Nation digest 4/28/03

Parents wary after teacher's China trip

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Fearing the SARS virus, parents said they would keep at least 10 elementary school children home starting today when a teacher planned to return from a trip to China.

School officials said they planned to tell media specialist Gayle Grossman about the parents' decision but said she would not be asked to stay home if she feels healthy.

Health officials have encouraged people who visit areas with SARS to continue normal activities unless symptoms are spotted. The first sign is usually a fever.

The parents said their children would stay home from Bayview Elementary for 10 days. That is the outer range of the disease's likely incubation period, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"If we wait until she develops symptoms, it could be too late," Virginia Gabriel said.

There was no comment Sunday from Grossman; her phone number is unlisted.

Poll: Americans mixed on college affirmative action

A new poll highlights Americans' conflicted feelings about affirmative action at colleges: A majority of those surveyed said it benefits society, but even more said schools should not admit minorities who have lower grades than other qualified candidates.

The finding is part of a comprehensive survey of American attitudes toward colleges and universities being released today by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Among other findings, the survey revealed that more than 80 percent of Americans believe skyrocketing tuition has made higher education less affordable to the middle class. At the same time, 75 percent believe a college education is "worth the price."

With the Supreme Court deciding a critical case that challenges the University of Michigan's use of race as a factor in admissions, 58 percent of respondents to the Chronicle poll said affirmative action programs benefit society.

But 64 percent of those surveyed said they thought minority students should not be admitted to a school if their grades and test scores didn't meet the level of other applicants.

Editor: Reporters sold Smart tips to Enquirer

SALT LAKE CITY -- Two reporters for The Salt Lake Tribune have been disciplined for contributing to the National Enquirer about the Elizabeth Smart story.

Kevin Cantera and Michael Vigh, the Tribune's lead reporters on the Smart case, had a meeting with a reporter from the tabloid and outlined the investigation into the girl's disappearance, Tribune editor James E. Shelledy said in his Sunday letter to readers.

The reporters were paid an undisclosed amount for their contributions, and they worked with the Enquirer without the Tribune's permission.

Elizabeth, then 14, was taken at knifepoint from her bedroom on June 5. She was found with her alleged captors, Brian Mitchell and Wanda Barzee, March 12 in a Salt Lake suburb. Barzee and Mitchell are each being held in the Salt Lake County jail on kidnapping, sexual assault and burglary charges.

Cantera and Vigh, who told the newspaper about their work with the Enquirer last week, offered to resign, but Shelledy refused. He did not disclose how the reporters were disciplined.

School district lawyer bills for 81-hour day

UPPER DARBY, Pa. -- A lawyer who made $421,327 representing a suburban school district in one year submitted a bill for an 81-hour day and three for 25-hour days, a newspaper review found.

Attorney Barry Van Rensler blamed innocent mistakes for the billing errors in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2002, and returned $19,361 to the Upper Darby School District last week.

"I love the school district, and I would never intentionally overcharge them," Van Rensler told The Philadelphia Inquirer, which reviewed his bills.

Upper Darby, just outside Philadelphia, has more than 12,000 students.

-- From wire reports