Thursday, June 5, 2003
Southwest Journalist
No cork in Sammy’s other bats See Page 5
Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Center for Editing Excellence — School of Journalism of The University of Texas at Austin
Abortion bills criticized, praised By Kelley Shannon The Associated Press
Advocates for abortion rights on Wednesday called this year’s Texas legislative session a major step backward for reproductive choices and women’s overall access to health care. Abortion opponents, though, said the 140-day term was a huge success. Several Democratic legislators
along with Planned Parenthood, the Texas Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League and women’s rights groups criticized a bill that makes women wait 24 hours before having an abortion. It also requires that they be offered printed material on abortion risks and photographs of fetal development. “This bill is an insult to women,” said Rep. Mike Villarreal, D-San Antonio, the only member
of the House State Affairs Committee to oppose the legislation. The bill was passed by the Republican-controlled House and Senate and awaits a decision by the governor. The legislators and advocacy groups also denounced passage of a fetal protection act, which assigns individual rights to an embryo or fetus from the point of fertilization; the failure of legislators to approve more access to
emergency contraception; and cuts in Medicaid that deny prenatal care for thousands of pregnant low-income women. They also criticized $13 million in state funding that will be denied to Planned Parenthood clinics that provide abortions. They said thousands of women won’t have access to other health care services the clinics provide. “There are so many unintended consequences that have come
out of the misguided, misplaced priorities of a majority in this Legislature that focused on just simple-minded, myopic religious beliefs,” said Rep. Dawnna Dukes, D-Austin. But those working the other side of the issues view the legislative session differently. “I think it was tremendously successful for women’s health,” said Elizabeth Graham, associate director of Texas Right to Life. The
abortion waiting period bill empowers women so that they can make an informed decision, she said. “This really protects women because it brings abortion up to the minimum standard of health care practices with all other surgeries,” she said. As for the fetal protection bill, which makes it possible to impose Please see ABORTION, Page 6
Dow closes above 9,000
Jordan Mideast Summit
100-point gain follows weeks of heavy stock buys By Amy Baldwin The Associated Press
Ali Jarekji/Associated Press
Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, left, President George W. Bush, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Jordan’s King Abdullah II
make final statements at the end of the Mideast summit Wednesday in Aqaba, Jordan, where Abbas and Sharon made concessions for peace.
Abbas, Sharon pledge peace efforts By Tom Raum
The Associated Press
AQABA, Jordan — Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon pledged Wednesday to dismantle illegal outposts in Palestinian areas, while the new Palestinian leader renounced terrorism against Israel. President Bush See related sought both steps as he story on brought the two sides Page 3. together in a dramatic bid to advance Middle East peace. Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas pleaded for “a clear improvement in the lives of Palestinians” that would allow them to live in dignity. “It is time to bring all this suffering to an end,” Abbas said, and later added:
“There will be no military solution to this conflict, so we repeat our renunciation and the renunciation of terrorism against the Israelis wherever they might be.” To that, Sharon promised to “immediately begin to remove unauthorized outposts.” Joining Abbas, Sharon, and the summit’s host, King Abdullah II of Jordan, at podiums positioned at the edge of an arm of the Red Sea, Bush praised the leaders’ commitments and concessions. “Both leaders understand that a future of peace cannot be founded on hatred and falsehood and bitterness,” he said.
It was the first time of his presidency Bush held a joint meeting with the two leaders. It followed a session in Egypt the day before, in which Arab leaders agreed to stanch the flow of money to terror groups. “The journey we’re taking is difficult, but there is no other choice,” Bush said. Later, Bush expressed obvious satisfaction with the session, telling reporters aboard Air Force One, “I’m the master of low expectations. We accomplished what I hoped we’d accomplish.” “Some amazing things were said,” the president said. “The prime minister of Please see SUMMIT, Page 6
Road to Peace ■ Abbas pledged to run a Palestinian state based on the rule of law and democracy, without allowing weapons into the hands of rogue elements. ■ Sharon said his government understands “the importance of territorial contiguity” in the West Bank, a key demand of Palestinians. ■ Sharon accepted the principle of a Palestinian state. Abbas also publicly acknowledged Israel’s right to exist side by side with a Palestinian state. In a goodwill gesture, Israel had released scores of Palestinian prisoners in advance of the summit.
