Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.news From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: news Tue, Jun 23 1992 Date: Tue, 23 Jun 92 05:14:12 EDT Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update June 23, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network PEROT PROBE REPORTS ANGER BUSH: An angry President Bush said Monday "there's something sick about" probable presidential candidate Ross Perot's reported investigations into his activities as vice president. Bush and a flurry of administration officials joined attacks on published reports that Perot, over five years, had investigated Bush and his sons while Bush served as vice president. `HATE CRIME' LAW STRUCK DOWN: A Supreme Court ruling Monday against a St. Paul, Minn., "hate crime" ordinance could jeopardize hundreds of anti-bias laws and university "speech codes." The unanimous decision struck down a law that barred cross-burning and swastika displays that arouse "anger, fear or resentment" on the basis of race, religion or sex. The law violates the First Amendment, the court said. AIRLINES PROPOSE SETTLEMENT: Millions of fliers will get discounted airfares under a proposed settlement with four of the USA's biggest airlines. American, United, Delta and USAir agreed Monday to pay $412.5 million to settle the class-action lawsuit, which accused most of the USA's major airlines of price-fixing. They deny wrongdoing, but agreed to settle to avoid the costs of a lengthy lawsuit. AMTRAK STRIKE LOOMS: A nationwide railroad strike that could cripple industry and inconvenience over half a million commuters is set to begin 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. "There's been some progress, but not enough to avoid a strike," said Howard Robertson of Amtrak. Some 600,000 daily commuters on Amtrak and a host of regional carriers could be forced to find alternative rides. CHILDREN USED IN PROTESTS: More and more children are being arrested in abortion protests. On the fifth day of protests in Milwaukee Monday, 106 minors had been arrested in the first of six weeks of planned protests at abortion clinics. Missionaries to the Preborn, organizer of the Milwaukee protests, defends using minors, saying children identify with unborn babies and help persuade women not to have abortions. WHITE HOUSE STUBBORN OVER PROBE: The White House is digging in its heels on the House Judiciary Committee investigation of the administration's pre-gulf-war relations with Iraq. President Bush refused on the grounds of "longstanding practice" to send staff members, including White House counsel Boyden Gray and former Commerce secretary Robert Mosbacher, now his campaign chief, to a committee hearing Tuesday. BUSH, SENATE IN STANDOFF: President Bush failed to persuade Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, to allow a Senate vote on the $24 billion aid package for the former Soviet republics, the White House acknowledged Monday. Gramm and other conservatives are insisting that the Senate vote on a balanced budget amendment before taking up any other legislation, including Bush's aid plan. GOTTI TRYING TO STAY IN CONTROL: John Gotti of the Gambino crime family, scheduled to be sentenced Tuesday, appears to be trying to keep control of the nation's top crime family, experts say. His chances of remaining in power from a penitentiary are slim. He was convicted April 2 of murdering his way to the top. Edward Wright of New York's Organized Crime Task Force says Gotti "is running the family." FORMER GUARD, WIFE HELD: Arthur Seale, a former Exxon security officer, and his wife Irene, Monday were ordered held without bond on charges they kidnapped Exxon international division chief Sidney Reso from his Morris Township, N.J., home April 29. Reso, 57, was still missing. Federal prosecutor Michael Chertoff said the Seales seemed to be preparing to flee the USA when arrested Friday. BAT CAVE, N.C., DRAWS TOURISTS: Tourists and kids flock to tiny Bat Cave, N.C., 15 miles south of Hendersonville, hoping for a glimpse of Batman himself. Some take souvenirs. "I bet the volunteer fire department has put up 25 signs," said realtor Bob Burch Jr., postmaster from 1961 to 1988. But he and the other 470 or so folks who call Bat Cave home take the petty thievery in stride, thinking of possible publicity. DOW JONES OPENS ON DOWNSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens Tuesday at 3280.80 after closing down 4.55 Monday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 221.56, down 0.40. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 375.62, down 3.77. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 549.73, down 4.47. STORMS HIT TEXAS AGAIN: Another round of heavy storms will soak much of Texas, New Mexico and eastern Colorado Tuesday. Storms also will roll across the southern and central Rockies into the Great Basin. Florida gets humid and stays in the 80s and 90s, while the Northwest sees highs in the 100s. But much of the Southeast, Northeast and mid-Atlantic will see low humidity, sun and cool weather. News Editor: William Snoddy. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution purposes violates federal law. 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