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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1996)
D The Battalion EBRIEFING Pag Wednesday • December^! Rachel Redington, The Battalion ■ |- c I Ray Prewitt, a senior poultry science major, LC FLO VC 13 | j-ierds turkeys that were used as an exhibit. ► State Audit finds Lone Star Card works AUSTIN (AP) — Despite a rocky start, the state’s program for dis tributing welfare benefits electroni cally is working well, according to a new state audit. Retailers and program partici pants criticized the Lone Star Card program when it began about a year ago for delayed benefits and for communications problems with the electronic system. But the state audit released Tues day says the system now is “effec tively providing government benefits.” Auditors added, though, that the system needs changes, including clearer instructions for retailers when the electronic system isn’t working. The Lone Star Card looks like a debit card. The more than 1 mil lion Texans who get assistance from the Aid to Families with De pendent Children program and oth er welfare benefits have accounts on the system. Grocery purchases and withdrawals are deducted from the accounts as they would be ► This day in history (AP) — Today is Wednesday, Dec. 4, the 339th day of 1996. There are 27 days left in the year. On this date: In 1783, Gen. George Washington bade farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York City. In 1816, James Monroe of Virginia was elected the fifth president of the United States. In 1875, William Marcy Tweed, the “Boss” of New York City’s Tammany Hall political organization, es caped from jail and fled the country. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson set sail for France to attend the Versailles Peace Conference. In 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt ordered the dis mantling of the Works Progress Administration, which had been created to provide jobs during the Depression. In 1942, U.S. bombers struck the Italian mainland for the first time in World War II. In 1945, the Senate approved U.S. participation in the United Nations. In 1965, the United States launched Gemini 7with Air Force Lt. Col. Frank Borman and Navy Commander James A. Lovell aboard. In 1977, Jean-Bedel Bokassa, ruler of the Central African Empire, crowned himself emperor in a ceremo ny believed to have cost more than $100 million. (Bokassa was deposed in 1979; he died this past Nov. 3 at age 75.) In 1980, the bodies of four American churchwomen slain in El Salvador two days earlier were unearthed. ► Today's birthdays Game-show host Wink Martindale is 62. Actor Jeff Bridges is 47. Rock musician Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd) is 45. Actress Patricia Wettig is 45. Rock singer Vinnie Dombroski (Sponge) is 34. Actress Marisa Tomei is 32. Actress-model Tyra Banks is 23. from traditional bank accounts. The system is run by Austin-based Transactive Corp., a subsidiary of the controversial GTECH Corp. that runs the state’s lottery system. Jessica Shahin, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Human Services, said there were problems when the system first started. “Ninety-nine percent of transac tions run electronically now,” she said. “We run $3.6 billion through the system at 99 percent. We want 100 percent.” Airline to pull plug on information signs DALLAS (AP) — American Air lines will unplug eight giant gate in formation signs at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport be cause of the multimillion-dollar jury verdict that found they contributed to a traffic accident, according to a published report. The Dallas Morning News report ed in a copyright story Tuesday that American chairman Robert Crandall told the airport last week that the air line would turn off the five-story illu minated signs after the Thanksgiving ► Weather travel rush ended Monday. A jury ruled last month that the airline was grossly negligent for erecting the signs. But American spokesman John Hotard said Tuesday the signs’ fate is still undetermined. “As to a final decision on when we’re going to turn them off — we haven’t decided if nor when,” Ho tard told The Associated Press. “Those decisions are being looked at as we speak.” He said the airline would an nounce its plans later this week. ► World Mother Teresa to recover from surgery CALCUTTA, India (AP) — Moth er Teresa will recover, her doctor said Tuesday, but the 86-year-old nun will not regain the energy that allowed her to travel the world serving the poor. A few days ago, doctors were saying she could soon return to work. But her recovery has been complicated by lung and kidney problems linked to the poor func tioning of her heart. Though angioplasty last* remove blockages in two ms teries improved blood flow! heart, her other organs haw slow to rebound. "She will have to be taken: for a long time,” said Tarun : g one of the doctors treating 1 Teresa at the B.M. Birla Re; Center. He said she would be talized for at least two more* “At her age, with this prot will be difficult to go back: active life she led," Prahar; reporters. When she returns' Missionaries of Charity,sin have to undergo daily me checks, he said. Mother Teresa's Missions' Charity runs 517 orphanages/ for the poor, AIDS hospices an charity centers around the wor; The Roman Catholicn; rnained in critical condition Tii but was well