The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee • Page 1

SATURDAY 3 3 HKi: -Vi-l- Advantage NY: Knicks go home Beat Rockets for 1-1 tie John Anderson vvoos Fair fans More fanfare in Local News tA WW NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE A GANNETT NEWSPAPER Vblume 90, No. 162 5 section! Copyright 1994 Second Class postage paid in Nashville, TN TQPAYS I I fONICHTS HIGH: LOW: 86 68 Complete weather forecast on 6B fM.v(l noil Rn' ll POT A The 1JL ilX Mayor stall favored in primary i he was going to have a tough time beating Sundquist as it was. And this is not going to make it any easier." The revelation this week that the arena will cost more than anyone thought infuriated Metro Council members and sent one of Bredesen's primary campaign rivals on a faxing frenzy. Pnhlir Sprvirp an incompetent, other gubernatorial candidates and their spokesmen were more cautious in their remarks: Beth Fortune, spokeswoman for Sundquist, said the public should evaluate whether the mayor intentionally misled the council or whether he didn't know the costs would run so high. It's either a character issue or a mismangement issue, she said.

"I would imagine the voters would be interested in either or both of those issues," Fortune said. Public Service Commissioner Frank Cochran said he isn't going to gloat over it On the other hand, he said, his Metro taxes went up more than 20 this past year and the arena tab could push taxes higher. "It reminds me of something that my granddaddy But get arena costs in check, analysts say By SHEILA W1SSNER Staff Writer Phil Bredesen will likely win the Democratic primary for governor despite the controversy caused by escalating arena costs, political analysts say. But if he hasn't solved the arena problem by the fall, Bredesen could have problems defeating Republican Rep. Don Sundquist in the general election.

"I'd still say he's the favorite to win the Democratic primary," said Coleman McGinnis, associate professor of political science at Tennessee State University. "But Wait till we get our Hanes on you By BRAD SCHMITT Staff Writer When Metro Jail inmate Herbert Redmond decided to take off yesterday, he didn't stop with escaping from the rec yard. Redmond also took off his jail-issued orange jumpsuit hopping onto a nearby moving freight train to freedom, police said. "The last thing one of the Sheriffs Department deputies saw was Redmond on top of the train disrobing out of his orange uniform," police spokesman Don Aaron said. The underwear-clad convict remained at large last night authorities said.

Police think he took off the jumpsuit so he wouldn't easily be identified as an inmate. Redmond, 21, slipped through a gap in the fence surrounding the recreation area at the Hill Building detention facility on Second Avenue North around 11:50 a.m., police said. He had been serving a one-year term for car theft and two counts of failing to appear for court dates, said David Warren, spokesman for Davidson County Sheriffs Office. Redmond was described as a white man with brown hair and blue eyes. He is about 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds.

Anyone who knows where he is should call Metro police at 862-8600. BREDESEN steve Hewlett accused Bredesen in faxed press releases of "a long pattern of deception." He told The Tennessean that Bredesen should drop his quest for the governor's mansion. "I'm very angry about this," Hewlett said. While Hewlett painted Bredesen as either a liar or Turn to PAGE 2A, Column 1 Mr MV is not for sale anymore By SANDY SMITH Staff Writer buy New World television group's attempts to Fox WSMV-Channel 4 and turn the station into a Rosty begins quest to win vindication Corruption defense based on constitutional grounds Tennessea News Services WASHINGTON Prosecutors can't tell Congress how to spend its money, Rep. Dan Rostenkowskl and his lawyer said yesterday after the veteran lawmaker pleaded not guilty to corruption charges.

A defiant Rostenkowskl vowed that he would beat the 17-count criminal indictment against him. "I will be vindicated!" he shouted on the steps of the federal courthouse. "I will fight these false charges and will prevail! "I will wash away the mud that has been splattered upon my reputation," he continued. "Some ask, 'How could you have done these The answer is simple. I didn't do them." The Illinois Democrat's combativeness outside the courthouse contrasted with his quiet demeanor inside at the 15-minute arraignment He drummed his fingers on a table and pulled at his right ear, his face creased in the grimace so familiar from the 13 years he reigned as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Attorney Dan Webb said the defense would show that Rostenkowski's actions ranging from his hiring practices to gift purchases were official. And any decision that Rostenkowskl acted improperly, Webb declared, "has to be determined by Congress." Rostenkowskl was released with no bail but ordered not to discuss the case with potential witnesses including his own employees. Asked if he agreed to abide by all the conditions, he replied to the judge in a low voice, "I do." The Chicago Democrat unaccustomed to a supporting role, stood quietly before Judge Norma Holloway Johnson during the 25-min-ute arraignment Outside, he was not so passive. "Talk is cheap, allegations come easily," Turn to PAGE 2A, Column 4 affiliate have fallen through. "They were unable to come to an agreement on all terms," WSMV general manager Mike Kettenring said yesterday of the deal between New World and Channel 4 owners Cook Inlet "They did not say what terms they weren't able to agree on." Cook Inlet spokesman Mark Adolph and New World executives could not be fi BATTLE ON TV reached for comment As recently as this week, the New World purchase WTVF, WSMV cele seemed certain.

