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Hey, it worked for Sonny Bono; now Sandi Patty wants to try it. She's a five-time Grammy Award-winning singer, whose gospel recordings have sold almost 12 million copies. And, like the male half of Sonny and Cher, who twice was elected to Congress, she wants to try her hand at public office. The Anderson, Ind., resident has filed papers to seek a seat on the school board in a May 4 election. She's a newcomer to politics but says she knows a bit about education: All eight of her children have attended the city's public schools.

Speaking of Grammy winners, when they're not busy backing up Beyoncé, her band members find time to fight crime. Earlier this month in Palm Beach, Fla., they chased down a suspect who'd tried to steal an elderly man's car and wallet in a drug store parking lot and held him until police arrived.

If you think flashy, late-model vehicles are the prime targets of car thieves, think again. In fact, statistics show that used vehicles are stolen most often. Why? According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, thieves desire their parts, which may be expensive and hard to obtain or are no longer manufactured. Then too, certain components are popular with street racers - and whole vehicles with rings that export them illegally to Latin American countries and Europe. The vehicles most coveted by car thieves, based on the bureau's latest study (using data from 2002):
1. 1989 Toyota Camry
2. 1994 Honda Accord
3. 2000 Honda Civic
4. 1992 Chevrolet Full Size C/K Pickup
5. 1997 Ford Full Size Pickup, 150/250/350
6. 1993 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
7. 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass/Supreme/ Ciera
8. 1994 Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan
9. 1996 Ford Taurus
10. 2001 Toyota Corolla