washington Middle School lists honor students
Washington Middle School fourth quarter honor roll
Franklin Junior High announces honor roll
Franklin Junior High second semester honor roll
Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Tuesday 194, a year ago 124.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Wednesday cattle estimate: 400. Last Wednesday: 498. Year ago Wednesday: 512. Tuesday actual: 712.
Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Wednesday 78, a year ago 186.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Tuesday cattle estimate: 850. Last Tuesday: 901. Year ago Tuesday: 806. Monday actual: 489.
Slice up homemade cake for entertaining
There are images of summer in which a moist, fragrant homemade cake supplies the finishing touch. Perhaps it's a dessert to round off a peaceful dinner al fresco with friends; perhaps a sweet serving to savor, with a glass of lemonade or iced tea, during a quiet half-hour on the porch.
Keep ice cream balls handy in freezer
When guests are coming for lunch or dinner in the warm summer months, a quick and refreshing dessert you can have ready in the freezer is Crunchy Ice Cream Balls.
Home food preservation tips available on Web
Find tips on preserving almost any food -- from apples to tomatoes and turnips -- on the Web site of National Center for Home Food Preservation at www.uga.edu.nchfp.
Chef offers guidelines for picnics
NEW YORK (AP) -- Advice and recipes from renowned chef-restaurateur Daniel Boulud are included in a 24-page ringbound booklet he has compiled in collaboration with the Maille mustard and condiment company.
Kool-Aid Web site full of fun facts
Remember when the closest thing to a bottled fruit beverage was grape Kool-Aid gulped from a jelly jar?
Court
The following recently appeared in Crow Wing District Court:
News council will probe news media complaints
The Minnesota News Council is an independent organization that examines citizens complaints alleging inaccuracy, unfairness or unethical conduct by the media.
Fire
The Brainerd Fire Department investigated what turned out to be a false alarm about 5:50 p.m. Wednesday at Lowell Elementary School, 704 Third Ave. N.E.
Fire danger
Light, after Tuesday night's rain
Accident
EAST GULL LAKE -- One person was injured in a single-vehicle rollover Wednesday on Cass County Road 77 near Cass County Road 70.
Contact your federal lawmakers
Sen. Paul Wellstone
Metals
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices Tuesday.
Tip from a pro
The U.S. Open just finished and if you haven't noticed by now the top players in the world, led by a guy named Tiger, all have one thing in common: Power.
Woman who coached men's team serves at Madden's this summer
EAST GULL LAKE -- Carrie Wood picked up the game of golf late in high school but caught on quickly.
Golf shorts
The top of the leaderboard for Men's Twilight League at Pine Meadows has changed again.
Holes in one
Greg Heinen of Minneapolis aced the 118-yard eighth-hole at Madden's Pine Beach East Course using a sand wedge June 16.
Mental health care for youths in crisis getting harder to find
CHICAGO (AP) -- Demand for mental health treatment for young people has reached unprecedented levels, yet cutbacks in several states are making it more difficult than ever to get care, experts say.
Comprehensive study outlines full destructive power of tobacco
Tobacco smoke is a much more deadly carcinogen and triggers a broader variety of cancers than researchers had previously believed, according to the most comprehensive study of smoking ever undertaken.
Apprenticeship puts CLC grad in driver's seat
FRIDLEY -- Even in tough times, the well-trained college graduate finds work.
Flag retirement ceremony
American Legion Post 202, Hackensack, and American Legion Post 134, Walker, held a joint flag retirement ceremony on Friday, Flag Day, in the city park in Hackensack, where 139 flags were retired.
Team Rardin wins Golf Classic
Team Rardin, which consisted of Todd Ringler, Jon Rardin, Robert Rardin, J.J. Lavinski and Doug Campbell, won the 29th annual Camp Confidence Golf Classic last Friday at the Legacy Courses at Cragun's with a 56.
Area residents appointed to National Guard panel
CAMP RIPLEY -- Dewey Tautges of rural Brainerd and Wendy Zylka of Little Falls were appointed to the National Guard Citizen's Committee by Gov. Jesse Ventura to assist in recruitment and training.
State FFA selects national FFA officer candidate
Mark Jewell of Long Prairie was chosen to run for the Minnesota national FFA officer candidacy.
Roseau residents back to clean up
ROSEAU (AP) -- Floodwaters continued to recede this week in this far northwestern Minnesota town as residents returned to their homes to clean up.
