The News Record 11.19.12

THE 132-YEAR-OLD AWARD-WINNING INDEPENDENT STUDENT-RUN NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI

VOL. CXXXIII ISSUE LVVVVV

Police Chief ‘very solid’

The News Record MONDAY | NOVEMBER 19 | 2012

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Craig earns high remarks from city manager in review of his first year on the job.

DANI KOKOCHAK SENIOR REPORTER Cincinnati Police Chief James Craig earned high remarks in his first review despite controversy spawned from his request to waive the Ohio peace officer test.

City Manager Milton Dohoney gave Craig the rating of “exceeding expectations” — the second-highest placement behind an “exceptional” rating.

“The chief has had a very solid first year,” Dohoney stated in the review.

“The crime statistics numbers are moving in the right direction overall, which is an appropriate measuring stick along with how residents feel about their neighborhood stability.”

Dohoney included a letter to Craig in the Annual Performance Evaluation that provided additional remarks and guidance for the chief’s next year on the job.

The letter emphasized budget, field performance and preparation for growth as areas Craig should focus on.

“I support [the chief’s] efforts at civilianization where appropriate, but we may not be able to get there in one year,” Dohoney stated in the letter. “[We need to] continue to review how we deploy to ascertain if we need all the units we currently have, and if we can be as effective with fewer resources.”

The chief drew “exceptional” marks in integrity, ethics and accountability, and relationship building. Craig received his lowest marks in embracing diversity, small business and affirmative action.

“During the remainder of 2012, and in the first part of 2013, if need be, the chief needs to exert the effort to stabilize the structural/organizational changes that are needed [within the department],” Dohoney stated in the review.

Craig’s high marks make sense given his relationship with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and Cincinnati police officers, said Kathy Harrell, president of FOP. “Morale has definitely increased and I don’t get very many complaints,” Harrell said. “It’s like anything, with a new chief there is a lot of change going on and people have to get acclimated to that change.”

Members of the union are also happy with the overall changes that have occurred, Harrell said.

For more information about crime around campus, check out the interactive crime map on newsrecord. org.

LAUREN PURKEY | PHOTO EDITOR

SHOTS FIRED SUNDAY Cincinnati Police investigate the scene of a shooting on Jefferson Avenue Sunday night. Investigators reporterd finding 12 shell casings at the scene of the shooting in the parking lots of the Cincy Deli and The Smoke Shop as of press time.

SHOOTING NEAR CAMPUS Cincinnati police investigating possible homicide, 12 shell casings found at scene of shooting across from Turner Hall at approximately 8:20 p.m. Sunday NEWS RECORD STAFF

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The Cincinnati Police Department’s Homicide Unit was called to the 2800 block of Jefferson Avenue to investigate a shooting at 8:20 p.m. Sunday.

One male was shot multiple times in the upper torso in the Smoke Shop parking lot.

Cincinnati Police responded to a call reporting several gunshots, and homicide units responded to the scene afterward.

CPD identified the victim as Brandon Tyler-Tharp, 28, who suffered from two lifethreatening bullet wounds. The suspect is still at-large.

Tyler-Tharp was transported to University Hospital where he remains in critical condition.

Witnesses indicated the suspect was a black male who fled northbound on Jefferson Avenue, said CPD Lt. Christopher Ruehmer. Police are currently searching for a dark luxury sedan.

At least 12 spent shell casings were found in the parking lot and several cars in the area were hit by bullets. Tyler-Tharp is believed to be the only person struck by gunfire, Ruehmer said.

“In interest of conducting the most thorough investigation, we have our homicide units at the scene,” Ruehmer said.

Officers on scene said they do not know what precipitated the shooting, but multiple people are being interviewed by CPD detectives.

Meredith Gregory, a second-year pre-nursing student at the University of Cincinnati, saw two people run away after hearing the gunshots. Her friend was in her car on Jefferson Avenue when she heard people arguing around the corner, Gregory said.

“I was just visiting her and heard a gun being unloaded and probably nine to 10 shots,” said Angie Pierce, a second-year education student at UC. “We talked to a witness and she said that she was looking for stuff in her car, and the guy who gunned them down ran past her.”

Due to the proximity of the shooting, UC sounded alarms urging students to stay inside at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Jesse Lipps, a first-year pre-medicine student, said he heard gunshots at 8:16 p.m. but didn’t hear alarms go off until 8:30 p.m.

Loren Kennedy, a first-year chemical engineering student at UC was in her dorm in Turner Hall when the shots were fired.

“We heard about 10 gunshots right outside our window,” Kennedy said. “We looked out the window and my roommate spotted someone running away from the Smoke Shop. [Police] had the street closed off.”

Abdel Hadi, witness at the scene, said he heard five to seven gunshots and saw a black male run from Cincy Deli toward Daniels Street.

As of press time, University Hospital representatives declined to comment on the status of the victim.

The News Record will continue to update this story as more information becomes available.

PROVIDED BY LOREN KENNEDY

RUSHED TO HOSPITAL Brandon Tyler-Tharp being put in an ambulance bound for University Hospital after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the torso, according to police.

