The World from Coos Bay, Oregon • 5

Friday, May 2, 1997. THE WORLD, Coos Bay, Ore. Page National News Briefs Working poor may gei state tax relief flow of revenue that we do not need." But under SB 1 143, the tax credits would not take effect until 1999. Legislators did not want to affect revenue for the two-year budget that they now are putting together. The bill would create a state earned-income tax credit similar to one now allowed under federal tax.

The aim to is to reduce or eliminate tax bills of working people whose income is below the federal poverty line $15,600 for a family of four. The state earned-income tax cred about $11,400 a year, would pay $128 in state income tax under current law but would get a $900 re-" fund under the new law, Adams said, during the final vote on the measured Though no one voted against the bill, some senators groused about the delay in putting the new credits, into effect. "If it's so good, why not do it in this (budget) biennium?" said Senate Minority Leader Cliff Trow, D- Corvallis. He said the money to. cover the cost of the credits could be found by not returning a corporate income tax surplus to businesses.

R-Grants Pass, termed the measure "the largest single tax break ever provided for the working poor in Oregon. "People whose lives we are impacting are those who are trying the hardest," Adams said. "And we have done it without creating a new bureaucracy." Providing the tax credits is better than paying for government welfare programs, said Sen. Jeannette Hamby, R-Hillsboro. "Oregon continues to tax the poorest of the working poor," she said.

'This is a beginning to stop the Oregon Senate: Income tax credits of $50 million annually get uanimous approval. Br Charles E. Beggs Associated Press Writer SALEM A measure to grant income tax credits worth $50 million a year to the working poor is headed for the House after winning unanimous Senate approval. Senate President Brady Adams, Final arguments in tobacco suit begin AP Photo Paul Crist, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

lawyer, rubs eyes while looking at plaintiff's evidence Thursday in its cancer death trial. it would be 5 percent of the federal credit. The bill also includes a child-care tax credit of up to 40 percent of expenses. Families making up to double the maximum poverty level income could qualify for the child-care credit. The tax credits would be refundable, meaning that families would get the full amount of the credits as refunds even if the total was more than the taxes they owed.

A single parent with two children and making the minimum wage, The verdict, Wilner said, "will have a significant impact on everyone in this courtroom and way beyond." Wilner asked jurors to determine Reynolds was negligent and that its cigarettes were unreasonably dangerous and had actual knowledge that its products were harmful dangerous," he said. He said Reynolds was aware of the dangers of smoking for decades but hid the truth from the public, and that Mrs. Connor was lured into smoking by the glamorous images presented by the industry and was already addicted when warning labels first appeared on cigarettes. In videotapes recorded before her death at age 49, the frail, bald woman dying of lung cancer that had spread to her brain, liver, and spinal cord testified she smoked up to three packs a day. ing discretionary spending," Craig said.

They "provide further testimony that fundamental changes are needed if our public land management agencies are to work in the way they ought to," he said. Environmentalists and Clinton administration officials have resisted such changes. agreement on the Forest Services' mission priorities, we see distrust and gridlock prevailing in any effort to streamline the agency's statutory framework," the GAO said Thursday. The Forest Service spends more than $250 million a year conducting environmental analyses and preparing environmental documents to support project-level decisions such as timber sales an estimated 20,000 documents annually. Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck said the agency already is taking steps to streamline the reviews and conduct broad analyses.

son, Mark Toole, Madera, daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara and George Clifton of Bend, and Mary and Alton Albin of Pahrump, stepdaughter, Bonnie Lofthouse of Coos Bay; sister, Joyce Steward of Eugene; grandchildren, Shawna and Russ Pritchett of Coos Bay, Phillip Mendiguren of Bend, Michael Toole of Madera, Amanda and Katie Albin of Pahrump, Nev, Whitney Harper and Brenda Lofthouse, both of Coos Bay; and great-granddaughter, Jor- Congress needs Forest Service fix Stanford protest STANFORD, Calif. (AP) Nike CEO Philip Knight denies charges from protesters that his athletic shoe and clothing company exploits workers in southeast Asia. "We turn away more prospective employees than we could hire," he said. "It sounds like a. low wage and it is.

But it's a wage that's greater than what they used to make." He also said that the low wages don't mean higher profits for Nike. Knight, who spoke at Stanford Business School on Wednesday, and his company have met with protests in Northern California, including during the recent opening of a Nike Town store in San Francisco. Knight's visit to Stanford was no exception. About 60 students and community activists picketed Knight's speech, demanding that Nike, based in Beaverton, raise wages in its factories in Indonesia, Vietnam and China. "It's scandalous that Stanford should be hosting this man who is subjecting countless thousands of poor people in the Third World to misery," said Raymond Giraud, a professor emeritus in French at Stanford.

