Sunday, October 7, 2001

Tech stocks rally but analysts credit a rebound, not a turnaround
NEW YORK -- Tech stocks are re-emerging as the force that can move the stock market and maybe make investors get a little ahead of themselves.

Worrying at work
The number of Americans concerned about their safety at work hasn't grown significantly despite the attacks on the World Trade Center, according to a new survey.

Small business moves toward normalcy
NEW YORK -- Steven Mazur's company is located on Wall Street, just a few blocks from the World Trade Center. Even with the devastation from Sept. 11 close by, he's seeing business returning to something unimaginable in the days after the terrorist attacks: normal.

Wells Fargo to acquire Marquette banks
MINNEAPOLIS -- Wells Fargo & Co. is buying banks and other businesses in seven states owned by Carl Pohlad and his family, owners of the Minnesota Twins, who said Friday they plan to shift their focus from banking to financial services.

Travel arrangers laid off, businesses close
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) -- Carlson Hospitality Worldwide abruptly closed its reservation center here this week, leaving 60 people without jobs.

Luxury sales outlook grows dimmer
NEW YORK (AP) -- In the days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Lisa Concepcion Giassa and Enid Lewin drastically changed their luxury shopping habits -- but in opposite directions.

A NEW BALL GAME
CHICAGO -- The events of Sept. 11 left no American generation unshaken. And baby boomers, till now little-scarred by hardship or tragedy, might be the most jolted of all.

Too much tourism? Some say terrorist attacks show Florida is too reliant on tourism
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Florida has relied on tourism ever since the days when Julia Tuttle, known as the Mother of Miami, implored industrialist Henry Flagler to extend his railroad tracks all the way to Miami.

Job cuts paint bleak picture of economy
WASHINGTON -- American employers cut more jobs in September than during any month in more than a decade, the Labor Department said Friday.

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

Fund investors can calm nerves by ignoring their portfolios
NEW YORK -- After a truly terrible third quarter, jittery mutual fund investors want to know what they should do.

Business notes
AITKIN -- Riverwood HealthCare announced that on Oct. 1, Dr. Tim Arnold, family practice physician, joined the staff. He will be seeing patients at Riverwood's McGregor and Aitkin clinics.

Daughter can't pretend she's part of one big, happy family
DEAR ABBY: I am a 12-year-old girl and I need some advice. My dad recently had an affair with a woman he met when he went back to school. She is also married. He asked her to marry him, but she said no, so he decided to come back home. He has left us twice before, so my home isn't very stable.

Through the eyes of youth
Ninth-graders at Franklin Junior High School in Brainerd were able to try their talents at one of America's oldest examples of free speech -- the political cartoon.

Help teach a child important little lessons
He has the brightest eyes and his whole face lights up when he smiles. He is full of energy and enthusiasm for life. He is also full of questions. He is a good kid and he is very smart. He loves sports, especially basketball and football.

Cash grain
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Wheat receipts Friday 214, a year ago 121.

New farm bill could provide incentives for restoring diversity to landscape
The goal of the 2002 Farm Bill, as spelled out by a coalition of 39 organizations serving a variety of constituents, is to preserve and enhance the biological diversity of the landscape. Whoa, don't be flipping to the comic section! While "biological diversity" is an intimidating phrase, it isn't such a complex concept to understand.

Livestock
SOUTH ST. PAUL (AP) (USDA) -- Friday cattle: 1,250.

Agendas
Meets 7:30 p.m. Monday

Accidents
MOTLEY -- A car collided with a cow and injured four people, the State Patrol reported.

Fires
Brainerd Fire Department units responded to two vehicle accidents Friday.

Agendas
Meets 8:30 a.m. Tuesday

Births
Roger and Jackie (Berkner) Olmscheid, a girl, Elizabeth Mary, 6 pounds, 13 ounces, Aug. 16, 2001. Grandparents are Duane and Sharon Berkner, Brainerd, and Leo and Viola Olmscheid, New Munich.

Three share lead at Michelob
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) -- Even when Len Mattiace was summoned to the media room, he didn't know where he stood on the leaderboard.

