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South Korea agreed to resume U.S. beef imports that had been halted over mad cow disease, clearing a key hurdle to a broader trade deal with Washington just hours before the countries' leaders were to meet Friday.

South Korea suspended U.S. beef imports in 2003 after mad cow disease was discovered in the United States, cutting off what was then the third-largest market for American beef.

Restricted imports resumed last April, but have been on hold since October, when a shipment arrived containing animal parts that had been banned over mad cow concerns.

The beef issue has been a major irritant in relations between the allies, and threatened prospects for approving a wider free-trade agreement -- one of the main agenda items at a summit starting Friday in Washington between South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and President Bush.

Although not directly related to the free-trade pact, some U.S. lawmakers had insisted the beef issue needed to be resolved for them to back the deal. Legislatures in both countries have yet to approve the pact that was negotiated last year.

Concerts

Rob Biagi, 6 p.m. Sunday, Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1958 N. Webb Road. Free.

Wedel Family Quartet, 6 p.m. Sunday, First United Methodist Church, 421 W. Central, El Dorado. Offering.

Mark Lowry, 7 p.m. Thursday, Central Christian Church, 2900 N. Rock Road. Tickets $16.50 at Perfect Peace and www.iTickets.com.

Love as Scarlet and Yesterday's Hero, 7 p.m. Friday, Gracepoint, 13310 W. 21st St. Tickets $5.

Wichita

• CENTURY II, 225 W. Douglas. Tickets available at www.wichitatix.com, 316-219-4TIX.

Mike Epps & Friends, comedy concert, 8 p.m. Sat., Concert Hall. Tickets $41.

Sheryl Crow, 7:30 p.m. Tue. Sold out.

• COTILLION BALLROOM, 11120 W. Kellogg. Tickets available at Select-A-Seat outlets, the Cotillion and plant employee clubs, unless otherwise noted. Charge by phone and information, 316-722-4201.

"Charlotte's Web," April 25-May 24. Crown Uptown Professional Children's Theatre, 3207 E. Douglas. Buffet 11:15 a.m. Fri.-Sat.; doors open at 11. Tickets $8.95 (includes lunch). Information, 316-681-1566.

22nd Annual Take Back the Night, parade, art, refreshments and speakers Stephen Six, Sandy Barnett, Dorthy Stucky-Halley and a survivor of sexual violence, 6 p.m. April 25, Old Town Plaza, Second and Mead. Free. Information, 316-263-0185.

The Art of Giving: From the Heart of Art to the Heart of Greensburg, young poets, artists, dancers and musicians present a show to benefit the Art and Music Department of Greensburg USD 422, 7 p.m. April 25, Century II Concert Hall. Tickets $12, $8 for students, available at www.wichitatix.com, Copper Oven, Frank & Margaret's, Riverside Perk, LuCinda's and Harmonious Posh. Information, 316-409-6405.

"Symphony of Spring," 7:30 p.m. April 25 and May 1-3, 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 26, Sebits Auditorium, Riney Fine Arts Center, Friends University. Tickets $15, $12 students and seniors. Information, 316-295-5537.

Wichita Gem & Mineral Show, demonstrations, exhibits and dealers in gemstones, minerals, fossils, crystals and meteorites, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. April 25, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. April 26 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. April 27, Cessna Activity Center, 2744 George Washington Blvd. Admission $5 adults, $1 youth 12-17, under 12 free with adult. Information, 316-722-7115 or www.wgmsks.org.

Today

Early Hours Gaming and Hi-Tech Fun, for ages 8-up, 7-9 p.m., MindScapes, 13th and Maize Road. Cost $10, $5 for accompanying adult. Information, 316-558-8528.

"Deliver Us From Evil," documentary screening for Sexual Assault Awareness Month, 7:30 p.m., Murdock Theatre, 20th Century Center, 536 N. Broadway. Presented by Tallgrass Film Festival and the Wichita Association for the Motion Picture Arts. Tickets $6 (discounts available). Information, 316-263-1665.

After Hours Computer Gaming, for ages 13-up, 9 p.m.-midnight, MindScapes, 13th and Maize Road. Cost $15. Information, 316-558-8528.

Today-Sunday

Recreation

All Star Adventures, 1010 N. Webb Road. Twenty-two attractions including 14 rides. Cost is per activity. Call for hours, 316-682-3700.

All-Star Sports West, 8333 W. 21st. Cost is per activity. Call for hours, 316-722-7529.

