Austin American-Statesman Wednesday, August 15, 2001 On this date in 1961, East German workers began building the BerlinWall. World Digest News Focus: Growing immigration Population A2 Wednesday, August 15, 2001 mmigratioii plan is losing steam 1 i '1 American released from Italian jail GENOA, Italy Twenty people who spent the past three weeks in Italian jails after protesting at the recent Group of Eight summit meeting of major industrialized nations were released and immediately deported, officials said. American Susanna Thomas, whose family lives in New Jersey, said she was glad to be freed but concerned for others still detained. "They all need help and support and prayers and solidarity," she said. Sri Lankan official meets with rebels NEW DELHI, India A Sri Lankan Cabinet minister made a rare trip to rebel-held territory and met with Tamil leaders just weeks after their group carried out a devastating attack on the country's only international airport, officials said.
The rebels and the government have not held peace talks since 1995. Suspects held in Mexican bombings MEXICO CITY Five suspected members of a small leftist group have been arrested in connection with bombings at Mexico City banks, prosecutors said. Police made the arrests during raids of four area safe houses, in which they confiscated thousands of dollars, handguns, ammunition and military clothing. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of the People claimed responsibility for the Aug. 8 bombings.
No injuries were reported in the blasts. i 1 4 LA 1 1 i -ri l.r"l '-'f. Nation Digest After warm reception, move to help migrants now facing delay, heartland foes By Julia Malone American-Statesman Washington Staff WASHINGTON The Bush administration's move to relax immigration rules for Mexicans, and possibly others, got off to a fast start. It won backing from a powerful alliance of business, seeking a larger, cheaper work force, and labor unions, in search of more members. The U.S.
Catholic Conference joined the effort by lobbying for broad amnesty for undocumented workers. But a month later, the plan is running into resistance and now faces an uncertain future. A new estimate this week by the nonpartisan Urban Institute that there may be as many as 8.5 million illegal immigrants in the country 2 million more than previously thought raises the stakes for Congress and the nation's heartland, where resistance to immigration already was mounting. The administration's detailed proposal, scheduled for release in September, has already been delayed, perhaps for months. Officials describe it as a temporary worker program to allow more Mexicans to work legally in the United States.
Although President Bush has ruled out "blanket amnesty" for illegal immigrants already living in the country, his chief of staff, Andy Card, said in a Fox News Channel interview that workers who are matched up with employers would be able to get a "green card," granting permanent residency. Among supporters of the Bush effort, some of the early hopes for quick action are fading. "I'm a little bit afraid that if they don't have something concrete fairly soon, they'll lose the momentum on this," said Theresa Brown, manager of labor and immigration policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. So far, even among the president's fellow Texas Republicans, only Rep.
Henry Bonilla of San Antonio has given the Bush immigration plan an enthusiastic endorsem*nt. Others have taken a wait-and-see position and ruled out amnesty for people who have entered LM OteroAssociated Press Undocumented Mexicans, such as these looking for day proposal has support from business and labor. But it is work in Dallas, could legally work in the United States meeting resistance from a growing number of anti-under a plan the Bush administration is considering. The immigration groups in the nation's heartland. tif the country illegally.
That would be "rewarding lawlessness," Sen. Phil Gramm has said. Democrats, on the other hand, say the White House is not going far enough. Sen. Tom Daschle, wants a legalization process for illegal residents of all nationalities.
"Immigrants are fueling our economy and enriching our society," he said this month. The debate is already moving beyond Washington and out into the countryside, which has been altered by the arrival of more than 13 million immigrants over the past 10 years, according to new U.S. census figures. Almost one in every 10 residents is now foreign-born. Moreover, the newcomers are moving beyond such states as Texas, California and Florida.
They have begun to bring major cultural shifts to the South and to the once-hom*ogeneous farm belt of the Midwest. Construction firms, fast-food restaurants, poultry processors and meatpacking plants have benefited from the supply of foreign workers. But in some communities, they have spurred a growing network of activists who seek more restrictions on immigration: In once nearly all-white Iowa, Gov. Tom Vilsack recently backpedaled on his two-year drive to recruit immigrants to make up for his state's labor shortage. Some Iowans have complained that schools are overburdened by non-English speaking students, and others say the unskilled workers hold wages down.
In Rogers, where the Latino population rose to 20 percent over the past decade, voters threw out a mayor who had welcomed the newcomers and replaced him with one pledging to crack down on illegal immigrants. In several states, activists are forming grass-roots groups, such as the Georgia Coalition for Immigration Reform, Floridians for a Sustainable Population, and Carolinians for Immigration Reform. All seek restraints on immigration. At the Center for Immigration Studies, a private group that favors restrictions, chief researcher Steven Camaro-ta has watched business and labor get behind the new push for what he calls "mass immigration." "There's really only one group lined up against it, and that's the American people," Camarota said, citing polls such as a March survey by the Gallup Poll, which indicated that only 10 percent of the public favors increasing immigration, while 41 percent favor keeping the present level and 43 percent would reduce it. You may contact Julia Malone at juliamcoxnews.com.