Anglers, golfers help Camp Confidence
EAST GULL LAKE -- Eighty-two boats competed in the annual Fishing Classic on Saturday to benefit Camp Confidence. Two-person teams competed for the biggest three-fish catch of walleye, northern pike, bass or mixed bag.
Wadena Youth Asset Program receives award
WADENA -- Jostens Inc. has awarded the Wadena County Youth Asset Program a Jostens Our Town Rising Star Award.
Cass, Leech Lake officials to meet July 23
WALKER -- The Cass County Board will meet at 11:30 a.m. July 23 with the Leech Lake Tribal Council.
Crops in northwest hit by flooding, while other parts of state too dry
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Crops in northwestern Minnesota have been hard hit by flooding, while many other parts of the state are still too dry, the Minnesota Agricultural Statistics Service said in its weekly crop weather report.
Blanding's turtle
Bob Perleberg, DNR Forester, held a Blanding's turtle that had roamed onto the DNR air tanker base last week at the Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional Airport. The turtle was moved to safe location away from the runway.
Cass discusses out-of-home child placements
WALKER -- Cass County Human Services expenditures were 41 percent after 42 percent of the year at the end of May.
Staples woman granted Bush Leadership Fellowship
STAPLES -- Gloria Contreras-Edin, Staples, was one of 23 Minnesota recipients of the Bush Leadership Fellowship for 2002.
Centennial 4-H families to be recognized
LITTLE FALLS -- In recognition of the centennial 4-H year, three-, four- and five-generation 4-H families will be recognized at the Morrison County Fair. In addition, four- and five-generation families will be recognized Aug. 27-29 at the State Fair.
Cass OKs terms to extend agreement with Stockman
WALKER -- The Cass County Board on Tuesday approved terms to extend the county's agreement with Stockman Transfer to operate the garbage and recycling transfer station north of Pine River through 2012.
Too many fish
When DNR conservation officers Bob Mlynar and Brent Speldrich pulled up to a boat on Mille Lacs recently to make a routine license check, something unusual caught their attention: An inordinate amount of blood was spattered on the boat's floor.
Space for charter schools dwindling in Twin Cities, delays several openings
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Plans to open four new charter schools, including three in St. Paul, this fall have been temporarily scuttled because of tight space in the Twin Cities area.
Phosphorous: A friend or foe to our waters?
Phosphorous is the primary water pollutant associated with the degradation of water resources, and it is perhaps the greatest threat to the quality of Crow Wing County's lakes and rivers.
Cass County Board approves comprehensive plan
WALKER -- The Cass County Board approved a comprehensive plan Tuesday after six months of public hearings on the plan throughout the county.
Event to raise money for basset hounds set in Scandia Valley
SCANDIA VALLEY -- The first Minnesota Basset Splash for basset hounds will start at 9 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Scandia Valley Community Park behind the fire hall on Morrison County Road 3 (between Fishtrap Lake and Lake Alexander).
Kids' fishing contest
The first week of the kids' fishing contest in Hackensack attracted 104 children who caught and released 266 fish. Grand champion was Shawn Cope, who won a rod and reel plus a tackle box full of tackle.
Lilyquist wins vacant Cass board seat
WALKER -- Rusty Lilyquist of Trelipe Township defeated Ted Mellby of Hiram Township in Tuesday's special election to fill the unexpired Cass County District 3 commissioner term left vacant when Commissioner Glenn Witham died April 22.
Cass hiring moratorium continued
WALKER -- Cass County Board decided upon the advice of the county budget committee to continue the hiring moratorium for any new positions through the remainder of 2002.
Cass debates management of Shingobee sewer district
WALKER -- The Cass County Board will seek the advice of Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust legal counsel before deciding whether the county or Shingobee Island Sewer and Water Board will manage that sewer district in the future.
Authorities to search Saturday for missing Brainerd man
Authorities again will search areas east of Brainerd for Shawn Hess, the 28-year-old Brainerd man who's been missing since February.
At long last -- rain
A severe thunderstorm swept through the Brainerd area early today, dropping almost 3 inches of rain and knocking out power to several areas in and around the city.
East Gull Lake residents pack hall to debate wastewater project
EAST GULL LAKE -- They stood in bathroom doorways and trailed out to the front porch at the East Gull Lake City Hall Tuesday night to talk about the city's proposed wastewater treatment project.
