Around the Nation

GEORGIA

Search for bride-to-benow criminal investigation

DULUTH — More than 100 volunteers joined police yesterday in a search through the wooded neighborhood where a 32-year-old woman reportedly disappeared just days before she was to be married.

Yesterday morning, authorities said they were considering the Tuesday-night disappearance of Jennifer Wilbanks a criminal investigation. Miss Wilbanks was reported missing five hours after her fiance, John Mason, said she had gone on her nightly jog in the northeastern Atlanta suburb neighborhood, police said.

Tomorrow’s wedding was expected to be a bash, with 600 invitations sent out and 14 bridesmaids and 14 groomsmen, said Mr. Mason’s mother, Vicki.

MINNESOTA

City may require panhandler badges

MINNEAPOLIS — A license to beg? If Police Chief William McManus gets his way, the city’s panhandlers will face arrest unless they are wearing a photo ID issued by the city.

It’s an idea that has been used in Dayton, Ohio, where Chief McManus used to be chief, and a few other big cities as a way to curb public begging. In some of those places, the begging badges have encountered resistance from homeless advocates.

Here is how the registration process would work: Once a year, people who plan to panhandle would register with the city, have their picture taken and be issued an ID that they would be required to display while they beg.

Anyone caught begging without a license could be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Associated Press

Robert Yellow Wolf, 37, lookingfor help at Cedar Street near Interstate 94 in Minneapolis Tuesday, would be wearing a license to panhandle if Police Chief William McManus gets his way.

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