Tuesday, September 25, 2001

Agenda
Staples City Council

Area crime
Crow Wing sheriff

Fires
BAXTER -- The Brainerd Fire Department responded to two fires at two portable toilets Saturday at County Road 48 and Mountain Ash Drive in Baxter.

Fires
The Brainerd Fire Department investigated a fire alarm Monday at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Allenby makes short work of PGA victory
LIGONIER, Pa. (AP) -- Once he got his mind back on golf, Robert Allenby made short work of the Pennsylvania Classic.

Bush signs order freezing assets of terrorists
WASHINGTON -- Calling it a "strike on the financial foundation" of terrorists, President Bush signed an executive order Monday freezing the assets of 27 individuals and organizations.

Questions about Bush's ability to do the job not being asked now
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ten months after a bitterly contested election, an anxious nation looks to its president for comfort, strength, and wartime leadership. The question that has dogged George W. Bush for years -- Is he up to the job? -- is not being asked now.

Supreme Court to decide legality of school vouchers
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to decide whether school voucher programs like those favored by the Bush administration are a constitutional use of taxpayer money.

This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981)-Tonight, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Rainbow Stew, free Bubble-Up. Tail-Gate Feed. $1.00 per person at Don Adamson Field. All proceeds go to Loren Thompson Memorial Scholarship Fund.

BHS homecoming royalty
Newly crowned 2001 Brainerd High School homecoming queen Megan Whalen and king Vincent Potvin smiled to the crowd after taking the royal walk at coronation Monday night in the school gymnasium. (Dispatch Photo by Steve Kohls)

Trail stroll
Francine Trtanj pushed her daughters Emily and Hannah with Zinnia, the family dog, escorting the trio down the Paul Bunyan Trail Monday near the Beaver Dam Road.

Extra credit
Ryan Klapperich, the son of Dave and Jan Klapperich of Baxter, was inducted Sunday into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the honor society for high achieving first- and second-year students, at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D.

Local briefs
The first outstanding alumni award winners at Central Lakes College, Brainerd and Staples, have been announced by Ann Silgen, director of development.

This was Brainerd
20 years ago (1981)-A new tree planting method for reforestation, designed to be simpler, and less expensive was started last week by Crow Wing County. Containerized stock is produced by using Styrofoam blocks with holes in them into which a mixture of soil and fertilizer is placed and a seed placed on top of that.

Those wanting to help rescue dogs in NYC turn to lakes area woman
Dog owners are a rare breed, often going to great lengths to protect our four-legged canine companions.

Mesaba begins canceling daily flights at Brainerd area airport
The number of flights out of the Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional Airport in Brainerd has been reduced.

Local briefs
BAXTER -- The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced Oc

Jail chief put on paid leave
Crow Wing County Jail Administrator Rod McCulley was put on paid administrative leave for disciplinary issues, the Crow Wing County administrator said today.

Healing from major burns a grueling process for survivors
WASHINGTON -- The critically burned patients resemble mummies, wrapped in gauze and a foil-like bandage impregnated with germ-fighting silver.

Economy was already weak before Sept. 11 terrorist attacks
NEW YORK -- The economy was weakening even before the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, a new Conference Board survey showed Monday.

Home sales slow in wake of terrorism after setting record in August
WASHINGTON -- Sales of previously owned homes jumped to a record level in August, but have slowed in the wake of the terrorist attacks two weeks ago.

Poll: Americans support military action, anticipate another attack
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Americans are overwhelmingly supportive of a military effort to combat terrorism, even in the face of casualties, according to a CBS-New York Times poll.

Crop-dusters grounded nationwide
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The federal government ordered a one-day grounding of crop-dusting planes nationwide, and newspapers reported possible links between the aircraft and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

National briefs
BROOKWOOD, Ala. (AP) -- Ten coal miners are being hailed as heroes for rushing into a mine to rescue co-workers hurt in an explosion, only to be caught in the mine when a second blast hit.

Tightened security along U.S.-Mexico border complicates life, business
NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico -- Since the terror attacks in the United States, Pedro Rivera passes his days reading the newspaper while sitting in one of the handcrafted rockers he sells at the Monclovio Herrera market.

