in other words
1.
"Your failure to commit to addressing this issue straight on and immediately will motivate this committee to search for legislative remedies," Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), addressing major league baseball yesterday on its lack of a comprehensive drug testing plan.
news in brief
2A the university daily kansar
CORRECTION
thursday, march 11, 2004
STATE
A photograph in yesterday's The University Daily Kansan failed to identify two students, Maggie Richter, St. Louis junior, and Jeff Verkamp, St. James, Mo., junior, were pictured with their professor Dennis Sander on page 10A.
Internet sales tax bill causes disagreement within House
TOPEKA — Legislation suspending the state's new destination-based sales tax system until Congress allows taxation on Internet purchases won House approval Tuesday but appeared doomed in the Senate.
The new law, adopted last year, requires vendors to collect all sales taxes that apply at the point of delivery rather than the point of sale. The result is that merchants must deal with hundreds of tax rates and track sales in more detail than ever before.
Under the bill advanced by the 95-29 House vote, Kansas' previous sales tax policy would be restored until Congress passes a law allowing sales tax on Internet sales.
But the 2003 law is supported by Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as well as the Republican leadership of the Senate, which voted 24-15 last month against suspending it.
Sen. Dave Corbin, who chairs the Assessment and Taxation Committee, said senators want to help businesses that are struggling with the new law but that he did not plan to have the committee consider suspending it.
"We've had hearings and we've voted on it," said Corbin (R-Towanda).
The law is intended to position Kansas to capture what officials say could be $100 million a year in sales tax on transactions made over the Internet.
But many merchants have complained that the law is burdensome, particularly for businesses that deliver goods to multiple locations. The Department of Revenue has estimated that 14,000 of the state's 100,000 retailers were significantly affected by the law.
Contributed Photo
The House bill includes a provision granting a one-time, $1,000 income tax credit to help cover the costs of complying with the new law for businesses that collect less than $20,000 a year in sales taxes.
NATION
Jackson prosecutor requests grand jury in molesting case LOS ANGELES —The district attorney who charged Michael Jackson with child molestation is convening a grand jury to hear evidence in the case, a move apparently designed to sidestep a public preliminary hearing, a newspaper reported yesterday.
Citing unnamed legal sources, the Santa Barbara News-Press said potential grand jurors have received summonses to appear later this month.
A spokesman for Tellem Worldwide, which handles media inquiries for Santa Barbara County prosecutor Tom Sneddon, said a grand jury is being convened but he could not say whether it's for the Jackson case or another matter.
"The business of the grand jury is confidential," spokesman Jason Karpf said.
Jackson's lawyers said yesterday they could not comment due to a judge's gag order.
"It doesn't surprise me if he (Sneddon) has decided to go to the grand jury," said Loyola University Law School Professor Laurie Levenson. "It avoids the media spectacle and it gives them a chance for a dress rehearsal" before a possible trial.
Jackson has pleaded innocent to seven counts of performing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14 and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent, reportedly wine. He's free on $3 million bail.
Internet companies together work to decrease junk e-mail
WASHINGTON — Setting aside their rivalries to fight unwanted e-mail that is choking cyberspace, leading Internet companies announced yesterday they have sued hundreds of people suspected of sending unsolicited junk messages known as spam.
The legal actions by Microsoft Corp., America Online Inc., Earthlink Inc. and Yahoo! Inc., represent the first major industry actions under the federal "can spam" legislation that went into effect Jan. 1. The suits, which are aimed at shutting down the spammers, were filed in federal courts in California, Georgia, Virginia and Washington star
Dozens of those named were identified only as "John Doe" defendants accused of e-mailing unwanted pitches. Lawyers expressed confidence they can work through the courts to identify and find them.
"We've been doing this a long time, and we know what we're doing. We're only a couple subpoenas away from standing at someone's door and handing them a summons," said Les Seagraves, the assistant general counsel at Earthlink, which named 75 "John Doe" defendants in its lawsuits.
Jayme A. Aschemeyer, Aurora senior, Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kansas) and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius posed for the camera at a private Democratic fundraiser on Friday. The event was followed by an Ad Astra dinner.
Politics as usual
Device makes lighter loads possible for rescue workers
BERKELEY, Calif. — Move over Bionic Man and make room for BLEEX — the Berkeley Lower Extremities Exoskeleton, with strap-on robotic legs designed to turn an ordinary human into a super strider.
