European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 31, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday May 31, 1992 the stars and stripes c Page 5 cigarette tax cited in smoking decline Columbus protest Vernon Bellicourt National representative of the american Indian movement throws a pint of his own blood on the sail of a replica of one of Christopher Columbus ships Friday night in St. Paul Minn. The group was protesting the opening of the Columbus exhibit first encounters at the science museum of Minnesota. Washington up californians cigarette tax increase of 25 cents per pack in 1989 reduced smoking rates by 5 percent to 7 percent within its first year researchers said Friday. John elder of san Diego state University studied per capita smoking rates before and after the january 1989 tax increase. In the first year per person cigarette consumption dropped 9.3 percent in California compared with a National average of 5.4 percent. Elder and colleagues calculated that the tax increase was responsible for Between 5 percent and 7 percent of the smoking decline. The rest was attributed to Price increases in the actual Cost of the cigarettes not the tax the researchers reported in the american journal of Public health. A we had a Sharp drop in the number of cigarette packs sold immediately following the increase a elder said in an interview. A whether that is people quitting or a whole lot of people cutting Down we re not  the decrease continued but was not As dramatic in 1991, elder said. Smoking declined 4.3 percent in California and 2.9 percent nationwide. The states cigarette tax went from 10 cents per pack in 1988 to 35 cents per pack in 1989. Money collected was earmarked for anti smoking education. A we do know there is a correlation Between the size of the increase and the size of the consumption drop but some people will continue to smoke no matter what the Price and some arc going to give it up no matter How cheap it is a elder said. A other states should consider raising their cigarette taxes and people in alcohol control might want to take a look at using a tax As a Way to improve the Overall health profile in their  in the stars and stripes10 years ago May 31,1982 Spain joined the North Atlantic treaty organization cementing its ties with the West. But the country a defense minister immediately criticized Alliance member Britain for its a historic error Quot in the falklands conflict.20 years ago May 31,1972 Secretary of state William p. Rogers said the United states and the soviet Union had agreed to hold separate but parallel East West talks on Force reductions and cooperation in Europe.30 years ago May 31,1962 George c. Wallace a militant segregationist who boasted of defying the Federal courts won the Alabama Runoff primary for governor. Wallace promised to Quot stand in the schoolhouse door if necessary to defend the state against integration attempts.40 years ago May 31,1952 Gen. Matthew b. Ridgway took Over the military command of the Western Allied defense system from Gen. Dwight d. Eisenhower in a Brief ceremony at the supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. Asian mexican immigration Rose in 80s, . Census figures show by the los Angeles times Washington a the United states has the largest foreign born population in its history about 7.9 percent of All residents according to census Bureau figures. The statistics show a dramatic move to a multicultural society Over the past 10 years from a Point in 1980 when foreign born residents accounted for Only 6.2 percent of the population. And Over the past 25 years according to demographers the trend in immigration has shifted away from europeans to people of hispanic and asian ancestry. The new figures compiled in the Spring of 1990, were derived from a Survey taken every 10 years that produces a Range of information about the characteristics habits and lifestyles of americans. This Survey of 17.7 million Homes also showed for example that nearly three quarters of american commuters drove to work alone in 1990, rejecting car pools and mass transit. The figures revealed that nearly 60 percent of mothers with children younger than 6 were in the labor Force an increase from 45.7 percent a decade earlier. And Only 4.8 percent of american households were without telephones Down from 7.1 percent in 1980. Across the nation 19.7 million residents in 1990 were foreign born the latest statistics show. Almost 32 million people speak foreign languages at Home with More than 40 percent of those reporting they a do not speak English very  the Rise in households where foreign languages arc spoken amounted to almost 3 percentage Points Over the last 10 years. Peter Morrison a demographer at the Rand corp., a Santa Monica calif., think tank said the influx of immigrants Means that schools in Urban centers where most foreign born residents have settled face the daunting task of training Many non English speakers. A the