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
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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. Postmaster: Send address changes tollie
Battalion, 015 Reed McDonald Building,Texas A&M University, College Station,IX 77843-1111.
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