Cass mulls jail expansion plan
WALKER -- Robert Ogdahl, of Architecture One in Brainerd, presented options to the Cass County Board Tuesday for expanding the present courthouse and law enforcement center and for developing property at Ah-Gwah-Ching.
Shock, but not really surprise, is area take
Gov. Jesse Ventura may have shocked the world with his 1998 election but he didn't surprise many Brainerd area people with his decision not seek a second term. Many of those questioned today said they saw it coming.
North Fourth construction
The sidewalk and street have been removed in preparation of a major remodeling and resurfacing of North Fourth Street in Brainerd. Tuesday.
Official: No truth to rumors that airport radar site will be in Brainerd
The possibility of the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport locating its approach control radar in Brainerd -- an item Brainerd City Council members Bob Olson and Gary Scheeler have brought up before the council when discussing airport issues -- is too far off with too many unknowns surrounding it to comment, officials have said.
Humphrey sees Ventura exit as help for DFL
Minnesota Secretary of State candidate Buck Humphrey described the exit of incumbent Jesse Ventura from the governor's race as good news for Democrats in a campaign stop in Brainerd Tuesday.
Contract substitute mail route driver allegedly stole cards with money
WALKER -- A contract substitute mail route driver faces two felony theft counts in connection with the disappearance of greeting cards and money in the cards collected from post offices between Laporte and Brainerd earlier this year.
Rental rehab grants, loans may be available
Loans and grants for rehabilitating southeast Brainerd rental properties could be available next year.
COMING FRIDAY
Look for a special in-depth look at the closing of Brainerd's Potlatch mill in Friday's Dispatch.
This was Brainerd
JUNE 19 - 30 years ago (1972) - The Brainerd Trades and Labor Assembly at a meeting last night endorsed Marvin Rau, presently serving as city council president, to succeed the late Ed Heikkenen as county commissioner.
Local briefs
Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer was scheduled to recognize the work of Cass and Crow Wing County officials in securing grants to help pay for election equipment upgrades today.
Bids sought to demolish old school
WALKER -- Cass County Land Commissioner Norm Moody obtained county board approval Tuesday to advertise for bids to demolish the old Hackensack School, now a tax-forfeited property.
This was Brainerd
JUNE 20 - 80 years ago (1922) - A little girl who had recovered from the whooping cough remarked that she was glad she didn't die of it, because "God would not like little coughing angels."
Local briefs
The Crow Wing Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol is assisting in a search for a missing Michigan DNR research pilot.
Cass board agrees to waive mediation session with county bargaining unit
WALKER -- The Cass County Board voted Tuesday to waive an additional mediation session with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Health and Human and Veterans Services bargaining unit and to retain 1999 to 2001 contract language concerning procedure for posting and filling vacancies.
Local briefs
Brian Losos, 18, a Brainerd High School senior, was upgraded from serious to good condition at St. Cloud Hospital today. Losos was critically injured May 29 after he dove into shallow water on Round Lake the night before graduation ceremonies.
Republicans 'a-Pawlenty' in Brainerd
GOP gubernatorial candidate Tim Pawlenty said Wednesday the departure of Gov. Jesse Ventura from the race was a huge development.
Seven Cass townships to join county on road project
WALKER -- Cass County Engineer David Enblom informed the county board seven townships will join the county on a project this year to apply Otta Seal, a pavement-like surfacing for gravel roads, to 20 more miles or roads this year.
S.C. governor banned from blocking plutonium shipments
AIKEN, S.C. (AP) -- Gov. Jim Hodges said he would abide by a ruling barring him from blocking a federal shipment of bomb-grade plutonium bound for South Carolina, but his anger was evident.
SEC lines up behind Bush plan to oversee accounting
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal regulators on Thursday put forward the government's own Enron-inspired plan to tighten oversight of the accounting industry by creating an independent monitoring body with disciplinary powers.
Abductor of missing Utah girl didn't threaten her little sister, police now say
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- The little sister who shared a bed with a 14-year-old girl who disappeared two weeks ago wasn't threatened by the kidnapper, police said, in a shift from what they initially reported.
Court: States can help fight HMOs
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A closely divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that states can help patients fight their HMOs, a decision that could increase requests for second opinions.
