Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • 1

ft i i AfffldtiiiD Ami wjij uu 50 CENTS irk NS www.austln360.com TUESDAY, MAY 4, 1999 Tax-cut SGSSIOH close say 7 1 Fjf legislators oj umam Bush still pushing for $2 billion in reductions, lawmakers say By Juan B. Euzondo Jr. American-Statesman Capitol Staff Gov. George W. Bush, who's delayed a final decisionaboutrunningforpresident until the legislative session ends, is willing to call a special session to get approval for $2 billion in tax cuts, several lawmakers told the Austin American-Statesman on Monday.

76 th Texas Legislature Holding two fingers less than an inch apart, one lawmaker said, "We're this close to a cnopial coccinn I I v' Another lawmaker said the governor has EI' said, "My front porch If v-" strategy is working well enough that I may as well stay here for the summer." The lawmaker couldn't say whether Bush was making a threat or a simple comment None of the sources wanted to be identified because of ongoing discussions, they said. Though not officially a candidate, Bush is an early front-runner for president. But he has declared that he won't leave Texas to campaign George W. Bush: Session could delay presidential campaign. Proponents of hate-crimes legislation fear presidential politics may derail bill.

A6 Paul HellstemThe Daily Oklanoman photos One of several tornadoes that formed over a five-hour period Monday roars through Moore, Okla. This tornado was estimated to be a half-mile wide. Twisters raze whole neighborhoods, killing dozens; hundreds are injured Powerful tornadoes strike heavily populated areas I i during the legislative session, which will end May 31. A special session presumably could delay Bush's campaigning even longer. The early polls, however, aren't all good news for the governor.

In one, few Texans could name any of Bush's accomplishments as governor. In a New Hampshire poll, his popularity fell when the names of potential candidates were replaced with biographical descriptions. Those findings could mean Bush needs to score a major victory this session. Asked whether the governor has indicated a willingness to call a special session, Bush spokesman Scott McClellan said, "Not that I am aware of. "The governor believes we have ample time to enact significant tax cuts and education reform between now and May 31," McClellan said.

Texas governors can call special sessions for up to 30 days and can set the agenda. If the agenda has education spending or tax cuts, however, they would be broad topics under which lawmakers See Lawmakers, A6 By Jason Colungton Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY Tornadoes tore through Oklahoma and Kansas on Monday night, wiping out whole neighborhoods, killing at least 30" people and injuring hundreds. "We are getting so many injuries we are just tagging them and bringing them in," said Sharla Findley, a spokeswoman for Hill-crest Health Center in Oklahoma City. "It's real chaotic." Eight people were killed in Bridge Creek, near Chickasha, about 30 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, said Ben Frizzell, spokesman for the state Office of Emergency Management. He reported four other deaths in Midwest City, a suburb.

Oklahoma City police-said there were at least eight confirmed deaths in Oklahoma City. Three were reported dead in Moore, just south of Oklahoma City. Another death was reported by officials at Norman Regional Hospital, also just south of Oklahoma City. At least six others were reported See Tornadoes, Back page Amarillo jJ-: TEXAS 7f A A OKLA. I Falls JZJ.

100 miles After a 30-minute search, rescue workers lead Renee Faulkinberry from under the rubble of her home in Moore. Jay CarrM-S Dow Jones average bulls past 11,000 for first time And the really good news: The surge included a much broader group of stocks was led by a narrow band of favored stocks such as Microsoft Dell Computer Cisco Systems Inc. and General Electric the upward action in April and on Monday included a much broader group of stocks, including companies in such unglamorous industries as electric utilities, paper products, railroads and chemicals. late Monday. Even though the Dow, composed of only 30 blue-chip stocks, is the narrowest of the market's well-known indicators, investment strategists noted that its latest move was indeed cause for celebration because it was built on a much broader base than had characterized the market in recent months.

While the assault on Dow 10,000 "The market had been dominated for a number of months by a fairly elite group of large-capitalization growth stocks," said A. Marshall Acuff, equity strategist at Salomon Smith Bar-; ney. "But while increasing numbers of those stocks were showing' diminishing returns, the cyclical; See Dow, A7 10 percent to come during a period of prolonged market strength. Moves of this magnitude and speed have historically followed weakness in the Dow, such as during the 1930s or after the crash ofl987. Wowed investors had barely swept up the last of the confetti from their Dow 10,000 bashes when party time descended again By Gretchen Morgenson The New York Times NEW YORK The Dow Jones industrial average blew past the 11,000 mark on Monday, just 24 trading days after it topped 10,000 for the first time.

The Dow average closed the day at 11,014.69, up 225.65 points. The 10 percent move from March 29 to May 3 was not the fastest such rise in market history. But it was the quickest jump of 'Star Wars' mania Clinton: Kosovo deal possible Erxleben set to settle lawsuit for $3 million Ni President says there's room for talks on pausing NATO airstrikes By Bob Deans American-Statesman Washington Staff WASHINGTON President Clinton on Monday signaled a broad willingness to deal with Belgrade on the terms under which NATO airstrikes against Yugoslavia might end, saying he would support "a Russell Erxleben: De-; nies wrongdo- ing, says he I lost the money in foreign cur-1 rency I' While die-hard fans line up for tickets to the 'Star Wars' prequel two weeks before the premiere, others mob a toy store for merchandise, Stories, Bl, El. Comics Life Aits, E4 Classifieds Section Crosswtxd Life Arts, E5 Deaths Metro State, B4-5 Editorials News, AlO-11 Horoscope Life St Arts, E5 Lottery Metro State, B8 Scoreboard Sports, C6 Stocks Business, D4-7 TV Listings Life Arts, E3 OA bombing pause" under "the right circumstances." In a significant retreat, Clinton also softened his position on the composition of an international Attack on Yugoslavia Whether the plaintiffs can col lect on the judgment remains to be Former UT football star accused of fraud in currency trading By Kirk Ladendorf Amencan-Statesman Staff Football star turned foreign currency trader Russell Erxleben agreed Monday to settle a civil lawsuit filed by 10 investors who claim Erxleben defrauded them of $1 million through his now-defunct foreign currency trading company. If the settlement is approved today by District Court Judge Paul Davis, a judgment of $3 million could be entered against the former star kicker for the University of Texas Longhorns, at- torneys said Monday.

The $3 million figure would include actual and punitive damages. seen, Erxleben's lawyers say he doesn't have any of the money taken in by his trading company Austin Forex International Austin Forex closed its doors Sept. 11 after taking in $50 million 1999, Austin American-Statesman peacekeeping force for the embattled Yugoslav province of Kosovo. He dropped his earlier insistence that such a force be led by NATO, instead saying only that the alliance must be "a big part of any peacekeeping contingent. 1 "I think there's discussion, room for discussion, within limits, about who's in this force and all of that," Clinton said.

The president also detailed his own anxieties about continuing a bombing campaign that has presented growing risks even as it takes a mounting toll on Serb military targets and fielded forces. Heribert ProepperAP Released U.S. Army Spc. Steven M. Gonzales of Huntsville reunites Monday with his father, Gilbert, and mother, Rosie, In Landstuhl, Germany.

In the past three days, two NATO aircraft have crashed, a third took heavy anti-aircraft fire, and a fourth dropped a bomb that destroyed a civilian bus, killing, according to Yugoslav state-run media, 47 See Clinton, A8 irom about 800 investors. The suit by the investors is one of several filed against Erxleben and Austin Forex in the wake of the company's collapse. It was the. i i i I II Liiili lii aee minion,.