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 Mon, Nov 9 1992 Date: Mon, 9 Nov 92 04:44:15 EST Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update Nov. 9, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network FOOD LION DEFENDS REPORTS: Executives of Food Lion Inc. have launched a series of TV ads and a lawsuit after damaging news reports caused the company's stock to plummet to a record low. Food Lion was hit with an ABC news charge its employees bleach, rewrap and sell spoiled meat. Food Lion is suing ABC for fraud. Food Lion President Tom Smith says the ABC report is full of "lies." CHILD LABOR LAWS BROKEN: The Washington Post reported this weekend that the 989-store Food Lion chain will be cited by the Labor Department for more than 1,400 violations of child labor laws. Among them: allowing teenagers to work around meat slicers and other dangerous equipment. The company received calls all weekend, and one store invited shoppers to tour the meat department. EUROPE TRIES TO AVERT TRADE WAR: Europe appeared to blink over the weekend in its trade dispute with the USA. That reduces the likelihood of a trade war, which could gravely damage a global economy already weakened by recessions or slow growth. European Community diplomats told Reuters they'll reject a French request for a list of U.S. products that could be hit with tariffs in retaliation for U.S. plans. BUSH TRYING TO KEEP TALKS UP: Mideast peace talks resume in Washington Monday with the Bush administration trying to keep the momentum going. There's still hope of a breakthrough agreement before Bill Clinton takes office on Jan. 20. President Bush may be aided in his drive by domestic pressure to move quickly in Israel and the Arab countries. Each of the countries involved has its own reasons to fear delay. CLINTON PLANS ECONOMY SUMMIT: President-elect Clinton will convene a summit of business leaders and economists in Little Rock, Ark., to discuss ways to revive the economy, aides said Sunday. The summit, a signal of the importance Clinton places on the economy, will begin before Christmas, said press secretary Dee Dee Myers. Bush administration budget figures and economic data will be examined at the meeting. CAPITAL GAINS TAX MAY BE CUT: Congress next year could cut the capital gains tax - President Bush's fondest tax wish, says Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, D-N.Y., a member of the Senate Finance Committee. He said on CNN the cut would be part of an overall economic program in the Clinton administration. He said a cut to 15% from the current 28% could be tied to raising taxes on people making more than $100,000. LABEL ANNOUNCEMENT DELAYED: A dispute between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration is keeping officials from announcing full-fledged food labeling changes Monday. Some new rules do take effect, stipulating what claims can be made on grocery products. For example, "Light" may be used on foods that have at least one-third fewer calories than regular products. ROBODOC OPERATES FIRST: A robotic device, called Robodoc, scored a medical first by assisting in a surgery to replace a diseased hip, officials said Sunday. The 7-foot arm with a drill on the end cut a precise hole in the femur for the placement of uncemented hip prostheses. It marked the first time in U.S. medical history a surgical robot had actively been used, said Sacramento's Sutter General Hospital. MEMORIAL GETS ROUSING TRIBUTE: In a moving tribute to mark the Vietnam Veterans Memorial's 10th anniversary, thousands gathered Sunday to hear volunteers begin to read all of the 58,183 names on the black granite wall. The reading that will last until 9 a.m. Wednesday, Veterans Day. About 1,100 volunteers are reading the names, including ABC-TV's Sam Donaldson, former hostage Terry Anderson and war disc jockey Adrian Cronauer. CHIEF JUDGE ARRESTED: One of the nation's most respected judges was in a Long Island psychiatric ward Sunday night, accused of waging an obsessive blackmail campaign against his ex-girlfriend. Sol Wachtler, 62, chief judge of the New York State Court of Appeals, faces a bail hearing Tuesday after his arrest Saturday by FBI agents. He has often been mentioned as governor or U.S. Supreme Court nominee. FIRE DEATHS COOLING OFF: Forty-five states reduced fire-death rates in the 1980s, the National Fire Protection Association said Sunday. Hawaii had the lowest rate, 2.7 per million residents. Next: Colorado, Utah, California and Connecticut. South Carolina had the worst record, 50.4 per million. Next: Mississippi, Arkansas, Kentucky, Alabama. Rural poverty and lack of education are linked with higher tolls. DISMISSED OFFICER BACK IN NAVY: Former petty officer Keith Meinhold, whose dismissal from the Navy because he is homosexual was overturned by a Los Angeles federal judge Friday, plans to return to work Monday. Judge Terry Hatter Jr. ordered Meinhold, 30, be reinstated as an airborne instructor at Moffett Field Naval Air Station. It is pending the outcome of his suit challenging the military's ban on homosexuals. GUNMAN KILLS SIX IN CALIF.: Revenge was the motive for a gunman who killed six people, took a hostage then killed himself, authorities said. Among the first three victims of Lynwood Drake III, 43, of Morro Bay, Calif., were his former landlord and a man who had helped evict Drake for non-payment of rent. Three others were killed at a Paso Robles gaming hall where Drake had been barred for causing trouble. WARRANTS EXPECTED FOR POLICE: Prosecutors plan to issue warrants Monday to police officers suspected of beating a black Detroit motorist to death. Over the weekend, city leaders and the family of the dead man called for peace following the death of Malice Wayne Green, 35, Thursday night. But some residents took their anger to the streets, protesting outside the officers' 3rd Precinct. DOW OPENS DOWN: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens at 3240.06 Monday after closing down 3.78 Friday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 230.09, down 0.28. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 383.26, up 0.57. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 616.82, up 2.74. SNOW TO COVER ROCKIES: A wide band of snow will extend from the Rockies, across the northern Great Plains, and into the northern Great Lakes Monday. Up to a foot of snow is possible in the mountains of Wyoming and Montana. The same weather system will produce rain over the Central Plains. The South will warm into the 60s. The northeast will be cold and sunny with light snow in western New York. 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