Wednesday, August 22, 2001
Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Tuesday 211, a year ago 358.
Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Monday 663, a year ago 433.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Monday cattle: 300.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Tuesday cattle: 950.
Metals
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices Tuesday.
Metals
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices Monday.
Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department investigated at 7:21 a.m. what turned out to be a false alarm Monday at Lowell Elementary School.
Correction/clarification
In the business education summit story published on Page 4D Sunday, the Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce was inadvertently omitted as a sponsor.
Area crime
Crow Wing sheriff
Golf notes
Rick Sorenson defended his crown as the top golfer at Pine Meadows by winning the men's club championship Aug. 12 by one stroke over Dan Vickerman.
Golf shorts
On Sept. 19, Gov. Jesse Ventura will host he "The Governor's Fall Golf Classic," informally known as the Jackal Open at Superior National Golf Course. The event is by invitation only.
Vintage comes up with a mix of golf and fishing
STAPLES -- It would have been easy to understand how much Dave Audix, owner of the Vintage Golf Course at Staples, disliked the Crow Wing River.
3 easy steps to end fear of no loft
The biggest fear among golfers is getting the ball airborne. The more one tries to lift the ball off the ground, the less likely it is that the ball will take flight in the air.
Ventura puts National Guard at ready if state workers go on strike
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Gov. Jesse Ventura ordered the National Guard on Monday to be ready to fulfill vital state functions if public employees go on strike next month, as leaders of two unions say they are prepared to do.
Republicans endorse Blaine
LITTLE FALLS -- Greg Blaine, a Little Falls area dairy farmer, won the Republican endorsement for the District 12B seat Monday night with both opponents pledging to support him in the Nov. 6 special election.
Six candidates set to vie for Wenzel's seat
Five Democratic candidates and one Republican will run for the District 12A House seat vacated by DFLer Steve Wenzel as filings closed Tuesday.
McLennan enters DFL House contest
Helen McLennan of rural Little Falls filed for the District 12A House seat Monday, making the DFL contest a three-person race.
Democratic senators block Bush's nominee as Environmental Protection Agency enforcer
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Two Democratic senators have effectively blocked President Bush's nominee for chief enforcement officer at the Environmental Protection Agency out of fear the administration won't pursue lawsuits against polluting businesses.
Fed cuts interest rates, warns of continuing slowdown
WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve cut interest rates Tuesday for the seventh time this year, warning that the economy may continue to weaken and signaling its willingness to ease rates even more to ward off a recession.
Sen. Jesse Helms to announce retirement
RALEIGH, N.C. -- Sen. Jesse Helms, who for three decades has been a crusader for conservative social causes, will step down when his term ends in two years, opening up a Senate seat that Republicans desperately want to maintain.
Tax cuts, slow economy combine to virtually erase non-Social Security surplus in 2001-02
WASHINGTON -- President Bush's tax cut and the sluggish economy have combined to virtually erase the projected budget surplus not dedicated to Social Security this year and next, the White House estimated Wednesday.
Touring Bush says there's still money for military, Social Security, Medicare after tax cut
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. -- With campaign swagger, President Bush told a crowd in Harry Truman's hometown Tuesday that the federal budget has enough money for his massive tax cut and bolstering the military, Social Security and Medicare.
CLC Heavy Equipment honor students announced
The Central Lakes College 2001 academic honors list for the Heavy Equipment Program has been announced for students who completed the term this summer at the West Campus near Staples.
CLC gives thumbs up to Green Thumbers
STAPLES -- Older Americans can teach young Americans a lot about the world of work. All one needs to do is watch veteran laborers on the job at Central Lakes College.
History tour planned Monday in Little Falls
LITTLE FALLS -- Linden Hill is offering an opportunity to learn more about lumber barons Charles A. Weyerhaeuser and Richard Drew Musser starting at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
For second year, donations top $200 million at U of M
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Donations have topped more than $200 million to the University of Minnesota for the second straight year.
Cass officials to show road improvement plans
WALKER -- Cass County officials have set three public meetings in the next few weeks.
Family rebuilds boat to offer Leech Lake cruises
WALKER (AP) -- Sitting on the open-air top deck of the Beulah Leona, it's easy to picture a massive wooden steam paddle churning up the muddy waters of the mighty Mississippi.