Attack updates
Developments related to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks:

NYC mayoral primaries resume
NEW YORK -- Looking for a new leader to shepherd the city through a massive rebuilding, New Yorkers nominated the top mayoral candidates Tuesday in primaries dominated by speculation that incumbent Rudolph Giuliani may try to find a way to stay.

Atta emerging as link among hijackers
WASHINGTON -- Mohamed Atta was a busy man before the Sept. 11 terror attacks, checking out flight schools in Oklahoma and Florida, meeting Islamic extremists in Spain, inquiring about crop dusters in Florida, conferring with an Iraqi intelligence agent, skipping a traffic court date.

Stocks rebound at opening
NEW YORK -- Stocks surged Monday morning, rebounding from one of Wall Street's worst weeks ever. But the market remained extremely nervous, and no one was betting that the gains would hold.

Pilots want guns in cockpits
WASHINGTON -- The Air Line Pilots Association is pressing for federal legislation that would allow pilots to carry firearms in cockpits, a move the union says could prevent hijackings.

National briefs
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) -- The newly crowned Miss America says she has a new mission: helping to lift the country's spirits in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Stars raise more than $150 million
NEW YORK -- Appeals by Hollywood actors and musicians during an unprecedented telethon last week generated more than $150 million in pledges to benefit families of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attack victims.

Attacks toll of dead, missing
Dead and missing from the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks:

Man who allegedly helped terrorists charged
WASHINGTON -- The FBI is seeking nearly 400 people for questioning in the terrorist attacks probe while federal prosecutors build a criminal case involving identification cards for five of the now-dead hijackers. One man has been charged.

Interfaith service honors victims
NEW YORK -- Americans turned to their churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and even one of the city's baseball fields in hope that religion would offer a roadmap out of horror.

U.S., major allies pledge coordinated financial attack against terrorism
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United States and its major allies agreed Tuesday to produce a coordinated plan to freeze assets of terrorist organizations and pledged in a joint statement to leave no stone unturned in the effort.

Consumer confidence plunges
NEW YORK -- Stock prices moved higher Tuesday, showing signs of stability despite a report that consumer confidence plunged following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Rescuers find jetliner fuselage at Trade Center
NEW YORK -- Toiling in the rubble of the World Trade Center, firefighter Paul McGuire said he keeps "waiting for that cheer to ring out where they find someone."

Tornadoes kill two students in Maryland
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- The University of Maryland canceled classes Tuesday as crews cleaned up the damage from tornadoes that killed two sisters on the campus and injured at least 50 people in the Washington suburbs.

Welfare chief promotes marriage as way to move families out of poverty
WASHINGTON -- Wade Horn, the nation's new welfare chief, believes a ring, a walk down the aisle and a promise to love, honor and cherish may be the key to moving families out of poverty.

Giuliani trying to extend mayoral term
NEW YORK -- Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who is barred by term limits from running for re-election this fall, is trying to extend his term, a source close to the mayor told The Associated Press on Monday.

NFL
AMERICAN CONFERENCE

Griese, Smith lead Broncos
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- Brian Griese compensated for the absence of Ed McCaffrey and Terrell Davis by turning to Rod Smith.

Scoreboard
East Division

Bonds belts 67th homer
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Despite never facing Barry Bonds before, James Baldwin knew what to do. He pitched the San Francisco slugger inside, but missed by inches and Bonds made Baldwin pay for it.

Scoreboard
Sunday

Redskins come up empty against Packers
GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Washington Redskins were overwhelmed for the second time in two games, and now they

Chasing McGwire's mark
SAN DIEGO -- The baseball player in America's spotlight was confused and frustrated Sunday morning. As he walked down the hallway toward his clubhouse, Barry Bonds stumbled into Tony Gwynn.

Network's toned-down approach worked prefectly for NFL's return
Observations from a day that wasn't just Any Given Sunday:

A's complete improbable run to playoffs
The Oakland Athletics poured out of the dugout and piled on closer Jason Isringhausen after completing their comeback from an abysmal April to a postseason berth.

