September 14, 1995
Page 5 • The Battalion
I
Oocket-propelled grenade hits U.S. Embassy
T\ m :rJ [No one was injured
[the attack and no
I led
e immediately
imed responsibility.
MOSCOW (AP) — A masked
icker fired a rocket-propelled
nade that pierced the thick
:k wall of the U.S. Embassy
exploded in an empty office
dnesday. No one was injured
;he daring mid-afternoon at-
{that came at a time of ris-
anti-American sentiment,
[’here was no claim of re-
nsibility, and officials said
Ire was no clear link to grow-
Russian criticism of NATO
strikes on Bosnian Serbs,
ssian and U.S. spokesmen
isted the attack was an iso-
ed incident.
It’s the act of a lone maniac,”
la senior Russian security of-
al at the scene, speaking on
dition of anonymity.
Phe grenade was fired at
5 p.m. from the opposite side
the busy Garden Ring road,
issing 12 lanes of rush-hour
file.
merousdj It punched through the facade
'wning, Tll[ ,
h areond
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nglish woi
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the mustard-and-white 10-sto-
building on the sixth floor,
iding thick smoke swirling,
le blast broke two windows
d gouged out brick and plas-
; leaving a hole and scorching
>wall.
There were no reports of ar-
sts, but the Interfax news
ency quoted security officials
saying they had a composite
sketch of the attacker, a tall,
young man in jeans.
Embassy spokesman Richard
Hoagland called the attack “an
isolated act” and said it “will
have no impact on the Russian-
American relations.”
In Washington, the State De
partment said President Clinton
was briefed on the attack, which
came just a day after the Krem
lin accused NATO of genocide
against the Bosnian Serbs, Rus
sia’s historic allies.
It also came on the eve of a
visit to Moscow by Deputy Sec
retary Strobe Talbott, charged
with trying to heal the widen
ing rift between Washington
and Moscow.
Hoagland said the grenade
exploded inside a large photo
copying machine, which ab
sorbed most of the shock. The
small room was empty at the
time, he said.
“There were no warning
calls,” Hoagland said. “As of
now, no one has claimed re
sponsibility.”
A spent grenade launcher, a
black ski mask and a glove were
found across the ring road,
Hoagland said. Police said the
launcher was lying inside an
archway leading to a tree-covered
courtyard that may have been the
escape route. Some Russian me
dia reports said the attacker es
caped in a waiting car.
Glass, shrapnel and what
looked like the rocket-propelled
grenade’s tail littered the pave
ment outside the embassy.
“Most likely it was an anti
tank grenade,” said Moscow
Civil Defense commander Col.
Ivan Chigogidze.
In Washington, State De
partment spokesman Nicholas
Burns said someone was using
the copy machine five minutes
before the explosion.
“They could have been
killed,” he said.
Interior Ministry comman
dos, police and embassy guards
cordoned off the area. The em
bassy’s Marine guards,’armed
with automatic rifles and ma
chine guns, stood guard. Bomb-
sniffing police dogs were also
on the scene.
All but essential personnel
were evacuated, but the modem
annex behind the embassy’s
main building remained open.
Rush-hour traffic continued to
crawl along the broad boulevard
in front of the embassy as
crowds of onlookers gathered on
sidewalks. One elderly woman
asked police officers if she, too,
was in danger.
U.S. Embassy in Moscow attacked
U.S. Embassy
Attackers fire grenade
at the U.S. Embassy
Associated Press
never
in onlitn-
ensely pop A
-lyi* Award
it importai
• being Jos Continued from Page 1
>ility to rea
students by using computers
>it, artcriti wlabs. Before, students used
/ell-receive! Ups in the classes, instead of
tlie computers that upper-lev-
istrarfkin el undergraduate and gradu
ate students used.
Using the computers helped
prepare the students for what
'% would use in the field,
North said.
North stressed the impor
tance of A&M recruiting young
Graduation
Continued from Page 1
'I think if you look at any re-
oarch on minority students,
tat research talks about alien-
fon," Carreathers said.
Although he would like to
ee higher rates for minority
Indents, Carreathers said
j&M’s rates shouldn’t be con-
|(iered negative.
