Friday, July 20, 2001

Test shows minivan gas leak, DaimlerChrysler says problem fixed
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan minivan leaked fuel during a crash test, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, prompting concern about the safety of the roughly 400,000 models on the road.

Regulators looking at number of seat belts in Explorers, Navajos
WASHINGTON -- Federal safety officials are investigating whether Ford Motor Co. is violating the law by putting only two sets of seat belts in the back seat of two-door models of two sport utility vehicles, the Explorer and Mazda Navajo.

2002 Volkswagen Passat W-8: Sleek and surefooted
GSTAAD, Switzerland -- We needed an angel. Chantelle appeared. She spoke French. We spoke English. The right rear wheel of our sedan spoke disaster.

Ford to join AutoTrader in showing used cars online
Extending its Internet reach to the used-car market, Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday that it is partnering with AutoTrader.com to display Ford dealers' used cars on the Web.

BMW unveils fleet of luxury cars that run on rocket fuel, vastly reduce emissions
LOS ANGELES -- BMW officials traveled to one of the nation's smoggiest cities Thursday to show off a fleet of luxury cars that run on rocket fuel, but belch virtually nothing more than water and steam from their tailpipes.

Goodbye, roar and shake
LOS ANGELES -- In what loyalists call a sacrilege, Harley-Davidson Inc. has its first new line of motorcycles in more than a decade -- a high-performance bike with a liquid-cooled engine.

Get information on Spirit of Life Project
For more information about the Spirit of Life Project, church representatives and individuals can contact Rick Bernardo, project co-organizer at:

We must have courage to face fears before finding comfort
My friend took a long, last draw from his cool, brewed beverage and slapped the glass down on the table. "I guess," he said, with an air of finality, "that religion is OK. At least for the people who get some comfort out of believing that stuff."

Zion Lutheran Church confirmands
The Zion Lutheran Church of Brainerd confirmation class included Jackie Sellnow (front, left), Brandon Jabs, Brianna Jabs, Jeremy Anderson (middle, left), Cody Henson, Justin Bagwell, Jeanette Eller, Kaitlyn Manlick (back, left), Kiel Browne, Brandon Owen and the Rev. Paul Biegner.

Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod elects Texan as its president
ST. LOUIS -- The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod elected a new president Sunday at its annual convention who pledged to help unify the denomination and spread its message.

Methodists to try Evangelism from 'porch'
It's always a challenge for church leaders to draw "seekers" through their doors. So in the United Methodist Church staffers are talking about meeting them for a chat on the front porch.

Charges filed against Washington bishop
LANHAM, Md. (AP) -- Leaders of a suburban Episcopal parish have filed charges in church court accusing acting Bishop Jane Holmes Dixon of Washington, D.C., of violating canon law by trying to block them from hiring a conservative priest.

Former bishop to speak in Crosslake
Herb Chilstrom, former E.L.C.A. bishop, will speak at 8:30 a.m. Sunday for the Crosslake Lutheran Church indoor service and 10 a.m. at the outdoor service.

Search for family history uncovers church
BELLE CREEK (AP) -- Sometimes a little digging is all it takes to find a treasure. For Orland Chandler, looking into his family tree resulted in exactly that.

Nuns stand up to Vatican on obedience issue
At Mount Saint Benedict Monastery, home to more than 120 Roman Catholic nuns on Lake Erie in Pennsylvania, Vatican orders normally aren't flouted.

Lutheran Church of the Cross confirmands
The Lutheran Church of the Cross, Nisswa, confirmation class included Gregory Strand (front, left), Katie Dutton, Calida Cogan, Abbie Bragstad, Emily Wangstad, Lauren Trapp, Megan Wagner, Brian Montgomery, James Caughey (middle, left), Erick Anderson, Nicole Phillips, Jessica Baker, Christina Roberts, Emily Dunphy, Amanda Speed, Pastor Kurt Wied (back, left), Brett Nelson, Andrew Kraft, Dan Gauerke, Erik Macy, Peter Quisberg, Nate Nordby and Pastor Christian Meier.

Religious leaders urge people to pool tax rebates for charity
Over the next few weeks, most U.S. households will receive an "advance payment" check as part of the $1.35 trillion tax cut President Bush signed into law June 7. Generally, single taxpayers will get $300, couples will get $600.