Q & A on Michael's return
WASHINGTON -- Michael Jordan, Michael Jordan, Michael Jordan.

NFL summaries
At Kansas City, Mo.

Seminoles stumble, tumble in AP poll
Florida State stumbled, then tumbled in the AP media poll.

Edna Leander
ONAMIA -- Edna Leander, 94, Onamia, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2001, at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul.

Eino E. Jutila
FIFTY LAKES -- Eino Elmer Jutila, 82, Fifty Lakes, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.

Benidict S. Rudolph
RANDALL -- Benidict S. Rudolph, 70, Randall, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2001, at home.

Bernard L. Nienaber
SHOREVIEW -- Bernard Ludwig Nienaber, 61, Shoreview, formerly of Brainerd, died Thursday, Sept. 20, 2001, in Shoreview.

Virginia A. Kelley
TAMARACK -- Virginia A. Kelley, 86, Tamarack, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2001, at Villa Vista Nursing Home in Cromwell.

Allen H. Koppe
PINE RIVER -- Allen Henry Koppe, 54, Pine River, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center.

Bessie M. Wagner
AITKIN -- Bessie May Wagner, 97, Aitkin, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2001, at Riverwood Extended Care Center in Aitkin.

George Murphy
HARDING -- George Murphy, 84, Harding, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2001, at St. Cloud Hospital.

Grace K. Lorber
WRIGHT, Wyo. -- Grace K. Lorber, 81, Wright, Wyo., formerly of Motley, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2001, at Gillette Hospital in Gillette, Wyo.

Bessie M. Wagner
AITKIN -- Bessie May Wagner, 97, Aitkin, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2001, in the Riverwood Extended Care Center in Aitkin.

Eino E. Jutila
FIFTY LAKES -- Eino Elmer Jutila, 82, Fifty Lakes, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2001, at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd.

Edna C. Leander
ONAMIA -- Edna C. Leander, 94, Onamia, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2001, at Bethesda Lutheran Medical Center in St. Paul.

The meaning of patriotism
I enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1997. In light of past weeks' events, patriotism has a new meaning to me. The Encarta World English Dictionary defines the word "Patriotism" as "pride in or devotion to the country somebody was born in or is a citizen of." In the Oxford English Dictionary, the word "Patriotism" means "love of or zealous devotion to one's own country." Also, in The World Book Dictionary the word means "love and loyal support of one's country." The preceding definitions are the textbook definitions of patriotism; notice how similar in meaning they are. To sum up the three dictionary definitions, patriotism means love and devotion to your country.

The Dispatch's editorial views
Editorial views in The Brainerd Dispatch represent a consensus of opinion by members of the newspaper's editorial board.

Sound off!
The Dispatch encourages readers to contribute to the Open Forum.

The U.S. response
From the outset of the Sept. 11 tragedies President George W. Bush put terrorists on notice that there will be retribution for their heinous crimes. And yet the administration wisely resisted the impulse to launch missiles somewhere in the general direction of the terrorists in Afghanistan, just to show off our military might.

Keep on track
The sudden shutdown of all commercial air flights in the United States on Sept. 11, along with changes in airport security procedures since, point up the importance of alternative modes of travel. In particular, people are talking trains; increased Amtrak use has underscored what its supporters have said all along -- that train service remains an essential part of the country's transportation system. Amtrak rose to the extraordinary occasion by running extra trains, honoring airline tickets and augmenting support staff where possible. But emergency assistance is one thing; the long haul for Amtrak demands far more attention than it has ever won in Congress.

News council can help readers
The Minnesota News Council is an independent organization that examines citizens complaints alleging inaccuracy, unfairness or unethical conduct by the media.

One 25-year-old's new perspective
Suddenly, I wish I were older. Much, much older. That this was happening at the end of my life instead of the prime of my life. That at 25 I wasn't faced with the realization that this is going to overshadow everything: falling in love, a promotion, getting engaged, getting married.