Newsmakers i.i Tin probably the most boring, lame 17-year-old out there." Singer Mandy Moore, who says she isnt trying to send a wholesome message to teen fans by dressing conservatively. Don CresswellEast Oregonian Wildfires scorching the West The wildfire at Bridge Creek Recreational Area near Ukiah, is but one blaze that is taxing firefighters. Dozens of fires across the West stretched firefighting resources, as more than 8,500 firefighters battled blazes in parts of California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Company sued over stem cell access SAN FRANCISCO A University of Wisconsin foundation is suing a company that financed pioneering stem cell research to make sure other companies can have access to the work. The federal lawsuit filed against the Menlo Park, Calif-based Geron Corp.
represents the first salvo in a legal struggle regarding how research will proceed and who will profit from it. 28 officers arrested in Puerto Rico WASHINGTON In one of the single biggest police corruption busts in U.S. history, 28 state police officers in Puerto Rico were arrested on drug-running charges after a yearlong undercover sting operation. The officers are said to have accepted a total of $200,000 in cash for protecting cocaine dealers. Teacher shortage expected to worsen WASHINGTON The shortage of teachers in the nation's classrooms will worsen in the coming decade, a panel of educators said.
By 201 1, the shortfall nationwide is expected to reach 2 million teachers, said members of the panel that included school administrators, representatives of teachers' groups and policy-makers. High-tech IDs planned for students WASHINGTON District of Columbia officials plan to begin taking digital photographs and fingerprints of schoolchildren this fall as part of a high-tech identification initiative designed to improve the search for missing children. Compiled from wire reports Chicks to play Austin benefit The Austin-based Dixie Chicks are hatching out of a planned one-year hiatus to play the Twilight Gala benefit for the Pediatric ADDS League of Texas on Sept. 15 at the Austin Music Hall. In their first show of 2001, the trio of Natalie Malnes, Emily Robison and Martie Seldel (who reportedly is engaged to marry Irish college professor Gareth MaGuire) will do an set backed by 21 string players from the Austin Symphony.
Also scheduled to perform are Shawn Colvin and Terri Hendrix (whose guitar player is Natalie's dad, Lloyd Maines). The event also will feature a silent auction of instruments and memorabilia from Madonna, Tina Turner, Sting, David Gray; Cher and others. Gucci will supply the parting gift bags. Tickets, at $250 each, go on sale Saturday at Star outlets. Michael Corcoran Kravitz stands by his label Lenny Kravitz is still a Virgin Records musician.
The rocker has renewed his contract with the label, his home since his 1989 debut album, "Let Love Rule." The Grammy-winning singer-guitarist is working on a new album scheduled to be released later this year. They took the good, they took the bad, now they're taking it back to TV. The cast of the '80s sitcom 'The Facts of Life' will reunite for a movie. The facts of TV comebacks Well, it's back-to-school time, so what better way to celebrate than with a "The Facts of Life" reunion movie. Original cast members Charlotte Rae, Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields and Lisa Whelchel have said they will take part in the made-for-TV flick.
It's unknown whether Nancy McKeon will appear. (Say it ain't so, Jo!) The sitcom, about an East Coast boarding school, aired on NBC from 1979-88. fv Chili Peppers nix Israel concert Wary of increased tensions in the Middle East, the Red Hot Chill Peppers have canceled a Jerusalem concert scheduled for later this month. More than 15,000 tickets had been sold for the gig, and the band has promised fans they'll get refunds. No word on whether the show will be rescheduled.
Still in the 'ER' Well, at least one familiar face will still be on "ER" this fall. Actress Ming-Na, who plays Dr. Deb Chen, was expected to leave the NBC medical drama in May but now will stay through the 2002-03 season. Today's birthdays Cooking expert Julia Child is 89. Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly is 77.
Rhythm-and-blues singer Bill Pinckney (The Drifters) is 76. Singer-producer Bobby Byrd is 67. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is 63. Author-journalist Linda Ellerbee is 57. Britain's Princess Anne is 51.
Actress Tess Harper is 51. Actress Debl Mazar is 37. Actress Debra Messing is 33. Actor Ben Affleck is 29. Actress Natasha Henstridge is 27.
Newsmakers compiled by Emily Quigley Nick UtAssociated Press Hands on Hollywood Actor Nicolas Cage, center, gets down and dirty as he leaves his handprints in front of Hollywood's legendary Mann's Chinese Theatre on Tuesday. Ming-Na Main switchboard (512) 445-3500 Reader's Gusda AustinAmsritan-cStatesman Vol. 131 No. 18 (ISSN 0199-8560) Omar Gallaga, 445-3672, Corrections Sunday's front-page article on executive pay said Netpliance co-founder Kent Savage was terminated by the company. Public filings by Netpliance outline a termination agreement between Savage and the company, but the company says Savage first resigned, an act that triggered the termination agreement.
Monday's Metro State article about the final paratrooper jump of the 143rd Infantry at Camp Swift incorrectly referred to the unit as a division. The 143rd Infantry is a regiment. A July 15 Metro State article about the excavation of woolly mammoth bones near Colorado City incorrectly attributed a statement to Joe Taylor, director of the Mount Blanco Fossil Museum. It was Bobby Bammel, geology department chairman at Hardin-Simmons University, who said evidence suggests that a shallow midcontinental ocean covered the region 100 million years ago. Taylor places the age of the mammoth fossils at Colorado City at only 3,500 to 4,000 years old.
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