“Statewide, I think we’re do-
: fairly well, and nationally,
Jreare too,” he said.
Catherine Toler, assistant di
ll ctor of the Center for Academ-
Enhancement, said the center
[ioes not have any programs di-
1 ctly aimed at increasing grad-
ption rates.
The center tests students to
[ee what they have learned in
school and determine which
the students should take.
’5
* taA
Continued from Page 1
[ihe first time at an RHA meeting
Wesley Poston, a freshman
[ioumalism major.
“We’re trying to get more in-
lolved, especially with Bonfire,”
[Poston said.
The RHA also began consid-
scientists like Nielsen-Gammon.
“It is so important to get
the very best young people to
come here and teach,” he said.
“The award is nice for A&M,
but it’s even nicer because it’s
an indicator of what people
like John [Nielsen-Gammon]
are doing here.”
David Gold, a graduate stu
dent in meteorology working
under Dr. Nielsen-Gammon,
said he also believes the award
to be well-deserved.
“He is a very bright individ
ual, and it’s not that surprising
that he has won a major
award,” Gold said.
The center also provides many
other broad-scoped programs to
help students stay in school and
do well.
Carreathers said one thing
A&M can do to help students
graduate in four years is to bet
ter assess the abilities of incom
ing students and their prepara
tion for college.
He explained that many mi-,
nority students come from schools
that do not have adequate fund
ing. These students suffer, he
said, because the schools do not
have the resources to properly
teach students.
This lack of education could
make it harder for minority stu
dents to succeed in college, and
lowers the graduation rates,
Carreathers said.
“Everybody does not always
start off equal,” he said. “Some
of it has to do with the unequal
distribution of funding from
grades eight to 12.”
ering some community service
activities.
Reggie Deal, a junior speech
communications major, proposed
a charity volleyball tournament
that would be played on the new
courts at the Student Recreation
al Center.
“It would be a chance for us to
make a difference for an organiza
tion that has done a lot for the
community,” Deal said.
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PUBLIC NOTICE
BRIEF EXPLANATORY STATEMENTS
OF PROPOSED
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
SPECIAL ELECTION
NOVEMBER 7, 1995
PROPOSITION NO. 1
ON THE BALLOT
House Joint Resolution 50 proposes a
constitutional amendment providing that
the legislature by general law may autho
rize the Texas Higher Education Coordi
nating Board to issue general obligation
bonds of the state in an amount not ex
ceeding $300 million to finance educa
tional loans to students. The maximum
interest rate to be borne by the bonds
must be set by law. The legislature may
provide for the investment of bond pro
ceeds and may establish an interest and
sinking fund to pay the bonds.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment provid
ing for the issuance of $300 million in
general obligation bonds to finance
education loans to students.”
PROPOSITION NO. 2
ON THE BALLOT
Senate Joint Resolution 36 proposes a
constitutional amendment that would au
thorize the legislature to exempt from ad
valorem taxation the property of an orga
nization chartered by the Congress of the
Republic of Texas if the property is used
primarily for the charitable, benevolent,
or public service activities of the organi
zation as defined by general law. The
Comptroller’s Property Tax Division has
identified the Grand Lodge of Texas, also
know as the Masonic Lodges, as the pri
mary organization which would qualify
for this tax exemption.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment to
authorize the legislature to exempt
from ad valorem taxation property of
an organization chartered by the Con
gress of the Republic of Texas that is
used primarily for the charitable, be
nevolent, or public service activities of
the organization.”
PROPOSITION NO. 3
ON THE BALLOT
Senate Joint Resolution 51 proposes a
constitutional amendment that provides
that the farm and ranch finance program
fund shall be administered by the Texas
Agricultural Finance Authority and not
by the Veterans’ Land Board, as pro
vided by current law. In addition, the
proposed amendment provides that the
proceeds of $200 million of the $500 mil
lion in bonds authorized by the Texas
Constitution for the farm and ranch fi
nance program fund may be diverted to
the agricultural fund and the rural micro
enterprise development fund, also autho
rized by the Texas Constitution, to be
used for agricultural and rural economic
development programs.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment allow
ing the use of existing bond authority
of the farm and ranch finance program
to include financial assistance for the
expansion, development, and diver
sification of production, processing,
marketing, and export of Texas agri
cultural products.”
