The Maertz Messenger

After enduring 69 days trapped in a mine, Edison Pena completed the ING New York City Marathon, reports the NY Daily News.

Pena, 34, completed the race in five hours, 40 minutes and 51 seconds according to the NY Daily News.

Pena ran even while trapped in the mine. He could cover up to six miles a day in the dark according to the Guardian (UK).

"I ran to forget I was trapped ... I became two people: the weak person who wanted simply to give up and the person who chose to be strong - to run and survive. Eventually, I chose to live," Pena told the NY Daily News.

The House of the Gladiators in Pompeii collapsed on Saturday morning, said the Guardian (UK).

The collapse came as a shock to some, but it was a long time coming for others. Some blame recent rain for the collapse while others blame mismanagement by the government for the historic site's collapse.

There is a call from the private sector for privatization of Pompeii.

Italy's Culture Minister, Sandro Bondi, has urged the government to give Pompeii more funds as this collapse could be just the first of many according to the AP.

University of Minnesota's head football coach was officially relieved of his contract, the Minnesota Daily announced.

The university's athletic director Joel Maturi said, "We need to take a step forward."

In the interim, co-offensive coordinator Jeff Horton will serve as the Gopher's head coach.

The next head coach may have a special bonus in store for him. "If we go to the Rose
Bowl," Maturi said to the Star Tribune, "we might even put a statue of him outside TCF Bank Stadium."

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will visit the University of Minnesota in May, according to the Pioneer Press.

The university's Center for Spirituality & Healing, in partnership with the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota will host three events around the theme "One Heart, One Mind, One Universe."

This visit marks the first time the Dalai Lama will be in Minneapolis in 10 years.

The Minnesota Daily reports that ticketing for this event will be done through Northrop ticket office.

Barbara Billingsley, who started as mother June Cleaver in the iconic sitcom Leave it to Beaver, passed away at the age of 94, according to E! News.

Billingsley's son, Glenn Billingsley, said that "She was every bit as nurturing, classy, and lovely as June Cleaver, and we were so proud to share her with the world," states She Knows Entertainment.

Billingsley suffered from a rheumatoid disease and has been in poor health for several years, according to E! News.

The Hobbit films will begin filming in New Zealand this February, said BBC.

Peter Jackson, who directed the Oscar-winning Lord of the Ring films, co-wrote the screenplays for The Hobbit and will be producing the films.

The two movies based on JRR Tolkien's book are budgeted to cost approximately $500 million, said the Telegraph.

No release date has been set.

Kendra Wilkinson Baskett will soon be coming to the Twin Cities with her husband, and newest Vikings player, Hank Baskett, reports the Pioneer Press.

There is speculation in the article on where she would be spotted.

The Hollywood Gossip, however, reports that the Twin Cities will have to wait for Kendra as she is required to stay in Philadelphia for her reality TV show.

The couple is hoping to reunite once the current season is finished filming, according to
The Hollywood Gossip.

The New York Times used the death of Seth Walsh to bring attention to a greater social issue in a piece Sunday by Jesse McKinley.

The structure of this story made this transition very smooth. The lead of the story was about the death of Seth Walsh, 13, who had attempted suicide after coming out.

The story then broadened to other gay teens who have committed suicide after coming out. Then the story focused on what lead to these unfortunate incidents.

Gay rights and discrimination are also discussed thoroughly in the article.

McKinley ended the story where it began by using a "kicker quote" from Walsh's mother.

Seth Walsh, a 13-year-old Californian boy, died Tuesday after attempting suicide the week before, reports the New York Times.

On Top magazine reports that more than 500 people attended Walsh's memorial service on Friday.

Walsh is one of many gay teens who commit suicide in recent months. The pressures these young men face in classrooms and in society at large.

Art and architecture experts from around the world are up in arms over the use of advertising on scaffolding on historic buildings in Venice reports the Guardian (UK).

Historic sites in Venice, such as the Bridge of Sighs, need to undergo renovation. Since 2008, these renovations have been paid for by advertisements placed on the scaffolding.

On Sunday, the Art Newspaper published a letter asking that such billboards be outlawed.

City officials say that the billboards are the only way to pay for the costly renovations, but the Guardian reports that Roberto Ciambetti, the regional authority's public spending assessor, put a new solution forward: sell off assets seized from mafia godfathers.