NEWS
6A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, MARCH 29.2005
U. S. SUPREME COURT
Court considers law hierarchy
BY HOPE YEN
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court, confronting a case that tests the effect of international law in domestic death penalty cases, showed little interest yesterday in deciding whether the U.S. government could deny foreign suspects access to legal help from their consulates.
The court heard arguments in the case of Jose Medellin, who is challenging his 1994 conviction and death sentence from a Texas court, citing a violation of a U.S. treaty that requires consular access for Americans detained abroad and foreigners arrested in the United States.
Medellin says he is entitled to a federal court hearing based on
Several justices seemed wary of deciding who has final say on interpretation of that treaty state or federal courts, the U.S. president or an international tribunal after President Bush last month ordered new state court hearings for Medellin and 50 other Mexicans on death row.
“Isn't it true that the Texas proceeding could make this moot?” asked Justice John Paul Stevens. “We may be engaged in a lot of useless actions.”
a violation of the Constitution's clause making treaties the "supreme law of the land."
But Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist wondered whether delaying the case after Bush's unexpected move would send the wrong message that justices endorsed his actions.
STATE
Wichita burdened with storm debris
WICHITA — Nearly three months after an ice storm left thousands of trees in Sedgwick County mangled and broken, officials are warning that downed limbs could endanger bridges and cause more flooding problems this year than normal.
David Spears, the county's public works director, said the situation was the worst he had seen in more than 20 years.
HEALTH
Government urges whole-grain foods
Spears said the limbs already had started to clog streams, and with a stream, creek or river flowing through every square mile of Sedgwick County, there weren't enough workers to make much more than a dent in the problem.
WASHINGTON — Go ahead, have a piece of bread. Have three. Make it whole-grain, and you'll be following government advice for eating right.
On top of that, much of the cleanup that needs to be done is on private property, where public workers cannot go.
Three servings of whole grains each day will reduce your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Of all the new advice in the government's new dietary guidelines, eating enough whole grains may prove the easiest.
The Associated Press
Whole grains are the entire seeds or kernels — from grains like wheat, oats, corn or rye. They are packed with fiber, protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, and besides helping guard against heart disease and diabetes, they also contain cancer-fighting antioxidants and other nutrients.
FINANCES
Disasters increase coffee price
BY NEIL MULKA
nmulka@kansan.com
KANSAN STAFF WRITER
— Libby Quaid/The Associated Press
Coffee drinkers might experience something that cigarette smokers are already used to: higher prices.
According to the International Coffee Association, prices for Brazilian coffees — mostly used for specialty coffees — increased about 39 percent and robusto coffees — mostly used for instant coffees — have increased about 16 percent from last February.
Eventually coffee drinkers will start paying more for their cups, said Joe Farthing, owner of J&S Coffee, a coffee shop and bean roasterie at 4821 W. Sixth St.
The coffee industry is reacting to increased prices for two beans. Prices for Brazilian coffee beans, which are used in most specialty coffees, have increased 39 percent from February 2004 to February 2005. Prices for robusto beans, used in many instant and canned coffees, increased 16 percent over the same period.
A roasterie takes green coffee beans and turns them into their useful brown form.
Average coffee bean prices
For example, the price for Brazil Yellow Pourbon beans increased 16 percent on March 16. Farthing said.
Farthing wouldn't give the exact price numbers. He said it would be misleading because coffee brokers gave different deals to different roasters.
"People assume a lot of things and then freak out," he
Despite higher prices from distributors, McClain hasn't raised his prices.
J&S increased prices for all of its coffee drinks up to 10 cents last week. But, J&S hasn't increased prices yet for its bulk coffees, which it distributes to hundreds of customers nationwide.
Higher gas prices made coffee more expensive, said John McClain, manager of Signs Of Life. 722 Massachusetts St.
The reason for the spike in prices: a drought in Brazil has led to a smaller than usual crop this year and tsunamis have increased shipping costs from Southeast Asia, according to coffeecrew.com, a Web site dedicated to coffee education.
said.
Increasing coffee prices is certainly possible, said Andy Hom, co-manager of La Prima Tazza, 638 Massachusetts St.
"We haven't received any warning from our distributors," Hom said. "We could probably raise our prices 40 percent and still be competitive."
Two dollars a cup for black coffee is the limit, said Risa Petty, 2001 graduate and Lawrence resident, said.
"I hope it doesn't screw up
any of the coffee shops around town," Petty said. "I don't know if it's the ambiance or the coffee that attracts people."
Filip Smolik, Prague, Czech Republic, graduate student, drinks about a liter of coffee a day and isn't worried about increasing prices.
Neil Mulka/Kansan
"I'm not fearing it too much," Smolik said. "I think it would be a minor problem in my life."
Edited by Kendall Dix
"We could
probably raise our prices 40 percent and still be competitive."
Andy Hom co-manager of La Prima Tazza