The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom
NEWS BRIEFS
WASHINGTON
S General says
Baghdad could be
secured with fewer
than 21,500 troops
The top U.S. commander in Iraq
told a Senate panel yesterday that
improving security in Baghdad
would take fewer than half as many
extra troops as President Bush has
chosen to commit.
Testifying before the Senate
Armed Services Committee on his
nomination to be Army chief of
staff, Gen. George Casey said he
had asked for two additional Army
brigades, based on recommenda-
tions of his subordinate command-
ers. Bush announced Jan.10 that he
would send five extra brigades as
part of a buildup that would total
21,500 soldiers and Marines.
Asked by Sen. John Warner (R-
Va.) why he had not requested the
full five extra brigades that Bush is
sending, Casey said, "I did not want
to bring one more American soldier
into Iraq than was necessary to
accomplish the mission."
With many in Congress opposing
or skeptical of Bush's troop buildup,
Casey did not say he opposed the
president's decision. He said the full
complement of five brigades would
give U.S. commanders in Iraq addi-
tional, useful flexibility.
WASHINGTON
Senate passes bill
to hike minimum
wage by $2.10
The Senate voted overwhelm-
ingly yesterday to boost the federal
minimum wage by $2.10 to $7.25 an
hour over two years, but packaged
the increase with small business
tax cuts and limits on corporate pay
that could complicate its path to
become law.
The increase in the minimum
wage, the first in a decade, was
approved 94-3, capping a nine-day
debate over how to balance the
wage hike with the needs of busi-
nesses that employ low-wage work-
ers.
A top priority of Democrats, the
wage hike has both real and sym-
bolic consequences. It would be one
of the first major legislative suc-
cesses of the new Democratic-con-
trolled Congress.
"Passing this wage hike repre-
sents a small but necessary step to
help lift America's working poor
out of the ditches of poverty and
onto - the road toward economic
prosperity," said Sen. Edward Ken-
nedy (D-Mass.)
Republicans stressed the impor-
tance of the bill's business tax
b reaks, though it was a significantly
smaller tax package than Repub-
licans had sought during previous
attempts to raise the minimum
wage.
BOSTON
Two men let go in
ploy that sparked
terrorism fears
Two men who authorities say
placed electronic advertising devic-
es around the city were released
from jail yesterday, apparently
amused with the publicity stunt
that stirred fears of terrorism and
shut down parts of the city.
Peter Berdovsky, 27, and Sean
Stevens, 28, were released on
$2,500 cash bond after each pleaded
not guilty to placing a hoax device
and disorderly conduct for a device
found Wednesday at a subway sta-
tion. They waved and smiled as
they greeted people in court.
Outside, they met reporters and
television cameras and launched
into a nonsensical discussion of hair
styles of the 1970s. "What we really
want to talk about today - it's kind of
important to some people - it's hair-
cuts of the 1970s," Berdovsky said.
Officials found 38 blinking elec-
tronic signs promoting the Cartoon
Network TV show "Aqua Teen
Hunger Force" onbridges and other
high-profile spots across the city
Wednesday, prompting the closing
of a highway and the deployment of
bomb squads. The surreal series is
about a talking milkshake, a box of
fries and a meatball. The network is
a division of Turner Broadcasting
Systems Inc.
- Compiled from
Daily wire reports
13
Times federal appeals courts
have cited wikipedia.org - the
comprehensive, engagingbutoften
dubious online encyclopedia - in
opinions since 2004, according to
The New York Times. And here we
thought it was not yet acceptable
to cite it in papers for class. Cut
this out and give it your professor
the next time he admonishes you
for using the site in a paper.
PRICE IS RIGHT
From page 1
aren't chosen randomly from the
audience. Posner had to wait in line
again for contestant interviews.
Under the intense pressure and
anticipation, hopeful contestants
quizzed each other on pricing strat-
egies.
"Six-cylinder Mustang," Posner
asked a fellow audience member.
"$19,500."
Cha-ching.
"My Dad didn't know there were
so many crazy fans," Posner said.
"He thought I was more alone in
the world."
His interview went well, but
when the first four contestants
were called from the audience, Pos-
ner wasn't among them.
