"It's time for a new chapter in my life. This certainly has been one of the more rewarding experiences of my life, next to my family. I have loved this job immensely and feel pretty darn good about where Mandan is going."

- Mayor Ken LaMont, who announced this week that he won't seek re-election as Mandan's mayor, having held office since 2000.

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"I must now stand aside, for our party and our country."

- Mitt Romney's announcement Thursday that he was suspending his campaign for the Republican Party's presidential nomination. He said that his continued participation could forestall Republican momentum to contend with a Democratic rival, whether Sen. Hillary Clinton or Sen. Barack Obama.

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"If they join at an early age, it's found they continue well beyond their 30s. That gives us an opportunity to have an individual with us for a long period of time, and we don't have the constant turnover."

- Mandan Fire Chief Steve Nardello, talking about the city commission giving his department permission to set up a junior firefighter program. Those as young as 16 can join.

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"We looked up and saw the funnel coming in. We started running, and then glass just exploded. I hit the floor and a couch was shoved up against me, which may have saved my life because the roof fell on top of it."

- Danny Song, a student at Union University, Jackson, Tenn., who with fellow students rode out a tornado that tore through the campus and the town Tuesday. Across the South, a series of storms was deadly, killing at least 55.

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"They probably know they have it and are just consulting with an accountant or something like that."

- Donna Thronson, spokeswoman for the North Dakota Lottery, talking Wednesday about whoever is holding the winning Powerball ticket, worth $400,000. The winner has until July 26 to come forward.

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"Unbelievable. In Friday's practice, he was dropping everything."

- New York Giant football player Amani Toomer, commenting on his teammate, David Tyree. Tyree made a stunning, acrobatic reception of an Eli Manning pass to set up a last-minute score for the Giants, who won the Super Bowl 17-14 against the heavily favored New England Patriots on Sunday. Tyree made three catches in the game, having not made a single reception in the season until December.