The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma • 1

1 THE DAILY OKLAHOMAN The State Newspaper Since 2907 500 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 1999 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK Mischief -Ma king 'Elves' Storm Weather Web Site SPORTS 0U FOOTBALL Grinning And Barrying It WEBSITES www.spc.noaa.gov is the Web address of the Storm Prediction Center site that was attacked. www.attiitlon.ors is a Web site stating that its builders do not condone hacking, but the site lists attacks by hacking groups, including the Keebler Elves' attack on the Norman center. the center's weather watchers, but annoyance. "Our stuff was gone and there was just this thing talking about Keebler cookies and elves. It was just really weird," center Director Joe Schaefer said.

The Oklahoma Web site is one of the latest casualties in attacks on federal Web sites by various hacker groups. The Storm Prediction Center Web site is an unofficial and quick source for early storm warnings, often used by emergency management officials to get a head start on tornadoes or severe storms. Schaefer said the site -takeover was mostly a nuisance and did not affect critical operations. The Web site is an alternative to the center's separate teletype system that sends storm information to public officials and media outlets. But it did shut down a popular, convenient source for weather information.

The gets up to 250,000 visits a day. While emergency management officials use it for convenience, the electronic vandalism could have slowed responses nationwide for officials who rely on it, Schaefer See HACKERS, Page 3 By John Parker Staff Writer Gremlins have long gummed the works of many a machine. But the operators of a Norman severe storms Web site learned Tuesday that elves can be just as bad. About 2 a.m. Tuesday, a hacker group calling itself the "Keebler Elves" broke into the Storm Prediction Center Web page and swapped weather information for graffiti: "HEH.

POWER. LEARN TO FEAR THE ELITE KEEBLER ELVES." It wasn't fear that gripped the hearts of Bob Barry Sr. still has another down, another chance and at least another sea DEATH of a SALES TAX son calling football games for his beloved OU Sooners. Page 25 BUSINESS Fed Expected To Raise Rates Medicare Expansion Proposed GOP Wary of Clinton Plan To Help Pay for Prescriptions The Federal Reserve is expected to raise interest rates today for the first time in more than two years. Analysts say Fed chief Alan Greenspan has been clear that rates should be raised to head off inflation.

Page 19 BBHIBBiPJBfllBHEclBiinl flBaaflEiaaa WORLD BANNED: T-shirts Sweatshirts Sweatpants Jogging suits Warm-ups Shorts Sandals Hats Sunglasses Jerry Bass Stall Photo by Stov Slsnay Donal Barger, center, mans the point Tuesday as a crew paves Oklahoma Avenue near Sheridan Avenue in Bricklown. Workers are busy preparing the area for celebrations this week to mark the end of the MAPS sales tax and the opening of the Brlcktown canal. City's MAPS Levy Ends As Benefits Start to Show WASHINGTON (AP) Urging the biggest expansion in Medicare's history, President Clinton proposed Tuesday that the government help older Americans pay for prescription drugs up to $1,000 a year initially in return for a $24 monthly patient charge. "In a nation bursting with prosperity, no senior should have to choose between buying food and buying medicine, but we know that happens," Clinton said. Under Clinton's plan, the maximum federal payment for drugs would climb to $2,500 by 2008 as the monthly patient fee rises to $44 in gradual, annual steps.

Despite bipartisan attendance of the announcement, Republicans were quick to raise objections.Rep. Bill Thomas, co-chairman of a bipartisan commission on Medicare, noted that no benefits would be available under Clinton's program until 2002. He also said there was "a fundamental flaw" because the plan failed to address the needs of seniors with huge drug bills. He said Republicans believe that "those who are in need should be helped first" rather than "a little bit of help for everyone." Clinton's plan would be the largest expansion of Medicare since its creation 34 years ago. Even if not enacted this year, Clinton's initiative will set the markers for a political brawl in next year's elections.

It is a potent issue because Medicare touches the lives of 39 million Americans, and the elderly show up to vote. Democrats clobbered Republicans over Medicare in the 1996 campaign, prompting GOP presidential hopeful Bob Dole to complain, "It's Medi-scare." To save costs, Clinton's plan would impose a new 20 percent co-payment for lab tests, which now are free. Recipients also would pay a higher deductible for doctor's office visits and other outpatient treatment. The deductible now $100 would be indexed to inflation, rising about $2 to $3 a year, according to administration estimates. "The original Medicare law was written at a time when patients' lives were more often saved by scalpels than by pharmaceuticals," Clinton said.

of the drugs we now routinely use to treat heart disease, cancer, arthritis, did not even exist in 1966, yet Medicare still does not cover proscription See MEDICARE, Page fl Oklahoma City's Sales Tax TODAY THURSDAY 8.3750 7.3750 Death Sentence For Kurd Rebel Turkish Kurd leader Abdullah Ocalan was sentenced to death Tuesday. Relatives of slain soldiers cheered and waved Turkish flags in the courtroom as his supporters went into mourning. Pag7 WEATHER When in Court, Dress the Part, Judge Orders By Ed Godfrey Staff Writer An Oklahoma County judge insists he is not trying to turn his courtroom into a country club by imposing a dress code for spectators and jurors. But District Judge Jerry Bass has banned T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweat pants, jogging suits, athletic warm-ups, shorts, sandals, hats of any kind and sunglasses in his courtroom. Bass said he will politely ask spectators inauch attire to leave and not return until they are properly dressed.

