WASHINGTON, D.C.

Mint wants to create pool of artists for coins

The U.S. Mint is looking for American artists who’d like to put their designs to work on U.S. coins.

Under its new “Artistic Infusion” program, the Mint is seeking to create a pool of 40 artists it can call upon periodically to submit designs for circulating coins, as well as for noncirculating commemorative coins and medals.

In terms of circulating coins, Mint Director Henrietta Fore said the new crop of artists might be asked to submit designs for the 2005 nickel, which honors the bicentennial of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and the 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark expedition.

They also may be asked to work on design concepts with states and the Mint for the state quarters scheduled to be issued in 2005 honoring California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas and West Virginia, Fore said.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Midsize SUVs perform poorly in bumper tests

Midsize sport utility vehicles fared poorly in bumper crash tests performed by the insurance industry, including several that needed more than $2,000 in repairs after 5 mph collisions.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated nine vehicles in results released Friday. None got the institute’s highest rating, but the 2003 Honda Pilot earned the second-highest rating. The Pilot sustained an average of $404 in damages in each of four tests.

Automakers have criticized the bumper ratings, saying they have nothing to do with the safety of the vehicle. But the institute defends them, saying no vehicle should sustain major damage at the 5 mph test speed.

BALTIMORE

Kidnap victim found on Cal Ripken’s porch

The three men who left a naked gunshot victim near Cal Ripken’s house on Thanksgiving night likely didn’t know they were in the former Baltimore Oriole’s neighborhood, Baltimore County Police said Friday.

The shooting victim, identified Friday as 20-year-old Brian Holmes Robbins, told police he was kidnapped near his apartment in downtown Baltimore and released in a field near Ripken’s Worthington Valley home nine hours later.

Robbins, who was shot once in the back, ended up on Ripken’s front porch, bleeding and yelling for help.

“It appears it was just a coincidence that this happened there,” said Officer Shawn Vinson, a police spokesman.

Police think the man’s captors were trying to extort money from him, Vinson said.

Los Angeles

Surgeon sues Disney over maintenance

Disney is facing more allegations of faulty maintenance procedures, this time by a Milwaukee surgeon who said he suffered whiplash and an ongoing neurological disorder after riding a roller coaster at its California Adventure amusement park.

The doctor’s negligence lawsuit, which goes to trial next week in California’s Orange County Superior Court, challenges whether a safety restraint was properly lowered and lubricated.

The trial comes days after the release of a California report on the fatal crash in September on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

In that incident, investigators found that Disneyland mechanics failed to tighten bolts and insert a safety wire on the coaster.

Disneyland spokeswoman Sondra Haley said, “This is a shameful attempt to try to capitalize on a very unfortunate tragedy in a completely unrelated matter.”