After the end of the first round,
though, the announcer's deep voice
came through the loudspeaker like
the voice of God and said those five
heavenly words: "Jeremy Posner,
come on down."
Posner jumped out of his seat
and bolted onto the stage.
"By the time they finished my
name, I was already on contestant's
row," he said. "I don't think the
camera had time to find me."
It was time for the hours of taped
shows and skipped days of school
spent watching to pay off.
After a winning bid on a ceiling
fan, he was in. He was on. He was
standing right next to Bob. He was
hyperventilating.
"The stagehands thought I was
going to pass out," he said.
He kept his composure. It was
harder when Barker said he would
be playing Plinko, the Holy Grail for
Price is Right fans.
Posner correctly priced all of his
items: a weather radio, an English
muffin toaster, a roadside work kit
and a teapot.
He dropped his chips into the
famed board and heard the famil-
iar plink, plink, plink that gives the
game its name. That's when he won
the $12,500.
He won $12,500.
Posner's luck failed him while
spinning the big wheel, but he felt
lucky enough already.
"I can sleep well at night," he
said. "Because the only reason I
lost was luck."
Posner said he will put the money
toward a car and dinner with his
girlfriend at the Gandy Dancer in
Ann Arbor.
And just as Barker requests at
the end of each episode, Posner's
dog is neutered, he said.
TUTORS
From page 1
They were there as volunteers for
826 Michigan, a non-profit orga-
nization for which students often
volunteer.
Author David Eggers originally
created a non-profit foundation,
826 Valencia, to support writing
education in San Francisco. It has
since spawned five other programs:
826 New York, Seattle, Los Angeles,
Chicago and two years ago Michi-
gan. which has been operating
locally for nearly two years.
The Michigan chapter was
established with donations by Steve
Gillis, a local writer, said Amanda
Uhle, the chapter's executive direc-
tor.
In less than two years, 826 Mich-
igan has been transformed into a
thriving academic-aid program,
Uhle said.
"Not every non-profit has that
advantage so quickly," she said.
Most of the organization's adver-
tising comes from word-of-mouth,
but the group also advertises at
Festifall and the Ann Arbor Book
Fair.
LSA freshman Ridley Jones, who
volunteers for 826 Michigan, said
the organization provides a conve-
nient and enjoyable way to fulfill
community service requirements
she needs to complete for her Tel-
luride scholarship.
Others, like Vitaly Volberg, a
graduate student in the School of
Public Health, said they joined the
program to fill their spare time in a
productive way.
Muzzio first became interested in
the organization after reading one
of Eggers' books. And learned more
at Festifall. He said he feels a need to
contribute to the education of others
because he grew up struggling with
English in a bilingual home.
"It makes me feel better when I
help them," Muzzio said.
Friday, February 2, 2007 - 3
On first approach, Muzzio
seemed quiet and reserved.
Wearing a pair of tan Converse
Chuck Taylors and an untucked
shirt, he seemed casual but pro-
fessional.
Standing in front of a group
of children, though, Muzzio was
bursting with encouragement and
enthusiasm. He frequently praised
the children for their efforts while
they worked.
"You guys are superstars," he
told his students.
He helped students brainstorm
the laws of a utopian society and
write stories confined to exactly 63
words.
McLean said she loves to observe
the children having fun and enjoy-
ing the relationships they develop
during the program.
"It's excitingto see kids get excit-
ed," she said.
Allison Ghaman contributed
to this report.
Feds watching jails
for illegal immigrants
CANCER
From page 1
cancer, Simeone said.
Simeone and other researchers
were able to identify cancer stem
cells by taking human pancreatic
tumors, separating the individual
cells and categorizing them by pro-
teins on the cell surface. They then
injected different combinations
of tumor cells into mice without
immune systems.
In Simeone's experiment, she
found that the mice that read-
ily grew tumors had been injected
with cells marked by three types
of surface proteins, identified as
CD44, CD24 and ESA. This small
group of cells, which makes up
less than 1 percent of pancreatic
tumor cells, was able to produce a
tumor closely resembling the orig-
inal. The other cells in the origi-
nal tumor did not grow tumors in
mice.