Laser Quest Wichita, 2120 N. Woodlawn, Shop No. 470. Open 6-9 p.m. Wed.-Thu., 4-11 p.m. Fri., noon-11 p.m. Sat., 1-7 p.m. Sun. Admission $7.50, per game. Information, 316-652-9500.

Skate East, 1836 S. Woodlawn. Call for hours and admission. Information, 316-685-5711.

Saturday

Wire House Gallery Grand Opening Celebration, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at the gallery, 209 S. Hays, Haysville. Works by Campus High School seniors will exhibit through May 17. Presented by the Haysville Historic Committee. Hours 4-8 p.m. Tue. Free. Information, city of Haysville, 316-529-5922.

Sunday

Sculptor Sean Corner, artist demonstration, 1-4 p.m., Wichita Art Museum, 1400 W. Museum Blvd. Included with admission. Information, 316-268-4921.

Tuesday

Elementary schools

Anderson Elementary vocal concert, by students in third and fourth grades, 7 p.m. Tuesday, 2945 Victoria.

Benton Elementary 50th birthday celebration, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, Wilbur Middle School, 340 N. Tyler Road. Dinner, silent auction, physical education student performances. Call Ann Welborn, principal, 973-3300.

Isely Traditional Magnet musical, "The Patriots: Heroes of the War of Independence," and strings concert, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. today, 2500 E. 18th St.

McLean Elementary kindergarten and first grade music and dance program, "Frog and Toad," 2:30 p.m. today, 2277 Marigold Lane.

Today

• Northwest Big River Neighborhood Association, 7 p.m., Antioch Christian Church, 3741 W. 15th St.

• The Elm Neighborhood Association, 7 p.m., 606 N. Piatt.

• Matlock Heights Neighborhood Association, 6:30 p.m., North Patrol substation, 3015 E. 21st St.

• Crestview Heights Neighborhood Association, 7 p.m., First Evangelical Free Church, 1825 N. Woodlawn.

Senior Health Alliance, information about recording health information on a computer card for use by medical professionals and in emergencies, 10:30 a.m. today, Orchard Park Senior Center, 4808 W. Ninth St.

What's New With Long-Term Care Insurance? with senior financial advisor Stan Webb, 2 p.m. today, Down-town Senior Center, 200 S. Walnut.

Kechi Over 55 Club meeting and covered-dish supper, 6:30 p.m. today, Kechi City Hall, 220 W. Kechi Road, Kechi. Valerie Fairchild of the Arthritis Foundation will speak on the Life Improvement class series.

Disaster Preparedness, by the American Red Cross, 10:15 a.m. Friday, Linwood Senior Center, 1901 S. Kansas.

Nutrition and the Eyes, by Envision, 10:30 a.m. Friday, Orchard Park Senior Center, 4808 W. Ninth St.

Book Club at Evergreen Library, 1 p.m. today, 2601 Arkansas. Information, 316-303-8181.

Lambda Alpha anthropology student symposium,8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Room 126 Clinton Hall, Wichita State University. Anthropological papers and presentations by students from various schools. Free. Audience will vote on which paper receives a $100 prize.

Chickasaw Community Council, 3 p.m. Sunday, Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca. Speaker will be Linda Giles, the council's resource officer. Information, Lynn at 316-945-9219.

Rapid Change and the Olympics in China, video conference with students and professors from Xian International University in China, 7 p.m. Sunday, Friends University Marriage and Family Building, southeast side of campus, 2100 University. Free.

Military Order of the Purple Heart, 7 p.m. Monday, VFW Post 3115, Douglas and Anna streets. Call Tom Creel, 316-558-8059 or 316-650-1328.

• "How I Met Your Mother's" Jason Segel wrote the screenplay for the comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," and also stars as a brokenhearted guy trying to get over a recent split with his TV-star girlfriend (Kristen Bell) by taking a vacation in Hawaii _ only to find his ex and her new beau at the same resort.

• In what sounds like a gimmicky premise, "88 Minutes" stars Al Pacino as a college professor who moonlights as a forensic psychiatrist for the FBI. When he receives a death threat telling him he has only 88 minutes to live, he frantically tries to find the identity of his tormentor before he runs out of time, or in this case, before the end credits roll.