Bush: Tax cuts should drive economic stimulus plan
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush is pressing Congress to pass an economic stimulus package that includes accelerated income tax cuts, generous breaks for business and some assistance for lower-income workers.

Chemical dependency and AA groups
Adult Children-Chem.Dep.

Support groups
Crisis Line-Referral Ser.

Health
Blood Pressure Clinics

About the Mississippi River Basin
The Mississippi River Brainerd Watershed consists of about 1,656 square miles in the central part of the basin. The watershed includes all or parts of Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison and Todd counties.

Local briefs
LITTLE FALLS -- District 12B House candidates Helen McLennan and Greg Blaine are scheduled to appear at a breakfast sponsored by the Little Falls Area Chamber of Commerce from 8 to 9:30 a.m. Oct. 17 at the Performing Arts Center at Lindbergh Elementary School.

Man in custody after knifing in Little Falls
LITTLE FALLS -- An alleged argument during a walk in a city park left one 22-year-old man with a knife cut to his throat.

State contributes to river pollution
Pollution along a river's route can be all downhill.

State lawmakers' addresses
Area legislators and how to contact them.

How river testing was conducted
A.W. Research Laboratories sampled the Mississippi River at two locations about 500 feet above and below the Brainerd Wastewater Treatment Facilities discharge point.

Study: Mississippi River healthy in the lakes area
Nearly a year ago, a joint venture to look at the Mississippi River's water quality near Brainerd brought several forces together.

Water quality definitions
Non-point pollution can include agricultural runoff, pesticide and fertilizer use, urban storm water runoff from paved streets, parking lots, construction sites and yards, runoff from forestry, feedlots, highway de-icing.

This was Brainerd
OCTOBER 780 years ago (1921) - Brainerd's tall concrete water tower is to have a powerful search light in addition to the 12 100-candle power lights.

River journey
One man's journey in a canoe down the Mississippi River brings a fresh perspective to the Brainerd area. Look for the story in Monday's Dispatch.

Ford employee doesn't have to hand over documents
DETROIT -- A judge refused Friday to force a Ford Motor Co. employee to hand over confidential human resources documents the automaker says he stole.

Prosecutors object to Olson trial delay because of terrorist attacks
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A move to postpone Sara Jane Olson's attempted-murder trial because of the impact of last month's terrorist attacks should be denied, prosecutors said Friday in a court filing.

Government approves new timetables for wireless phone companies to develop 911 location technology
WASHINGTON -- The government gave some of the nation's mobile phone carriers more time to develop technology that allows emergency personnel to quickly locate callers who dial 911 from wireless phones.

Oil spilling from Alaska pipeline after man shoots it with a big-game rifle
ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Crews were slowed by explosive vapors as they tried to plug a leak in the trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline that spewed nearly 300,000 gallons of oil into the wilderness.

Investigators have no clues in case of Florida man who died of rare form of anthrax
LANTANA, Fla. -- Investigators said they had no answers as to how a Florida man who died from a rare form of anthrax caught the disease after they searched his home and workplace and tracked his movements over the past few weeks.

Attacks update
Developments related to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks:

Back-to-back crashes involve Navy missiles
WASHINGTON -- Two trucks hauling weapons for the military -- including a load of Navy missiles -- crashed within 14 hours, raising new concerns about a system that makes 42,000 ammunition deliveries a year.

Great Lakes ports are on alert for terrorism
CHICAGO -- The U.S. Coast Guard is clamping down on normally free-flowing ship traffic on the nation's interior waters, increasing armed patrols and expanding security zones around the Great Lakes region to protect against attacks that could cripple freight routes or strike waterfront cities.

Foreign spy agencies helping U.S. at unprecedented levels
WASHINGTON -- It's the kind of communication between nations that takes place beneath the public pronouncements of diplomats and politicians, but in many ways it's far more important. Especially now.

Judges to form panel to review HMO mental health claims
ST. PAUL (AP) -- Three judges will leave the bench to form a committee that will review mental health claims for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

Jolts of all sorts now trigger fears of terrorism
Greyhound screeches its bus fleet to a halt. A plane explodes over the Black Sea. A Florida man's rare disease raises fears of bioterrorism. Everywhere, people trying to recover emotionally from the Sept. 11 attacks find new reasons to worry almost daily.

