News In Brief

By CompiledRobert Kilborn and Lance Carden

September 22, 1999

AND, BESIDES, IT'S EXPENSIVE It cost millions of taxpayer dollars to restore. The symbolism - and curiosity about its modern architecture - brought out long lines of admirers and generated scads of news coverage last spring. But now that the Reichstag, once again the Berlin home of Germany's parliament, is up and running, the folks who serve in it aren't happy. Why? Right: the cafeteria food. "A disappointment," complained one leader. "Nothing special at all," grumped another. But, noted the manager: Politicians love to moan; "that hasn't changed in 20 years."

HEY, WHAT A COOL IDEA Speaking of symbolism, Dale Chihuly thinks he knows how to thaw the tense relations between Israel and the Palestinians. The Seattle artist has shipped 64 tons of block ice to Jerusalem, to be assembled into a wall - 20 feet high and 60 feet long. The work is due to be finished Oct. 3 and will take about a week to melt.

New comedy, baseball films score hits at the box office "Blue Streak," a Martin Lawrence comedy, beat out Kevin Costner's latest baseball movie for top honors at North American box offices over the weekend. In a matchup of debut films, "Blue Streak" took in $19.2 million, leaving "For Love of the Game," which grossed $13 million, in second place. "For Love of the Game" may have been hurt by Costner's reluctance to help promote the film, said Robert Bucksbaum, an analyst with Reel Source Inc. In interviews, Costner devoted much time to criticizing Universal for editing scenes to get the movie down from an R rating to PG-13. Reported ticket sales Friday through Sunday at North American theaters (in millions): 1. "Blue Streak" $19.2 2. "For Love of the Game"13.0 3. "The Sixth Sense" 11.2 4. "Stigmata" 9.2 5. "Stir of Echoes" 3.9 6. "Runaway Bride" 2.6 7. "The Thomas Crown Affair" 2.0 8. "Bowfinger" 1.7 (tie) "The 13th Warrior 1.7 10. "Mickey Blue Eyes" 1.1 - Exhibitor Relations Inc./AP