2A The Inside Front Wednesday February 28,2001 News from campus, the state the nation and the world CORRECTION The Voter's Guide in Monday's Kansan contained some information compiled by the Student Legislative Awareness Board. CAMPUS Legal action pending in stolen laptop case The KU Public Safety Office forwarded an investigative report to the Douglas County district attorney's office yesterday for further legal action regarding a stolen laptop computer in a University police officer's possession. The district attorney will determine what charges will be filed, according to a KU Public Safety Office press release. The officer is on administrative leave without pay. Lt. Bailey of the Public Safety Office lts University policy prohibited the office from commenting on the case because it was a personnel matter. Amanda Bealin Senate agenda includes vote on $6.50 fee hike Student Senate will meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the Big 12 Room in the Kansas Union. Items on the consent agenda, which will be voted on collectively unless someone objects, include: A bill establishing a $6.50 fee per semester for the newspaper readership program. A bill expanding Legal Services for Students. A bill allocating $5,346 for Pride Week. A bill granting $400 to 1 Chuwen 14 Yax A bill to transfer money from the Senate reserve account into the unallocated account. Items on the regular agenda include: bill including meals made A bill establishing guidelines for allocating money more than $1,000. A bill brought by the Finance items on the regular agenda include A bill requiring senators to meet with their constituency groups at least three times during the semester A bill brought by the Finance Committee approving block funding allocations. Brooke Hesler Police end investigation of student's fatal crash Douglas County District Attorney Christine Tonkovich expects to know by the end of the week whether charges will be filed in a Feb. 4 car accident that killed Shyra McGee, Wichita senior, and injured her husband, John, and another student, Amber Sellers. Police completed their investigation of the accident and sent their reports to Tonkovich's office Monday afternoon, Sgt. Mike Patrick said. Tonkovich said her office would reach its decision as quickly as possible. The earliest her office might have a decision would be tomorrow, Tonkovich said. — Lauren Brandenburg STATE Gay Democratic caucus makes debut in Topeka TOPEKA — The first meeting of the Democratic Party's new gay caucus has prompted Shawnee County Treasurer Rita Cline to switch her party affiliation. Cline became a Republican on Monday. She said she could be part of an organization that openly accepted ed gay and lesbian members. The Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Caucus had its first meeting Saturday, during Kansas Democrats' annual Washington Days festivities. About a dozen people attended, and State Chairman Tom Sawyer and U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore visited the meeting to voice support. "I'm very concerned that the leaders of the Democratic Party have embraced a radical group's agenda," Cline told The Topeka Capital-Journal. "I will not be a part of any organization that promotes and condones the breaking not only of Kansas law, but also God's law." NATION Supreme Court upholds Clean Air Act challenge WASHINGTON — The nation's premier environmental law withstood a major industry challenge yesterday as the Supreme Court upheld the way the government sets air-quality standards under the Clean Air Act. The court unanimously rejected industry arguments that the Environmental Protection Agency must consider financial cost as well as health benefits in writing standards. The Clean Air Act became law in 1970, and the challenge by industry groups was viewed as the most significant environmental case before the Supreme Court in years. The American Lung Association called the ruling "a victory for the Clean Air Act and for the health of the American people." Nevertheless, the court threw out the EPA's policy for implementing new ozone rules and ordered the agency to come up with a more "reasonable" interpretation of the law. Fat Tuesday draws one million party-goers NEW ORLEANS — An estimated million or more people jammed the city's streets on Mardi Gras for the Big Easy's raucous, libidinous, alcohol-fueled celebration. Tourists stood agape in the French Quarter as three women strolled the crowded, narrow streets wearing nothing but sandals, bikini thongs and elaborate swirls of brightly colored body paint. Families, many of them with picnic spreads and barbecue grills, lined parade routes in residential neighborhoods and suburbs, but the Quarter revely was for adults only. Costumes included one man's see-through jockey shorts and one woman's revealing skirt and top made only of tied-together bead necklaces. The presidential election was a common theme: One man dressed as a Florida ballot with a pot belly and a sign declaring himself a pregnant chad. New Orleans police reported no serious incidents by afternoon, and no immediate arrest figures were available for Mardi Gras misbehavior. Last year, police reported 589 arrests over the 12-day Carnival period. down from 836 in 1999 Last year, a crackdown on women flashing their breasts drew criticism from revelers who said it was harmless fun. This year, the police said officers would make arrests only when nudity or lewdness were a threat to public safety. Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the climax of New Orleans' Carnival season, which begins each year on Jan. 6 and ends at midnight with the arrival of Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. WORLD U.S. to ease sanctions on goods export to Iraq BRUSSELS, Belgium — Declaring that sanctions against Iraq are "in a state of disarray," Secretary of State Colin Powell is calling for changes that would permit export to Iraq of more consumer goods while maintaining curbs on assistance to President Saddam Hussein's weapons program. Powell said he hoped revisions could be completed before Arab leaders hold a summit meeting in Amman, Jordan, in late March. "I think it gives us a stronger position to go to nations that might be tempted to send in prohibited weapons or prohibited materials," Powell said. Bush addresses Congress, nation The Associated Press Tax cut plan among key issues addressed The Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Bush beckoned a divided Congress last night to support Bush."The people of America have been overcharged." a large and retroactive tax cut, declaring in a nationally televised address. "The people of America have been over charged, and on their behalf, am here asking for a refund." On the 39th day of his presidency, Bush pledged to set the nation on "a different path" by slashing federal debt while increasing spending for popular programs such as education, environmental protection and health research. Bush, the first Republican president since Dwight D. Eisenhower to address a GOP- led Congress, reached out to Democrats with a promise to tackle Social Security reform and end racial profiling. In a bid to conservatives, he renewed his call to privatize portions of Social Security. Bush appeared relaxed and confident during his 49-minute speech, receiving several standing ovations from Republicans and polite applause from Democrats throughout. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, several Cabinet members and one Supreme Court justice, Stephen Breyer, joined lawmakers in the historic House chamber for the annual ritual. Applause and standing ovations began on one side of the aisle and rippled to the another — depending on the politics of the issue. Making the case for his $1.6 trillion, 10-year tax cut plan, Bush said, "Some say my tax plan is too big." Democrats cheered the line, making clear they agreed. "Others say it is too small," Bush continued, drawing applause from Republicans. "I respectfully disagree. This tax relief is just right." Not even the pageentry of the moment — both houses of "Some say my tax plan is too big. Other say it is too small.I respectfully disagree. This tax cut is justright." George W. Bush President Congress, diplomats and Cabinet officials assembled — could extinguish all echoes of last fall's recount. There were audible boos on the Democratic side of the aisle as justices of the Supreme Court were announced. It was a reaction to the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision that stopped recounts in Florida and handed the presidency to Bush. Standing before a Congress often mired in gridlock, Bush said: "Let us agree to bridge old divides," though he added, "Bipartisanship is more than minding our manors, it is doing our duty." Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., a lightning rod for criticism from the political right, politely applauded Bush. ON THE RECORD A KU student's cell phone was stolen between 10:30 and 11 p.m. Saturday in the 1000 block of West 23rd Street, Lawrence police said. The phone was valued at $160. A KU student's stolen credit card was used to withdraw money at six ATMs between 10 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday, Lawrence police said. The transactions totaled $1,025 ON CAMPUS The Peace Corps will have its 40th anniversary celebration today at the Kansas Union. An information table will be set up in the Kansas Union lobby from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A film will be shown at 5:30 p.m. at the Walnut Room in the Kansas Union. Call Steve Howell at 838-4751. The School of Fine Arts and the Kansas Union will present Brown Bag Classics at 12:30 p.m. today at Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Union. Drinks will be provided. Call the SUA box office at 864-SHOW. University Career and Employment Services and the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center will sponsor "Balancing Career, Family and Personal Time" from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. today at the International Room in the Kansas KU Water Polo will practice at 7 tonight at Robinson Pool. Call Jason Blazer at 312-223-6800. Union. Call Jacquelyn Johnson at 864-5672. The Diversity Peer Education Team will meet at 5:30 p.m. today at the Multicultural Resource Center. Call Santos Nunez at 864-4350. The United Methodist Campus Ministry fellowship dinner will be from 6:30 to 7:30 tonight at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave. Call Heather Hensarling at 841-8661. ACT in Faith will meet at 7 tonight at ECM. Call Garth Barhloomew at 841-8661 WomanSpace will meet from 8 to 9 tonight in the upstairs at the ECM. Call Heather Hensarling at 841-8661. ET CETERA The University Daily Kansan is the student newspaper of the The student of the Department of 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 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall. The University Daily Kansas (ISSN 0746-4962) is published at the University of Kansas, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kan. 66045, daily during the regular school year, excluding Saturday, Sunday, holidays and finals periods, and Wednesday during the summer session. Periodical postage is The Kansan prints campus events that are free and open to the public. When information is submitted, the event's sponsor, name and phone number must be on the form, which is available in the On Campus mailbox in the Kansan newsroom, 111 Stauffer-Flint Hall. Items must be turned in two days paid in Lawrence, Kan. 66044. Annual subscriptions by mail are $120. Student subscriptions of $2.33 are paid through the student activity fee. Postmaster: Send address changes to the University Daily Kansan, 119 Stauffer-Flint Hall, Lawrence, Kane. 66045. in advance of the desired publication date. Forms can also be filled out online at www.kansan.com — these requests will appear on Kansan.com as well as the Kansan. On Campus is printed on a space-available basis. On Campus is a free service provided by the Kansan to the University community. Tutoring Services still has groups open for these courses: - Biol 150 &152 Those groups meet twice a week for 90 minutes, facilitated by a poor tutor, and cost only $85 for the semestar. (Check to see if you qualify for a fee waiver.) - Math 002, 101, 104, 115,116, 121 & 122 - Span 104, 108, 212 & 216 - Chem 184 & 188 - Biol 150 & 150 Call 864-2802 for more details or stop by the Student Development Center in 22 Strong Hall to fill out a request form! Sign up now! You only have until March 2nd to sign up for a group!