Cass Health Department to move its offices this fall
WALKER -- The Cass County Health Department now is scheduled to move into the addition to the county human services building in Walker sometime between mid-October and Nov. 1.
Cass accepts lowest bid for bridge over Pillager Creek in Sylvan Township
WALKER -- Riley Brothers Construction of Morris presented the lowest of five bids ranging as high as $91,796.35 to install a bridge for Sylvan Township over Pillager Creek.
Cass cancels lease with resident because of violations
WALKER -- The Cass County Board canceled the county lease for a Thunder Lake Township acreage with Ted Decker, because Decker placed a trailer on the county land rather than on 36 acres of adjacent land he owns.
Bad round of golf ends in good fortune
I played the worst game of golf, but came away the winner.
Double M Horse Show set in McGregor
McGREGOR -- Game and pleasure show horse and rider participants will have an opportunity to compete in September.
Horseback riding program helps girl conquer physical barriers of cerebral palsy
Amy Roth was once as unsteady on her feet as a newborn foal.
CLC names Loukota Outstanding Business Student
Central Lakes College in Brainerd and Staples has named Anna Loukota of Nisswa its Outstanding Business Student of the Year, 2000-2001.
Hackensack School to be demolished
WALKER -- After nearly 40 years of abandonment, Hackensack School is being scheduled for demolition.
Search continues on Bay Lake
DEERWOOD -- The search continued today for a 20-year-old man missing since Monday on Bay Lake.
POWERBALL JACKPOT $200 MILLION
Retired Brainerd bricklayer "Chink" Chisholm promised a year's vacation for Ann Trombley, a Brainerd Amoco employee, if he wins the $200 million Powerball jackpot tonight.
Educators set their priorities for legislators
School district administrators in the Brainerd lakes area discussed Tuesday issues they would like lawmakers to address in the 2002 legislative session.
This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981)-The Board of directors of the Gull Lake Area Property Owners Association recently voted to go on record as being opposed to the use of 2, 4-D in the Gull Lake area.
Council approves changes for mall financing plan
The East Brainerd Mall development agreement between the city and Oppidan has been amended.
Dueling memos
A proposed policy restricting information requests from elected officials stirred controversy at Monday's Brainerd City Council meeting.
This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981)-A very determined thief scaled a 20-foot flagpole and took a large American flag from a local bank over the weekend.
County-wide Dial-A-Ride plans get council boost
A county-wide transit system is one more step closer to a reality.
GLUTEN is the villian for celiac disease
Celiac disease is not common in the Brainerd lakes area, but it is here, said Dr. John Berg, a Brainerd Medical Center gastroenterologist.
Baxter OKs bonds for TEAM plant
BAXTER -- The Baxter City Council Tuesday approved industrial revenue bonds to be sold for TEAM Industries, which is building a plant in the city's industrial park.
Summit puts focus on business education
Business and education leaders took the first step Tuesday in an initiative to help students prepare for the workforce.
Local briefs
The Brainerd Parks and Recreation Board will meet 3:30 p.m. Monday at city hall.
Baxter approves TIF for two housing projects
BAXTER -- It took a lot of discussion and four votes, but the Baxter City Council Tuesday approved tax-increment financing districts for two housing projects in the city.
Young cowgirl
Three-year-old Hannah Welch rode "Sugar" at Gert's Roll In Daycare in Baxter Tuesday. The children were treated to pony rides by Bob and Holly Welch of Harmony Ranch.
Corrections officer accused in child's abduction hanged self in prison cell, authorities say
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (AP) -- A former corrections officer awaiting trial for allegedly kidnapping, sexually assaulting and trying to kill an 8-year-old girl hanged himself to death in his cell with elastic from his jail pants, authorities said Monday.
Study paints dim picture of Social Security private accounts
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Baby boomers retiring in the next two decades could face cuts in Social Security benefits under various plans to allow younger workers to invest some of their payroll taxes in the stock market, a congressional study finds.
Driver in fatal bus crash is charged with using suspended license
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The driver in a fatal Greyhound bus crash in Tennessee has been charged with driving on a license that was suspended in New York state in 1987, officials said.
3-year-old son of killing spree suspect found dead
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The 3-year-old son of a man suspected of killing his pregnant wife and four relatives was found dead in a cardboard box Tuesday, confirming the fears of authorities who were led to the body by a note found in the suspect's car.
Two Marines are charged with rape in training scandal
Two Marine Corps instructors have been charged with raping trainees at a military base in Missouri, accusations that significantly heighten the seriousness of a scandal involving sexual misconduct at a Marine training school.
Family visits track where 23-year-old jockey was trampled to death
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan (AP) -- The family of jockey Isiah Sala visited Marquis Downs on Monday, a day after the 23-year-old died from injuries sustained during a race at the track.
U.S. leading arms supplier to developing countries
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States dominated the world arms trade in 2000 and probably will remain the leading supplier of weapons to the developing countries in the near future, a new report says.
WTO threatens U.S. with $4 billion fine in international tax dispute
The United States must rewrite a controversial law that saves Boeing Co., Microsoft Corp. and other multinational companies billions of dollars a year in taxes or risk paying as much as $4 billion in penalties, the World Trade Organization declared Monday.
Program seeks to track down abducted children using emergency bulletins
WASHINGTON -- Police looking for abducted children are now able to tap vast radio audiences for tips, thanks to a program in which stations interrupt regular programming to air a missing child alert in the same way they warn of storms.
Ukrainian immigrant wanted in killing spree had history of domestic violence, police say
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Investigators searched through the night for a Ukrainian immigrant who allegedly went on a family killing spree, stabbing his pregnant wife to death and slaying four more relatives before fleeing with his toddler son.
Texas prison escapee, convicted in officer's death, faces death sentence or life
DALLAS (AP) -- It will be up to a jury to decide whether the leader of a gang of escaped convicts convicted of killing a policeman during a Christmas Eve holdup should be put to death or spend the rest of his life in prison.
Weather helps in fight against Western wildfires that have threatened homes, cost millions
LEAVENWORTH, Wash. -- Fire engines streamed out of this mountain resort town as cool weather helped knock down a wildfire, the latest example of the progress being made against blazes that have charred nearly a half-million acres in the West.
Near-hurricane hits Mexico
CHETUMAL, Mexico -- Tropical Storm Chantal was sweeping across Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Tuesday after frightening tourists, forcing evacuations and downing trees -- but so far causing no known deaths.
IMF offers Argentina $8 billion in additional loans under conditions pressed by the U.S.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- After lengthy negotiations, the International Monetary Fund agreed to offer Argentina an additional $8 billion in loans, which will bring to $22 billion the amount of IMF help available to help the country weather a severe economic crisis.
Rural Gonvick couple loses third child in same lake
GONVICK, Minn. (AP) -- A rural Gonvick couple is mourning the drowning of their son less than three years after two of their other children drowned in the same lake.
Smoker agrees to $100 million damage award from Philip Morris
LOS ANGELES -- A Los Angeles lung cancer victim has agreed to a record $100 million damage award against cigarette maker Philip Morris, rather than seeking an even larger possible verdict in a new trial.
Pharmacist charged with diluting cancer drugs deemed flight risk, ordered held without bond
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A millionaire pharmacist charged with diluting cancer drugs will be held without bond while he awaits trial because a federal judge worries he might try to flee the country.
Schilling denied 19th win by the lowly Pirates
What looked like an obvious mismatch turned into an unlikely victory for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Sather misses on Jagr, lands Lindros
NEW YORK (AP) -- When Glen Sather couldn't bring Jaromir Jagr to the New York Rangers, he got The Next One.
POLICE REPORT: Wheeler used supplements
Northwestern football player Rashidi Wheeler mixed two dietary supplements containing the banned stimulant ephedrine before collapsing and dying Aug. 3, according to a police report that quotes the team trainer who fought to save Wheeler's life on the practice field.
Penguins add Grill to scouting staff
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Craig Patrick announced Wednesday that he has added Chuck Grillo of Minnesota Hockey Camps in Nisswa to the team's scouting staff.
Cards' winning streak comes to end
CINCINNATI (AP) -- The St. Louis Cardinals' 11-game winning streak finally hit a wall.
Hernandez return to Yankees seems anything but pleasant
Orlando Hernandez felt good in his return to the New York Yankees. He just didn't look it.
Sparks stymies Seattle again
The Seattle Mariners should feel fortunate that they won't have to face Steve Sparks in the postseason.
