The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com

Wedn6sday, September 21, 2011- 3A

The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom Wednlsday, September 21, 2011 - 3A

NEWS BRIEFS
LANSING, Mich.
Many lose food
assistance with
new requirements
An undetermined number of
Michigan's nearly 2 million food
assistance recipients will lose
the help under new eligibility
requirements the statewill begin
using in October.
Michigan has determined food
assistance eligibility based only
on income for roughly a decade.
A new policy will include a
review of certain financial assets
starting Oct 1. The requirements
will affect new applicants right
away and existing recipients
when their cases come up for
review, which typically happens
once every six months.
Those with assets of more
than $5,000 in bank accounts or
some types of property would no
longer be eligible for food assis-
tance. Other assets that would
count against the cap include
vehicles with market values of
more than $15,000 and second
homes, depending on how much
is owed on the properties.
JUNEAU, Alaska
Alaskans receive
$1,174 check from
state's oil wealth
Most Alaska residents will
soon be getting a check for $1,174
simply because they live there.
Each person'sshare ofthestate's
vast oil wealth was announced
with much fanfare in Anchorage
yesterday, with Gov. Sean Par-
nell ripping open a gold-colored
envelope to reveal the number.
This day is so widely anticipated
in Alaska that the announcement
of the Permanent Fund Dividend
amount was carried live on televi-
sion statewide, and dozens tuned
in to watch a live webcast by the
governor's office.
This year's check is the small-
est sinc ' X006 and $10 Iess
than last year's amount, which
was 1;2$1. Parnell warned the
amount could diminish more in
the future, given market vola-
tilities and the fact that oil pro-
duction in the state is declining.
Nonetheless, he called this year's
amount "healthy."
MEXICO CITY
Mexican army
captures key drug
cartel figure
The Mexican army captured a
key figure in the cult-like Knights
Templar.drug cartel that is sow-
ingviolence in western Mexico, a
top officer announced yesterday.
Saul Solis Solis, 49, a former
police chief and one-time con-
gressional candidate, was cap-
tured without incident Monday
in the cartel's home state of
Michoacan, Brig. Gen. Edgar

Luis Villegas said during a pre-
sentation of Sols to the media.
Solis is considered one of
the principal lieutenants in the
Knights Templar, which split
late last year from La Familia,
a pseudo-religious drug gang
known as a major trafficker of
methan phetamine.
KAMPALA, Uganda
Police arrest
writer critical of
Uganda president
Ugandan police say they've
arrested a man who wrote a book
criticizing the longtime presi-
4dent and the ruling party.
Police spokeswoman Judith
Nabakooba said yesterday that
police arrested Vincent Nzaram-
ba on Saturday.
Policeman Ronald Ogen says
Nzabara was arrested over sus-
picions that his book is inciting
the public.
Ogen says there are legal pro-
visions that allow suspects to be
held beyond the constitutional
limit of 48 hours without charge.
Nzaramba's wife Gloria says
police confiscated copies of his
book and his laptop when they
arrested him.
-Compiled from
Daily wire reports