Milwaukee archbishop sees side benefit in renovation struggle
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The Roman Catholic archbishop of Milwaukee sees one benefit from a continuing struggle against his plan to renovate the downtown Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

Church involvement sought in Spirit of Life anti-tobacco campaign
In some Minnesota counties 40 to 50 percent of teens smoke. Ninety percent of adult smokers had their first cigarette before age 18. Given current tobacco use, more than 5 million American children living today will die prematurely from smoking-related illnesses.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Thursday cattle: 300.

Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Wednesday 195, a year ago 336.

Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Thursday 370, a year ago 430.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Wednesday Cattle: 400.

Biscuits area award-winning
Sure, state fairs boast amusement park rides, petting zoos, music and funnel cakes to help lure us there, but the main attraction at many fairs is the cooking contests.

Recipes for diabetics can still taste good to everyone
When you're not used to it, it's a challenge cooking for someone who's diabetic.

Combine tuna, canned beans for light, tasty summer meal
This isn't your mother's runny tuna salad.

What's cooking?
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) -- So, what's on the grill this summer?

Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to two car fires Thursday, both fires in the same car.

Correction
Dusty Paul of Crosby did not stop his stock car racing at North Central Motor Speedway because it was too expensive as reported in the July 12 Dispatch.

Crime
THEFTS -- Donald Trustem, 100 block of Birchridge Drive, reported Wednesday that two big hanging plants worth $60 were taken.

Keep in touch with your federal lawmakers
Sen. Paul Wellstone

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

Correction
Because of incorrect information

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

Meeting notices
The Brainerd Transportation Committee will meet 2 p.m. Tuesday at city hall.

Accidents
LITTLE FALLS -- The State Patrol responded to a two-vehicle accident at 3:59 p.m. Wednesday on Highway 371 in Morrison County, two miles north of Little Falls.

Court
WALKER -- The following recently were in Cass County District Court:

Tiger gets off to so-so start
LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (AP) -- Colin Montgomerie punctuated a triumphant opening round of 65 with a long birdie putt on the final hole Thursday, while Tiger Woods struggled to match par in his first defense at the British Open.

Open tightens at Royal Lytham
LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (AP) -- Tiger Woods inched toward the lead with back-to-back birdies on par-5s Friday at the British Open, where crowds cheered wildly for every shot struck by Colin Montgomerie.

First-round scores today in the British Open
Brad Faxon, United States 32-36--68

Two-time champ Norman withdraws citing death of friend
LYTHAM ST. ANNES, England (AP) -- Two-time champion Greg Norman pulled out of the British Open on Wednesday due to the death of a close friend in the United States.

Ventura to travel to New York to pay up on bet
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura will visit New York Gov. George Pataki in Syracuse next month to pay up on a football bet.

Senate's only physician backs stem cell research
WASHINGTON -- The Senate's only physician, who also is a close ally of President Bush, added new momentum to the drive for federally financed medical research with embryonic stem cells.

Judge to decide whether acting chief committed crime
ST. CLOUD (AP) -- A judge said Wednesday he will decide soon whether the former acting police chief of Renville committed a crime when he surreptitiously videotaped under the skirt of an unsuspecting store clerk.

Appeals court gives Napster go-ahead to resume online song-swapping service
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Napster Inc. says it is uncertain whether it will resume its free online song-swapping service despite getting the green light from a federal appeals court.

Microsoft asks court for rehearing on antitrust ruling
WASHINGTON -- Microsoft Corp. launched an uphill battle Wednesday to persuade a federal appeals court here to reconsider part of its unanimous June 28 ruling in the landmark antitrust case.

Bush begins European trip in London as tourist, queen's luncheon guest
LONDON (AP) -- From VIP tours of London sights to luncheon cocktails with the queen, President Bush was easing into his latest European trip without shying from the policy differences that separate him from U.S. allies.

Ashcroft threatens to retaliate against other countries over criminal aliens
DENVER (AP) -- Attorney General John Ashcroft threatened on Thursday to retaliate against countries that delay or refuse to take back immigrants convicted of crimes in the United States.

Bush administration expresses reservations about Wellstone's homeless veterans bill
WASHINGTON -- A Bush administration official warned Thursday that legislation aimed at increasing services for homeless veterans could actually cause the Department of Veterans Affairs to decrease some services.