CD44 is one of the markers
Wicha and Prince identified as a
cancer stem cell in breast as well as
in head and neck tumors. This com-
mon denominator provides a start-
ing point for researchers to look for
stem cells in other cancers.
But while Simeone reports that
CD24 caused tumors in the mice,
Wicha said it does not generate
breast cancer tumors.
This finding supports the idea
that each type of cancer may have
its own unique blend of cancer stem
cells.
With the knowledge of pancreat-
ic stem cell markers as well as those
for other types of cancer, research-
ers can approach treating cancer in
a totally different way.
According to Wicha, Simeonwe
and Prince, who often collaborate
on projects, many modern cancer
treatments like radiation and che-
motherapy fail because they are not
targeted at the cancer stem cells.
Currently, treatment suc-
cess is measured by how much a
tumor's mass shrinks. The prob-
lem with this logic, the research-
ers said, is that cancer stem cells
are resistant to current standard
therapies. While 99 percent of the
tumor cells may be destroyed, if
that nagging 1 percent remains,
the whole tumor has the potential
to grow back.
In the short term, Prince, Wicha
and Simeone said they would work
to improve their abilities to locate
and study the key cells and find out
what makes them unique.
Eventally this understanding will
allow researchers to develop new
treatments, the researchers said.
Wicha said he is optimistic but
that it will be a challenge to find a
way to destroy the cancer stem cells
without damaging other healthy
cells.
"If we could be more specific
about killing cancer stem cells, it
seems quite logical that treatment
would be more effective," Prince
said.
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - Juan
Martinez was looking forward to
returning to his construction job
after a one-month sentence for vio-
lating probation on drug charges.
But when he gotoutofthe orange
Countyjail, he was met by immigra-
tion agents bent on deportingthe 23-
year-old illegal immigrant with $68
in his pocket and few prospects.
"I just probably won't come
back," he said about being sent to
Tijuana, Mexico. "If I do, I'll keep
coming back to prison and I don't
want that."
U.S.jailsandprisonshavebecome
strategic chokepoints in the search
for illegal immigrants.
More federal agents are more
closely watching local jails for
potentially tens of thousands of
immigrants subject to deportation.
Federal officials also are enlisting
local authorities to do background
checks on people under arrest.
U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement officials say more
jail checks are crucial to prevent-
ing serious crimes by illegal immi-
grants. In December, for example,
an illegal immigrant with a his-
tory of arrests for assaults and drug
offenses shot two Long Beach police
officersbefore he was killed in a gun
battle.
"This isn't really an immigration
issue. It's a public safety issue," ICE
spokeswoman Virginia Kice said.
"You can be sure there'll bea finger-
pointing drill at the end of the day if
they do something evil."
About half of the nearly 190,000
illegal immigrants deported last
year had criminal records, U.S.
authorities said.
Sweeps ofjails over the pastseven
months by ICE agents have netted
more than 5,500 people nationwide,
and a new system designed to track
federal inmates has flagged about
6,000 people at 119 prisons, the
agency said.
Past efforts to identify illegal
immigrants in jails were haphaz-
ard, with federal authorities check-
ing inmate rosters at some lockups
weekly at best. Some of the worst
immigration violators were allowed
back on the streets after doing their
time.
Conservative groups are pleased
with the new strategy but worry
that the emphasis on jail checks is a
political gimmick that could divert
much-needed personnel and other
resources from stopping illegal
immigrants at the border.
"This is a way to do it that every-
body is for but has no real effect on
the overall immigration flow," said
Mark Krikorian, executive director
of the Center for Immigration Stud-
ies, a conservative think tank. "It
shuts up the critics."
Immigrant rights groups say ille-
gal immigrants might stop report-
ing child abuse or domestic violence
to protect husbands or fathers from
deportation. They also worry that
people who have been stopped for
minor offenses or wrongly arrested
will be deported.
"It's a practice that leads to weak-
ening or eliminating civil liberties,"
said Nativo Lopez, president of the
Los Angeles-based Mexican Ameri-
can Political Association.
