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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 1999)
AGS TRAVELING TO HOUSTON - Flying out of the Houston Airports? - Need Transportation to the Houston Area? Formal Affair Limousine is offering a Limousine shuttle service on Dec 13,14, 15. - Surprisingly Affordable and Cost effective - Call for a reservation. All major credit cards accepted. 888-595-5990 Ag owned and operated Page 8 • Friday, December 10, 1999 s TATE IktE; Do you feel out of control when you are eating? Do you think you have problems with binge eating or bulimia? A short-term treatment program is now being formed at the TAMU Psychology Clinic to help with these problems. This will be an affordable and scientifically supported treatment that will address: gaining control over binge eating/vomiting, reducing weight and shape concerns, building self-esteem, and developing healthy eating patterns. For more information call Michelle Cororve at the Texas A&M Psychology Clinic - 845-8017 No prosecution of gun law violations HOUSTON (AP) — The state of Texas has not referred to prosecu tors possible gun-law violations by hundreds of convicted felons dur ing the four years it has screened concealed-weapons applicants, de spite Gov. George W. Bush’s stated support of enforcing gun laws. Handgun-permit applicants must complete a gun-safety train ing program and demonstrate shooting proficiency at a firing range before applying. Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms, raising the question whether they trained with their own guns — thus breaking the law. Instructors are not required to keep track of whose weapon the student uses. From Jan. 1, 1996, when the state started issuing handgun li censes, through this past Aug. 31, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) denied 2,658 applications and approved 196,624 others. Felony convictions were given as the reason for denying 771 of the unsuccessful applications, ac cording to records obtained by gun-control lobbyist Nina Butts. Some of the felons were non violent offenders with decades- old convictions. Others, howev er, were convicted murderers and other violent criminals. An undetermined number had completed deferred adjudi cation programs, meaning they could legally possess firearms under federal law even though they cannot legally carry a hand gun in Texas. Butts said she was surprised the records were not referred to federal or state prosecutors, adding that the DPS policy did not seem to jibe with Bush’s advoca cy of gun law enforcement. “Governor Bush claims that the solution to gun violence is to en force existing laws,” Butts said yes terday. “Why are these felons going unprosecuted and unpunished? They have essentially turned them selves in to the state. But the state of Texas, under Bush’s leadership, has done nothing.” DPS spokesperson Tela Mange said the DPS did not consider turn ing over information about possi ble gun violators a top priority, but that policy is being changed be cause Bush and Texas Attorney General John Cornyn have created the “Texas Exile” program to ad dress gun violations. Courts rule food F contracts invali The Battalion arn AUSTIN (AP) — Multimillion- dollar prison contracts for the food supplement VitaPro are invalid and the state need not pay for or accept any of the soybean-based meat sub stitute, the Texas Supreme Court ruled yesterday. The state had contracted with Montreal-based VitaPro Foods, Inc., in 1994 as a way of reducing costs of feeding prison inmates. By 1995, the contract was ex panded from a five-figure pur chase to a five- year deal for $33.7 million. Plans also were made to repackage and sell excess VitaPro, al VitaPro chair Yank Barn 1 tersued, saying the contraa legally binding under an exa to state law allowing the stale: agricultural commodities k from sellers. With interest® contracts, VitaPro sought raoii $40 million. “We have felt strongly all along LONSDALE ptious farmhc gling with legal court records s Autopsies v mine whether Rivas, 48; his : Rivas’ girlfrien roline, 4, an Investigator fire early Wedt ■ Rice County althe scene, th the location o ong the sigi . Rivas was s Huntsville or; Mice Monday ruled in favor:* t0 court re ( A that the contract was invalid/' — Allan Polunsky chair of the Texas Board of Criminal Justice state. An court in Texas later ordeiedati determine wk VitaPro was am cultural comic The Sf Court said it is* “VitaPro ina when he did n J Court recor dicated that Ri I work for me a job, appa ej going to his “He was ve ancially aftt msville, wh soybean-based; 21years •■’ Tha though most of those efforts flopped. The contracts were questioned when former state prison chief James A. “Andy” Collins retired a few months later to work for VitaPro as a $1,000-a-day consultant. Feder al and state investigators were called in to see if competitive bidding laws were violated. The Texas Department of Crimi nal Justice halted VitaPro shipments in February 1996, and the state sued, claiming the deal was illegal. court’s unaE opinion saidl) after being In jAs part of 30,000 in unj rm) | FORT CAN lArmy privc Lay to life ii Season's Greetings from the Division of Student Affairs Happy Holidays from Dr. Wlalon Southerland VP* for Student Affairs driving home! 10th Floor Rudder Tower malons@tamu.edu (409) 845-4728 processed, its finished formisia and different article ‘having;! tinctive name, character or ie’I VitaPro attorney Michaelte| Dallas said he had not t client and declined tocommeifl “We have felt strongly; that the contract was invalid,IMqjty 0 f p arc Polunsky, chair of the TexasBoi'M ath a f e n ovv Cnminal Justice ‘^fmored to be the board initiated an investi* ■ • of the VitaPro situation whenB» ms f a , c ," vl , s ^ came to our attention. IP 0 T”, , c HPvt. Calvn Invicted in , irlier of pren ] The offensi Class of 2000 You have been a part of the Aggie family. Now be a part of its family album Intence of li liestion befoi ■day was wl |i|ble for pare Glover sho AGGIFLAND Get your FREE Senior picture taken at AR Photography today. Extended sitting also available for $10. Visit 14K Texas Ave. South or call 693-8183. Open 9-12 and 1:30 M-F. . Dreaming of a B Tex Wireless Christmas? anytime minutes / month COST * PRO anytime minutes/month $35 j ^"^)^)anytime minutes/month $45 \ 6^)^)anytime minutes/month $65 iinn J-JLWv/any time minutes/month $100 16^)^)anytime minutes/month • $130 May your conversations be merry and bright with wireless service for just $15 a month. Plus, get a Philips digital phone for onli/ $19.99 Tis the season to give the gift of Houston Cellular. Right now, we’ll wrap up 15 minutes a month for just 15 bucks a month. And here’s the real stocking staffer - a Philips Aeon digital phone for just $19.99. 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