PROPOSITION NO. 4
ON THE BALLOT
Senate Joint Resolution 46 proposes a
constitutional amendment that would al
low an encumbrance to be fixed on home
stead property for an owelty of partition.
In divorce and probate situations, a piece
of property may be owned jointly by two
or more people, and each person owns an
undivided interest in the property, as op
posed to a specific portion of the prop
erty. If one owner wishes to purchase the
other person’s interest in the property
and wishes to obtain a loan to finance the
purchase, the lending institution requires
all interests in the property to be used as
security for the loan; this is called an
owelty of partition. Senate Joint Resolu
tion 46 would allow the lending institution
to foreclose on the homestead property
for an owelty of partition if the purchaser
defaulted on the loan. In addition, the
proposed amendment would allow the re
finance of a lien against a homestead. Fi
nally, the proposed amendment would al
low a purchaser or lender to rely on an
affidavit that states that the property to
be conveyed or encumbered is not the
homestead of the affiant.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment per
mitting an encumbrance to be fixed on
homestead property for an owelty of
partition, including a debt of a spouse
resulting from a division or award of a
homestead in a divorce proceeding, and
for the refinance of a lien against a
homestead, including a federal tax lien
resulting from the tax debt of the
owner.”
PROPOSITION NO. 5
ON THE BALLOT
House Joint Resolution 34 proposes a
constitutional amendment which would
increase by $500 million the constitu
tional authorization of the Veterans’ Land
Board to issue and sell general obligation
bonds of the state to provide housing fi
nancing to Texas veterans. The proceeds
from the bonds authorized by this amend
ment shall be used to augment the Vet
erans’ Housing Assistance Fund II to be
administered and invested as provided by
law. The bonds authorized by this amend
ment shall be incontestable after execu
tion by the Veterans’ Land Board, ap
proval by the attorney general, and
delivery to the purchaser.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment to in
crease by $500 million the amount of
general obligation bonds that may be
issued to augment the veterans’ hous
ing assistance fund II.”
PROPOSITION NO. 6
ON THE BALLOT
House Joint Resolution 64 proposes a
constitutional amendment which would
extend the tax exemption under article
VIII, section l-b(b) of the Texas Consti
tution for the residence homestead of a
person age 65 or older to the surviving
spouse of a person who received the ex
emption. The surviving spouse must be
age 55 or older when the deceased spouse
died, and the property must be the resi
dence homestead of the surviving spouse
when the deceased spouse died and re
main the surviving spouse’s residence
homestead. A surviving spouse who al
ready receives an exemption under this
section of the Texas Constitution is not
entitled to an additional exemption under
the amendment.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment ex
empting from ad valorem taxation the
residence homestead of the surviving
spouse of an elderly person.”
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PROPOSITION NO. 7
ON THE BALLOT
House Joint Resolution 73 proposes a
constitutional amendment that would re
duce the amount of general obligation
bonds authorized for the superconducting
super collider fund from $500 million to
$250 million.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment reduc
ing the amount of general obligation
bonds authorized for undertakings re
lated to the superconducting super col
lider research facility from $500 million
to $250 million.”
PROPOSITION NO. 8
ON THE BALLOT
House Joint Resolution 80 proposes a
constitutional amendment abolishing the
office of constable in Mills, Reagan, and
Roberts counties. In Mills County, the
office of constable is abolished, and the
powers, duties, and records of the office
are transferred to the sheriff. In Reagan
and Roberts counties, the office of con
stable is abolished and the powers, du
ties, and records of the office are trans
ferred to the sheriff only if a majority of
voters in each of the respective counties
favors the proposed amendment.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment provid
ing for the abolition of the office of con
stable in Mills, Reagan, and Roberts
counties.”
