Sunday, September 9, 2001
Farewell to arms for GE's Jack Welch
NEW YORK -- Jack Welch is stepping down after 20 years as chairman of General Electric Co. with only one real concern about the future: China.
Ford move to consolidate to mean loss of jobs
DETROIT (AP) -- In a move Ford Motor Co. says will strengthen its North American operations, the world's second biggest automaker is consolidating its car and truck product development divisions.
Survey shows rosier outlook for state's manufacturers
ST. PAUL (AP) -- State manufacturers are expressing optimism about business conditions for the rest of the year.
Deepening pessimism may help stocks
NEW YORK -- Some describe the selling frenzy on Wall Street these past two weeks as capitulation by investors.
Biz Buzz
Have an idea on what downtown Brainerd should be like in the years to come?
Workers should avoid borrowing from 401(k)
NEW YORK -- For some people in need of quick cash, a 401(k) retirement account can look pretty tempting. It's often their biggest pot of savings, and most company plans are set up so participants can borrow from them in emergencies.
Indications from retailers suggest modest back-to-school sales gains
NEW YORK (AP) -- In a first glimpse of the back-to-school shopping season, three major retailers on Wednesday reported only modest sales gains for August.
Motorola develops faster chip that could lower costs of cell phones, computers
NEW YORK -- Motorola Inc. says it has developed a computer chip that runs 35 times faster than today's models, an innovation it hopes will lead to faster, smaller and cheaper cell phones, computers and other telecommunications equipment.
Metals
NEW YORK (AP) -- Spot nonferrous metal prices Friday.
Air Hobbies
Rocket motors to ways to view butterfly wings, all are included in a Brainerd store that is all about air.
Small business in the catbird seat
NEW YORK -- If there's a plus side for small businesses amid the economic slump, it might well be that other companies, worried about their own sales and profits, are willing to cut a deal.
Business notes
Bill Reed, president and chief executive officer of Reed's Market and Gas Express in Crosslake, has been appointed to fill a board of director position with the Brainerd Lakes Area Chambers of Commerce beginning with the 2001-2002 fiscal year.
Trying to crack the school dress code
It is a set of those mixed messages adults are always giving children: The same week the state of Maryland suspended sales tax on back-to-school purchases, schools reiterated their dress codes in time for the start of classes.
Child in need
Now that the kids are back in school and your life is getting back into a routine, maybe you might be considering volunteering.
Fashion flashback?
Shaynah Baptiste wore flowered bell bottoms and platform shoes with Demetrius Smith who pondered physics in baggy pants and a do-rag on his head.
Belly-baring fashion reaches new lows
Somewhere between the navel and the nether regions lies fashion's latest frontier.
Paper trail of names could lead to husband's cheating
DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 17 years. I recently found slips of paper with women's names and telephone numbers among receipts my husband asked me to file. When I asked him who these women were, he claims he doesn't know and I should shut up.
Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) (USDA) -- Friday cattle: 200.
Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Friday 289, a year ago 504.
Accidents
GARRISON -- A woman was injured Friday when struck by a car along Highway 169 in Garrison, the State Patrol reported.
Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department responded to an alarm at the North Star Apartments on D Street in northeast Brainerd about 8 a.m. Friday.
Births
Lindsey Peterson and Shawn Nelson, Brainerd, a boy, Braedon Michael Nelson, 7 pounds, 6 ounces, Aug. 17, 2001. Grandparents are Diane and Jeff Vogt, Brainerd, and Cal and Debbie Peterson, Brainerd.
Agendas
SECTION A
A Canadian finally is in the hunt
MONTREAL (AP) -- David Morland IV had heard the cheers before when he was near the lead, only they were for someone else -- Tiger Woods, when they played together in the final round in San Diego earlier this year.
In radio address, Bush urges Congress to pass education spending plan
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush pressed the case for his education plan Saturday, telling lawmakers that stalling on changes to the public school system in a bid to increase his proposed spending is "a tactic of the past" that ultimately fails America's students.
White House sees Social Security surpluses being tapped, Democrats say Bush should solve problem
WASHINGTON -- Democrats say it is up to President Bush to suggest a solution now that his budget chief has told lawmakers part of this year's Social Security surplus may have to be diverted to pay for other programs.
