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-: x • L -• ■ ■ o * ' *. EXTENDED FORECAST ON THE WEB www daiiyga^cock c.m ♦ TODAY ♦THURSDAY ♦FRIDAY ♦SATURDAY ♦SUNDAY ^ ^ as* Look for these stories in Thursday’s online edition: ^ w w NEWS USC’s debate team VIEWPOINTS Alex Harper , THE MIX How are the new ^ 'T' Vj continues its winning ways. and Brad Leake air their spring TV shows faring? What is High 73 High 56 High 54 High 58 High 55 opinions. the new hit and which shows are LOW 46 LOW 28 Low 31 Low 39 Low 47 already facing cancellation? STATE Economists predict state revenue increase State revenues are expected to increase this budget year, the state Board of Economic Advisors said Tuesday. The economic forecasting group increased their projection for the fiscal year that ends June 30 by $96.7 million. That’s nearly a 2 percent increase for the state’s budget. They also plugged that higher estimate into the forecast for the budget year that begins July 1, raising a key state revenue projection to just less than $6 billion. Combined, the increases put more than $190 million into the budget the House Ways and Means Committee sits down to write next week. High schools receive worst graduation rank South Carolina had the worst high school graduation rate in 2002 and less than a third of those entering public high schools end up prepared for college, according to the Manhattan Institute. The study released Tuesday says just 53 percent of South Carolina students graduated in 2002. That was down from 65 percent in 1991. During the same 12-year period of the study (1991-2002), college readiness for South Carolina students increased to 29 percent from 24 percent. The state Department of Education agrees that high school graduation rates are too low but argues that it’s not fair to rank states by graduation rate without considering different requirements. NATION Bush’s farm proposal meets mixed reviews WASHINGTON — Sides are forming quickly on the battle over President Bush’s proposed cuts in farm payments. Two Farm Beit senators aligned themselves Tuesday with the White House, while cotton, wheat and sorghum growers have hired the former chairman of the House Agriculture Committee to defend the big subsidies he championed in the 2002 Farm Bill. Bush, seeking to cut farm spending by $5.7 billion over the next decade, wants to lower annual limits on payments and eliminate loopholes that let bigger growers bypass the limits to collect millions of dollars. Indian casino income reaches $18.5 billion WASHINGTON — Indian gambling pulled in $18.5 billion in 2004, nearly double the take for Nevada’s gambling industry, as tribal casinos boomed ahead. The 10 percent increase extended more than a decade of double-digit growth for the nation’s Indian casinos, which have mushroomed since Congress passed a law creating the legal framework in 1988. There now are 4ll Indian casinos in the United States, operated by 223 tribes in 28 states. WORLD Mine blast kills 203, 12 workers missing FUXIN, China — Three years after a promised overhaul of China’s workplace safety system, an explosion deep in a coal shaft killed 203 miners and left 12 more missing, the government said Tuesday in its worst reported mining disaster since communist rule began in 1949. Dozens of rescuers worked through the night in freezing temperatures to try , to reach the miners who may have been trapped by Monday’s blast in the Sunjiawan coal mine in northeastern Liaoning province. Assassination incites mob against Syrians BEIRUT, Lebanon — An angry mob attacked Syrian workers in southern Lebanon Tuesday, blaming Damascus for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, and the interior minister suggested the killing may have been carried out by a suicide bomber. Syria has denied any involvement in Hariri’s assassination, which raised fears that Lebanon might revert to the political violence of the 1970s and ‘80s. BRIEFS FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Publisher sues Combs for memoir prepayment NEW YORK — Random House Inc. is suing Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, alleging that the hip-hop mogul never paid back a $300,000 advance for a memoir he never completed. In papers filed Monday at the state Supreme Court in Manhattan, the publisher alleged that Combs and his corporation, Bad Boy, have “simply kept the money they never rightfully earned.” Random House is seeking the advance’s return, plus interest. “Random House has seldom resorted to a legal course of action with its prospective authors who don’t write the books we have contracted for, but Mr. Sean Combs has left us no choice,” the publisher said in a statement Tuesday. “He signed an agreement with our Ballantine imprint in 1998 to write his autobiograpWy, which he agreed to complete and deliver to us in 1999. We now have waited for over five years and have received neither the manuscript nor the return of the money we advanced I Mr. Combs.” Combs’ publicist, Rob Shuter, said Tuesday that there was a “disagreement with .Random House that we hoped wcjfuld be resolved without litigatioi^.; We anticipate that this will be,' resolved quickly.” According up the court papers, / JOHN SMOCK/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Sean “P. Diddy” Combs arrives for the wake of actor Ossie Davis at Abyssinian Baptist Church on Friday in New York. Davis, the actor distinguished for roles dealing with racial justice on stage, screen and in real life, died Friday in Miami. Combs signed with Random House in 1998 and then arranged on his own to collaborate with Mikal Gilmore, a contributing editor to Rolling Stone and author of the acclaimed “Shot in the Heart.” A manuscript was to be completed by Dec. 15, 1999, but the deadline passed and, in early 2000, Random House notified Combs that he was in breach of contract and that the publisher wanted the money back. “Year after year,” the papers allege, the publisher sent follow-up letters. Combs is not the first musician who failed to meet the deadline for delivery of his life’s story. Years ago, . . _ “Before studying abroad, I *'*: II M / thought a two-hour lab at ? - USC was difficult to sit through. Four hours of a .^ -**» French woman telling you Wednesday, February 16, 2005 *storyP”ak French _ SECOND-YEAR HISTORY STUDENT ON STUDYING ABROAD IN FRANCE Mick Jagger received a seven-figure advance to write his memoirs. He eventually returned the money, saying he couldn’t remember anything of significance. Mellencamp plans first tour in 3 years BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — lohn Mellencamp will bring his “Words & Music” to cities across the United States this spring on his first headlining tour in three years. Sixteen stops have been announced for the first leg of the tour, which opens in Savannah, Ga., on March 23 and ends April 17 in Louisville, Ky. The tour is dubbed the “Words & Music Tour” after Mellencamp’s recently released double CD greatest hits collection. “Jack and Diane,” “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.” and “Small Town” are among the songs Mellencamp will perform. “Going out and playing is a great way for me to keep these songs alive; it’s what I’ve done for my whole professional life,” the 53 year-old rocker said in a statement Monday. “We’re keeping ticket prices down so as not to exclude anybody who might want to attend one of these shows.” The top ticket price will be $45 for all tour dates in March and April. Folk rocker Donovan, known for hits such as “Sunshine Superman” . and “Hurdy Gurdy Man,” will be a special guest. Jackson’s flu delays molestation trial SANTA MARIA, Calif. — Michael Jackson was taken to a hospital with the flu Tuesday morning, delaying jury selection for a week in the singer’s child molestation trial. Judge Rodney Melville told prospective jurors that Jackson had the flu and that jury selection would resume Feb. 22. Lawyers were expected back in court later Tuesday to discuss unspecified motions. The judge said Jackson had been on his way to court but was taken to a hospital emergency room instead. He later told the prospective jurors that Jackson was to be admitted to the hospital. The judge made the initial announcement 15 minutes after Jackson was scheduled to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. A call to the Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, where Jackson was taken, was not immediately returned. Jackson spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain said she was trying to learn more about Jackson’s condition and would comment later. Outside the medical center, about two miles from court, a growing crowd of about 50 fans and reporters gathered. Police guarded all entrances, stopping anyone who ON THE TRAIL JASON STEELMAN/THE GAMECOCK Student Government presidential candidate Steven Byrd, right, campaigns on Greene Street in front of the Russell House on Tuesday. Candidates and supporters filled the street With posters, tents and music. Officials announced election results Tuesday evening in the Russell House. appeared to be with the media, while hospital officials put up white fabric to hide what was going*on in the emergency room. Jackson had not been visibly ill in court Monday, when questioning of prospective jurors got under way and Jackson’s lawyers announced they may call stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Jay Leno, Quincy Jones and Kobe Bryant to the witness stand. The list of possible witnesses sounded like coming attractions for a major Hollywood spectacle. But Melville said not all of the celebrities would necessarily testify. Attorneys are selecting 12 jurors and eight alternates who will decide whether Jackson molested a teenage cancer patient at his Neverland Ranch and plied the youth with alcohol. Names of defense and prosecution witnesses were revealed to prospective jurors Monday so attorneys could find out if any of the more than 240 members of the pool had associations that might be important in jury selection. Defense attorney Thomas Mesereau Jr. also named two of Jackson’s children, Paris and Prince Michael. Possible prosecution witnesses included Debbie Rowe, their mother. Other possible witnesses included Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Chris Tucker, former child actor Corey Feldman, Backstreet Boy Nick Carter and younger brother Aaron, CBS correspondent Ed Bradley, CNN’s Larry King, Fox broadcaster Rita Cosby, New Age guru Deepak Chopra, illusionist