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STATE Manager advocates hurricane readiness HILTON HEAD ISLAND — Officials should be better prepared for lane reversals, shelter needs and evacuation response after the state weathered one of the busiest hurricane seasons in recent memory, a state hurricane program manager says. The centers of four tropical systems crossed into South Carolina, the first time that has happened in a single season since 1893. DHEC asks residents to test bats for rabies CHARLESTON — State health officials are encouraging residents who find bats in their homes to have the animals captured and get them tested for rabies. Eleven people here were being treated for potential bat rabies. It's unusual that the cases were all reported in a two-week period, said Matt Shiers of the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, even though it's the time of year when bats come out to feed and their offspring is born. NATION Study: Parents limit teens' Internet time NEW YORK — Most parents of teenagers who go online say they set time limits on the kids' Internet activity, according to a study released Thursday. Slightly more than half of parents with online teens (54 percent) have filtering software installed on home computers, up from 41 percent in 2000, the Pew Internet & American Life Project study found. Budget amendment strips Medicaid cuts WASHINGTON — The Senate voted Thursday to strip all proposed Medicaid cuts from the $2.6 trillion budget for next year, killing the heart of the plan's deficit reduction and dealing an embarrassing setback to President Bush and Republican leaders. The amendment was approved 52-48 after days of heavy lobbying by both sides. It was widely seen as a test of the GOP-run Congress's taste for making even moderate reductions in popular benefit programs that consume two-thirds of the budget and are growing rapidly, even at a timè of record federal deficits. WORLD U.S., India discuss possible F-16 sales ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The United States and India papered over differences on U.S. arms sales to Pakistan and an Indian natural gas pipeline deal with Iran on Wednesday, ahead of a possible visit to India by President Bush later this year. ι Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice discussed future sales of sophisticated F-16 fighter planes to both India and rival Pakistan with her Indian counterpart before flying to Pakistan, but said no announcement is imminent. Youth applaud pope's live video appearance ROME — A gaunt-looking Pope John Paul II appeared in a live video Thursday evening to hundreds of young people who filled a Rome basilica to show their support and express hope that the ailing pontiff will travel to a World Youth Day event in Germany this summer. In a brief appearance that lasted less than a minute, the 84-year-old pope made the sign of the cross to the crowd, which erupted into cheering. BRIEFS FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Kidnapping plot targets Letterman's son, nanny HELENA, Mont. — Authorities have arrested a man on allegations he was plotting to kidnap David Letterman's young son and nanny from the talk show host's Montana home. Sally Hilander, a spokeswoman for the Montana Department of Corrections, identified the suspect as Kelly A. Frank. The plot was uncovered when someone whom Frank had approached about the plan informed local police, Hilander said. Frank was in custody on a felony charge of solicitation. Two spokesmen for Letterman in New York did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment. Mike Ferriter of the state THE ASSOCIATED PRESS "Late Show" host David Letterman appears on the " Live with Regis and Kelly" television show, on Nov. 8, 2004, in New York. Department of Corrections said Frank, 43, was arrested Sunday in Cascade County and arraigned Thursday. He had been working as a painter at Letterman's ranch west of Choteau in north-central Montana, Ferriter said. "An individual was approached by Mr. Frank, an acquaintance of some kind, about his thought on the kidnapping, and (Frank) shared his idea with this individual," Ferriter said. "I'm not sure if he asked him to assist or be a part of it." Ex-housekeeper testifies against J. SANTA MARIA, Calif. — A former housekeeper at Michael Jackson's Neverland ranch testified Thursday in the singer's child molestation trial that the pop star had close friendships with several boys between the ages of 10 and 14 and that she saw children she believed to be intoxicated at the estate. Kiki Fournier also said children who remained at Neverland anywhere from a few days to months at a time would sometimes stay in Jackson's room, and she described kids running wild there without DAY Friday, March 18, 2005 "Before meeting my 'key' pal, I was really nervous, but once I met her, I knew everything was going to be fine." CASEY OSTIEN FIRST-YEAR FRENCH STUDENT ON SPENDING SPRING BREAK WITH HER FRENCH PEN PAL TAKE IT OR LEAF IT NICK ESARES/THE GAMECOCK The Thomas Cooper Library displays specimens from an exhibit that opened Thursday, highlighting the work of S.C. botanist Henry William Ravenel (1814-1887). parental supervision and little discipline from Jackson being permitted to stay up late, eat candy, watch movies and play games. "They would get in candy throwing fights in the theater," she said, describing how she nicknamed Neverland "Pinocchio's Pleasure Island." "Sometimes they would get pretty rowdy. ... He did let' them have a free hand, so to say. They could get pretty rambunctious." Jackson's accuser and his brother were among the children who became wilder the longer they stayed at Neverland, Fournier said. She said that initially the accuser was very polite but she soon noticed that the room he shared vfith his brother was increasingly dirty. Asked by prosecutor Gordon Auchincloss if she had ever seen children who appeared to be intoxicated, Fournier said, "I can't say for sure how many times but I've seen it a couple of times." The witness later clarified that it was about three or four times. She said, she once served dinner to Jackson and about four children, three of whom appeared to be intoxicated. Fournier said she stopped working at Neverland soon after that dinner in September in 2003 but did not testify about her reasons for leaving. She also said the children who stayed there included actor Macaulay Culkin and Frank Cascio, who became a Jackson employee when he became an adult and is named by the prosecution as an unindicted co-conspirator in the case against the pop star. Earlier, a