• "Forbidden Kingdom" pairs martial arts superstars Jet Li and Jackie Chan in a tale about a kung fu-obsessed American teen who accidentally discovers an ancient Chinese staff in a pawnshop. He then is magically sent back in time to find its rightful owner, with the help of a drunken kung fu master (Chan) and a silent monk (Li).

• Documentary fans have two choices this weekend, as "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" follows Ben Stein as he seeks to determine whether intelligent design is a pseudoscience trying to undermine evolutionary biology, or whether it is legitimate science being suppressed by a scientific establishment that is hostile to any deviation from the status quo.

• And the Tallgrass Film Festival and the Wichita Association for the Motion Picture Arts present a special screening tonight at the Murdock Theatre of "Deliver Us From Evil," in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The 2007 Oscar nominee for best documentary follows the story of Father Oliver O'Grady, who was an active pedophile within the Catholic Church system for more than two decades. Filmmaker Amy Berg examines the corruption of church leaders _ who knew of his acts but ignored them _ and the lives that O'Grady shattered.

. Sabor on Sunday: Melad Stephan's popular Latin eatery at 309 N. Mead (316-201-4880) has just added Sunday hours. The restaurant will be open from 4 to 9 p.m. on Sundays.

2. Mojitos on Sunday: Sabor will celebrate its Sunday hours by serving half-price frozen mojitos all day.

3. Uptown brunch: Sabor's sister restaurant, Uptown Bistro, next door at 301 N. Mead, is now serving a brunch every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with features such as create-your-own omelet and $3 Bloody Marys and mimosas. Call 316-262-3232 for details.

QUICK BITES

Caffe Final Friday

For kids

"The Naked Brothers Band"

The pint-sized rockers take Cleveland by storm when they perform their latest single, "Body I Occupy," in concert. 7:30 p.m., Nickelodeon, Channel 46.

Comedy

"MADtv"

"Eli Stone"

Eli suffers complications during surgery on his brain aneurysm, which leaves brother Nathan with the difficult decision of whether to remove Eli's life support. 9 p.m., ABC and KAKE, Channel 10.

Series

"30 Rock"

Jack is eager to find a young, hip Republican celebrity for a John McCain fundraising dinner. The only talent he can secure is Bucky Bright (Tim Conway), a 1950s-era TV star who is still fixated on his glory days in old Hollywood. 7:30 p.m., NBC and KSNW, Channel 3.

Forty thousand tulips used to bloom this time of year at Bartlett Arboretum 30 minutes south of Wichita in Belle Plaine, giving rise to the town's long-running Tulip Time celebration.

The party continues to this day, but with a bit of a different growth pattern. This weekend, while the town celebrates around it, the nearly 100-year-old arboretum will be pushing up art and music along with its most famous stars: enormous trees that make you feel like you're not in Kansas anymore.

Oh, yes, and some tulips.

"We have 5,000 tulips," says the arboretum's owner-steward, singer Robin Macy. "The whole formal garden is full of tulips."

But Macy, a founding member of the Dixie Chicks, is more intent on the trees that have seen decades of tulips come and go. She started Art at the Arb three years ago as "a way to have the public enjoy the arb and those stately trees," which include a number of the biggest or oldest examples of their type in the state, including a Japanese maple and a river birch.

Get ready for your close-up.

A category of cosmetics hitting stores now is designed to achieve a flawless-looking face under the microscope of pore-magnifying, fine line-focusing, high-definition television.

The products are popular with Hollywood makeup artists, and now brands such as Cargo and Christian Dior are being marketed to the everywoman who wants to look like a perfectly porcelain-skinned Nicole Kidman, whether she's under the harsh florescent lights of the office or in the soft focus of an outdoor patio.

HD foundations claim to provide full coverage without feeling or looking too thick. They contain photochromatic particles that reflect light instead of absorbing it, blurring fine lines and imperfections, explains Jessica Wu, a Los Angeles dermatologist.

"The trend in makeup is to have clean, real-looking, less-made-up skin, so HD techniques and the way we wear makeup in everyday life go hand in hand," says Smashbox Cosmetics makeup artist Lori Taylor.

There are three boys and one girl in a family of 8-week-old domestic short-hair kittens at the Kansas Humane Society. All are equally adorable, and all love to be snuggled. None of the kittens have names yet, so they are ready for a family to give them one that fits their precious personalities.

Also available:

• Chaz, a 2-year-old gorgeous golden retriever mix, is very relaxed and looking for a fun, exclusive relationship with a new family. He has plenty of love to give and prefers to be the only dog in your life.

