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Show 1 Wednesday, Jan. 18,2006 797-1769;^ statesman@cc.usu.edu" Gulf Coast progress slow Today's Issue ^eQicot[ons~'' Z';" Today is Wednesday, January 18, 2006. Todays issue of The Utah Statesman is published especially for Cara Driggs, a freshman majoring in aerospace engineering, and Sydney Chamberlin, a sophomore majoring in physics and political science. Senate promises more federal aid to areas Clarifications The policy of The Utah Statesman is to correct any error made as soon as possible. If you find something you would like clarified or find unfair, please contact the editor at 797-1762 or TSC 105. National Briefs L - -• - ... - , - ',:.;'. I J A Quick Look Three charged with plotting bomb attack SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Three activists were arraigned Tuesday on federal charges that they plotted to blow up a U.S. Forest Service research lab and other targets. Eric McDavid, 28, of Foresthill, Calif., Zachary Jensen, 20, of Monroe, Wash., and Lauren Weiner, 20, of Philadelphia were ordered held pending bail hearings later this month in U.S. District Court. They were arrested Friday after leaving a Kmart store in Auburn, a Sierra foothill community east of Sacramento. Authorities said they were buying ingredients and equipment to make a bomb and had discussed detonating it at the Forest Service's Institute of Forest Genetics in Placerville. Other potential targets included the'Nimbus D'am'on'the'Ahiencan' 1 River near Sacramento, a cellular tele phone tower, a f>o\ver station, banks, ' trucks, mountain-top-removal projects in West Virginia and Communist Party offices, according to an affidavit filed by the FBI. Agents allege the three are members of the Earth Liberation Front, a loosely knit group of environmental activists that has claimed credit for arson blazes in recent years throughout the West, primarily at construction sites. NEW ORLEANS (AP) Progress rebuilding the Gulf Coast is still overshadowed by the devastation brought by Hurricane Katrina, senators said Tuesday, promising more federal help as they viewed broken levees and the shattered homes of victims trying to restart their lives. Four months after the Aug. 29 storm, lawmakers said they were surprised to see how little progress has been made in places like Gulfport, Miss., where churches were gutted and trees uprooted, and in New Orleans, where piles of boards and rubble sit where homes used to stand. Senators touring the destruction were decidedly less upbeat than President Bush was five days earlier, when he visited New Orleans for the first time in three AP Photo/The Shreveport Times/Jim Hudetson months. During that trip, Bush WORK CONTINUES in the skywalk at connecting the Shreveport Convention Center to the parking garage in called progress since August downtown Shreveport, La., Tuesday, Jan. 17. The first event, the KTBS Sport & Boat Show, is to open Thursday. "pretty dramatic," but he was later criticized for visiting the city's wealthier neighborhoods, "I'm disappointed, coming back none of the lawmakers said how which escaped the brunt of the four months later, that you don't much more federal aid will be damage. see more visible progress along needed, or for how much longer "It's good to say that we've the coast," Lieberman said after the government will have to help made progress, but also imporan aerial tour of Gulfport. "We rebuilding the area. tant to say we've got a long way can't kid ourselves, nor can we At a hearing in Gulfport, to go," said Sen. Joe Lieberman, look the other way. This is a longsenators grilled Don Powell, who D-Conn., on a daylong trip term commitment." has been coordinating governto some of Katrina's hardment rebuilding programs, over Congress so far has approved est-hit areas by members of $67 billion for the Gulf Coast, the Senate Homeland Security and Bush has called for an addiand Governmental Affairs > KATRINA tional $1.5 billion to strengthen Committee. see page 13 New Orleans levees. On TAiesday, Israel's acting leader says he wants to resume peace talks with Palestinians JERUSALEM' ^~ (AP) -r Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said ijuesday he wants to resume final . peace talks with the Palestinians and take harsh action against Israeli squatters in the West Bank -a sign the election front-runner is ready for bold steps to end the conflict. The new leader's first policy statement Wednesday, January 18th 2:00pm - 6:00pm 1525 N 600 E, North Logan • Listen to live calls • Refreshments will be served • Everyone who interviews will get a prize Inbound Customer Service Representatives Join the global leader in customer care, human resources and billing services today. Can't attend? Call our recruiters at: 750-1414 Ask for extension: USU-GDB7 is en EQE M/f/D/V carries special weight _^ old former m ^ O T j ^ J ^ „ of the holy cityTbutthfe'; because of a widespread ^Jerusalem anj the vice; Israeli Cabinet votecV • assumption ampng^x^^prernier under Sharon,, l1^^S^day.tQ.aUowJurut.§ Israelisthat Prime .•?'"'; ^lias/a commanding V ' .'voting. " V .:; I7 V3 ; rrTY1 *,.•_-,.