Russell 'Russ' R. Alholm
Russell "Russ" R. Alholm, 83, Brainerd, died Monday, Aug. 20, 2001, at home.
Eleanor M. Scott
STAPLES -- Eleanor Marie Scott, 92, Staples, died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2001, at Greater Staples Care Center.
Judith E. Hoffman
Judith E. Hoffman, 56, Brainerd, died Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.
Alma 'Daisy' Matthews
PEQUOT LAKES -- Alma "Daisy" Matthews, 75, Pequot Lakes, died Friday, Aug. 17, 2001, at home.
Geraldine Romney (Keehr) Carter
HILLMAN -- Geraldine Romney (Keehr) Carter, 73, Hillman, died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2001, at home.
Russell R. Alholm
Russell R. Alholm, 83, Brainerd, died Monday, Aug. 20, 2001, at home.
Marjorie Riley Maloney Madden
EAST GULL LAKE -- Marjorie Riley Maloney Madden, 78, East Gull Lake, died Monday, Aug. 20, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.
The Dispatch's editorials
Editorial views in The Brainerd Dispatch represent a consensus of opinion by members of the newspaper's editorial board.
Muzzled?
Muzzled?
Campaigning for more play time
With the exception of teachers, rock stars and now the U.S. president, almost every other American worker would be fired for taking a month-long vacation after a mere seven months on the job.
Open Forum
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been charged by groups representing 10,000 physicians with covering up vital information on the ineffectiveness of condoms. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS) has had in its possession for over a year a scientific report that demonstrates convincingly that most sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are not prevented by condom usage. CDC, however, failed to release that report until a copy was leaked, at which time CDC admitted it existed.
Open Forum
In an Open Forum letter appearing in the Thursday, Aug. 16 Dispatch, regarding a pair of Fatal Vision Goggles stolen from the MADD booth at the Crow Wing County Fair, the incorrect phone number was given.
Progress vs. tradition
BEAVER ISLAND, Mich.--The controversy over stem cell research has pitted traditional values rooted in our history and culture against the potential of incredible progress. Modern science and technology vie against a strong human instinct to avoid the dangers of the unknown.
Atomic vets
Hackensack's Al 'Smoky' Parrish wouldn't take no for an answer.
Open Forums welcome
The Dispatch encourages readers to contribute to the Open Forum.
It's the food that's dangerous not the toys
The Bionicles are coming to a McDonald's near you.
Now NASCAR's work begins
ATLANTA (AP) -- The exhaustive six-month investigation into Dale Earnhardt's death is finally over. Now the real work begins for NASCAR, which still must find a way to make its sport safer.
State agency says casino audits shouldn't be released to public
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A state agency has ordered the audits of American Indian casinos be temporarily classified as nonpublic to give the Legislature a chance to decide whether the records can be sealed permanently.
DNR hopes new exhibit attracts State Fairgoers
ST. PAUL (AP) -- One of the most popular stops at the Minnesota State Fair, the Department of Natural Resources hopes its wildlife exhibit will leave fairgoers digging in their pockets for more.
46 years later, boy who had rare open-heart surgery waits for new heart
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- One of the first children to survive open-heart surgery 46 years ago is now waiting for a life-saving heart transplant.
Cass report shows junk leads to multitude of complaints
WALKER -- Environmental services department director Paul Fairbanks provided a six-page report to the board Tuesday.
Farmers call for conservation at farm bill hearing
STEWARTVILLE, Minn. (AP) -- Members of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee heard testimony from farmers and other agriculture leaders in this southeastern Minnesota town on the need for more federal rewards for farmers who save their land.
Cass checks tobacco compliance
WALKER -- Only half of Cass County's 58 tobacco license holders declined to sell tobacco products to under aged people in compliance checks the county conducted this year.
State targets distracted drivers
Last year in Minnesota, "distracted driving" was cited as the leading contributor in 16,000 motor vehicle crashes, or 15 percent of the 104,000 total crashes.
Judges weigh the flavor of competition State Fair foods
FALCON HEIGHTS (AP) -- Nothing could have prepared Barbara Bright for what was to come. As
Jenson sues over confession
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A man who confessed to killing his girlfriend's 3-year-old daughter now says someone else killed the girl. He is also suing authorities he claims violated his rights when they refused his requests for an attorney and instead continued to question him about the crime.
