Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 1

SPORTS: Wolves fail to Bullets 111-100; Gophers top Denver 5-2 or. paih fn nl 1 Tri 11 1 aio SATUPtDAYJanuary 51991 NEWSPAPER 0 TWI I I '35 mq sigrses to "Sales Sim Qsmiewsi Inside But differences emerge over what will be discussed France unveiled a peace plan that called for an international conference on all Mideast issues after Iraq pulls out of Kuwait, the conquered emirate it now calls its 19th province. Under the plan, Iraq would receive assurances it would not be attacked if it agreed to leave Kuwait Wednesday session between Secretary of State James Baker and Foreign Minister Tarik Aziz "a positive step" and said he hoped it signaled a "growing awareness" by Iraq of the "seriousness of the situation." But Bush also ruled out sending Baker to Baghdad for talks with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, a meeting many analysts have said is crucial to any hopes for a negotiated peace. Bush also rejected Iraq's renewed effort to include the Palestinian issue in- U.S.-Iraqi talks, saying, "There will be no linkage on those two questions." Announcement of the Baker-Aziz talks came during a spurt of last-minute diplomatic initiatives as the U.N. deadline for Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait approached: The foreign ministers of the 12-nation European Community invited Aziz to Luxembourg on Thursday a daV after his planned meeting with Baker for further talks on the gulf crisis.

EC ministers insisted they intend to deliver to Aziz the same unconditional-withdrawal message Baker is expected to give in Geneva. nam ed Sup Gulf continued on page 13A 1 It Before joining the appeals court in 1989, Gardebring had served as a trouble-shooter for Perpich, who Gardebring continued on page 12A Mi. 1 'HV- Staff Photo by Brian Peterson Retired Chief Justice Peter Popovich Chief Justice A.M. (Sandy) Keith said he was pleased by the appointment and relieved that the vacancy created by former Chief Justice Peter Popovich's retirement in November rem Minnesota Supreme Court court)," Keith said. "She's a new generation.

She's 20 years younger than most of us, and she's had quite different experiences from those of us on the court." EE From News Services Iraq on Friday formally accepted President Bush's offer for high-level talks in Geneva next week as a last chance for peace, but sharp differences immediately emerged over just what the two sides intend to talk about. Bush called Iraqi acceptance of the State becomes first in U.S.with female majority By Dane Smith StaffWriter Gov. Rudy Perpich appointed Appeals Court Judge Sandra Gardebring to the state Supreme Court Friday, making Minnesota the first state with a female majority on its highest court. It was a historic finish to Perpich's last full working day in office, a day that was charged with political intrigue, chaos and controversy. Arne Carlson will be sworn in Monday.

Perpich, who lost to Carlson after 10 years as governor, appointed a number of friends and political allies to judgeships, including his campaign manager, John Stanoch, who became a Hennepin County district judge. Other appointments include Hennepin County District Judge Roland Amundson, 41, to Gardebring's position on the Appeals Court and state Rep. Joseph Quinn, 48, a colorful and sometimes controversial DFLer, to the 10th Judicial District in Stillwater. The appointment of Gardebring, who favors abortion rights, represents a defeat for abortion foes. They had been pressuring Perpich to name someone else.

But Perpich stuck with one of his oldest friends, his first appointee to public office and a personal favorite. "It's kind of an awesome job," Gardebring said after her swearing-in at the governor's reception room at the Capitol. "I feel like I'm joining a court of extraordinary people." Jobless rate rose to 6.1 in December By Robert D. Hershey Jr. New York Times Washington, D.C.

The nation's unemployment situation deteriorated further in December, the government reported Friday, but the figures were markedly less gloomy than many analysts had expected. In the first comprehensive reading of the economy's December performance, the government said the unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points, to 6.1 percent, its highest level since mid-1987, and the number of payroll jobs fell for the sixth straight month. Desert Shield will cost $30 billion this fiscal year if there Is no war, the GAO says. The Pentagon agreed to revise rules that would bar much combat reporting. Peace activists are planning to march on Washington this month twice.

Page 13A Ist-class stamp likely to go to 290 From News Services Washington, D.C. The cost of a first-class stamp wijl rise to 29 cents on Feb. 3, under a recommendation Friday by the Postal Rate Commission. The costlier stamp means that the average household consumer would spend about $59 a year on postage, an increase of about $8. After studying the Postal Service's request to increase rates, the five-member rate commission agreed to increase first-, second- and third-class rates enough to bring in the $48 billion in revenue that the service calculates it needs each year to break even.