U-Square workers claim underpayment Growth Committee, city manager talk, but little progress made BENJAMIN GOLDSCHMIDT CHIEF REPORTER NEWSRECORDNEWS@GMAIL.COM

Cincinnati’s Strategic Growth Committee met with the city manager and Economic Development Director Thursday to address concerns about construction workers being underpaid at University Square at the Loop, but little was accomplished.

U-Square at the Loop — the complex being constructed on Calhoun Street — is a $78-million project. City taxes account for approximately one quarter of its funding.

The project is a joint venture between Towne Properties and Al Neyer Inc. Both companies signed a contract to abide by city and state laws, as well as pay the prevailing union wages, said councilmember Laure Quinlivan.

Midwest Framing Construction — a company founded in August by

Jose Martinez of Dayton, Ohio — was subcontracted to do framing work for the U-Square project, but is not paying its workers union wages, Quinlivan said.

While councilmembers cannot get ahold of Martinez, his workers told members of city council they get paid $400 to $500 for a week’s work — which is far less than the $23.17 an hour they are supposed to recieve, said Dave Meier, leader of the Carpenter’s Union.

“They get hurt, they’re stuck,” Meier said in an interview with Quinlivan. “They have no hospitalization, they have no income whatsoever. These men are being exploited.”

Councilmembers Cecil Thomas and Wendell Young made a surprise visit to the site in October. Thomas interviewed workers and found two construction workers, Demetrius Garnes and Garric Foxx, did not know what they were being paid per hour.

“As soon as [Young and Thomas] made

the visit to the job site, their boss and their boss’s boss went into damage control, and these gentlemen who were working on the project told us they were forced to sign a bunch of documents claiming that they were paid $23.17 an hour,” Quinlivan said.

In a meeting with City Manager Milton Dohoney, councilmembers Quinlivan and Thomas, construction worker Garric Foxx released a paycheck of $400 for five days of work.

In a letter sent to the director of the Cincinnati Department of Economic Development, developer Arn Bortz of Towne Properties assured the city they have done nothing wrong.

“U-Square intends to continue paying at the wage rates in effect at the time the city approved the development agreement … even though the state of Ohio has determined that we do not need to pay these rates at all,” Bortz wrote in the letter.

The developer of the site told Quinlivan

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they paid out the correct amount, but cannot control what happens after the money is paid out.

The two construction workers who claim to be underpaid are seeking legal actions with the help of the Carpenter’s Union.

Quinlivan wants to revise the city’s protocol with projects such as U-Square at the Loop because companies bend the rules — underpaying workers or not complying with city regulations — because the fines are not that high. Adjusting those fines might change companies’ behavior in the future, she said.

“What we found when we went up there is there were three or four companies weren’t even registered with the city, which is against our law, our regulations,” Quinlivan said. “And the penalty that we have in place isn’t that great, so I guess a lot of people are doing it anyway because, if they get caught, it’s not a big fine.”

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Local News

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Ohio looks to curb bath salts

House Bill 334 to target synthetic drug sales, abuses through training jake greico contributor newsrecordnews@gmail.com Ohio Attorney General Mike Dewine announced a plan to strengthen efforts against the sale and abuse of synthetic drugs.

Synthetic drugs, such as bath salts and “Vanilla Sky”, are highly addictive and produce a high that can trigger violent episodes or extreme paranoia. Young people under the age of 25 commonly abuse these dangerous drugs because they are so easy to find and purchase.

“Many times [synthetic drugs are sold] at convenient stores or they’re at stores that specialize in drug paraphernalia, but aren’t illegal out right,” said Dan Tierney, the media representative for Attorney General Mike Dewine.

Ohio has implemented laws about Synthetic drugs in the past, but Tierney feels more needs to be done.

“There have been several laws passed in the past two years that have tried to tackle the issue of synthetic drugs. The laws were effective on getting the compounds off

the shelves but they were being replaced by ones that were slightly different to get around the law,”Tierney said.“This has been a significant problem for law enforcement.”

The Attorney General’s efforts will work cooperatively with the newly proposed Substitute House Bill 334.

In addition to the bill, Dewine plans to increase law enforcement through the Bureau of Investigation and a special prosecutors unit. The Attorney General also announced a new strategy on training law enforcement to effectively build cases against synthetic drug distributors and abusers through courses at the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy.

“This [synthetic drugs] is a very new phenomenon relatively compared to illegal drugs,” Tierney said. “When new drugs come out it’s the duty of the Peace Officer Training Academy to help law enforcement keep up with the latest trends.”

The Substitute House Bill 334 has not yet been signed into law.

“The Attorney General testified Wednesday [Nov. 14] at it’s second hearing and the bill is scheduled for a third hearing

on Nov. 28,”Tierney said.

Dewine hopes the bill will be signed into law before the General Assembly adjourns

in December, or the process will have to start over again with the new recently elected General Assembly.

david foster | akron beacon journal/mct campus

BATH SALTS BAN Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine is leading efforts to ban synthetic drugs like bath salts and “Vanilla Sky” in Ohio and create extra law enforcement units.

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Anti-war, Israel protest

Students, groups demonstrate to protest ongoing violence in Israel more than one week after start bryan shupe contributor Uptown community members gathered to protest the most recent escalation of violence in the Gaza strip Friday at the corner of Clifton Avenue and Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.