Open Forum
Recently, I was a part of the Brainerd High Marching Band during the pre-game show. It went as every football game has before... the pre-game fanfare,

Open Forum
My mother, Eleanor Carter, lives in Brainerd, and is a resident of Woodland Good Samaritan Village. She is a retired registered nurse and a veteran of World War II, where she worked in an Army hospital in England, as a nurse anesthetist. She saw some horrible things during that war, but went on to have a productive life that included marriage, five children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She was still working in Brainerd as a home health nurse when she was 70 years old. She will be 82 years old next month on October 26.

Mass wins titles at Princeton Speedway
PRINCETON -- Dave Mass of Brainerd won the Wissota Super Stock and Wissota Street Stock points championships at Princeton Speedway recently.

Earnhardt emotional winner at Dover
DOVER, Del. -- Cal Ripken Jr. was thrilled to wave the green flag to start the NASCAR race named in his honor. Dale Earnhardt Jr. was even more emotional circling the track with the American flag after one of the most popular victories in the history of the sport.

Densham, Marnell score first NHRA wins
MILLINGTON, Tenn. -- Gary Densham and George Marnell, two of drag racing's most noted journeymen, scored their first career victories Sunday at the AutoZone Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Memphis Motorsports Park.

Minnesota stocks hurt along with companies nationwide
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Having headquarters in Minnesota did little to shield the state's major publicly traded companies as their stocks headed south along with the stock of companies nationwide as Wall Street experienced its worst week since 1933.

MINNESOTA and the ATTACKS AFTERMATH
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Hundreds of Twin Cities motorists feared soaring gas prices on Sept. 11 and flocked to gas stations, but their fears were unfounded as gas prices have dropped 12 cents a gallon since the terrorist attacks.

Hatch issues final report on Allina
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Allina Health System has reached a $16 million settlement with the U.S. Attorney's office, ending an investigation into whether the company for nine years improperly billed Medicare and Medicaid.

Analyst says state's offer lags behind gains of private-sector workers
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The state is offering its two biggest public employee unions pay raises nearly equal to recent increases in the cost of living, but they would lag behind wage gains received by many private-sector workers.

State briefs
It's instant autumn in Minnesota.

Gold'n Plump marks 75th year
ST. CLOUD (AP) -- In the St. Cloud area's second-largest family owned business, there's no question about whether the chicken or the egg came first.

Travel agencies hope to be next for financial assistance from federal government
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- On the heels of a $15 billion federal aid package for the nation's airlines, the top executive at Carlson Cos. Inc. is leading a delegation to Washington in search of federal help for travel agencies.

Ramsey County judge offers wedding services for military
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Ramsey County District Judge James Campbell began offering to perform wedding services at no cost for military personnel when the Gulf War started in 1990.

Little impact from crop-dusting ban
ST. PAUL (AP) -- The government's grounding of crop-dusting planes shouldn't effect food production in the Upper Midwest, according to the Minnesota Aerial Applicators Association.

Hopkins woman dies in accident
CUSHING -- A 76-year-old Hopkins woman is dead following a single-vehicle accident Saturday on 260th Street in Morrison County, near Cushing.

Furniture builder mistakenly gets two federal rebate checks
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Custom furniture builder Mike McGlynn was against the federal government's decision to send out tax rebate checks. He was doubly annoyed when he became one of about a dozen citizens nationwide to get a second check.

Report offers conflicting account of relationship with senator
ST. PAUL (AP) -- It would take a deeper inquiry to find out whether people associated with Allina Health System tried to illegally influence a state senator, an investigator hired by the company concluded in a report made public Monday.

Veteran veterans
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Jacob Baerg, Victor Kuchera and Harry Burau haven't seen it yet, but there's a new monument honoring them at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.

Badges to be checked at airport
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport will spend more than $50,000 to revalidate the security badges of nearly 13,000 of its employees by Oct. 2.

Heightened Minnesota security visible everywhere
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Experts say Minnesota likely wouldn't be the target of a terrorist attack, but heightened security is very visible nonetheless.