Bush says protesters hurting the poor
GENOA, Italy -- President Bush, joining allies for a summit in this heavily barricaded city, said Friday that protesters threatening to disrupt the talks are hurting the cause of impoverished people around the world.

Study predicts global warming will be worse than expected
As President Bush and other U.S. officials air their differences this week with European allies over global warming, a study released Thursday concludes there's a high probability that Earth's average temperature will rise between 4 and 7 degrees Fahrenheit over the coming century.

Chairman of climate conference tries to dispel gloom as talks move into high gear
BONN, Germany (AP) -- As political leaders move U.N. climate talks into high gear, the chairman of the conference says a deal can be reached to bring a global warming agreement into effect even without the United States on board.

Government cuts funding after human research death
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Johns Hopkins University said the government's decision to suspend nearly all its federally funded experiments involving human subjects is "unwarranted" and could be devastating for ongoing clinical trials.

Commission draft report predicts Social Security crisis; opponents say emergency is being manufactured
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A presidential commission's preliminary report says the future of Social Security is in crisis. Opponents dispute the findings and accuse the White House and the commission of trying to scare the public for political advantage.

Senate Democrats in no hurry to follow House in passing religious charities legislation
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The 233-198 roll call Thursday by which the House passed legislation to expand the ability to of religious organizations to participate in federally funded social programs.

The art of flower hammering: Pound leaves, petals on to paper or fabric
What would you get if you crossed Bob Vila with Martha Stewart?

Too many weeds? Don't turn over soil every spring
Look at that weed-ridden garden. Something's to blame for that, and it's probably hiding in your tool shed right now.

Cass issued 721 zoning permits in first half of year
WALKER -- Cass County issued fewer zoning permits the first quarter this year than last year, but more the second quarter compared to last year.

Lawn order
Start a grass-roots effort to get your office or household organized with a new bulletin board. This Astro Turf-covered model has a fresh new look, and no mowing required. Daisy pushpins accessorize it.

Fences that make good neighbors
The image of a picket fence in front of a cozy little house is as American as the apple pie one imagines must be baking inside. The image of evenly spaced wood slats painted pristine

Study finds better way to snuff house fires
Fire departments have used solutions of water and foam for decades to help snuff out the trickiest and most dangerous infernos, from wind-whipped wildfires to chemically laced industrial blazes.

Solve bizarre paint problems
Q. Jennifer asks: My husband and I recently bought a 100-year-old home. In the process of painting the plaster-walled library we're running into some bizarre paint problems. The walls were triple painted in a brush pattern w

Daylilies have much to offer
Atop their slender stems, tawny daylilies wave cheery greetings from the roadsides. There are also garden varieties of these pretty plants.

Add style with stenciling
With stencils and rubber stamps, it's easy to add your personal style to home decorating. It's fun and affordable to enrich your walls and furnishings with color and design.

SAVED FROM THE WRECKING BALL
"The Clough Town Hall, located in an isolated rural area of Morrison County, is significant architecturally for its unusual design. The design of the building, which likely came from a pattern book, has an interior plan much like other rural township halls built throughout the state. In contract, the building's exterior is styled to give a much more monumental and civic appearance than its single room plan and rural setting would warrant. The hall, placed in an attractive setting overlooking a small lake, is in a remarkably well-preserved state of condition."

This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981)-Twenty-five more Burlington Northern workers were notified they would be out of a job last week resulting in the Brainerd Shop's second sizable layoff in a week.

Brainerd teacher of the year finalist for state honor
Sandra Cowell of Brainerd is one of 27 teachers chosen from 125 nominees to be part of Minnesota Teachers of Excellence in the 2001 Minnesota Teacher of the Year program.

Local briefs
More than 1,300 bicyclists are expected to converge on the Brainerd lakes area Wednesday as an overnight stop for the 2002 multiple sclerosis bicycle event, The Ride Across Minnesota.

Staples man faces kidnapping charges
STAPLES -- A 33-year man who allegedly held his mother and wife at gunpoint Thursday faces kidnapping charges.

Ross names Tollefson chief deputy
Crow Wing County Sheriff Dick Ross on Wednesday named Sgt. Irv Tollefson his chief deputy, effective Aug. 6.

Cool lift
Krisa Rauen of Baxter lifted Alex Eigen of Lake Shore out of the cool water of Whipple Lake at the public beach Wednesday. With temperatures in the 90s, people flocked to the cool water of area lakes.

