Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 32

ref-- 'ft 15 4 i' 1 1 1 1 '14 '4 Inn1MMIMMnInMni Section A Page 32 I Fort Worth Star-Telegram Saturday May 201995 METROPLEXSOU NEST Digest Woman injured in wreck with train week said Suzanne Schwab-Radcliffe of the district attomey's office Assistant District Attorney Joel Bennett said that if a grand jury returns a finding of delinquent conduct the boy would go to a Texas Youth Commission facility until he is 1712 He could then be released recommitted to the youth commission until he is 21 or committed to the adult prison system Because of the boy's age the maximum sentence he could face is 40 years including time served with the Texas Youth Commission He is too young to stand trial as an adult ing the Nov 15 incident "I feel like I was vindicated" Moore could be sentenced to six months in jail and fined $500 for littering and one month in jail and a $500 fine for refusing to take the breath test Sentencing is scheduled forJune 13 Authorities said Moore was drinking with friends when he bragged that he could hit Main Street from a plane with a roll of toilet paper Moore a pipeline patrol pilot bought a four-pack of toilet paper at a convenience store and swooped over town in a rented single-engine Piper dropping the rolls Police who arrested him when he landed said he missed Main Street "It was done strictly as a dare as stupid as it may be" Moore said ''''t- I I I 1 I I i i 1 I -1-' 1 41k Illi 1 10 13)ill ---1 --414 I I I 'i ci I i 1 i I I '--1 I Link 11 LI v4 t-t-dri -'w- ti 4 1 I- 4 i rrw-- -1- 14 Atx If I 111 4" 177777711 5) sentences ranging from probation to prison Vespers Service to feature hymns prayers readings ARLINGTON A rich blend of hymns inspirational songs prayers and scriptural readings is planned during an event that local ministers hope will be an unforgettable experience for graduating seniors Between 4000 and 5000 people are expected to attend tomorrow's interdenominational Vespers Service which is replacing the traditional convocation services that were conducted by the district for each of the five high schools The ceremony begins at 1 pm at the University of Texas at Arlington's Maverick Stadium The school district decided to turn the event over to the ministerial association last year after complaints about lack of religious content at convocation The Digest is compiled from stories in all editions of the Fort Wodh Star-Telegram 40t dancers is in violation of an ordinance passed in July by the Gregg County Commissioners Court The ordinance regulates sexually oriented businesses According to the ordinance a sexually oriented business cannot be located within 1000 feet of a church school residence or another sexually oriented business 'Gay bashing' victim's family awarded damages HOUSTON The family of a Houston banker killed in a 1991 "gay bashing" attack has been awarded $105 million in civil damages to be paid by one of 10 youths involved in the slaying A jury ruled Thursday that Brian Spake 21 should pay relatives of Paul Broussard for gross negligence in causing his death Spake testified that he kicked the victim who was stabbed to death by another Woodlands-area youth Attorney Larry Lee who filed the lawsuit on behalf of Broussard's mother Nancy Rodriguez of Atlanta said he doubts that the damages will be collected Jurors could not reach a verdict on co-defendant Jeffrey Valentine 21 The 10 youths involved have been convicted of criminal offenses stemming from the killing and havereceived Civil judgment against former spa tycoon reversed HOUSTON The civil case against former health spa tycoon Richard Minns may be tried again now that an appeals court has ruled that he does not have to pay $32 million awarded to his ex-girlfriend The appeals court at Waco reversed a 1987 award of $181 million in actual damages and $14 million in punitive damages to Barbra Piotrowski who accused Minns of permanently disabling her in a botched murder-for-hire attempt The court cited nine trial errors in its decision to reverse the case a Minns 64 will not be 'present when the case is tried again He was deported late last year after pleading guilty to passport fraud and is living jri Switzerland He cannot reenter the country without permission of US Attorney General Janet Reno said George Bishop one of Minns' attorneys Piotrowski accused Minns founder of what became the President and First Lady tealth clubs of masterminding a 1980 attempt to kill her after their three-year affair soured She was shot in the sack four times as she left a 'southwest Houston doughnut shop Minns has never been Fort Wonh Star-Telegram I BRUCE MAXWELL Grand Prairie police officer John Flores checks a car involved in an accident with a train yesterday afternoon The car's driver a woman was sent to an area hospital for treatment of minor injuries police said Dallas pilot who 'dropped paper convicted of littering INDEPENDENCE Kan A Dallas pilot who buzzed downtown rooftops and dropped several rolls of toilet paper from his airplane was acquitted of flying while under the influence of alcohol but was convicted of littering Robert Moore 38 was also convicted Thursday by a Montgomery County District Coun jury of refusing to take a breath test "I feel like the jury made the right decision" Moore said after the trial adding that he hadn't drunk enough to be legally intoxicated dur Judge to consider injunction to close Chicken Ranch LONGVIEW A state district judge will decide next week whether to issue a temporary injunction that could force the closure of the East Texas Chicken Ranch which bills itself as a "totally nude steakhouse" Judge Alvin Khoury who denied the restaurant a temporary injunction that would allow it to stay open will hear arguments Thursday The county has said the restaurant which features nude fire may be charged with murder Prosecutors filed papers Wednesday seeking to have the charge filed against the boy in connection with the April death of Raymond Fickessen 74 The murder petition replaces a May 8 petition charging the boy with arson Three others were injured in the fire The murder petition will be presented to a grand jury next charged with a criminal offense in the