TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN - 3A
Liquor budget cut proposed
The Associated Press
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A proposed 85 percent budget cut to the state Liquor Control Division would pretty much shutdown the agency responsible for enforcing alcohol laws, said the agency's director.
Supporters of the cut said yesterday that it would streamline the division, remove burdensome bureaucracy and free up money for alcohol and drug abuse treatment.
Last week, the House Budget Committee endorsed a $19 billion state budget for next fiscal year, including about $600,000 for the Division of Liquor Control — $3.5 million less than this year's budget.
The fiscal 2003 budget is expected to be considered by the full House when lawmakers return from spring break April2.
Most of the money was cut by Rep. Chuck Graham, D-Columbia, who is unhappy with how Liquor Control operates in his community, the home of the University of Missouri-Columbia.
His budget amendment transferred 67 employee positions at Liquor Control to the state Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse for treatment programs.
Graham said his intent was to eliminate Liquor Control enforcement agents while leaving just enough money to issue liquor licenses. The state collects about $30 million annually in liquor license fees.
But if the proposed budget cut becomes law, Liquor Control may be unable to issue licenses, said Keith Fuller, supervisor of the Missouri Division of Liquor Control.
The cut "would make issuing state liquor licenses nearly impossible, it would make collecting taxes and fees in the amount of nearly $30 million nearly impossible and it would make enforcement of liquor licenses essentially impossible," Fuller said.
About 12,000 bars and restaurants must apply or reapply to the state for liquor licenses each year. Many establishments have several state licenses, including special ones for Sunday sales and catering. All told, the division annually issues 24,000 licenses.
Most cities and counties also issue liquor licenses.
Most cities and countries also use the Liquor Control with nine employees, Fuller said. The division currently has six offices throughout the state, including in Kansas City, Springfield and St. Louis.
Librarians aren't 'thought police'
Law requiring Internet regulation taken to court over constitutionality
The Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA — A trial over the constitutionality of a federal law requiring libraries to screen out Internet pornography opened yesterday with librarians complaining the government is trying to turn them into the "thought police."
The case is being heard in federal court by a three-judge panel. The trial is expected to last for nine days.
Leading the challenge to the Children's Internet Protection Act of 2000 are the American Library Association and the Multnomah County, Ore., Public Library. They contend the law puts unconstitutional restraints on free speech.
They want to offer patrons a choice between filtered and unfiltered Internet access, contending that parents and children should be the ones who determine what content they find unacceptable.
"There are some 5-year-olds whose parents do not want them to know where babies come from and there are some that do," testified Ginnie Cooper, director of the Multnomah County library, which serves 500,000 people. "We don't try to presume the values of parents."
Libraries stock numerous materials, ranging from sex education manuals to Playboy, that would probably not get past filtering software, testified Candace Morgan, a Washington state librarian for 37 years.
The law requires that libraries receiving certain types of federal technology funding use filters to block access to objectionable Web sites. Opponents say the software can also block access to sites providing valuable information on topics such as breast cancer and sexually transmitted diseases while failing to block pornographic sites.
"Librarians are uniquely qualified to teach library patrons how to find the content they want and avoid inappropriate content without the government trying to deputize them into the thought police," said Ann Beeson for the American Civil Liberties Union, which is arguing the case for the plaintiffs.
unblock sites that were blocked in error. The government also contends that printed pornographic materials are not in many library collections, so there is no reason why online obscenity should be.
“Your policy is just plug in the (Internet) service and essentially tell patrons, 'Don't break the law,' is that correct?” asked Timothy Zick, a Justice Department attorney.
"Yes." Morgan replied
Libraries that do not comply by July 2002 would lose federal technology funding.
Civil liberties groups have challenged other federal laws aimed at restricting Internet access to minors. One of the cases was heard in December by the Supreme Court, which has not yet ruled, and another has already been struck down as unconstitutional.
Former policeman retried for 1997 attack
The Associated Press
NEWYORK—A former police officer awaiting retrial in the torture of Abner Louima was indicted Monday on perjury charges.
denied being present when the Halitan immigrant was assaulted.
According to federal prosecutors, Charles Schwarz lied at a trial in 2000 when he denied escorting Louma inside a Brooklyn stationhouse and when he
Schwarz has denied he was in the 70th Precinct bathroom when Officer Justin Volpe sodomized Louima with a broken broomstick. After Volpe pleaded guilty in the 1997 attack, a jury convicted Schwarz of violating Louima's civil rights by holding him down during the assault.
"This defendant, having taken an oath that he would testify truthfully, took the witness stand at a federal criminal trial and repeatedly lied about the circumstances surrounding the sexual assault of Abner Louima," U.S. Attorney Alan Vinegrad said in a statement.
Schwarz's attorney, Ronald Fischetti, did not immediately
return a telephone call for comment.
Last month, a federal appeals court overturned Schwarz's conviction and that of two other former police officers found guilty of obstruction. The court found that Schwarz's lawyer had a conflict of interest and that the jury was tainted because it was aware of Volpe's secret plea.
