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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 18, 2001)
Page 2 NEWS THE BATTALION Monday, June 18,1 Monday, June Dn?ro Opes X Xo>r KBALiZBh- ZF THf5 '5 THE yeAK 3oof, THAT AWAKES /^El o\/EfT A THoO} A A)b 'V6AR5 / Do Yoo Ic sopisj \sJH4T TH'S /aeaajs *> ?> Senior crnz^s D> iscouajt Ft The aiov/ie XTh e at r. £ /^C aZ £ F A S E D OF OS>TEOPi?RoSl 5 ?, ^ou ZoaJ6£R. I-Mve Yo Be /^sh^aiED of VouR ColLECTioaJ OF A^-ATLotw. Videos or Your AHTZACTIO/O To AaJ6EL A LAA/SB^jeY ?? pm p.PELunn J FlAJALLV ^/)VE A CF1AAJ6E To f/ootc 0>p WITH CATHERtAJE 2. ETA ~5oHES> tf The Fantastico Chronicles BY J. GOLDFLUTE Hearings scheduled after mold lawsuits increased CORPUS CHRISTI (AP) — Amid an increasing number of mold lawsuits, the Texas Department of Insurance has sched uled a series of hearings to address how in surers cover mold damage for homeowners and others. Insurance Commissioner Jose Mon- temayor has scheduled a June 26 hearing in Austin to address the issue'. Hearings in Cor pus Christi and Houston are planned at a later date. Insurers are asking the agency to let them exclude mold coverage from homeowner’s policies because they are too expensive, said Jerry Johns, a spokesman for the industry group Southwestern Insurance Information Service. “Premiums in Texas are not sufficient to support claims for toxic mold, and the costs associated with determining mold and test ing are extremely expensive,” Johns said. According to the Insurance Information Institute in New York, Texans already pay an average of $879 annually for insurance, nearly double the national average of $481. Johns said a single mold claim can cost an average of $10,000 in investigation and ad ditional living expenses, and the amount could rise to $30,000 if mold removal and repair costs are included. State Sen. Carlos Truan, D-Corpus Christi, who requested a hearing in Corpus Christi, said homeowners with mold damage could be devastated if insurers get their way. “This is an extremely important issue that can cost people their life’s earnings, cause them to lose their homes and their health,” Truan said in Sunday’s Corpus Christi Caller- Times. Molds tend to thrive in moist and humid climates, such as those along the Texas Gulf Coast. Scientists say certain strains can be a health hazard, but not all are toxic. T here have been a flurry of recent law suits regarding mold growth. On Saturday, attorneys for some South Texas educators seeking compensation for damage caused by mold, mildew and other contaminants reached a settlement with a contractor which did plumbing and electrical work on Memorial High School in Alamo. In the settlement, Coastal Engineering Inc. agreed to pay the Pharr-San Juan- Alamo school district more than $3 million to fix problems that allowed moisture to creep into the $26 million structure and spur mold growth. And on June 1, a Travis County District Court jury awarded a Dripping Springs fam ily $32 million after finding that a subsidiary of Farmers Insurance Group mishandled the family’s homeowner’s claim for black mold damage. The jury said Farmers Insurance Ex change committed fraud and failed to ade quately and swiftly cover repairs for a water leak, allowing the toxic mold stachybotrys to overrun their 2 2-room mansion and dam age their family’s health. FBI investigates rape suspect Man could be tied to series of murders in the Midwest, Texas PITTSBURGH (AP) v*hether a truck driver accused of raping a Pittsburgh woman is tied to a series of murders in the Midwest and Texas. Law enforcement agencies in the Midwest are working with the FBI to determine if Randall Bishop, 3 3, of Paoli, Ind., is connected to six shoot ing deaths along interstates 70 and 35, police in Indiana and Missouri said. Bishop is in the Allegheny County Jail on a $100,000 bond after he was arrested for allegedly raping a woman in a Pittsburgh restaurant bath room. Bishop faces charges that include rape and involun tary deviant sexual intercourse. FBI Special Agent Bill Crow ley, a spokesman for the FBI’s office in Pittsburgh, said the agency is working with law en forcement groups in the Mid west, but declined to say if there is any evidence linking Bishop to any murders. St. Charles, Mo., homicide detective Rich Plummer told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that his U There's a possibil ity here, but I don't know if this is the right guy. It's very early and this is an old case. " — Rich Plummer detective office is working with the FBI to determine if there is evidence linking Bishop to the 1992 mur ders of five women and one man. “(The) thing that sticks out is his face. It’s his description, his photograph, what we think our killer looks like, his occupation and other things I won’t elabo rate on,” Plummer told the newspaper. “There’s a possibili ty here, but I don’t know if this is the right guy. It’s very early and this is an old case.” Police also said they are in vestigating whether there is any evidence linking Bishop to oth er unsolved murders in Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The six people who were shot along the interstates were killed with a .2 2-caliber weapon. Their deaths* have been linked through ballistic evidence. Law enforcement officials said they think the six deaths could be related to three mur ders in Texas in 1994, but they do not have the evidence to make a certain link. Bishop is a truck driver for R.B. Carriers Inc., of Jefferson ville, Ind. Employees at the company said the FBI contacted them, looking for dispatching and routing information. Paoli, Ind., and Orange County, Ind., police arrested Bishop in 1998 for writing bad checks. But Paoli police Officer Matt Gilmore said he was shocked that Bishop was arrested for rape in Pittsburgh. “I’ve dealt with him a couple of times and I thought he was a real nice guy,” Gilmore said. “I always thought he was really re ligious. I remember when we ar rested a buddy of his for drink ing and assaulting a woman. Bishop and a minister came down and prayed for his soul.” -F^Aggieland Depot"^ Unique Aggie Gifts - Diploma Framing Culpepper Plaza (979) 695-1422 Campus Landmarks - All Buildings - 5 Retired. Get them while you can! 5 New. To add to your