Terror is a tricky subject for Minnesota professors
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The complexities of talking about terrorism in a college classroom became clear to the dean of student life at St. Oalf College in Northfield a few days after the attacks.

MAC delays building, cuts spending, after terrorist attacks
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The Metropolitan Airports Commission will slow the $3.1 billion expansion of the Twin Cities airport, has cut $4.2 million in spending and has decided to defer work on planned retail expansion at the main terminal.

Huskies prepare for big game
It was to be the game of games in the Prairie North Conference.

Alex defeats BHS girls
BAXTER -- The Brainerd Warriors lost to Alexandria 4-1 in Central Lakes Conference girls' soccer Saturday.

Brainerd boys kick Cards for first time
Alexandria -- Nine games into the season, the Brainerd Warriors boys' soccer team appears to be finally pulling it together.

CLC fourth at Bethany
MANKATO -- The Central Lakes College Raiders won three of four matches and placed fourth at the Bethany volleyball invitational Saturday.

Flyer boys edge Sartell in two overtimes
BELLE PRAIRIE -- It took two overtimes, but the Little Falls Flyers emerged victorious by a 5-4 score against the Sartell Sabres in Central Lakes Conference boys' soccer Monday.

Raiders slosh past Hibbing 12-7
HIBBING -- Sloppiness and penalties ruled as the Central Lakes College Raiders beat Hibbing 12-7 in Minnesota Community College Conference football Saturday.

Brainerd downs Flyers
LITTLE FALLS -- The Brainerd Warriors girls' tennis team beat the Little Falls Flyers 6-1 in a Central Lakes Conference meet Monday.

S-M girls win nation's largest cross country meet
Princeton -- The Staples-Motley Cardinals won the girls' meet and were second in the boys' division at the Princeton Invitational Saturday, billed as the nation's largest cross country meet.

Sartell girls shut out Little Falls
SARTELL -- The Little Falls Flyers fell to the Sartell Sabres 6-0 in Central Lakes Conference girls' soccer Monday.

Warrior swim team fifth at Rosemount
Rosemount-- The Brainerd Warriors swimming and diving team scored 193 points to finish fifth in the Rosemount Invitational Saturday.

Local sports shorts
SWARTHMORE, Pa. -- Brainerd High School graduate Natalie Dunphy is playing for the Swarthmore College volleyball team which is unbeaten in Centennial Conference play.

Scoreboard
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

W-DC blanks New York Mills
WADENA -- The Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines volleyball team swept New York Mills 15-4, 15-4, 15-5, in non-conference action Monday night.

Pequot Lakes improves to 14-4 in tennis
PEQUOT LAKES -- The Pequot Lakes Patriots dominated their Monday afternoon tennis meet by beating Parkers Prairie 7-0.

Scoreboard
FOOTBALL

Twins to play Atlanta, Florida for first time in 2002 regular season
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Kirby Puckett won't be there to hit a game-winning homer, and Jack Morris won't be available to pitch, but the Atlanta Braves will return to the Metrodome next season to play the Minnesota Twins.

The Vikings' ROUGH START
EDEN PRAIRIE (AP) -- Minnesota Vikings strong safety Robert Griffith will miss at least six weeks with a broken leg, ending his streak of 70 straight starts.

Chicago not Vikings' kind of town
CHICAGO -- There's something about Jim Miller that brings out the best in the Chicago Bears.

Vikings-Bears stats
Minnesota 3 0 7 0 -- 10

Wild put out Flames in exhibition game
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Andrew Brunette scored one of Minnesota's three first-period goals and the Wild then survived a rocky second period Sunday in a 3-2 exhibition victory over the Calgary Flames.

Football revenue vital to 'U' athletics budget
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The University of Minnesota football team must fill the Metrodome like never before to cover the athletic department's mounting bills and overcome its existing deficit.

Vikings' Griffith breaks leg
CHICAGO (AP) -- Minnesota Vikings safety Robert Griffith broke his right leg on the opening kickoff Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

Finley delivers blow to Twins' playoff hopes
MINNEAPOLIS -- Chuck Finley thrives in the heat of September playoff races.

