F A C I N G S O U T H

A progressive Southern news report
April 9, 2003 - Issue 45

Published by the Institute for Southern Studies and Southern Exposure magazine
IN THIS ISSUE OF FACING SOUTH:
> INSTITUTE INDEX - Battles of Perception
> DATELINE: THE SOUTH - News Around the Region
> [Section cut due to length]
INSTITUTE INDEX: Battles of Perception Percent of U.S. residents who think Saddam Hussein was connected to 9/11 terrorist attacks: 60
Percent who think he is tied to the al-Qaeda network: 80
Number of world intelligence agencies that claim this: 0
Percent of U.S. residents who rely on TV as their first source of news on Iraq: 89
Percent who say they now want to return to entertainment programming: 83
Rank of "Have You Forgotten," a pro-war song, on Billboard country music singles charts: 1
Rank of "Home," album by war critics the Dixie Chicks, on album charts: 1

Sources on file at the Institute for Southern Studies.
DATELINE: THE SOUTH - News Around the Region

SENATORS CALL FOR PROBE OF HALLIBURTON'S IRAQ CONTRACTS
Two Democratic Senators have called for a federal probe of Texas-based Halliburton Co., formerly led by now-Vice President Dick Cheney, which has come under fire for receiving "non-competitive" military contracts worth over $600 million. (CNN, 4/9) http://edition.cnn.com/2003/BUSINESS/04/09/sprj.irq.halliburton/

EVANGELICALS PLAN CHRISTIAN CONQUEST OF IRAQ
Washington is trying to portray its battle as one of liberation, not conquest, but the Southern Baptist Convention says it is sending 25,000 evangelicals to convert Iraqis and "wage spiritual warfare." Rev. Billy Graham, President Bush's spiritual advisor, also has plans to "save" the country. (Toronto Globe and Mail, 4/9) http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030409.umiss0409/BNStory/International

U.S. PRISON POPULATION TOPS 2 MILLION
The number of people in U.S. prisons and jails last year topped two million for the first time, the highest in the industrialized world. Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama have the highest proportion of their residents behind bars. (U.S. Department of Justice, 4/1/03) [Dead link removed. -Editor]

FLORIDA VOTING RIGHTS SUIT COULD TIP ELECTIONS
Florida is one of eight states that permanently bars ex-felons from voting. In a lawsuit that could tip Florida's future elections, the Brennan Center for Justice is representing thousands of ex-felons, mostly African Americans, seeking the franchise. (Miami Herald, 4/7) http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/5580709.htmf

VIRGINIA TECH RESTORES AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
A week after the Supreme Court began hearing the University of Michigan's affirmative action case, Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors voted to rescind a March 10 ban on preferences for racial minorities and other underrepresented groups in hiring, admissions and scholarships. (Associated Press, 3/10) http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030407/ap_on_re_us/affirmative_action_2

SCANDALS HAVE HEALTHSOUTH ON EDGE OF BANKRUPTCY
Birmingham-based HealthSouth, the largest provider of diagnostic imaging, outpatient surgery and rehabilitation services, has cut 20 percent of its headquarters staff as five more executives agreed to plead guilty in a huge accounting fraud scandal. (Associated Press, 4/3) http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=541&ncid=541&e=1&u=/ap/20030403/ap_on_he_me/healthsouth_4

HAVE CLIP ART, WILL DISSENT
What do you get when you mix politics, profanity, and clip art? For comic artist and North Carolina native David Rees, the answer is an Internet sensation. (Mother Jones, 4/2) http://www.motherjones.com/news/qa/2003/04/we_340_01.html

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