Beyond the Burg
Compiled by Sara Brady

Senator Hollings denounces Thurmond
U.S. Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings, D-S.C., said Thursday he believed his fellow senator from South Carolina, 98-year-old Republican Strom Thurmond, is no longer "mentally keen."

"He's alert, he's awake and they get him to votes and lead him around," Hollings said. "[It's] sad because the poor fellow doesn't have any place to go, if you think on it. He doesn't have a home and someone has said the best nursing home is the U.S. Senate."

Thurmond was reelected in 1996, to his eighth consecutive term. He has said he plans to finish his term and retire in January, 2003. By then he will be more than 100 years old.

If Thurmond dies in office, it falls to South Carolina's governor, Democrat Jim Hodges, to appoint his replacement. Hodges would then control the bipartisan balance in the almost 50-50 Senate.

In response to Hollings, Thurmond said through his spokeswoman, Genevieve Erny, "there is no need to address these off-the-cuff remarks."

Last trolley to "Make-Believe" Land
Fred Rogers ends a 34-year run as the kindly grandfather figure to millions of American children today. "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" will broadcast its last original episode on PBS, wrapping up a career that has spanned several generations and earned four Emmy Awards.

Rogers, 73, has hosted such guests as Margaret Hamilton, the Wicked Witch of the West in 1939's "The Wizard of Oz," jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and Lou Ferrigno, the original "Incredible Hulk." In his four decades of children's television Rogers has tackled how to be courageous during vaccinations, handling parental divorce and the virtues of sharing and kindness.

David Newell, who played delivery man Mr. McFeely, said, "There's no finale -- it's seamless. Somehow the word out there is the program is over and done."

After today's episode, PBS affiliates will still broadcast reruns.

Israelis withdraw from west bank town
Attempting to re-open negotiations with Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres reported to Jerusalem media that occupying forces have left the West Bank town of Beit Jala, near Bethlehem.

According to a recent diplomatic visit by the Italian Foreign Ministry, Peres and Arafat said they are willing to pursue discussions "based on well-prepared meetings."

The pair of leaders has met several times during the past 11 months of the Israel-Palestine conflict. More than 700 people have died in that period of time.

Israeli officials said they conceded to pressure from multiple international sources in deciding to pull out of Beit Jala. Officials ordered the retreat only after they received definite, verbal confirmation from Arafat that he would order a cease-fire on Gilo, an Israeli settlement outside Jerusalem.

"The peace is being kept so far and there is a commitment by Arafat to maintain it," Israeli Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said.

Ben-Eliezer spoke to the nation less than a day after the withdrawal. Palestinian forces see the withdrawal as a victory.