European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 1, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 a the stars and stripes sunday september to 1991rampant housing discrimination found Washington apr discrimination is pervasive in housing markets with Blacks and hispanics routinely turned away charged higher prices or steered to minority neighbourhoods a government sponsored Survey found. The housing discrimination study concluded that More than 50 percent of Blacks and hispanics trying to rent or buy a Home face biased treatment when compared with Whites. The study was conducted by the Urban Institute and Syracuse University for the department of housing and Urban development. Project research director John Yinger said the study conducted in the Spring and summer of 1989, was the first to document housing discrimination against his a Nantes on a nationwide basis. Instances of Bias against antics he said were a troubling by High and Compa pan his Rable with that suffered by Blacks. The Survey consisted of 3,800 audits or paired tests in 25 metropolitan areas. White testers posed As housing customers with similar incomes and schooling As Black or hispanic testers. Their treatment was compared. Overall it was estimated that Blacks face discrimination 56 percent of the time when they seek to rent a House and 59 percent of the time when they try to buy a Home. The figures for hispanics were 50 percent and 56 percent respectively. Yinger said most instances of discrimination were a not the most blatant kind not slamming the door in someone s  rather it consisted of minorities being shown fewer units being quoted higher prices for rentals receiving less information about mortgages or being steered to non White neighbourhoods. Yinger said Only minor variations were found among different cities and regions. A i was struck by How few significant differences there were a he said. A there is discrimination almost everywhere you  Kennedy talks David Letterman chats with Johnny Carson during the taping of the tonight show on Friday in Burbank  jabs jokes with Carson Burbank Calif. A David Letterman insisted he had no hard feelings As he traded jokes and jabs with Johnny Carson in his first tonight show appearance since losing his bid to take Over As Host. A i was never never angry a Letterman said Friday night. He rolled his eyes and said wryly a now would i like to have this show of  Abc announced in May that comedian Jay Leno would take Over the show when Carson retires next year. Leno is the shows permanent guest Host. Carson minced no words As he questioned Letterman about reports that he was furious at not being chosen a just How pred off Are you a a let me give you a Little piece of advice a Letterman responded. A you keep using language like that and you re going to find yourself out of a  Carson joked during the opening monologue about How badly Letterman had wanted his Job. A when we come Back from the commercial if let Turman is silting at the desk and says in be stepped Down for health reasons Don t believe him a he said. Later Letterman told band members a excuse me Guys the Gravy train is being  Carson added a they actually have to go out and make a decent  on a More serious note the pair reminisced about Letterman a first appearance on the tonight show starring Johnny Carson. Letterman said it led to his Success on late night with David Letterman. No Friend s actions West Palm Beach Fla. A sen. Edward m. Kennedy said he was glad to testify before a grand jury considering obstruction of Justice charges against a family Friend in the initial rape investigation of the senators Nephew. A we were invited Down Here to participate in the process and we Welcome the Opportunity to do so Quot said Kennedy a mass. A we Hope for As Early and timely a conclusion As we  state attorney David Bludworth said Kennedy who testified for about i hours Friday was Only a witness and was never a suspect in the investigation of whether Palm Beach police were thwarted in their rape Case against William Kennedy Smith. Smith 30, faces trial Jan. 13 on charges he raped a 30-year-old woman at his family a estate March 30. He has denied the charges. Kennedy answered All the grand jury a questions said Paul Donovan the senators press Secretary. Grand jury testimony is secret. Bludworth said the Only target of the obstruction probe is William g. Barry a new York based Security consultant and retired Fri agent whose ties to the Kennedy stretch three decades. Barry 64, was a bodyguard for the late sen. Robert f. Kennedy d-n.y., and helped tackle his Assassin Sirhan Sirhan in 1968. Police say Bariy misled them about the whereabouts of Smith and his Uncle when they went to the estate after the woman reported the alleged rape. Barry has denied wrongdoing. Barry could be charged under a Florida statute that makes peacefully interfering with a police investigation such As by intentionally misleading officers a Misdemeanour. Conviction carries maximum penalties of one year in jail and a $1,000 Fine. Florida grand juries usually hear capital murder cases or Public corruption cases. Prosecutors sometimes take politically sensitive cases to the grand jury where 12 of the 18 jurors must agree to indict a suspect. Girl sentenced in Poison Case Seattle a a 15-year-old girl who laced a Peanut butter Sandwich with mouse Poison was placed on three months probation after pleading guilty to assault. Prosecutors said the girl had intended the poisoned Sandwich Lor an 11-year-old Eay mate. But it was later partially eaten r a 9-year-old. She apparently got the idea from the 1989 movie heathers a Black comedy in which two teen agers Poison their schoolmates and make the deaths look like suicides. King county juvenile court judge Ann Schindler placed the Auburn girl on probation and ordered her to perform 16 hours of Community service. The poisoning which took place when the girl was 14, occurred because of a dispute Over a videotaped copy of heathers said Ray Thomas Deputy prosecutor. Part of the Sandwich was Given to the intended victim during a summer picnic but she became suspicious and spat it out Thomas said. A a another part of the Sandwich was Given to the 9-Yearold for no apparent reason he said. The younger girl who was unharmed ate part of the Sandwich and ran crying to her Mother. Bear attacks Man 62, in Montana Park West Glacier Mont. A a Mother Bear with two yearlings attacked a Man who surprised it on a Trail in Glacier National Park and the Many a wife beat off the beast with binoculars. The victim was identified As Deane Lengkeek 62, from Holland Mich. Leng Keek was flown by helicopter from the Park s iceberg Lake Region to Kalispell regional Hospital Afler the Friday afternoon attack said Amy Vanderbilt of the National Park service. Lengkeek suffered cuts on his Chest and right wrist and puncture wounds to his Back and right thigh Vanderbilt said. After the couple surprised the adult Bear it charged them As they dropped into a fetal position she said. Country Star Dottie West critically Hurt in car crash Nashville Tenn. A grammy award winning country Singer Dottie West was critically injured on her Way to perform at the grand Ole opry when the car she was Riding in sped off an exit ramp police said. West 58, was in critical condition Early saturday following surgery at Vanderbilt University medical Center said Hospital spokeswoman Barbara Cramer. It was West a second Accident on the Way to the grand old opry in As Many months. West was injured slightly on july 19 when she lost control of her car and ran into a ditch. Fridays crash involved a car being driven by 81-year-old George Thackston. The car was exiting a Parkway onto Oryland drive when it skidded off the ramp and into an embankment said officer Floyd Hyde. The car was travelling about 50 Mph in a 25-Mph zone Hyde said. He said West and Thackston were wearing Seatbelt. Cramer said Thackston was taken to the Hosp Tiala a intensive care unit but his condition was not immediately known. West is known for her 1970s hit i West was raised on country Sunshine and a Kenny Rogers duet every time two fools collide. She won a 1964 grammy for her Hil Here comes my baby the first country music grammy won by a woman. West a belongings were auctioned in june to satisfy an internal Revenue service debt