House whip race seen as indicator of Democrats' future
WASHINGTON -- Just hours after arriving back in town Wednesday from a month-long recess, dozens of lawmakers were at Nancy Pelosi's Georgetown home, toasting the California congresswoman's bid to become the second-highest ranking Democrat in the House.
Health
Blood Pressure Clinics
Support groups
Crisis Line-Referral Ser.
Chemical dependency and AA groups
Adult Children-Chem.Dep.
Remembering C. Elmer
Gary Flemino (left) helped his son, sculptor Tary Flemino, lift the crated bust of the late C. Elmer Anderson, the former mayor of Brainerd and Nisswa and Governor of Minnesota, into the area where it will be installed at Brainerd City Hall Friday. (Dispatch Photo by Steve Kohls)
Polling places for primary elections
Primary elections will be held in District 12B Tuesday.
Local briefs
The Downtown Brainerd Restoration Task Force is hosting a community meeting from 7:30-9:30 p.m. Monday in the Whittier School gymnasium.
This was Brainerd
SEPTEMBER 9 - 100 years ago (1901) - The recent rains have seemed a special delight, having laid the dust on the roads so that anyone can ride a few miles without losing their identity.
Magnan files for board
Richard Magnan, Fort Ripley, filed Friday for a four-year term on the Brainerd School Board.
Local briefs
The Northern Lakes Area Chapter of the American Red Cross will host its annual meeting on Sept. 20 at the Brainerd Armory.
Bringing the goods
Roger Wickstrom of International Falls wheeled a cart full of his rock-work designed bird house chimes to his booth in downtown Little Falls Friday in preparation for the 27th-annual Little Falls Arts and Crafts Fair Saturday through today.
COMING MONDAY
A family fall festival at This Old Farm will benefit Special Olympians in the Brainerd lakes area.
Gold Rush-era ship uncovered
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Workers at a hotel construction site uncovered a Gold Rush-era ship that had been buried for decades under the streets of the city's Financial District.
Suspected Simi Valley gunman dead
OJAI, Calif. (AP) -- The manhunt for the gunman accused of killing three members of his ex-girlfriend's family ended in a national forest where the suspect apparently killed himself as officers closed in, authorities said.
Puerto Rico asks U.S. authorities to halt plan to eradicate beloved tree frog in Hawaii
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) -- Puerto Rico's government has asked U.S. authorities to halt a federal program to eradicate the chirping tree frogs loved in their native Puerto Rico but considered a noisy pest in Hawaii.
Man suspected of killing three teens in gang dispute arrested at Mexico border
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. (AP) -- A man who escaped into Mexico after allegedly killing three teen-agers was arrested at the border while trying to re-enter the United States, authorities said.
Wind gusts drive wildfire through 26 homes in Northern California
YANKEE HILL, Calif. -- Strong wind drove a wildfire through 26 homes and on a course toward at least 400 others in the rugged Sierra foothills of Northern California.
11 officers indicted in Miami police scandal accused of planting guns to justify shootings of three men
MIAMI (AP) -- Federal prosecutors say a plot to cover up the deadly police shooting of two unarmed purse-snatchers turned into a sinister habit for a circle of veteran Miami street officers.
Some of Qahtani septuplets nearly ready to be sent home
WASHINGTON -- After two months in the newborn intensive care unit, most of the Qahtani septuplets are gaining strength and weight, and some could be sent home this month, Georgetown University Hospital officials said Friday.
Report: Feds knew shootout suspect stockpiled weapons, ammo, but didn't act
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Federal agents knew for more than a year that a convicted felon had illegally bought thousands of rounds of ammunition, but didn't serve a search warrant until last week, The Los Angeles Times reported Saturday.
'King of Pop' Michael Jackson attempts to regain his throne
NEW YORK -- He twirled. He moonwalked. He chirped a "Hoo Hoo" or two.
Key stock index hits three-year low after dismal jobs report
Stock prices plunged anew on Friday, pushing a key share index to its lowest in nearly three years and making the current market downturn the longest since the early 1970s.
Wild Northwestern win brings relief to grieving program
LAS VEGAS -- After the long, ugly, tragic and litigious month of August, the Northwestern Wildcats embraced September and the start of a discussion that didn't have to be cleared by university lawyers. You didn't know which way it was going to swing, whether the death of Rashidi Wheeler on Aug. 3 would tear the team apart or bind it together.
