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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 29, 1999)
SPOBTS Running for the number Huskers Lou Petricca and Tony Smith chase after the four-minute mile while competing on the NU track team during the outdoor season. PAGE 9 A&E Covering the door April 29,1999 Lincoln taverns don’t ask for cover charges unless they feature a band or dancing, so why is RAY OF HOPE the O Street crowd so cheap? PAGE 12 Partly sunny, high 65. Partly ctattdy tonight, low 40. 1V1L/I\ UfniNL£il/Ull FORMER STATE SENATOR DON WESELY is running for mayor in the May 6 election. As state senator, Wesely, a UNL alumnus, said he fought to pass initiatives to benefit the university. Don Wesely values his experiences atUNL Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of two stories profiling the Lincoln mayoral candidates. Wednesday s story fea tured Republican candidate Cindy Johnson. By Eric Rineer Staff writer As an alumnus of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, former state senator and mayoral hopeful Don Wesely said he cher ished every moment of his college experi ence. The Democratic candidate and 20-year member of the Nebraska Legislature often describes his time as a UNL student as a transformation - from an ordinary Nebraska boy to a laid-back, top-flight politician. Wesely, who is gearing up to defeat his Republican opponent Cindy Johnson in Tuesday’s general election, said being a uni versity student was the most important part of his life, minus being a parent of two daughters and one boy: Sarah, Amanda and Andrew. “When I entered the university, I was a typical Nebraska boy who hadn’t seen much of the world,” said Wesely, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in university studies in 1977. “By the time I left and entered the Legislature, I was a completely different per son.” This, he said, had to do with the valuable Please see WESELY on 7 Legislature proposes convention center aid By Brian Carlson Staff writer The Legislature opened debate Wednesday on a bill that would make it easier for Omaha and other Nebraska cities and towns to build conven tion centers. Supporters of LB382 said the bill was essen tial for the state’s economic future and represent ed sound economic policy. But Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha attacked the bill, using his trademark delaying tactics in his quest to block the measure. i>en. Dan Lyncn or Omaha, the bill s sponsor, said the Legislature must assist in the construc tion of a convention center so the state can com pete with cities such as Denver, St. Louis and Kansas City, Mo., and reap the economic bene fits of large national conventions. “If we don’t take an active part in trying to achieve a convention center in Nebraska - Omaha in particular at this time - we could lose an opportunity we might not have a chance to address again,” he said. Lynch and other supporters said that while convention centers themselves may not be prof itable, they generate considerable economic ben efits by attracting large conventions. Convention participants spend money in the community - for lodging, food and other goods and services - providing a boost to the local and state economies and generating additional tax rev enue. Under the bill, cities that voted to build con vention centers would report the amount of addi tional state tax revenue generated by convention center activities. Only additional revenue pro duced by out-of-state participants in such activi ties would count. Please see CONVENTION on 7 Public access is outlet for expression fcfc (Public access) allows weird people like us to get on TV and have our own show.” Allen Erickson filmmaker and public access producer By Josh Funk Senior staff writer The First Amendment isn’t always pretty. Lincoln’s public access television proves that svery night. But it does provide a forum for expression that anyone in the community can use. Cable channels 80 and 99 simulcast shows as diverse as amateur wrestling, issue-oriented dis cussion, experimental video and religious devo tions. “You can hear the best and the worst of the area on the public access channel,” said Ron tCurtenbach, who has been on public access since the channel started in 1973. Viewers brave enough to venture into the upper range of cable channels may be surprised, or even pleased, with what they find. Each of the nine people, ranging from high school-aged to middle-aged, currently producing shows stand behind their work as artistic expres sion. CableVision community access coordinator Eric D’Agostino said that anyone can produce a video, fill out an application and have it aired. Producers can even use CableVision equipment after taking a free training course. The shows cannot be obscene or include any solicitation, D’Agostino said, but those are the only regulations. Read the Daily Nebraskan on the World Wide Web at dailyneb.com It any material is questionable, it must be reviewed by the city attorney before airing. With his long tenure and four shows that each air several times a week, Kurtenbach is easily the most recognizable public access icon in Lincoln. Kurtenbach, who makes his living as a UNL housekeeper, tapes the show in his own home. He takes calls on a speaker phone with his phone num ber taped up in the background for viewers to call. Though Kurtenbach said his show’s focus was public affairs, callers often call in with whatever is on their minds, and sometimes the calls are abu sive. One time Kurtenbach said a father and son Please see ACCESS on 8