Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.news From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: news Wed, Feb 26 1992 Date: Wed, 26 Feb 92 06:30:01 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update Feb. 26, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network KERREY TAKES S.D. PRIMARY: Nebraska Sen. Bob Kerrey won the South Dakota Democratic primary Tuesday, while President Bush lost one-third of the vote although his was the only name on the GOP ballot. With 79% of the precincts reporting, Kerrey claimed 39% of the vote. Tom Harkin was second with 27% and Bill Clinton claimed 19%. Paul Tsongas got 9% and Jerry Brown 4%. Bush claimed 69%; 31% were uncommitted. TV REPORT CARD `SATISFACTORY': Television gets a "satisfactory" on its social report card, the American Psychological Association said Tuesday. A five-year report found the average child sees 100,000 acts of violence and 8,000 murders before the end of elementary school. TV also contributes to stereotyping and aggressive behavior. There is "much need for change," said task force member John Murray. CONFIDENCE HITS 17-YEAR LOW: Consumer confidence fell to a 17-year low in February, dragged down by persistent fears about unemployment. The Conference Board said Tuesday its index of consumer confidence was 46.3, down 4 points from 50.2 in January. It's the third straight drop, and the lowest since 43.2 in December 1974. The dive reflects deepening pessimism about the USA's struggling economy. SENIORS SEE CARE COSTS RISING: Medicare's creation 30 years ago has failed to control out-of-pocket health-care costs for the elderly, a report released Tuesday said. Those costs account for $1 of every $6 spent in the average senior's household, according to the study by public-interest group Families USA. That's a bigger chunk than when Medicare was working its way through Congress: 17.1% vs. 10.6%, adjusted for inflation. SUING FOR `SADISTIC FORCE' OK'D: The Supreme Court Tuesday countered its conservative, law-and-order image with a 7-2 ruling that said prison guards or police can be sued for using "malicious or sadistic" force. Dissenting: Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia. The decision is a victory for Louisiana inmate Keith Hudson, who was kicked and beaten by guards in 1983, causing a split lip and loosened teeth. DRUG SUMMIT TO BEGIN: President Bush Wednesday hopes to unite Latin American leaders behind his drug strategy. Washington still is deeply divided over it. Foreign leaders join Bush in San Antonio Wednesday, two years after their first summit in Colombia to discuss ways of improving cooperation in the drug war. Leaders of Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela will attend. JAPAN WATCHING WHITE HOUSE RACE: Increased Japan-bashing on the campaign trail has the Japanese paying closer attention to this year's presidential race. Experts say the Japanese always keep close tabs on U.S. politics. "The Japanese are deathly afraid that one of the Democrats will ... defeat Bush, who they see on the side of free trade," according to Arthur Alexander of the Japan Economic Institute of America. BUSH DEFENDS SUPPORT FOR IRAQ: Amid reports about prewar U.S. aid to Iraq, President Bush said Tuesday he was "proud to support" Baghdad as vice president. He said Ronald Reagan's backing of Saddam Hussein balanced a "more aggressive Iran" led by Ayatollah Khomeini. Rep. Henry Gonzalez, D-Texas, has said Bush as vice president had a key role in persuading the U.S. Export-Import Bank to undo a policy against loans to Iraq. NO DEAL YET STRUCK ON HAITI: Ousted Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide hasn't achieved the political compromise that would return him to power, despite earlier claims a deal was made. He and Prime Minister-designate Rene Theodore said Tuesday they won't meet for another month. Aristide and rival Theodore signed an accord Tuesday in Washington. It endorsed most of an earlier deal on a consensus government. FUNDS FOR RUSSIA THREATENED: Senators warned Secretary of State James Baker Tuesday that funds earmarked for Russia could be in jeopardy if money for Israeli settlements is linked to Mideast peace. Baker on Monday warned Israel to stop its settlements policy in the occupied territories or possibly lose U.S. guarantees on $10 billion in loans for resettling immigrants from the former Soviet Union. WINTER TAKES PLAINS BREAK: Winter weather takes the back burner to soaring record high temperatures across the northern Plains Wednesday. Rain will dampen New Mexico and west Texas. The lower Midwest region through the Southeast will see gradual clearing, while wet weather dampens Virginia northward to coastal New England. DOW JONES OPENS ON DOWNSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens Wednesday at 3257.83, after closing down 24.59 Tuesday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 226.68, down 0.94. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 409.78, down 2.02. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 621.40, down 3.53. News Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution purposes violates federal law. 08:0002260000D0226 ADVE- R O Olympics-boost-CBS'-ratings........... A D0226 This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM