European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 25, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Pago 4 the stars and stripes thursday january 25,1990 study of owls diet gags lawmakers Springfield Iii. A researchers arc combing the Fields and forests of Illinois in search of what owls spit up but some state Law makers arc gagging Over the projected j180,000 Cost of studying the Birds diets. The researchers involved say their work could provide valuable information on How changes in the environment affect animals. They will be the most vulnerable of any of the animals if there Are significant changes in their prey As a result of Man s activities Habi Tat destruction politics or even natural changes climatic  said Russell Graham an Illi Nois stale museum geologist and Bone expert overseeing the study. Owls spit up pellets of hair Bone and Teeth indigestible leftovers from what they be eaten at least once or twice a Day. The pellets have revealed that owls eat Rab bits opossums ducks pheasants cardinals shrews fish and mice and other rodents. Los Angeles schools revoke no pass no play restriction by the Washington Post los Angeles the los Angeles school Board has dropped its Rule barring students with an of Grade from extracurricular activities the first major school District to Back away from a National wave of tougher standards for student athletes. The s-to-2 vote to rescind the no pass no play Rule but still require a a average is expected to Stim ulate new efforts to soften standards by students parents and coaches unhappy with tougher academic requirements nationwide. During an emotional 90-Minutc debate Board members seeking to overturn the Rule said it kept students from Tak ing challenging courses. Supporters said it was essential for maintaining academic standards in disadvantaged schools. Leticia Quzada. The Board s Only hispanic Mem Ber joined Rita Walters its Only Black member in opposing the change in a school District that is 80 percent minority. I feel that this is a Case of Liberal mentality whose Good intentions arc misplaced the idea that our students can t be expected to do As  Quzada  vote was particularly significant because los Angeles the nation s second largest school so slim was the first major District to require minimal academic standards for participation in sports band drama clubs and Many other afterschool activities. Led by Walters at the time the Board passed the Rule in 1982, and a similar movement in Texas produced a state la mandating no pass no play standards in 1984. At least 14 states toughened requirements said Christipho state relations director for the Colorado based education commission of the states. Only los Angeles and Texas adopted a strict no pass no play policy said Rob Ert Morris executive director of the National High school athletic coaches association in Ocala Fla. Los Angeles school Board president Jackie Gold Berg a special education teacher said she had mixed emotions in voting to drop the Rule but she concluded that it was keeping students from taking risks such As attempting algebra rather than Basic arithmetic and was causing some to drop out. Rocky Mountain area leads . Income growth Washington a personal in come growth in the Rocky Mountain re Gion topped the National average for the first time in six years in the third Quarter of 1989. While it slowed in new England the government reported tuesday. The Commerce department also said the Plains states registered the fastest growth rate followed by a 9.1 percent Advance in the far West. The department said Rocky Mountain income in the july september Quarter grew 8.7 percent Over the same period of 1988. Compared to a National growth Rale of 8.5  the first time the Rockies registered above the National average since 1983 and reflected increasing strength in manufacturing and mining the depart ment s Bureau of economic analysis said. At the same time income growth in new England declined during the third Quarter to an 8.2 percent rate Down from 8.6 percent during the second Quarter and 9.6 percent in the first. The deceleration was blamed on slow Downs in the growth of construction and service payrolls. Joining new England with growth rates below the National average were the mid Atlantic Region up 8.4 percent the Southeast up 8.3 percent the Southwest up 8.2 percent and the great lakes up 8.1 percent. And because of the effects of Hurri Cane Hugo last september South Carolina posted the first decline in any state s nonfarm personal income growth since Nebraska and North and South Dakota recorded negatives in the fourth Quarter of 1988 because of drought. Hurricane Hugo which hit South car Olina the hardest also affected income growth in neighbouring states because of extensive damage to rental properties. Excluding the effects of the storm s dam age personal income would have in creased 9.4 percent in South Carolina and 8.9 percent in the Southeast Region. Rudolph e. Depass an economist for the Bureau of economic analysis said that automation has replaced much of the antiquated durable manufacturing and mining infrastructure in the Rocky Mountain Region making those Indus tries More efficient and competitive. But. He said. New England which in recent years had built up defense related High tech industries has been hit by she slowdown in defense spending. In Addi Tion he said there is a shortage of skilled workers in the Region. Nevertheless. Depass said new eng land still has a relatively High growth Rale compared to Oiler regions. The Plains income growth was attrib Ted to rebounding farm income after the drought and to Strong durable and non durable manufacturing. In the far West the report said growth reflected strength in manufacturing service Indus tries and  the other hand in both the great lakes and mid Atlantic regions weak Ness in durable and non durable manufacturing dampened  Southwest suffered slow growth in payrolls of most major industries wit advances in service industries slower than in any other  with the fastest growth in per Sonal income were North Dakota 169 percent. A Iska. 15 3 percent. South Dakota 134 percent. Fee Ada 133 percent. Washington state and . Ii 1 percent each. Utah. 106 percent by d . Florida and Iowa. 10 3 percent Nach so alas with the slowest growth in addition to South Carolina were Wyoming 5 4 percent. West . 6 percent Oklahoma 6 b percent. Arkansas. 6 9 percent. Michigan 7 2 per cent. . 7 3 Percy int. Nebraska. 7 4 percent. Kan Sas 7 5 percent and . 7 6 percent. Leave a big tip or else Michael Neeley left and Patrick Watson Cross swords As they prepare for the opening of a medieval times restaurant in Lyndhurst n j. Diners will be treated to jousting matches sword fights and other medieval heraldry As Well As a four course dinner they will eat with their fingers. The sporting Arena scats about 1,200. The restaurant which is part of a Chain is scheduled to open next month. Having healthy babies not matter of Luck lottery Hopes to show i a Tucket. . A have a healthy baby and vein a prize that s the message behind the healthy baby lottery an Effort to get women to seek prenatal care Early in their pregnancy. The Lilac Stone Valley perinatal network and Paw Tucket s memorial Hospital with a $15.000 Grant from the March of dimes will kick off the lottery feb. 1. The program seeks to encourage women especially poor women to seek health care in the first three months of pregnancy when the fetus is especially vulnerable to damage from drugs disease and poor diet. We know of no other program in the country like  said or. Larry culpa ppr of the Hospital s department of family Medicine and the Brown univer sity medical school. The lottery is open to and woman who is less than 12 weeks pregnant lives in Central Falls or Pawtucket and seeks prenatal care from a doctor in one of those  for grabs will be six monthly prizes ranging from s25 to $100, with winners names drawn from entry forms women fill out in their doctors offices. Women who keep All doctor s appointments throughout their pregnancy will be eligible for a $500 grand prize awarded every six months. If the two year project is successful the lottery May be expanded statewide culpa ppr said tuesday. From the March of dimes funding. $7.000 will go toward prizes and the rest for administration and publicity. The Agency which fights birth defects chose Pawtucket and Central Falls a cause of the High concentration of poor people and minorities. For every $1 we spend on prenatal care we save s3" by preventing sickness and prematurity said bar narc let m. Farina executive director of the Organiza Tion s Rhode Island chapter