Birmingham Post-Herald from Birmingham, Alabama • 6

1 A6 t-Hftd Thursday Mich 1 1 1W Metro-State 1 PI Herald sports columnist and radio talk ness Journal reported last year Early tumorver in the newsroom had been WIAT Witt operation Johnson who Joined the atatinn ahmt dr whmiUm gnt pewL served as the news director at ously se that can be tweaked or toyed Land said has to be allowed to grow over a period of time because it is so Johnson said she ha eqjayed the challenge of working to turn the image around Tm very she said staff is young and energetic: idealistic and not jaded Everyone is excited and motivated to go out and do the best Job that they can been Finebanm agreed that the mood in WIATs newsroom these days wu upbeat real he said "There'S a sene that one of these days weYe going to be an even 1 said the turmoil wasn't i pected would have to say that no matter how well we explain the process to perspective employees not unexpected that there would be some confusion or disappointment about what responsibilities might he 1 think those problems have long Finebaum compared his first few weeks an the air with bring in the middle of a holocaust" was just the most bizarre difficult nightmarish first couple of days of anything been involved he said because I have a due as to what I was Both Land and Finebaum credited Johnson with helping bring focus to the WBRCL single biggest move in my mind was Peggy coming on Finebaum said Suddenly we dealing with news directors from Timbuktu She brought real credibility I think that really calmed the waters Johnson said there are no immeifi-ate plans to add a pun newscast Land said WIAlS parent company Media General ha been happy with the progress and expecting it to become Na 1 overnight Media General based In Richmond Va owns 26 daily newspapers and 13 trie-vision stations including WHOA-32 in Montgomery on the team realism that to be successful this is not something Each day will begin at Andrews said it wiube a Fran page A1 During this February's sweeps period it was up to a 3J rating The 10 pm newscast debuted with a 4 rating now a 43 rating (Ratings i of the market watch- the toga Of course those numbers are still pretty small when compared to the ratinp of the other news stations In February WBRC-6 continued to lead the 5 pm race with a 102 rating Meanwhile WBMA-U40 was Na 1 at 10 pjn with an 1L2 rating can still make a case that reYe stUll still behind in the ratings but at least we actually have retina said sports anchorman Pad Fine-baum who also is a Birmingham Post- Parent Joy Todd of Clay canter Camp From page A1 From page A1 But if someone buns a cram in the yard of black family who moved into a white neighborhood the message is ominous: Go away or it will be your house and maybe your children that bums next time When prosecuton have only vandalism laws with which to address such acts of intimidation then they really address the damage of such acta to society And crimes that target people because of who they are do harm to society In the late 1950s and early 1960s when school desegregation wu imminent boinbingi of homes and churches were practically incessant far same Birmingham black neighborhoods The message was: Stay far your place You might hare the law on your side hut we know how to find you where you live Desegregation came anyway but at a great cost not only in human life and property but in the lost potential for trust between the raced hard to get that back The ume cm be aid whenever radii violence breaks out be it hi Ctown Heights New York or SoutikOentnl Los Angeles whether the victims are white black Korean-American Jewish or Arab-American When we see people who look like us attacked because of who they are then we must fear not only the random criminal and the sociopath but the evil one whose violence is triggered by hatred of who or what we are And then we atari to fear everyone who doesn't look like us If the FBTs hate crime reports are any Indication nobody is immune In 1995 for exanqde 1228 incidents of hate crimes were reported compared to incidents That nine year 1019 incidents were attributed to the sexual orientation of the victim The numbers of course are imrealistically low The government is still working on procedures for reporting and measuring this type of crime Why should the law punish one crime more seriously than a similar crime committed under different circumstances? Indeed why is the sentence longer for a drug sale near a housing project than a sale of the same drug to the same customer In a rural farmhouse? Or why are penalties harsher for sell-in its rock form than for tag cocaine I idling the same drug in powder farm? The reason one supposes is that lawmakers believe that some of then acts do more damage to society Alabama is one of 19 states with a hate crime law that doesn't cover violence targeted at homosexuals a sticky issue because many Alabamian believe that homosexuality is a choice and a sin not a genetic imperative a a growing body of re-' search would suggest And yet even without agreement on the nature of homosexuality a rational discussion of hate crimes against homosexuals may be possible Most American understand that improving race relation is in all of