“We heard about the bombardment and the assault on Gaza and we just decided that we need to do something,” said Mike Cannon, an Over-theRhine resident and member of the international socialist organization; Solidarity.

Cannon and Ben Stockwell, a member Solidarity and Coryville resident, organized the event to show support for Palestinians and raise awareness of the intensifying relations between the Israeli government and ethnic Arabs in Gaza.

“If you watch the media it’s all going to be pro-Israeli — very clearly slanted — so it’s good folks are out here showing the other side of it,” Cannon said.

Demonstrators held signs and chanted phrases, including “In the occupation, Palestine is a nation,” for two hours.

Virginia Baker, an English professor at UC, held a sign that read “Peace, Love in Gaza.”

“I think because they are an oppressed people and they really don’t have their own voice at this point … it’s extremely important just to educate people and let them know what’s really going on in the world,” Baker said.

Justin Jeffre, a member of the band 98 Degrees and editor of Streetvibes, said he came to support justice.

“Right now, Gaza is basically the world’s biggest prison and it couldn’t go on without the support of the United States government,” Jeffre said. “So it’s important for Americans to be aware of what our tax dollars are being used for. The people of Gaza and Palestine in general have been suffering and I think that we want democracy for them.”

Condemnation of the Israeli government’s actions isn’t necessarily a condemnation of the Jewish people, Stockwell said.

“There’s a difference between antiSemitism and anti-Zionism, we can stand against whatever is happening in Israel while not standing against Jewish people as a whole,” Stockwell said.

CRIME UPDATE Update of crimes reported near campus area 11/15 — Criminal Damaging — 2820 Bearcat Way 11/15 — Trespassing — 2825 Campus Way 11/13 — Theft — 290 CCM Boulevard 11/13 — Theft — 2766 UC Mainstreet 11/12 — Telephone Harassment — 2610 McMicken Circle 11/12 — Theft — 151 Goodman Drive

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Life & Arts 3

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International taste delivers crowd

First festival brings eclectic fare, promotes cultural understanding, interaction NATALYA DAOUD SENIOR REPORTER NEWSRECORD.LIVING@GMAIL.COM

University of Cincinnati student groups gave students and faculty members a taste of international culture Wednesday during the inaugural International Taste in Tangeman University Center’s Great Hall.

Vincent Coleman, co-director of International Student Affairs, created the event with the goal to increase campus involvement among the international student population.

“The diverse culture is here and they have a lot to offer; and it’s more than just food — it’s about their cultures and music,” Coleman said. “So all that good stuff about culture, that’s what I hope to get out of this so the students know that the diversity is here.”

The 12 campus-cultural groups present at the event, including the Romanian Student Association (RSA), Asian American Association (AAA) and UC African Students Association (UCASA), engaged with more than 450 university students and professors as they tasted food from all over the world.

“I think it’s a good idea to sort of get the exposure of all these international organizations,” said Henry Dolin, a French Club member and first-year marketing student. “When you think extracurricular at the University of Cincinnati, sometimes you don’t necessarily think of French club

[or] Bearcats for Israel. You think of sports and you think of things that are related to the specific colleges. I think it’s a really good idea for preferences of just diversity and exposure and good food.”

Other participants thought the event was a way to show their cultural backgrounds are often different than what citizens see portrayed in the media.

“I guess since I’m Middle Eastern, other people can learn about my culture and be less ignorant and more aware so they don’t jump into conclusions or anything about anyone,” said Nouran Enany, an Arabic club member and fourth-year pharmacy management student.

“And realize that everyone can be diverse together and happy.”

Sakinah Davis, a second-year classical voice student, thought the event has the potential to increase student involvement.

“Besides the food, I came out because it’s really nice to see so many students who are interested in exploring different cultures, and food is a really great way to get people talking,” Davis said. “Obviously there’s so many people here who are asking questions about the student groups, asking questions about how the food is made, and it’s really nice to see, especially as a CCM student, that students all around campus are so interested [in] learning new things.”

Esther Bergson, a first-year psychology student, came to the event to experience a taste of her own culture.

SARAH RAMSEY | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

CULTURAL FESTIVAL Seven Li, Kerry Zhang and Caroline Zhao enjoy food dishes at Wednesday’s International Taste.

“For me, I’ve been super introduced to Israeli culture so I wanted to see what they would do,” Bergson said.

Toward the end of the event, Raj Mehta, the Vice-Provost for International Affairs at UC, highlighted the importance of diversity at UC.

“I believe when you’re 17, 18, 20 years old, and you realize that we live in a global world, that you can appreciate the diversity of the people that you’re working with,” Mehta said. “I think there will be fewer conflicts in the future if you just know the diversity of the world that we are living in.”

Newest ‘Assassin’s’ lacks progress Franchise continues to repeat itself, fails to add substance despite add-ons to play TYLER BELL SENIOR REPORTER NEWSRECORDNEWS@GMAIL.COM

If you’ve played one “Assassin’s Creed,” you’ve played them all.

Despite a few new bells and whistles, the latest adventure in the time-traveling franchise fails to progress.