GREGORY BULL/AP
Two men kiss shortly after midnight during a celebration for the end of'the "don't ask, don't tell" policy yesterday in
San Diego. After years of debate and months of final preparations, the military can no longer prevent gays from serving
openly in its ranks.
U.S. military milestone
ends ban on gay service .
Obama says DADT known as "don't ask, don't tell," forth "our armed forces will no
under which gays can serve longer lose the extraordinary
repeal will enhance as long as they don't openly skills and combat experience
acknowledge their sexual ori- of so many gay and lesbian ser-
national security entation - took effect yester- vice members."
day at 12:01 a.m. EDT. Later yesterday, at a New
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Appearing with Panetta for York City Democratic fund-
U.S. military passed a historic what was probably his final raiser, the president said he
milestone yesterday with the news Pentagon conference as had met backstage with some
repeal of the ban on gays serv- chairman of the Joint Chiefs young Americans who had
ing openly in uniform, ending of Staff, retiring Navy Adm. been discharged from the mili-
a prohibition that President Mike Mullen said that with the tary because of the "don't ask,
Barack Obama said had forced new law allowing gays to serve don't tell" policy.
gay and lesbian service mem- openly, the military is a stron- "As of today, that will never
bers to "lie about who they ger, more tolerant force with happen again," Obama said.
are." greater character and honor. "As of today, no one needs to
Defense Secretary Leon "I still believe that it was hide who they are to serve the
Panetta pledged: not to. allIawI.first and foemost a matter of rountry thatthey.loe," . ,
other issues of equal opportu- integrity, that it was funda- The head of Pentagon per-
nitysuch as allowing women mentally against everything sonnel policies issued a memo
to serve in combat roles, to be we stand for as an institution to the work force at a minute
ignored or set aside. to force people to lie about who after midnight yesterday. "All
"I am committed to remov- they are just to wear a uni- service members are to treat
ing all of the barriers that form," Mullen said. "We are one another with dignity and
would prevent Americans from better than thatL" respect regrdless of sexual
serving their country and from Some in Congress still orientation," the memo from
rising to the highest level of oppose the change, arguing Clifford Stanley said.
responsibility that their tal- that it may undermine order Gay advocacy groups cel-
ents and capabilities warrant," and discipline, but top Penta- ebrated across the country.
Panetta told a Pentagon news gon leaders have certified that At a San Diego bar, current
conference. "These are men it will not hurt the military's and former troops danced and
and women who put their lives ability to recruit or to fight counted down to midnight.
on the line in the defense of wars. "You are all heroes," Sean Sala,
this country, and that's what Obama issued a statement a former Navy operations spe-
should matter the most." saying he is confident that lift- cialist, said. "The days of your
Repeal of the 18-year-old ing the ban will enhance U.S. faces beingblacked out on the
legal provision - commonly national security, that hence- news - no more."
SOLAR - mated to take at least 70 years, panels have come up at the
SOLAR Alexander said. University. In 2005, solar pan-
From Page 1A Despite the unlikelihood of els were installed on the roof
the implementation of the proj- of the University's renovated
petition are from University edf, some students are in sup- Dana Building.
students, alumni and faculty, port of installing solar panels
Patel said, the Ecology Cen- d6ithe Big House.
ter has not received a direct Rackham student Devi Glick
response from the University said she thinks the installation
administration. would greatly affect ecologi-
Terry Alexander, executive cal activism on campus. But she'
director of the Office of Campus noted that there are other ways
Sustainability, said the Univer- topromote energy conservation.
sity has considered an invest, "Putting solar panels on the
ment in solar panels for several Big House would look amaz-
years, but the plan might not ing,'and it would send a strong
be feasible because the initia- message that the University is
tive won't result in significant serious about campus sustain- " Top Michigan La
cost-savings for the University. abflity," Glick said. "However, * Best Value Law S
It would take about 70 years to covering the Big House with * Best Standard of
recover the original costs of the solar panels is not the only way
project because there isn't ade- toraise awareness about cam- * Top Green Scho.
quate roof space on the stadium pus sustainability." " Top 32 Part-time
for panels to garner a sufficient Glick,who is a board mem-
amount of energy, according to ber of the Student Sustain-
Alexander. ability Initiative on campus,
"Solar (energy) isn't efficient suggested environmentally
in this part of the country," he friendly alternatives like hav-
said. ing the University implement
Alexander added that even "zero waste" football games
without a solar-powered foot- and allow students to bring
ball stadium, the University is reusable water bottles into the
committed to energy conser- stadium.
vation efforts. Seventy campus Despite the Office of Campus
buildings have undergone ener- Sustainability's apprehension
gy conservation updates, gen- toward the solar panel project,
erating $2.5 million in savings the Ecology Center still hopes
that has been invested back to garner more support for the W AY A

into University departments. cause, Patel said. To boost the 5'IV S
These savings are "incentive number of supporters, she said
(for schools and colleges) to do Ann Arbor 350 plans to talk @
even more energy conserva- with students and community
tion," Alexander said. members at upcoming football
The sustainable projects games.
typically, earn back their origi- "As long as there is interest,
nal costs' over a 6 to. 10 year we will move forward," Patel
period, which is more feasible said.
than Ann Arbor 350's plan esti- This isn't the first time solar

