WASHINGTON (AP) In a seesaw campaign, President Bush has opened a lead over John Kerry in their drive to White House victory by making gains in the Midwest and solidifying his Southern base. The race is spread over 19 states, with the fiercest competition in Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Minnesota, New Mexico and Pennsylvania, according to…

Indianapolis, Ind., resident and Warren County native Mamie N. Rigsby Hankins, 85, died Sept. 2. A former employee of Nevitt’s Market and RCA and a member of Westlake Community Church of God, she was the daughter of the late Jesse H. and Cindy Anna DeBerry Snipes; and was preceded in death by her husbands, Rev.…

McMinnville resident and Warren County native H.B. Elrod, 72, died Sept. 1 at River Park Hospital after an extended illness. A retired farmer and a member of the Church of Christ, he was the son of Homer Brown and Sadie Barrett Elrod Sr. He is survived by sister, Hazel Parkhurst of McMinnville, several nieces and…

Covington, Ga., resident and Grundy County native Charles Bradford (Shorty) Coppinger, 72, died Aug. 31 at his home after an extended illness. A retired production manager with Tuscarora Molding Company and a member of Smartt Assembly of God Church, he was the son of Willie and Amy Stoner Coppinger; and was preceded in death by…

Copyright 2004, Newspaper Enterprise Assn. VIRGO in the coming year:The year ahead is an excellent one for you to open up new markets for your wares and talents. In fact, you could be quite lucky in areas where you had previously had difficulty in making inroads in commerce and trade. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) —…

Copyright 2004, Newspaper Enterprise Assn. VIRGO in the coming year:Although you are a person who likes to establish your own goals and ways of doing things, you are likely to become partner-oriented in the year ahead. It looks like you will form an alliance with a real go-getter. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Don’t be…

(AP) A nondescript title such as “Suspect Zero” is fitting for director E. Elias Merhige’s psychological thriller, a muddle of fractured images and nebulous motivations that aspires to dramatic weight it does not possess. The premise — a serial killer preying on serial killers — is fresh on the surface, but Zak Penn and Billy…

WASHINGTON (AP) Recent investigations into al-Qaeda, including by the Sept. 11 Commission, have substantially altered the commonly held view that Osama bin Laden’s inheritance and massive fortune are being used to finance his international terror operations. While bin Laden isn’t poor, he’s not worth the $300 million once believed. Nor is he thought to be…