In “Assassin’s Creed III,” you play as the fledgling assassin Conner, son of a Native American woman and a British nobleman.

After his mother dies at the hands of colonists, Connor swears vengeance and embarks on a blood-streaked quest for it during Revolution-era New England.

The game’s historical cameos are either obvious or esoteric, but the famous characters never seem more than an afterthought. I’m not one to lionize my founding fathers, but it would be nice if Ben Franklin were used for more than to set up tedious in-game missions.

But alas, fetch quests — missions where a character sends the player on errands for an arbitrary reward — comprise most of the game. These missions are popular in role-playing games because they pad the game’s length padding and sometimes

work well — see Elder Scrolls for example — they feel pedantic and stupid in “Assassin’s Creed.”

There’s no reason a skilled assassin should spend time putting finely-tuned parkour skills to the test by picking up

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feathers, delivering letters or spelunking labyrinthine corridors of underground Boston and New York for cellar doors.

Agent 47 from the “Hitman” series doesn’t pick up dry-cleaning when returning from clever murders, so why should rebel ninjapirate (I’ll get to the ninja-pirate part) Conner be forced to roam the map, picking up other people’s garbage for them?

Gameplay mechanics have hardly been tweaked, and at times it seems completely unimproved from the first game in the series. In fact, the game seems less polished than “Assassin’s Creed II.” Surfaces frequently aren’t climbable — or Conner won’t climb them the correct way — and combat often goes awry when the camera shifts inside a house, leaving you fighting blind.

The worst aspect of gameplay, however, is the horse. Thinking back to “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,” Link could power his horse across fields and every second felt crisp, clean and powerful — the realistic quality was empowering.

Fourteen years later, Ubisoft’s developers cannot keep Connor’s horse from sticking to every stray polygon sticking out of the

ground. Considering the size of the world — which is enormous — riding a horse is the obvious choice for covering long distances, but is almost an unviable option.

For all the game’s flaws, it does excel at naval combat. It might sound insane, but Ubisoft created a way to play as both a pirate and ninja at the same time. Sailing through Caribbean storms while gunning down vast armadas is the most original part of the game. Your ship ponderously moves through the sea, immersing the player in the slow, calculated dodges and feints of naval combat.

Unfortunately there isn’t enough of it.

That’s the issue with “Assassin’s Creed III” — there’s more filler than substance.

The game makes real strides in presenting American history outside of the extreme patriotism usually present in the video game industry — the antagonistic historical characters are actually humans instead of Nazi zombies.

Ubisoft doesn’t fall prey to revisionist history, but their talented writing and painstaking research goes out the window thanks to poor gameplay mechanics and a sickeningly lukewarm plot.

Lecture promotes local sustainability Development corporations encourage community involvement, cooperation SYRON TOWNSEND CONTRIBUTOR NEWSRECORD.LIVING@GMAIL.COM

Community development corporations are shaping sustainability projects in the Cincinnati area through community involvement and enthusiasm.

During the “Shaping Sustainable Communities” lecture Wednesday, hosted by the University of Cincinnati Office of Sustainability, administrators addressed the importance of improving and creating communities in which people are excited to live.

“Community development corporations are most known for housing rehab,” said Beth Andriacco, community engagement coordinator at Price Hill Will, an organization that initiates education, housing, environment and arts projects to improve the Price Hill area. “But even if

you fix up every house, people still aren’t going to want to live in the neighborhood if there isn’t a thriving business district, good schools and things for your family to do.”

Andriacco collaborates with citizen-led committees, which focus on improving the neighborhood in areas such as the arts, education and earth friendly practices, and stresses the importance of focusing on the positive to encourage involvement.

“We were founded using the Appreciative Inquiry Model”, Andriacco said. “Instead of asking ‘what’s wrong with the neighborhood?’ you say, ‘what is your dream for the neighborhood?’ From there you get to what people believe needs to be improved.”

Price Hill Will believes that once people have found the niche in the community they are most passionate about, they will remain involved longer than if they focused on

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resolving one issue.

The lecture also featured Kevin Wright, executive director of the Walnut Hills Redevelopment Foundation, which manages real estate within the community.

Wright spoke about how the changing dynamic of Cincinnati neighborhoods makes it even more important to build sustainable communities.

“The millennial generation and the baby boomer generation want the same things: to live close to grocery stores, shops [and] restaurants. In the next 30 years we’re going to see a major demographic shift into cities,” Wright said. “The big question will be, ‘Can we create an environment where people from different cultural backgrounds and walks of life can live together in a successful and safe neighborhood?’”

A large part of the lecture discussed catering to generational differences when

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establishing a sustainable community. Amy Thompson, executive director of Camp Joy, a residential camp and outdoor recreation center, works to spur enthusiasm within the community through the camp’s children.

Camp Joy caters to children who would otherwise not be able to go to a camp, “so children from low income families, children in foster care, children with medical conditions or special needs,”Thompson said.

Camp Joy is not a community development corporation, but it strives equally toward building hometown satisfaction within the greater Cincinnati community.

Although each presenter represented a different organization hailing from diverse areas of Cincinnati, they spoke on a common theme: creating sustainable and fruitful communities in Cincinnati requires the enthusiasm of all its citizens.