Bush administration rejects Sharon's claim it seeks to appease Arabs
WASHINGTON -- Responding to an Israeli rebuke, the White House rejected Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's accusation that the United States was appeasing Arabs for the sake of its war against terrorism. Secretary of State Colin Powell described the spat as a cloudburst that will not affect a strong relationship.

Billboard seeks racial profiling complaints
NEWARK, N.J. -- The American Civil Liberties Union unveiled a billboard Friday on the New Jersey Turnpike intended to recruit plaintiffs for racial profiling lawsuits.

Airlines ordered to strengthen cockpit doors
WASHINGTON -- Transpor-tation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta ordered airlines Friday to strengthen their cockpit doors within 90 days. Several already have been doing so since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Moses, Chaney, Coach K head into Hall of Fame
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) -- Moses Malone was humbled by his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Steelers' Bettis closing in on 10,000 yards
Tony Dorsett, Walter Payton, Marcus Allen. When Jerome Bettis was growing up in Detroit, playing pickup games with his buddies in school yards and back yards, he wanted to be just like them.

Braves clinch East again
ATLANTA (AP) -- Finally, the Atlanta Braves could relax and enjoy themselves.

Bonds hits Nos. 71 and 72
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Even Willie Mays didn't think his godson Barry Bonds could break the record.

This might be the Titans' biggest week
The Tennessee Titans entered the season as one of the Super Bowl favorites. Now they're 0-2, and their hopes will be in turmoil if they lose to the Super Bowl champions.

Ann V. Knutson
Ann V. Knutson, 86, Brainerd, died Friday, Oct. 5, 2001, at her home.

Walter F. Berg
DEERWOOD -- Walter F. Berg, 78, Deerwood, died Friday, Oct. 5, 2001, at his home.

Rose Petraborg
AITKIN -- Rose Petraborg, Aitkin, died Friday, Oct. 5, 2001, in the Lyngblomsten Nursing Home in St. Paul.

Mary Olseth
PILLAGER -- Mary Olseth, rural Pillager, died Friday, Oct. 5, 2001, at her home.

Russell Delbert Oxley
CRYSTAL -- Russell Delbert Oxley, 77, Crystal, formerly of Aitkin, died Friday, Oct. 5, 2001, in Robbinsdale.

Gerald M. Brown
McGREGOR -- Gerald M. Brown, 67, McGregor, died Thursday, Oct. 4, 2001, at his home.

Ethel M. Abel
PIERZ -- Ethel Marie Abel, 89, Pierz, formerly of Little Falls, died Wednesday, Oct., 3, 2001, at the Pierz Villa in Pierz.

Nelda Nygard
WALKER -- Nelda Nygard, 73, Walker, died Friday, Oct. 5, 2001, at her home.

Virginia 'Jinx' Munnings
NISSWA -- Virginia "Jinx" Munnings, 65, Nisswa, died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2001, at her home.

Ruth Granum
Ruth Granum, 72, Brainerd, died Saturday, Oct. 6, 2001, at Bethany Good Samaritan Village.

A great opportunity
WASHINGTON--The great feat of statesmanship is to turn catastrophe into opportunity. That is what John McCain and Evan Bayh hope to do, by converting the surge of patriotic energy unleashed by the terrorist attacks of last month into a greatly expanded program of national service for young Americans.

Sept. 11th's last casualty
The Bush administration appears ready to make a serious foreign policy mistake at the moment it is trying to stamp out the evil of terrorism as practiced by Osama bin Laden and his followers.

Short and sweet
Ask the experts of Madison Avenue. They'll tell you that if you want your message to be remembered, it should be short and to the point.

A river resurgence
On a summer day in northeast Brainerd a picture of what many consider a vanishing piece of Americana can still be seen.

Boundary Waters: A journey into pristine wilderness
"The singing wilderness has to do with the calling of the loons, northern lights, and the great silences of the land lying northwest of Lake Superior. It is concerned with the simple joys, the timelessness and perspective found in a way of life that is close to the past."

'Pennies from heaven'
NISSWA -- Michelle Jensen hears the plunk of acorns on the rooftop and says, "Pennies from heaven."

