General News

Anti-US Politics Behind Bombing Of 3 LDS Chapels In Colombia Yesterday's bombing of three LDS chapels in Cali, Colombia was probably motivated by the political situation in Colombia and had little to do with the LDS Church, which is often seen as a symbol of U.S. intervention there. Police in Cali blame the attack on the National Liberation Army (ELN), a marxist group that is the second largest rebel group in the country.

LDS Missionary Killed in Argentine Traffic Accident An LDS missionary, Elder Eric Robert Driggs of Mesa, Arizona, was killed last week and his companion, Elder Jordan Lee Call of Logan, Utah was injured when the taxi in which they were riding collided with a truck. Elder Driggs died on Thursday and Elder Call was flown to Utah, where he is recovering from the injuries he sustained in the accident.

Local News

Fresno Temple Dedication Draws Thousands A crowd of LDS Church members estimated at 10,000 visited the grounds of the new Fresno LDS Temple on Sunday, witnessing President Gordon B. Hinckley place the building's cornerstone and dedicate the Temple. Some members unable to attend the dedication inside the Temple itself, arrived as early as 6 a.m. to catch a glimpse of President Hinckley for the 9 a.m. cornerstone ceremony.

About 40,000 people tour new $5 million Mormon temple in Reno The LDS Church's new Reno Nevada Temple completed its weeklong open house on Saturday, attracting about 40,000 people to see the building before its dedication, according to local church officials. The temple's completion came after Church officials resolved some opposition from neighbors who felt that the building's outside lighting was excessive.

Man Who Rammed LDS Chapel With Truck Enraged At Church The man accused of raming his pickup truck into an LDS Chapel in Powell, Wyoming was dissatisfied with the Church and said he wanted to form his own church, one that would allow members to smoke and drink coffee. Kenneth Albert Wiley, 47, has been charged with nine felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one felony count of property destruction in the 4:30 p.m. Monday incident.

LDS Accused Of Bias In Arizona Complaints by black students in Gilbert, Arizona have led the East Valley Chapter of the NAACP to file a federal civil rights complaint against the Gilbert Unified School District, saying that the district discriminated against blacks, looking the other way when they were harrassed. While the complaint itself doesn't implicate Mormons, the statements made by the NAACP and by the students and parents involve say that the district favors Mormons over everyone else.

Sports

BYU's Morris a bit crazy, and thankful for it BYU's Rob Morris is expected to be chosen in the first round of the NFL's draft on Saturday, the eighth BYU player to be chosen in the first round, and the first time that BYU has had first-round picks one year after another. Last year, offensive lineman John Tait was chosen 14th overall in the draft. CBS Sportsline ranks Morris #5 among linebackers.

LDS Rugby Player Reforms, Gains Teammates' Respect Just one year ago, LDS professional rugby player John Hopoate had a reputation for trash-talking and nightclubbing. But now he has reformed, rejoined the LDS Church and gained the respect of his teammates. And the team may be seeing a side benefit of his lifestyle change; the team is second in the standings, winning six games and tieing two.

People

Former BYU Basketball Coach Stan Watts Dies Watts started coaching at Millard High School, moving to Dixie College and Jordan High School before taking a job at BYU as head baseball coach, and freshman football and basketball coach. He got the head basketball coach join in 1949, and soon produced a championship team, winning the NIT championship in 1951. He repeated the achievement with BYU's 1966 team.

LDS Lawyer In Oklahoma Running For State Legislature Thad Balkman, former Brigham Young University political science graduate, will run for the Oklahoma State House of Representatives in the November, 2000 election. He will oppose Democrat Wallace Collins, who holds the current House seat. Balkman, originally from Long Beach, Calif., is a Republican who will run on a tax reform platform with goals to create a business friendly environment and raise public education to a higher level.

Arts & Entertainment

Incredible Success Of 'God's Army' Reaches Outside Utah The success of the LDS film "God's Army" reached beyond Utah for the first time last week as the film opened on three screens in eastern Idaho. The film opened to strong sales on screens in Pocatello, Blackfoot and Idaho Falls, Idaho on Friday, February 7th, putting the film on a total of 32 screens in Utah and now Idaho. This Friday it opens on 4 more screens, including one in Reno, Nevada and is expected to reach $1 million in box office sales, according to distributor Excel Entertainment spokesperson Mary Jane Jones. The film has reached #35 in national rankings of box office sales.

Dialogue Starts Website, Resumes Publication The LDS Journal Dialogue is now represented on the Internet, and has resumed publication following a recent move to Ohio. The well-known LDS Journal, founded in 1966 by a group that included LDS author and former BYU professor Eugene England and now LDS Apostle Dallin Oaks, is using the web to let the public know more about it and preview the table of contents of current issues.

Business

New suitor wins First Security After failed negotiations with Zions Bancorp, First Security announced that it will merger with Wells Fargo &Co., based in San Francisco. The deal took place just 10 days after talks with Zions bank broke off. First Security is the largest bank in Utah; Wells Fargo is the 7th largest in the country.

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