Shuttle can't land in Florida
SPACE CENTER, Houston (AP) -- Uncooperative weather in Florida on Wednesday forced flight controllers to set their sights on returning space shuttle Endeavour to Earth at NASA's backup landing site in California.
Fires across West drive thousands from their homes
SHOW LOW, Ariz. (AP) -- A wildfire sweeping across more than 36,000 acres of an eastern Arizona forest drove thousands of people from their homes early Thursday as flames entered one of three evacuated towns.
Washington briefs
WASHINGTON (AP) -- As federal election officials debate how to enforce the upcoming ban on six-figure campaign contributions, Republicans are anticipating their biggest take yet at a congressional fund-raising bash: $28 million or more.
Errant plane forces White House evacuation
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- A pilot who flew a small plane into restricted White House airspace, prompting the building's partial evacuation, made an innocent error and will not face federal charges, an FBI official said Thursday.
Thong check fallout: Educator demoted
SAN DIEGO (AP) -- A female assistant principal was demoted for lifting girls' skirts to make sure they weren't wearing thongs to a high school dance.
Lost memory is found
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Richard Ebling, a 19-year-old proud to be photographed with his fellow graduating sailors from a Navy boot camp, wanted the picture mailed home to his mother in Pennsylvania.
Bombing delays but doesn't derail Bush peace plan
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush stood by Israel Wednesday in its dramatic decision to seize Palestinian areas in response to the latest terrorist bombing in Jerusalem.
Barton indicted on arson charge
DENVER (AP) -- Terry Barton, a U.S. Forest Service worker whose job was to protect people and property from harm, has been charged with intentionally setting the largest wildfire in Colorado history.
Martha Stewart defends shares sale
NEW YORK (AP) -- Deflecting speculation about possible insider trading, domesticity maven Martha Stewart again defended her sale of almost 4,000 shares of ImClone Systems Inc. in late December as "entirely proper and lawful."
Door opened for members of Congress to continue raising soft money
WASHINGTON -- Setting the rules for fund raising under the nation's new campaign finance law, the Federal Election Commission is applying a ban on lawmakers' raising of large corporate and union donations so narrowly that even its top lawyer warned it would be easy to evade.
Grand jury calls for new laws in New York to criminalize cover-up of abuse by priests
NEW YORK (AP) -- A grand jury has accused the Roman Catholic Church of protecting priests from sex abuse claims and called for new laws making it a felony for church officials to fail to report such allegations.
National briefs
Billy Joel checked into a Connecticut rehab center favored by pop stars to get control of an alcohol problem, friends and associates said Wednesday.
Man turned in by 'Dear Abby' pleads guilty to charge
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A man who was turned in by "Dear Abby" after asking for advice on dealing with his child sex fantasies pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography Tuesday and was given eight years on probation.
Special Forces units in North Carolina honor comrades killed in Afghanistan
FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) -- The names of 26 soldiers, including those killed in Afghanistan, were added Wednesday to a memorial for Army Special Operations troops as friends and relatives gathered to remember their fallen loved ones.
Moderate quake hits parts of Midwest, South
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) -- A moderate earthquake rattled church bells and nerves Tuesday in portions of the Midwest and South, but authorities had no immediate reports of serious damage.
Astronomers spot young star where planets may be forming
WASHINGTON -- Astronomers may get their first chance to monitor the evolution of a planetary system like our own by observing blobs of dust and rock orbiting a young, sun-like star in the distant universe.
Key gauge rises
NEW YORK (AP) -- A key gauge of U.S. economic activity rose in May, boosted by continued strength in consumer spending, a private research firm said Thursday.
Man guilty of Sluti kidnapping
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- A jury has found Anthony Steven Wright guilty of kidnapping teenager Anne Sluti.
Sports briefing
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- One of most distinctive voices in sports has been silenced.
St. Louis says goodbye to 'a winner'
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The initials "JFB" were carved in the grass just beyond the center field wall and in the dirt behind second base.
Neilson comes back home, lands in Hall of Fame
Roger Neilson's long storied trip around the NHL has come full circle.
THE ULTIMATE SOCCER MOM
Donna Kenney-Cash doesn't consider herself The Ultimate Soccer Mom.
Transactions
American League
South Carolina forces decisive game in CWS
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) -- After opening the College World Series with a loss that put South Carolina on the verge of elimination, the Gamecocks are one victory from the championship game.
