Though only a fraction of Catholic priests are pedophiles, the entire Roman Catholic Church is routinely broad-brushed as corrupt and depraved. I've not heard those who make generalizations about Catholicism referred to as bigots in Time magazine..

LEVELLAND, TEXAS - The Manchester Ray LeBel All-Stars were eliminated from the 13-year-old Babe Ruth Baseball World Series on Tuesday, dropping a 9-4 quarterfinal contest to College Point, N.Y. at Lobo Field in Levelland, Texas.

DETROIT - The Tigers outfielder says he's decided to pass up a chance to return to the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox had claimed him on waivers this week, and it was up to him to approve the deal.

IN NOVEMBER OF 1943 -- back when he was a G.I. stationed "somewhere in Italy," as the censors made him put it -- George Paris mailed a postcard to his cousin in Manchester. His daughter received it in the mail last month. And away we go on one of those tales that can only be told because of the expansion of social networking websites and Laura Canon's determination to deliver what has become a precious keepsake to a Manchester family.

MANCHESTER - A man accused of attempting to sexually assault two women in separate incidents early yesterday morning claimed, through an interpreter in Manchester District Court, that one of them offered to have sex with him for money.

The Manchester Ray LeBel All-Stars must win three straight games to capture the 13-year-old Babe Ruth Baseball World Series title in Levellend, Texas.

PEOPLE ARE always doing ridiculous and brainless things with wildlife, and just when I think I’ve seen and heard it all — people feeding bears because they’re "cute" and cannot be adored without being as close as possible, people putting little kids on the backs of brain-worm-afflicted moose, people picking up supposedly “orphaned” or “abandoned” fawns — someone tells me another beaut.

Susan McGeough brought about 30 dozen eggs produced on her Epping farm to a farmers' market in Portsmouth last weekend, but they were gone in a hurry. "I sold out early," she said yesterday, recalling the look of panic on the faces of some of her customers. McGeough is among the New Hampshire farmers who say they're seeing more customers looking to buy local due to a nationwide salmonella outbreak.

CONCORD - Despite a vote they took last week, national officials of the Democratic party do not control the date of the next New Hampshire presidential primary, Secretary of State William Gardner said yesterday.

CONWAY - A trip to the Dumpster turned into a bear encounter for a man taking out the garbage Sunday, according to Fish and Game Department officials. Jeff Allard, who lives at Cathedral Crossing apartments in North Conway, required 16 stitches after the surprised bear swiped his shoulder on his way out of the rubbish container.

MANCHESTER - Back to school is back to basics for more districts when it comes to student attire. When classes begin next week, Manchester will highlight a new student code that has Mayor Ted Gatsas speaking in terms of Business 101: Dress for success.

NASHUA - The head of a local rock band made famous on the TV show "America's Got Talent" has won a $1.3 million judgment against a former business partner who accused him of stealing from Recycled Percussion, the band they once co-owned.

MANCHESTER - The Board of School Committee was set to vote last night on merging the district's Information Technology Department with the city's, but the proposal was hijacked by committee member Arthur Beaudry, who presented his own plan to keep the school IT staff as is.

NASHUA - One man accused of killing a Mont Vernon mother and attacking her daughter is expected to meet with a second psychological expert this week in preparation for a possible insanity defense. It's not known whether Christopher A. Gribble, 20, will use an expert.

Kyle Drabek tossed seven innings of two-hit ball, fanning nine in the process as the Fisher Cats closed the Eastern Division gap to 2 1/2 games in a crucial series with division-leading Trenton, taking the game, 6-0.

In politics, it is common for incumbents to present fairly detailed plans for governing and challengers to have more vague offerings. This year's governor's race is shaping up very differently.