Bank sued over bonds SAN FRANCISCO (AP) The city sued Bank of America for $12 million Thursday, claiming the bank's former trust business charged excessive fees and mishandled bonds for low-income housing, schools and the airport and other entities. "It was very clear that indeed there were some very se-. rious problems here," San Francisco City Attorney Louise Renne said. The bank, the nation's third largest, said in a statement the lawsuit "unnecessarily and irresponsibly tarnished the name of one of the city's top businesses." "The city makes a lot of assertions but no substantiated claims," Bank of America spokesman Peter Magnani said. The city claims Bank of America: Charged fees for services'; the bank did not perform and-double-charged for services it did perform.

Kept millions in unclaimed payments of interest on bonds when that money belonged to government agencies statewide. Robert Harrison 'Bob' Lanier REEDSPORT Funeral services for Robert Harrison "Bob" Lanier, 76, of Reedsport, will begin at 4 p.m. Saturday at Dunes Memorial Chapel, Reedsport. Pastor John Bigham will officiate. Interment will be in Eureka Cemetery, Newport.

He was born Aug. 1, 1920, in Bozeman, and died April 28, 1997, in Reedsport of a stroke. Mr. Lanier moved to Reedsport in 1990 from Bend. A U.S.

Army veteran of World War II, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping. Survivors include his sisters, Dorothy Stiles of Eureka, and Ruth Wright of Milwaukie; four nephews; and three nieces. coupon I BANDON Shopping I Center COOS BAY I S. Bayshore I 50 Ycoupon! SM aft my I 1 I I I NORTH BEND Offer Expires 51597 Uony ViNape FLECKERS HEY TREND SETTERS. CHECK IT OUT! Image changing teet.

like the mouth that open and ayt "BLAH, BLAH. BLAH. and the Congress reach agreement on the agency's long-term strategic goals," the audit said. The agency's identity crisis is costing taxpayers as much as $100 million a year in the form of inefficient environmental reviews and decisions regarding logging operations and other activities across 192 million acres of national i forests, the GAO sAia-frf'f" "This lack of agreement is the result of a more fundamental disagreement, both inside and outside the Forest Service, over which uses the agency is to emphasize under its broad multiple-use and sustained-yield mandate and how best to ensure the long-term sustainability of these uses," the audit said. The Forest Service has increasingly shifted its emphasis from consumption to conservation as it established management plans for individual national forests over the past 10 years, the audit said.

"The increasing emphasis on sus Russia i closer -on NATO- MOSCOW (AP) Secretary I of State Madeleine Albright left for home today amid signs of, progress in talks with Russian', Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov on NATO expansion. "The Russians are closer to saying yes," one U.S;: official said after American and Russian experts discussed the security implications of expanding NATO. ,1 Albright's departure was layed for an unexpected, addi-fj tional meeting with Primakov called after American and Russj' ian arms experts reviewed the impact on European security, of adding Central and Eastern European countries to the trans-At-, lantic alliance. Apart from the talks with the Russian foreign minister during the visit, Albright had a tele phone talk with Russian Presi-. dent Boris Yeltsin.

The idea behind the Albright visit was to make as much head-1 way as possible before NATO; Secretary General Javier Solana holds critical talks next Tuesday in Luxembourg with Primakov, said one U.S. official, who spoke'! on condition of anonymity. Albright, before seeing Primakov, assured a think-tank roundtable of Russian academics and other intellectuals that no NATO member, old or new, would became "a staging ground for potential attack against Rus- sia." Albright also said if Russia felt it had reason to fear that NATO was adopting a threaten- ing stance, it would be able to consult with NATO "in an open and timely and cooperative fash- ion." The administration sig- naled that room for bargaining remained before Clinton. dyn Pritchett of Coos Bay; The family suggests memorial contributions to South Coast Hospice, 1620 Thompson Road, Coos Bay, 97420. Coos Bay Chapel is in charge of arrangements, 267-3 13 1.

Obituaries are paid announcements. Information is provided by mortuaries and family members. Contact mortuaries for more information. -g) Televised Concert Series 'F Saturday Br Ron Word Associated Press Writer JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) R.J.

