News In Brief

YEAH, I'M TALKIN' TO YOU Charles Luppert isn't a cop and doesn't play one on TV. But he was totally convincing when he put on his best policeman act in Williamsport, Pa. The bank president was out of the office when a teller recognized two check-forgery suspects at the drive-up window and put in a call to him. Luppert rushed back, blocked their car with his, and ordered them to get out and put their hands on the hood. They obeyed and were soon arrested when the gendarmes arrived. Asked about his risky deed, Luppert explained: "The cops are busy."

THE MATING GAME Today's teenagers generally still hope to marry, a new study reports. Rutgers University researchers say in their survey of high-school seniors, 83 percent of females and 72 percent of boys believed in the importance of a good union. But only 64 percent and 59 percent, respectively, expected to remain with the same spouse for the long haul

Phoenix growth rate ranked No. 1 among large US cities

Phoenix and San Antonio were the nation's fastest-growing cities with populations of 1 million or more in the first eight years of the decade, according to a new Census Bureau report. From 1990 to 1998, Phoenix grew more than 21 percent; San Antonio, more than 14 percent. Although those figures indicate considerable growth, they seem feeble in comparison with growth rates in many relatively small communities. The five fastest-growing big cities (1 million or more residents) and the five fastest-growing localities of 10,000 to 50,000 residents - and the percentage growth of each from 1990 to 1998:

Fastest-growing big cities

Phoenix 21.3%

San Antonio 14.1

San Diego 9.9

Houston 8.0

Dallas 6.8

Fastest-growing (10,000-50,000)

Mesquite, Nev. 441.2%

Frisco, Texas 328.5

Fishers, Ind. 256.0

Cedar Park, Texas 256.0

Lake in the Hills, Ill. 247.1

Compiled by Robert Kilborn and Lance Carden