Trial ordered in trooper case
The Associated Press
HOUSTON, Mo. — A Texas County woman must stand trial on charges related to the death of a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper who was hit while working a wreck on a dark and foggy highway.
Julie A. Hartman, 39, of Houston, was ordered bound over on charges of involuntary manslaughter and second-degree assault, following a preliminary hearing yesterday in Texas County Associate Circuit Court.
Authorities allege Hartman's vehicle struck and killed
trooper Kelly Poynter about 1 a.m. on Jan. 18 near a crash on U.S. 63.
Investigators also allege Hartman was driving too fast for conditions. She was believed to be driving about 60 mph—the speed limit—but foglimited visibility, authorities said.
Authorities allege Hartman was under the influence of alcohol. Blood tests revealed alcohol concentrations beneath the legal limit, said Hartman's attorney, Joe Passanise.
Hartman, free on $100,000 bond, was ordered to appear May7 for formalarraignment.
The Associated Press
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Police serving a murder warrant on Norris Christopher Baggitt, a Fayetteville State University student wanted on a murder charge in South Carolina, found an armed robbery at a dormitory.
While in Baggitt's dorm Saturday, police encountered five men who were robbing students in several rooms. One student was shot in the finger during the robberies.
Police arrested two suspects, Brian Smith, 26, and David Smith, 23, and were searching for the other three Sunday. It was unclear if the Smiths were related. They were not students.
The student who was wounded, Frederick Johnson, was treated at a hospital and released. Investigators said they found marijuana, a gun and other weapons in his room. They arrested Johnson and his roommate, Atif Jamar Davis, on Sunday.
until he the Smiths were released. Wike had few details about the warrant for Baggitt's arrest, but said the homicide occurred sometime in the last few weeks during the school's spring break.
Mother of abused child calls for reform in Church
The Associated Press
WICHTITA — A woman who claims her son was molested by a former priest in the Diocese of Wichita said she hoped recent allegations against other priests would lead to change in the Roman Catholic Church.
"It's long overdue that this stuff gets cleaned up in the church," said Janet Patterson's son, Eric, committed suicide in 1999, months after telling one of his sisters he had been molested by the Rev. Robert Larson when he was an altar boy in Conway Springs.
"I feel hopeful for the future of the church. For the time being, they're taking a terrible hit," she said.
Larson is serving a sentence of 3 to 10 years after pleading guilty last year to one count of indecent liberties with a child and three counts of sexual battery.
All were related to incidents between 1984 and 1986 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Newton. Larson has not publicly acknowledged abusing Eric.
Paul Schwartz, who was one of the victims Larson admitted molesting, said that while he was saddened by the allegations against other priests, they also gave him a sense of vindication.
"It's reopening old wounds, but in a positive way, if that's possible," said Schwartz, who served as an altar boy at St. Mary's in the mid-1980s.
"It's a matter of, I'm not the only one — see, I was telling the truth," Schwartz said.
The clergy sex scandal exploded in Boston in January after newly released documents revealed that former priest John J. Geoghan had been moved from parish to parish following accusations of sexual abuse.
Since then, the archdiocese has provided prosecutors with the names of about 80 priests accused of sexually abusing children over the past 40 years.
Dozens of priests — out of more than 47,000 nationwide — have been suspended or forced to resign.
"It just makes me angry that so many people had to suffer in silence all these years," Patterson said.
The new allegations have brought attention to Patterson, who has been asked to appear on national television shows and to be interviewed for news articles.
While it's always painful to talk about her son's suffering and death, Patterson said, she welcomed the opportunities.
"I'm glad to get Eric's story out," said Patterson, who has set up a hot line for abuse victims.
"His story can be added to all the other stories that are out there."
LAWRENCE
AUTOMOTIVE
DIAGNOSTICS
INC.
842-8665
2858 Four Wheel Dr.
Now Leasing for Fall 2,3 & 4 Bedroom Apartments & Town homes
2 BR/ 2 Bath $700-$725
2 BR/ 1 Bath $595-$650
3BR/ 1.5 Bath $820
3BR/ 2 Bath $880
4BR/ 2 Bath $980
840-9467
Blue Mesa Management, Inc.
5200 W.15th Street
Suite 101
Just off campus.. Cedarwood Apartments
*Studios $325
*Studios $325
•1 bedroom $360
•2 bedroom $460
4 bedroom duplexe
- 2 bedroom $460
· 4 bedroom duplexes
· Quiet, clean environment
· Close to campus, KU bus stop
· 1 block SE of 23rd and Iowa
· Walk to restaurants, stores
· AC, Laundry, Pool, Balconies
· Well-lit parking, night patrol
· On-site manager...we care!
Call 843-1116 or visit us 2411 Cedarwood Ave.
COCO LOCO
TUE 26th Last Ride Out
WED 27th The Cats (Jazz)
THU 28th Ashton Drive
www.coco-loco.info