• Jazzy, a 5-month-old Boston terrier mix, is very friendly and affectionate. She may seem shy at first, but will warm up to people quickly.

• Sox, a 7-month-old domestic medium-hair cat, is a beautiful, easygoing feline. Be prepared for someone who likes attention and has a pretty purr to prove it.

Agility trials at Coliseum this weekend

Run 4 Rescue is holding agility trials for dogs today and Sunday at the Kansas Coliseum herding barn, with donations being collected for Pals Animal Rescue.

The North American Dog Agility Council trials start at 8:30 a.m. and continue until about 5 p.m. both days.

Admission is free, but donations of money and pet supplies will be collected to help Pals, a local pet rescue.

For more information, call Lee Ann at 316-210-6454.

File under "awkward moment."

A couple of weeks ago, Uno the Westminster-winning beagle appeared on "Good Day L.A." While the Best in Show beagle was tail-waggingly gregarious, a couple of hackles got raised between his human companion, Westminster commentator David Frei, and anchor Gillian Barberie.

Barberie voiced her support of the city's recently passed mandatory spay-neuter law, which requires puppies and kittens to be sterilized by 4 months old. In turn, Frei -- who was in Los Angeles with Uno to present a $2,500 check to the Concerned Dog Owners of California to support its legal challenge to the ordinance -- ticked off all the health risks of performing those surgical procedures too early.

The two found common ground on the subject of subsidizing spay/neuter surgeries for those owners who cannot afford them, and moved on.

The argument, however, remains. At its heart is not so much the question of whether owners of companion cats and dogs should take them in for that ominous-sounding "gonadectomy," but rather when.

Like so many great American poets, Richard Hugo succeeded in spite of himself.

Abandoned as an infant by his father and teenage mother, Hugo grew up under the strict, distrustful rule of his maternal grandparents. They alternately lavished him with affection and beat him without mercy.

Plagued by feelings of worthlessness and self-doubt, Hugo saw himself as "a wrong thing in a right world." He spent much of his short, unhappy life trying to make that wrong thing right.

Through heavy drinking, failed relationships and a fog of misdirection, he strained to catch a glimmer of his one true self, to see where in the world he might belong.

In the end, it would be poetry.

"His Illegal Self" by Peter Carey (Knopf, 272 pages, $24.95)

While set in the radical underground of the early 1970s, Peter Carey's new novel is less about the radicals themselves than the innocents they affected. At the center of "His Illegal Self" is Che, nearly 8, who goes with Anna Xenos, nicknamed Dial, to meet his mother.

Che is in the care of his Grandma Selkirk, who calls him Jay, and has lived most of his life with her in her upscale New York City apartment. Dial, who baby-sat the boy years earlier and is a friend of the boy's mother, Susan, has been accepted to a teaching position at Vassar College but agrees to bring the boy to Susan.

Unknown to the grandmother, this visit is to take place in Philadelphia, and before it can happen, Susan blows herself up making a bomb. Dial, following instructions from Susan's compatriots in the underground, flees with Che to the West Coast.

Meanwhile, Che believes Dial is his long-lost mother, and what bond they had deepens. Eventually she and the boy flee to Australia and end up in a hippie commune in the jungle of tropical Queensland.

• "Making Certain It Goes On: The Collected Poems of Richard Hugo" (W.W. Norton, $19.95)

• "The Real West Marginal Way: A Poet's Autobiography" (W.W. Norton, $10.95)

• "The Triggering Town: Lectures and Essays on Poetry and Writing" (W.W. Norton, $14.95)

"We Disappear" by Scott Heim (Harper Perennial, 320 pages, $13.95 paperback)

A strange and moving story of a meth-addicted New Yorker coming home to Haven, Kan., to care for his dying mother, "We Disappear" entwines several seemingly disparate topics: cancer, missing children, addiction, small-town life, obsessions.

Kansas native Heim has created flawed, frustrating characters in Donna and her son, Scott, but their lives ring true and their stories draw us in.

Why is Donna so obsessed with missing children? What really happened to her as a child? Why is there a teenage boy handcuffed in her basement?

The account of Donna's death and Scott's reaction is wrenching -- an unflinching look at the final days of illness and the toll it takes on survivors. The novel, like much of life, does not wrap up in a neat little package. But in searching for an elusive peace for his mother, Scott manages to find some for himself.

