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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 1994)
Page 12 The Battalion Tuesday, February 8,15s Las Vegas fastest city. Census Bureau says The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Las Vegas, the glittering gambling resort in the Nevada desert, was the fastest growing met ropolitan area in the United States in the early 1990s, the Census Bureau said Monday. Only two other metro areas — Laredo, Texas, and Yuma, Ariz. — reported double digit growth. Las Vegas grew by 13.9 percent between 1990 and 1992, to a population of 971,169. There were 203.2 million people living in the nation's 268 government-recognized metro areas in July 1992, an in crease of 2.8 percent since April 1990. The number of peo ple living outside metropolitan areas grew by 1.8 percent, to 51.9 million. New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island is the largest metro area, with 19.7 million people, up 0.6 percent. Among the 10 largest metro areas, Houston grew the fastest, at 6.2 percent. Only one of the top 10 lost popula tion: Boston, down 0.3 percent. A booming resort industry and disgruntled Californi ans are fueling much of Las Vegas' growth, said Bruce Woodbury, commissioner of Clark County, which in cludes Las Vegas. But, he said, "there's a down side." Heavier traffic, poorer air quality and overcrowded schools all put strains on resources. But there's no chance of Las Vegas becoming a mini-Los Angeles, Woodbury said. "The real limiting factor is water," Woodbury said. The arid valley has enough water from the Colorado River and ground water sources for about 1.5 million people. After that, growth has to stop, he said. Metropolitan areas are designated by the government in an attempt to bring some order to the crazy quilt of cities, towns, townships and counties that make up America's ur ban centers. They are a recognition that the ways people live and work usually transcend the traditional boundaries of state and municipal governments. The 10 metro areas growing fastest were spread over nine states. That's a change from the 1980s, when nine of highest-growth metro areas were in Florida. The fastest growing metro areas in the early 1990s, af ter Las Vegas, were Laredo, Texas, 11.4 percent; Yuma, Ariz., 10 percent; McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas, 9.8 percent; Anchorage, Alaska, 8.6 percent; Naples, Fla., 8.3 percent; Las Cruces, N.M., 8.2 percent; Bakersfield, Calif., 8.1 percent; Lawton, Okla., 8.1 percent; and Boise, Idaho, 8 percent. Eight of the 41 metro areas with more than 1 million people changed rank between 1990 and 1992. Atlanta rose to 12th and Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, Wash., fell to 13th, Portland-Salem, Ore., rose to 22nd and Cincinnati-Hamil- ton, Ohio, fell to 23rd; San Antonio rose to 31st and Orlan do, Fla., fell to 32nd; and Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill rose to 33rd while Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y., fell to 34th. Surgeon General, five predecessors support legislation protecting nonsmokers The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The U.S. surgeon general and five of her predecessors endorsed legislation Monday to pro tect nonsmokers, through severe smoking restrictions in virtually every non-residential building in the country. A tobacco industry representative denounced the pro posal as government "social engineering on a vast scale." The conflicts expressed before the House Energy and Commerce health and environment subcommittee resem bled debates years ago over the effects of tobacco on smokers. But this time, the issue was passive, or second hand smoke. An ERA report in January 1993 classified cigarette smoke as a cancer agent more dangerous than arsenic or radon. It said secondhand smoke causes 3,000 lung can cer deaths annually in adults and as many as 300,000 cas es of bronchitis and pneumonia in children. "I say now, as I said nearly a decade ago, it is my judgment that the time for delay is passed," testified Dr. C. Everett Koop, perhaps the best known former surgeon general. "Measures to protect the public health are re quired now." The current surgeon general. Dr. Joycelyn Elders, joined other witnesses in expressing concern over the ef fect of secondhand smoke on children. "When we smoke around our children, then our chil dren are smoking" she said, warning that children are vulnerable to asthma, bronchial problems and the future risk of lung cancer. The subcommittee chairman. Rep. Henry A. , D-Calif., responded to such pleas with proposed legislation. It would require owners of non-residential buildings, regu larly entered by 10 or more persons, to either ban smok ing inside the building or restrict it to separately ventilat ed rooms. The act would be enforced through citizen lawsuits, to avoid creation of a new federal bureaucracy. A preliminary analysis presented to the committee by EPA Administrator Carol Browner estimated the legisla tion would cost less than $1 billion annually. Browner estimated between 5,000 and 9,000 fewer peo ple would die each year if they were not exposed to sec ondhand smoke. She valued the savings in medical costs and reduced lost earnings for nonsmokers at $1.5 billion to $3 billion annually. Browner placed the economic value of the reduced death risk at $22 billion to $43 billion a year. She added that potential savings in housekeeping and maintenance expenses of smokefree buildings could range from $5 bil lion to $10 billion annually. The statistics disturbed Rep. Thomas J. Bliley of Vir ginia, the subcommittee's ranking Republican, who charged the EPA "politically manipulated" its data and ignored a recent study that downgraded the risk of pas sive smoke. Nor did the figures impress Charles O. Whitley, a for mer House member who appeared on behalf of the To bacco Institute, an