O'Brien forced out
Former Olympic champion Dan O'Brien adjusted the bar during high jump practice Wednesday in Berkeley. (AP Photo)
The streak hits 33
MIAMI (AP) -- With two hits, an RBI and a run scored, Luis Castillo beat the Cleveland Indians and tied Rogers Hornsby.
Isobel Rogers Borg
LONG LAKE -- Isobel Rogers Borg, 88, Long Lake, formerly of Brainerd, died Wednesday, June 19, 2002, at the Long Lake Health Care Center.
Albert C. Byers
PEQUOT LAKES -- Albert (Bert) C. Byers, 79, Pequot Lakes, died June 18, 2002, at his home.
Jack Thorn
ALDRICH -- Jack Thorn, 78, Aldrich, died today, June 19, 2002, at Greater Staples Hospital.
Edward E. Barthel
SWANVILLE -- Edward E. Barthel, 71, Swanville, died Saturday, June 15, 2002, at St. Cloud Hospital.
Margaret Dixon
PALISADE -- Margaret Dixon, 73, Palisade, died Wednesday, June 19, 2002.
Carl 'Grinny' Bellamy
MOUNDS VIEW -- Carl "Grinny" Bellamy, 72, Mounds View, formerly of Cushing, died Wednesday, June 18, 2002, at home.
Dorothy J. Saenger
McGREGOR -- Dorothy J. Saenger, 72, McGregor, formerly of the Henriette and East Bethel areas, died Monday, June 17, 2002, at home.
James Veith
James Veith, 39, Brainerd, died Sunday, June 16, 2002.
Roman A. Sobania
FLENSBURG -- Roman Albert Sobania, 86, Flensburg, died Monday, June 17, 2002, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls.
Lisa E. Wagner
PLYMOUTH -- Lisa E. Wagner, 31, Plymouth, formerly of Staples, died Thursday, June 13, 2002, of lung cancer at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis.
Marvin I. Sagli
Marvin I. Sagli, 78, Brainerd, died Tuesday, June 18, 2002, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.
Gordon M. Skoglund
Gordon M. Skoglund, 70, Brainerd, died Wednesday, June 19, 2002, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Violet I. Nelson Jensen
ALBERT LEA -- Violet Idora Nelson Jensen, 89, Albert Lea, died Tuesday, June 18, 2002, at the Albert Lea Medical Center.
Corrections
As the result of incorrect information provided The Dispatch, a survivor's name was misspelled in Marvin I. Sagli's obituary on Page 5A Wednesday. The correct name is Jamie Olson. Also, he was survived by guardians, Teresa and Martin Olson Jr., Brainerd.
Carl Bellamy
MOUNDS VIEW -- Carl Bellamy, 72, Mounds View, formerly of Cushing, died Tuesday, June 18, 2002, in Mounds View.
Mathilda 'Tillie' Boser
PIERZ -- Mathilda "Tillie" Boser, 79, Pierz, died Tuesday, June 18, 2002, at St. Gabriel's Hospital.
Esther B. Blume
ALDRICH -- Esther B. Blume, 77, Aldrich, died Monday, June 17, 2002, at Perham Hospital.
Vince Czech
LITTLE FALLS -- Vince Czech, 85, Little Falls, died Tuesday, June 18, 2002, at Mercy Medical Center in Coon Rapids.
You're 64; We don't love you
They are shooting down Cabinet members. Infiltrating the White House. Disintegrating Congress. They have been found in possession of the most toxic biochemical arsenals known to man, and they maintain an alarmingly fanatical following.
The surfacing of Penny's name further muddles governor's race
The "Will He or Won't He" game has suddenly shifted focus from Gov. Jesse Ventura to Tim Penny, a former Democratic congressman from southern Minnesota.
Ventura -- An original
ST. PAUL -- It takes decades for political legacies to take solid form. Yet, however history paints Gov. Jesse Ventura's term, it will be done in bold brush strokes, with plenty of color and few shades of gray. And it will be an original.
Vox Pop
Vox Pop, voice of the people, publishes Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. To call in a comment, dial 829-2900 or 1-800-547-2909 then enter code 8008. To e-mail a comment, write to voxpop@brainerddispatch.com.