Condemned
Ga. inmate has
much support,
but little hope
After years of bringing it to an end."
Georgia initially planned to'
debate, convicted execute Davis in July 2007, but.
the pardons board granted him
killer denied a stay less than 24 hours before
lasta a l he was to die. The U.S. Supreme
PPea Court stepped in a year later and
halted the lethal injection just
ATLANTA (AP) - Yet anoth- two hours before he was to be.
er appeal denied, Troy Davis executed. And a federal appeals
was left with little to do yester- court halted another planned
day but wait to be executed for execution a few months later.
a murder he insists he did not This time, state officials,
commit. are confident this lethal injec-
He lost his most realistic tion will be carried out. Geor-
chance to avoid lethal injection gia's governor 'does not have
yesterday, when Georgia's par- the power to grant condemned
dons board rejected his appeal inmates clemency. Davis sup-
for clemency. As his scheduled 7 porters are calling on Chatham
p.m. today execution neared, his County District Attorney Larry
backers resorted to far-fetched Chisolm to block the execu-
measures: urging prison work- tion. But the prosecutor said in
ers to strike or call in sick, ask- a statement yesterday he's pow-
ing prosecutors to block the erless to withdraw an execution"
execution - even considering order for Davis issued by a state-
a desperate appeal for White Superior Court judge.
House intervention. "We appreciate the outpour-
He has gotten support from ing of interest in this caset how
hundredsofthousandsofpeople, ever, this matter is beyond our
including a former FBI direc- control," Chisolm said.
tor, former President Jimmy Spencer Lawton, the prosecu-
Carter and Pope Benedict XVI, tor who secured Davis' convic-
and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling tion in 1991, said he has no doubt
gave him an unusual opportu- he is guilty.
nity to prove his innocence last "What we have had is a man,-
year. State and federal courts, ufactured appearance of doubt
however, repeatedly upheld his which has taken on the quality'
conviction for the 1989 killing of legitimate doubt itself. And all
of Mark MacPhail, an off-duty of it is exquisitely unfair," Law-
police officer who was working ton said.
as a security guard in Savannah MacPhail was shot to death
when he was shot dead rushing Aug. 19,1989, after comingto the
to help a homeless man who was aid of Larry Young, a homeless
being attacked. man who was pistol-whipped
Davis' attorneys say he was in a Burger King parking lot.
convicted based on flawed tes- Prosecutors say Davis was with
s,timony that'has'been i'aglyataoher man who was demand
recanted by witnesses, but pros- ing that Young give him a beer
ecutors andMacPhil's relatives wHeii Davis pielleduiuta hand7
say they have no doubt the right gun 'and bashed Young with it.
man is being punished. When MacPhail arrived to help,
"Justice was finally served for prosecutors say Davis had a
my father," said Mark MacPhail smirk on his face when he shot
Jr., who was an infant when his the officer to death.
father was gunned down. "The Witnesses placed Davis at
truth was finally heard." the crime scene and identified
As Davis' attorneys consid- him as the shooter. Shell casings
ered filing another appeal, his were linked to a shooting hours
supporters planned vigils and earlier that Davis was convicted
rallies around the World. Near- of. There was no other physical
ly 1 million signed a petition evidence.
seeking clemency, according to No blood or DNA tied Davis to
Amnesty International. the crime and the weapon was
"We've been praying about never located.
it and with God on our side Davis' attorneys say seven of
anything can happen," DeJaun nine key witnesses who testified
Correia-Davis, the condemned at his trial have disputed all or
man's 17-year-old nephew, told a parts of their testimony.
rally of hundreds in front of the Quiana Glover, who did not
Georgia Capitol late yesterday. testify at the original trial, said
"Let this be a case that not only one of the witnesses who did not
highlights the death penalty but recant told her he was the real
will hopefully be a big part in shooter.

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