TODAY WSU Percussion Concert, university ensembles, 7:30 p.m. today, Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center, WSU. Tickets $6 (discounts available). Information, 316-978-3233.

TUE. Shopportunity, with prizes and silent auction, noon-9 p.m. Tue., NewMarket Square, 21st and Maize Road. Tickets $25, or five for $100, available by calling 316-942-6300, ext. 271.

"Relationships," spring concert with WSU Madrigal Singers and Chamber Singers, 7:30 p.m. Tue., Wiedemann Recital Hall, WSU. Tickets $6 (discounts available). Information, 316-978-3233.

Chamber Instrumental Ensembles, 7:30 p.m. Tue., Alumni Auditorium, Friends University. Free. Information, 316-295-5537.

WED. Shakespeare's Birthday, movie and trivia contest with prizes, 6:30 p.m. Wed., Wichita Public Library, 223 S. Main. Free. Information, 316-261-8500.

EVENTS

Shrine Circus, 1:30 and 6 p.m. today, Kansas Coliseum, 85th North off I-135. Tickets $14, $5 children 2-12; reserved $19, $10 children 2-12, available at Select-A-Seat outlets and the Coliseum. Charge by phone, 316-660-1000.

Run 4 Rescue Dog Agility, 8:30 a.m. today, Kansas Coliseum, 85th North off I-135. Free. Information, 316-660-1000.

Kansas Coliseum Flea Market, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today, Kansas Coliseum, 85th North off I-135. Admission $1. Information, 316-660-1000 or 620-663-5626.

Fifth Annual Spring Great Plains Renaissance Festival, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today, Sedgwick County Park, 6300 W. 13th St. Advance tickets $8, free for children 12-under, available at Book-A-Holic, Damm Music Center, Agents Comics and employee clubs; $10 and $3 at the gate. Information, 316-253-3392 (before 10 p.m.), online at www.greatplainsrenfest.com.

A martial arts dream team -- Jackie Chan and Jet Li -- won the weekend as their movie matchup "The Forbidden Kingdom" debuted at No. 1 with $20.9 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

The tale of a modern American teen hurtled back in time to a kung fu adventure in ancient China, "The Forbidden Kingdom" features Asian superstars Chan and Li in multiple roles and their first big-screen duel.

Universal's romantic comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," starring Jason Segel as a nice guy who's dumped by his glamorous girlfriend (Kristen Bell), opened in second place with $17.3 million. It's the latest from producer Judd Apatow ("Knocked Up").

The previous weekend's N 1 movie, the slasher remake "Prom Night," fell to third with $9.1 million, raising its total to $32.6 million.

Al Pacino's serial killer thriller "88 Minutes," from Sony's TriStar Pictures, was a dud, premiering at No. 4 with $6.8 million.

While a strapless gown is still classic for the stylish bride, this is the year of new up-top options -- from halters and spaghetti straps to short, sassy cap sleeves and even elegant full-length ones. That means support, shoulder coverage and a precious sense of security are suddenly chic.

"A lot of customers say they don't want a strapless gown," said Linda Shaps-Shanin, a vice president at David's Bridal. "Whether it's for religious reasons, or to have their shoulders covered, or they're afraid of lifting it up constantly, they want to feel comfortable that it's not going to fall down."

You may now kiss the bridal industry.

They finally get it -- and now they've got oodles of cool alternative necklines.

Here's how to pull it all together, with the year's hottest wedding-fashion trends:

Jolene Sanders lives on $650 a month and has trouble making ends meet, but she can't help rescuing homeless cats and dogs that she finds around her Wichita trailer court.

"I have a big heart for animals," said Sanders, 55, who lives with one dog and four cats.

She has three female cats that need to be spayed, but she can't afford the surgeries. "I called around and the cheapest (price) I could find was $120," she said.

A new spay and neuter clinic set to open in Wichita this summer will offer the surgeries for $30 for cats and $40 for dogs for people like Sanders who meet low-income guidelines.

Sanders paid to have her male cat, Rocky, neutered after he fathered a fourth litter of kittens last year.

HUNDREDS OF PET BLOGS HAVE APPEARED IN THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS

Like most bloggers, he writes about his daily activities and observations about life. But for Max, a 6-year-old black-and-white house cat, that often means recounting the joys of coughing up fur balls and climbing into boxes.

Max writes "PsychoKitty," a 4-year-old blog typed by his owner, Karen Thompson of Vacaville, Calif.