Abell, Stave are winners of senior citizen honor
More than 200 senior citizens were at Mission Park on Thursday, supporting the 10 nominees for the Crow Wing County Outstanding Senior Citizen contest.

Overweight kids need more get-up-and-go
QUESTION: I have been teaching school for 30 years and I am noticing a significant change in the health of my children. More of them are overweight, and they just don't get enough exercise. I wonder if my observation is accurate, and if so, what is causing it.

Open houses set for Highways 101/169 plans
BAXTER -- The Minnesota Department of Transportation and its consu

'We either have to fix it or it'll fall down' -- John Holbrook, Lake Hubert resident
LAKE HUBERT -- The Lake Hubert Depot is the only open air railway station remaining in the United States today, built in 1918 by the Northern Pacific Railway just as the resort industry in the lakes area was experiencing significant growth, according to the Lake Hubert Conservation Association.

This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981)-The Brainerd Water and Light Board took preliminary steps Friday toward obtaining a new computer to handle the billing of city customers.

Brainerd City Council meeting dates change
The Brainerd City Council meeting set for Monday has been canceled.

Staples man gives up after holding his wife, mother at gunpoint
STAPLES -- A 33-year-old Staples man held his mother and wife at gunpoint early today before Staples police were able to successfully negotiate their release and his surrender.

Building habitat
A group of 46 high school students and 11 adults from the Church At The Crossing of Indianapolis, Ind., are in the Brainerd lakes area through Saturday to build a twin home for Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity.

Local brief
To help boost blood supplies needed during the summer, the American Red Cross has scheduled bloodmobiles in Crosslake, Crosby and McGregor.

Firestone rejects government request for wider tire recall
DETROIT -- Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. on Thursday rejected a government request for a wider recall of its Wilderness AT tires, saying the tires are safe and do not warrant further action. The company's stance sets the stage for a possible forced recall by the government and a court challenge by Bridgestone/Firestone.

Fire at Louisiana abortion clinic blamed on air conditioner
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- A fire that gutted an abortion clinic over the weekend was started by a malfunctioning air conditioner, not an arsonist, an investigator said Wednesday.

U.S. trade deficit narrows considerably
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. trade deficit narrowed considerably in May, hitting its lowest point in 16 months as Americans cut back on purchases of a variety of foreign-made goods from telecommunications equipment to toys. Exports rose.

'Spare the rod or lose the child'
TORONTO -- Fundamentalist Christians in a southern Ontario town live by the adage, "Spare the rod and spoil the child." Now social workers are imposing a modified version: "Spare the rod or lose the child."

Solar-sailing spacecraft prototype launched from Russian nuclear sub
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) -- A Russian nuclear submarine launched a rocket to test a prototype of an American-sponsored spacecraft that sails on the gentle pressure of the sun's rays.

Father found dead in same Utah mountains where son wandered off and died last year
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A man who was due to report to jail for the death of his 2-year-old son apparently killed himself in the same mountains where the boy wandered off and froze.

Two people arrested in shoving matches during demonstrations outside Kansas abortion clinic
WICHITA, Kan. -- Two people were arrested Wednesday as tensions rose between abortion opponents and supporters of abortion rights outside a clinic that is the focus of a week of protests.

Katharine Hepburn undergoing tests
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Four-time Academy Award winner Katharine Hepburn was undergoing tests at a hospital Thursday and was expected to go home in a few days.

Train hauling toxic chemicals catches fire in tunnel, throwing Baltimore into turmoil
BALTIMORE -- A fire that broke out in a downtown tunnel when a train carrying toxic chemicals derailed burned for a second day Thursday as firefighters braved searing flames and billowing smoke.

Sources: Government wants more Firestone tires recalled
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal safety officials are pushing Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. to recall millions more potentially unsafe Firestone tires.

U.S. warns of possible terror attack
WASHINGTON (AP)-- A communications intercept is prompting a State Department warning of possible imminent terrorist actions against the United States in the Arabian Peninsula.

U.S. Air Force sergeant indicted in Okinawa rape case
TOKYO (AP) -- A U.S. Air Force sergeant was indicted Thursday in the alleged rape of a woman on Okinawa -- an incident that prompted a standoff between Tokyo and Washington over treatment of criminal suspects in Japan.