shooting Two California men are serving 30-year sentences for the shooting and two Texas men are serving 38-year sentences for hiring the shooters Boy 10 may face murder charge in fatal fire GALVESTON A 10- year-old boy who police say has admitted to setting a fatal 74th TEXAS LEGISLATURE Under the Do Bills to scrap treasurer's office approved The House casts a preliminary vote for a state referendum plus a consolidation measure if voters favor abolition BY CARLOS SANCHEZ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Austin Bureau AUSTIN Helping State Treasurer Martha Whitehead fulfill her campaign promise the Texas House gave preliminary approval yesterday to measures to abolish the 119-year-old office A resolution calls for voters to consider a constitutional amendment in November to abolish the Treasury Department The House also passed a bill that would consolidate the office with that of the state comptroller by Sept 1 1996 if voters approve the change in the said she is "delighted that the Legislature went along with our plan" The treasurer's office has an authorized staff of 262 employees With the transfer of many workers and other workers already quitting in anticipation of abolishment Siebert said the consolidation will eliminate 160 state jobs Although no one voiced opposition on the House floor yesterday critics of the measures have argued that the Treasury Department provides important checks and balances and that the consolidation process may cost the state money Final House approval of the bill which has already been approved by the Senate is expected Monday and it will then be sent to the governor The constitutional amendment also approved by the Senate does not require the governor's signature Although the office has been More on StarTextil For complete stories from today 's briefs and those of the last seven days see Star Text Star-Telegram's FitECEPAgna 74 31! electronic news service Keywctds: STATE METRO AM or NE To subscribe to W139041305 viewed recently as a launching pact for female politicians including Ann Richards who went on to become governor and Kay Bailey Hutchison who was elected senator critics have said the agency has outlived its usefulness Created in 1876 the Treasury Department originally acted as the state's bank But the evolution of the comptroller's office which collects and certifies all state revenue has combined with technology to give the treasurer a much smaller role The Treasury Department is responsible for overseeing investments of state revenue cash and security management selling cigarette tax stamps and overseeing the state's unclaimed property division Siebert said those functions will be absorbed by the comptroller or contracted to private companies the new taxes from the increased land value for the next 20 or 30 years to pay for developing the land said The city school district and' other tax entities will continue to take in the amount of taxes they were receiving as of Dec 31 and' after about seven years new property tax money will begin flowing' into their coffers After 20 or 30 years the financing districts will' expire and the government bodies' will reap all the new taxes the de- velopment creates Fort Worth school district board President Gary Manny said the payoff could be substantial After seven years the district expects to take in $1 million and after 20 years the amount would jump to about $9 million Manny said ons on school grounds if they are unloaded and locked in a box or on a gun rack or if the person is licensed to carry a concealed weapon under a measure passed by the House this week A spokeswoman for Gov George Bush's office said yesterday that the governor "supports the concept" of a weapon-free zone but has to examine the legislation more closely before deciding whether to sign the measure into law Tax break amendment slipped in education bill 1 Thursday by the House came back to the Senate a different animal The new version enraged one senator so much he promised a filibuster if the offending changes are not extracted The legislation would allow landowners to sue government entities that enact rules or laws that cause their property to lose value The Senate bill would have allowed cities and counties to be sued but the House exempted most cities and all counties instead putting the burden on state government and Austin "I'm up to here with this Austin stuff" said Sen Gonzalo Barrientos D-Austin He has fought other bills that seek to penalize the city for its zealous environmental regulations Barrientos will serve on a committee to negotiate the final venison of the bill "I will filibuster if it's in there" he said of the Austin amendments Stalking bills advance: With last-minute changes to give them immediate effect the House gave final approval yesterday to two bills by Sen Mike Moncrief DFort Worth that take aim at people accused of stalking Both measures were returned to the Senate for one last round of approval One bill would end what Moncrief calls "one free stalk" by making sanctions available without a previous arrest the second measure would give judges the power to double to 48 hours the maximum length of an order to protect a stalking victim A pat and a medal: Lt Gov Bob Bullock was the proud recipient yesterday of his alma mater's highest honor Baylor University's Founder's Medal "There can be no higher honor for a person anywhere than to be honored by the institution you attended" said Bullock a 1958 graduate of Baylor Law School Bullock received the medal at the Senate podium with Gov George Bush at his side Bush reached over and gave Bullock a pat on the back Try try again: The House gave preliminary approval to a bill vetoed by Gov Ann Richards last session that would eliminate a state employee benefit under which the state pays for most of the employee's Social Security taxes Sponsored by Rep Anna Mowery R-Fort Worth the bill is estimated to save taxpayers more than $26 million over the next two years while giving current state employees more-generous retirement benefits she said Synthetic grassroots: Sen Jim Turner D-Crockett complained to his colleagues yesterday that health insurance companies have manufactured a faux grassroots