Firm cuts jobs
HUTCHINSON (AP) -- Hutchinson Technology Inc. said Tuesday that it will cut up to 600 jobs -- about 15 percent of its work force -- by the end of September at plants in Minnesota, Wisconsin and South Dakota.
Woog keeps players busy at his camp
BREEZY POINT -- Despite being out of coaching for two years, Doug Woog's name remains synonymous with Minnesota hockey.
Meschkes lead Patriots past C-I in tennis
LITTLE FALLS -- Ashley and Valerie Meschke remained unbeaten in four matches as the Pequot Lakes Patriots beat the Crosby-Ironton Rangers 7-0 in girls' tennis Monday.
National honor goes to Brainerd High's Nunnink
Steve Nunnink must feel like a hotel manager. He leaves the lights on for his customers.
Local shorts
Tee times for Thursday's women's club championship at Pine Meadows have been determined.
Eighth-grade volleyball team to have meeting
An organizational meeting for the Brainerd eighth-grade volleyball program is scheduled 5 p.m. Aug. 30 at Riverside Elementary School.
Scoreboard
Girls Tennis
Aitkin edges Rangers in tennis
CROSBY -- The Aitkin Gobblers edged the Crosby-Ironton Rangers 4-3 in the Rangers' triangular Tuesday.
Scoreboard
Girls tennis
Wheeler's mother to file lawsuit
Claiming that organizational negligence by Northwestern University contributed to the death of Rashidi Wheeler during football conditioning drills, the player's mother will file a lawsuit Friday against the university.
Sagging Twins trying to salvage season
MINNEAPOLIS -- If crying were allowed in baseball, the Minnesota Twins might be first in line waiting for tissues.
Stringer's widow searching for answers
BLOOMINGTON -- Kelci Stringer doesn't speak as if she's recently been widowed.
Vikings hope Reed provides boost
EDEN PRAIRIE (AP) -- Jake Reed feels like he never left.
National briefs
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Former University of Minnesota football star Wayne (Red) Williams, who once led the nation in total yards gained in a season, has died. He was 79.
Even Radke can't stop the skid
MINNEAPOLIS -- Brad Radke returned from the disabled list, but he didn't stick around long enough to help the Minnesota Twins.
NDSU women's basketball coach has breast cancer
FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- North Dakota State University women's basketball coach Amy Ruley has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
This time the Twins lose to Blue Jays
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kelvim Escobar seemed dissatisfied despite his best pitching performance of the season.
Cass County open horse show results listed
The River Wranglers Saddle Club hosted the Cass County Open Game Show last month with 45 riders participating.
Area briefs
FIFTY LAKES -- The Fifty Lakes Sportsmen's Club will hold its 25th annual fund-raiser spaghetti dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1. The spaghetti dinner will be topped off by a variety of homemade desserts.
Kinship Connection participants gather for outdoor fun at YMCA Camp Olson
LONGVILLE -- Kinship Connection participants from the Longville-Remer area gathered earlier this month for an outdoor group event on the beach at YMCA Camp Olson on Little Boy Lake.
Nationally known motivational speaker to be in Pequot Lakes
PEQUOT LAKES -- Mark Scharenbroich, a nationally acclaimed motivational speaker, will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Pequot Lakes School auditorium.
Outing woman, Hackensack man named Cass County's outstanding senior citizens
PINE RIVER -- Betty Waldron, Outing, and Bill Green, Hackensack, were selected Cass County's outstanding senior citizens for 2001 Monday at the Red Pine Supper Club, Pine River, during the Cass County Council on Aging luncheon and meeting.
State forecast for south dakota
Dense fog advisory much of east until 9 am cdt...
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms central and south early. Another chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s to lower 80s.
Iowa state forecast
Today...Partly sunny with a chance of thunderstorms. Highs from the lower 80s northeast to upper 90s southwest.
The Weather Elsewhere
Wednesday
Home run
Weather drawing by Matt Solid of Mr. Meyer's second grade class at Lowell school.
The Weather Elsewhere
Tuesday
State forecast for south dakota
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. Isolated thunderstorms southwest through northeast...Mainly this morning. Scattered thunderstorms southeast...With a severe storm possible extreme southeast late. Highs from around 80 far east...To the mid 90s southwest.
