Minneapolis

Dr. John Eckholdt, a neurologist and chairman of Mercy Medical Center's division of neurology, died of cancer Thursday at his Glen Arm home. He was 64. Dr. Eckholdt was born and raised in Minneapolis. After graduating from high school, he earned his bachelor's degree in 1961 from the University of Minnesota, where he earned his medical degree in 1963. Dr. Eckholdt served in the Army Reserve from the late 1960s to 1970. He moved to Baltimore in 1963 to complete his residency in medicine and neurology at the University of Maryland Medical School.

On Friday, December 2, 2005, SAMUEL EDLAVITCH, beloved husband of the late Betty Edlavitch (nee Shulman), devoted father of Cheryl Lee of Long Beach, CA., Julius Edlavitch of Minneapolis, MN, Robert Edlavitch of Washington, D.C., Daniel Edlavitch of Owings Mills, MD and Judi Scher of Pocomoke City, MD. Loving father-in-law of Betsy Edlavitch of Minneapolis, MN and Marc Scher of Pocomoke City, MD. Beloved brother of the late Kate Edlavitch, Lee Zwick, Sadie...

MINNEAPOLIS -- Not long ago, some of this city's most influential corporations embraced HMOs as a way to cut medical costs. Now the same companies are telling those health insurers, in effect, to get lost.While conceding that they helped HMOs gain a dominance in Minnesota matched in few other states, these employers now complain that the creatures they helped invent have grown so big that they are stifling competition and medical innovation.The corporations -- including General Mills, Honeywell, Pillsbury, American Express and Dayton Hudson -- have hit on a time-honored, potentially far-reaching solution: cutting out the middleman.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Seattle SuperSonics guard Ricky Pierce is scheduled to undergo surgery today to remove a bone spur on the left foot.Pierce, 34, is expected to be out four to six weeks, and six weeks from today is the first game of the NBA playoffs."

MINNEAPOLIS -- The pressure was finally off Maryland last night. No talk of the NCAA tournament, of being on the bubble, of blowing double-digit leads down the stretch. Playing in 80-year-old Williams Arena against a young Minnesota team looking to build toward next season, the Terps finally did something they hadn't accomplished in nearly two weeks. They won. Maryland@Syracuse Tomorrow, 7 p.m., NIT second round, ESPNU, 1300 AM, 105.7 FM Records: Maryland (19-14), Syracuse (20-13)

MINNEAPOLIS -- While the National Invitation Tournament is a losing proposition financially for teams such as Maryland that are sent on the road, the Terrapins got something in return during Tuesday's victory over Minnesota in the opening round at Williams Arena. Maryland gained the satisfaction that comes with winning, something the Terps hadn't experienced since a visit to Wake Forest three weeks ago. The team's freshmen also gained more experience in the 68-58 win, and they'll likely get more when Maryland (19-14)

A decade after U.S. schools began efforts to improve math education in public schools, students still lag significantly behind their peers in Japan and Taiwan, according to a study in today's issue of Science magazine.The study was based on tests of public school students in Minneapolis; Taipei, Taiwan; and Sendai, Japan. Its authors warned educators that unless major revisions were made in math education, U,S. students would fail to lead the world by 2000 in mathematics abilities. That quest is one of six national education goals adopted in 1990 by President Bush and the 50 state governors.

MINNEAPOLIS -- By most counts, Joe Gibbs' Washington Redskins staff has a significant edge over Marv Levy's Buffalo Bills staff. But not by Levy's count."

The Minnesota Vikings have confirmed that they are discussing a trade that would send running back Herschel Walker to the Atlanta Falcons."I'd like to get a first- and second-round draft choice," Vikings president Roger Headrick told the Minneapolis Star Tribune on Friday. "But at this point, all we're doing is talking."The Atlanta Journal-Constitution yesterday quoted an unidentified source who said Walker wanted to finish his career in his home state of Georgia."It is only logical that, at this point in his career, Herschel would want to wrap it up in front of the people who love him the most," the source said.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Beth Botsford finished second in the 100-meter backstroke yesterday, as the North Baltimore Aquatic Club women's team took an 11-point lead over the Bolles School of Jacksonville, Fla., into the final day of competition at the Phillips 66 National Swimming Championships.Botsford finished in 1 minute, 3.32 seconds.Whitney Phelps of NBAC was ninth in the 100-meter butterfly in 1:02.42, and Kelly McPherson was 11th in the 400-meter freestyle in 4:19.88.NBAC's women's 800-meter freestyle relay team of Melinda Rehm, Phelps, Whitney Metzler and McPherson was second in 8:25.