__ Ariel A_._i^___ Jeadin the ppolls for the " [That -^ decision, "" •'-' * • Minister Sharon, who suffered a devastat- March 28 election, putOlmert said, was wise ing stroke Jan. 4, will because "we certainly ting him in a strong never return to power have an interest in position to begin carryand that Olmert will ing out Sharon's vision of preserving the link replace him. Hospital delineating Israel's final between the residents officials reported no of east Jerusalem and borders. change TYiesday in But Sharon's way was a Palestinian state, and Sharon's condition: criti- unilateral -he pulled not the state of Israel." cal, stable and comatose. Israel out of Gaza last Olmert said he did Olmert, a 60-yearnot want Israel to be summer with minimal blamed for the cancelcoordination with the lation of the Palestinian Palestinians, whom he election after Abbas viewed as unreliable made it clear there negotiating partners. would be no voting if Flanked by reporteast Jerusalem were ers after meeting Israeli President Moshe Katsav, excluded. Olmert said that after Olmert has spoken parliamentary elections often of trying to reduce -the Palestinians vote the number of Arabs Jan. 25 -"I hope ... I can under Israeli control, enter negotiations with fearing that the Arabs, Abu Mazen," referring with their higher birthto Palestinian leader rate, would outnumber Mahmoud Abbas by his Jews. His comments nickname. Tuesday appeared to leave open the possibilThe talks would be ity that the 230,000 for "a permanent peace Arabs in east Jerusalem agreement between us and the Palestinians," he would one day not be part of Israel. said. Olmert reiterated He has previously Sharon's policy that any said Israel cannot hope talks should be based to hold on to the entire on the internationally eastern sector, claimed backed "road map" peace by the Palestinians as plan, which calls for their future capital. But creation of a Palestinian aides say he opposes Immediate Openings state and outlines steps, giving it all up, especialso far unrealized, for the ly the walled Old City, two sides to abandon with its key holy sites conflict. Olmert placed of Judaism, Islam and the same caveat on the Christianity. talks as Sharon did: that Olmert said Israel the Palestinians disarm alk-lni would deal forcefully militant groups that car- with Israeli squatters ried out scores of suicide who took over an abanWelcome! bombings in Israel. doned Palestinian market in the West Bank Still, Olmert is city of Hebron and thought to be more clashed with police sent amenable to negotiato evict them. He said tions than Sharon was. the harsh line would He was a leading voice apply not only to illegal of moderation during CONVERGYS settlers in Hebron, but Sharon's premiership, • • • • • also to Israelis who have despite an earlier hawkOutthinking. Outdoing moved into other unauish reputation. thorized West Bank His conciliatory tone Tuesday extended to the outposts. issue of Palestinian vot"There will be no ing in east Jerusalem.. hesitation," he said. Israel has been reluctant to allow Arabs to vote TV. there for fear it could it • OLMERT weaken its claim to all seepage 13 People LOS ANGELES (AP) - An online casino has a piece of Capt. Kirk. Actor William Shatner has sold his kidney stone for $25,000, with the money going SHATNER to a housing charity, it was announced Tuesday. Shatner reached agreement Monday to sell the stone to Golden Palace. com. "This takes organ donors to a new height, to a new low, maybe. How much is a piece of me worth?" he said in a telephone interview. GoIdenPalace.com is noted for its collection of oddities, which includes a partially eaten cheese sandwich thought to contain the image of the Virgin Mary. "This is a bold new addition to our fleet," GoldenPalace.com Chief Executive Officer Richard Rowe said in a statement. The money will go to Habitat for Humanity, which builds houses for the needy. "This would be the first Habitat for Humanity house built out of stone," joked Darren Julien, president of Los Angeles-based Julien's Auctions, which handled the sale. Shatner, who played Kirk on the original "Star Trek" TV show and won an Emmy for his role on "Boston Legal," passed the stone last fall. The stone was so big, Shatner said, "you'd want to wear it on your finger." NEW YORK (AP) -Another "American Idol" contestant is heading for Broadway. Following in the footsteps of Frenchie Davis, who appears in r the rock musical "Rent," Diana will join the cast dtf " on Feb. 7-• v d the Fox television series' most popu lar runners-up, will portray the her oine's best friend, Penny Pingleton, in the musical, which opened on Broadway in August 2002. "Hairspray," based on the cult % John Waters' film, concerns a chubby Baltimore teen who wants to appear on a TV dance show. The show now stars Shannon Durig as > the eager young woman and John Pinette as her full-figured mother. i DUBAI, United Arab Emirates ' (AP) - Michael Jackson seems to be settling in to the Persian Gulf. The pop star has shopped for real ; estate here, been spotted in glitzy \ malls -and now appears to be inter- viewing for a job. Jackson, who was acquitted on child molestation charges in California last year, is negotiating , a position as a consultant with a Bahrain-based company that plans to set up theme parks and music academies in the Middle East, \ according to a press release. \ Late Night DavidLetterman, Jan. 15, 2OO3 "f Top Ten Ways Bush Can Raise His Approval Rating 10. End controversial "tax cuts for ',, jerks" program. j 9. Build a giant Saddam Hussein J doll, take it out to the White House ! lawn and beat it up. 8. Make film about his wild days hosting "The Gong Show". ••r r •J 7- Presidential pardon for Diana Ross. j 6. Use more adorable mispronunci- *" ations like "animal" and "pasghetti". 5. Pressue the FDA to make salty *Jsnack chips the main food group. -•> [t 4. Develop a catch phrase, like, ,-r "What you talkin* about, Kim Jone r II?" 3. Find Osama Bin Laden. 2. Let America know the White House has the loosest slots in town. ' 1. Find Dick Cheney. 0 |