Jurors first called to Bass' courtroom will- be told of the requirements and asked to dress appropriately the next day, he said. 1 The judge thinks it is a reasonable request. "Lawyers have to adhere to a reasonable dress code. Judges have to. People that come into our institutions should have to adhere to a reasonable dress code." Individuals who dress sloppily not only disrespect the judicial system, but also themselves, the judge said.

"I have respect for our justice system and for people who come in front of me. We have just kind of become so slack in our society. It's kind of a reflection that people don't have respect for themselves." Bass is the second Okla- See JUDGE, Pago 11 State sales tax: 4.5 City sales tax: 2.87S MAPS: A CITY'S REBIRTH Today: Penny Tax Ends Thursday: More Tourists Are Coming Friday: Canal Opens Canal Accessible to Handicapped In Community and Norman Oklahoman Online Canal Tour On Connect Oklahoma Saturday: Canal Signals New Era State sales tax: City sales tax: 3.875 Where the Money Goes: Public safety: 0.750 Zoo: 0.1250 General fund: 20 MAPS (expiring): 10 Chance of Storms High: 84 Low: 70 Forecasts Weatherlina Page 8 478-3377 By Steve Lackmeyer and Jack Money Staff Writers Call it one of those pivotal moments in a city's history a once unpopular tax expires just as residents begin to embrace the projects they've paid for over the past five years. Sure, it's a moment that arrived six months later than first expected. But once the clock hits midnight tonight, the sales tax on goods bought in Oklahoma City drops from 8.375 cents to 7.375 cents.

At the grocery store, that means $100 worth of food will be $1 cheaper at the register. About $369 million was raised by the tax, along with Interest earnings and various private contributions for the nine Metropolitan Area Projects. Construction is under way or complete on all but one project Residents seem impressed with what they're getting. And folks like Larry Miller say they've realized one benefit not listed on the 1993 MAPS ballot a renewed pride in the city. "I'd be talking to old college friends, and they'd always ask why are you in They were right this wasn't exactly a happening place," Miller said.

"After all, when you have friends visit from out of town, where are you going to take them? INDEX Inside MAPS Leaders' Favorite Projects Trolley Schedule, Routes Page 13 Ann 12 Billy 12 Bridge 39 19-23 Comics 24 Crossword 39 Dear Abby 12 Deaths 8, 31 Editorials 8-7 Food, etc. 14-15 Horoscope 12 Livestock 20 Markets 21-23 Movies 10-11 Oil 20 People 12 Public Sports 28-31 TV Log 30 MAPS sites. "He's just terrible," Jennie Hughos said of her husband. "We come down here every week, eat, look at the canal, and then walk to the Myriad and the new hotol." The Hughesos first visited Brick-town five months ago on a See TAX, Page 13 You can only go the Cowboy Hall of Fame so many times. I'm gettin' ready to show off now.

I'm really looking forward to having some folks come down here from Tulsa." Norman residents Mark and Jennie Hughes, meanwhile, travel to Brlcktown every Friday night for dinner and a walking tour of the Escapee Surrenders After 1 5 Years Three Sections Vol. 108, No. 151 Entire contents copyright 1999, The Oklahoma Publishing Box 25125, Oklahoma City, OK 73125 Minim Internet: EiiUuJ www.oklahoitMn.com TODAY'S PRAYER DEAR Lord, today we lift our hearts and praise You for all You have oreated In our lives. With You in our lives, we are never alone. Amen.

ministrative assistant at the penitentiary, ti Brown was 27 in December 1904 when he walked away from the Joss Dunn Correctional Center, a minimum-security prison at Tail. At the time, he was serving a life sentence for the 1975 shooting death of an insurance man who surprised Brown during an office burglary. Ho originally received a death sen-tonco, but an appeals court later commuted it to lift. Ho was at the low-See ESCAPEE, Pago 10 sie said. With that, tho former death row inmate was home.

He arrived carrying a toothbrush, a tubo of toothpaste and 9125 to rostock his commissary account for toiletries and snacks. Brown wouldn't say how ho got to the prison. It's not uncommon for oscapeos to change their minds after a day or so and surrender. "But not aftor IS years," Massie said. "I've worked here 14 years, and It's never happened," said Leo Mann, an ad By Anthony Thornton Staff Writer McALESTER Fifteen years after ho walked out of prison, convicted murderer Michael Wayne Brown walked back in.

Tuesday morning, Brown, 42, unexpectedly strutted up to the main control desk at Oklahoma State Penitentiary and announced his return, "Ho said ho was tired of running and looking over his shoulder," state Corrections Department spokesman Jerry Mas- Delivery 478-7171 Classifieds 478-3000 Other Calls 478-3311 MIohMl Wayne Brown: 8tlown In 1976 in the left photo and as he appeared Tuesday on the right..