Crews draining hazardous chemicals from derailed train burning in Baltimore tunnel
BALTIMORE (AP) -- Emergency crews used hoses fed through manholes to pump hydrochloric acid from a leaking tanker car early Friday as they continued to cope with a train derailment that ignited a raging fire and left the city paralyzed.

Index of leading indicators higher for third straight month, but economy still fragile
NEW YORK (AP) -- A key gauge of future U.S. economic activity inched higher for the third straight month in June, though it indicates the overall economy remains fragile.

Study: Life getting better for children
WASHINGTON -- By several standards -- lower child poverty, more working parents, greater family wealth -- life is getting better for American children, the government said.

Convicted killer Einhorn, on the run for 20 years, returned to Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA -- Shackled and wearing a bulletproof vest, convicted murderer Ira Einhorn returned to U.S. soil Friday, 20 years after fleeing to avoid a trial in the bludgeoning death of his girlfriend.

U.S. slaying fugitive Einhorn loses extradition appeal
CHAMPAGNE-MOUTON, France (AP) -- The European Court of Human Rights on Thursday dropped its request to delay American Ira Einhorn's extradition, clearing the way for the convicted murderer to be sent home to the United States.

Study: Best outcomes from lung cancer surgery are at high-volume hospitals
In the latest medical study showing experience counts, researchers found that lung cancer patients survive longer if they have surgery at hospitals that do the operation frequently.

Hundreds evacuated after barge hits bridge in Louisiana, causing gas leak
CYPREMORT, La. (AP) -- A barge hit a bridge on the Intracoastal Waterway on Thursday, spewing flammable gas and forcing hundreds of residents and workers to evacuate.

Johnson fans 16, sets major league record for reliever
Facing Randy Johnson meant lights out again for the San Diego Padres.

Webber staying in Sacramento
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Nearly three years ago, Chris Webber joined the Sacramento Kings against his will. This fall, he will return to the city that has become his home.

Pettitte shelled on short rest; Orioles and Rangers get extra time off
Three days' rest wasn't nearly enough for Andy Pettitte. Two nights off were more than the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers bargained for.

Baseball stops counting pitches, umps drop grievance
NEW YORK (AP) -- Umpires don't need to worry about baseball officials counting their pitches anymore.

Giambi powers Oakland
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Tim Hudson had an early flight to catch, but Jeremy Giambi seemed determined to make the game a late one.

Nellie A. Lynde
PINE RIVER -- Nellie A. Lynde, 82, Pine River, died Wednesday, July 18, 2001, at the Whispering Pines Good Samaritan Village in Pine River.

Delores Hedy
Delores M. Hedy, 85, Brainerd, died today, Thursday, July 19, 2001, at Woodland Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.

Mary Moran
Mary B. Moran, 84, Brainerd, died Wednesday, July 19, 2001, at Woodhaven Senior Community Center at Brainerd Regional Human Services Center.

Dolores M. Hedy
Dolores Margaret Hedy, 85, Brainerd, died Thursday, July 19, 2001, at Woodland Good Samaritan Village in Brainerd.

Richard Seiner
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Richard L. Seiner, 49, Sioux Falls, S.D., died Tuesday, July 17, 2001.

Violet Phillips Classen
Violet Phillips Classen, 86, Brainerd, died Wednesday, July 18, 2001, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village.

Ruth Klingensmith
HOPKINS -- Ruth A. Klingensmith, 83, Hopkins, died Sunday, July 15, 2001.

Susan Brogle
PINE RIVER -- Susan Elizabeth Brogle, 45, Pine River, died Wednesday, July 18, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center, Brainerd.

Eugene V. Sundberg
BAXTER -- Eugene V. Sundberg, 76, Baxter, died Thursday, July 19, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.

Harriet Prozinski
CUSHING -- Harriet Prozinski, 62, Cushing, died today, Friday, July 20, 2001, at her home on Lake Alexander.

Boycott the 2008 Olympics
More than 50 years ago, the Chinese communists evicted foreign missionaries on the grounds that the gospel they preached would undermine the creation of a communist heaven on earth.

Nothing comes easy for Gephardt
WASHINGTON--It has never been easy for Dick Gephardt, even when the milkman's son was starting out in St. Louis politics. The only reason he's still around, as Democratic minority leader of the House, is that he's always worked harder than anybody else.

