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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 1993)
State & Local Page 2 The Battalion Tuesday, June 15,1 Lock and load... MARY MACMANUS/The Battalion John Smith from Aransas Pass learns to shoot a the Corps of Cadets is like. It is a week-long camp .22 rifle at the Corps Youth Camp. The youth that will last until Saturday, camp shows kids from around the state what life in Cop killer defense blames ra Attorney claims lyrics 'brainwashed 7 Howard into shootinj THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AUSTIN — A defense attorney who played several anti-police rap music songs for a jury Mon day said his client was "brain washed" by the songs and driven by their lyrics to shoot and kill a state trooper. Attorney Allen Tanner is at tempting to keep Ronald Ray Howard of Houston from "The Trigger-Happy Police" by O.C.U. and "City Under Siege" by the Geto Boys. "Ask yourself if you think it could impact the kids who are lis tening to this music," Tanner said to the jury between songs. "I think this music brain washed Ronald Howard," Tanner said. "I'm not just blaming it on that. I'm saying it's a combination of an individual and society." the death penalty. ——— — :—; ; Howard, 19, was con- I think this music brainwashed , v u c n‘ ed 8 toX ApriiMS Ronald Howard, I'm not just shooting death of Depart- blaming it on that. I'm saying it's a ment of Public Safety t . ,. r • j* • j i j trooper Bill Davidson The combination of an individual and punishment phase of the society." trial is expected to last two to three weeks. -Allen Tanner, defense attorney Tanner has said that Howard was listening to anti-cop rap music just before he shot Davidson in the neck at close range. Davidson had pulled Howard over near Victoria be cause of a missing headlight. Howard, who has confessed to the killing on several occasions, could be sentenced to life in prison or death by lethal injection. Jurors studied printed lyrics as they listened to seven songs known as "gansta rap," including But prosecutor Bobby Bell said it shouldn't matter if rap music in fluenced Howard or not. "Whether or not that rap music caused him to shoot that trooper is an issue that I don't even think is relevant in the jury's considera tion of the death penalty," Bell said. Bell said he will call as witness es two Houston rap artists, Scar- face and Ganksta N.I.P., to try to link Howard to gang activity. Bell also said he will present evidet which proves that Howard hati cops and worked as a drug deal? "I'm bringing Scarfaceinl cause the evidence is going show that Scarface and Gank N.I.P. are members of thesai gang, (and) the same neighbt hood. South Park, that Ronal Ray Howard is," Bell said. "I want to show the jury very people (who are) his fel g an g members, how tk operate, what theyh lieve in, what their cret is and how they cops and want to cops," he said. Bell said in his opt: ing statements he will to prove that Howai was a cocaine dealerai car thief who couldt keep a job. Bell said will call at least two of Howar ex-girlfriends who claim the fendant was violent withtht and made death threats. Bell also said he will caill trooper's wife, Linda Davidson Tanner said he will showtk Howard was an abused child w: little self-esteem who had trout learning to read. The punishment phase of ll trial is expected to last two three weeks. Court halts execution of Texas inmate THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HUNTSVILLE - A stay was granted Monday for Denton Crank, a Texas death row inmate who had been scheduled to die af ter midnight for a 1984 murder. The 5th Circuit Court of Ap peals stayed the execution for 37- year-old Crank, who was sen tenced to death for killing a Hous ton man during a store robbery. Last week, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in Austin had rejected an appeal to halt Crank's execution. Houston attorney Dan Wanna- maker said he raised a couple of issues in Crank's appeal, includ ing a claim that jurors in his trial were not allowed to consider evi dence that the defendant was abused as a child when determin ing his punishment. Crank, a construction worker from Harris County, was convict ed of capital murder in the Janu ary 1984 slaying of Terry Or- ingderff, an employee of Rice Food Markets. Oringderff, 31, was shot six or seven times after the store was robbed of more than $39,000 in cash. Before he was killed, Or ingderff was held prisoner by the gunman and forced to carry the stolen money to the getaway