MS9 High court refuses to hear Abo-Jama) appeal The U.S. Supreme Court recently refused to hear an appeal for a new trial tiled by celebrated death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal. The court decided not to act on an autoqyatic appeal arising from a decision made last October by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to reject Abu-Jamais request for a new trial thai included compelling new evidence of gross misconduct by Philadelphia police and prosecutors This action by the nauon's highest court, fully expected by Abu-Jamal's defense team, sets the stage for two significant events in coming weeks Lawyers for Abu-Jamal will file a new appeal in federal District Court pre senting ev ldence of misconduct by Philadelphia authorities and deliberate erors by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge will sign a new warrant for Abu-Jamal's execution as required by state law. Spokesmen for Ridge concede that a federal judge will grant a stay of Abu-Jamal's execution until the federal courts decide on the new appeal. Abu-Jamal. an award-winning journalist, is on death row for the 1981 murder of Daniel Faulkner, a Philadelphia police officer. Prosecutors say Abu-Jamal shot Faulkner, who was beating Abu-Jamal's brother. Eyewit nesses >aid the assailant who shot Faulkner fled the scene after the police officer shot Abu-Jamal. who tned to stop the beating of his brother. - Linn Washington *? L'SDA remembers Carver Recently U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman pro claimed Oct. 4-8 as "'George Washington Carver Recognition Week."' Among the weeklong activities was the naming of the USDA headquarters in Beltsville. Md.. as the George Washington Carver Center. Glkkman was joined by Thurgood Marshall Jr. and D. Bennie D. Mayberrv during the ceremonies "D. Carver was a remarkable mail." Glickman said. "His outstanding and creative research improved the health and living conditions of the South em farmer."' While D. Carver is remembered for his scientific work with the peanut, this chemist also developed industrial applications from other agricultural crops and discovered hundreds of new uses for soybeans, pecans and sweet potatoes. And his development and instruction in crop rotation methods for conserv ing nutrients in the soil is a practice that has revolutionized the farm ing industry. Dr. Carver is recognized its one of the finest scientists ever known. Wilson to get Missouri Honor Medal Clint C. Wilson, professor of journalism in the Howard University School of Communications and graduate professor in the Howard Gradu ate School of Arts and Sciences, has been elected by the faculty of the Uni versity of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism to receive the Missouri Honor Medal. This lifetime achievement award has been presented by the university since 1930. Some of its recipients include Winston Churchill. Walter Cmnkite. Tom Brokaw. Carole Simpson. Charlayne Hunter-Gaull and more than 350 other distinguished communications professionals. Wilson is a journalist and author. He serves as faculty, adviser to Howard's student-run Hilltop, and has written for various news agencies, including the Associated Press, Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Sentinel and the Washington Post. He has also written and co-written several books, including "Race. Multkulturalism and the Media: From Mass to Class Communications" and "History of the Black Press." INTERNATIONAL ta Rebels leaders return to Sierra Leone Three months after the signing of the peace agreement, which ended eight years of civil war in Sierra Leone, the two main3 rebel leaders. Cpl. Foday Sankoh of the Revolutionary United Front, and Maj. Johnny Paul Koroma of the defunct Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, have returned home to help advance the peace process. The return home of the two warlords did not ignite the sort of heroes welcome that they probably anticipated. Security, both at the airport and around the rest of the country's capital. Freetown, was tight with tanks, helicopter gunships. alpha jets and thou sands of rifle-carrying Nigerian-led West African peace-keeping troops, known as ECOMOG. , The mood among the citizens was more somber and reflective than cele bratory. Even supporters of the rebel movement acted reserved about their leaders' return. "This is no time for partying. I think the rebel leaders should start the process of disarming their fighters, now." said Marian Kamara, a housewife in F reetown. Ixinsana Fofana Debate over abortion heats up in Kenya NAIROBI. Kenya (IPS) The abortion debate between the church and rights groups in Kenya has taken a nasty turn, with the government of Pres ident Daniel arap Moi continuing to maintain its distance. Enraged by the call to legalize abortion, the Catholic Church, arguing that abortion violates the sanctity of human life, said it will not compromise on the issue even if it means launching a door-to-door campaign. 