Ultimately intended to help people like soldiers or firefighters carry heavy loads for long distances, these boots are made for marching.
"The design of this exoskeleton really benefits from human intellect and the strength of the machine," says Homayoon Kazerooni, who directs the Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory at the University of California-Berkley.
mechanical metal leg braces that include a power unit and a backpack-like frame. The braces are attached to a modified pair of Army boots and are also connected, although less rigidly, to the user's legs.
"There is no joystick, no keyboard, no push button to drive the device," says Kazerooni, a professor of mechanical engineering. "The pilot becomes an integral part of the exoskeleton."
The exoskeleton consists of a pair of
In lab experiments, says Kazerono, testers have walked around in the 100-pound exoskeleton plus a 70-pound backpack and felt as if they were carrying just five pounds.
More than 40 sensors and hydraulic mechanisms function like a human nervous system, constantly calculating how to distribute the weight and create a minimal load for the wearer.
ON CAMPUS KUCALENDAR.COM
The African Studies Resource Center is sponsoring the UJAMAA Brownbag Series from noon to 1 p.m. at Alcove E of the Kansas Union. The title of the lecture is "Water Pollution in the Copper Belt in Zambia."
Ecumenical Christian Ministries is sponsoring Feminists United at 9 p.m. at the ECM, 1204 Oread Ave. This is open to everyone for discussion of issues on gender and concerns of feminism. Contact Sarah Shay at 843-4933.
Ecumenical Christian Ministries is having a Veggie Lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the ECM, 1204 Oread Ave. Come for good food and conversation. Optional donation for meal. Contact Laura Adams at 843-4933.
The KU Ballroom Dance Club is sponsoring dance practice from 7 to 9 tonight in the Hashinger Dance room. Ballroom, salsa, and swing practice for beginners or to those looking to learn new moves. Contact kubdc@ku.edu.
The School of Fine Arts is sponsoring a Music Colloquium with a presentation by Graduate Student Susan Goodwin at 3:30 p.m. tomorrow in 123 Murphy Hall. There is no charge for admission. Contact the M&D Office at 864-3436.
The St. Thomas More Society is sponsoring "Evil in Society and Why we Need to Protect the Dignity of Life" at 6:30 p.m. in 203 Green Hall. Gerald Boyle, defense attorney for Jeffrey Dahmer and Mark Chmura, speaks on the above story. Islamic perspectives will be given by Moussa Elbayoumy, Islamic Society of Lawrence, and a Catholic perspective will be given by Troy Hinkel, St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center. Contact Derek Teeter at 550-7320.
Question of the Day
KU Info exists to answer all your questions about KU and life as a student. Check out KU Info's Web site at www.ku.edu/about/ku 864-3504 or visit it in person at Anchatz Library.
Where can I find an ATM on campus?
KU's Lawrence campus is littered with ATMs. Here's where you can spot them:
The Kansas and Burge Unions both host ATMs by Capitol Federal, Commerce and US Bank.
Wescoe Beach has a Commerce Bank ATM.
The Jayhawk Bookstore also hosts a Commerce Bank ATM.
news affiliates
Look here every day for information about KUJH-TV News, the student television station of University of Kansas. Tune into KUJH for weekday newscasts and other programming on Sunflower Cable channel 32 at 5:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m.
KUJH-TV News
On KJHK, 90.7 FM, listen to the news at 7 a.m.,8 a.m. and 9 a.m. Then again at 6 p.m.
The University Daily Kansan prints campus events that are free and open to the public. When information is submitted, the event's sponsor, name and phone number
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The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the University of Kansas. The first copy is paid through the student activity fee. Additional copies of the Kansan are 25 cents. Subscriptions can be purchased at
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Reserved seat tickets are on sale in the KU ticket offices: University Theatre, 864-3982; Lied Center, 864-ARTS; SUA Office, 864-7469; and on-line at kutcheat.com: public $16, all students $10, senior citizens $15, KU faculty & staff $14; both VISA and Mastercard are accepted for phone and on-line orders. The University Theatre is partially funded by the KU Student Senate Activity Fee. This program is presented in part by the Kansas Arts Commission, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. Photography by Matt Jacobson.