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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 3, 1990)
The Battalion uesday, April 3,1990 Page 5 oard reverses payment rate freeze ■a flj ■C G Q) £ G 2 3 G AUSTIN (AP) — The board of the Texas Department of Human Services, which already faces a $550 million, two-year budget shortfall, on Monday decided to pay more money to health care providers that sued the agency. DHS Commissioner Ron Lindsey said he has asked lawmakers to re solve the deficit by giving the welfare agency the $211 million in state funds it needs for 1990 and 1991. The rest of the $550 million pro jected shortfall is made up of federal matching funds that would be lost without state appropriations. But Lindsey said Gov. Bill Clem ents only will allow lawmakers to :onsider shifting the $32 million the igency needs in state funds this fis cal year from its 1991 budget. Linde begins nationwide tree planting Associated Press DANBURY, Conn. (AP) — Nineteen communities around the country, including the Hous ton suburb of Deer Park, will be getting 50,000 trees as part of a tree-planting program by the Linde Division of Union Carbide Industrial Gases Inc. The program is the beginning of a decade-long proposal by Linde to plant half a million trees in 130 communities partici pating across the country, the company said. The initial plantings will be di rected at the 19 communities where Linde currently operates facilities. The company said a unique el ement of the program would be development of care grounds for the American Liberty Elm, which is resistant to Dutch Elm disease. The plants being sent to com munities include White Flow- I ering Dogwood, Green Ash and I White Oak. Linde is the leading U.S. sup plier of oxygen and other indus trial gases. s of the avalry le Bra- ridge, [Faculty unham, avalry, vn Tur- aturday rse be- ie Bra- (Continued from page 1) Ozden O. Ochoa, who was unop posed Roy A. Hartman, who received 58 percent of the vote GEOSCIENCES: Jim Mazzullo, who received 94 percent of the vote LIBERAL ARTS: Martin J. Medhurst, who received Medical care providers to receive more money To cover the projected loss of funds for 1991, he said, Clements would require lawmakers to imple ment a plan to take greater advan tage of federal matching funds. Rossanna Salazar, Clements’ press secretary, confirmed the governor might add such, a plan to the call of the fourth special legislative session, which convened Monday. “If all this were to fall into place, the governor would consider adding this to the call,” she said. Salazar said Clements would not allow lawmakers to consider using new taxes to make up the state defi cit. Last week, DHS officials revised the department’s projected deficit down to $550 million from the $851 million they predicted in mid- March. Lindsey said the revision is based on more recent figures showing that fewer pregnant women and children have been applying for aid than was projected earlier. The rate increase for nursing homes and hospices providing Medi caid services to patients included $65 million in reimbursements, revers ing a rate freeze enacted by the board two weeks ago. But a representative of two nurs ing home groups that sued DHS last week said the increase is not enough to dissuade them. Sarah Speights, public informa tion officer of the Texas Health Care Association, said the $65 mil lion increase will pay for some fed eral mandates, like a minimum wage increase that took effect April 1. But she said it will not provide quality care for the 61,000 patients — 70 percent of all nursing home residents — who are dependent on Medicaid. Plant’s nuclear reactor tests will begin despite controversy GLEN ROSE (AP) — Fifteen years after the start of construction and 10 years behind schedule, workers prepared Monday to begin the first sustained nuclear reaction at the Comanche Peak nuclear power plant. But an advocacy group hoping to block the plant’s start-up said it will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to re open licensing hearings to allow a full investigation of Comanche Peak. TU Electric received a license Feb. 9 which allows the utility to test one of its two reactors at up to 5 percent of power. There have been no problems with any of the pre- operational tests, a plant spokesman said, although the utility on March 12 declared an “unusual event,” the lowest form of an emergency, when an electrical defect triggered an injection of cooling water into the reactor’s core. “We’re working toward starting it up somewhere late this evening or early tomorrow morning,” Mark Man- roe said Monday. “Of course, once again that’s with the proviso that if we run into something that we need to deal with, we’ll deal with it. “We’re not going to rush into anything.” The plant will remain under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s close supervision, Joe Gilliland, a spokes man for the NRC, said. “W’e’ve got four or five people on site now, as we’ve had all along,” Gilliland said. “We’re going to be mon itoring their actions as they proceed toward their chain reaction.” NRC inspectors will begin an around-the-clock vigil at the plant once the chain reaction actually starts, Gilli land said. “Even after we start the sustained nuclear reaction it’ll be several months before the plant will be at full op eration,” Manroe said. “We’re going to inch up grad ually.” Efforts to block the nuclear reaction were set back Friday when Supreme Court justice Byron R. White denied the request by Citizens for Fair Utility Regula tion to delay the start of nuclear reaction. The group contends the plant is unsafe. “I'm terribly disappointed in Justice White’s deci sion,” said Betty Brink, after hearing the ruling. Brink E-ven after we start the sustained nuclear reaction it’ll be several months before the plant will be at full operation. We’re going to inch up gradually.” — Mark Manroe, plant spokesman is a board member of