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CAROLINA m BRIEF Geographer praised for public service Geography professor William L. Graf recently received the Meredith F. Burrill Award, the highest award in the field for environmental public policy contributions. Graf received the award from the Association of American Geographers. The award recognizes Graf’s work as the chair of a committee that advises state and federal governments on water quality issues. The award also honored his work and research on the Platte River in the Midwest and centers on Graf’s ability i t • 1 to appiy gcogiapmcai skills to complex issues of public policy. The National Research Council, which Graf served as chair, is an independent body of scientists that advises the federal government issues involving the connection between science and public policy. THIS WEEK # USC TODAY Theatre South Carolina presents “Measure for Measure” 8 p.m. Drayton Hall MONDAY Bill Chameides, “ Why an Academic Left the Hallowed Halls to Advocate Action on Climate Change” 4 p.m. Gambrell 250 Farewell piano performance by John Williams 7:30 p.m. School of Music 206 ON THE WEB © www.dailygamecock.com Read online five days a week. Gravy. Spreading the word 4 1 i * * Nick Esarts / THE GAMECOCK Fourth-year history student William Rogers speaks to the Anthropology Student Association on Wednesday about the history of the documentary “Invisible Children,” a portrail of African children recruited by war. State Senators still divided over homeowners’ tax Sen. Chip Campsen compared the property tax debate in the Senate to the sinking of the Titanic on Thursday. The Senate’s efforts have hit an iceberg, and the Republican from the Isle of Palms is willing to grasp at any plan. After nearly a year’s worth of meetings, the Senate still can’t agree on how to give homeowners the property tax relief some are demanding. Senators have one more week to make things happen, said Senate President Pro Tern Glenn McConnell, R Charleston. I he budget will nit tne floor and if debate drags on, passage of a property tax relief bill could become “very iffy,” McConnell said. McConnell’s advice is to stop waiting for a plan to appear that everyone can agree on. Senators talked about property taxes all week but never took a vote. On Thursday, they talked about a specific proposal. Sen. Larry Grooms, R Bonneau, offered a plan that would eliminate school operating costs from owner-occupied homes and reduce it on other property, including businesses, vehicles and rental units. Nation Trial date announced for church arsonists BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A federal judge set a June 5 trial date Thursday for the three men charged in nine rural Alabama church fires. Attorneys for two of the men said they have not ruled out the possibility of a plea agreement to bring a quick resolution to the case. An attorney for the other suspect said he wants to “get the matter resolved.” The men, who were college students in Birmingham, entered not guilty pleas at the arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge John Ott, and attorneys waived the reading of the federal inHir'fmpnt Russell Lee DeBusk Jr., 19, of Hoover; Benjamin Nathan Moseley, 19, of Grayson Valley; and Matthew Lee Cloyd, 20, of Indian Springs, face federal charges in connection with a string of nine church arsons earlier this year. The three have been held at Shelby County Jail since their March arrest. They also face charges in connections with fires. Five of the churches were destroyed, the others were damaged. If convicted in the federal case, each count carries a minimum sentence of five years in prison. World European scientists share photos of Venus BERLIN — European scientists released new photos of Venus’ south pole Thursday, revealing a swirling mass of sulfuric acid clouds powered by 220 mph winds. The clouds, 13 miles deep, completely enclose Venus. The new images of the planet’s south pole, which is turned away from Earth, closely resemble those of its more familiar north pole. The images, taken from the European Space Agency’s orbiting Venus Express spacecraft from a distance of roughly 124,000 miles, _ _i„ __ one/ VY viuuuj 1“‘“j-, around a dark vortex. “We can see there is a swirl here that is similar to the one we know from the north pole,” said Horst Uwe Keller, who leads the team operating the craft’s wide-angle camera, one of seven instruments aboard the Venus Express. Using infrared technology that allows the camera to peer though the clouds, scientists hope to be able to determine how the sulfuric acid that swathes the planet was formed and pinpoint the cause of the high-speed winds that sends it swirling in massive clouds. Nobody covers USC better. Nobody. THffeAMECOCK Weather Forecast TODAY High 89 tow 66 High 91 loui 65 High 89 Lout 61 mon. High 89 Low 51 High 81 Loui 53 CRIME REPORT WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12 Assistance rendered, 2:39 p.m. College and Sumter streets Upon arrival, the reporting officer observed the victim to have facial injuries. First Responders were on the scene and EMS was notified. The victim was transported to Baptist Hospital. Reporting officer: M. Davis Traffic collision, 9:40 p.m. Lincoln and Blossom streets The complainant said while backing up, he struck a second vehicle, damaging the driver side door and rearview mirror of the second vehicle and causing minimal damage on the front left corner of the primary vehicle. Estimated damage: $1,300 Reporting officer: Information, 9:40 p.m. Bull and Devine streets The victim said he was engaged in a verbal altercation with the suspect. He said he was verbally accosted as he attempted to pass the suspect on a narrow road. He said he did not know the suspect, but wanted the incident documented. ft Reporting officer: M.D. Evans Man charged in murders of 6 in Pennsylvania town Illark Scolf oro THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LEOLA, Pa. — A young man was charged Thursday with bludgeoning or strangling six relatives whose bodies were found wrapped in sheets and blankets in the basement of his grandmother’s home. Authorities said Jesse Dee Wise, 21, confessed, but they would not comment on a motive. The victims spanned three generations of the same family; the youngest was just 5 years old. Three of the victims were hit in the head with a blunt metal object, and three others were strangled, police said in an affidavit. Wise was arraigned on six counts of criminal homicide. As a judge recited the charges, Wise seemed to read along with a listing of the victims. “When will I get a lawyer?” he asked. Wise was ordered held without bail. The judge set a preliminary hearing for April 20. Authorities said his parents were both dead and that he lived with his grandparents. A relative said Wise worked at a supermarket until a couple of weeks ago. Investigators discovered bone fragments, hair and a hammer in two upstairs bedrooms. There also appeared to be blood on the walls and ceilings,^ authorities said. In a guitar case at the home, police found two 17-inch pieces of metal that appeared to have blood on them. The objects were wrapped at one end with cloth and “had the appearance of a homemade weapon/club, capable of causing death if used as a weapon,” according to the affidavit. The victims apparently died of multiple traumatic injuries sometime last nnlmn/l T onS'Skot-nr " w w » « u , —-— County District Attorney Don Totaro said. The dead were identified as Wise’s 64-year-old grandmother, Emily Wise; two relatives believed to be his aunts; two of Emily Wise’s grandchildren, ages 5 and 19; and a 17 year-old relative, said East Lampeter Township police Chief John Bowman. The bodies were found after Emily Wise’s husband called from New York on Wednesday asking a relative to check on his family in the three story house in Leola, a small village in Lancaster^ County’s rural Amish^ country. check out our great selection ofSandals for the summer! 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