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NORTHWEST PILOTS-BABBITT FAA chief: Pilots must refocus on professionalism Washington (AP) The nation's top aviation official says the Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot Minneapolis are part of a larger problem of professionalism among commercial airline pilots.

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Randy Babbitt told an international aviation club on Wednesday that aviation is facing an "extreme need to refocus on professionalism." He pointed to Northwest Flight 188, which overshot Minneapolis by 150 miles because the pilots were working on their laptops. He also noted the regional airliner that crashed earlier this year near Buffalo, N.Y., killing 50 people.

A former airline pilot and pilot union president, Babbitt says that in both cases the pilots forgot their first job was to focus on flying the plane.

SEAT BELT LAW New Minn. law spurs 10,000 seat belt citations ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota law enforcers are making full use of a new seat belt law, issuing 10,081 citations during a special crackdown in October.

The Department of Public Safety said Wednesday that almost 200 of the citations were for child safety seat violations. The stepped-up enforcement campaign ran from Oct. 9 to Oct. 22.

A 5-month-old Minnesota law allows police to pull over motorists if they spot an unbuckled driver or passenger. Before that, they had to identify another traffic violation before making the stop.

A seat belt violation can cost more than $100 when surcharges are added in.

The department says there are 30 fewer traffic deaths at this point in 2009 than there were in 2008. Officials documented fewer deaths of unbuckled motorists.

MINNESOTA-SWINE Flu 4 more flu deaths in Minn., 3 confirmed swine flu ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Minnesota health officials are reporting three more deaths from swine flu and another death from a flu-like illness that wasn't confirmed as H1N1.

Health Department officials say the three confirmed victims all had underlying health conditions.

Health officials didn't provide names or genders of the victims, but they were a Hennepin County resident in their 50s, a Fillmore County resident in their 20s and a Winona County resident in their 70s.

The fourth death was an "older adult" who died of the flu, but there wasn't a sample available to test and confirm what type of flu.

Also, state health officials say they are making plans to vaccinate young children in schools throughout the state in a few weeks, but only if they get enough vaccine and with parents' consent.

OFFICER CHARGED-AUSTIN Austin cop testifies in theft of medication trial ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) One of Austin's top police officers took the stand Wednesday afternoon to defend himself against charges that he stole prescription drugs from the department's evidence room.

Curt Rude is on trial for allegedly stealing evidence, possessing a controlled substance, and interfering with police property. He's the second-highest ranking officer in the Austin Police Department.

On Wednesday, Rude took the stand in his own defense. He acknowledged to taking the OxyContin on November 6, 2007, but he says he was doing his own investigation of the overdose death of a friend.

Rude was put on paid administrative leave in December 2007. He has pleaded not guilty.

The case is being prosecuted in Olmsted County to avoid any conflicts of interest.

Information from: KAAL-TV, http://www.kaaltv.com FRANKEN-COMIC BOOK SALE Art from comic with intro by Franken up for bid ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Artwork from a comic book introduced by Democrat Al Franken before he became a U.S. senator from Minnesota will be sold in an auction later this month.

Heritage Auction Galleries is auctioning artwork from a collected volume of Don Simpson's "Megaton Man," which featured an introduction Franken wrote in 2005.

The auction is slated for Nov. 20 in Dallas.

All proceeds will go to the USO, the nonprofit that brings entertainment to U.S. troops.

Franken spokeswoman Jess McIntosh says Simpson illustrated Franken's 2003 book, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them," so Franken returned the favor by writing the introduction.

PAWLENTY-Iowa MN Gov. Pawlenty says GOP must improve DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he welcomes his party's success in winning two key races for governor, but he cautions that the GOP must improve after election losses in recent years.

Speaking Wednesday on a conference call with reporters before a weekend appearance in Des Moines, Pawlenty noted the party had a good night Tuesday with wins in New Jersey and Virginia. But after big losses in 2006 and 2008, he says Republicans must focus on improving the party's standing.

Asked about the loss of a New York congressional candidate he endorsed over the official GOP candidate, Pawlenty defended his decision. He called the process for picking the Republican flawed and says it produced a disappointing candidate.

Democrat Bill Owens won the seat, which had been represented by Republicans for more than a century.

SIREN MYSTERY-LAKEVILLE Lakeville investigates false starts of sirens LAKEVILLE, Minn. (AP) City officials in Lakeville are investigating the cause of two false starts of outdoor warning sirens that happened Oct. 30 and Wednesday morning.

The first happened at 9 p.m. and involved several outdoor warning sirens. The second time was about 7:15 a.m. Wednesday.

Lakeville Police Chief Tom Vonhof says the initial investigation suggests the false starts may be caused by an unknown radio signal.

Lakeville has 21 outdoor warning sirens that are designed to warn of approaching storms.

Information from: WCCO-AM, http://www.wccoradio.com (Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 11-05-09 0130CST | save this article / add to your favorites list