ACTRESS FISHER BUST OUT THE BROOM: MAKES ‘SHOPAHOLIC’ SOFTBALL SWEEPS UP GETTERMAN CLASSIC A MUST SEE PAGE 6 PAGE 5 ROUNDING UP CAMPUS NEWS SINCE 1900 THE BAYLOR LARIAT TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2009 Waco roads may lead back to work Organization looks on these changes. debating for the last two months to transportation for “I-35 is always going to be a or so to create jobs through the major priority, but what about building of infrastructure,” said local job opportunities other projects? That’s what will director of the MPO Christopher be discussed at the meetings,” Evilia. “Now we have to figure By Brittany Hardy said Marlene Neill, City of Waco out which plans could begin Staff writer Community Promotions Spe- quickly.” cialist. As a result of this plan, the The Waco Metropolitan Plan- The Waco MPO meets to dis- region is set to receive about $7 ning Organization will meet cuss transportation needs after million for highways and bridg- three times this week to discuss they have received funding or es, and $3 million for public ways to improve transportation when they are applying for fund- transportation. and get Texans back to work. ing from federal or state govern- In these three public meet- These three public meetings ments. ings, discussion will be held to will be informal with informa- The community will receive determine the top priorities for tion available as participants funds as a result of Congress using funding. The MPO staff arrive and opportunities to adopting the A mer ican Recover y have come up with some pre- ask the staff questions and fill and Reinvestment Plan, accord- ferred situations, but the public out comment forms, in order ing to an MPO press release, will be asked to give their sug- to highlight the changes pro- which is the formal name of gestions about how funds com- Stephen Green/Lariat Staff posed to the Waco Metropolitan President Barack Obama’s stim- ing from the Waco Metropoli- Metropolitan Planning Organization Director Christopher Evilia presents maps and proposed amendments for the Waco Transportation Plan, or MTP, ulus plan. tan Area should be used to get Metropolitan Transportation Plan at the Waco Transit Administration building Monday. The plan includes proposed and Transportation Improve- “The economic stimulus plan usages for money from President Barack Obama’s stimulus plan. ment Plan and seek comments is the plan that congress has been Please see JOBS, page 7 Regents approve new programs, facilities Campus to welcome that include mathematics edu- will be constructed adjacent board continued discussions new Ph.D. program cation, social science education to the Getterman Stadium, on the search for Baylor’s next and science education. After which was built in 2001 with president but made no official and softball complex completion, graduates will the largest gift to women’s ath- announcements on the pro- work as both teacher educators letics in Baylor history. The cess. By Ashley Corinne Killough and educational researchers in multi-purpose training facility Dr. Howard Batson, chair- Staff writer local schools. will include retractable batting man of the board, said that “The addition of doctoral cages, pitching areas and other while he brought the regents up Baylor’s Board of Regents studies will not only meet Bay- player development resources. to date on the search process, approved on Friday a new doc- lor’s mission of providing world- The board also approved the Batson said they have yet to toral program in curriculum wide leadership in selected renovation of the Baylor Tennis establish a selection committee and teaching in the School of areas of expertise, but the pres- Center building. The project or any formal procedures. Education and announced a ence of doctoral students will will involve improvements to “The one thing I’m hearing naming gift from Ted and Sue add value to our undergraduate the men’s and women’s locker from folks on campus is that we Getterman of Waco for the teacher education program and rooms and lounges, the visi- need some time to heal,” Batson Getterman Softball Practice work with local schools,” said tor’s locker room and the video said. “We’re happy that things Facility. Dr. Jon Engelhardt, dean of the room, as well as other renova- are going so well with Dr. Gar- Courtesy of Baylor University Beginning in Fall 2009, the School of Education, in a news tions to coaches’ offices and the land. The most common thing The Board of Regents announced a naming gift from Ted and Sue Getter- new Ph.D. program will allow release. building foyer. man Friday for the newly approved 1.3 million softball complex. The com- students to specialize in fields The new practice facility In other business, the Please see REGENT, page 