Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!tamsun.tamu.edu!mtecv2!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Newsgroups: usa-today.news,americast.usa-today.news Subject: news Wed, Aug 26 1992 Message-ID: Date: 26 Aug 92 08:21:15 GMT Organization: American Cybercasting Lines: 146 Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update Aug. 26, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network BUSH, CLINTON GREET VETERANS: Two hours after President Bush told cheering veterans in Chicago he was a "proud member of the American Legion," Bill Clinton took the same stage Tuesday and urged veterans not to reject him because he didn't fight in the Vietnam War. Bush, wearing his own medal-bedecked Legion cap, also defended his decision to end the gulf war, saying "We are not in the slaughter business." WORKERS AWAIT ANDREW: As relief workers and emergency supplies poured into hurricane-ravaged south Florida Tuesday, hundreds of other workers moved into Mississippi and Texas, awaiting Hurricane Andrew's next strike. Early damage estimates for Dade County, including Miami, have been set at $15 billion to $20 billion. The Federal Emergency Management Agency began to direct relief efforts and process aid applications. RED CROSS OPENS SHELTERS: The American Red Cross opened 229 shelters Tuesday to house an estimated 84,300 people in more than two dozen Florida counties. The Salvation Army collected donations. Needed: Bottled water, canned goods, paper products, baby food and disposable diapers. The Pentagon said it was shipping 134,000 "meals, ready-to-eat" used by the U.S. military. ANDREW MAY HURT FLOOD FUND: After causing devastating damage, Hurricane Andrew could swamp the federal flood insurance fund. In response, the fund may be forced to borrow from the U.S. Treasury for the first time in eight years when taxpayers last bailed it out. With only $359 million in reserve, the National Flood Insurance Fund could be broke if flood damage exceeds the $360 million done by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. PROGRESS EXPECTED AT TALKS: Arab delegates to the Middle East peace talks Tuesday in Washington, D.C., were somewhat optimistic that the new Israeli government would move the sixth round of talks into substantial progress. Israel was expected to outline its plan for an administrative form of Palestinian self-government. Palestinians said they'd push for a full lawmaking legislature. REAR ADMIRAL BENNITT WARNS IRAQ: Rear Adm. Brent Bennitt warned Tuesday that when a "no-fly zone" is declared over southern Iraq, allied enforcers won't fire warning shots. Iraq would get "adequate warning by diplomatic notice not to fly in that particular area," he said. The Pentagon said Iraq has removed an estimated 30 fixed-wing aircraft from the south. President Bush put off an expected decision on the zone. SPY TRIAL MAY BE ENDED: A federal judge Wednesday may end the Iran-contra trial of former CIA spy chief Clair George if the jury remains deadlocked. District Court Judge Royce Lamberth raised that possibility Tuesday when jurors again said they could not reach a unanimous decision on any of the nine charges against George. Foreman Steven Kirk urged the eight-woman, four-man jury to re-examine their positions. LAWYER TARGETS NEIL BUSH: The son of Joseph Mandanici, a Connecticut mayor once targeted by federal prosecutors, wants the Justice Department to give the same treatment to President Bush's son Neil. Frank Mandanici, a New Haven, Conn., lawyer, wants Attorney General William Barr to appoint an independent counsel to investigate possible crimes by Bush in the collapse of the Silverado Banking, Savings and Loan. CALIF. FIRES BEING CONTAINED: A 64,000-acre wildfire near Shasta in northern California was 60% contained Tuesday. About 4,000 firefighters are battling the stubborn blaze, which has destroyed at least 307 homes, gutted the towns of Round Mountain and Montgomery Creek, and threatens Mill Creek. A 7,600-acre wildfire near Yosemite National Park, was 30% contained and the 5,600-acre fire near Hayfork was contained. FLU SHOTS ALTER TEST RESULTS: People who get flu shots this fall may test false-positive for one of three viruses when they next donate blood. Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association says blood banks have found positive tests for the AIDS virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human T-cell lymphotrophic virus, type 1 (HTLV-1) in as many as 1.7% of recent vaccine recipients. SMOKING LINKED TO CATARACTS: Smoking more than a pack of cigarettes a day raises the risk of developing cataracts, new research suggests. Cataracts, in which the eye lens becomes cloudy, cause more than 3.3 million cases of visual impairment and account for 1 million U.S. surgeries a year. The findings, in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association, say smoking may be the cause of 20% of cataract cases. DINKINS CONFRONTED ABOUT PARK: New York Mayor David Dinkins, opening refurbished Tompkins Square Park, was confronted Tuesday by about 50 activists who accused him of using "police tactics" to keep out the homeless. The city spent $2 million to fix the park, closed a year ago after police clashed with homeless people who had erected a shantytown. Dinkins said the park is for use "by families and children." JUDGES CHANGED IN BEATING TRIAL: Charges of racism erupted again Tuesday in the case of three black men accused of beating white truck driver Reginald Denny during the Los Angeles riot. Prosecutors objected to a black judge chosen to preside at the trial of Damian Williams, Antoine Miller and Henry Watson. Defense lawyers objected to the choice of a white judge. Each side gets one objection. The third choice is white. GOV. VISITS FUGITIVE SITE: The FBI said Tuesday it wants to avoid further bloodshed in efforts to arrest fugitive Randy Weaver, holed up with his family at a mountain-top compound near Naples, Idaho. About 200 law officers and 26 National Guard personnel have surrounded the property since a federal marshal and Weaver's 13-year-year-old son Sam died Friday. Gov. Cecil Andrus visited the area Tuesday. SOUTHEAST HUMID, NORTHEAST COOL: Sea breezes will brush coastal New England Wednesday, but haze, heat and humidity will envelop the mid-Atlantic region. Stuffy weather accompanied by isolated thunderstorms will hug the Southeast from the Carolinas into Georgia. A slow-moving cold front will bring rain and cooler conditions from the upper Midwest into northern Missouri and southwest into the Texas panhandle. DOW JONES OPENS ON UPSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens Wednesday at 3232.22 after closing up 4.05 Tuesday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 226.47, up 0.13. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 379.52, down 1.38. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 554.22, down 1.17. News Editor: Kate Coughlin. (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