Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.news From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: news Fri, May 29 1992 Date: Fri, 29 May 92 05:20:41 EDT Message-ID: DECISIONLINE: News USA TODAY Update May 29-31, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network IMMIGRATION SOARS IN 1980S: The USA's largest 10-year wave of immigration in 200 years - almost 9 million people - arrived during the 1980s. The number is so large, it means that 43.8% of the nation's 19.8 million foreign-born people came in the '80s, Census Bureau figures out Friday show. The statistics are part of a package completing the release of social, economic and housing data. PEROT KNOCKS GAYS, ADULTERERS: Ross Perot, in an interview airing Friday on "20:20," says he would not knowingly hire someone who cheated on a spouse and that gays would have no place in his Cabinet. He says having gays in the military is "unrealistic" and appointing them to Cabinet-level jobs is too controversial. But he also tells Barbara Walters, "What people do in their private lives is their business." NL CHIEF DECRIES RACISM: Outgoing National League president Bill White says he is "bitter" and "mad" that racism is still so prevalent in Major League Baseball. The game's highest ranking black executive Thursday told the Black Coaches Association: "I've gone through things none of you have gone through. If I said what I really feel, no (black) would follow me" as NL president. TRAVELERS RUSH TO GRAB DEALS: Travelers swamped travel agents and airline ticket counters Thursday to nab some of the best fares in 10 years before they expire June 5. Northwest Airlines ignited the fare war Tuesday with its Grown-Ups Fly Free promo, offering a free ticket to people older than 12 if they flew with a paying passenger age 2 to 17. American Airlines upped the ante Wednesday. FETAL TISSUE BILL APPROVED: The House Thursday approved a bill overturning a Bush administration ban on research using fetal tissue from induced abortions, but failed to muster enough votes to override a likely veto. The 260-148 vote indicated opponents have at least three votes more than needed to sustain a veto. BISHOP ASSAILS MCDONNELL: Insisting that "unemployment is not an excuse to make war or the things of war," the Roman Catholic archbishop of St. Louis has rapped a military contractor for threatening layoffs if it can't sell fighter jets abroad. McDonnell Douglas contends that if it can't sell 72 F-15 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia for $5 billion, it may lay off 40,000 workers, including 7,000 of 31,000 in St. Louis. GEORGIA TO BE STRIPPED OF BARS: Georgia, home of the 1994 Super Bowl and the 1996 Summer Olympics, won't be home to the Confederate battle flag if Gov. Zell Miller has his way. Miller announced Thursday he will introduce legislation next year to restore the state flag to its pre-1956 look without the blue Confederate cross and white stars on a red field. Georgia added the banner to its flag in 1956. GAG RULE STOPPED FOR NOW: A Washington federal judge Thursday halted the Bush administration from implementing a "gag rule" that says only doctors at federally funded family planning clinics may discuss abortion. The Supreme Court has said the government can bar abortion counseling at clinics it funds, but Judge Charles Richey said the administration must go through the rule-making process. DEFECTS MAY HAVE BEGUN EARLIER: A steep rise in rare brain and spinal birth defects in babies born around Brownsville, Texas, may have begun in the mid-1980s, at least four years earlier than first detected, state health researchers said Thursday. Toxic chemicals are a suspected cause of the condition known as anencephaly, in which babies are born without most of their brains. The EPA has started a study. UNITED WAY RECORDS SUBPOENAED: United Way of America records have been subpoenaed by federal investigators who have begun a probe covering a decade when the organization was headed by President William Aramony. He was ousted in February after a fuss over spending. Authorities wouldn't comment, but The Washington Post reported subpoenas also have gone to Aramony, several associates and spin-off companies. EAST GETS WET, WEST GETS WARM: Rain will soak the mid-Atlantic and Southeast this weekend as the western third of the USA basks in sun. The Northeast will enjoy sun much of the weekend, but showers will creep in by Sunday. Pleasant weather is on tap for the nation's midsection as temperatures rise. West of the Rockies, warm sunshine will be the rule with afternoon thunderstorms dotting mountainous regions. DOW JONES OPENS ON UPSWING: The Dow Jones average of 30 industrials opens Friday at 3398.43 after closing up 27.99 points Thursday. The New York Stock Exchange composite opens at 229.24, up 2.09. The American Stock Exchange market value opens at 392.30, up 0.45. The NASDAQ OTC composite opens at 580.49, up 3.14. News Editor: Beth Mann. (1-919-855-3491) 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