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Nation & World

Gaza situation escalating quickly Ground invasion becoming more likely as strikes increase in ferocity

Edmund Sanders LOS ANGELES TIMES GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The bombardment seemed nearly constant: more than 250 airstrikes that blew out windows, peppered buildings with shrapnel and rattled nerves. But Gaza Strip residents said Israel’s targets appeared chosen primarily to send a message.

Israeli forces and the Islamist movement Hamas exchanged fire Friday for a third day, and appeared to inch closer to all-out conflict. A visit by Egypt’s prime minister failed to bring even a temporary lull in the fighting. And Palestinian militants continued to press Israel’s limits, for the first time firing two homemade rockets in the direction of Jerusalem.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet approved a “considerable intensification of the operation” Friday night, including expanding the call-up of Israeli reservists to 75,000, according to a government official. Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon said a ground invasion of Gaza could be launched in a matter of days if rocket attacks on Israel didn’t stop.

But as Israel considers its next move, it faces an array of unpalatable choices.

So far the campaign has been carried out methodically with strikes against Hamas leaders and weapons depots, avoiding the kind of operations that might incur heavy casualties.

Previous ground offensives have had mixed results, and a new one would result

in more Israeli casualties, something that could hurt Netanyahu as he seeks reelection in January. An effort to remove Hamas from power in Gaza presents Israel with the unpopular prospect of reoccupying the Palestinian territory, or seeing a group more radical than Hamas take over.

Gaza residents said much of the bombardment early Friday appeared intended to intimidate Hamas and frighten the public so that a ground assault wouldn’t be necessary. The strikes hit empty lots, vacant building or the remains of structures that had already been destroyed.

“It was designed to terrorize us, and it worked,” construction worker Riad Abu Lanzain, 38, said as he layered fresh concrete over his stoop, which was damaged by shrapnel from an airstrike Friday morning. The missile hit an empty lot across the street in his residential neighborhood, leaving a gaping hole in the sand and blowing out windows in most of the nearby apartment buildings.

No one was hurt, but half a dozen families rushed into a ground-level room and stayed there the rest of the night.

“For the sake of the children, we just want all of this to stop,” said Abu Lanzain, a father of five.

For the family of engineering student Amir Osama Maqousy, 18, the turning point came at 6:30 a.m., when the windows of his Gaza City house were blown in by a blast next door. Israeli airstrikes hit a squad of militants who were launching rockets into Israel, he said.

Less than three hours later, Maqousy,

his four siblings, their mother, aunt and grandmother were waiting anxiously by their car at the Rafah border crossing into Egypt with suitcases. They plan to stay in Cairo until the situation in Gaza settles down.

Israel’s 22-day incursion into Gaza four years ago killed 1,200 Palestinians, including hundreds in the first few days.

As of Friday evening, Gaza hospital officials said, 23 people had died, including 11 civilians. Three Israelis were killed Thursday by a rocket fired from Gaza.

After a brief overnight respite, militants fired more than 70 rockets toward Israel on Friday, Israeli officials said. At least three people were injured.

By far the most dramatic target was a city both sides claim as their capital. Air raid sirens in Jerusalem rang for the first time since the 1991 Persian Gulf War. The crowded ancient city had long been thought to be off-limits, since it includes many Arab residents and some of the world’s most sacred sites to Muslims as well as Jews.

Hamas’ military wing claimed responsibility for firing what it said were homemade mid-range rockets. Israeli news reports said the rockets had landed in open areas near Gush Etzion, a Jewish settlement in the West Bank about 10 miles south of Jerusalem. No damage or injuries were reported.

“It is a bit of a surprise,”saidYitzhak Reiter, professor of Middle East studies at Ashkelon Academic College. “We always thought Jerusalem was the safest place because they wouldn’t dare target the holy city.”

Militants also tried again, and failed, to inflict damage in Tel Aviv.

With the escalation in violence and apparent disinterest on either side in a cease-fire, chances of an Israeli ground assault seemed to rise, even if no one wants it.

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Sue Cocking | mct campus

Coyote hunting draws ire Public outcry follows gunstore owner’s competition for coyotes John Glionna LOS ANGELES TIMES A New Mexico gun store owner’s plan to hold a competitive two-day coyote hunt this weekend has been blasted by critics and generated protests from as far away as Europe.

Store owner Mark Chavez says teams of one or two hunters have two days to shoot and kill as many coyotes as possible on private land in New Mexico.

Winners get a choice of a Browning Maxus 12-gauge shotgun or two AR-15 semiautomatic rifles from his Gunhawk Firearms shop in the town of Los Lunas.

A taxidermist will salvage any pelts and hides for clothing.

“I’ll even give the furs to the homeless if they need it,” Chavez told the Associated Press.

The uproar has been so fierce that Chavez has received at least one death threat. An online petition against the event has generated tens of thousands of signatures. One protester has vowed to dress like a coyote to trick hunters into accidentally shooting a human. Activists have also rallied outside the gun store waving signs denouncing the event as cruel and “bloodthirsty.”