While we were sleeping
This editorial appeared in Monday's Los Angeles Times:
Bowing out Minnesota will always remember Ventura's reign
Although Gov. Jesse Ventura's musical tastes run more toward the Rolling Stones, a Grateful Dead song lyric immediately came to mind when Minnesota's feisty chief executive announced he wouldn't run for a second term: "What a long, strange trip it's been."
Focusing on one role has re-energized Elliott
It's time to climb into his car, but Bill Elliott is lingering on pit road with his young son. Since giving up his role as a team owner, Elliott is finding time to focus on things such as family, and of course, racing.
Brainerd area Sprint car racers both post fourths
Gary Walton and Sye Anderson, both of the Brainerd area, finished fourth in two Wissota Championship Sprint car feature races last weekend.
Study: State spending slowed in last decade
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Minnesota spent more than other states for government services in the 1990s, but the growth in spending was lower than in other states, the state planning agency said Wednesday.
Potential Ventura shoe-filler Penny is independent sort
MINNEAPOLIS -- When Tim Penny first ran for the state Senate in 1976, the young Democrat pulled off an unlikely victory in a Republican district.
News organizations sue in effort to look at Twins documents
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Three Minnesota news organizations have filed a lawsuit seeking confidential documents relating to Major League Baseball's efforts to eliminate the Twins.
Mesaba Airlines seeks mediation in talks with pilots union
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Mesaba Airlines said Tuesday it asked the National Mediation Board to appoint a mediator to supervise the airline's negotiations with a pilots union.
Drug prices in Minnesota among the highest in U.S., report shows
Minnesota's prescription drug prices are among the nation's highest, and people are shelling out the money, according to a national study.
Court rules in favor of reporter
ST. PAUL (AP) -- A newspaper reporter cannot be compelled by a court order to reveal confidential sources in a defamation lawsuit, the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.
Independence Party ponders life after Ventura
ST. PAUL -- By many accounts, Gov. Jesse Ventura didn't do much to build his Independence Party. Now, his exit from politics has left the once-promising party scurrying for a replacement strong enough to keep it from withering.
WHAT NOW?
MINNEAPOLIS -- Now it's back to politics as usual -- or is it?
Sand hill collapses on three boys in Red Wing, killing one
RED WING (AP) -- A 10-year-old boy died after a sand hill where he and two other boys were playing collapsed and buried them, authorities said Thursday.
Blom seeking another trial in Poirier case
CARLTON (AP) -- The man convicted of kidnapping and killing Katie Poirier went back to court this week to plead for another trial, claiming his former attorney bungled his defense.
Impostor lived at governor's mansion
ST. PAUL (AP) -- A man who befriended Gov. Jesse Ventura's son and lived in the governor's mansion in the summer of 2000 was kicked out because he wasn't who he said he was, according to law enforcement, former mansion officials and Ventura's spokesman.
Handful of Minnesota priests affected by new abuse policy
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Three priests serving in administrative duties at the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis have been stripped of their titles and jobs under the sexual abuse policy approved by U.S. bishops last week.
MnSCU head McCormick gets contract extension
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Trustees for the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system gave Chancellor James McCormick a one-year contract extension and a $20,000 raise Wednesday.
Storm stops Gulls
The Brainerd Mighty Gulls' game with the Mankato Moondogs was cut short Wednesday because of a thunderstorm as Mankato held a 2-0 lead after 4 2/3 innings.
Scoreboard
Northwoods League Baseball
Local sports shorts
Carolina Panthers starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke will be at the Brainerd Family YMCA June 26 from 11 to 11:45 to sign autographs.
Scoreboard
Northwoods League Baseball
Szymanski, Crosslake Legion beats Aitkin
Todd Szymanski held Aitkin to just two hits over seven innings Tuesday as the Crosslake Legion baseball team defeated the Aitkin Legion 4-1 at Woock Field in Aitkin.
Legion, Alex split
Even though the high school baseball season is over with, the rivalry between Brainerd and Alexandria has spilled over to Legion baseball.
Gulls lose fifth straight game
How a baseball game is won or lost is definitely a matter of perspective.
Wolves, youths mingle
The theme for the U.S. Bank/Minnesota Timberwolves caravan was believe in yourself no matter what anyone says.
Twins have a chance to shore up for stretch run
MINNEAPOLIS -- Think back in Minnesota Twins history for a moment, if you can, to last season.
Mets do all sorts of weird things
NEW YORK -- Al Leiter doubled and scored a run. Tony Tarasco hit a home run in the big leagues for the first time since 1998. Mike Piazza threw out a would-be base-stealer and broke up a double play. All in one night, Wednesday night.