CFUR, which is pressing for a full Supreme Court review on the plant’s licensing. TU Electric officials predict that the first of the facili ty’s two units will reach full power later this year. Construction of Comanche Peak, which is located about 40 miles south of Fort Worth, began in 1975. Original estimates put the total cost at $779 million. The facility’s price is now $9.1 billion. TU Electric has asked the Public Utility Commission for a $442 million, 10.5 percent rate increase to pay for the cost of building Unit 1. The only other nuclear power plant in the state is the South Texas Project near Bay City, which has been op erating since March 1988. T he plant is managed by Houston Lighting & Power and supplies electricity to Houston, Austin, San Antonio and Corpus Christi. TU Electric serves 5 million customers in 85 other counties in Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth area. 98 percent of the vote Richard L. Street, who received 58 percent of the vote Steve M. Murdock, who was unopposed Michael L. Greenwald, who was unopposed Edward J. Smith, who was unop posed STERLING C. EVANS LI BRARY: Jacque Halverson, who won in a tie-breaking draw MEDICINE: John D. Fisher, who received 88 percent of the vote Dottie Eakin, who received 87 percent of the vote SCIENCE: Kenn E. Harding, who was unop posed Bill Foster, who received 63 per cent of the vote Ronald A. Bryan, who was unop posed VETERINARY MEDICINE: Michael E. Tatum, who was unop posed Mary A. Herron, who was unop posed Special Student Discounts * X- X- *• X- X- * 10% airfare discounts to TWA destinations X X X X- X X X Going Abroad? 50% discounts on Youth Hostel Card with purchase of Eurail passes or Interna tional Airline Ticket ******* Special Sudent Vacations ages 18-25 to: Europe Australia Hawaii Club Med Cruises! Cruises! Cruises! We honor Northwest Airline Vouchers at no additional charge American Express Travelers Checks Thru our American Express ' affiliation, no matter where you're Traveling, we'll be there. EXECUTIVE TRAVEL 696-1748 123 Walton At main entrance to TAMU on Texas Ave. LOOKING FOR A CAREER? MAY GRADS SALES/ STOCKBROKER F.N. WOLF will be interviewing April 5th on campus! We * re looking for hardworking enthusiastic individuals. Apply at Placement Center. WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE? CAMP STAFF Spend the summer in the Catskill Mountains of New York. Receive a meaningful and exciting summer experience working in a residential camp with adults who have disabilities. Pos itions are available for COUNSELORS, CABIN LEADERS, and PRO GRAM SPECIALISTS. All students majoring in allied health field are encouraged to apply. Season dates: June 6 to August 23rd. Good Salary, Room, Board, and possible travel allowance. Call Charles at (512) 453- 8685 or send letter to Camp Jened, P.O. Box 483, at Rock Hill, NY 12775, (914) 434-2220. x Equal Opportunity Errployer M/F. pr MSC Political Forum SOUTH AFRICA SERIES: Part I THE FUTURE OF REFORM The Government’s Perspective by: GERHARDUS PRETORIUS South Africa's Consul General in Houston Tuesday, April 3, 1990 7:00 p.m. 102 Zachary Free Admission Refreshments -JJu Tr It The Association of Former Students Spring Senior Induction Banquet Tuesday & Wednesday, April 10 11, 1990 6:30 p.m. MSC-rooms 212-226 All May & August '90 graduates are invited. Complimentary tickets may be picked up in the NSC Flag Room/ Student Lounge April 3, 4, & 5 - 9 a.m.-4 p.m. TICKETS GIVEN ON FIRST COME ■ FIRST SERVED BASIS Student I.D. Required to Pick Up Tickets. This is your invitation to the induction of the Class of '90 Compliments of The Association of Former Students * This program is for educational purposes only and does not necessarilyrepresenl the views of MSC Political Forum. v y 4 0 - $ 4 0 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 IT PAYS NOT TO HAVE A COLD $40 $40 $40 Healthy individuals with a history of colds needed to participate in a jg.Q short research study with a currently available prescription medica- tion. $5 immediate entry bonus just for enrolling. Plus $40 incentive if you get a cold and complete the study $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $ 4 0 - $ 4 0 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 NEW COLD STUDY $40 $40 Individuals who frequently develop or have recently developed a $40 $40 cold to participate in a short research study with a currently avail- $40 $40 able prescription medication. $40 incentive for those chosen to $40 $40 participate. $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $40 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 ADULT SORE THROAT STUDY $100 $100 Individuals 18 years & older with severe sore throat pain to $100 $100 participate in a investigational research drug study. $100 $100 $100 incentive for those chosen to participate. $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME STUDY Symptomatic patients with recent physician diagnosed, ir ritable bowel syndrome to participate in a short research study. $100 incentive for those chosen to participate. $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 5300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 Individuals with high blood pressure, either on or off blood pres- $300 sure rnedicat i° n da 'ly *° participate in a high blood pressure $300 HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE STUDY iduals with h sure medication study. $300 incentive for those chosen to participate. $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $300 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 PAINFUL MUSCULAR INJURIES fjoo Individual with recent lower back or neck pain, sprain, $100 strains, muscle spasms, or painful muscular sport injury to $100 participate in a one week research study. $100 incentive for $100 those chosen to participate. $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 $100 CALL PAULL RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 776-0400