our interest We know it taot easy and many of us find it challenging But we understand what'll at stake and we keep trying The problem with gay rights is it's harder for people to see how unless they have a gay child affected i a gay brother a sister or a friend One caller to a local talk show thb week expressed concern that any law inspired by the Gaither case would only advance the That's paranoid It's true everyone living in America worries about violent crime and no reason any special class should have extra protection But when certain classes of our neighbors are singled out for a wildly ite share of the violence disproportionate we must at least ask ourselves if there anything we cm do a society to make a difference We should then do it in the hope that the world becomes better and i farusalL Ekrine column runt Tuesday Thunday and Saturday to the BirmintfKim Post-Herald ua a-- DnvnianNiiMnN at 3258187 or MttQpaUimldjcom a 1 a-: jii A V- Christine Jacobi Put-Herald Elementary School fifth-graders whol get to go to Space Camp In Huntsville due to her efforts i Povml can bo nschsd a32M370ortkowaSl8poaSianfclcom 7 am and be packed with activities good discipline experience for them the day violation to manslaughter and sexual misconduct Abo since 1996 state Superintendent Ed Richardson hu suspended 94 teachers for theft alcohol abase misdemeanors and sexual misconduct among other violation Currently background checks are performed on anyone applying for a certificate but only an conviction from Alabama Checks do not include current teachers unless there reasonable came to check them If the bill passed school offidab cm check potential history nationwide Twenty-three states have nationwide background checks 1 believe everybody should be checked if going to wort around children Hall said Um fc Mnlf rVlmCmlPVIHOmil $JS- 7 tm i show boat are nights when i with the i the other hare been nights not many when actually been NaL" Through it all WIAT has stuck with its fast-paced anchordriven format which bears more of a resemblance to CNN'S than to traditional local newscasts Peggy Johnson WIATS news ifirec-r said she expect the format tor to appeal to everyone TrtdiffeS said busy news for busy people That's who catering to WIATs first year been without its rough spots Much of the behind-the-scenes turmoil at the station stemmed bom staff members who were unhappy with the restrictions of the new format the Birmingham Busi- left foreground aits among Clay you wanted it eliminated and iL a ji if pftgamg ana nr tM fliMPtnimary Ekridd II PaiM8iL I nuracuoDS itsosicK i were taking i lot of instruction time from kids became they were being brought to the assistant office to be reprimanded for violating the dress code he said Reddick said a survey of parents and students shows a majority agree that getting rid of the mandatory uniform policy would be an incentive to Last year students asked whether could drop the code the day they took the SAT the principal said The same request wu made this year realized that if it wu that Important to than maybe one of the things we could do is to after that a an incentive for going Into academic he laid Several students said eliminating the dress code should be enough of an licans supporting Wtadom Enfinger a freshman Republican Dixon said they are negotiating with Sens Rodger Snulherman D-Binning-ham Pat Lindsey D-Butler Jimmy Holley D-Elba and Jim Preuitt D-Talladega Why veteran Republicans like Dixon Sea Jack Biddle of Gar dendale and JT "Jabo Waggoner of VestaviaHilb in the negotiating mix? "I don't know the answer Dixon aid And Sea Lowell Barron D-Fjrffe president pro tempore and leader of the 18 senators loyal to Democratic Gov Don Siegelman gives the i ance of being above 1 heavily involved he not 1 of the negotiators Where are the negotiations taking place? In a Wtadom arid Democratic senators were meeting Wednesday at a Retirement Systems of Alabama building across the street from the State House and wxne of Windom's team were seen heading to that directioa As for what they are negotiating because wanted are so excited still have fun Logan like in the would be aril The students March 28 stay in Marriott Camp spokesman Edd Davis said they chose fifth-graders they are at a good age for learning a many fifth-graders possible became they about learning and at an age where they and learn at the same Davis said Johnson 11 said he wants to learn to fly a space shuttle movie Armageddon but Jimmy Dunn 11 said it more like the space shuttles in The teachers will participate in their own Space Camp Davis said thSt will allow toe teachers to take with them information on the camp that the children also learn prepare the teachers to take back the science curriculum so they cm continue the education Davis said Johnson said the camp is all the class can talk about is saying they wait to Johnson said 1 either CMyMwrcMbaiMchad at 325-2372 wmstoMQpoaewnfcUom UiMni JK0D9 Con DC IWCnBa at 325-3481 or imfcOKQpMtisnkLoani own Space! get to put your hands in these really Dims Principal Ellen Andrews said 27 of the students could not at-tend the camp became their families made previous vacation arrangements far spring break opportunity like this coma