NCAA blasts 'Bama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- NCAA charges released Friday accused Alabama's football program of major recruiting violations, including paying cash for players, academic fraud and throwing parties with strippers.
Williams sisters double up on history
NEW YORK -- Controversy has often accompanied Venus and Serena Williams, and it will be no different Saturday when the sisters make tennis history. In the fi
Martinez winless in seven starts
If this was his final start of the season, Pedro Martinez is finishing the year the same way he began his career: winless in seven starts.
Posada suspended
NEW YORK -- When Jorge Posada learned Friday of his six-game suspension, his immediate reaction was to appeal the decision, which had more to do with the timing than the severity of the punishment. With the Red Sox visiting the Bronx for the next four games, and Derek Jeter out indefinitely with a strained left hamstring, the Yankees are better off with Posada in the lineup for the immediate future.
Piniella's team is making some history
SEATTLE (AP) -- Pat Gillick has to pinch himself every once in a while to make sure he's awake.
Salary cap working against teams and players
Absolute parity is almost here as the NFL opens the 2001 season.
Gambling probe ends at Florida; player dropped
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Senior point guard Teddy Dupay, at the center of a gambling investigation at the University of Florida, was declared ineligible Friday.
Great race shaping up in the NL ... for MVP
Three weeks to go, and another great race is shaping in the NL -- for Most Valuable Player.
Michael P. Skiff
EMILY -- Michael P. Skiff, 44, Emily, died Friday, Sept. 7, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
LeRoy 'Roy' Pearl
MERRIFIELD -- LeRoy "Roy" Pearl, 80, Merrifield, died Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.
Viola Mae Jones
Viola Mae Jones, 69, Brainerd, died Friday, Sept. 7, 2001, at her home.
Edmund J. 'Eddie' Rudek
LITTLE FALLS -- Edmund J. "Eddie" Rudek, 75, Little Falls, died Thursday, Sept. 6, 2001, at St. Gabriel's Hospital in Little Falls.
Roger K. Anderson
Roger K. Anderson, 95, Brainerd, died Monday, Sept. 3, 2001, at Woodland Good Samaritan Village.
Henrietta Stafsberg
SHAKOPEE -- Henrietta Stafsberg, 95, Shakopee, formerly of Brainerd, died Friday, Sept. 7, 2001, at St. Gertrude's Health Care Center in Shakopee.
Gays have tough battle to repeal Florida adoption law
MIAMI -- Elaine Bloom has come to regret the day 24 years ago that she joined fellow members of the Legislature in voting to bar gays from adopting children.
Social Security: Hard realities
New budget figures from the Bush administration and the Congressional Budget Office have set off fresh chattering about the state of Social Security and Medicare. Hooray for such heightened sensitivity to these two important programs.
Open Forum
Citizens, there will be a public meeting on Monday, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m. at Whittier Grade School. The purpose of this meeting is to receive citizen input in regard to a master plan for Brainerd downtown area, north to Gregory Park, south to Pine Street, east to the railroad yards and west to the Mississippi River.
Sen. Thompson keeps parties guessing
WASHINGTON -- As a movie actor, Fred Thompson often appeared in edge-of-your-seat dramas. As a senator, he's the star of a real-life cliffhanger: Will the Tennessee Republican run for re-election?
OTHER OPINIONS
A campaign aimed at reducing smoking by teen-agers appears to be paying dividends. It's too soon, however, to judge how effective Target Market has been until additional surveys are conducted.
Fishing report
HACKENSACK - Baby Lake started giving up a few muskies along the weedlines. Bucktails and topwater baits have worked best.
A bear in your yard? Take precautions and enjoy the viewing
Bears in the bushes, in the berries, on the road, in my wood shed, on my walks, at my bird feeders, at the mailbox, on the front porch and at the backdoor -- through the years I've encountered many black bears around my haven in the northland. None of the encounters were threatening in any way. I share my property with a boar that has grown large and old. I don't appreciate his demolishing my bird feeders, but I'm glad he's here. We give each other respectful space and peacefully coexist.
Walleye pros to take the stage at Bismarck Civic Center
BISMARCK, N.D. -- The nation's top walleye pros gather here for the $100,000 Professional Walleye Trail championship Sept. 13-15.
Are woodcock on the way out?