Twins' energy sobers Mets
NEW YORK -- The New York Mets thought they heard echoes of Sunday night as they took batting practice Tuesday night. Or they hoped they did.
Movie producer selling cameos in Minnesota movie
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- If you have $500 and a desire to become a movie star, then Dav Kaufman has an offer for you.
Networks turn up summer programming heat
LOS ANGELES -- Network audiences faced with reruns used to melt away like ice cream on a sultry day in the good old summertime. The current reality, though, is that summer represents a miniseason of fresh prime-time programming -- with "reality" being the operative word.
Heads they win: Talk show competition is fierce
NEW YORK -- Phil Donahue has put out the word that he wants former President Clinton as a guest when his MSNBC show launches July 15, while Connie Chung is crowing about an interview that she promises "will make news" her very first night on the air at CNN on Monday.
Entertainment Guide
Live music
Pinetree Patchworkers to host quilt show
The Pinetree Patchworkers Quilt Club will present its 11th biennial quilt show, Flights of Fancy, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the Brainerd High School cafeteria.
Barbershop chorus to host annual show
The Northcountrymen Barbershop Chorus will host its annual show at 7 p.m. Aug. 3 in Tornstrom Auditorium at Washington Middle School in Brainerd with a western theme.
'Cabaret' at CLC
From July 9-21 students in the Central Lakes College humanistic theatre class Cabaret and the Holocaust: The Nazis' rise to Power will present "Cabaret" as a workshop project in Dryden Theatre on the Brainerd campus.
Area couple takes break from dance floor to plan National Square Dance Convention
Helene and Vern Bement wistfully remember when the weekend meant a time for kicking up their heels with an area square dance club.
All in the name of fun
STAPLES -- When the Lamplighter Community Theatre troupe decided a change of pace was in order for their next production, they turned to a local writer to come up with an original script.
Chilly Alaska a hot spot in two new mysteries
Things are heating up in Alaska, with detectives hot on the trail of murderers in two new hardcover whodunits set in the 49th state.
Best books
Publishers Weekly bestsellers
Vegas prepares for two new shows
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Cirque du Soleil and MGM Mirage Inc. plan to bring two new shows to the Las Vegas Strip beginning in 2003.
Plut to talk about life and works of his novelist friend Hassler
Joe Plut, a semi-retired Central Lakes College instructor, is a walking encyclopedia of Minnesota novelist Jon Hassler and his works.
Capsule reviews of films playing in area
"Lilo & Stitch" -- Disney's latest animated adventure is a sweet, energetic, reasonably funny little confection that's all-inclusive when it comes to family appeal.
Best bets
Clay Walker, who rocketed to the top of the country music charts with "What's It to You," "Live Until I Die" and numerous other hits, will appear today at Grand Casino Mille Lacs, starting at 8 p.m.
Zoinks! 'Scooby-Doo' scares up monster debut of $56.4 million
LOS ANGELES -- "Scooby-Doo," where are you? Well on top of the weekend box office.
Tempo tidbits
The Little Falls Concerts in the Park series continues Sunday with singer-songwriter Don Nelson of Bowlus. This marks the fifth time the Randall native has appeared in the series, a summer attraction scheduled at 4 p.m. in Maple Island Park downtown. Admission is free.
Portraiture is a growing business in America
WHITEWATER, Wis. (AP) -- Ben McCready was living with his parents and working out of their basement when he painted Robert Redford's portrait.
Thousands of snail deaths not cause for alarm
"Have you heard anything about a massive kill of snails recently?" asked Jim Lease, a reader from the Deerwood area.
Wild blooms
The yellow lady's-slipper grows in rich woods, swamps and bogs between April and August.
Bike tour set in Walker to benefit Habitat for Humanity
WALKER -- Yikes! Bikes!, a Leech Lake area bike tour to benefit the Leech Lake Area Habitat for Humanity, will be July 20.
Wild flowers
Wild flowers growing near Hackensack
Area briefs
CROSSLAKE -- To generate funds for the fireworks display in Crosslake, the Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce is holding a Brainerd lakes area-wide raffle. A $5 ticket offers the chance to win an Arctic Cat 375 Automatic 4x4.
Busy bee
Weather drawing by Grace Roeger of Mrs. Brenny's third grade class at Baxter school.
