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 Mon, Jul 13 1992 Date: Mon, 13 Jul 92 05:08:08 EDT Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update July 13, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network DEMS GATHER IN NEW YORK: Democrats begin their quadrennial national convention Monday with the most visible discord coming from also-ran Jerry Brown. Brown, with more than 600 delegates, hasn't endorsed Clinton and isn't on the speaking agenda. The two talked by phone Sunday. Also on Sunday, a new Newsweek poll shows 38% of voters say they've become more likely to vote for him over the last month. MORTGAGE LENDERS EXPECT RUSH: Homeowners who missed the big opportunity to refinance their mortgage last winter are in luck. Another has arrived. Last winter, when the average rate on 30-year fixed mortgages fell to 8.23%, lenders' phones were jammed and lines formed at their offices. Now the average is even lower - 8.13% Lenders say they're prepared. After last winter's rush, they've added phone lines and personnel. N.J. IS TOPS IN COMING CLEAN: New Jersey tops a list of cities with the USA's best environmental programs, says Monday's City and State magazine. New Jersey leads in recycling and is a "trailblazer" in open space and wetlands protection, survey author Todd Sloane says. Others in the top five: California, Oregon, Connecticut, Minnesota. Worst states: Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Alaska and, in 50th, Nevada. POPE ADMITTED TO HOSPITAL: Pope John Paul II has entered a hospital with an intestinal problem and may have surgery, a Vatican spokesman said Sunday. The 72-year-old pontiff had been suffering mild pain for the past eight days and had X-rays and other tests that ruled out an infection. Spokesman Joaquin Navarro said the pope's symptoms may be related to a stomach wound suffered in a 1981 assassination attempt. PEROT OFFENDS AT NAACP MEETING: Ross Perot showed an apparent strain of naivete over the weekend with two gaffes. In remarks at the NAACP convention in Nashville Saturday, Perot offended many with references to "you people" and "your people." Sunday, a Perot aide admitted that the campaign was requiring electors to sign loyalty oaths and submit signed letters of resignation to prevent defections. DEM ABORTION FOES `GAGGED': Democratic abortion foes meeting in New York Sunday charged they are being "gagged" because they don't agree with party leaders' support of abortion rights. Pennsylvania Gov. Robert Casey, a Democratic abortion opponent, complained he isn't being allowed to address the convention. A spokesman for the Democratic National Committee says "most ... speakers have endorsed" Bill Clinton. TRIAL MAY OFFER DETAILS: New details about the Central Intelligence Agency's role in the Iran-contra affair are expected to be revealed in court when the cover-up trial of former agency offical Clair George opens this week. George, the third-ranking CIA official from 1984 to 1987, faces six counts of lying and three counts of obstructing inquiries by Congress and a grand jury into the Iran-contra scandal. `P.U. CHOO CHOO' HEADS EAST: A train load of smelly, insect-infested garbage from New York City is headed back East - to an undisclosed site. The "P.U. Choo Choo" pulled out of Missouri Sunday, bound for Chicago and points East, as the Santa Fe Railway and trash hauling company TENNSV Inc. try to find a final resting place for the rotting garbage. It has been ordered out of rail yards in Illinois and Missouri. ILL. GETS TOUGH STALKER LAW: Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar signed one of the USA's strictest anti-stalking bills, making it a felony to harass or repeatedly follow people, and barring release of suspects without bond. The National Conference of State Legislatures said 21 states enacted anti-stalking laws since Jan. 1. California already had one; bills are awaiting governor's signatures in New York and Ohio. SIDES KEPT APART AT PROTESTS: Baton Rouge police said a new 6-foot fence around the city's only abortion clinic kept confrontations to a minimum during a week of abortion protests. "It kept the two sides apart," said Police Chief Greg Phares. It also cut police manpower needs. Arrested: 61 people, including 45 who got misdemeanor citations but weren't booked. SOUTHEAST TO SIZZLE: The nation's entire weather pattern will be very slow to change in the next few days. From Washington, D.C., to Georgia, highs will flirt with 100 degrees Monday. Thunderstorms hit Monday and Tuesday along a front dividing hot and cool air in the Central Plains, Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic. The West gets 70s or 80s and thunderstorms in the mountains, 90s in the valleys, and low 100s in the desert. DOW JONES OPENS ON UPSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens Monday at 3330.56 after closing up 6.48 Friday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 227.88, up 0.33. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 382.32, up 0.48. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 567.80, up 0.54. 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