"I had been blogging for a little over a year and was having fun with it," said Thompson, 46, a novelist who has also published two books based on the blog.

"PsychoKitty," which Thompson said gets between 200 and 500 hits a day, is part of the growing ranks of hundreds of pet blogs that have sprouted up in the last five years -- narrated by cats, dogs, horses and even hamsters. The pets add one another to their blog rolls, leave comments for each other, and are loath to admit that the writers are, in fact, humans.

You loved him at first sight. The dog, we mean. Unfortunately, so did your soon-to-be ex.

For many, pets are considered to be a part of the family -- more child than companion -- and therefore must be handled carefully in a divorce. But by law, in most states, dogs are still considered property.

According to poll taken by members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the number of pet custody cases are on the rise -- and animals are more frequently being discussed in terms once reserved solely for children.

Author Jennifer Keene offers tips based on her break-up experience that included three dogs in the new book "We Can't Stay Together for the Dogs: Doing What's Best for your Dog When Your Relationship Breaks Up" (TFH Publications, $22.95).

Included are tips on various custody arrangements, what to do when multiple dogs are involved, how to budget for household changes and training tips to help deal with new problem behaviors that may appear (like separation anxiety or regression on house-training).

PHOTOGRAPHER JOEL SARTORE AND READERS OFFER TIPS ON GETTING THE BEST PHOTO POSSIBLE

With digital photos, blogs, YouTube and other ways to make sharing your family photos so quick and simple, maybe it's time to pause and take inventory of how you're snapping those pictures.

In the new book "Photographing Your Family" by Joel Sartore with John Healey (National Geographic Society, $24.95), Sartore, the award-winning National Geographic (and former Wichita Eagle) photographer and father of three shares simple tips and examples you can apply in your household.

Among them, he writes:

• "I usually keep several cameras ready around the house so I can capture spontaneous moments easily."

Celebrate Earth Day today with this review of two planet-friendly books.

'MySpace/OurPlanet: Change Is Possible'

By Jeca Taudte (HarperTeen, $12.99), ages 13 and older

Shorten your shower, ride the bus, watch sporting events in a group.

Here's how those suggestions from the author would improve the health of the planet:

"Law & Order: SVU"

Don't look now, but Benson has a boyfriend. He's a newspaper editor played by Bill Pullman. Unfortunately, their jobs have a way of getting in the way of a budding romance. 9 p.m., NBC and KSNW, Channel 3.

Documentary

"Car of the Future"

The latest installment of "Nova" examines what kind of vehicles might someday rule our highways. Tom and Ray Magliozzi of radio's "Car Talk" bring some humor to their look at efforts to capitalize on alternative fuel sources. 7 p.m., PBS and KPTS, Channel 8.

A group of beauty companies (including Estee Lauder, Aveda and L'Oreal) recently announced the creation of OASIS, the first "organic and sustainable industry standard" for certifying organic cosmetic products.

Critics contend it's not strict enough, ignoring animal-testing and packaging. Look for OASIS seals on goods within the next year.

In the meantime, other brands are greening in their own way.

One example: Physician's Formula's new Organic Wear 100 percent Natural Origin Blush, $11.95, and Bronzer, $13.95, come in all-paper compacts -- when done, simply toss out with your recycling. Certified by Ecocert; available at drugstores nationwide.

The company that financed the construction of the Gateway Ethanol plant in Pratt has filed a notice of default on the loan, asking for the full balance of $53.4 million to be paid immediately, according to a report filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Dougherty Funding, based in Minneapolis, Minn., notified Gateway of the default on April 11, according to the filing made by Orion Ethanol.

Orion owns 62 percent of Gateway. Multiple investors own the rest.

Gateway has had a number of problems during construction and start-up, and it shut down in late February.

Excessive rain slowed construction. The plant, which went into production in October, also faced corn and grain sorghum prices much higher than expected when it was planned. And the plant was without electricity and sustained damage during a December 2007 ice storm.

A lot has changed since the last generation started having little ones. Women no longer disguise their growing tummies. Instead, they embrace their new curves.

But one thing hasn't changed: Many moms-to-be still reach for the same trusted pregnancy guide, "What to Expect When You're Expecting." (The book's publicists tout that it's read by more than 90 percent of women who read pregnancy books.)

This must-have pregnancy staple just got better. The best-selling book by Heidi Murkoff (Workman Publishing, $14.95) was revised and released this month.

The mama on the cover is no longer seated in a rocking chair and instead stands grinning, proudly displaying her baby bump.