Why the surplus declines
Why is the government's surplus not as large as originally forecast?

Open Forum
The ripoff is on again; it just seems our local gasoline industry just can not seem to operate without charging prices that are out of line. They now think we will not notice the high prices after the recent high peak in prices followed by continuous lowering of the price. But take notice the prices have fallen 13 cents in the last two weeks, but locally they have risen 13 cents followed by a three-cent down turn. Something is dreadfully wrong with this equations and I would expect the prices to fall 26 cents to make up for this difference.

Olson's TV show
While public affairs programming isn't every TV viewer's cup of tea, the use of the cable system's public access channel to discuss city topics is a welcome addition to the air w

A role model for women journalists
Katharine Graham, not Bob Woodward and not Carl Bernstein, was the patron saint of a generation of women journalists.

Katharine Graham
Housewife-turned-publisher will be remembered in history

Scoreboard
Drag Racing

NCMS standings
North Central Motor Speedway

Dale Jr.'s win simply too perfect?
The storybook ending of Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s emotionally charged victory in the recent Pepsi 400 -- simply too perfect for many to accept -- featured Earnhardt Jr. charging from seventh to first over the final six laps to claim the victory on the same track that had taken his father's life less than five months earlier.

Minneapolis hires outside lawyer for internal investigation
MINNEAPOLIS -- The city of Minneapolis hired an outside lawyer Thursday to investigate its business practices, two days after a council member admitted to using the city's inspections department to extort money from a local businessman.

Suspect in police shooting served prison term in 1966 double murder
ANOKA (AP) -- A man suspected of shooting and wounding three police officers in Columbia Heights this week served 6 1/2 years in prison for the 1966 shotgun slayings of his estranged wife and her friend in Fridley.

6-year-old boy found in Brooklyn Park pond
BROOKLYN PARK (AP) -- The body of a 6-year-old boy was recovered from a pond across the street from where he lived after he wandered away from home Wednesday night, police said.

Last of Marine reservists injured in lightning strike released from hospital
CAMP RIPLEY (AP) -- Lightning rushed through Marine Lance Cpl. Omar Sanchez's body and threw him into the air as he tried to close the tailgate on a truck.

Northwest announces loss
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Northwest Airlines on Thursday reported a $55 million loss in the second quarter as business travelers continued to cut back and fuel costs remained high.

State offers support to rebuild Farmland Foods plant
ALBERT LEA (AP) -- Gov. Jesse Ventura's administration has offered its support to rebuild the Farmland Foods plant damaged by fire.

$10,000 raised for Make-A-Wish
LONG PRAIRIE -- Law enforcement officials from Todd and Wadena counties raised $10,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation in a charitable golf tournament July 13.

Mother accused of killing children has history of mental illness
ST. PAUL (AP) -- A St. Paul woman accused in the deaths of her two young daughters had a history of mental illness, according to court documents.

Replacing Wenzel
Rep. Steve Wenzel's flirtation with a U.S. Department of Agriculture job means the District 12B race might be an open race with no incumbent for the first time in nearly 30 years.

Man charged in shootout with police
ANOKA (AP) -- The 65-year-old man accused of starting a running gun battle with police in a residential neighborhood was charged Thursday with attempting to murder one officer and assaulting six others with deadly force.

Northwest to cut 1,500 jobs
MINNEAPOLIS -- Northwest Airlines will cut 1,500 jobs, reduce its flight schedule and close some facilities to reduce its costs by $135 million this fiscal year, the carrier announced Thursday.

State's largest public employees' union sets deadline for contract with state
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Minnesota's largest public employees' union wants a contract in hand by the weekend.

MnSCU tuition will increase 10.9 percent
ST. PAUL -- The new chancellor of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system pledged to be a tough financial manager Wednesday as its trustees voted to raise tuition by an average of 10.9 percent next year.

Acting fire chief investigated after punching man
SOUTH ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Acting Fire Chief Harry Rund is being investigated after he punched a man who he said spat in his face.

Police: Medical records don't support beating allegation
ROCHESTER (AP) -- Police Chief Roger Peterson said the medical records of a 13-year-old boy do not support the allegation that he was beaten by police last month.

Scoreboard
Northwoods League Baseball

Thursday briefing
Brainerd defeated Sartell 7-0 Tuesday and then dropped the second game 1-2.