Walleye limits on Mille Lacs eased
ST. PAUL (AP) -- This winter, anglers on Lake Mille Lacs will be able to keep a wider range of walleyes.

Good grouse hunting means harder work this year
The 2001 ruffed grouse season has not found favor with some hunters. There seem to be few birds in the woods, and fewer yet show themselves for a good shot. This gives grouse hunters two choices: hunt something else, or hunt harder and smarter for the grouse that are there.

Outdoor notes
Rice Lake National Wildlife Refuge is issuing 75 buck-only firearms hunting permits. The permits are valid Nov. 10-18.

Fishing report
BRAINERD/NISSWA - The bigger walleyes have started hitting on Gull Lake, Lake Edwards, North Long Lake, Round Lake, and Pelican Lake. Northern pike, sunfish, and bass continue to be an easy catch on most area lakes, and the crappie bite is improving throughout the area as well.

The great outdoors is no place for cats
Dead cats and other animals on the road were the subject of this column last week. I suggested people should keep their pets indoors or under supervision when they're outdoors.

North Country calendar
October

New wildlife harvest plan proposed by bands for ceded territory
'Eight Chippewa Indian bands in Minnesota and Wisconsin have submitted to state officials a new five-year plan guiding their taking of wildlife in the 1837 treaty ceded territory of east-central Minnesota.

Duffy-Harker
Shannon Rose Duffy, M.D., and Jamison Lynn Harker, M.D., were married May 19, 2001, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Brainerd with Father Seamus Walsh officiating.

Paula Lesmeister and Matthew Larson
Paula Lesmeister and Matthew Larson announce their engagement. Parents are Paul and Barb Lesmeister, Morris, and Richard and Carol Larson, Nisswa. An Oct. 27 wedding is planned at Lakewood Evangelical Free Church in Baxter.

Broneak-Windorski
Ann Broneak and Preston Windorski were married Sept. 1, 2001, at Lakewood Evangelical Free Church in Baxter with Pastor Randy Ahlberg officiating.

Maciejny-Ryder
Jill Maciejny and Jeremy Ryder were married Sept. 15, 2001, at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter with Pastor Jennifer Wilson officiating.

Kristin Kay Bowman and Randy Lee Kepner
Kristin Kay Bowman and Randy Lee Kepner, both of Cottage Grove, announce their engagement. Parents are Bob and Kay Bowman, Baxter, and Dan and Ellie Kepner, St. Cloud. A Dec. 1 wedding is planned at Trinity Lutheran Church in Brainerd.

Sandra Sumstad and Thomas Youngblom
Sandra Sumstad, Alexandria, and Thomas Youngblom, Pillager, announce their engagement. Parents are Jackie Sumstad, Alexandria, and Ron Sumstad, Clitherall, and Sharon and Gordon Youngblom, Pillager. A December wedding is planned at Lord of Life Church in Baxter.

Retirement open house
There will be a retirement open house for Al Abear from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Nisswa Community Center.

Persons-Debeltz
Tabatha Persons and Christopher Debeltz were married Aug. 11, 2001, at the Northland Arboretum in Brainerd with Judge Dave Ten Eyck officiating.

Schraut-Hormann
Christy Schraut and Brian Hormann were married June 23, 2001, at Munsinger Gardens in St. Cloud with Pastor Tim Christensen officiating.

Engagement announced
Jody Rudlang and Kyle Beeck announce their engagement. Parents are David and Karen Rudlang, Pine River, and Bernard and Lila Beeck, Frazee. A Feb. 2, 2002, wedding is planned at First Lutheran Church in Pine River.

Collins-Smolke
Angie Collins and Brian Smolke were married July 14, 2001, at Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis with Father Joseph Gillespie officiating.

Hartwig-Harper
Rachel Hartwig and Jason Harper were married July 7, 2001, at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cudahy, Wis., with Pastor Steven O. Olson officiating.

Roberts-Hoiland
Nicole Roberts and Aaron Hoiland were married Aug. 11, 2001, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Crosby with Father Howard Eisel and seminarian Matt Hebert officiating.