enough to sit in; for a half-hour and readtheBb other religious books and mag; some of them sent bythefe Praharaj said. Mother Teresa told doer® were doing too much for her. I Today Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain. Tonight Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain. Tomorrow Mostly cloudy with a slight chance of rain. Highs &Loi Today’s Expectec| 64°F Today’s ExpectA 47°F f Tomorrow'; Expected Hi; 66°F Tomorrow^ Expected Lot 49°F Information courtesy ofTE 1 r Sundown specials SERVED DAILY 4 P.M. TIL 6:30 P.M. ANGUS SIRLOIN 8.95 A 9oz. heavy aged Angus sirloin. BUTTERMILK CHICKEN FRIED STEAK 7.95 Fresh round steak, dipped in a buttermilk batter and lightly fried, served with your choice of ranch fries or uptown mashed potatoes. GRILLED CHICKEN 7.95 A seasoned boneless chicken breast cooked to PERFECTION and topped with our grilled pan onions. BABY BACK RIBS 9.95 A full rack of the most tender and tasty BBQ ribs in Texas. FRESH SALMON 10.95 Fresh salmon marinated in bourbon, brown sugar and spices. Grilled in lemon sauce. T-Bone catches ‘em himself. All items above include hot bread and house salad with your choice of baked potato, uptown mashed potatoes or ranch steak fries. 809 E. UNIVERSITY (Next to the Hilton) 846-6823 > HOUSE OF TIRES BRAKES-4-LESS CHRisryviAS sale ALL IN STOCK WHEELS & TIRES ON SALE THRU END OF THE YEAR * FREE LIFETIME ROTATION WITH THE PURCHASE OF 4 NEW TIRES FRONT BRAKES $35 98 MOST VECHILES AGGIES (FACULTY & STAFF ALSO) BRING IN THIS AD FOR AN ADDITIONAL 5% OFF FAST, FRIENDLY SERVICE NO 2 HR WAITS HERE! SERVING B/CS FOR 27 YRS. AGGIE OWNED & OPERATED 1401 S. TEXAS CALL 779-2458 FOR LOWEST DRIVE OUT PRICES VISA / MC/ DISC/ LAYAWAYS TSO. Quality & Service Eyewear You Want. Doctors You Trust. / Now Offering 20% Di scan in on |J|jj Quality Eyefey . to Scott While or PCA, HMO Members mmmmm mm TEXAS SmiE OPTICAL If .• Loeaii/owned and operated •• ; " r. Jim IVlaggs class of *69*) 3030 E. 29th St. rv 2414A Texas Ave. S Bryan • 731-8446 College Station * 764-0010 4r MSC Hospitality invites you to experience RAJlntot In Mgqi Today thru Friday Noonday Programs Today thru Friday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. MSC Flagroom Holiday Craft Fair Tomorrow & Friday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. MSC First Floor For more information, please call 845-15 <k Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs. We request notification three (3) working days prior to the event to enable us to assist you to the best of our abifities. The Battalion Michael Landauer, Amy Collier, Executive Editor Gretchen Perrenot, Executive Editor Heather Pace, Opinion Editor Rachel Barry, Aggielife Editor Tiffany Moore, Night News Editor Helen Clancy, Night News Editor Editor in Chief Kendra Rasmussen, CnvE| Tom Day, Sports Editor Stew Milne, Visual Arts Ed* 1 Chris Yung, Web Editor Tim Moog, Photo Editor Brad Graeber, Cartoon Ed®> Staff Members Cm Desk - Assistant Editor: Ann Marie Hauser; Reporters: Marika Cook, Brandon Hausenfluck, Melissa NunnS Laura Oliveira, Wesley Poston, Erica Roy, Courtney Walker & JoAnne Whittemore Aggielife Desk - Assistant Editor: Libe Goad; Feature Writers: James Francis, Kimber Huff, John LeBas.Aaion* Joseph Novak, April Towery & Shea Wiggins; Page Designer: Michele Chancellor Sports Desk - Assistant Editor: Kristina Buffin; Writers: Jamie Burch, Sara Duesing, Jeremy Furtick, ColbyGa* Ross Hecox, Matt Mitchell, Dennis Ramirez & Nicole Smith Opinion Desk - Assistant Editor: Erin Fitzgerald; Columnists: Jon Apgar, H. Baxter, David Boldt, Bryan Goodwin Shannon Halbrook, Michael Heinroth, Aja Henderson, Jennifer Howard, Mason Jackson, Stephen Llano,Wj McAlister, Chris Miller, David Minor, & Jeremy Valdez Night News - Page Designers: Marissa Alanis, Jennifer Bishop, Michele Chancellor & Angie Rodgers Copy Eorrons - Katie Arnold, Brian Gieselman, Shannon Halbrook & Matt Weber Visual Arts Desk - Photographers: Rony Angkriwan, Jennifer Fredrickson, Dave House, Pat James, Rachel R( & Ryan Rogers; Graphic Artists: Jenny Maki, James Palmer & James Vineyard; Cartoonists: Michael Depotl Goodwin, Dave Hoffman, John Lemons & Quatro Oakley Web Masters - Terry Butler, Dusty Moer & Tung Tran News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Division of Studentl lications, a unit of the Department of Journalism. News offices are in 013 Reed McDonald Building. Newsrao phone: 845-3313; Fax: 845-2647; E-mail: Batt@tamvml.tamu.edu; Internet Address: http://bat-web.taim Advertising: Publication of advertising does not imply sponsorship or endorsement by The Battalion. For campus,: and national display advertising, call 845-2696. For classified advertising, call 845-0569. Advertising oflices 015 Reed McDonald, and office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Fax: 845-2678. SuBscRipnoNs: A part of the Student Services Fee entitles each Texas A&M student to pick up a single copy oflke talion. Mail subscriptions are $20 per semester, $40 per school year and $50 per full year. To charge by Visa, terCard, Discover or American Express, call 845-2611. The Battalion (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesteis*'* Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University holidays and exam periods) aftaMV University. Second class postage paid at College Station, TX 77840. 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