Minnesota state forecast
Today...Scattered showers and thunderstorms south...Ending in the southwest this afternoon. Partly cloudy north. Highs from the middle 70s to middle 80s.
Happy sky
Weather drawing by Jasmine Hayes of Jan Wilcox's kindergarten class at Lowell school.
State forecast for north dakota
Today...Partly sunny with an isolated thunderstorm possible west and central. Highs in the mid 80s to lower 90s.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms west and south. Highs in the upper 70s to lower 80s.
State forecast for north dakota
Today...Patchy morning fog east...Otherwise partly to mostly sunny with a slight chance of a shower or thunderstorm northwest and central. Highs in the 80s east to lower 90s west.
Iowa state forecast
Dense fog advisory for northwest iowa through mid morning...
Minnesota state forecast
Today...Partly sunny to mostly sunny. A chance of thunderstorms far south. Highs in the 80s except for some 70s far northeast.
Kentucky man identified as the world's first self-contained artificial heart patient
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A Kentucky man sent home to die after being denied a heart transplant is the secret patient who made medical history by getting the world's first self-contained artificial heart, The Associated Press has learned.
Names and faces
NEW YORK (AP) -- Linda Evangelista has made her comeback to modeling in a big way -- on the cover of September's Vogue, the magazine's biggest issue of the year.
Names and faces
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Shania Twain feels like a mother.
Two arthritis drugs increase risk of heart disease, study says
Two of the most widely used new drugs for arthritis may increase a patient's risk of heart attacks and stroke and probably should not be used by people who already are at high risk for cardiovascular problems, researchers from the Cleveland Clinic will report Wednesday.
Latin Grammys pulled from Miami due to safety concerns; to be held in Los Angeles
MIAMI (AP) -- Fear that Cuban-American protesters would threaten the safety of guests at the Latin Grammys next month prompted organizers to pull the event from Miami at the last minute and move it to Los Angeles.
Obesity, lack of activity tied to pancreatic cancer
CHICAGO (AP) -- Obesity and inactivity may significantly increase the risk of cancer of the pancreas, a hard-to-treat disease that kills nearly 29,000 Americans each year, a study found.
Fair warning of hot tub party prevents foul
DEAR ABBY: While I don't disagree with your response to "Doin' What Comes Naturally," whose new neighbors objected to group nudity in their hot tub, the hostess could have handled the situation with more sensitivity.
FBI arrests eight in scheme to steal McDonald's Monopoly game prizes
WASHINGTON -- With the help of McDonald's, the FBI thwarted an alleged $13 million scam to rig customer participation games at the fast-food chain. Authorities said the scam was run by a contractor in charge of distributing winning game pieces.
Feds to start first real-time tracking of nation's blood supply
WASHINGTON -- For the first time, the government is starting a day-to-day tracking system to monitor the nation's blood supply and sound an alarm when shortages loom.
Shower invitations create sticky problem
DEAR ABBY: I am writing on behalf of my sister, "Hazel," who is too embarrassed to write. She's pregnant with her first child. Her two best friends are giving her a baby shower. Hazel registered for gifts at a national store that provides stickers that say, "Registered at ( )," to be put on the invitation envelopes. Hazel didn't take them because she thinks the practice is tacky. Her friends asked her for the stickers, and she told them she didn't want to use them. She felt that when her guests called to RSVP, they could be told where she's registered.
Robert Tools realized artificial heart was only chance to live
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Projecting a strong will despite his whispering voice, Robert Tools said he felt his life ebbing away before he took a chance that made him the first human with a self-contained artificial heart.
ABC's Connie Chung wins first interview with Rep. Gary Condit
NEW YORK (AP) -- Embattled California Rep. Gary Condit will give his first television interview on the Chandra Levy case to ABC News correspondent Connie Chung.
Foreign briefs
RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat said Tuesday he was ready to hold truce talks in Berlin with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, who has proposed that a cease-fire be implemented gradually, in quiet regions first.
Confessed pedophile, one of FBI's ten most wanted, arrested in Thailand
BANGKOK, Thailand -- A confessed American pedophile who was on the FBI's 10 most wanted list said Wednesday that he has reformed and accused the U.S. authorities of making him a scapegoat.