Campaign to kill legislation that tvould regulate health maintefiance organizations The campaign includes a media blitz expected around the state this week end Turner a sponsor of the HMO hill and Consumers Union criticized as gross distortions full-page ads criticizing the Patient Protection Act Further Turner and Consumers Union laid the ads are paid by the insurance industry but made to look like a grassroots citizens movement tactic known in Washington as an 'Astroturf" campaign The ads falsely portray the legislation as a health-care tax Turner laid What the bill would do he laid is require HMOs to disclose information about benefits re-Unctions health-care providers and other matters It would also set standards for emergency care coverage and require that HMOs provide explanations to doctors who fired and also give doctors opOrtunities to correct problems Texas Citizens for a Sound Economy one of the groups sponBoring a newspaper ad said it is an independent group that decides issues to pursue Its members are up in arms about the legislation and view it as a tax because it ivould cause health-care costs to use spokeswoman Peggy Venable Bair' The group's advertising money comes from members and Corporate sources she said declining to reveal whether the insurance industry was involved The Senate is expected to consider the legislation next week A juggling act: Sen Mike Monirief D-Fort Worth is often seen bn the Senate floor huddling with his colleagues carrying a green tard and making little check marks Moncrief is counting votes not just on his own bills but on legislation Lt Gov Bob Bullock has a keen interest in "He's an excellent vote counter" Bullock said "I use him Often" Moncrief said counting noses tan be frustrating especially when Members cannot make up their minds or reverse themselves when the bill comes to the floor for a vote "Sometimes it's like juggling razor blades" Moncrief said "You never know when you're ioing to get cut" Enough Austin bashing already: A Property-rights bill approved state constitution The consolidativa would save taxpayers an estimated $22 million over the next six years said Rep Bill Siebert R-San Antonio House sponsor of the bill The state will save an additional $75 million every year thereafter he said Supporters of the move say Whitehead's election last year was a mandate by voters to get rid of the office Whitehead campaigned to abolish her office and her Republican opponent David Hartman campaigned to expand its duties Voters Siebert said "voiced their desire for smaller more efficient government" State Comptroller John Sharp applauded the House yesterday and predicted that voters will overwhelmingly approve the constitutional amendment Whitehead financing distncts allow businesses to set aside certain property tax payments to finance improvements to the land Dear's amendment says new tax money generated in the financing districts known as a TIFs cannot be counted as part of a school district's property wealth because the additional taxes aren't paid to the school district If it were counted as property wealth districts would probably have to lower their tax rates or hold a rollback election to raise taxes to balance their budgets The H-E-B district decided the risk was too high when it was approached about helping create a TIF for the proposed $252 million Bear Creek Fashion Mall It looked to the Legislature for help In addition Fort Worth ISD was banking on a change in the law school was there" he said De la Garza said that Sen JE "Buster" Brown the Senate sponsor agreed to the changes The legislation which passed on a voice vote with little discussion is designed to replace a federal weapon-free zone law recently ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court The federal zone was 1000 feet The measure with some exceptions makes it a third-degree felo BY MARY ANN ROSER Fort Worth Star-Telegram Austin Bureau AUSTIN Developers in Fort Worth Northeast Tarrant County and elsewhere in Texas won a victory this week when a tax break provision was included in an education bill that's expected to get final approval this month Early Wednesday morning as negotiators put the finishing touches on the bill they accepted an amendment by Rep Homer Dear D-Fort Worth to protect school districts taking part in a program to spur economic development School systems have been reluctant to approve so-called tax increment financing districts because they risked losing tax revenue Millions of dollars are at stake in projects planned in the H-E-B and Fort Worth school districts The after it tentatively agreed to help create a TIF so the Tandy Center and Sundance Square could finance a project on the north end of downtown The project calls for building an underground parking garage with a plaza and park on top to attract new businesses shoppers and tourists Another likely beneficiary of the education amendment is Bruton Smith's planned NASCAR track which is in the Northwest school district "Tandy wants to convert the Tandy Center to an outlet mall and Sundance is looking at new retail opportunities in the area" said Kenneth Devero president of Downtown Fort Worth Inc who is assisting with the project The property value in that area will be frozen at its Dec 31 1994 level and the city will "capture" fly punishable by up to 10 years in prison and up to $10000 in fines for anyone to carry guns knives or clubs on school grounds within 100 feet of school grounds to off-campus school-sponsored functions and on school buses Responding to concerns raised by lawmakers before yesterday de la Garza assured his colleagues that people who drive by schools with hunting rifles would not be violating the law People may still possess weap House votes to shrink weapon-free school zone BY CARLOS SAN CHEZ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Austin Bureau AUSTIN The Texas House approved a 100-foot weapon-free zone around schools yesterday shrinking the area from 1000 feet as proposed by the Senate Rep Eddie de la Garza DEdinburg the House sponsor proposed reducing the zone saying I 000 feet is too large "People could be driving a couple of blocks away from a school and argue they never knew the ital.