Wisconsin state forecast
Today...Partly sunny east to sunny far west. Highs 55 to 60 northeast to 60 to 65 southwest.

The Weather Elsewhere
Monday

Iowa state forecast
Today...Sunny. Highs 60 to 70.

State forecast for south dakota
Today...Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s northeast to around 70 southwest.

Iowa state forecast
Frost advisory for much of western and central iowa tonight...

Ready for the weekend hunt
Weather drawing by Nicholas Belgum in the Baxter School third-grade class of Mrs. Brenny.

Northwoods
Weather drawing by Courtney Tusler in the Riverside School second-grade class of Mrs. Timmons.

State forecast for north dakota
Today...Sunny. Highs from the upper 50s northeast to lower 70s west.

State forecast for north dakota
Today...Sunny. Highs from the mid 60s east to the upper 70s west.

Minnesota state forecast
Corrected extended portion temperatures

Minnesota state forecast
Today...Sunny. Highs from the middle 50s northeast to the middle 60s south and west.

The Weather Elsewhere
Tuesday

Wisconsin state forecast
Freeze advisory tonight north central and northeast...

State forecast for south dakota
Today...Mostly sunny. Record high temperatures in the black hills. Highs from the 60s east to the 80s west. Tonight...Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 40s to lower 50s.

Lesbian daughter's biological clock ticks in mother's ears
DEAR ABBY: What do you do when your daughter tells you she has turned into a lesbian?

Keyboard care: Don't eat, drink or smoke around computers
Dear Heloise: I read your article about using your left hand to operate the computer mouse and leaving your right hand to do other things. I had to use my left hand for years because of the way I built my computer area.

Gift book
Dear Heloise: We have a large family, and I enjoy purchasing birthday and Christmas gifts for them. I found I was having a hard time remembering from year to year what I had gotten and in fact repeated a gift for one of our sons.

Researchers monitoring brain activity find biological evidence for soothing effect of music
WASHINGTON -- Brain structures that are activated by food or sex are also turned on by music, researchers reported Tuesday in a study.

Names and faces
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) -- Michael Skupin, who suffered severe burns as a contestant on "Survivor II: The Australian Outback," is a survivor once again.

Names and faces
HELENA, Mont. (AP) -- Author Stephen Ambrose and his family have given $100,000 to help preserve 17 acres of open space in the city he calls home.

It shouldn't take a broken hip for wife to hear words of love
DEAR ABBY: I have been married 62 years to the same man. I am 84. He is 87. When he is good, he's very good. When he is bad, he is BAD. However, he's always been there when I needed him. I recently fractured my hip, and I don't know what I would have done without him.

Bin Laden calls on Pakistanis to fight 'the American crusade'
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Osama bin Laden, the prime suspect in the terror attacks on the United States, called on Pakistan's Muslims to fight "the American crusade," according to a statement broadcast by an Arab television station.

Pope unable to complete speech in Armenia
YEREVAN, Armenia -- Pope John Paul II, appearing frail and tired, was unable to complete his speech after arriving Tuesday in the capital of Armenia. A priest finished reading the prepared text, as the 81-year-old pontiff sat slumped on a throne.

Pope calls on faithful to rebuild Catholic Church in Central Asia
ASTANA, Kazakstan -- Pope John Paul II called on Catholics to rebuild the Church in post-Communist Central Asia but cautioned against aggressive proselytizing in a land of many faiths.

Foreign briefs
WARSAW, Poland (AP) -- A leftist party with roots in Poland's former communist regime won a majority in parliamentary elections Sunday, according to exit polls that also indicated the political extinction of Solidarity.

Pakistan pulls diplomats from Afghanistan
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan announced Monday it had removed its diplomats from Afghanistan, and the hardline Taliban leader said the United States should withdraw its forces from the Persian Gulf and end its "bias" against Palestinians if it wants to eliminate the threat of global terrorism.

Stocks show rally in Europe after mixed performance in Asia
LONDON -- European stock prices advanced broadly Monday, led by gains in automobile, banking and insurance shares, after a mixed performance in Asia.