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STATE BRIEFS White powder tests negative for anthrax COLUMBIA, S.C. - Preliminary tests on a white powder found at the Strom Thurmond Federal Building on Wednesday were negative for anthrax and other biolog ical agents, FBI spokesman Tom O’Neill said. O’Neill didn’tt say where the substance was found or under what circumstances. It was sent to the state Department of Health and Environmental Control for testing. “There’s nothing to lead us to believe that there’s any problem with it," O’Neill said. Authorities have responded to several incidents in the past few days in which suspicious materials were found. Each time, a sample was sent to DHEC and the substance was harmless, State Law Enforcement Division Chief Robert Stewart said. But finding a powdery substance in a package shouldn’t be enough to send anyone into a panic because, even if the material was dangerous, doctors would likely have time to counteract the threat with’ medication, said Dan Drociuk, a bioterrorism coordinator with DHEC. IT HAPPENED NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED MOTHER, BOYFRIEND SENTENCED: A judge has sentenced Celeste Durant, 24, and Chad Smith, 25, both of Florence, to 20 years in prison for killing Durant’s 20-month old daughter through child abuse. SEAT BELT GARNERS REWARD: Danny Newman of Easley was given a $1,000 check Wednesday as part of the Public Safety Department’s “Thank You Ticket” campaign in which the department gave tickets to motorists wearing seatbelts. NATION BRIEFS Third tabloid worker infected with anthrax BOCA RATON, FLA.- A third person at a supermarket tabloid office has been found to be contaminated with anthrax. Attorney General John Ashcroft, who is leading a federal criminal investigation, said Thursday there was no evidence the strain had been stolen from a lab. A nasal swab taken from the 35-year-old woman tested positive for anthrax, authorities said Wednesday. She was being treated with antibiotics and was not exhibiting flu-like symptoms, said Dr. John Agwunobi, head of the state health department. Such symptoms can be a sign of the early stages of anthrax infection. The woman was one of more than 1,000 people tested by Iltrdl 111 UlUUliUS. The bacteria has already killed a tabloid photo editor and was earlier detected in the nose of a co-worker who had been hospitalized for an unrelated ailment. But, despite widespread concern about bioterrorism, the FBI said there was no evidence linking the anthrax to a terrorist group. On Wednesday, a law enforcement official said preliminary testing on the anthrax that killed Robert Stevens found a possible match to a strain connected to an Iowa lab. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said further tests were necessary to determine a link. IT HAPPENED: NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED HIKER FOUND, IN TROUBLE: Mark Friedman, 46, a hiker who set off into the snowy White Mountains wearing shorts, was found alive and apparently in good shape before dawn Thursday. Now he might be billed for his rescue. WORLD BRIEFS Ugandans struck by bubonic plague KAMPALA, UGANDA - An outbreak of bubonic plague thought to be caused by an influx of rats into several Ugandan villages has killed 14 people in the last three weeks, a government health official said Thursday. The rats have entered four villages in the northwestern Nebbi district near the Congo border, said Dr. Dam Okware, who is coordinating the government’s efforts to halt the spread of the fatal disease. The rats normally live outside the villages but seek shelter during the annual rainy season, he said. So far, 23 people have been infected with the disease, which affects the lymph nodes, and 14 have died, but nu new cases nave ueen reported since Oct. 3, Okware said. IT HAPPENED NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE: V.S. Naipaul, a writer of aching humor and grim reality, won the Nobel Prize in literature Thursday for his “incorruptible scrutiny” of postcolonial society and his critical assessments of Muslim fundamentalism. SUB STILL OUT TO SEA: The docking of the gutted wreck of the Kursk nuclear submarine was postponed until next week because of the need to more thoroughly prepare for the delicate process, the Russian navy said Thursday. BODY FOUND ON ROAD: The dismembered body of a suspected Islamic militant was found Thursday in the West Bank, Palestinian security officials said. 3 • «m—r CSS SB « In Theatres _October 12_ Columbia still shaken by attacks BT BRIAN LUURAUUU THE GAMECOCK One month has passed since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Attitudes at USC and Columbia reflect those around the nation: heightened sensitivity and grief for those lost in the worst terror ist attack yet on U.S. soil. Laura Woliver, a government and international studies profes sor, is worried about how long it will take the U.S. to actually bring Osama bin Laden to justice. She remembers the 10-year war Russia waged with Afghanistan and how Russia eventually gave up the mission. From a mother’s standpoint, she said she grieves for the children who lost their parents in the attacks. It remains a constant distraction to her throughout the day, she said. “I am saddened by the number of peo ple that lost their lives.” uver me last month, students have expressed mostly feelings of sorrow and worry. “I worry about an attack on my home country,” said fourth-year student Jenny Franzen, a Germany native. She said she’s anxious to re turn home to her family in Germany. It’s hard for her to con centrate on school and its de mands while her home is across the Atlantic and still might be a target for terrorists, she said. “I am ready to reconcile with my family,” she said. Russell Haber, director of USC’s counseling center, confirmed a slight increase in students affect ed indirectly by the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. “The students who were indi rectly affected by the tragedy were subconsciously attacked with anx iety,” he said. Students’ ‘“dream lives’ were being affected as well,” he said. He said their dreams, whic are linked to the subconscioui are negative, disastrous and i some way caused by the event students have witnessed. Programming on WIS, a NBC affiliate, has been sensitiv to the public’s needs by offerin its viewers up-to-the-minute ii formation on the tragedy and th subsequent war on terrorism. Steve Wilkins, the station’ head of programming, said, “WI5 in order to keep tlje public ir formed of what is going on, [has expanded the news from a half a hour to a full hour.” He said syr dicated programs such as “Di Phil,” a talk show based ii Columbia, are concentrating no\ on helping people cope with th terrorist attacks and the war itsel Wilkins also said the statioi makes sure all government ad dresses are televised. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com. Students Sister of detained student back home CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 “It depends on the goals of the student and what they plan to do,” Rowe said. “Some students continue their education else where in the country.” But Bergeron said students who linger in the U.S. after completing a program are here illegally. “When an individual is in the U.S. on a student visa and they complete their studies, they’re re quired to leave the U.S.,” he said. Bergeron said any student who stays on without permission would be “subject to be taken into custody and arrested in violation of U.S. immigration law.” Attorney General John Ashcroft said on Monday that 614 people had been arrested or detained for hav ing possible ties to the hijackers. In the weeks since the attacks, The Kansas City Star and The Boston Globe have reported oth er students being detained, but, in both cases, the FBI has sug gested the men had contact with one of the hijackers. “[Mohammad Alghamdi’s] family is really scared,” said a close friend of Wafaa Alghamdi who, fearing harassment, asked that her name not be printed. “They have no idea why this hai happened,” she said. Wafaa Aighamdi, who was als< a previous student of the program has returned to Saudi Arabia bu stays in contact with friends at USC The Saudi Arabian govemmen has paid the airfare for national! to return home and provided lega support for Mohammad Alghamd and others being detained. His sister has told friends tha the school in Saudi Arabia that paic for her education in the states won’ fund her return to America. “She is probably never comini back,” her friend said. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockcitydesk@jiotmail.com. 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