Uri Geller, illusionist David Blaine, Las Vegas tycoon Steve Wynn and relatives of the late Marlon Brando. Prosecutors also listed the family of a boy involved in 1993 molestation allegations against Jackson. The judge has not yet ruled whether that incident can be mentioned in the trial. The accuser received a multimillion-dollar settlement and no criminal charges were filed. Both sides listed former Jackson attorney Mark Geragos, and the defense list included Jackson’s chief prosecutor, District Attorney Tom Sneddon. Go ahead. Write for us. gamecockeditor@gwm.sc.edu COMING UP@USC WEDNESDAY Assembly Saxophone Quartet: 7:30 p.m. School of Music 206. “The Murder of Emmett Till" Panel Discussion: 7 p.m. Belk Auditorium. “A Place of Our Own” — A Stanley Nelson filtfft noon to 2 p.m. Russell House Theater. THURSDAY Brenda Heidhoff Leonard Doctoral Cello Recital: 7:30 p.m. School of Music 206. FRIDAY Spring 2005 Seminar Series: 4 p.m. Jones Physical Science Center 006. Dance Marathon: 7 p.m. Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center. use BRIEFS CP to play host to ‘Real’ comedy tour Carolina Productions will present the “Keepin’ it Real Comedy Tour” featuring Roosevelt Johnson at 8 p.m. Feb. 23 in the Russell House Ballroom. Also scheduled to appear are Darren “DS” Sanders, B Phlat and Co Coa Brown, who have all been featured on shows such as Black Entertainment Television’s “Comic View” and HBO’s “Russell Simmons Def Comedy Jam.” For more information, contact Telca Markosky at 777-3950. Theater features Tubman program Carolina Productions is sponsoring “Harriet Tubman: The Chosen One” at 8 p.m. today in the Russell House Ballroom. “Tubman” is a one-woman show that takes the audience back through history with the story of the Underground Railroad and how one woman’s remarkable determination made history. For more information, contact Telca Markosky at 777-3950. Garnet & Black sponsors contest For its fourth issue, Garnet & Black magazine is sponsoring a short-story contest that requires all stories to start with the following sentence: “This is probably worth it,” Jordan said, about to crawl under the train. ■ Submissions should be less than 1,500 words and e-mailed as an attachment to gandbe@gwm.sc.edu by Tuesday, March 1. The top three will be published in March’s issue. The first-place winner will receive $50 and the second-place $25. For more information, contact Editor in Chief Maty Pinckney Waters at 777-1149 POLICE REPORT Each number on the map stands for a crime corresponding with numbered descriptions in the list below. DAY CRIMES (6 a.m.-6 p.m.) □ Violent O Nonviolent NIGHT CRIMES ' (6 p.m.-6 a.m.) ■ Violent • Nonviolent CRIMES AT UNKNOWN HOURS 13 Violent ® Nonviolent Reports taken from the USC Police Department. JAN. 28 Harassment (Verbal) W Harper Elliot, 904 Sumter St. The victim arrived at the police station to file a report regardingher ex boyfriend had been harassing her. She said they both agreed on a mutual breakup, but now he wants to resume the relationship. The victim said she told the subject she did not want to resume the relationship and asked him not to call her anymore. The victim said since that time, the subject has contacted her several times. The victim was advised of the proper procedure if the harassment continues. Reporting officer: K. Adams. FEB.10 Information ^Patterson Hall, 1520 Devine St. The complainant said the subject calls her, and that she wishes he will stop calling her. The victim told the subject not to call back, and so far the subject has complied. Reporting officer: D. Davis. FEB.11 ^ Larceny of Patio Chairs Kappa Delta House, 514 Gadsden St. The complainant said someone took four patio chairs from the back patio. The patio chairs are valued at $25 each and are green and gray. Reporting officer: D. Davis. Simple Possession of Marijuana © Snowden Dorm, 600 Main St. Reporting officers K. Adams and G. Kerwin went to Snowden Dorm in regards to a person stuck in an elevator. While searching the elevator and trying to determine which floor the elevator was stuck on, the officers discovered that the unknown person had exited the elevator. While walking the seventh-floor hallway, the officers could smell an odor of marijuana coming fom room 707. The officers then made contact with subject no. 2, who answered the door. Subject no. 2 denied smoking any manjuana in the room initially, but later admitted smoking marijuana on the balcony. Subject no. 1, who was visiting subject no. 2, got up from the bed and started putting on his pants. Adams asked subject no. 1 what he had in his pants. Subject no. 1 voluntarily pulled a small, dear plastic bag with a leafy green substance believed to be marijuana from his left front pocket and handed it to Adams. Adams told subject no. 1 he was under arrest for simple possession of marijuana. Snell was handcuffed and searched. FEB.12 Minor in Possession of Beer (Arrest) Snowden, 600 Main St. ^ The reporting officer responded for a report of a minor in possession of alcohol Upon arrival, the reporting officer observed the subject in possession of a keg of beer. The subject was anested and transported to 1501 Senate St. Reporting officer: C. Knoche. 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