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Show ' 1 '.i "' ifirrnfirirn in i , """ " im """ im 1 -- i fl Program helps kids get Support bill toughens up on deadbeat dads rRuby Ridge hearing forces new gun rules Page A3 self-estee- m Page A9 Page n, rivw, State General rifle deer hunt t begin Saturday D1 Page C1 vian 50 cent Pumpkin run treett Si project delayed Qv, tr. 3 ? U ?A' " O 15 5 If Welsh suspects Olympics to blame By DONALD W. MEYERS The Daily Herald The Orem State Street project appears to be on the back burner for the remainder of the century. Public Works Director Richard Manning said the Utah Department of Transportation informed the city that the next three phases of the project will be put into concept development status for possibly the next five years. Concept development is the preliminary stage before the actual construction designs are drawn up. Manning said the UDOT Board of Commissioners did not adopt its State Transportation Improvement Plan at a recent meeting, putting funding for the Orem project in limbo. He said commissioners indicated that the funds will not be provided for design and construction until the year 2001. The decision was due in part to the UDOT restructuring the way it funds highway projects and finishing the Provo Road project, Manning said. Canyon " But Mayor Stella Welsh suggested that the transportation department is letting s. Otympic dreams dictateits policies. UDOT has adopted a new policy of only authorizing projects that can be covered by the existing funds. In the past, Manning said the state would approve all the submitted projects and later cut off those that could not be paid for in the bud- get 'A 4 Daily Herald PhotoJennifer Jennifer and Rick Holt race back to their parents after picking out a pumpkin for Halloween from Boyd William's pumpkin patch near the freeway (See STREET, Page A2) in American Fork. State welfare reform program flayed By SHEILA SANCHEZ The Daily Herald SALT LAKE CITY Advocates for the poor chastised a legislative committee Wednesday for working on a controversial welfare reform program that would penalize mothers who have an additional child while on welfare. The program would also eliminate welfare recipients cash grants after 24 months and would offer financial help to who place their babies unwed teen-ageup for adoption. "You're putting children put on the street ... This is a real abuse of power. If rs "I don't fault them on their philosophy," Manning said. Grigg your mothers and children were aware of the implications of this, they would be ashamed. Shame on you all of you," Related story, Page A9 said Juliesue Westwood, a former welfare recipient and a member of the JEDI (Justice, Economic Dignity and Independence) women's organization. Carol Gnade, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said the child exclusion provision is not about saving money but "about singling out poor children for punishment."' An updated version of the proposed Needy FamiEmployment Assistance-fo- r lies (EANF) program was presented to the Legislature's Human Services Committee at the State Capitol. The legislation comes as congressional leaders in Washington are trying to reach an agreement on major welfare reform legislation that will affect the way states conduct their own welfare programs. Republican Reps. J. Brent Haymond of Springville, Dcyle M. Mortimer of Orem and Lloyd Frandsen of South Jordan, and Republican Sens. Howard A. Stephenson of Draper, Charles H. Stewart of Prcvo and Craig Taylor of Kaysville, helped draft the bill. "It's our desire to see that we're not punitive to mothers and that we're equally placing responsibility on both parent for children they bring into this world ... It's our belief that it's not the responsibility of the state to provide welfare recipients with their desired end goal career, but to provide them with the opportunity to make an adequate income," Mortimer said. "We and be want to help them be contributing members of society." (See WELFARE, PageA2) Torrential rains bring alligators to torment Florida neighborhoods By TOM WELLS Associated Press Writer MIAMI As if two destructive hurricanes this year weren't terrify ing enough, a new round of torrential rains has given the Sunhine State another problem to wrestle with alligators. Gators became a nuisance after as much as 20 inches of rain fell in parts of southern Florida in 24 hojrs. turning some neighborhoods into islands and sending alligators from flooded canals onto AP Photo Alexis Eisenman, 17, and her stepfather Jeff Strickland check their mail by inflatable raft Wednesday after heavy rains hit Port St. Lucie, Fla. Boats were the main means of transportation in many neighborhoods Wednesday. doorsteps. "We thought it was a dog. but then we saw this huge gator about 10 to 12 feet long." Benjamin