Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page A1

GRATEFUL PATIENT Jerry Lewis has firsthand knowledge of Medtronic device he pitches Business MUSIC 0 and A with busy Hilary Duff MOVIES Openings include something for every taste a i weatner B8 Sunrise: Sunset: 8:41 212th day; 154 until '05 StarTribune NEWSPAPER OF THE TWIN CITIES Friday July 30, 2004 Metro Edition 500 ft THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION ELECTION 2004 Kerry vows to take charge Authorities say three infants whose remains were found in storage were not slain. No murder, but no end to mystery By Jim Adams Star Tribune StaffWriter No foul play is suspected in the deaths of three infants whose remains were found stored in trunks last summer by a Coon Rapids woman, but investigators think the rest of the story will never be known. "It is the end of the case, and a lot of questions remain, but anybody who could answer them is long since deceased," said Lt. Paul Sommer of the Anoka County Sheriff's Office. The babies, two boys and a girl, were likely full term and apparently died of natural causes at birth in the 1960s, investigators concluded in a report released Thursday.

DNA tests on the remains and other evidence indicate that the babies' mother was Cheryl Herzog, who died in 1999, Sommer said. "There is no evidence from the autopsies and all the other tests to suggest anything like a murder of these children," he said. Investigators concluded that the family has a history of hemolytic disease, a blood disorder that can kill newborns if left untreated. REMAINS continues on A17: County had asked Hamline University anthropologist to examine the remains. Amy SancettaAssociated Press Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry basked in the applause Thursday night after speaking to delegates and guests at the Democratic National Convention in Boston.

His acceptance speech formally set the stage for the showdown this fall with President Bush. Target to sell Mervyn's for $1.65 billion Deal won't affect closing of nine Minnesota stores He promises to restore trust to the White House Delegates and candidate gave each other a boost Analysis Max Cleland, who lost three limbs in Vietnam, helped introduce Kerry. a young man and I will defend it as president," he said. "Let there be no mistake: I will never hesitate to use force when it is required. Any attack will be met with a swift and a certain response." But more than reinforcing his own credentials, Kerry used this speech to what was certainly the largest audience the four-term senator from Massachusetts has ever faced to offer a blistering critique of Bush's 40 months in office.

"We have it in our power to change the world, but only if we're true to our ideals, and that starts by telling the truth to the American people," Kerry said. KERRY continues on A16 By Adam Nagourney New York Times BOSTON John Kerry accepted the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday night, pledging to "restore trust and credibility to the White House" as he accused President Bush of misleading the nation into war and pursuing policies that he described as a threat to the economy, the Constitution and the nation's standing in the world. Kerry promised to take charge of "a nation at war." He invoked his service in Vietnam 35 years ago as he vowed to protect Americans from terrorism in the 21st century. "I defended this country as By David Westphal Star Tribune Washington Bureau Chief BOSTON If John Kerry can't stop President Bush from winning a second term, it won't be because the Democrats failed to give him a powerful launch. An extraordinarily united and out-for-bear party handed Kerry everything he could hope for a burnishing of his commander-in-chief credentials and a positive message that jettisoned the party's usual ration of acrimonious rhetoric.

Kerry came through as well, delivering a spirited acceptance speech Thursday night that stirred the convention delegates. But even as he and running mate John Edwards hit the road today intent on maximizing their Boston bounce, the Democrats' newly minted team faces headwinds that could shift momentum quickly to the president. Kerry arguably has held the leading political hand since engineering a miracle comeback in the Iowa caucuses more than six months ago. THE DEAL The buyers: Sun Capital Partners of Florida, Cerberus Capital Management of New York and Lubert-AdlerKlaff Partners of Philadelphia. What they're getting: 257 Mervyn's stores, including 126 in California and 42 in Texas.

Price: $1.65 billion. Timing: The sale is expected to close in the third quarter. By Melissa Levy Star Tribune StaffWriter Target Corp. is another step closer to being able to fully concentrate on its core discount stores after announcing plans late Thursday to sell its ailing Mervyn's chain to a group of financial and real estate investors for $1.65 billion in cash. The Minneapolis retailer already is closing the nine Mervyn's stores in its hometown market as part of a $3.2 billion deal to sell its Marshall Field's business to May Department Stores Co.

Private investment firm Sun Capital Partners Inc. said that it and partners Cerberus Capital Management and Lubert-AdlerKlaff Partners planned to keep Mervyn's independent and retain its management and Hayward, Calif, headquarters. DEAL continues on AlO Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright spoke on foreign policy. ANALYSIS continues on A16 Minnesota's Kucinich delegates aren't pleased with the way they, or their candidate, were treated. A15 The balloons were off cue, the producer was peeved and the mike was on.

Oops. A14. EXPANDED Not wasting any time, Sen. COVERAGE, John Kerry will visit Wiscon-A14-16 sin next week, while President Bush will stop in Mankato. A14 Some delegates were unhappy with the level of microman-aging by Kerry's people.

Staff writer Eric Black explains. A14 Court backs DNR in Bunyan trail fracas Pro-landowner ruling is overturned TWINS VS. BOSTON Metrodome 7:10 p.m. today 6:10 p.m. Saturday 1:10 p.m.

Sunday NEWS INSIDE DNA scientist Crick dies at 88 Nobel Prize-winning scientist Francis Crick, who with James Watson discovered IN SPORTS The making of a slugger Since leaving the Twins after the 2002 season, David Ortiz has evolved into one of the most-feared hitters in the American League. How'd that happen? Jim Souhan looks at Ortiz then and now. C3 It's 3rd and goal for Tice It's Year 3 and do or die for Vikings head coach Mike Tice. Read about Tice and all of the Vikings in a special Training Camp Preview, CI, C8-12. '1 -A the spiral, "double-helix" structure of DNA in 1953, has died.

Turn to A8. British molecular scientist Francis Crick IT. A VIKINGS TRAINING CAMP vowed to bring the case before the U.S. Supreme Court. You haven't heard the end of her yet," Brian Sandberg said from his home in northwest Missouri.

"I will win. I'll sell everything I've got to win this case." C.B. Bylander, communications director for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, said, "It's a great day for rails-to-trails in Minnesota and the nation. The decision clearly could have jeopardized the existing trail system." TRAIL continues on A17: One landowner called the ruling unbelievable." When completed, trail will link up with Blue Ox Trail. By Chao Xiong Star Tribune Staff Writer In what is being called a victory for the state's public trails, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled Thursday that 2 miles of former railroad beds belong to the state, not to private landowners.

The decision overturned a 2003 Minnesota Court of Appeals decision regarding a small stretch of the Paul Bunyan State Trail, which runs from the Brainerd area to Bemidji. Trail advocates hailed the ruling as a victory for the state's 500 miles of railroad-turned-public-trails. Meanwhile, a key defendant Today players arrive Questions about delivery: Please 612-673-4343 read To place a classified ad: and 612-673-7000 or 1-800-775-4344 recycle otner questions 612-673-4000 Saturday morning first oractice EA Friday, July 30, 2004 Copyright 2004 Star Tribune volume XXIIINo. 117 7 sections 1 0 7 3 0 4 757273 00002 i i RWBGY X1234567.