Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 1

"-v. 091.QR i I National News I I S'Xs strategist, foil Atwat8rdlesat40 Lee Atwater, the fervent 1 political manager whose take- no-prisoners tactics helped elect George Bush, died Friday. tz Page2 Jayhawks In Final 4 but still seek respect Kansas' Mike Maddox is mad that people look down their noses at the Jayhawks even though they're in the Final Four. Page 13 High Low 5438 Sunny today, SW winds5to10mph, mostly clear by tonight. Page 22 Phone line lends an ear to strange claims When a strange presence haunts the room or mysterious lights flash across the sky, who do you call? Pages Star mcoM otsurinat DELIVERED NEWSSTAND SATURDAY, MARCH 30, 1991 2 SECTIONS.

24 PAGES 0 1991 Joiml-Stv PiMng Col. Uneoki Nth. 'When I see the blood, I will pass over you' TOinniD "4 i WVMM' itllllWlVlMMIIltN lit! 'iiL; Hi.mmemmm; HiiiMi. 4'; 1 i MUM Hk 0 www w-w-ww US yCwt Forecast index, housing signal better days ahead. WASHINGTON (AP) The govern-ment said Friday that its chief economic forecasting gauge reversed course in February and surged upward by 1.1 percent, the biggest gain in nearly three years.

Private economists called the rise in the Commerce Department's Index of Leading Economic Indicators the clearest signal yet that better days are ahead for the economy, although there was disagreement about just how soon the recession win be over. Some analysts said they believed the downturn is already over. They noted a second government report Friday showing that sales of new homes jumped 151 percent in February, the biggest advance in nearly five years. AN UPTURN In housing normally leads the economy out of a recession and many analysts said this recovery will be no different "All of our measurements of buyer traffic, current sales activity and builder sentiment have brightened substantially in the past two months," said David Seiders, chief economist of the National Association of Home Builders. "It is pretty clear that the housing market has started to move upward and believed the current recession might well last into the fan.

He noted that the leading index often turns up wen ahead of an end to the recession. It had started to rise a fun nine months before the end of the last downturn in 1981-82. "Although some parte of the economy, such as housing, are bouncing back, the overaU economy continues to decline," he said. Three-fourths of the February increase in the leading index came from a big jump in stock prices during the month and from a rise in consumer confidence. STOCK PRICES have" backtracked slightly in March but stiU remain weU above their lows of October.

Consumer confidence took another big leap in March with the end of the war. Other sources of strength in February were the first gain in home building permits in eight months, a pickup in growth hi the nation's money supply, an increase in consumer goods orders, a rising backlog of unfilled manufacturing orders and changes in raw materials prices. The faster growth in the money supply is something that the Federal Reserve has been seeking since it began to aggressively push interest rates lower in late October to fight the downturn. The LI percent rise in the leading index, the biggest since a LI percent Please turn to: Economy, Page 6 that should give us an end to the recession by midyear," he sail Lynn Reaser, senior economist at First Interstate Bancorp of Lbs Angeles, was even more optimistic, saying she believed there was a good chance that February will be marked as the month the recession ended. "THIS RECESSION was caused by two major negatives, a tight monetary policy by the Federal Reserve and the Persian Gulf War which caused consumer confidence to plummet," she said.

two negatives have now been lifted and we are seeing the signs of a turnaround." But Richard Rahn, chief economist of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said he. rti i mmm Dp. -moire ways man one, deposotioirs woim'ti casGn in Ion DorttiHULUcotn JovnM-Stor some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses. For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike down every firstborn in the land of Egypt.

When I see the blood. I will pass over you. and no plague shall destroy you. Story. Page 9.