changing role for the education system is a serious problem a Morrison said. Shifting patterns of immigration showed that the number of immigrants from Mexico for example More than doubled to 4.4 million Over the decade. A similarly Steep increase was reflected in 5.4 million immigrants from Asia. Most of these new arrivals found Homes in such cities As los Angeles Chicago Washington and Miami. There was scant Impact in the Midwest where less than 4 percent of All residents were foreign born. In other findings the census Bureau found that one in a car commuters Rose to 73.2 percent from 64.4 percent in 1980. The increase was not unexpected experts said. They attributed the shifting patterns to companies moving to less centralized locations drops in gasoline prices cuts in Federal transit subsidies i and an increase in working couples. Said Mark Wright of the association for commuter transportation a a it a easier to match people up for car pools if they re going to predictable places at predictable times. But As people move to find affordable housing while their workplaces move to the suburbs they May find it More difficult to car  Chip Bishop of the american Public transit association said that a the 1980s were not kind years to Public transit a cd Laining that there was a 50 percent Cut ack after inflation in Federal Aid for construction and operation of mass transit systems Between 1980 and 1990. However Wright and Bishop said the Outlook was Bright for car pools and mass transit. They credited passage of the clean air act of 1990 and the into rom dal surface transportation efficiency act last year. The second Law a shifted the focus away from Road building toward ride sharing a Bishop said. There was less encouraging news however for the economic Well being of families. About 42 percent of All households lived on incomes below $25,000, up from 31 percent a decade earlier. As poverty rates grew housing costs also snot up. According to the census median mortgage costs Rose 27 percent in 10 years to 737 a month. Median rents Rose 16 percent to $581. Vij \ a it h n ah50 years ago today 31 may1.9.4-2 suit filed against school condom program germans and British fight a desperate Battle in the libyan desert Southwest of Sidi Muftah in an area dubbed a the cauldron German armoured forces try to wipe out Britain a 150th brigade while other Axis units repel an attack by the British 30th corps. The  battleships Colorado and Maryland sail from san Francisco in a hurried attempt to reach the impending Battle for Midway. Source 2194 Days of War w h. Smith a publishers inc. World almanac Book of world War ii Bison books corp. 1981 Boston up a a group of parents and students is suing a Cape cod school District for allowing condoms to be dispensed to students in grades seven through 12, a spokesman said Friday. In what plaintiffs Hope will be a precedent setting Case the group has asked a Barnstable Superior court judge to declare that the condom program in the Falmouth school District violates state Law. The Case is being handled by the Rutherford Institute of Charlottesville va., which specializes in defending religious practice in Public settings. Larry Crain an Institute attorney said the suit is the first his organization has pursued involving condoms in schools and the first of its kind he has heard of nationwide. If successful he said the Institute would Hope to use the Case to cancel school condom programs in new York los Angeles Seattle and elsewhere. Crain said the Institute a was approached by Parent groups in several cities a but chose the Cape cod program in part because of a refusal of the school committee to even acknowledge the wishes of parents in the  he said 3,000 parents signed a petition opposing the program a and the school committee basically ignored  acting school superintendent Peter Clark said the suit filed May 22, is being reviewed by the town counsel. I he District has 30 Days to respond. A we have no intention of dropping the program at this Point a Clark said. The condom program began Jan. 2 in the Community of roughly 28,000 year round residents. Since then 20 to 25 Junior High school students have obtained condoms after attending a mandatory counselling session with a school nurse the principal or one of two health educators Clark said. Condom vending machines in High school bathrooms Are used 55 to 60 times a month he said and High school nurses and trained staff members have distributed about 200 condoms often to the same students. A we feel its been a Success. Its apparently been used responsibly by students a he said. The suit alleges the condom program violates a state Law against aiding and abetting the commission of a crime in that children 16 or younger May not legally consent to sex Crain said. It also violates state Laws against child abuse because school officials who know of children who have sex Are required under abuse Laws to file a report with the state he said