Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.news,americast.usa-today.news From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: news Fri, Sep 4 1992 Date: Fri, 4 Sep 92 04:34:27 EDT Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update Sept. 4-7, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network BUSH TRAILING BY 15 POINTS: President Bush trails Democrat Bill Clinton by 15 points as the 1992 presidential race heads into Labor Day. Clinton leads Bush 54%-39% in a USA TODAY:CNN:Gallup poll conducted Monday through Wednesday. The only incumbent to trail in double digits this late and win was Harry Truman in 1948, who turned a 13-point deficit around. The poll of 1,007 voters has a 3% margin of error. PEROT STILL SUPPORTED: When Ross Perot abandoned his presidential bid seven weeks ago, experts assumed he would fade from the scene. Instead, his name is sure to be on the ballot in 50 states. And 14% of registered voters in a USA TODAY:CNN:Gallup Poll said they would vote for Perot if his name is on the ballot. Further, the poll shows that if the Texas billionaire were actively campaigning, 20% would vote for him. GROUP CRITICIZES JUSTICE DEPT.: The Justice Department is letting many Savings and Loan crooks "off the hook," a watchdog group charged Thursday. Restitution often remains uncollected, many cases are dropped before prosecution and the average sentence for thrift offenders remains low, said the Ralph Nader group Congress Watch. The Justice Department says the figures are distorted and politically motivated. UNEMPLOYMENT APPLICATIONS UP: The number of people applying for unemployment benefits rose slightly the week ended Aug. 22. Claims rose to 386,000 from 383,000 the week before. But for a second week, the number stayed below the benchmark 400,000 level. Economists say fewer than 400,000 claims in a week suggests a growing economy. The last time claims stayed below 400,000 two consecutive weeks was summer 1991. POVERTY NUMBERS SKYROCKET: Nearly 36 million people live in poverty - more than at any time since 1964 - the Census Bureau reported Thursday. The report said 2.1 million people moved below the federal poverty line of $13,924 for a family of four in 1991. The total 35.7 million living in poverty is 14.2% of the nation. The report found the South had the highest poverty rate at 16% and blacks had the highest rate at 16%. PEOPLE RESISTING TENT CAMPS: Resistance to tent cities in Homestead, Fla., is growing as Hurricane Andrew victims refuse to leave their homes. The five military-run tent cities sit virtually empty as officials consider putting in laundries, TVs and VCRs to lure more people. By Thursday, only 289 people had checked into a tent city here built to house 1,500. Only 34 people were in a Florida City, Fla., site. L.A. VIOLENCE RECORD HIGH: The USA's deadliest riots are history, and two of Los Angeles' most violent gangs are still keeping a precarious truce - yet the killings go on. The county coroner's office investigated a county record-shattering 263 possible homicides in August. Speculation for the reasons center on scorching 100 degree-plus temperatures in August, high unemployment and still-active Latino gangs. JERRY'S KIDS TO PROTEST: This weekend, former "Jerry's Kids" and others plan protests in 17 cities broadcasting Jerry Lewis' popular fundraiser, the Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon. Lewis has been criticized by former poster children as treating disabled people like lepers instead of highlighting their abilities. The telethon, broadcast from Las Vegas, will be carried on 201 stations Sunday and Monday. CALIF. SCHOOLS WILL CUT MORE: California Gov. Pete Wilson's veto of $500 million in education money will force schools to cut another 2% in spending this year, state education chief Bill Honig said Thursday. Wilson administration officials, however, said the money was only temporarily set aside due to technical issues. They said the money can be allocated to schools until lawmakers return in January. MONORAIL WINNERS ANNOUNCED: Six of seven municipalities competing for $35 million in federal funding to build a futuristic public monorail system were identified Thursday by Gannett News Service. They are: Birmingham, Ala.; Milwaukee, Wis.; Montgomery County, Pa.; Oakland, Calif.; Omaha, Neb.; and San Antonio, Texas. The FTA had refused to name the finalists. VA STUDIES FEMALE VIETNAM VETS: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs approved a study Thursday of reproductive disorders among the 9,000 women who served in Vietnam. A private company will interview nurses and other female veterans in an attempt to pinpoint the reproductive health consequences of serving in Vietnam. DOW JONES OPENS ON UPSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens at 3292.20 Friday after closing up 1.89 Thursday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 230.12, up 0.11. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 385.10, up 2.37. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 574.88, up 3.63. SUNNY, MILD IN NORTHEAST: The best holiday weekend weather will be in the Northeast, where it should be sunny and mild through Monday. The mid-Atlantic will be cloudy Saturday; otherwise partly sunny and humid. The Southeast also will be humid, with afternoon thunderstorms through Labor Day. The Plains will be warm Friday, then cooler through the weekend. ADVISORY: Decisionlines will not be published Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day. Decisionlines will resume publication Tuesday, Sept. 8. 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