Borew said of the commotion he heard Wednesday at the gate of his Palm Beach County home. "The fish and game agent said not to try to catch it or bother it," Borew said. "No problem there." State game officials said they have received at least 20 reports of alligators in residential areas and were sending trappeis to kill them. But they noted most gators fear humans and those less than 6 feet long are usually harmless. "You know, they don't usually attack someone." said Ll Jeff Ardelean of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. "They might take a bite out of a child, but they're not big enough to eat them." Though the rains that began falling Sunday were expected to stop today, hundreds of people have already been evacuated from areas w here waters were up to 3 feet inside homes and up to 5 feet in streets. Gov. Law ton Chiles surveyed parts of Palm Beach and Martin counties by helicopter Wednesday, seeing for himself the Gingrich predicts passage of Medicare plan ; By DAVID ESPO Associated Press Writer With WASHINGTON Democrats attacking to the very end. Speaker Newt Gingrich confidently predicted passage today for overhaul of a Republican-drafte- d Medicare, legislation combining $270 billion in savings with expanded health care choices for the elderlv. "I think we'll have more than enough votes," Gingrich, architect of the measure, said on ABC's "Good Morning America." He said the measure was a "big step in a new direction," but that wasn't how outnumbered Democrats saw it as an emotional debate opened a short while later cn the House floor. "Pay More, Get Less," Democrats dubbed the measure, protesting that Republicans were plundering Medicare to pay for a tax cut for the rich. "Seniors are clean" protested being plucked Rep. Lloyd Doggett, President Clinton, who backs a measure to force $124 billion in savings, has vowed to veto- - the measure, and a key Republican lawmaker said a compromise might be possible before the final bill is sent to the WTiite House. 'l'd be w illing to consider any reasonable proposal," said Rep. Thomas chairman of the Bliley, House Commerce Committee. Republicans said dicir measure would save Medicare from bankruptcy. "We have heard so much demagoguery. Medigoguery from the other side." said Rep. Martin Hoke, Gingrich's confident prediction about trie outcome followed a final day of concessions as the Republican high command sought to win over rural GOP lawmakers and other waverers in advance of today's vote. Democrats conceded the measure was likely to pass, but attacked it relentlessly as a way for Republicans to finance tax cuts for the rich. "It's immoral and we must stop it," said House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt of Missouri. Addressing a twilight rally Wednesday outside the Capitol, Gephardt added, "If these cuts go through. 25 percent of the hospitals and health care facilities in this country will close over the next seven years." Republicans said nothing of the kind w ould happen under their bill, which they said w as designed to preserve solvency for a program that provides health care for 33 million elderly and 4 million disabled. The bill also would cane $270 billion trom the projected growth of the program over seven years, curtailing hikes in payments to doctors and hospitals while offersuch as HMOs ing ahernath es and other managed-car- e type plans to traditional Medicare. Medicare beneficiaries also would pay higher monthly premiums, w ith the charge for their Part B coverage climbing from $46.10 now to $53.40 in January 19. water scooters and small boats zipping through flooded streets. He later declared a state of emergency in Hendry, Martin. Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties. And for a state that has already endured direct hits from two deadly hurricanes Erin in August and Opal earlier this month this week's high water has only added to the toll of damaged and destroyed homes. "You can see the piles of carpeting in driveways. There are rugs and other things hanging on fences and bushes." said Palm Beach County resident Leon Gray bill. About 250 people were evacuated in Palm Beach County and in Lee County on the southwest coast. 272 people were driven into shelters, for some the second time their homes have been flcnxled in the past six weeks. Inside Weather Find it Arts El Business Classified Ads Crossword Lecals B4 Lifestyle Movies Obituaries Bl E4 E6 E4 E2 mid-20- s. A10 Opinions Sports State A12 Wtathcr .A 4 World s Tonight clear. Lows to mid-30Friday increasing high clouds. Highs 60s to lower 70s. Extended forecast. Saturday mostly cloudy and breez. Yallej rain and mountain snow lil.rlv. See Tage A4. CI All AS Air Quality Today's air quality was good for all areas altng the Wasatch FpmiL The forecast called for increasing pollution levels. St Pace A 2. |