PROPOSITION NO. 9
ON THE BALLOT
Senate Joint Resolution 7 proposes a
constitutional amendment that would al
low investment of money from the Texas
growth fund in a business without the
business’s disclosure of its investments in
or with South Africa or Namibia. Cur
rently, such investments are prohibited
by article XVI, section 70(r) of the Texas
Constitution, which would be repealed.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment allow
ing investment of money from the
Texas growth fund in a business with
out the business’s disclosure of its in
vestments in or with South Africa or
Namibia.”
PROPOSITION NO. 10
ON THE BALLOT
Senate Joint Resolution 1 proposes a
constitutional amendment that would
abolish the constitutional office of state
treasurer effective September 1, 1996.
The transfer of specific constitutional
powers and duties to the comptroller of
public accounts takes effect on that date.
The statutory powers and duties and the
property and other obligations of the
state treasurer are transferred to officers
and agencies of state government as the
legislature provides by general law.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment abol
ishing the office of state treasurer.”
PROPOSITION NO. 11
ON THE BALLOT
House Joint Resolution 72 proposes a
constitutional amendment requiring that
land devoted to wildlife management be
taxed on the basis of its productive capac
ity. The proposed amendment also adds a
temporary provision to the Texas Consti
tution validating the changes to the law
made by Chapter 560, Acts of the 72nd
Legislature, Regular Session, 1991,
which amended the Tax Code to allow
land used for wildlife management to be
appraised as agricultural land. The tem
porary provision also provides that a
property owner is not authorized to claim
a refund of taxes paid unless the tax pay
ment was challenged before the effective
date of the proposed amendment. The
temporary provision expires on January
1, 1998.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment to al
low open-space land used for wildlife
management to qualify for tax ap
praisal in the same manner as open-
space agricultural land, subject to eligi
bility limitations provided by the
legislature.”
PROPOSITION NO. 12
ON THE BALLOT
House Joint Resolution 31 proposes a
constitutional amendment providing that
the legislature may exempt from ad valo
rem taxation income-producing personal
property and mineral interests that have
a taxable value which is insufficient to re
cover the costs of administering the tax.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment autho
rizing the legislature to exempt from
ad valorem taxation personal property
and mineral interests having a value in
sufficient to recover the administrative
costs of collecting the taxes.”
PROPOSITION NO. 13
ON THE BALLOT
House Joint Resolution No. 35 pro
poses a constitutional amendment autho
rizing the governing body of a political
subdivision to exempt from ad valorem
taxation boats and other equipment used
primarily in the commercial taking or
production of fish, shrimp, shellfish, and
other marine life.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment autho
rizing the governing body of a political
subdivision to exempt from ad valorem
taxation boats and other equipment
used primarily in the commercial
taking or production of fish, shrimp,
shellfish, and other marine life.”
PROPOSITION NO. 14
ON THE BALLOT
House Joint Resolution 68 proposes a
constitutional amendment that allows the
legislature to raise the current ad valo
rem tax exemption for disabled veterans
and their surviving spouses and minor
children. The tax exemptions would be
raised based on a veteran’s disability
rating as follows:
Maximum
Disability Tax Exemption
10%-30% $ 5,000
30%-50% $ 7,500
50%-70% $10,000
More than 70% $12,000
Age 65 and 10% or higher $12,000
Loss or loss of use of limb $12,000
Blindness or paraplegia $12,000
The spouse and children of any veteran
who dies while on active duty may be
granted an exemption of up to $5,000.
The amounts of the exemptions provided
for in this proposed amendment may be
repealed by the legislature by general
law.
The proposed amendment will appear
on the ballot as follows:
“The constitutional amendment relat
ing to raising the limits of the exemp
tion from ad valorem taxation of prop
erty owned by disabled veterans or by
the surviving spouses or surviving
minor children of disabled veterans.”
Este es el informe explanatorio sobre
la enmienda propuesta a la constitucidn
que aparecerd en la boleta el dia 7 de
noviembre de 1995. Si usted no ha re-
cibido una copia del informe en espanol,
podrd obtener una gratis por llamar al
11800125218683 a por escribir al Secre-
tario de Estado, P.O. Box 12060, Austin,
Texas 78711
Published by Secretary of State
Tony Garza