But the commission decided to reduce the Postal Service's proposed 30-cent first-class stamp by a penny and to shift more of the cost to third-class mail, most of which is known to -the public as "junk mail." The commission also recommended a 4-cent increase for a postcard stamp, to 19 cents. Critics charged that the increases were not justified and would remove incentives to improve the efficiency of the Postal Service. They also expressed fears that increases would prove especially onerous because of the worsening economy. Postal rates were last increased in 1988, when the cost of a first-class stamp went from 22 to 25 cents. Postage continued on page 1 1A istration, is a 60-year-old Nebraskan with a doctorate in agricultural economics and a resume more noteworthy for policymaking than politics, which some Republicans said could be a shortcoming.

Boschwitz, reached at his vacation home in Vail, said he'd take the agriculture job if it were offered. He said he talked with White House officials yesterday and was encouraged by their interest He stressed, however, that "it's by no means done deal." Like Yeutter, Boschwitz considers himself a farm policy reformer who prefers market forces to government programs. Boschwitz continued on page 12A Pardons denied in Boise case Confronted with the opposi- tion of local prosecutors and law enforcement officials, the state Board of Pardons declined to act on requests for clemency from 61 people involved in the 1989 Boise Cascade labor riot in International Falls, Minn. The board met for more than two hours before deciding that it had insufficient information to act. Page 1B.

swore in Sandra Gardebring to the has been filled. (Keith became chief justice when Popovich retired.) "She brings a very new, different and very interesting perspective (to the work began climbing last through most of the 1980s. About 1 jobless The nation's jobless If Yeutter moves on, Boschwitz might be named ag secretary million have joined the ranks of the since June. That reflects 732,000 cut from nonfarm payrolls as well as people who left jobs or started looking for work. Change In employment since June, by Industry The percentage of Americans out of summer but remains below its levels 10 Manufacturing Construction Government Retail Wholesale Finance, insurance, real estate Mining Services Transportation, public utilities Total jobs chg.

351,000 1.2 30,000 0.5 Star Tribune graphic By Tom Hamburger Washington Bureau Correspondent Washington, D.C. Agriculture Secretary Clayton Yeutter may leave his post to run the Republican National Committee, sources said Friday. If he does, former Minnesota Sen. Rudy Boschwitz will be a top contender for his job. Washington buzzed with word late yesterday that President Bush had offered the RNC post to Yeutter.

Bush himself said Yeutter would be a. "superb" party chairman but evaded further questions. Yeutter said "no comment" when asked about a job change. Yeutter, who served as U.S. trade representative in the Reagan admin FMAMJ JASOND A A Source: Bureau ot Labor Statistics; figures adjusted to factor out seasonal variations.

of this year. Even so, White House spokesman Unemployment continued on 9A Temple places rabbi on leave after homosexual affair revealed! Efforts urged to ease the costs and pain of Minnesota divorces ,1990 The White House is projecting that the gross national product in the fourth quarter of 1990 fell 3.4 percent, but the decline will- shrink to 1.3 percent in the first three months Almanac Saturday, January 5, 1 991 5th day; 360 to go this year Sunrise: 7:50. Sunset 4:46 Snow ending by afternoon. High 1 7. Comics 6.7E, Obituaries 3-5E TV, Radio 4B 8E Movies Complete Index 2A Circulation 673-4343 St Paul now 227-0656 Copyright 1991 Star Tribune Volume IX Number 276 7 sections While the report showed that recession is gripping the nation, some analysts said they detected evidence that Bush administration officials might be right in saying the worst is over.

ment in a letter mailed Friday to more than 2,000 families in its Minneapolis congregation. Pinsky's six-month leave is effective immediately. The issue first surfaced Dec. 26 when the president of the synagogue's board of trustees received an anonymous letter that called Pinsky, 46, "a practicing homosexual." Pinsky, who is married with two children, admit- Pinsky continued on page 10A By Rob HotakaJnen and Neal Gendler StaffWriters Stephen Pinsky, senior rabbi of Minnesota's largest synagogue, has been given a paid leave of absence amid disclosures that he had an extramarital homosexual relationship and twice pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of sexual misconduct Temple Israel made the announce- By Donna Halvorsen StaffWriter A task force is proposing to reduce the cost and frustration of divorce in Minnesota by requiring free services for poor people who can't afford legal help, and making lawyers unnecessary in many uncomplicated breakups. The simplified divorce procedures, including one for marriages with chil- dren and another for those without would apply to marriages of less than seven years involving a minimum of assets and debts, according to a report released Friday by a family law task force of the Minnespta State Bar Association.

The report also recommends that divorcing spouses participate in an orientation program that would explain Divorce continued on page 12A 4 SIAFW-BIBUNE ctTj3ALIUEDUiQI.