The one that got away Gulls coast to loss to Rochester
Imagine this: It's a great night for baseball -- the sky is clear, the stands are nearly full and the home team is winning 6-0.

Local sports shorts
The Brainerd Storm won the state ASA-USA Minnesota Sports Federation 14-under girls slow-pitch softball Junior Olympic Championship held in Coon Rapids July 13-15.

TOURNAMENT TOWN
If the cities of Baxter and Brainerd ever decide to make the move to merge, they won't have to struggle much to come up with an appropriate name for the new entity. Tournament Town, U.S.A. is a moniker that fits the bill.

Gulls lose again thanks to bloopers, boots and bungles
You can almost see Dan Aykroyd holding a video cassette and grinning from your TV screen. "Operators are standing by," he would say. "So call now and order Bloopers, Boots and Bungles, the second half fielding faux pas of the Mighty Gulls 2001 season. Now how much would you pay? Don't answer fans because this is a multi tape set."

Whipple Wave
For some folks, a summer without a triathlon just isn't a summer.

Mauer happy to choose Twins, baseball over football
MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Mauer had several options, but his heart always was headed in just one direction.

Vikings, Moss continue contract extension talks
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minnesota Vikings appear to have made little progress during renewed efforts to sign receiver Randy Moss to a long-term contract extension.

Reserves help Twins rally past Oakland
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Minnesota manager Tom Kelly knows you can't rely on the same nine players every day.

McHale is back
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Don't tell Kevin McHale that NBA action is FANtastic. After nine months of being little more than a spectator and watching nearly all of his team's games on TV, he's had enough.

30 years later, artist's watercolor of run-down homes on display
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) -- After being under wraps for nearly 30 years, Edward Hopper's watercolor of run-down Charleston homes has returned to the historic South Carolina city for display.

Witherspoon's 'Blonde' draws gold at box office
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Reese Witherspoon's law-school comedy "Legally Blonde" debuted as the weekend's No. 1 film, taking in $20.4 million.

Tempo tidbits
The Performances in the Park series will feature Paul Imholte in a free concert at 7 p.m. today at Gregory Park in Brainerd, sponsored by the Brainerd Parks and Recreation Department.

Brando, De Niro, Norton score high praise for acting talents
"The Score" is a reasonably entertaining heist movie with a classy setting, a believable script and enough high-tech gadgetry to satisfy today's savvy audience.

Benatar, Nugent ignite crowd
WALKER -- The 10th annual Moondance Jam wrapped up its four-day call-to-worship for classic rock's faithful Saturday with rousing performances by Pat Benatar and Ted Nugent.

Aitkin hosting Riverboat Heritage Days this week
Tourism events around Minnesota, as provided by the Minnesota Office of Tourism. For more information, visit http://www.exploreminnesota.com or call (800) 657-3700 or (651) 296-5029 in the Twin Cities area.

Face down in the Great Barrier Reef
CAIRNS, Australia -- There are many places in this world that are worthy of a visit in a traveler's lifetime. Hong Kong, New Zealand, Swiss Alps, the Lakes District in England, New Delhi, Venice and the Great Wall are just a few that come quickly to mind.

Drop in ratings for drama series reruns adds to networks' woes
PASADENA, Calif. -- The major networks' relian

Christian, country music to fill the air
DETROIT LAKES -- Music will take center stage over the next couple of weeks as tens of thousands of visitors descend on Soo Pass Ranch for two of the state's most venerable outdoor music festivals.

Capsule reviews of current movie releases
"America's Sweethearts" -- Such a sad irony that a movie with a sweet title should leave such a sour taste, that the blindingly brilliant Julia Roberts should be so dull, that nearly every joke f

Art and craft fair scheduled in Park Rapids
PARK RAPIDS -- Heartland Area Promotions will host the 20th annual Art & Craft Celebration on Friday-Sunday at Park Rapids Middle School and newly expanded high school.

Entertainment guide
Live music

Rhythm of the Rails takes audience back to early 1900s
For the past four summers, the Rhythm of the Rails show has hit the streets and parks of the Brainerd lakes area.

Pine River, Nisswa to host annual arts and crafts shows
If browsing through arts and crafts exhibits is one of your passions, then you'll find the mother lode next week with two of the area's longest running summertime events.