7 plex will be constructed adjacent to the Getterman Stadium, as shown in the map. an income at or under 180 per- Obama’s health care views Administration Obama faces cent below the prior to the election Federal Poverty Level; which translates into appointed for an income of challenge with approximately $30,000 to $40,000 a year per fa m i ly. auto rebuilding health care Under Obama’s alterations to ing the cost of pouring billions the program, By Ken Thomas more into struggling companies Editor’s note: This is the second In regard to health care, the children in and Tom Krisher against possible bankruptcies installment of the “First 100 Days” modern political landscape of households of The Associated Press that could undermine plans to series taking a look at President the United States is fractured families with jump-start the economy. Barack Obama’s first months in by two opposing mindsets. a cumulative WASHINGTON — President General Motors Corp. and office. On the conservative side lies income of under Barack Obama plans to appoint Chrysler LLC are racing against a desire to protect competition $65,000 would senior administration officials, a Tuesday deadline to submit By Trent Goldston among health care providers become eligible rather than a single “car czar,” plans to the government. and Brittany McNamara and allow private choice to the for free health as had been discussed, to over- The plans are to be followed Reporters individual citizen. In contrast care. see a restructuring of the auto by weeks of intense nego- to the conservatives is a pro- “Similar to industry. tiations ahead of a March 31 As 2009 commences, Presi- gressive movement, desiring public educa- Treasury Secretary Timo- deadline for the final versions dent Barack Obama crosses the health care reform that includes tion, it is a valid thy Geithner and National of the reports. political threshold provisional health social-insur- Economic Council Director GM and Chrysler are living and comes face to care to the public. ance goal to Lawrence Summers will over- off a combined $13.4 billion in face with the harsh President Obama ensure that chil- see the across-the-government government loans. realities of a quickly himself rests at the dren get health panel, a senior administration If they don’t receive con- decaying America. The First more progressive care, as they do official said Sunday on the con- cessions by March 31, they One of the first 100 Days side of the spec- an education,” dition of anonymity because face the prospect of having obstacles he must trum. Although this said James W. no announcement had been the loans pulled, followed by conquer is the all tension exists, all Henderson, a made. bankruptcy proceedings. too familiar issue of agree there is need Ben Williams “The president understands Any bankruptcy would be health care, which for improvement. professor in the importance of this issue and particularly painful, with some affects Americans of all social “There’s almost no one in economics and ployed to pay the full premium also understands that the auto economists predicting the standings and is quickly devel- Congress that doesn’t want academic director. “A 6-year- themselves, but still offered industry affects and is affected country could lose 2 million oping into a national crisis. In some form of health care old can’t very well pay for his them coverage. Under the new by a broad range of economic to 3 million jobs this year and an attempt to navigate through reform,” Brogdon said. “The own health care.” revision to the program, the policies,” the official said. the unemployment rate, now the chaos of modern politics, question lies in what form it Also on the font line of government will pay up to two- As the teams move forward, 7.6 percent, could swell past 9 local experts share their opin- will take.” Obama’s changes is the Con- thirds of the premium cost. Obama “wants to make sure percent by the spring of 2010. ions and provide insight. One of the preliminary solidated Omnibus Budget One of the more controver- that we’re getting the expertise In television interviews “No one has been able to efforts in which Obama’s staff Reconciliation Act (COBRA), a sial discussions in the Obama and input of agencies across Sunday, White House senior establish why health care costs is involved is to revitalize the program allowing workers to staff is to extend wider cover- the government,” the official adviser David Axelrod didn’t so much more in the U.S. for State Children’s Health Insur- retain their employee health age under Medicare. With anx- said. respond directly when asked basically the same product,” ance Program (SCHIP). In most insurance benefits for up to iety around the issue already, Obama and his aides face i f t h e U .