'Destiny's Child' takes break for solo projects

NEW YORK -- The members of Destiny's Child plan to be "Independent Women," taking time off from the group to concentrate on solo projects.

Already, lead singer Beyonce Knowles has a featured role in the upcoming "Austin Powers" sequel, and Michelle Williams and Kelly Rowland have discussed solo albums.

The Grammy-winning trio has been busy over the last couple years, with back-to-back multiplatinum albums, a string of hits, dolls made in their images, and a new holiday disc in stores.

Knowles told the E! Entertainment network that it's time for the group to go on hiatus, but they're not breaking up.

Governor upset that torch run skips Minnesota

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Olympic organizers got heat from Gov. Jesse Ventura over their decision not to bring the torch to Minnesota.

The torch began its two-month journey to Salt Lake City, the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics, on Tuesday. But Minnesota is one of four states not on the Olympic Torch Relay route.

A spokesman for the Salt Lake City Organizing Committee has said there isn't time to hit all 50 states.

Ventura said it wouldn't upset him as much if this were the summer Olympics. But he was dumbfounded that the torch would bypass a cold-weather state that's home to many past and prospective U.S. Winter Olympic team members.

Hawaii, North Dakota and South Dakota were left off the map, too.

Henley, Crosby raise money for terror victims

LOWELL, Mass. -- Don Henley and David Crosby helped raise $300,000 for children of Merrimack Valley victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The two singers headlined a concert Wednesday night at Tsongas Arena, which U.S. Rep. Martin Meehan, D-Mass., organized to help children of his district pay for future education expenses.

-- From wire reports