Child’s death in hot vehicle signals a fatal trend Summer heat combined with parents’ busy lifestyles can be a deadly combination for some children By Cristina Rodriguez The Associated Press
DALLAS — The death of a 2-year-old boy left behind in a sweltering day-care van highlights a growing summer trend, child welfare and health experts said Wednesday. Children are increasingly becoming victims of today’s busy
world at the hands of parents or caretakers. “I think the parents are becoming more and more busy. And serious things happen to their children,” said Stacey Ladd of Child Protective Services. Dr. Steve Kernie, a pediatrician at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, said young children are more vulnerable to heat because
they haven’t fully developed the ability to sweat yet. “Parents take them to a (Texas) Rangers game on a hot night, and they’re not drinking a lot of water,” he said. “A few kids are taken into an emergency room acting lethargic and with a fever, but it’s not really a fever. It’s a mild case of heat stroke.”
Two-year-old Alan Brown Jr. died Tuesday, five days after he was left in a hot child-care van for more than two hours after a class trip to a pizza restaurant. Two employees at Little Dudes and Daisies Daycare and Learning Center in Lancaster, south of Dallas, have been charged with injury to a child, a second-degree felony.
When it’s 85 degrees outside, the interior of a car can soar to 120 degrees in a half hour, according to a study by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, a Washington, D.C.-based public health group. The group said Tuesday’s death was the sixth of 2003. Four other children in Dallas were found trapped Tuesday in
Queen of home decor indicted for fraud Martha Stewart pleads innocent, steps down as CEO of her company By Erin McClam The Associated Press
Mary Altaffer/Associated Press
Martha Stewart leaves federal court in New York on Wednesday after being indicted on securities fraud and obstruction of jus-
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NEW YORK — Martha Stewart, the exemplar of “good things” who built an empire as an icon of tasteful living, was indicted Wednesday on securities fraud and obstruction of justice charges that could result in a prison term. The indictment also charged Stewart with conspiracy and making false statements and her
stockbroker, Peter Bacanovic, with perjury and obstruction of justice. Stewart and Bacanovic pleaded innocent before a federal judge to all charges. “This criminal case is about lying — lying to the FBI, lying to the SEC and investors,” U.S. Attorney James Comey said. “That is conduct that will not be tolerated. Martha Stewart is being prosecuted not because of who
she is, but what she did.” Hours after the indictment, Stewart stepped down as chairman and CEO of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. A statement from the company said Stewart would remain on the company’s board. Stewart, 61, has denied wrongdoing in the ImClone stock sale. She claimed to have had an arrangement with her broker for Please see STEWART, Page 6
NEW YORK — The Dow Jones industrial average closed above the 9,000-mark Wednesday for the first time in nearly 10 months, soaring more than 100 points following a pair of positive economic reports. The gains were surprising given some bad news from DaimlerChrysler, which warned of a big loss in its struggling Chrysler division, and the fact that many analysts believe stocks were due for a pullback following weeks of heavy buying. “People are now looking for reasons to buy stocks, not sell them,” said Michael Murphy, head trader at Wachovia Securities. In its fourth straight advance, the Dow closed up 116.03, or 1.3 percent, to 9,038.98. It was the first time the Dow finished above 9,000 since Aug. 22, when it stood at 9,053.64. In the past four sessions, the Dow has gained 327.80 points. The market’s broader indicators also climbed. The Nasdaq composite index, already trading at Please see DOW, Page 6
U.S. sends more troops to central Iraqi zone Combat units hope to curb sentiment against Americans By Chris Tomlinson The Associated Press
HABANIYAH, Iraq — In a highprofile show of force, the U.S. military poured more than 1,500 combat troops into a swath of central Iraq on Wednesday, signaling that any violent resistance to American occupation would be met with harsh punishment. U.S. troops, sweeping out dust and sifting through debris left by looters, set up their headquarters at two Iraqi air bases and a railroad station outside Fallujah and Habaniyah, cities where antiAmerican demonstrations and attacks have been particularly aggressive. Commanders have tripled the number of troops around the cities in a bid to quell supporters of Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party Please see IRAQ, Page 6
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