A Journal-Star photographer's modem-day depiction of the Passover story, as it is told in the Book of Exodus: "The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt: Tell the whole congregation of Israel that on the tenth of this month they are to take a lamb for each family, a lamb for each household. They shall take as part of our system of government, has again failed these Jerusalem's Good Friday procession draws poorest attendance in years people," he said. John Little, a member of the Consolidated Depositors Committee, said depositors are looking at several possibilities for getting their money: A constitutional amendment to remove constitutional impediments outlined by the court. The use of the state's Insurance Guarantee fund, paid from insurance premiums, to pay back depositors on the They vow to continue the fight, despite high court ruling. By Bob Reeves Lincoln Journal-Star Depositors who lost money in failures of three Nebraska savings institutions had no intentions of throwing in the towel foUowing Friday's state Supreme Court ruling that a $33.8 million pay back to depositors was unconstitutional "We dont believe this is the end," said Rod Turner, a long-time activist among the depositors.

"We're going to keep pursuing this until we get justice." Gov. Ben Nelson said Friday that he win meet with depositors and senators next week to "consider our options and plan a course of action." Nelson urged that $16.9 million appropriated last year be maintained in a special account, and that another $16.9 minion be budgeted this year, in case a way is found to pay depositors the fuU S318 million. "ALTHOUGH THE STATE is not exactly flush with revenue right now, I believe the $119 million should be reserved for making the depositors whole," he said. Tve heard that other Interests already have designs on that money for pet projects. I find that reprehensible, and we have a long way to go before rm letting it go." Nelson called the decision "a cruel blow" to depositors who have been mistreated by the state.

"Now the Supreme Court, We don't believe this is the end. We're going to keep pursuing this until we get justice. depositor Rod Turner jj. Christ's route to Calvary, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher built on the spot where Christians believe he was crucified. John Moore, a visiting businessman from Glen Burnie, Md, joined 15 black-robed Arab priests on the route.

"The connection to the ancient is so strong here. You feel you have to whisper because it is such a holy place," Moore said. ABOUT 40 American, Canadian and Colombian soldiers attached to the multinational peacekeeping force in the Egyptian Sinai also walked the route, as did a dozen Filipino nurses who work at Jerusalem's Hadassah-Ein Karem Hospital. Pleat turn to: Good Friday, Page 6 JERUSALEM (AP) Black-robed Arab priests and a scattering of Chris- tian pilgrims carried wooden crosses Friday along the path Jesus Christ followed to his death, and they prayed at the church where he was crucified. In the Philippines, a dozen people including two men serving life sentences for murder were nailed to crosses as thousands of tourists and religious devotees watched.

Hundreds of others beat their backs bloody with bamboo whips. Pope John Paul IL hoisting a 5-foot wooden cross, led a torchlight procession through the Roman Colosseum at the Vatican on Friday night in a re-enactment of Jesus' walk to his crucifixion. In Germany, hundreds of activists marked Good Friday by marching for peace and disarmament THE TRADITIONAL Good Friday observances in the winding streets of Jerusalem's Old City drew the poorest attendance in years. Western pilgrims stayed away because of Middle East tensions and Arab Christians from the occupied territories were barred from attending by army roadblocks and curfews. Hundreds of paramilitary border policemen flanked the Via Dolorosa, or Way of Sorrow, as sman groups of Christians moved with their crosses.

Security was stepped up sharply foUowing a series of fatal stabbing attacks by Arabs against Jews. Most of the pilgrims paused to pray and sing at the 14 stations marking grounds that the NDIGC was an insurance plan that failed. A bfll to pay back the depositors as victims of criminal activities. Continuing to pursue a $100 million tort claim, filed in January by a group of Commonwealth depositors, alleging mismanagement of funds by the state-appointed receivership. NEITHER NELSON NOR senators supporting the depositors would comment on specific alternatives.

PImm turn to: Cash in, Pg 6 Public radio to get louder voice in state Nebraska Public Radio Network Four more stations to broadcast KUCV-FM by the end of summer. OR fal JJ? North Ratted HaslinWj 3L Astrology PotHw -T Brktot 7 Record book Com let .....23 I Dear A bbr Sportt IMrirtft.u ir1 5 tote. Local IS Event! TV Program! 7 Opinion II World Read it Sunday in the Lincoln Journal-Star The early 1990s are a time of new trials and new troubles for farmers in Nebraska's Republican River Valley. Sen. Bernice Labedz of Omaha has high hopes for her bill to' require parental notification when women younger than 1 9 seek abortions.