TV weatherman who befriended the accuser's family testified that he gave them gifts and helped raise money even though they never asked him for anything. Fritz Coleman, the weather forecaster for KNBC in Los Angeles and a standup comedian, had been mentioned in opening statements by the defense, which suggested he was misled ι by the family into thinking they needed money for medical expenses when they actually had sufficient funds from the father's union insurance. Coleman was called to the stand by the prosecution, which has said the boy was introduced to Jackson through the owner of a Hollywood club who ran a comedy camp for underprivileged youth. Coleman said of the accuser and his brother and sister: "I found them personable and polite and charismatic." Blake seeks work following acquittal LOS ANGELES — Work wanted: 71-year-old actor recently acquitted of killing his wife seeks job in entertainment industry. Moments after his trial ended, Robert Blake was making a pitch to Hollywood. "I'm broke. 1 need a job," he told reporters Wednesday after the verdict. Industry types said Thursday the legal battle couid revitalize the career of the tough-guy actor best known for starring in the 1970s detective drama "Baretta" with a cockatoo named Fred. "There could be a book. There could be a made-for-TV movie, but I don't think it would be the one that he'd want," said Mike Sitrick, a Los Angeles publicist whose firm specializes in crisis management. "I think he could, down the road, get some roles." Blake will need money. He said he spent $10 million defending himself in the criminal case. He faces added costs in the upcoming, wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley. The civil trial is set for July 7. Pop psychologist Joyce Brothers called Blake a likable guy who should have no trouble getting work after being embraced by America. "They will not only accept him back but accept him back in spades," she said. "We are a nation that loves comebacks. We have 'Rocky' and 'Rocky 2' and 'Rocky 3.'" She predicted TV producers "will be fighting for him to be a guest star on an existing TV show or even build something around him." Brothers said she believes many people sympathize with Blake for wanting to protect the young daughter he had with Bakley. Bakley made a living scamming men out of money with nude pictures of herself and promises of sex. COMING UP@USC TODAY Women's Tennis: (JSC vs. Kentucky: 2 p.m. Maxcy Gregg Tennis Building. Harmony Ann Hoverman Junior Vocal Recital: 6 p.m. School of Music 206. Baseball: USC vs. Arkansas: 7 p.m. Sarge Frye Field. SATURDAY Jessica Robinson Violin Recital: 7:30 p.m. School of Music 206. SUNDAY Softball: Carolina vs. LSU: 1 p.m. Beckham Field. Baseball: USC vs. Clemson: 1:30 p.m. Sarge Frye Field. Guest Artist Scott Rawls Viola Recital and Masterclass: 7:30 p.m. School of Music 206. MONDAY Marc A. Holton Senior Saxophone Recital: 6 p.m. School of Music 206. Euphonium/Tuba Recital: 7:30 p.m. School of Music 206. TUESDAY Graduate Vocal Ensemble: 6 p.m. School of Music 206. use BRIEFS Alumni group calls backers to capital The Carolina Alumni Association invites all USC alumni, faculty and staff members and friends to "Carolina Day at the State House 2005" at the Capital City Club and the S.C. State House on March 30. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m., advocate training will take place at 10 a.m. and State House visits will begin at 10:30 a.m. USC President Andrew Sorensen will speak at lunch at noon. The event is free. Register at http://www.carolinaalumni.or g/advocacy/. Professor emeritus to give WWII talk The African-American Studies Program will feature John Hope Franklin in the Eighth Annual Robert Smalls Lecture. The lecture topic is "Days of Infamy: Personal Reflections on World War II," and will take place 7 p.m. Thursday in the Belk Auditorium of the Moore School of Business. Franklin is the James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of History, and for seven years was a legal history professor at the Duke University School of Law. 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 Ο Nonviolent NIGHT CRIMES (6 p.m.-6 a.m.) ■ Violent φ Nonviolent CRIMES AT UNKNOWN HOURS 0 Violent © Nonviolent MARCH 15 Qlllegal Use of Telephone, Harassing Bates House 808,1423 Whaley St. The victim said that during the last several days she has received numerous harassing phone calls. The investigation continues. Reporting officer: M. Wheeler. ©Assistance Rendered Bates Hoose, 1423 Whaley St. The complainant said he observed the victim passed out in the corridor. Officers J. Wittifield and M. Wheeler and First Responder responded. The victim appeared to be very intoxicated. MARCH 16 ©Main and Catawba streets Lend/Borrow/Steal/Alter; Open Container Reporting officer G. Kerwin initiated a traffic stop because subject no. 2, Lucas Abney, was screaming out the window while the vehicle was in motion. The officer approached the vehicle's driver-side. The subjects were both extremely nervous. The officer asked subject no. 1, Brandon Newell, if there was anything illegal in the vehicle. Newell said there was not. The officer asked the subjects if any alcohol was in the vehicle. Newell said there was some empty beer and liquor botdes in the back. The officer consulted with Abney as to why he was screaming out of a moving vehicle. He said he did because he saw a friend he had not seen in a long time. The officer asked Newell how he got the alcohol. He said he used another driver's license, which he retrieved. Newell was arrested for possession of the driver's license and was also charged for having open containers in the vehicle. Abney was charged with open containers, but was not taken to jail. Newell consented to having Abney take responsibility of the vehicle while he was in jail. Newell was transported to Richland County Detention Center, φ Burglary 2nd; Grand Larceny of Computers Law Center 202,1112 Greene SL The complainant said that upon entering the office, she noticed the window was opened and items were missing. Reporting officer M. Winnington observed obvious signs of unlawful entry and contacted the office occupants, who indicated several computers were missing. Investigator Branham responded, φ Larceny of Textbooks The Roost 101B, 147 South Marion St. The complainant said that during spring break someone entered his dorm room and took four textbooks and a SOG knife. Reporting officer: R Millhouse. (guttural Brought to you by ψ\ Fact Paid for by Student Activity Fee * What amendment allowed women to vote? iu9tupu9uty ψα[ :μμι·υ