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 Thu, Aug 13 1992 Date: Thu, 13 Aug 92 05:17:49 EDT Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update Aug. 13, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network BAKER TO BE APPOINTED: Secretary of State James Baker is expected to replace White House chief of staff Sam Skinner on Thursday. The White House shakeup would come just days before President Bush takes his lagging re-election campaign to the Republican National Convention in Houston. Baker's appointment would become official Aug. 24, the Monday after the convention. The White House denies the shakeup. U.N. TO EXPLORE ATROCITIES: The U.N. Human Rights Commission will explore charges Thursday of concentration camp atrocities and "ethnic cleansing" in Bosnia. Serb fighters surrounding the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina permitted the evacuation of 315 women and children, but hinted at new danger for those who remain. The U.N. meeting is expected to produce a special investigator to explore the charges. TOYOTA PICKS UP BIG TRUCKS: Toyota is eyeballing closed General Motors factories as potential sites to produce its new T100 big pickup truck. T100, on sale Nov. 12, is Japan's first try at Detroit's high-profit big truck market. Building the pickup in the USA, instead of importing it from Japan, lets Toyota escape a 25% import tariff - something analysts say is necessary for Toyota to keep the price down. HEPATITIS VACCINE WORKS: Children in day-care, travelers and others at high risk for contracting hepatitis A may soon get effective protection with a new vaccine. The vaccine was very successful in trials, and was made available to those just getting a placebo. Hepatitis A is transmitted by contaminated food and water; it hampers liver function and can cause flu-like symptoms and jaundice. BADGE SAVES PROSECUTOR: A Kansas drug prosecutor, whose badge miraculously deflected a bullet fired in a highway ambush, was in seclusion Wednesday as police officers hunted for his assailants. "If it wasn't for his badge, it would have been a fatal injury," says Alvan Johnson, police director in Riley County, Kan. The shooting occurred about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday on U.S. 77 in Riley County. BARRETT LOOKS TO BECOME A FIRST: Jackie Barrett - a Fulton County, Ga., Democrat - is likely to be elected the nation's first black woman sheriff. Barrett, Fulton County Public Safety Training Center director, got 56% of Tuesday's primary vote. She is favored to win the job in the heavily Democratic county. She's been endorsed. Says State Sheriffs' Association's James Cody: "Her qualifications are impeccable." MARINE GUILTY OF HARASSMENT: Gunnery Sgt. Michael E. Wallace, 34, was convicted of sexual harassment Wednesday in Pensacola, Fla., but given a minimal penalty. The Marine will lose two stripes and was fined $750. The case began when Wallace's wife charged he was having an affair with Navy Ensign Traci Fisher, who has been charged with fraternization. Two other women came forward with harassment charges. WASTE PROCESSOR OWNER INDICTED: The owner of an Amelia, La., hazardous waste processing company and two others were indicted Wednesday on charges of offering a $2 million bribe to a federal judge. Marine Shale Processors owner Jack Kent and the others gave U.S. District Judge Richard Haik, who is overseeing a suit between the firm and the Environmental Protection Agency, a $30,000 down payment, officials charge. QUAYLE ATTACKS MEDIA: Barbara Bush and Vice President Quayle lashed out anew at the media Wednesday for pursuing "sleaze" about President Bush's private life. "An outrageous lie," the first lady told NBC News when asked about the report her husband had an affair in 1984. "The day we start letting lies run a campaign instead of talking about the issues is the day we're in sad shape." SENATE VOTES FOR TAX BREAK: The Senate voted Wednesday to give first-time homebuyers a $2,500 tax break and broaden the availability of a tax-free savings plan, but voted down a cut in the capital gains tax. The Senate voted to raise the income limits for tax-free Individual Retirement Accounts from $25,000 to $80,000 for individuals and from $40,000 to $120,000 for families. PRIVATE SCHOOL AID REJECTED: The House, in a 279-124 vote, rejected Republican proposals to authorize public aid to private schools as it passed an $846 million elementary and secondary education bill. President Bush has pushed private school aid which would be in the form of subsidies or vouchers for use in offsetting part of the tuition for their children at private or parochial schools. TRADE AGREEMENT CRITICIZED: Congress members tore into the U.S.-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement Wednesday, only hours after President Bush formally announced completion of the deal. "This is a danger to the entire country," said Sen. Don Riegle, D-Mich., echoing the sentiments of representatives who fear the accord opens the way for a job shift to cheaper labor costs in Mexico. GEORGE DENIES COVERUP: Clair George, who fought foreign spies in a long and dangerous CIA career, Wednesday took the stand in federal court to battle Iran-contra charges. The agency's former chief of espionage and covert action repeatedly denied trying to cover up his knowledge of the secret Iran-contra operation after it moved into public view in October 1986. "I feel no guilt of any kind," he said. BUSH BEGINS `COMEBACK': GOP Chairman Rich Bond pronounced Wednesday "the first day of the comeback trail of the real comeback kid" - President Bush - as the GOP crafted a sharply conservative platform. Bond told the Republican National Committee the election revolves around "a fairly simple proposition: Who can be trusted more as the leader of America and the free world?" EASTERN USA TO COOL DOWN: The Great Lakes, the lower Midwest and mid-Atlantic will enjoy unseasonably cool weather Thursday. Clouds, showers and thunderstorms will roll through portions of the Southeast. Heat and humidity will make for unpleasant conditions along the Gulf and southern Atlantic coastal areas, including Florida. Clouds and showers will sweep through the eastern Midwest to the Northeast. DOW JONES OPENS ON DOWNSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens Thursday at 3320.83 after closing down 10.27 points Wednesday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 229.99, down 0.62. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 386.46, down 1.62. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 570.85, down 0.75. News Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution 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