Broadcast brate ratings, on 5D. ing Cable, an industry Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, listens to attorney Dan Webb talk about his case after Rostenkowski pleaded innocent to federal corruption charges. "I am not guilty," the lawmaker insisted. lie has friends in high places trade magazine, reported that the two sides had reached a "handshake deal." Kettenring said his station is not for sale.

Cook Inlet has "made a strong commitment to the station." If New World had purchased WSMV and turned it into a Fox affiliate, a round of local station swaps from one network affiliation to another was expected. New World comprises former WSMV employees and Gillette executives; Gillette owned WSMV until Cook Inlet purchased the station in 1989. Cook Inlet this week sold its only other TV station, in New Haven, for $120 million. There were reports yesterday that NBC was trying to buy WSMV, its Nashville affiliate, to prevent the station change to Fox. Kettenring said that if the rumors were true, that deal had likely fallen through.

"The primary reason for NBC to buy this station is to maintain it as an NBC affiliate. Ending the negotiations with New World probably ends it with Relnsdorf, owner of the Chicago Bulls and White Sox, $.5000. Famous Americans: Donald Trump, Jack Valentl of the motion picture industry, $3,000. Those affected by health-care legislation: Metropolitan Life Ins. Hospital Corporation of America, $500.

Rep. Dan Rostenkowskl collected $750,000 for his defense fund last year. Donors Included: Companies: Anheuser-Busch PAC, Burlington Northern Railroad and Federal Express, Sony $1,000. Hometown sports: Chicago Bears football team, Jerry VALENTI TRUMP edical association sues to close TennCare checkbooks tor Manny Martins confirmed that the state has not paid a dime from the $185 million reserve pool. Manning said no money can be used from that pool until the state and HCFA agree on how it is done.

Martins said $20 million in the pool is earmarked for doctors. "We have asked them to give us some idea how they would like to see it distributed," he said. He would like to see the money go for incentive payments to doctors who have a high TennCare caseload. in really high volume you need TennCare to pay and you need it to pay on time," Collins said. The Chancery Court lawsuit, filed late yesterday, seeks to enjoin the state from making payments from the pools pending a ruling on another lawsuit brought by TMA to halt the TennCare program.

A hearing on that lawsuit is set for July 25. The pools are the unallocated fund pool and the reserve pool. State Finance Director David Manning and state TennCare Direc said that facility is being whipsawed by slow pay from managedore organizations and the fact that distributions are being made from only one of the two state pools. She said the medical center has $25.8 million in unpaid claims sent to managed-care organizations participating in TennCare. And it is awaiting about $20.4 million from the state pool that is not in operation, she said.

'It has put a hole in our operation. When you are, doing TennCare er providers have argued that their reimbursement rate is too low. "Once the funds are spent it will be too late for the plaintiffs and the public at large to comment on the state's proposed method of distribution," the lawsuit said. About $70 million has been distributed to hospitals since the Jan. 1 kickoff of TennCare; $350 million is awaiting distribution.

Charlotte Collins of the Regional Medical Center at Memphis, which treats a high volume of indigents, By DUREN CHEEK Staff Writer The Tennessee Medical Association has filed suit to freeze the distribution of more than $350 million in TennCare funds vital to the operation of hospitals that focus on treating the poor. The money is contained in two pools created to reimburse hospitals and doctors who treat indigents who are eligible for TennCare but have not enrolled in the program and to help hospitals like Meharry Hospital TENNCARE I Federal lawsuit seeks to stop health-care programs, on 2A. that have only a small base of private-pay patients. TMA says no rules have been published about how the money will be distributed and doctors will be "irreparably harmed" if the money is spent before its distribution can be hammered out Doctors and oth PERSONALITIES IT DAYBREAK FOOTBALL Calvin Short is leaving after "years and three state 18 NCW KidS have grown up and moved CONTENTS LOCAL NEWS Former Gallatin mayor John p. Hancock, accused of raping a 12-year-old relative while holding a gun to her head, remained in jail after a judge refused to reduce his $100,000 bond.

The Sumner County grand jury returned a 16-count sealed Indictment against him. On 1B. Environmental activists warn that recycling ash from Metro's waste-to-energy plant into street-paving materials may cause serious health problems down the road. On 1B. TRENDS Wanna soak someone? just yen into the microphone.

At least, that's how the latest water gun works. From CAP Toys, the Shout 'n' Shoot will cost $25 when It hits shelves this summer. On 7D. The Cable industry Is offering customers all sorts of new services and gad-getry there's an electronic program guide. There's even a virtual grocery store being developed.

All that and more such as computer services will be coming to a TV near you. On 1E. away from the singing group block. Donnie Wahlberg said this week from his Brain-tree, home. "Had we walked away two years ago, we would have done solo albums and never come back.

But we 2D 1-8D Local News. 1-68 football championships as head coach at Gallatin High School to become principal at Portland. Short accepted the Portland position yesterday. "At this time In my life I felt it was time to make a change," Short said. Butlnets.

1-8E Classified 7-32E Comics SD Crossword 2D Dear Abby 20 Deaths 5B Editorials 14A Entertainment 3D Movies 7D Newsmakers 3A Scoreboard 5C 1-OC Television SD If Ii.i.-'in Mil ii nil feel that we went out SHORT On 1C. On 2A: The World In 5 Minutes WAHLBERG with dignity." On 4D 4-J -h.