Minnesota state forecast
Today...A chance of showers and thunderstorms far southeast. Otherwise partly to mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s to middle 80s.
State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Partly cloudy. Isolated afternoon thunderstorms far west. Highs from 75 to 85.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly sunny. Showers and thunderstorms becoming likely south and east. Highs from the upper 70s north to the mid and upper 80s south.
Iowa state forecast
Severe thunderstorm watch until 10 am northeast and portions of central and north central iowa...
Minnesota state forecast
Severe thunderstorm watch southeast corner until 10 am...
Wisconsin state forecast
This afternoon...Chance of showers and thunderstorms northwest otherwise partly sunny and breezy. Highs from the mid 70s to mid 80s.
Under the rain
Weather drawing by Jacob McDonald of Sharon Jendro's first grade class at Lowell school.
Iowa state forecast
Today...Partly sunny southeast and mostly cloudy northwest. A chance of thunderstorms...Mainly this afternoon. Highs in the 80s.
State forecast for South Dakota
Severe thunderstorm watch until 10 am for northeast south dakota...
State forecast for North Dakota
Flood watch east today...
State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Sunny. Highs 75 to 80.
Local brief
Anyone interested in planning an event to honor Korean War veterans during the 50th anniversary of that war is invited to attend a planning session at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the American Legion in Brainerd.
Russians establish that faulty torpedo sank Kursk nuclear submarine
MOSCOW -- Nearly two years after the Kursk nuclear submarine sank in the Barents Sea, a government commission has established that a faulty torpedo, and not a foreign spy submarine or a World War II mine, brought down the pride of the Russian navy.
Bush wants to see Arafat words turned to action
WASHINGTON -- President Bush, still weighing how to promote Palestinian statehood amid a spate of attacks on Israel, is waiting to see Yasser Arafat's latest denunciation of terrorism turned into action, the White House said Thursday.
European allies cut deal to protect Afghan peacekeepers
UNITED NATIONS -- The United States' leading European allies, who have opposed U.S. efforts to limit the powers of the new international war crimes tribunal, quietly obtained written assurances that their troops serving as peacekeepers in Afghanistan would be immune from arrest or surrender to the court.
Karzai chooses some warlords for inner circle
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Hamid Karzai adopted a risky political strategy Wednesday with the Afghan leader's decision to include several warlords in his inner circle and retain several key ethnic Tajiks in top government posts.
Israel will reoccupy Palestinian areas as response to terrorism
JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israel will gradually reoccupy Palestinian areas until terrorism stops, the government announced Wednesday in a major policy change prompted by a deadly bus bombing. Israeli troops entered three West Bank towns from which dozens of terror attacks have been launched.
Chinese mine blast kills 58
BEIJING (AP) -- A massive gas explosion Thursday in a northeastern China coal mine killed 58 miners with scores more injured or missing, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
Pakistani police arrest seven al-Qaida suspects
KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) -- Pakistan police working with the FBI arrested seven Arabs suspected of having links to al-Qaida in a series of raids here over the past two days, police officials said Thursday.
Palestinian moderates in no mood to talk peace
BETHLEHEM, West Bank -- The months of violent confrontations in the Middle East have left many moderate Palestinians, key to any renewal of a meaningful peace process, embittered, politically weakened and less willing to compromise.
Turkish military takes command of Afghan peacekeeping force
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Turkey, NATO's only Muslim member, took command Thursday of the 19-nation international peacekeeping force guarding the Afghan capital, renewing a military association which dates back 80 years
No quick exit
WASHINGTON -- The United States is no longer dropping bombs in Afghanistan and few al-Qaida fighters have been captured in recent weeks. The country is stabilizing a bit, but the 7,000 American soldiers there won't be leaving any time soon.
Morocco arrests senior al-Qaida operative nicknamed 'The Bear'
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The senior al-Qaida recruiter known as "The Bear," in Moroccan custody since early last week, is believed to have a wealth of knowledge about al-Qaida operations and cell members, U.S. officials said.
After second suicide attack, Arafat calls on militants to stop attacking Israeli civilians
RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Israel called up reserve soldiers Thursday, as troops returned to five West Bank towns in response to two suicide bombings that killed 26 Israelis in two days. Yasser Arafat appealed to Palestinian militias to stop attacking Israeli civilians.