June 18, 1997 C om m itted to cultural diversity. V o lu m e X X V II, N um ber 25 One at a time From lands afar Kick up your heels Riley is one o f over 350 children looking for an adoptive home. Find Japanese dance and entertainment from across the globe at Portland International Performance Festival. Patrick Goebel is manager o f Alberta Station, a new ballroom and dance studio in the Alberta district. J • „ 1 See Family Living, page A 7. | See Metro, inside. See Entertainment, page A 8. (The -jtori kmb ■ I 1 g» ■H Crime focused on NE Sex discrimination law hailed Police say inner city neighborhoods are strong, despite media portrayals Former astronaut Sally Ride and six ­ time O lym pic gold medalist Jackie Joy ner- Kersee joined President Clinton Tuesday in m arking the 25th anniversary o f a landmark U.S. law that opened doors for women in education, sports and hiring. Clinton said Title I X o f the Education Amendments o f 1972 have had a benefi­ cial effect on every American. by M ichael P Tobacco talks snagged M ississippi Attorney General M ike Moore, a key negotiator, met with tobacco industry representatives this week. A source said the attorneys general had sug­ gested the parties send a letter to the White House asking it to resolve the issue of whether individuals can sue to collect punitive damages. But the White House said it was refusing to help resolve issues delaying a tobacco settlement, saying it was up to the parties to reach a deal in their m ulti-billion dollar legal battle. Bomb suspect deportation Heavenly Joy! Agreement has been reached for Canada to deport a Saudi man implicated in the 1996 truck bombing that killed 19 U.S. airmen in Saudi Arabia, the suspect’ s lawyer said Tuesday. Law yer Michael W ildes said the arrangement cleared the way for Hani Abdel-Rahim Hussein al- Sayegh to be sent to the United States from Canada. Canadian authorities ruled last month he should be deported as a sus­ pected terrorist but it was not clear whether he would go to the United States or Saudi Arabia. Area residents (above) are treated to true inspiration during a performance by north and northeast Portland men's choirs (see Religion page, inside) and a sermon by Dr. Johnny Pack IV, (left) pastor of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. Revolt brewing in House There could be a revolt brewing within Republican ranks in the U .S. House of Representatives. The Atlanta Journal- Constitution says disgruntled lawmakers are expected to make a direct challenge to Speaker Newt G in grich ’s leadership. The session was called to assess the G O P ’s approach to com ing votes on tax and spending bills. W atergate break-in remembered Tuesday was the anniversary of the 1972 break-in at the Democratic Party’s national headquarters at the Watergate office and apartment complex that started the worst political scandal in U .S. history. Those who lived through it say it left a weakened presidency, a public cynical and distrusting of politicians and a press that goes for the jugular at the slightest excuse. US says Iran tested missiles U .S. Defense Secretary W illiam Cohen says the United States is not headed to­ ward a clash with Iran unless the Islam ic rep ub lic starts it. D u rin g a tour o f W ashington’s G u lf Arab allies, Cohen again warned Tehran against any attempt to halt shipping in the oil-rich Gulf. EDITORIAL.....................A2 HEALTH.......................... A3 EDUCATION...................A5 FAMILY............................A7 ARTS & ENT.................. A8 METRO........................... B I RELIGION.......................B2 SPORTS......................... B3 CAREERS.......................B5 CLASSIFIEDS................B7 L eighton olice are enhancing patrols in north and northeast Portland In response to recent shootings, but characterizing it as a gang war is a portrayal exaggerated by news cov­ erage, a senior police officer said Tuesday. Lt. C lif f Madison confirmed police are on added patrols in the northeast quadrant o f the city, bu, said a police unit fighting gang-related crime was spread across the city. “ There’s a perception that the north­ east area is falling apart. At's not true,” Madison said. “Northeast is a strong com­ munity and a strong area.’’ The media attention follows an out­ break o f shootings and four murders. Madison said the public may be led to believe that the deadly violence occurred in one part o f the city, when in fact, the shootings happened in southwest, south­ east and north and northeast Portland. Madison also rebuked a report that at least one o f the shootings was an act o f gang-related retaliation. He said there’s no evidence o f retalia­ tion at this time. Meanwhile, officers on stepped-up pa­ trols are making their presence known, stopping drivers even for minor infractions. In addition, Tuesday Mayor Vera Katz held a news conference to recommend complete retention o f the Gang Enforce­ ment Team, along with the h irin go f neigh­ borhood police officers. “ We have decided we cannot afford to lose any officers from the Gang Enforce­ ment Team,” K atz said. The gang unit was threatened with being cut in half a city budget gutted by property tax cuts. Photos by Mark Washington Was McVeigh a patsy? A lthough Jurors wanted to hear from Timothy McVeigh, his lawyer says their comments after the trial have convinced him McVeigh could not have saved himself from a death sentence. “ I think they all clearly said it wouldn't have mattered, that it wouldn’t have changed their minds,” lawyer Christopher Tritico said in a telephone interview Sunday. The jurors said Saturday they were left with one question after convicting and sentencing M cVeigh tor the Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people - “ W hy?” But if M cVeigh answered that question, he would have admit­ ted he did it, and that could have affected his appeals. Am ong the avenues o f appeal being examined by M cVeigh's defense lawyers are the judge’s ban on the introduction o f a defense theory that foreign terrorists were involved in the bomb­ ing, and his restriction o f evidence about alleged F B I crime lab contamination. M cVeigh, convicted two weeks ago and sentenced by jurors Friday to death, is being held at a Colorado federal prison In an interview on C B S ' “60 Minutes” on Sunday, defense attorney Stephen Jones elaborated on his theory that foreign terrorists were behind the blast. “There is some evidence that suggests that he may simply have been a patsy,” Jones said. “ He may have been used and involved by others as a convenient fall guy. ... I know that others had an interest in blowing up the Murrah federal building several years ago. I know they had connections in Germany and the Middle East.” On “Good M orning Am erica", Jones was asked why M cVeigh showed little emotion during the trial. “Once the trial started, I think his attitude was it's serious business, it’s a solemn matter," Jones said. » Bring on the summer fun Opening day o f the Portland Parks Bureau s summer outdoor pool season is greeted with lots o f fun at Grant Pool in northeast Portland. Schedules at Grant and the other public pools in the city are available through the parks department. Photo by Mark Washington