Like the differences in color and blossoms that can be found in a well-tended garden, this spring's fashion picks offer a varied bouquet for shoppers. NCAA basketball Final Four narrows to the final two. 4 million boaters to pay tax WASHINGTON (AP) Owners of more than 4.1 million recreational boats are about to be hit for a special contribution to reduce the federal deficit budget The Coast Guard has issued formal regulations spelling out how those owners will have to start paying a new "user fee" of $25 to 1100 a year for the privilege of operating hi navigable U.S. waters. Their boats win have to carry a decal certifying payment of the fee, which is expected to bring the government $718 million over five years.

The Coast Guard is considering selling the decals by mail and through boat docks and other public outlets. Sales are unlikely before July. Congress, in enacting the fee last year as part of deficit-reduction legislation, decreed that the levy not apply to any boat of less than 16 feet in length. The Coast Guard expanded the exemption and excluded regardless of Pleats turn to: Boats, Paoe y. mi, I velop such support" An of the stations win broadcast the KUCV format of classical music, jazz, public affairs and news from National Public Radio and American Public Radio, McBride said.

At this time there are no plans for area-specific local programs, McBride said, but the network is designed to make this possible. MCBRIDE EXPLAINS that under the plan, Alliance, Chadron and Merri-man can split off with programming tied to Chadron State College; the Lexington and North Platte area would group, using Kearney State College; Basset! and Norfolk would pair with broadcasts originating from Wayne State College; and Hastings would operate in tandem with Lincoln. If there is a station in Fans City, it would utilize Pern State College for local programming. NPRN hopes to expand coverage of Nebraska issues in the future, said Steve Robinson, network manager and station manager of KUCV. The first step towards the pubUc radio network was the move of KUCVs tower from Union College to a site near Beatrice.

This was financed with $90,400 contributed by Lincoln residents. Due to the move, McBride said, It is sometimes difficult to pick up KUCV downtown. Established stations Alliance KTNE91.1 Lincoln KUCV 80.9 To be operational By Linda Kenning Lincoln Joumtl-Sw The sole voice of Nebraska Public Radio Network will soon have nine mouths. NPRiVs KUCV-FM is now available through satellite stations in Norfolk, At liance, Hastings and Lexington as the first steps were taken toward creation of a statewide public radio network in Nebraska, Soon NPRN programming win lie aired through stations in North Platte, The final phase is to get those stations on the air by the end of tbe summer, said Jack McBride, NPRN general manager. THOUGH a ninth station was planned for Falls City, McBride said, the project has been tabled indefinitely due to lack of "sufficient evidence of citizen support." McBride said NPRN never did get a capital fund-raising campaign group organized Fans City and the total amount collected for the project was 1180.

He notes he would stffl "very much like to see a group of citizens indicate they would like to work with us to de- Bassett KMNEM.3 Merriman KRNE91J by end of summer Chadron KCNE89.1 Norfolk KXNE89.3 Proposed KHNE89.1 No. Platte KNNE 91.71 v- station iLBXingion rvuncoo.f SPRESG SALE SAT. MARCH 30 Open Harvest, 1618 South St 475-9063-Ad Cheryl's Fashion Sizes 14-26 Bring in this ad for $10 off any purchase of $50 or more. Good at East Park 4 Outlet 2801 Cornhusker-AdT Schools and Council Bluffs stations. Currently NPRN trades programs with both the college and public school stations, Robinson said, and this win continue.

"As someone who Is new to Nebraska," Robinson said, Tm contmuaQy Please turn to: Radio. Page 6 3 AT LEAST once a week NPRN gets a can about reception difficulties, said Robinson, program director. NPRN win make site visits and, if necessary, install a wire antenna to resolve the problem. NPRN now has a network in aS areas of the state except Omaha, Robinson said, which is served by University of Nebraska-Omaha, Omaha Public 0 1.