News In Brief

bobsledders asked too late

ok, you'll be in Washington Aug. 14 to see the dignified and majestic structures that make the city beautiful. But as you arrive on Capitol Hill the first sight that greets you is ... youngsters zooming by, feet first, on little sleds. It won't be a mirage in the shimmering heat. The House of Representatives has OK'd the use of the steep hill on that day for a US Luge Association clinic - to see whether any local kids have the potential to become Olympic-class riders in the winter sport dominated by Europeans. No snow will be imported, however; it wouldn't last in DC's sweltering summer weather.

GETTING THE WORD OUT

In Des Moines, Iowa, signs soon will be posted on street-side utility poles. They will warn that it's illegal to post signs on utility poles. The city is moving to rid them of "tacky" fliers, garage-sale notices, and the like, which people put up and then don't remove afterward.

Silver screen greats ranked by American Film Institute

Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn head a list of 50 greatest "screen legends" revealed Tuesday evening by the American Film Institute during a three-hour special on CBS-TV. Current box-office stars were ineligible. A similar AFI program a year ago citing the 100 best American movies caused controversy because it left off all of Greta Garbo's films and did not include a single Buster Keaton comedy. Nonetheless, the list - which named "Citizen Kane" the greatest American film - also sparked renewed interest in film classics. AFI's top five female and male stars:

Female legends

1. Katharine Hepburn

2. Bette Davis

3. Audrey Hepburn

4. Ingrid Bergman

5. Greta Garbo

Male legends

1.Humphrey Bogart

2. Cary Grant

3. James Stewart

4. Marlon Brando

5. Fred Astaire

- Associated Press

Compiled by Robert Kilborn and Lance Carden

(c) Copyright 1999. The Christian Science Publishing Society