car. Crank was scheduled to die in 1989, but he won a stay from Supreme Court Justice Byron White. Five Texas inmates have been ex ecuted this year, the last being John Christopher Sawyers, who was put to death May 18 for a 1983 murder. Insurance bill angers homeowners THE ASSOCIATED PRESS AUSTIN — A group of homeowners, private in surance adjusters and general contractors made a plea Monday for Gov. Ann Richards to veto insur ance legislation that would alter coverage of house foundations damaged by water. The bill, if signed into law by Richards, would re quire owners of homes 10 years and older to buy separate coverage to protect against water damage to the foundation of their house. Currently, the water damage provision is includ ed in homeowners' policies. "This is economic racism," said Ed Benjamin, a representative of The Peoples' Insurance Adjuster in Austin. Benjamin said because a majority of people who own houses 10 years old or older are often retired, living on fixed income or reside in low-income neighborhoods, they won't be able to afford the ad ditional coverage and won't buy it. "The white middle class doesn't buy 30-year-old houses," Benjamin said. "There are a lot of senior cit izens who are reluctant to go into debt because of this." The problem of water damage to home founda tions should be of grave concern to Texans because about 300,000 homes across the state are built on top of volatile soils and clays that expand when mixed with water, Benjamin said. He said the expanding soils and clays are pre dominantly located in a stretch from Fort Worth to Corpus Christi. A few Austin homeowners say they were shocked to see their houses literally ripping apart due to bro ken water pipes that had caused the clay beneath their dwelling to expand several feet and crack con crete foundations. "The walls began cracking, the rafters holding up the ceiling began pulling apart, eventually the roof would have fallen in," said Geraldine Nash, a retired Austin resident, who is having her home rebuilt at a cost of $55,000 because of the water damage. "I would not have been able to afford the repairs if I didn't have insurance." Roach!!!! There's money in them thar critters THE ASSOCIATED PRESS GALVESTON - Wait! Before you step on that roach! There's money in them thar critters. At least that's what Karen Brandreth thought one time back in 1985 as she reached for her can of Raid for the umpteenth time. Being a creative person, a per son who sees opportunity knock ing (or scurrying across the floor, in this case), Ms. Brandreth decid ed to go where no person had gone before. At least no person over the age of 2. She sprayed that bug, then she played with that bug. She dressed him up and put him in a tiny toy car. Then she gathered a few more dead cockroaches, dressed them up and glued them at a tiny table playing cards. The more bugs she collected, the more bizarre the sce narios became. Soon Ms. Brandreth was el bow-deep in dead bugs and a new hobby — cockroach art under glass. Under a small glass box, she would create a stage and various scenarios for her insects which were hardened in resin and glued into place. "I had a hard time finding real ly large ones," she said. "So I used to go to exterminating com panies to get them." Ms. Brandreth found miniature doll furniture came in handy, but often she had to make her own special accessories. Living in Houston at the time. she set up a display at the Hous ton International Festival and word spread like roaches in a sug ar factory. Local television and news media did features on her. Then the national media started calling. The National Enquirer did a story. Ripley's Believe It or Not, USA Today and National Public Radio all came calling. In the meantime, the commis sions came rolling in for one-of-a- kind custom cockroach art. Kenny Rogers wanted roaches in a West ern. Lionel Ritchie wanted roaches "Dancing on the Ceiling." Ms. Brandreth turned roaches into teachers, attorneys in court and doctors in surgery. For the Houston Ballet director, she dressed roaches in tutus and ballet slippers in a tiny dance studio. w Health Tips Satisfy cravings with cool ice cream in low-fat flavors By KRISTIN OGRODOWICZ Special to The Battalion If those hot summer days are getting you down, then cool of: with a smooth refreshing dip of ice cream. Sometimes there isnofl: ing that will satisfy that summertime craving for relief from the heat, than some good old-fashioned ice cream. Americans indulge themselves with over 800 million gallons of ice cream and