very Andrews said "The children are so excited about Clay Elementary wu one of seven schools nationwide to a M-tuition grant to send their fifth-graders to Detroit and Camp Schools in Space 2400 or will be picked up by a Space Camp bus at noon and begin activities in Huntsville at 4 pm They will modules each night while the teachers stay in the local hotel Vi heavy space Teachers From page A1 and parochial schools assume that they are looking for the best in their teachers so they don't need' the Hall aid 3111 recently an individual who molested a student in a public school went straight to a Christian schooL Hall is referring to a physical education teacher whoa pertiftoat wu terminated in 1997 for having a sexual relationship with a student According to the state Department of Education that teacher is now employed with a private Christian school Neither school wu identified When the legislation for background checks came up far 1998 the state Department of Education said it had investigated 437 cases since 1996 with charges ranging from testing security constitution allows to a ska It ha met only for a on the opening day Each day the Senate cannot get a i cnam- quorum of 18 members in the ben counts an official meeting day If they were unable to get a quorum today the session will be half over Tuesday A quorum however would be expected to formally adjourn for a week meaning the next seven days would not be counted a meeting days Probably the only time a quorum of 18 senators ha been toother in the put week wu in Judge Priceb courtroom Tuesday when the Democrats were present to hear hb ruling order ha been appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court which will hear arguments during a road trip to Tuscaloosa Friday The court ha given no indication when it might rule but it hu not issued a stay of order a requested bv Attorney General Bill -Pryor's office Attorneys on Pryor's staff are representing Wtadom in the court case Tad toyrt can bo mchad I 325-2475 or maemiBpoatiaretl row Uniforms From page A1 Since the SAT has no graduation or college admission field school officials have had to device incentives for students to take the test seriously ha an impact on the school but not on the Principal Tony i moti- Reddick said until you can vate the child to do their very best really not much you can do to count on them to be assured that they Litchfield High which ha about 310 students hu improved its test scores but not enough to be academi-callydear Test scores jumped from 4438 percent in 1995-97 to percent in 1997-98 School officials targeted the dram code this year because many students Senate From page A1 The imbroglio started March 2 the opening day of the legislative session when Wtadom gaveled through rule restored powers stripped changes that from him earlier by a Democratic majority of IS senators Since then the 18 have boycotted Sehate sessions even Wednesday after Circuit Judge Charles Price of Montgomery ruled that Wtadom violated five sections of the state constitution and nine Senate rules in the March 2 session Kith sides said their teams were negotiating Wednesday although Wtadom refused even to say who on his team Sea Larry Dixon R-Mbntgomerr mtiatan include said the Wtadom negotiators Sens Hinfan Mitchem D-AIbertville Wendell Mitchell D-Andalusia: Tommy Ed Roberts D-Hartselle and Jeff Enfinger R-Huntsville Mitchem Mitchell and Roberts are' nong five Democrab and 12 Rqwb- incentive to get their to study for the SAT think it will motivate other people Robert to study hard on the said Daniels a 17-year-old "But they ought to study hard for the SAT whether the uniform policy changes or not Antoya Bufford an 18-year-rid llth-grader said she actually prefen uniforms to non-uniforms enjoy the she said cheaper than buying clothes every Cleveland Turner a 18-yeardd lOth-grader agreed It doesn't really matter to me because going to try my best to pass it anyway so I can get a he aid uniforms saves yon money and my mama cm save some of the money so she can put that in her Litchfield is the only high school in the dty that hu uniforms WWsmCBfcnMoWcsnbowdisd al 32M123 or maBMwQporihantooam House panel agrees to let voters decide fate of ban on interracial marriage Story page B1 the Democratic majority want written assurance that Wtadom in presiding over the Senate will take roll call votes on issues such a rubs changes instead of gaveltag motions through on voice votes be did March 2 Barron issued a statement Wednes day saying his group pleased with ruling until we have a signed agree-xnthat he will meat from Steve Wtadom abide by the court order and majority rule we cannot return to the Senate Barron said marked the eighth day ha fa a row that the Senate kicked down while the House hu gone about its business of approving bills in committee and passing Siegelman! proposed tottery MIL Asof today the Senate will have wasted 10 of the SO meeting days the i 4 6 Sea Htoton Mitchem D-AlbertviHe left talks with Sea Gerald Dial D-UneviHe center and Sea Wendel Mitchel D-Luveme about getting the state Senate back into actioa A Democrat boycott against a controversial ruling by LL Gov Steve Windom hue shut down the Senate since its opening day l-.