CLC to stage final play of summer, a comedy
Central Lakes College entered the final leg this week of its jam-packed summer theater season with "Don't Dress for Dinner," a full-length comedy by Marc Camoletti.

New look for downtown Brainerd topic of talk at library
Plans for a new look in the downtown area of Brainerd are in the works.

Minnesota state forecast
Flash flood watch in the northwest tonight...

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly sunny with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Warm and humid. Highs in the 80s to around 90. Cooler near lake michigan.

State forecast for North Dakota
Flash flood watch for northeast north dakota tonight...

State forecast for North Dakota
Severe thunderstorm watch southeast until 8 am cdt...

State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Mostly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms east. Mostly sunny west with isolated thunderstorms. Highs 85 east to 100 southwest.

Iowa state forecast
Today...Scattered showers and thunderstorms south and central mainly this morning. A chance of thunderstorms north. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s.

Under the rainbow
Weather drawing by Jasmine Hayes of Jan Wilcox's kindergarten class at Lowell school.

Minnesota state forecast
Severe thunderstorm watch west central until 8 am...

Iowa state forecast
This morning...Scattered thunderstorms southwest half...Some with heavy rain. A chance of showers and thunderstorms elsewhere. This afternoon...Partly sunny with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the middle 80s to lower 90s.

Watching the clouds
Weather drawing by Megan Hintz of Mrs. Lykins' kindergarten class at Nisswa school.

State forecast for South Dakota
Today...Scattered showers and thunderstorms ending east this morning. Areas of fog and low clouds central and east dissipating this morning...Then skies becoming partly cloudy east and mostly sunny west. Highs in the 80s west to near 100 central.

Wisconsin state forecast
Dense fog advisories southeast this morning...

The Weather Elsewhere
Friday

The Weather Elsewhere
Thursday

Names and faces
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Newlyweds Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston have filed a $50 million lawsuit, claiming an Italian jewelry designer breached an agreement never to replicate their wedding rings.

Teen in foster home sees world through new eyes
DEAR ABBY: I am almost 14 and live in a foster home. Before I entered foster care, I didn't think much about other kids and teens in foster homes. Now that I'm the one with the title "foster kid," I see everything in a new light. Although foster homes are a blessing to most kids who live troubled lives, it's still very hard to endure. If there is one thing I hate about being a foster child, it is feeling different from others in my new neighborhood and school.

What's doing
10 1/2 Table Mitchell Movement. North-South: Clif Johnson and Don Rasmussen, 179; Bruce Eastman and

Ad campaign begins in women's magazines for abortion pill
CHICAGO -- Sandwiched between a mineral water ad and toothpaste news is a photo of a young woman contemplating whether to take the abortion pill RU-486.

Names and faces
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- The California Supreme Court has declined to hear Francis Ford Coppola's appeal in the director's long-standing battle with Warner Bros.

Mom measures reaction to daughter's lost virginity
DEAR ABBY: My 15-year-old daughter left her journal open on her bed and, being nosy, I read the page that was open. She had written that she had lost her virginity to her boyfriend.

Dan Rather's 'CBS Evening News' breaks silence on Chandra Levy's disappearance
NEW YORK (AP) -- Dan Rather's silence on the Chandra Levy case is over.

Senior activities
LAKES AREA SENIOR ACTIVITY CENTER

On eve of rich-nations summit, fear of violent protests takes center stage
GENOA, Italy -- She's done it so many times that it takes Chiara Cassurino only a few minutes to get ready. She'll strap on makeshift body armor fashioned from a cut-up foam mattress, don a gas mask and goggles, top it off with a construction worker's hard hat -- and hit the streets.

Protester violence breaks out at economic summit
GENOA, Italy -- With police firing tear gas at demonstrators protesting global capitalism, leaders of the seven wealthiest countries began their annual economic summit Friday, stressing their desire to keep the United States' economic slowdown from pushing the rest of the world into recession.

Nations divided on how to salvage global warming treaty
BONN, Germany -- With the United States out of the picture, other nations were deeply divided Thursday on how to salvage a global warming treaty, with Europe resisting attempts led by Japan to introduce new loopholes.

Three Palestinians killed, apparently by settlers, after leading nations call for observers
HEBRON, West Bank -- The killing of three Palestinians in the West Bank, apparently by Jewish settlers, drew condemnation Friday from Israeli leaders, settlers and the United States. Palestinians held Israel's government responsible.