Tran-Kairies
Hien Tran and Timothy Graham Kairies were married Aug. 11, 2001, in Phoenix.

Five generations
Five generations recently gathered were Chayse Alexis Pickar, daughter; Pat Pickar, father; Tim Pickar, grandfather; Richard Pickar, great-grandfather; and Marian Pickar, great-great-grandmother.

Thesing-Cash
Nicole Thesing and Frederick Cash were married May 5, 2001, at St. Mathias Catholic Church in Fort Ripley with Father Paul Fruth officiating.

Underland-Raisanen
Christa Lynn Underland and Davin Roy Raisanen were married June 23, 2001, at Lutheran Church of the Cross in Nisswa with Pastor Chris Meier officiating.

Darla K. Maurer and Nathanael D. Grotzke
Darla K. Maurer and Nathanael D. Grotzke announce their engagement. Parents are Kenn and Suanne Maurer, Brainerd, and the Rev. David and Cindy Grotzke, Baxter. A Dec. 8 wedding is planned at First Baptist Church in Baxter.

Drivers mourn Alexander, popular young talent
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Jimmie Johnson will never know why, but he had the urge to speak to his good friend Blaise Alexander right before Alexander was set to race.

State needs people to run snow-fighting machines
As the first snow of the season fell Friday in Baudette, Department of Transportation officials began to brace themselves.

Candle suspected in house fire that killed three boys
HUTCHINSON (AP) -- An overnight house fire killed three fifth-grade boys during a sleepover birthday party early Friday. Neither of the home's two smoke detectors had batteries, fire authorities said.

Minnesota National Guard begins helping with airport security
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The first of about 130 Minnesota National Guard troops took up their posts and began reinforcing security at the Twin Cities, Duluth and Rochester airports Friday.

Ventura will be 'selective' about giving media interviews
ST. PAUL (AP) -- It's mostly back to business as usual between Minnesota media and Gov. Jesse Ventura.

Northwest adds South Bend-to-Minneapolis flight
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- At a time when most airlines are scaling back service, Northwest Airlines plans to add a daily flight between South Bend and Minneapolis.

Ventura says he'll meet with union members
ST. PAUL -- Gov. Jesse Ventura said Friday that he would meet with striking state workers any time -- as long as the media wasn't around.

Student expelled for making bomb threat day after terrorist attacks
HIBBING (AP) -- A student was expelled after admitting to making a false bomb threat a day after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Pierz coach notches his 100th victory
EDEN VALLEY -- Pierz Pioneers coach Leo Pohlkamp recorded his 100th career victory Friday with a 14-12 victory over the Eden Valley-Watkins Eagles.

W-DC gains first loop win
PARK RAPIDS -- Peter Hayes rushed 35 times for 220 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Wadena-Deer Creek Wolverines past the Park Rapids Panthers 27-21 for their first win in Northern Lakes Conference football Friday.

Pine River-Backus meets the challenge
PINE RIVER -- The Pine River-Backus Tigers football team is not used to making mistakes or playing from behind.

Verndale jumps ahead early
VERNDALE -- The Verndale Pirates jumped out to a 27-0 halftime lead and sailed past the Ashby Arrows 49-8 in Pheasant Conference football Friday.

Little Falls tennis team eliminated
ST. CLOUD -- The third-seeded St. Cloud Apollo Eagles eliminated the sixth-seeded Little Falls Flyers 5-2 in the opening round of the South Subsection 8AA team tennis tournament Friday.

Friday's prep scores
Ada-Borup 31, Norman County West 8

Local sports shorts
Lakes Area Youth Soccer Association offers competitive traveling soccer teams for youths ages 11-19.

Warriors make the grade Brainerd beats Tech 14-7
ST. CLOUD -- In five previous games this season, the unbeaten and fifth-ranked Brainerd Warriors had overpowered the opposition by an average of 29 points.

Area events Saturday
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL

Rocori rallies past LF
COLD SPRING -- The Little Falls Flyers held the Rocori Spartans scoreless in the first half, but fell victim to a late rally and lost 21-14 in Central Lakes Conference football Friday.

Pillager rolls past Menahga
MENAHGA -- The Pillager Huskies continued their drive to a Prairie North Conference football title by defeating the Menahga Braves 52-40 Friday.