Every section of the book has been rewritten, pointing to new trends in pregnancy and delivery.

Can an oversized book starring over-the-top, multi-tiered, massive wedding cakes daunt the mighty Martha Stewart?

OK, we know the answer to that.

If anything, the cakes have met their match. "Martha Stewart's Wedding Cakes" (Potter, $60), is a serious confection, filled with good advice, several recipes and able assistance from Stewart's co-writer, wedding cake expert Wendy Kromer.

The book's price is a hefty sum, though in American Brideland -- a fantasy world where cost (seemingly) is no object -- this is a bargain compared with, say, the $8,000 dress or the $2,500 invitations.

We also wouldn't advise a bride, however skilled, to make her own wedding cake, or expect a friend to -- at least not one from this book.

Moms have their way of knowing just what to say and when to say it. Thank goodness for those magical, memorable musings they've uttered in the midst of our best and worst moments.

The new book "Momisms" by Cathy Hamilton (Andrews McMeel, $5.99) celebrates these types of remarks, which it showcases in "Parent-to-English" translations.

The book defines "momisms" as "idiomatic sayings Mom uses to cajole, shame, motivate, inspire, threaten and -- most of the time -- bewilder her offspring."

I certainly didn't always appreciate my own mother's quips -- especially during those humiliating low moments, like when a sixth-grade friend publicly shunned me in front of our lockers (the nerve!).

Afterwards, overwhelmed with my tween trauma, Mom gently reminded, "This is a dot, not a dash."

With their cadres of beauty gurus and wardrobe winnowers, celebrities make the business of style seem simple. But most of us, sadly, lack a crew of hangers-on to tweeze our brows and schlep our Spanx.

That's where makeover advice books come in. Lose a scarf, add some blush and presto chango! Any plain Jane can look a little like Halle Berry. At least, that's the kind of transformation that these releases suggest is possible:

'Brenda Kinsel's Fashion Makeover'

"30 Days to Diva Style!" trumpets the cover of this book (Chronicle Books, $23). Diva style, in this case, doesn't mean Diana Ross so much as clothes that showcase your assets and let your personality shine.

Yes, that's roughly the same idea as every other makeover book on the market, but Kinsel's friendly, genuinely helpful voice elevates her read above the rest.

Ryan Gosling can apparently do anything. Passionate romantic lead ("The Notebook"), cocky attorney ("Fracture"), anti-Semitic skinhead ("The Believer") or drugged-out schoolteacher ("Half Nelson," in an Oscar-nominated turn).

So it comes as no surprise that he completely pulls off a tricky role with a questionable premise that wholly relies on suspension of disbelief -- from its audience and its characters.

"Lars and the Real Girl" (now on DVD) is the story of the reclusive, awkward Lars (Gosling), who lives in a garage behind his brother, Gus (Paul Schneider), and sister-in-law, Karin (Emily Mortimer).

Lars goes to work but hardly anywhere else. He dashes from car to garage every night, and the pregnant Karin resorts to tackling him in order to catch him and invite him to dinner.

But one day, Lars has news. He has met a girl over the Internet, he says, and she has come for a visit. Gus and Karin are ecstatic -- until Lars introduces them to his new love, Bianca.

"National Geographic's Strange Days on Planet Earth"

In "Dangerous Catch," host Edward Norton addresses overfishing. Then "Dirty Secrets" examines the contamination of the planet's oceans and rivers, 8 p.m., PBS and KPTS, Channel 8.

Series

"Back to You"

Kelly has second thoughts about informing Gracie that Chuck is her father. 7:30 p.m., Fox and KSAS, Channel 4-24.

As the weather gets warmer and stays that way, people are donning their shades and spending more time outdoors. If you lost or broke your sunglasses last summer, it's time for a replacement. But when you see the enormous variety of sunglasses this season, you may be unable to resist a new pair anyway. Larger frames with wide temples featuring ornamentation is a popular style this year, according to Lynessa Rico, manager of Specs in Waterfront, 13th and Webb.

But she's quick to add that's one of many, many looks for spring and summer, saying that aviator styles with a vintage feel, colorful frames and textured temples are also popular.

"It's very Hollywood and very glamorous when it comes to sunglasses this year," said Jon Herrscher, owner of Myoptix, 4714 E. Douglas.

And Herrscher says that just as fashion rules no longer exist, eyewear has no rules.