collection! , www.aggieland-depot.com AKER & ""^HanXgy Do mink Dr. George Bush Dr. Rd. FREE CWKJEI WITH THE PURCHASE ©F AMY SAMDWTCH. Present this coupon when placing order. One coupon per transaction. Expires June 30, 2001. Bread Baked Fresh Every Day,Sandwiches & Salads Made To Order, Selection of Pastries, Coffee, Coffee Drinks, Espresso. Mon-Sat: 7am-7pm, Sunday: Closed 201 Dominik Drive, (979) 696-5055 Elections Continued from Page 7 has also requested that each group submit a summary of re quirements for each position within their organization. This will help in providing informa tion to students who are apply ing for office. The election process begins when candidates gather for an orientation held by the elections committee. This orientation is a general meeting, and thus excludes the specifics requirements of each student group. “The [elections commission] Aggies Continued from Page 7 background. Perry was visibly pleased to see thousands of Ag gies in the stands but was coy when asked which team he was rooting for. ii I kept telling the commissioner how important it was that we do this. That having the two Texas teams not playing each other is like Texas not playing Texas AStM every year." — Drayton McLane Astros owner “I’m rooting for the Texas team to win,” he said with a grin. “[Aggie Night] shows the power of the Aggie Network,” said Kim Trahan, a senior ac counting major. Trahan was with a large group of Aggies sitting in the third deck. Most were Astros fans, except for Trey Clemens, a senior accounting major and focuses more on the actual ek tion,” Jackson said. In recent years, the coranii sion has been more focused* rules and regulations for nn ning a fair election and less* individual qualifications. “We will now have the as plication that [students] filloi: and a clear statement say that it is the student’s respon hility to review the informatK relative to grades, hours ar qua 1 i fications,” he said. “We: putting more responsibility: all partners in this to make that everyone is equally formed about what their r sponsibilities are.” Rangers fan. “T hey’re giving me a k time,” he said, noting thatos of his friends had told himt Rangers would choke onepi:. before 1 louston’s MoisesAl hit a home run to give the Ast the lead back. Clemens would have diet laugh, however; as the Ransr rallied to win the game 12-9, Most Aggies were impress by Enron Field, but missedL atmosphere of A&M’s w. ()lsen Baseball Field. “T he fans are much motet: here, but you can’t take the.k out of us,” said Seth Marat);; senior entomology major,. Astros owner Dray: McLane said he was thriller finally have the two Tag teams playing one anotk| pointing to the record crow: 43,203 as proof of thestic: of the Lone Star Series. “I kept telling the com:® sioner how important it was: we do this. That having they Texas teams not playing c other was like Texas notplay: Texas A&M every d McLane said. And wh a t d i d McLane, a E; , lor graduate, think of k Night? “We’ll take their money time,” he said, laughing. Texas Rar pops up pitcher V Ra Lone T his He the faced off claim the winner ol ries. The what fans ready kne give the I Houste the city’s Execution Continued from Page 7 understand and be accountable for his actions.’” Current Texas law takes into account whether a defendant is competent to stand trial, in cluding whether the defendant can aid his own defense, and whether a defendant was in sane, unable to distinguish right from wrong, when the crime was committed. Plus, a jury can consider retardation as a mitigating circumstance dur ing sentencing. Mental retardation should be a defining issue, not a mitigating factor, Ellis said in a statement. Fifteen other states have bills banning the execution of the mentally retarded. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush signed the Florida bill last week. Texas is the country’s No. 1 death penalty state. Eight peo ple have been executed dais year, 247 since 1982. President Bush never had to face the decision Perry did when he was governor. In 1999, the state Senate passed a similar bill, but the legislation died before reaching Bush’s desk. Ellis said Texas has executed six mentally retarded people since the death penalty re sumed. Two of those came un der Bush’s watch. Perry disputes those claims and said that four of the six that Ellis claims were mentally tarded did not raise mental tardation as an issue duringi trial. The bill was one of their contentious for Perry in hist term as governor. Supporters of the billy- held numerous news conic ences to drum up support: the bill, said die banwasank of humanity. Crime victims joined pro cutors in pleading for there: saying a ban would openti: door for unprecedented, £ unwarranted, appeals. Vied and prosecutors stood belli: Perry when he announce! veto at a news conference. David Weeks, president the Texas District & County 1 , torneys Association, called Pei ry’s decision an act of “politl. courage.” The U.S. Supreme Conn expected to ride this fall oil North Carolina case thatcot outlaw executions of retard: killers. In that case, Ernest McL er, described by his lawyer having the mind of a 10-ye old, was sentenced to death: the 1987 murder of a 71-yfc old cafeteria worker who! befriended him. Perry said he believes Supreme Court ruling outh ing executions of the ment; retarded would have no eft on Texas law. even in tf have die; pitching At the might ha expected Rick He but is re< Helli Friday r nings, ir shortsto a span o home rr third pu fielder I Angels i “Hellin; he had j so he’s r Dam victory < teams ai Doug I 2 their pr> respecti The 1 saved 1( as a wLlc was sup> THE Jeff Kempf, Editor in Chief The Battalion (ISSN #1055-4726) is published daily, Monday through Friday during the fall and springscr- ters and Monday through Thursday during the summer session (except University .holidays and exam peiioli: Texas A&M University. Periodicals Postage Paid at College Station, TX 77840. POSTMASTER: Send adds changes to The Battalion, Texas A&M University, 1111TAMU, College Station, IX 77843-1111. News: The Battalion news department is managed by students at Texas A&M University in the Division ofStiif Media, a unit of the Department of Journalism. 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