'Abortion is the first-degree murder of an innocent, defenseless person by a professional who is otherwise trained to defend life," said Archbishop Ndingi Mwana a* Nzeki. who heads the Catholic Church in Nairobi, the Kenyap capital. ? Njoki Ngung'u of the International Federation of Women Lawyers. Kenya chapter, said. "The right to choose whether or not to have an abor tion is a right and need for every woman. The church must let women decide for themselves." Abortion is outlawed in Kenya and is permitted only in cases where the mothers life is in danger or the fetus is severely deformed. Judith Achieng' ~ INDEX I OPINION _ A6 SPORTS _ ~R1 RELIGION _ ?7 CLASSIFIEDS _ _ ill HEALTH _ C3 ENTERTAINMENT C7 CALENDAR AIO This Week In Black History Oct. 14, 1958 - The District of Columbia Bar Association votes to accept African American members. Oct. 14, 1864 - The first African American daily newspaper, the New Orleans Tribune, is published in both French and English. Oct. 15,1957 - The Sickle Cell Disease Research Foundation opens in Los Angeles. Oct. 20, 1924 - The first "Colored World Series" of baseball is played in Kansas City, Mo. The Kansas City Monarchs whip the Hillsdale team from Darby. Penn., in five games. Colonial Williamsburg's black employees still feel mistreated THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - A group of black employees at Colonial Williamsburg say they remain discouraged and frus trated a month after their com plaints of being typecast as slaves, being underpaid and being denied advancement became public. The group wrote about their concerns in May to the vice president of ' the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's edu cation division. A forum arranged by the foundation last month to discuss the issues yielded no results, employees say. Black employees feel man agement has not addressed their concerns, said former employee Bob Hubler. who continues to serve as unofficial spokesman for the employees. He said some employees were turned down for supervisory roles. Most employees also do not have the training needed to advance because they are com mitted to programs portraying slavery during times the training is offered, Hubler said. "Their concerns are being addressed, but we don't discuss personnel "3 issues." Lorraine Brooks, a Colonial Williams burg spokeswoman said Thurs day. "Their concerns are certain ly not being ignored." This year, Colonial Williams burg began re-enacting the harsh treatment of blacks dur- _ ing Colonial times in a program that casts black employees in the roles of slaves, preachers and servants. White empldyees some times portray their masters. \ . \ teaoc-^cad Ptbbb photo fcy Stew He_ner Slav* Cowan Pamphlett, played by James Ingram, is restrained by Thomas Skinner, played by Ken Treese, as other historical interpreters and tourists watch during a program called "Enslaving Virginia" in historic Colonial Williamsburg. Justices hear arguments in voting rights case BY RICHARD CARELLI ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court pondered the federal government's power to squelch changes in state and local elections as discriminatory even when the new plans would leave racial and ethnic minori ties no worse ofT. Clinton administration lawyer Paul Wolfson told the justices hearing arguments in a Louisiana case that targets of a key voting-rights law lire "not limited to an intent to make matters worse for minorities." But Michael Carvin, a Wash ington lawyer representing the Bossier Parish, La., School Board, said Wednesday that the law seeks only to thwart a new plan if it abridges minority vot ing rights. "If there is no change, it has not abridged the right to vote," he argued. At issue is whether the Vot ing Rights Act of 1965 autho rizes Justice Department vetoes of election plans that are non retrogressive. A three-judge fed eral 'tfourt in the District of Columbia ruled that no such authority exists. The justices' ruling, expected by late June, could affect many of the voting-rights disputes likely to arise after the 2000 cen sus and ensuing reapportion ment efforts. The decision will dictate how vigorously the gov ernment can invoke one part of the 1965 law. . In a separate case, the jus tices heard arguments over Hawaii's policy of letting only people with Hawaiian blood elect' leaders of a state program benefiting descendants