The argument over the event has moved onto the gun store’s website. One critic called the event “a slaughtering rampage that has no place in the modern world.” A defender countered: “I will be in the contest and I support your business. Hang in there, ignore the busy bodies sticking their noses in everybody’s business.”

There are an estimated 300,000 coyotes in New Mexico. The creatures are blamed for thousands of deaths of calves annually and aren’t protected under federal or state laws. Chavez says the hunt will include 60 teams that will hunt on land owned by willing ranchers.

oliver douliery | abaca press/mct campus

POSITIVE ‘CLIFF’ TALK Speaker of the House John Boehner looks on as U.S. President Barack Obama meets with a bipartisan group of congressional leaders in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on November 16, 2012 in Washington, DC.

‘FISCAL CLIFF’ FUTURE Obama, Boehner upbeat after budgetary discussion Lisa Mascaro tribune washington bureau WASHINGTON — The outline of a compromise over impending tax hikes and spending cuts began to come into focus Friday after President Barack Obama convened top congressional leaders at the White House.

Differences remain, especially as Republicans, led in the House by Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio, continue to fight to keep tax rates for the wealthiest Americans from rising.

But the contours of a two-stage deal are taking shape as leaders work to avert a year-end fiscal crisis and break the gridlock that has soured voters on Washington. The mood alone, with Obama congratulating Boehner on his birthday Saturday and Republican and Democratic leaders taking turns speaking to signify their unity, signaled a sharp change from past confrontations.

“We have the cornerstones of being able to work something out,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada, as leaders from both parties emerged from the White House. “This is not something we’re going to wait until the last day of December to get done. We have a plan. We’re going to move forward on it.”

Boehner, who presented his framework for a broad tax-and-spending overhaul to be undertaken in 2013, also sounded an optimistic note.

“To show our seriousness, we’ve put revenue on the table, as long as it’s accompanied by significant spending cuts,” Boehner said. “It’s going to be incumbent on my colleagues to show the American people we’re serious.”

The first part of such a deal would be legislation this year that would commit Congress to specific revenue increases, favored by Democrats, and spending cuts, as advocated by Republicans.

How those increases and cuts would be achieved would be worked out in the second stage next year by the new Congress.

Not addressed was how to resolve the standoff over this year’s expiring tax rates.

Resolving the tax breaks for wealthier

Americans remains, in many ways, the linchpin to a deal.

Obama and Boehner appeared more comfortable together than a year ago, when they tried — and failed — to reach a $4 trillion deficit-reduction deal that many economists have warned is vital for the nation’s long-term fiscal health.

The two leading actors exchanged a light moment as the president wished the speaker, who turns 63 on Saturday, a happy birthday and gave the known Merlot fan an expensive bottle of Italian red wine.

“My hope is this is going to be the beginning of a fruitful process that we’re able to come to agreement on that will reduce our deficit in a balanced way, that we will deal with some of these long-term impediments to growth, and we’re also going to be focusing on making sure that middle-class families are able to get ahead,” Obama said as he opened the meeting in the Roosevelt Room. “We’re going to get to work.”

Friday’s closed-door gathering was the first such sit-down since the election, which emboldened Obama and his allies on Capitol Hill. Americans spoke at the polls, they maintain, preferring the Democratic approach, which asks the wealthiest taxpayers to contribute more revenue while preventing steep spending to domestic cuts.

To rank-and-file Republicans, though, the election results signaled that voters want the GOP House majority to hold a final “line of defense,” as Boehner puts it, against what they see as government overreach.

Efforts to raise new tax revenue while cutting spending has eluded the parties in the past, but this year’s built-in deadline could give them a boost.

Unless Congress acts, taxes will rise on most Americans, a $2,000 average hit as current rates expire on Dec. 31. Massive federal spending cuts scheduled to begin Jan. 2 would cut across defense and domestic accounts, pulling funds out of the economy. Together, they have been referred to as a “fiscal cliff.”

A shift can be heard in the rhetoric, as Republicans now say they are willing to consider increases in tax revenue, and Obama has softened his insistence that

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top income tax rates, now at 35 percent, must rise to 39.6 percent, the rate from the Clinton era.

“We all understand where we are,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader. “We’re prepared to put revenue on the table provided we fix the real problem, even though most of my members, I think without exception, believe that we’re in the dilemma we’re in not because we tax too little but because we spend too much.”

During the hour-long session Friday, Boehner presented his proposal to have the parties agree to “targets” for new tax revenues and spending cuts, which would be bound by statute and enacted in 2013.

Tax revenue could be raised by closing tax loopholes or capping deductions for the wealthiest Americans — couples earning incomes above $250,000, or $200,000 for singles. Such a broad deal would also require Democrats to agree to rein in spending on Medicare, Medicaid and other entitlement programs as Obama has previously proposed.

Both sides agreed to begin working now on the 2013 framework. Nothing will be decided until after the Thanksgiving holiday.

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6

Sports

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MILLER’S HIGHLIGHTS

JOSHUA A.

MILLER

SEC likely champ once again Oregon, Kansas State losses doom college football’s chance to silence south The South Eastern Conference is by far the best conference in college football, and it has been for a while now. I know you’re tired of hearing it — God knows I am, but it’s true.