industry group. He called the EPA study "scientifically flawed," con tending the agency based its conclusions on studies of nonsmoker exposure in the home, not in public build ings. He called it ironic that residences "are the only places exempted" under the bill. "In reality, this attempt to ban smoking is an example of social engineering on a vast scale," he said. "Such massive federal intervention in the private lives and choices of one-quarter of our adult population recalls the extremism of Prohibition ... ." Waxman responded that government does regulate "how people who drink affect other people. "We don't tell them they can't drink, but when people who smoke and drink affect others, it's not social engi neering. It's good public policy," Waxman contended. Besides Koop, former surgeons general who testified for the bill were Drs. S. Paul Ehrlich Jr., Antonia C. Nov- ello, Julius B. Richmond and Jesse L. Steinfeld. AIDS Continued from Page 1 remember whose responsibility it is," she said. "It's up to you and not your partner to protect yourself, and if you get infected you must live with the blame everyday." Geri Briggs learned she and her husband had HIV after her infant son suffered from a series of illnesses. After her son, Jason, tested positive for HIV, both Briggs and her husband were tested. Briggs does not know who infected her with the virus be cause both she and her husband had sexual partners prior to'their marriage. Jason lived two years and died in her arms, Brig gs said. "My nightmare isn't over," Briggs said. "I want you to do all the things we weren't told. We're angry because we didn't know. We can't change our past, but hopefully we can change your future." Briggs and Dolph emphasized the need for abstinence or condom use, and encour aged everyone to get tested for the virus. "Don't take the chicken wav out," Dolph said. "If you are diagnosed early, you can take medicines that can help prolong your life. Watching your baby die is not the way to find out." Briggs and Dolph both have encoun tered difficulty with insurance companies. AZT and DDI, the medication typically giv en to HIV patients, can cost between $500 and $700 a month without insurance, Dolph said. Margaret Griffith, who works with Planned Parenthood's Outward Education, said the message Briggs and Dolph send to students about the importance of AIDS test ing is essential. Free HIV testing will be offered this week, and Planned Parenthood offers the test for $5. But Griffith said the fee will be waived for individuals who cannot afford the test. 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"A lot of them couldit take it, and they quit," Coi ney said. "But I knew 1 wan ed to go to Texas A&M." Courtney, who was years old and had complete: his military service wi came to Texas A&M, saidlj years in the Marine Corpsh; hardened him. "I was young and didn'ti, ally understand the imp: tance of what I was doinj Courtney said. Courtney said most Vol. hip i As jrou] dumn xecu vill i dock Tu problems he experience Jj a y j came from other students. "The school systemifi committed to integration Courtney' said. Although he was Ke corned to A&M by the adit- istration and the facu! Courtney said he was wane: by many people not to A&M. After seeing other students around the count! struggle to attend segregate schools, Courtney said hen expecting the worst when: came to A&M. However little happened Courtney, and he haspiii pered since leaving A&M. Courtney received a vele nary science degree ini' and was the first black plete a bachelor's degree: fe, A&M. He then went on tor ^ ceive his doctoral degree: veterinary science from AS in 1970. Courtney is now the a: supervisor for food inspect! services for the USDAinle ferson City, Missouri. "It was something committed to doing," Cod ney said. "When 1 look bail it looks hard to do knew I was going to be a u erinarian, and I knew Ik, going to go to Texas A&M. Courtney said he woul trade his experience at Ai for anything "T£ cl Dd helm grou{ 'If there s a better univers! ty than Texas A&M, 1 know where it is," Courtnfj said. Williams received hisiil dustrial technology degrej from A&M in 1968 and work as a technical salesman for an I electrical equipment company! in Houston. He appreciates being a i model for other black studenlij, who attend A&M. Trial Room Iwas cc Was m Continued from Page 1 buil h She has denied any wronw "tyy € ing, and claims the chargesaift e political attack by Democrat ft jq. '■ ruin her re-election attempt: suspec year. Prosecutors have deiicareful any political motivation inp:: Wil ing the case. the dep Last June 5, Hutchison woiently si a landslide special electionfc of the r maining term of Lloyd Benty "Th who was appointed Treasuryfting," retary. She is seeking re-elect icaIs L to a full six-year term. arounc Five days after her victon have I Travis County district attorm bad.' office raided the state Tree;.' Ken serving subpoenas and gather to knoi boxes of records. Hutchison, if convicted out counts, could face up to 2C;? D in prison. ft^CtJ Onion moved the trialfil Austin to Fort Worth because the politically chargedatrtl phere in Austin. Attorneys on both sides: the trial could last from two months. I SAI Onion was expected tocort World' er several motions before ajlftriive would be selected. Afterr- of I proceedings began at 1:30p.rt t The Before the courtroom's difhy she were opened, dozens of repor hms, £ and several supporters of Hu" son packed the hallway. Travis County district attor investigators hauled five botf documents into the courtroc? representative of the TexasEy Commission also brought in? era! boxes of campaign fiu4 reports of Democratic offo that were sought by DeGuen' .PgK tz rtf — ( ^StauEHoi JMW msEsssssss^ WE BUY USED CD'S FOR $4.00 or trade 2 torn USED CD'S $8.99 or LESS 268-0154 (Now located downstairs at North;: h •Lac tra' •Srr fan •Edi em eve •Ma me
