Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.news From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: news Mon, May 4 1992 Date: Mon, 4 May 92 05:17:38 EDT Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update May 4, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network GATES `HAD PEOPLE IN PLACE': Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates, under fire for failing to head off a riot, Sunday insisted he acted properly. "We had people in place. I was ... giving orders," Gates said. Before the verdict in the Rodney King case, Gates had touted a $1 million emergency fund. But two hours before the acquittal Wednesday, Newsweek says, 1,000 officers were sent off-duty by cost-conscious bosses. L.A. HOPES TO OPEN FOR BUSINESS: In the hard-hit south central Los Angeles district, hundreds of small shops lie gutted in the aftermath of last week's riots. But in surrounding areas, offices, stores, factories are set to reopen. Signs of normalcy: Long lines are expected to continue at supermarkets, gas stations and post offices that are able to reopen; and city officials prepared for the return of commuters. N.J. FIRE CLOSES NUCLEAR PLANT: New Jersey's worst brush fire in three years shut down a nuclear power plant, closed a major highway and forced evacuation of an 800-home senior citizens enclave Sunday. The fire quickly spread over 1,500 acres of Ocean County, N.J., closing the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station and parts of the Garden State Parkway. The fire was still burning late Sunday. Cause: Unknown. SHUTTLE PREPARATIONS CONTINUE: Work continued Sunday at Cape Canaveral toward Endeavour's first launch, set for 7:06 p.m. EDT Thursday. The orbiter replaces Challenger, which blew up during a 1986 launch. Endeavour's primary mission is to boost a communications satellite stuck in a uselessly low orbit. Kathryn Thornton, a 39-year-old physicist, is scheduled to become the second U.S. woman to walk in space. UNREST AT IOWA COLLEGE: Police in Ames, Iowa, said their show of force Saturday night and Sunday prevented renewed violence by drunken revelers at Iowa State University's annual Veishea spring fest. Arrested: 112 people, mostly for intoxication. The violence Friday injured 22 people. Police used tear gas to restore order. Authorities said the incidents were unrelated to the Rodney King verdicts. ILLINOIS EFFORTS FALL SHORT: Illinois efforts to get a proposed constitutional amendment limiting state legislators' terms failed to get the neccessary 260,592 signatures of registered voters to get the measure on the November ballot. Organizers estimated they had collected 196,000 valid signatures by Sunday's deadline to file the petitions. They'll try again in 1994. SCHOOL RECOVERING FROM KILLING: Olivehurst, Calif., school officials canceled classes at Lindhurst High School and provided counselors to help students recover from Friday's rampage in which 80 people were held hostage. Authorities said 1989 dropout Eric Houston, 20, shot and killed history teacher Robert Brens in retaliation for a failing grade. He killed three others before surrendering 8 1:2 hours later. DOCTORS REVERSE DECISION: Physician-assisted suicide shouldn't be a felony, the Michigan State Medical Society has decided in a vote that reversed its earlier stand. Some said legislation is inappropriate because the issue is best left to the doctor and patient. Jack Kevorkian, dubbed "Dr. Death" for his suicide machines, faces two murder charges in the deaths of two women who used his devices to die. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISRAEL: New York Mayor David Dinkins and Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek Sunday reviewed New York's parade down Fifth Avenue commemorating the founding of Israel 44 years ago. Organizers said the annual event is the USA's biggest show of support for the Jewish state. TRAPPED DOG SURVIVES: Rescuers rappelled halfway down a 300-foot cliff on remote Sitkinak Island, Alaska, to save Silver, a dog trapped three days on a tiny outcropping after falling off the cliff. "It was a miracle that dog caught on to that little ledge," said rescue organizer Art Schultz. PICKETT ARRAIGNED TUESDAY: Wilson Pickett, 51, faces arraignment Tuesday in Englewood, N.J., on charges of drunken driving, reckless driving and aggravated assault from an April 24 accident that injured a pedestrian. BOTH SIDES CLAIM VICTORY: Both sides in the Buffalo abortion protests claimed victory Sunday. Abortion-rights activists who kept the clinics open threw a party. Abortion opponents who said they kept women out of the clinics prayed. Final tally: 615 arrests, including 18 abortion-rights activists. About 120 abortion foes remained jailed at an armory after not posting bail. DOW JONES OPENS ON DOWNSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens Monday at 3336.09, after closing down 23.03 points Friday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 227.20, down 1.10. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 389.78, down 0.83. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 578.14, down 0.54. WEST STILL SIZZLES: The heat is on in the West this week while temperatures in the East begin a downward spiral. By Wednesday, locations along the Atlantic Seaboard could have record low temperatures. In contrast, parts of the West will sizzle in the 90s. A weak storm system will push through the Ohio and Tennessee valleys Monday afternoon, gather strength and head into the Northeast by Tuesday. News Editor: Michele Coleman. (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