Go ahead and try to argue a point for the SEC being overrated, or make the case that polls and computers slant things in the South’s favor. At the end of the day, the good-old-boys have still won the past six national championships. And now that Oregon and Kansas State both suffered untimely losses, the SEC will surely rise again.

This was the first year in quite some time where the college football season shaped up perfectly for a national championship without a team like Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Auburn, etc.

We really had a chance this year.

We — Americans living north of the Mason Dixon Line — had a chance to escape another year worth of “Hell yeah, the SEC rules ya’ll” and “Welcome to the South, home of real football.”

But, that chance slipped away. An SEC team, Alabama most likely, will win the national championship for the seventh year in a row — “Roll Tide.”

Entering this weekend, Kansas State, Oregon and Notre Dame, in that order, sat No. 1, 2 and 3 in the BCS ratings, while Alabama and Georgia came in No. 4 and 5.

Remaining games for the top three teams were as follows: Kansas State — Baylor and No. 15 Texas.

Oregon — No. 13 Stanford, Oregon State and the Pac 12 Championship game.

Notre Dame — Wake Forest and No. 18 USC. By no means did any team have an easy road towards the conclusion of an undefeated season, but all signs pointed towards at least two of them finishing it off … right?

You would had to think Kansas State would easily dispatch a 4-5 Baylor team and then squeak past a rather overrated Texas squad. And of course, you would’ve thought no one could slow down Oregon’s record-breaking offense ... right?

Wrong. Neither team even passed its first test.

After Kansas State got “beat like they stole something, Mr. Bosely” in a 54-24 route by Baylor, and Oregon’s high-flying offense went lame-duck in its 17-14 overtime loss to Stanford, only Notre Dame stands between the SEC and a 7th straight year of triumph — assuming the Fighting Irish can get past USC minus quarterback Matt Barkley this weekend.

I can only assume the students at the University of Alabama still haven’t stopped drinking after last night. The University probably already cancelled class from now until several days after Jan. 7, 2013, to allow for as much time as possible to celebrate the school’s third national title in the past four seasons.

I’m assuming quite a bit here, but history tells me to do so.

It’s the same situation as last year.

Alabama lost to a very good SEC team in the regular season, dominated every game thereafter, advanced to the title game and dominates that as well. Last year, Alabama even did it against the SEC team that beat them in the first place, LSU. Anyone know the last time Alabama lost to a non-SEC school?

The 2009 Sugar Bowl, where the Crimson Tide lost to an undefeated Utah team in a game that held no meaning for Alabama because it just blew its chance to compete for a National Championship.

A hapless Auburn team and the SEC Championship game against No. 3 Georgia is all that stands between Alabama and whoever might have the misfortune of facing them in the National Title game — and all that stands between the SEC and a seventh straight title.

Even if I’m wrong — which history says I’m not — the SEC will find another way. If Alabama loses the SEC championship game, Georgia would earn what has become the SEC’s near automatic bid to the National title game.

As annoying as it might be to hear on SportsCenter for 24 hours a day 365 days a year, the SEC is the best. I know it and you know it. Even your mother knows it.

Good luck Notre Dame, not even your independent schedule can protect you from the SEC now. They will find you and they will beat you.

“Roll Tide.”

LAUREN PURKEY | PHOTO EDITOR

HOPES CRUSHED UC safety Drew Frey attempts to tackle a Rutgers ball carrier during UC’s 10-3 loss Saturday at Nippert Stadium.

Rutgers out-defends UC Knights dash Cincinnati’s Big East aspirations JASON M. HOFFMAN EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHIEF.NEWSRECORD@GMAIL.COM

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats fell short in a defensive struggle with the No. 22 Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Nippert Stadium Saturday.

Head Coach Butch Jones — who challenged the Bearcat community to show its support for the team all week — was apologetic to the fans for his team’s performance.

“As a head football coach, I want to thank [the fans],” Jones said. “I’m disappointed we weren’t able to give them a win today.”

The crowd of 34,526 was what he looks for in the future, Jones said.

“As we grow and continue to elevate the football program — that’s the type of environment — that’s what we need around here,” Jones said. “Don’t lose faith. We have a group of young men that are fighters, and we’ll keep going, and that’s all you can do.”

UC had the game’s first legitimate scoring opportunity on its second drive of the game, but sophomore kicker Tony Miliano pushed his 34-yard field goal attempt wide right, and the game remained scoreless through the 7-minute mark of the first quarter.

Rutgers’ next drive threatened to break the scoreless gridlock, but an interception by senior defensive back Camerron Cheatham on the Bearcats’ 2-yard line stopped the drive.

“I had just given up a big [pass play] before that, so I just had to refocus and snap and

clear,” Cheatham said. “We were in a covertwo [defense] and it looked like [the receiver] ran a double-out return, and I caught the ball — wish I could have stayed up.”

The first quarter ended without a score, and with Rutgers controlling the time of possession and total yardage — two statistics that are byproducts of the Bearcats’ inability to make key plays when it needed it, Jones said.

Brendan Kay’s first-career interception ended the Cincinnati’s most promising drive of the second quarter, with Rutgers defensive back Logan Ryan hauling a pass intended for UC sophomore Chris Moore at the Scarlet Knights’ 3 yard line.