related products annually. Topping the charts for the number one flavor is vanilla, and running a close second is choco late. Other flavors that seem to be popular favorites are butter pecan, strawberry, Neapolitan and chocolate chip. Cold ice cream is such a hot item in the summer because it come; in a variety of flavors to please all. It may also be because it is a rel atively inexpensive dessert, but whatever the reason, people seem to be scooping it onto cones and bowls and mixing it into shakes and various other creamy creations. What many people don't realize is that ice cream is a good source of calcium. Eating one cup of ice cream has the same amount of calcium (176 mgs) as eating one ounce of American pas teurized .cheese, three ounces of pink salmon, half a cup of collard greens or drinking almost two-thirds of a cup of milk. However, if people are watching their weight or cholesterol, ice cream can be high in fat. But there are alternatives to high fat ice cream deserts. Ice cream clones such as fat-frees, lights and ice milks give much of the same enjoyment as ice cream with less fat and cholesterol. For an even more reduced diet, choose sherberti. sorberts and yogurts. Also, watch ice cream toppings. Calories and fat can surely add up in a hurry when toppings are added to ice cream or even yogurt Choose fruittoppings for less fat. The key to eating the healthy amount of ice cream is enjoying it in moderation. Stick to this rule to enjoy that rich, creamy taste and still help keep those extra unwanted pounds off. Just remember, keep portion sizes small and indulgences occasional. For more information on ice cream and cool summer choices, come by the Health Education Center, located in the basement of the Health Center, Room 16. Ask about a handout that lists calories and fat and various cool summer choices. "NOT FOR EVERYBODY ® 3 WM rehouse FOR MADMEN ONLY ILlUr - PRICE OF ADMISSION: YOUR MIND" WE BUY USED CD’S FOR C* lEiarE^Art 0 $4.00 or trade 2 for 1 We sell used CD’S 210 W. 26th St., Dwtn. Bryan (409) 775-2984 Tues.-Fri. 12-6 Sat. 10-5 $8.99 or less 268-0154 g STEPPENWOLF, HERMANN HESSE [a —. . - (At Northgate) We have your size! Colors: White. Wheat. Gold / Metallic. White/Bright Lj Mulit A collection or contemporary footwear in the turn you need sizes 10 1/2- 12 slightly higher Post Oak Mall 696-7671 ^ 9*WMd>Tr\ !G HT Grants for Graduate Students and y*./ Graduating Scuior* If you're a U.S. citizen, you can perform research abroad in the country of your choice. To find out more, come to our Informational Meeting (listed below), or come by or call the Study Abroad Program Office at 161 Bizzell Hall West (845-0544). Wed. June 16 from 2:00 - 3:00p.m. 251 Bizzell Hall West Bit, The Battalion JASON LOUGHMAN, Editor in Chief MARK EVANS, Managing Editor STEPHANIE PATTILLO, City Editor DAVE THOMAS, Night News Editor KYLE BURNETT, Sports Editor MACK HARRISON, Morning News Editor ANAS BEN-MUSA, Aggielife Editor BILLY MORAN, Photo Editor Staff Members City desk — Jennifer Smilh, James Bernsen, Michele Brinkmann, Reagan Clamon, Jason Cox, Lisa Elliolt, Laura Haley, Janet Holder, Carrie Miura, Susan Owen and Geneen Pipher News desk - Lisa Borrego, Joe Holan, Susan Owen and Denise Wick Photographers - Richard Dixon, Mary Macmanus, Nick Pena and Stacy Ryan Aggietfe - Jacqueline Ayotte, John Bayless, Margaret Claughlon and Jennifer Salce Sports writers - Roy Clay, Matt Rush, Mark Smith and Tom Sullivan Opinion desk — Shashi Nanjundaiah, Matt Dickerson, Tracey Jones, Frank Stanford and Robert Vasquez Cartoonists — Boomer Cardinale, George Nasr, Joe Reyes, Sergio Rosas and Paul Stroud Graphic Artist - Angel Kan Clerks- Grant Austgen, Alishia Holtam and Lisa White The Battalion (USPS 045-360) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods), at Texas A&M University. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Battalbn, 230 Reed McDonald Building, Texas A&M University College Statbn, TX 77843. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Division of Student Publications, a unit of the Department of Journalism. Editorial offices are in 013 Reed McDonald Building Newsroom phone number is 845-3313. Fax: 845-2647. Advertising: For campus, local and natbnal display advertising, call 845-2696. For classified advertising, cd 845-0569. Advertising offices are in 015 Reed McDonald and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 845-5408. Subscriptions: Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50 per full year. To charge by VISA or MasterCard, call 845-2611.