ONAMIA -- Along with rail, snipe and Hungarian partridge, woodcock have few dedicated hunters in Minnesota. Yet the flush of the woodcock, whose quirky flight is unlike that of any other gamebird, presents wingshooters with a challenge on par with ruffed grouse.
Scout now to ensure good duck hunting on opening day
Of the thousands of duck hunters who will spend four hours waiting for ducks on opening day only a portion will have good luck. Those who do well likely will have one thing in common: they scouted and pre-planned long before opening day.
MDHA Brainerd chapter sends eight boys to Forkhorn Camp
The Brainerd chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association recently sent eight boys to a week-long Forkhorn Camp where they learned firearms safety, deer biology and ethical hunting principles.
Outdoor notes
Nate Steinbauer caught six bass weighing 15 pounds, 9 ounces on Aug. 5 to win the Baxter Bass Snatchers fourth tournament of the year. He was followed by Bill Bailey, who caught four fish weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces and Dave Branum, who was third with 14 pounds, 6 ounces. Branum won "lunker" honors with a bass weighing 4 pounds, 14 ounces.
You'll work harder to enjoy a grouse dinner this fall
Days are shorter and nights cooler. Asters and goldenrods outnumber dandelions and roses. Fall is just around the corner and with it the start of hunting seasons.
Easy-going catfishing appeals to early fall anglers
Want to catch a big fish? No, not just a big fish, a HUGE fish?
Facts about woodcock
-- Woodcock are shorebirds that feed primarily on worms, thus their annual migrations between northern nesting areas and southern wintering areas where the ground doesn't freeze.
North Country calendar
September - 15 -- Small game season opens (grouse, squirrel, rabbit)
80th birthday
Irene Fisher will celebrate her 80th birthday with an open house from 2-4 p.m. Saturday at Park United Methodist Church in Brainerd. No gifts please.
Strobel-Daley
Rebecca Strobel and Matthew Daley were married July 14, 2001, at Christ Community Church in Nisswa with the Rev. David Greaver officiating.
Lintner-Hanninen
Kari Ann Lintner and Jeffrey Patrick Hanninen were married July 1, 2001, at Lincoln Park on Puget Sound, Seattle, with Commissioner Ponto Marchek officiating.
Tulenchik-Eckman
Kari Tulenchik and Nathan Eckman were married Feb. 10, 2001, at Temple Baptist Church in Brainerd with Pastor Bob Evans officiating.
Mathieu-Bedard
Andrea Mathieu and Mark Bedard were married May 26, 2001, at Our Lady of Victory Church in Minneapolis.
Coulter-Glazier
Mindy Coulter and Joe Glazier were married June 2, 2001, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Pequot Lakes with Pastor Frank Milo officiating.
Cheryl Marie Koslowski and Lance Allen Omberg
Cheryl Marie Koslowski and Lance Allen Omberg announce their engagement. Parents are Ervin and Sharon Kosloski and Curt Omberg and Sandra Omberg. A Sept. 29 wedding is planned at St. Francis Church.
Anderson-Gode
Trude Beth (Henagin) Anderson and John Edward Gode were married July 14, 2001, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Brainerd with Father Glenn Derby officiating.
Sarah Lueck and Silas Berry
Sarah Lueck and Silas Berry announce their engagement. Parents are Bob Lueck, Crosby, and Ruth Imberi, Cuyuna, and Charles Berry, Brainerd, and Vicky Berry, Ignacio, Colo. An Oct. 6 wedding is planned at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Brainerd.
Jennifer Lynn Vezina and Nathan Charles Steinbauer
Jennifer Lynn Vezina and Nathan Charles Steinbauer announce their engagement. Parents are Amara Whitney, Golden, Colo., and Charles and Lois Steinbauer, Baxter. An Oct. 26 wedding is planned at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina.
Chelsie Marie Kovatovich and Mark John Meyer
Chelsie Marie Kovatovich and Mark John Meyer announce their engagement. Parents are Linda and Kelly Kovatovich, Crosby, and Nancy and Ron Meyer, Deerwood, and the late Sue Meyer. An Oct. 27 wedding is planned at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Crosby.
Bye-Extrand
Jackie Bye and Adam Extrand were married July 27, 2001, near Gull Lake by the Rev. Erika Nilsen officiating.
