Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.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 Mon, Oct 26 1992 Date: Mon, 26 Oct 92 04:43:26 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update Oct. 26, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network VIOLENT CRIME IS ON RISE: Violent crime rates rose 3% in the first six months of 1992 vs. the same period last year, continuing an eight-year upward spiral of violence, the FBI said Sunday. However, after setting records for murders in 1990 and 1991, the first half of 1992 showed a 3% decline in the nation's murder rate. Driving the pace of violence: A 4% rise in forcible rape and 6% hike aggravated assault. BUSH GAINING ON CLINTON: The race for the White House is getting tighter eight days out. The latest USA TODAY:CNN:Gallup tracking poll taken Friday and Saturday shows Bill Clinton's lead over President Bush down to seven points, 39%-32%. Ross Perot is still a distant third at 20%, but gaining. The margin of error is plus or minus 3%. SAVINGS BOND RATES DUE TO DROP: This is a good week to buy U.S. Savings Bonds. Next Monday, the Treasury Department will adjust the bonds' variable rate, a change that happens twice a year. Set at 5.58% on May 1, that rate could drop to about 5.25%. Buyers this week will earn an annualized 5.58% until the end of April when the rate is again changed. ASTRONAUTS HAVE BUSY DAY: Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Columbia Sunday performed a half-dozen atmospheric experiments and tested a new shuttle toilet during their fourth day in orbit. The crew of five men and one woman aimed monitors at the sun to gauge oxygen, nitrogen and aerosol levels of the Earth's stratosphere. A faulty electrical furnace postponed one liquid metals experiment. CITIZENS FILE RIOT CLAIMS: Monday is the deadline for Los Angeles riot victims to file damage claims against the city, county and state. More than 800 claims have been filed charging inadequate police protection during three days of rioting that erupted April 29 after the acquittal of four white officers in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King. RECORD WEATHER IN PACIFIC: A tropical storm off Mexico has set a season record for tropical developments in the Pacific. Tropical Storm Yolanda, which dissipated Thursday, broke the 1985 record of 22 tropical depressions, says Scott Yuknis of Weather Services Corp. Another tropical depression was 750 miles southwest of Baja California, and is expected to become a tropical storm by Tuesday. BEWARE OF MAIL SCAMS: Postal officials are warning taxpayers nationwide to beware of a mail scam that claims to send citizens tax refunds. Instead, victims are out $10 after responding to a postcard from the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Center for Refund Services that said the center was holding 1991 refunds that can be claimed by sending the money. WOMAN FIGHTS OFF ATTACKER: A 22-year-old California woman whose car overturned on a Bellflower freeway Saturday fought off an attacker who stripped naked and tried to rape her as she lay strapped in her car, police said. Mark Harp, 24, of Bellflower, was arrested for attempted rape. The woman was rescued by a passer-by and escaped unharmed. KKK HOLDS RALLY: Ku Klux Klan members in Vidor, Texas, Saturday held a rally to kick off a campaign to recall Mayor Ruth Wood, who backs desegregation of an all-white housing complex. A federal judge last month OK'd integration of 121 Texas public housing complexes. Six black families are set to move into the Vidor complex by Jan. 1. CANADIANS MAKE HISTORY: Parades and politics are the only games in Canada Monday as the nation celebrates the Toronto Blue Jays' first World Series title and votes on a highly-charged constitutional reform. If passed, it will set a new balance between Canada's federal and provincial governments. The Blue Jays beat the Braves 4-3 Saturday night in Atlanta to win the series 4-2. BARTLETT'S GETS FAMILIAR: "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations" finally are just that. Long the domain of dead poets, the 16th and latest edition of the quote bible now is home to the likes of Bruce Springsteen and fuzzy Muppets. Check page 775: "Me want cookie!" - spoken by Cookie Monster. The 20,000-quote guide is out Nov. 4 (Little, Brown and Co., $40). DOW JONES OPENS ON UPSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens at 3207.64 Monday after closing up 6.76 Friday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 227.83, down 0.27. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 374.24, down 0.27. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 597.30, up 0.18. USA GETS MIXED BAG: A Pacific storm system brings showers to central California Monday, while the rest of the Pacific Coast stays dry. Pleasant weather briefly graces the Great Plains before showers move in at night. Rain will stretch from northeast Texas to the Mississippi River Valley. The Southeast should be beautiful - lots of sunshine, low humidity and temperatures in the 60s and 70s. News Editor: Michele Coleman. (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