Starting in 2008, ICE plans to
assign 220 more employees to jails
through its Criminal Alien Pro-
gram. The agency would not say
how many employees are now in the
program.
The agency received a $45 mil-
lion funding increase this year to
bolster criminal deportations, said
Julie L. Myers, assistant secretary
of homeland security for ICE. It has
requested an additional $31 million
next year, which would bring the
program'sbudget to $168 million.
The funding falls short of pay-
ing for putting immigration officers
at all the nation's jails and prisons.
But ICE hopes to extend its reach
by expanding another program that
allows authorities to train local jail
officers to screen for illegal immi-
grants themselves. That program
received a nearly $50 million bud-
get increase - a tenfold jump - for
2007.
The training program is already
in place in county jails in California
and North Carolina and in the Ari-
zona state prison system.
The four counties in Southern
California that participate have
identified more than 4,600 illegal
immigrants since October, Kice
said. In Mecklenberg County, N.C.,
nearly 1,300 have been flagged in
one year, said Sgt. Quinn Stansell.
July 21 set for release of final Potter chapter
NEW YORK (AP) - Let it her British and U.S. publishers, site yesterday, followed soon by
begin: the countdown, the party Bloomsbury and Scholastic, Inc. releases from her publishers.
planning, the predictions, the Ten years, and a few hundred The news landed like a silent
meaning of it all. The tears - for million sales, after the first Potter meteor. "Deathly Hallows"
the end of Harry Potter. book was released, Rowling will almost instantly topped the best
The world's most anticipated wrap up the magical adventures seller lists on Amazon.com and
book finale, "Harry Potter and of the boy wizard, his friends and Barnes & Noble.com, displacing
the Deathly Hallows," will come his enemies. another industry titan, an Oprah
out midnight, July 21, accord- The author posted a brief Winfrey pick, Sidney Poitier's
ing to author J.K. Rowling and announcement on her web- "The Measure of a Man."
With strong
language,
.I N F OR MAT IO N
scientists say
. , 800-488-8828
it's ourfault
WWW.sandpiperbeaCOn.COM
PARIS (AP) - A long-awaited
report says global warming is
"very likely" man-made, the most
powerful language ever used on M O DE*L E ARCHCALENDAR
the issue by the world's leading *VALID ORIRST 1000 RESERVATIONS.
climate scientists, delegates who
have seen the report said Thurs-
day.
And it says the disturbing
signs are already visible in rising
seas, killer heat waves, worsen-
ing droughts and stronger hur-
ricanes'.
There was another signal, too:
The City of Light dimmed the
lights. sk
Slowly, starting first with the
iconic Eiffel Tower and then To play: Complete the grid so that every row, column
spreading to the hotel where
many scientists were staying, and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 to 9.
Paris quieted and dimmed ever
so slightly, even as those still fine-
tuning the document burned the There is no guessing or math involved,
midnight oil. just use logic to solve. Good Luck and enjoy!
The report being released Fri-
day from the Intergovernmen-
tal Panel on Climate Change - a Difficulty: Hard
group of hundreds of scientists
and representatives of 113 gov- 9 7 5 4 3
ernments-unanimouslyportrays
the science of global warming
as an existing and worsening
threat, officials told The Associ-
ated Press.
"There's no question that the
powerful language is intimately 1
linked to the more powerful
science," said study co-author
Andrew Weaver of the Univer-
sity of Victoria. Weaver said it is
all based on science that is rock-
solid, peer-reviewed, conserva-
tive and consensus: "It's very
conservative. Scientists by their
nature are skeptics." 6 2
The scientists wrote the-----
report, based on years of peer- 3 9 6 5
reviewed research; government
officials edited it so that it would
receive the required unanimous Iio 0
approval by world governments.
UM School of Music, theatre & Dance
Limversity Dance Company
Choreography by Martha Graham,
guest artist Leyya lawil, and faculty
Amy Chavasse, Peter Sparling,
Sandra'Ibrijano, and Robin Wilson
N D R F VEUI E S
February I at 7:30pm - February 2 & 3at 8pm
February 4 at 2pm - Power Center - Ann Arbor
Tickets $22 and $16 -Students $9 with 11)
League Ticket Office - 734-764-2538