Gordon wins Richmond pole
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) -- Jeff Gordon's championship drive rolled on Friday as the Winston Cup points leader posted a fast lap at 124.902 mph to win the pole position for the Chevrolet Monte Carlo 400 on Saturday night.
Beware of shortfall
ST. PAUL (AP) -- There's a better than 50 percent chance that state government will suffer a budget shortfall in the current fiscal year, State Economist Tom Stinson predicts.
State briefs
PRINCETON (AP) -- Sixteen students were taken to a hospital after their school bus was rammed by a pickup truck Friday morning in this north-central Minnesota town.
Dayton holds meeting about Voyageurs park
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton said he is not taking sides in the long-running dispute over recreational uses at Voyageurs National Park.
Suspects in beating of elderly couple arrested in Yellowstone
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) -- Park rangers and SWAT team members evacuated a small portion of Yellowstone National Park for about 12 hours Friday while they searched for two possibly armed fugitives wanted in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Airline accused of bias against disabled
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Transportation Department accused Northwest Airlines of mistreating passengers with disabilities and asked the airline to pay $3 million in fines. It is the largest civil penalty ever proposed by the department for such a violation.
Football
Ada-Borup 27, Oklee/Plummer (Red Lake County Central) 0
Huskies prove playoff win was no fluke
PILLAGER -- Despite beating Bertha-Hewitt in the Section 6A finals last year, the Pillager Huskies football team still felt disrespected.
Raiders volleyball team blanks Hibbing
HIBBING -- The Central Lakes College Raiders used a balanced attack to defeat the Hibbing Cardinals 30-15, 30-16, 30-27 in North Division volleyball Friday.
It wasn't pretty but Pierz beat Big Lake 19-7
BIG LAKE -- The Pierz Pioneers obtained what coach Leo Pohlkamp describes as "an ugly win" by defeating the Big Lake Hornets 19-7 in Central Minnesota Conference football Friday.
Yes, Virginia, there is a C-I
VIRGINIA -- The Crosby-Ironton Rangers rushed for 203 yards and scored a touchdown in all four quarters en route to a 28-7 victory over the Virginia Blue Devils in Sea Range Conference football Friday.
Grunewald wins, Tuomi second
BEMIDJI -- Brainerd sophomore Justin Grunewald, competing in only his second varsity race, won the Bemidji Invitational with a time of 17:10 Friday.
Area events Saturday
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL
Verndale downs Hancock in league
HANCOCK -- The Verndale Pirates football team opened Pheasant Conference play with a 48-22 victory over the Hancock Owls Friday.
Warriors' defense stops Flyers
LITTLE FALLS -- It had to rank among the most dominant defensive performances in Minnesota State High School League football history.
Bendson becomes a speedster for Cards
WADENA -- Staples-Motley senior Kyle Bendson is not sure whether he will go out for Coach Ryan Beachy's track team this spring, but he definitely made his presence known on Beachy's football team Friday night.
Biebighauser fuels Pequot
BAGLEY -- Justin Biebighauser scored from 40, 15, 28 and 55 yards to lead the Pequot Lakes Patriots past the Bagley Flyers 42-20 in North Star Conference football Friday.
Local shorts
Youngsters will have an opportunity to exhibit their football skills when the Brainerd Jaycees host the NFL Gatorade Punt, Pass and Kick competition Saturday, Sept. 22.
Bristow wins Deer River meet
DEER RIVER -- Travis Bristow of Pine River-Backus won the Deer River Invitational with a time of 16:44 and the Tiger boys' finished second with 70 points Friday.
The next save Revenig makes might be his baseball career
Based on his performance in March, it appeared Todd Revenig had salvaged an opportunity to return to the major leagues.
Fired golf coach says he didn't mean to cheat U
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- John Means, who resigned as the Minnesota men's golf coach after an audit found that the university was billed for his wife's travels with the team, said Friday he never intended to deceive or defraud the school.
Vikes - Week 1
Sunday, Sept. 9
Vikes treating Weinke like a veteran
MINNEAPOLIS -- Enough with the jokes about Chris Weinke's age. The Minnesota Vikings don't really think it's all that funny.
Vikings' defense eager to start over
EDEN PRAIRIE (AP)-- Tired of playing second fiddle to an explosive offense, the Minnesota Vikings defense is eager to wipe the slate clean and start anew Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
Suddenly Twins can't do anything right
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Time is running out on the Minnesota Twins' postseason hopes, leaving Corey Koskie to lament how quickly things have gone south.