Reynolds should be sent a message that its products killed Jean Connor, and it should be held responsible for her lung cancer and death, an attorney for her family told a jury today. "Jean Connor died of lung cancer caused by cigarette smoking," Norwood "Woody" Wilner said in his closing argument. "If she hadn't smoked Reynolds' products she would not have died of lung cancer. She was a frail human being she died prematurely and it wasn't right," Wilner said. "Lots of people are interested in this case besides us," Wilner told the six-member jury.

"We are asking you to send a message to R.J. Reynolds, and certainly a lot of people will hear that message." taining wildlife and fish conflicts with the older emphasis on producing timber and underlies the Forest Service's inability to achieve the goals and objectives for timber production set forth in many of the first forest plans," the GAO said. "While the agency continues to reduce its emphasis on consumption and increase its, emphasis on Congress; explicitly, accepted this shift in emphasis or acknowledged its effects on the availability of other uses of national forests." Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee on forests, has been urging changes in U.S. environmental laws to improve efficiency.

He has been critical of the downturn in federal logging. "The report's conclusions while not particularly surprising are deeply troubling given this era of tight federal budgets and shrink Dunes Memorial Chapel of Reedsport is in charge of arrangements, (541) 271-2822. Dorothy R. Harper-Lofthouse Memorial services for Dorothy R. Harper-Lofthouse, 63, of Coos Bay, will be held at 1 p.m.

Monday at the Coos Bay Eagles Lodge. She was born Aug. 24, 1933, in Denver and died April 28, 1997, in Coos Bay of natural causes. She married Ray Lofthouse in Junction City. Mrs.

Harper-Lofthouse belonged to the Coos Bay Eagles Aerie 538, Bay Area Hospital Cancer Support Group and South Coast Hospice. She is survived by her husband, Ray Lofthouse of Coos Bay; mother, Rachel Crum of Madera, UU the Bay A rea GAO report: The agency will keep split personality until solons decide its priorities. By Scott Sonner Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON The Forest Service's costly split personality probably can't be fixed until Congress and the agency decide whether its priority is logging, recreation or wildlife protection, a congressional audit says. 'The Forest Service's decisionmaking process is clearly broken and in need of repair," the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, said in a report Thursday. "However, any legislation that may be needed to clarify or modify the Congress' intent and expectations requires that the Forest Service He was preceded in death by his wife, Eunice Lanier, April 4, 1997.

Dunes Memorial Chapel of Reedsport is in charge of arrangements, (541) 271-2822. Richard Harrison Baker SCOTTSBURG Funeral services for Richard Harrison Baker, 69, of Scottsburg, will begin at 1 1 a.m. Saturday at Dunes Memorial Chapel, Reedsport. Pastor John Bigham will officiate. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m.

Monday at WhittleHub-bard Cemetery, Castle Rock, Wash. Viewing will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Dunes Memorial Chapel. He was born May 14. 1927, in Eugene and died April 29, 1997, in Obituaries Eugene of natural causes.

Mr. Baker moved to Scottsburg in 1975 from the KelsoLongview area of Washington. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Navy Air Corps. He retired from working in a paper mill in 1967. He was an avid fisherman and hunter.

In his younger years, he raced jalopies at the dirt track and continued to enjoy watching auto racing as he got older. He was also an avid Oregon Duck fan. Survivors include his sons, Randy Baker of Scottsburg and Steve Baker of Kelso, sister, Joan Young of Longview, two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several aunts, nieces and nephews. emsnnmmiwJ 11 i will 11 At the plant: I I I I Drop-off convenience Iay Wash Tub Sfen8 Laundry 1858 Union 225 Golden North Bend Coos Bay 756-5311 Ginger Jerry 267-2814 angCois uilding HjmodeCing $58,000.00 NEW SEMI -CUSTOM HOUSE ON YOUR LOT FOUNDATION THREE BEDROOMS, TWO BATHS I CALL FOR DLTAMS 348-2345 CCB50478 MayDay 83Em Specials a a from stoves jJiSESCi' 11113 TO STEREOS! JVjjMlgiJTJJJJJTJJJIiJi May drd A IT "111 L.VClIlllg Jl na rT 7 ine chintimini yfUrenc. QmBW'l Proudly serving :30 p.m.j Qr Events Center $8 advance tickets Cook up something special see our expanded COOKBOOK SECTION 120 Central nnuuntnuin OKy Coos Bay iBVTrjii invD 267-5535 the Hay Aren't lluttvnl Danrv Club $10 dau of concert 997-1994 Club 101 Produced Ejvtrwnfcw noon)unconiTa by EmwlmmwH MedaSwvtcaaf Euasna.

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