POLICE BLOTTER

Woman reports being threatened by friend

Charleston police are investigating allegations that a man pulleda gun on a friend, stole her purse and pushed her down a staircase.

Sherry Fields 27, of South Charleston reported going to the 1500block of Jackson Street to retrieve some belongings when her friendassaulted her about 1 a.m. Tuesday, said Charleston Police Lt. RandyYoung.

Fields told police her friend brought out a handgun to threatenher and then knocked her down the stairs, Young said. Fieldscontended the man took her purse, money and keys, Young said.

About 7 a.m., Fields returned to the Jackson Street residence withtwo other friends. The three …

THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN IDAHO; National study sheds light on dark times

On a crisp Tuesday morning last week, five people stood before a framed tribute to Idaho's first female legislators and informed the media that Idaho ranks among the worst states in the country for women to live, thrive and affect social policy. The information came from The Status of Women in Idaho, a statistical study done by the Institute for Women's Policy Research (IWPR) in Washington D.C., which is a scientific research organization dedicated to sharing knowledge and motivating dialogue on issues relevant not only to female opportunity, but also to basic equality. The Women's Suffrage movement happened long ago, yet IWPR found that in the areas of employment and earnings, economic …

Pound hits low at euro1.118

The British pound fell to a record low against the euro on Friday for the fifth consecutive day, hitting euro1.118 as some analysts predicted the British currency is eventually headed for parity, or one pound to the euro.

It was the pound's weakest rate since the euro was launched in 1999, and the rate for British travelers closed the gap with parity still further, with some exchange bureaus offering euro1.07 to the pound.

"It's looking like it's going to hit parity in the first quarter of next year," said Mark Deans, a dealer at Moneycorp in London.

The pound has fallen by around 20 percent against the euro in the past year as the Bank …

SPORTS TV WEEKEND

Dan Dierdorf will make his ABC announcing debut when he joins AlMichaels and Frank Gifford for tomorrow's 17th AFC-NFC Hall of FameGame (Ch. 7, noon) featuring the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas CityChiefs. At halftime, induction ceremonies will honor Larry Csonka,Len Dawson, John Henry Johnson, Jim Langer, Don Maynard, Joe Greeneand Gene Upshaw. Wembley Stadium in London will be the site of Sunday's NFLpre-season clash between the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams (Ch.5, noon). Pat Summerall narrates "We Will be Back," a special on the Bearswith film from past games and interviews with Walter Payton, MikeDitka and Mike Singletary. The show airs tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. …

More Than 2,000 Safe From S.Africa Mine

CARLETONVILLE, South Africa - More than 2,000 trapped gold miners were rescued in a dramatic all-night operation, and efforts gathered speed Thursday to bring hundreds more to the surface.

There were no casualties when a pressurized air pipe snapped at the mine near Johannesburg and tumbled down a shaft, causing extensive damage to an elevator and trapping more than 3,000 miners more than a mile underground Wednesday.

The mine owner and South Africa's minerals and energy minister vowed to improve safety in one of the country's most important industries.

The accident prompted allegations that one of South Africa's most important industries was cutting safety …

Surgery successful on Indian girl born with 4 arms and 4 legs

A grueling, 24-hour-long operation to remove the extra limbs of an Indian girl born with four arms and four legs was a spectacular success, leaving her in stable condition, doctors announced Wednesday.

A team of more than 30 physicians successfully removed the 2-year-old's extra limbs, salvaged her organs, and rebuilt her pelvis area, Dr. Sharan Patil said from a hospital in the southern Indian city of Bangalore.

"Beyond our expectations, the reconstruction worked wonderfully well," said Patil, the lead orthopedic surgeon during the operation.

The girl, named Lakshmi, is revered by some in her village as the reincarnation of a Hindu …

Screeching Weasel back, more intense than ever

On the list of underground legends of Chicago rock, few bands rank higher than Screeching Weasel.

Formed in the mid-'80s in suburban Prospect Heights by childhood friends Ben Foster, better known as Ben Weasel and the group's vocalist and primary songwriter, and John Pierson, a k a Jughead, punk guitarist extraordinaire and sometimes co-songwriter, Screeching Weasel was the punk band that made it cool again to embrace bubblegum melodies -- the missing link between the Ramones and the Buzzcocks and pop-punk's modern-day platinum-selling heroes Green Day, Blink-182 and Fall Out Boy.

Yet though the band's most successful album, "Boogada Boogada Boogada!" (1988), has sold more …