"The old rules simply don't exist. We're so over that. Don't worry about the shape of your face, just try on what you like and see how you look," Herrscher said.

Tickets are still available for the Fashion Passion runway fashion show and auction, scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Wichita Marriott.

Heavy hors d'oeuvres and the signature drink, "Fashiontinis," will be served.

The event will benefit children with autism at Rainbows United Inc.

Fashion Passion's co-chairwomen, Jo Walters and Shelley Schekall, say this year's live auction will feature such things as a New York trip, a Bradley Fair shopping spree, an exclusive wine package and a mystery auction item that the co-chairs say "will keep guests on the edge of their seats."

Tickets are $75 each. For more information, call Stephanie Harder at 316-267-KIDS, ext. 104, or purchase tickets at www.rainbowsunited.org.

Blast from the past

Iris Worthington, 70, has an elegant gold cross with diamonds, which she made into an ankle bracelet. The cross came from a blast from her past as a way to renew a friendship, which began as puppy love in late 1949.

When Worthington was a soda jerk at Tepe's Sundries in Potwin, a handsome guy from Arizona, who was visiting his cousins for the summer, asked for a lemon root beer. For the next three summers, they would share several lemon root beers, usually on Saturday evenings.

Two and a half years ago, Worthington received a surprise phone call from him. The man had tracked her down using the Internet. Soon after the phone call, a package arrived with the cross.

Embracing a style

What makes a fashion item part of someone's signature style? Is it the way that item makes them feel or look? Does it dress up a dreary outfit or make it casual chic?

We asked WichiTalk readers to tell us about the items that help to define their style when it comes to fashion or image.

These women were among those who responded, pointing to that piece of jewelry, that accessory, that certain something they must have on to make their own personal fashion statement.

Janet Studnicka, 39

In 2005, Studnicka mentioned to her husband that if she had a pair of diamond earrings she wouldn't have to worry about finding just the right pair to go with various outfits.

The food world is downsizing. That is, some TV chefs, cookbook authors, bloggers and other gourmands celebrated for their prowess at the table have decided it's time to cut back and drop a few pounds.

According to a recent article in the New York Times, members of this "Fat Pack" are realizing that all that braised pork belly and triple cream cheese might not be good for their long-term health.

It's a little disconcerting, as if Hugh Hefner had turned Playboy into Boys Life back during the swinging '60s. After all, these are the people who fueled America's culinary fantasies and turned us into a nation of foodies.

What's next, the Mario Batali Thigh Slimmer? Paula Deen's 30-Minute Dance Class?

Famous or not, many people who love cooking and good food struggle with the same problem. Many? Heck, make that most.

Koch Nitrogen Co. will begin working with Australia-based Dyno Nobel to add about 290,000 tons of liquid nitrogen fertilizer to the U.S. market.

Under the agreement reached this week, Koch Nitrogen will supply the ammonia necessary to make urea ammonium nitrate (UAN) to Dyno Nobel, which will make the fertilizer at its plant in Cheyenne, Wyo.

The fertilizer will go primarily to customers in northeast Colorado, eastern Wyoming, western Nebraska and western Kansas.

The agreement is good news for the fertilizer industry and for farmers, said Mike Fraser, with the Dodge City Co-op Exchange.

"All this is an area that has been difficult to supply," he said. "It's a matter of logistics, getting the product to the places where it's needed. This should help with that."

"MADtv"

For those who have missed Dominic Monaghan since his character met his demise on "Lost," take heart. He drops by "MADtv" tonight. Naturally, one of the sketches is a parody of "Lost." 10 p.m., Fox and KSAS, Channel 4-24.

Movies

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

Signs of Voldemort's return emerge as Harry's friends help him prepare for a tournament with Europe's best student wizards. Daniel Radcliffe and Ralph Fiennes star in the 2005 fantasy. 7 p.m., ABC and KAKE, Channel 10.

SitStay Dog Training at All Paws Pet Center, 2110 N. Maize Road, is offering two tests for dogs next month.

The American Kennel Club Canine Good Citizenship test, which rewards obedience and good manners in a dog, will be given at 6:30 p.m. May 7. The cost is $15.

The Therapy Dogs Inter-national test, which certifies dogs to work in therapy settings such as hospitals and nursing homes, will be given at 6:30 p.m. May 8. The cost is $10.

For more information, call Nadine Conner at 316-619-4082.

Dancing for Dogs to help Pets in Crisis