European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 25, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes . Wednesday May 25,1994secondhand smoke claims disputed Washington a . Reynolds tobacco co., asserting there Are scientific flaws in a Federal report that secondhand cigarette smoke can cause cancer is opening an advertising Campaign to make its Case. A. A Reynolds claims were quickly rejected monday by a Federal official and by a congressman who charged that the company was merely engaging in propaganda to create uncertainty about the health effects of smoking Chris Coggins a principal scientist with Reynolds said at a news conference that secondhand cigarette smoke constitutes no Hazard because its concentration is so diluted this is contrary to an environmental Protection Agency study that concluded secondhand smoke can v cause cancer in Nan smokers who inhale it. Coggins said secondhand smoke Levels typically a represent such minuscule doses that it is scientifically implausible that they could result in meaningful toxicological  the Epa report he said used a faulty scientific analysis to reach its conclusion. The tobacco company scientist said he conducted Laboratory studies in which animals suffered no a meaningful changes when exposed to secondhand smoke up to 100 times stronger than the Levels typically encountered by nonsmokers. Epa administrator Carol m. Browner said her Agency a absolutely stands by its scientific and extensively documented classification of secondhand tobacco smoke As Carcinogen a serious threat to nonsmokers and especially to  she said the Reynolds Campaign a will not distract the Public from the real Issue that secondhand smoke poses a serious health  Coggins and Maura Ellis Reynolds director of external communications called a news conference to announce the advertising Campaign. A we want to bring some balance to the debate surrounding secondhand smoke and other issues concerning cigarettes a Ellis said. Winning pair Mississippi sues tobacco Jackson miss. A Mississippi filed a lawsuit asking tobacco companies to reimburse the state for millions of. Tax dollars spent on tobacco related diseases. A this lawsuit is premise cd on a simple notion a a you cause the health crisis you pay for it. The do reeside is Over a attorney general Mike Moore said monday after filing the lawsuit in state court. Mississippi officials Call the lawsuit the first of its kind. It asks that 13 tobacco companies six tobacco wholesalers and several Trade associations and Public relations consultants be ordered to reimburse the state for Money spent treating illnesses caused. By smoking. A. A a a a a a the lawsuit does not seek specific damages but officials estimate that tobacco related health problems Cost Mississippi taxpayers $200 million a year said assistant attorney general Trey Bobinger. Peggy Carter a spokeswoman for . Reynolds tobacco co., based in Winston Salem n.c., called the lawsuit a an unprecedented  a a Tike other juries those in Mississippi have uniformly taken the common sense position that in the face of 30 years of warnings smokers Are Well informed about the issues surrounding smoking and choose to smoke fully aware of the risks they Are taking a Carter said. A. Pressure is mounting  companies. Over the health effects of cigarette smoking. The food and drug administration seeking to determine whether it can regulate cigarettes As a controlled substance is investigating whether tobacco companies can manipulate the nicotine level in  a a a a Mississippi officials contend taxpayers often end up paying medical costs for tobacco related illnesses through government programs such As medicare and medicaid. A tobacco kills too Many of our people and causes too Many others to be sick every year a said dred Thompson state health officer. A we All pay Quot Reynolds ran ads in several newspapers monday. Ellis said More were planned but refused to say How much was being spent on the Campaign or when it would end. Rep. Henry a. Waxman d-calif., chairman of a House health subcommittee said that there is a an overwhelming scientific consensus about the High risk of secondhand smoke and that Reynolds move is a a Slick propaganda campaigns designed to a raise the Wisp of  a 1993 report by the Epa said secondhand smoke will cause about 3,000 additional cancer deaths annually Coggins said the analysis Epa used to come to such a conclusion is flawed and did not take into account other cancer causing factors such As diet. Waxman said that tobacco companies formally objected to the Epa report before it was issued and that an Independent group of scientists reviewed those objections a and found them without  the Reynolds and said a nonsmoker living with a smoker would be exposed to secondhand smoke equivalent to smoking a cigarettes a month. Waxman said that cigarette equivalent measure is a discredited methodology that has been rejected by the . Surgeon general and by the Epa. Assassin san Diego apr six relatives of the Man who confessed to assassinating Mexico Stop presidential candidate Are seeking political Asylum complaining of harassment by mexican authorities their attorney said monday Mario Aburto Martinez smother and five other family members crossed illegally into the United states on sunday and immediately surrendered to the . Border agents asking for Asylum said the laywer Peter Schey. They were not carrying any identification when they were taken into custody. The immigration and naturalization service declined to comment. But Border patrol officials said they were acting on the Assumption that the six Are relatives of Aburton a who is being held in a Mexico City prison for investigation of the murder of ruling party candidate Luis Don Aldo Colosio on March 23 at a Campaign rally in Tijuana Aburto 23, a plastics factory worker who has confessed to slaying Colosio is in custody at a Maxi mum Security prison outside Mexico City. Schey said the six Are Aburton smother brother two Sisters a Nephew and a sister in Law. They told Border patrol agents that mexican authorities had harassed and threatened them and taken their identification since the assassination he said. They did not seem to be Able to specify who was harassing them said Border patrol spokesman Bryant Brazley. To gain political Asylum a person must show a a reasonable fear of persecution if returned. The six gave themselves up to Border patrol agents around 12 15 . Sunday after hopping a Fence about a Quarter mile West of the san Ysidro Border station and crossing the Tijuana River Brazley said. Schey executive director of the los Angeles based Center for human rights and constitutional Law said family members told him that unknown people had tried to enter their House at night and that a relatives parked car had been perforated with bullets. Aburton a father Ruben Aburto and two other  ers live in Torrance calif., and work at a furniture factory where Mario Aburto used to work Schey said. Cody Shilts 3, of Roseville calif., beams with Delight after his Frog free Willy leapt 19 feet and a half Inch in three hops to win the grand prize at the Calaveras county jumping Frog Jubilee on sunday. The child whose family has finished in the top five the past two years became the youngest Winner of the annual Competition. Washington a president Clinton praised the nation s Parks As the a legacy of every generation Quot while the Agency responsible for maintaining them reshuffled its staff to put More women and minorities in charge. At a White House ceremony monday commemorating the first annual National Park week Clinton honoured National Park service employees and private benefactors of the facilities. The 367 National Parks Are where a a lot of the american heart is a uplifting the spirits of All who visit them he said. A a. A a they Are our Hope for the future our tic to the past our connection to the land a he said. A they Are bigger than any of us and they make us All  Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt said the National Park system is a uniquely american idea providing people a place where they can encounter to ctr history and heritage. But in a speech at Independence Hall in Philadelphia Babbitt said the administration would focus More on historical restoration of the facilities rather than making them friendlier to tourists. A the. National Parks Are not about entertainment a he said. A if you want to play Golf watch people feeding bears or see a nighttime firewall that a Fine but done a expect to do it in a National  Clinton noted that the White House is maintained but the National Park service As reservation no. 1. A i want you All to take note of that the next time somebody says the presidents off the reservation a it quipped. Also monday the Park Agency announced nine Nev superintendents in a major reshuffle aimed at diversify ing top staff by promoting qualified women and Minori tics. The National Park services director Roger Kennedy announced the nine new superintendents Callin the changes part of an Effort to diversify the ranks 0 senior staff by removing barriers to promotion for qualified women and minorities. These employees have proven their determination to preserving our National heritage and have demonstrated remarkable managerial skills Quot he said