The Scarlet Knights capitalized five plays later; with sophomore quarterback Gary Nova connecting with Mark Harrison on a 71-yard touchdown to give Rutgers a 7-0 lead with 6:13 remaining in the first half.

Rutgers nearly doubled its lead just before the end of the half, but a sprawling interception by UC senior defensive back Dominique Battle kept Cincinnati’s deficit at seven.

UC was badly out-gained in the first half – 285-14 – with Rutgers dominating the time of possession by nearly nine minutes.

The Bearcats advanced all the way to the Rutgers 7-yard line on its first drive of the second half, but failed to convert on 4thand-1 with 9 minutes and 24 seconds left in the third quarter.

“We were moving the ball we just didn’t finish drives,” Kay said. “That’s where [teams] win and lose games is in the red

zone, and we just didn’t get it done.”

Kay’s second interception of the game gave Rutgers possession at the UC 44-yard line. The Knights reached the redzone for the third time, only to come away scoreless for the third time, with UC defensve lineman Jordan Stepp blocking Nick Borgese’s 22yard field goal.

UC’s offense continued to struggle however, and Borgese made a 42-yard field goal two drives later to push Rutgers lead to 10-0 with less than 7 minutes remaining in the game.

The Bearcats then failed to get back in the red zone until the game had less than 30 seconds remaining — the result of two key sacks and a costly false-start penalty on its second-last drive of the game.

“As a quarterback, it’s shocking, but we’ve got to score points,” Kay said of the Bearcats being held without a touchdown for the first time all season. “We didn’t get our job done, and they got their job done.”

Miliano converted a 36-yard field goal with 11 seconds remaining to pull the Bearcats within a touchdown, but Rutgers recovered UC’s onside kick to end the game.

“You can’t let one loss beat you twice,” Cheatham said of the short turnaround the Bearcats face with the University of South Florida Bulls coming to Nippert Stadium Friday for “Senior Night,” the Bearcats’ final home game of the season.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone for coming out today,” Jones said. “I’ll get it done, and everyone in our football program will get it done.”

UC dominates NC A&T 93-39 Kilpatrick leads Bearcats with career-high 29 points JOSHUA A. MILLER SPORTS EDITOR SPORTS.NEWSRECORD@GMAIL.COM

University of Cincinnati junior guard Sean Kilpatrick scored a career-high 29 points Sunday to help the Bearcats easily dispatch North Carolina A&T 93-39.

“SK [Kilpatrick] had a big night; five assists, zero turnovers, his shot selection was excellent and he had seven rebounds,” said UC head coach Mick Cronin. “None of that surprises me though, because his preparation for every game is as good as I’ve ever been around — it’s off the charts.”

Kilpatrick opened the scoring for the Bearcats with a 3-pointer from the right wing and proceeded to make four of his first five attempts from beyond the arc.

“I was just playing within the game and the flow of the game, everyone was finding me early and it was a lot of open shots,” Kilpatrick said. “Most of us are scorers and it [UC’s up-tempo offense] opens the floor more for better opportunities.”

UC began the game with a 14-0 run thanks to Kilpatrick’s early 12-point outburst, which was coupled by a 5-minute scoring drought from the Aggies.

The Bearcats dominated throughout the first half but looked slightly out of sync in comparison to its past few games. Despite leading 34-10 with 4 minutes to play in the first half, Cronin was visibly displeased with his squad’s play during a timeout.

Cronin’s timeout talk pushed UC toward a 16-6 run, with Kilpatrick once again pacing the Bearcats.

The New York-native finished the first half leading all players with 21 points and seven boards respectively, as the Bearcats headed to the locker room with a 47-16 lead.

The Aggies shot a dismal 13 percent from the floor in the first half, including an 0-8 mark from behind the three-point arc.

Both teams started the second half slowly, with only seven points scored by both teams through the first 5 minutes of play. But back-to-back threes from Cashmere Wright at the 14-minute mark sparked the UC offense.

Wright’s initial 3-pointer began a 23-2 run, which put the Bearcats up 78-28 at the next media timeout.

Cincinnati’s second unit closed the game on a 15-9 run to push the final score to 93-39.

Kilpatrick’s 29 points led all scorers.

Wright and NC A&T’s Lamont Middleton were the only other players to finish the game in double digits with 13 and 11 points respectively.

UC’s defense blocked a season high 12 shots and held the Aggies to 15 percent shooting from the floor. The Bearcats also dominated the glass by out-rebounding A&T 56-43.

“I was really happy, for the most part,

with are defensive effort,” Cronin said.

“Fortunately we have a lot of shot blockers, because when we did get beat we blocked a lot of shots at the rim.”

Cincinnati’s only glaring weakness in the game was its free throw shooting, which Cronin described as “beyond bad.” UC finished the game 9-23 from the foul line.

The Bearcats will be back in action Tuesday against Campbell University at Fifth Third Arena.

LAUREN PURKEY | PHOTO EDITOR

KEEPING PACE UC redshirt freshman Shaq Thomas goes up for a layup during the Bearcats 93-39 victory over North Carolina A&T Saturday at Fifth Third Arena. UC is now 3-0 on the year.

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