McCulloch adjusts to life as a redshirt
Trevor McCulloch started every down for four seasons as he anchored the offensive line for the Brainerd Warriors.

Bowling
THROUGH SUNDAY

Sophomore gets Pequot Lakes going
PEQUOT LAKES -- On a night to honor a star-studded senior class, it was a sophomore who kick-started the Pequot Lakes Patriots to a 21-0 North Star Conference football victory over the Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Wolves Friday.

Cardinals hold on for 17-14 win
CROOKSTON -- The Staples-Motley Cardinals clung to a three-point advantage throughout the fourth quarter to squeak out a 17-14 victory over the Crookston Pirates in Northern Lakes Conference football Friday.

Saints focus on three Vikings stars
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Oh sure, the Minnesota Vikings have 11 players on the field for every down. The New Orleans Saints know that. It's just that three of them are getting the bulk of attention this week.

Twins tumble
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Rick Reed is happy with his season even though it ended with three straight losses.

VIKINGS vs. SAINTS
MINNESOTA (1-2) at NEW ORLEANS (1-1)

WILD 2001: The goal? It's simple -- score more of them
ST. PAUL -- Minnesota Wild coach Jacques Lemaire was asked this week what he wanted to see from his recently formed second line.

New gadget aims to drown out cubicle clatter
Thoreau once observed that "the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation." But in this age of noisy, open-office environments, the desperation just isn't quiet enough.

Computer giants up the ante
WASHINGTON -- Adversaries in the computing world, Microsoft and Apple find themselves in similar positions this season. Both have new versions of their operating systems due out soon. Both of these releases involve thorough revisions of massive amounts of computer code -- and both will put a higher degree of stress on your computer if you decide to upgrade.

Ad-blocking software moving to mainstream
WASHINGTON -- I never thought I'd install ad-blocking software on my computer. I considered it cheating to block ads on Web pages. After all, don't ads subsidize free Internet content, the way commercials do for TV?

To get milk, computer-graphics research goes to great lengths
Animators working on the movie "Shrek" spent two months crafting a technically complex 3 1/2-second shot. The star wasn't the rotund green ogre in the movie's title role, but a frothy glass of milk.

Overclocking can be useful
We're going to try something a tad controversial this week -- namely, overclocking the processor on the computer we've been building.

Get ready for Halloween
Weather drawing by McKenzie Sell in the Lowell School first-grade class of Sharon Jendro.

What's doing
The Pinetree Patchworkers will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Brainerd Public Library. We will be having election of officers. The program will be Linda Melby, who will speak on traditional patterns and modern piecing methods. The Tuesday group will meet Oct. 16 at the Presbyterian Church in Brainerd.

Organizations
Brainerd Jaycees

Man commits suicide in S. Korea, frustrated by separation from family
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- An 82-year-old man committed suicide near the border with North Korea, where he had a son he had longed to see again after a half century apart, police said Friday.

Anti-aircraft guns open up around Afghanistan
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- An intense volley of Taliban anti-aircraft fire Saturday brought thousands of Afghans into the streets of Kabul, where they craned their necks to watch a plane fly over. The plane was not hit.

Arafat's Cabinet criticizes Palestinian gunmen
JERUSALEM -- Yasser Arafat's Cabinet issued a rare public criticism of Palestinian militants attacking Israel, saying the gunmen violated the Mideast truce and damaged Palestinian interests.

Colombian rebels, government to study cease-fire
BOGOTA, Colombia -- Colombia's troubled peace talks gained momentum after rebels pledged to scale back kidnappings and agreed to begin immediate cease-fire negotiations with the government.

Afghanistan offers to free aid workers
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- As a U.S.-led anti-terrorism coalition tightened the circle around Afghanistan, the country's increasingly isolated Taliban leadership offered Saturday to release eight imprisoned foreign aid workers. The condition: The United States must halt its "massive propaganda campaign."

NATO parliamentary assembly dominated by terrorist attacks
OTTAWA -- A four-day meeting of legislators from NATO countries that started Saturday will focus on the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States while also discussing usual topics such as expanding the alliance.