Take another look at home laser pictures
For the past couple of years, most of the attention in the printer world has focused on ink jets, and with good reason. Ink jet printers have become incredibly cheap, and they're good at a wide variety of jobs, ranging from business letters and party invitations to high-resolution color photographs.
Net reaching growth limit
NEW YORK (AP) -- Flip the calendar ahead five, 10 or 20 years, to a day when cable television boxes, refrigerators, even electric meters are hooked to the Internet.
Brainerd Community Education
Courses offered by Brainerd Community Education:
Central Lakes College
Central Lakes College offers the following short courses starting in September through its Business & Industry Center.
More expanded addresses coming
NEW YORK (AP) -- Beyond allowing more devices online, the Internet's next-generation communications system promises to better traffic flow, security and mobility.
Erin regenerates while new tropical depression forms in the eastern Atlantic
MIAMI (AP) -- Tropical Storm Erin regained strength in the Atlantic Ocean on Friday, regenerating two days after it weakened to a tropical wave.
Minnesota state forecast
Today...Partly to mostly cloudy and cooler. A slight chance of an afternoon shower east. Highs in the middle 50s north to the upper 60s southeast.
Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Scattered showers and thunderstorms this morning. Partly to mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon. Highs from the mid 60s north to near 80 far south.
The Weather Elsewhere
Saturday
State forecast for South Dakota
This afternoon...Mostly cloudy with scattered showers west and central. Partly cloudy becoming cloudy east. Chance of showers northeast. Highs in the upper 50s northwest to the upper 60s southeast.
Iowa state forecast
This afternoon...Partly to mostly cloudy and cooler. Chance of showers. Highs in the middle 60s northwest to near 80 extreme southeast.
Regional Weather
MINNESOTA HighLowPR
Swimming and diving
Weather drawing by Jared Mendicino of Mrs. Brenny's third grade class at Baxter school.
Snow in Wyoming mountains; storms moving through Midwest, central Plains
A mix of rain and snow was falling in the Wyoming mountains early Saturday, while strong winds were expected to continue frustrating firefighters in northern California.
Worldwide Weather
Saturday
State forecast for North Dakota
Today...Mostly cloudy. Scattered showers west and central. Highs from the upper 50s to mid 60s.
What's doing
Want an alternative to the "bar scene"? A chance to build supportive, accepting and fun relationships with other singles who are 30-55 years old, single and si
Much obliged
A couple of weeks ago, forty of so alumni of the Brainerd High School A Cappella Choir, under the direction of Michael Smith and Sarah Aamot-Lundin, gav
Organizations
Brainerd Jaycees
Delegates to U.N. racism conference agree on final declaration
DURBAN, South Africa -- Delegates to a U.N. racism conference appeared to agree on a final declaration Saturday, breaking deadlocks over how to deal with slavery and the Middle East that had threatened to derail the gathering.
Million-child jump in Britain fails to set seismometers swinging
LONDON (AP) -- What is the sound of a million people jumping?
Witnesses say dozens dead, churches burned in religious violence in Nigerian city
LAGOS, Nigeria -- Muslim-Christian violence raged in Nigeria's northern city of Jos on Saturday, where frightened witnesses described dozens dead, churches burned and residents fleeing their homes or banding together for protection.
China's detention of American engineer could cloud Bush visit
BEIJING (AP) -- China has been holding a 66-year-old American engineer for the past 1 1/2 years on suspicion that he bribed officials for secret documents, an attorney for his family said Saturday.
Eight foreign workers plead innocent in Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan -- Eight foreign workers on trial for preaching Christianity in devoutly Muslim Afghanistan pleaded innocent Saturday, in their first appearance before the Taliban's highest court.
Mount Pinatubo canal flowing vigorously, reducing threat of flash floods from crater lake
ATOP MOUNT PINATUBO, Philippines -- Water was flowing swiftly through a canal atop Mount Pinatubo on Saturday, easing fears the crater would collapse under the weight of its volcanic lake.
Alleged Colombian drug boss arrives
MIAMI (AP) -- Alleged drug kingpin Fabio Ochoa arrived in Miami early Saturday to face prosecution on charges he belonged to a gang that sent 30 tons of cocaine a month to the United States, a federal official said.