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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (May 2, 2003)
All offers are limited and could end without notice. Subject to change. the digital studio Professional videos at student prices Wcdclin/is }*■ Parties f* Special Events Graduation Call today and ask for a demo and price list 846-3770 Mina Delgado Stm Student Counseling elp£in 8B Friday, May 2, 2003 NAT! THE BATTAli Are you a good listener? Do you want to help others? ^/UuhUcu "Heeded.. .Ad mafou welcome/ Economy improves in first quartc Brochure & application - Room 104 of Henderson Hall. For more information call Susan Vavra at 845-4470 ext. 133 or visit www.scs.tamu.edu/emergency/volunteer.asp By Jeannine Aversa THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Wholesale Diamonds I m m GIA & EGL Certified js Stock in the Brazos Valley If John D Huntley m Class of ‘79 M 313 B. South College Ave J College Station, TX 77840 (979) 846-8916 Since 1972 SUMMER SLIMDOWN SAVINGS!!! Isn’t it about time that yours is the bikini body they re all jealous of? 112 OFF All Programs With a valid student ID LA WEIGHT LOSS CENTER 1908 Texas Ave. South College Station,TX (979) 694-3570 Our Everyday Beer Prices Equal Grocery Store Sale Prices WASHINGTON — U.S. pro ductivity improved in the first three months of 2003, increas ing at an annual rate of 1.6 per cent as companies produced more while they kept work forces lean. The gain in productivity posted in the January to March quarter was more than twice the size of the 0.7 percent growth rate registered in the previous quarter, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Productivity in the first quar ter wasn’t as strong as the 2 per cent growth rate economists were forecasting. New claims for unemploy ment benefits dropped last week by a seasonally adjusted 13,000 to 448,000, the department said. Even with the decline, claims clocked in at their second-high est level of this year. In other economic news Thursday, manufacturing failed to pick up in April, with activity falling for the second straight month. Manufacturing has been the weakest link in the national economy’s ability to get back to full health. The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index fell to 45.4 last month. slipping from 46.2 in March. A reading below 50 means manu facturing activity is contracting; above 50 indicates the industry is more busy or growing. Economists were expecting a reading of 47 for April. And, construction spending declined by 1 percent in March, the largest drop in seven months, the Commerce Department reported. Much of the weakness came from a decrease in spending on big government projects, such as highways and schools. Spending on commercial ventures, such as office buildings, by private builders also was lackluster. Economists were predicting a small rise in overall construction spending. The latest batch of economic reports pushed stocks lower. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 89.5 points and the Nasdaq was off 4 points in early after noon trading. For 11 straight weeks, job less claims have been above the 400,000 mark, a level associated with a weak labor climate. The level of claims last week were higher than economists were expecting. The more stable, four-week moving average of jobless claims, which smooths out weekly fluctuations, went up last week by 1,250 to 442,000. Construction spending Here is a look at monthly construction spending. Seasonally adjusted Volume 1< $880 billion 860 840 By Rob THE B/ A M J J ASONDJFI 2002 20m SOURCE: Department of Commerce That marked the highest lev; just over a year. “The persistent high level new claims for unemplovi insurance suggests tl may still be finding itpossil meet their customers increases in demand withak er work force,” Federal Rei Chairman Alan Greenspan Wednesday, when he House lawmakers updated picture on theeconoi recovery. No immed jihe potentially jbome West Ni |Brazos County, said, but [warn residents |for signs of the Don Plitt, i Jof the Brazos Imental health < |county is imp Virus pre\ include a |and door hange “We didn’t llems last year. KEYSTONE UGHT Gay rights cases increasing steadil] 30-pack 12-oz Cans $10.50 24-pack 12-oi Cans $9.50 24-pack 12-ox Cans $14.99 By Anne Gearan THE ASSOCIATED PRESS yt'Jifsr/s/ A' 24-pack 12-ox Cans $14.99 24-pack 12-oz Cans $14.99 24-pack 12-<n Cans $14.99 ••• PrlCT. Boot Tkr~i«k M.J 7. JMO * 700 University Dr. E. Ste 202B Next to Wing Stop in the Blockbuster Shopping Center WASHINGTON — Legal cases involving the rights and treatment of gay people are on the increase. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said Thursday, suggesting a major new focus for the nation’s courts in the 21st century. Asked to predict what issue might define the work of the Supreme Court in the 21st century, O’Connor said cases “relating to how homosexu als are treated legally” are one possibility. “We see a lot of these,” O’Connor said. She did not mention a major gay rightsci now before the high court. The court is ering whether states such as Texas may acts between homosexuals that are If heterosexuals. At the same time, the Supreme Court is dealing with the legacy of race, an issue! pied the courts for much of the 20th O'Connor told high school students. “I don’t know that we’ve solved everythin' the race issue yet,” O’Connor said. “We haw know we haven’t, because we have cases at court this term dealing with affirmative actioi higher education.” centiii “smaller cwnmunity” awesome staff! Shop around, compare and then lease at Crossing Place! The reality is, we offer personalized resident services you'll have to experience! So come and meet our friendly staff. our model apartment is open. 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