of the islands' original residents. A white citizen of Hawaii says the provision amounts to unlawful racial discrimination. A decision in that case also is expected by summer. The Voting Rights Act's Sec tion 5 requires federal pre-clear ance of proposed electoral changes, and authorizes denials if the changes are deemed to have a discriminatory "purpose or effect." State and local governments' covered by Section 5 have the burden of proving the changes are not motivated by racial or ethnic bias. Several justices com mented Wednesday how difficult it can be to prove such a nega tive, and also how hard it is determining the motives of mul timember governmental bodies. The parish School Board for years has had its members elect ed to four-year terms from 12 different districts. About 20 per cent of the parish's population is black, concentrated. in two areas, but none of the 12 dis tricts has a black majority. As of 1990, no black ever had been elected to the School Board. After the 1990 census required a redrawing of the School Board election map, the local NAACP chapter proposed creating two black-majority dis tricts. The School Board opted instead for a new map Hn 1992 with no such district, the same See Voting rights on A9 bARGAIN^. SL55 ----- ? MO ?A?W 0 > g 3 ? _? PC QZ K J 2u __ 8.1311801 Johnston 4 Gracing, Dranage, Paving, PVT Makings & Structures Metric 8% 1-95 & NC-50 Interchange m Benson 9.8043143 Nash 4 Widening, Grading, Drainage. Paving & PVMT Markings Metric 8% 4% NC-43 from SB-1613 fWoodrufl Ave.) to SB-1535 (Peele Rd.) 8.1351302 Durham 5 Grading, Drainage. Paving, Pavement Markings. M*ng& Structures Metric 8% NC-157 (Guess Road) from SR-1407 (Carver St) to SR-1449 (Umstead Rd.) 8.1511401 Rockingyiam 7 Widatwig Gracing. Paving & PVMT Marttings Metric 8% NC-B7 from SR-2586 (Cook Florist Rd.) & SR-2594 (HokdayLoopRd.)ToUS-29riR9dsv*e ; 8.2510501 Rockingham 7 Gracing, Dranage, Paving, PVMT Markings & Structures ' Metric 5% Bndge over Dan River 8 approaches on SR-2145 6.529001 B Randolph/ 8 Gracing, Drainage, Paving, PVMT Markings & Culverts Chatham US-64 from Elistol intersection witoSR-2628 on West Glenn Ave. in Sier City Metric 8% 4% 82623301 Forsyth 9 Grading. Dranage. Paving, PVMT Martongs & Structures Metric 5% Bridge over Winston-Salem Southbound Railway & approaches on SR-3875 (Waujf*Dwn) 8.2662601 Cabarrus 10 Gracing. Drainage, Paving, PVT Markings & Structures Metric 5% Bndge over Cockle Creek & approaches on SR-1621 ? ' *, 8.U671615 Mecklenburg 10 Grading, Dranage, Paving. Pavement Markings & Structures Metric 8% CharlcOe outer loop from south of SR-28G6 to south of SR-2802 (Rocky River Church Rd.) in Charlotte 8.U672209 Mecklenburg 10 Gracing, Drainage, Paving, PVT Markings & Structures ? Metric 8% West Charlotte outer loop from North of US-29/74 (WWgnson BM) to North of 1-85 6 678005B Mecklenburg 10 Gracing, Dranage. Pavings 4 Structures West Charlotte outer loop from Metnc 10% 5% Brown GrierRd Extension to 0.507 km North of US-2974 8.2311901 Johnston 4 Gracing. Drainage, Paving iStructures English 5% Brtdge over Hannah Creek & approaches on SR-1171 (Hannah Creek Rd.) 82451001 Harnett 6 Grading, Drainage, Paving, PVMT Markings & Structure English 6% Bridge over Blade River & approaches on SR-1735 6.529006T Chatham 8 Widening, Gradtog, Drainage, Paving, PVT Markings & Structures English 7%~ ~3% US-64 from Glenn Ave to ext 54ane section West of N Cottage Grove Ave. ?i Sier City 8.T520806 Chatham 8 Grading, Paving, Guardrail t Pavement Markings English 8% US-64 (Ptttsboro Bypass) from 115 miles East of SR-1514 to east of US-15/501 82700201 Ale^iany 11 Gracing Drainage, Paving, PVMT Markings 4 Structure English 5% Bridge over line River S approaches on SR-1172 and cuhtort on Pine Swamp Rk?r. 82741301 Suny 11 Gracing, Drainage, Pavrxj, PVT markings 4 Structures Engfsh 8% Bridge over Line Fisher fiver & approaches on SR-1360 82870601 McDowei 13 Gracing, Drarage, paving & Structure Encpsh "5% ' CdveiU Bndge over Crooked Peek 8 approaches on SR-1123 LETTING DATE: Tuesday, October 19, 1999 *** MONDAY, October 18,1999 6 PM - MIDNIGHT *** North Raleigh Hilton ? 3415 Wake Forest Road - Raleigh. N.f. Prime contractors will be available to receive quotes for trucking, sub-contracting and materials. M/WBE's needing more information and/or technical assistance may come to Room 522 to meet with representatives from the Bennington Corp., NCDOT's Supportive Provider. (919)832-6027 NCDOT Office of Civil Rights & Business Development 1*800*522-0453 Certification of highway contracting firms ' Richard Chrisawn Certification of supply/service/engineering firms: Robert Mathes Comments or concerns: Delano Rackard: Director - i