Urban News

(WASHINGTON) -- The nation's big-city mayors say that the White House is reneging on its promise to pump monies into the cities for urban security. At the annual conference of mayors in the nation's capital, many are questioning why the president's so-called "war-time budget" has no funds for port and airport security.

Among those carrying the "where is our money?" message is Seattle mayor Greg Nickels. He tells United Press International that his city has had to spend millions in extra pay and overtime in the wake of Sept. 11, but Washington is not helping.

Meanwhile, a new report by the Brookings Institution says that although President George W. Bush managed to rally the nation after the attacks on New York City and Washington, the "momentum was lost" in the homeland security push.

Many of the mayors will be meeting with the president before their sessions adjourns this weekend.

(PHOENIX) -- The University of Arizona just got an incredible gift from a New York-based investment banker ... $50 million. The Arizona Republic says that William P. Carey -- founder and chairman of W.P. Carey & Co. of New York City -- gifted the school's business department with the money this week, the largest in the history of the school.

The publication says that the school, in making the announcement, gave few details as to whether any "strings" were attached to the gift.

Several high-ranking school officials, when called by the publication, said they were unaware of the gift. A formal announcement, possibly with more details, is expected.

The grant is not the first "nice thing" that Carey's family has done for the school, founded in the 1920s as Tempe State Teachers College. William Carey's grandfather was known in Phoenix as "The Father of ASU."

John Samuel Armstrong was single-handedly responsible for pushing through legislation to start the teachers school in Arizona at a time when it was thinly populated and not too well organized.

By the way, Carey is not a graduate of the school, but he did receive an honorary degree from the college. The modern-day university was officially named ASU in 1958.

(PITTSBURGH) -- Police experts in Pittsburgh think a pipe connected to the wrong valve may have caused a fatal accident. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says that a workman, hired to repair the refrigeration system in a downtown eatery, died when the tank on which he was working blew up in his face.

The explosion happened on the main floor of the Lynch Street Bistro, just before the restaurant was to have opened for Thursday lunch.

The worker was a private contractor. He had been called in to fix a leak in the system, which was losing its refrigeration. During his work something happened. Without warning one of the tanks exploded. There was no fire and no one else was hurt.

The current speculation is that two hoses or pipes were juxtaposed, with a high-pressure unit being hooked up where a low-pressure unit should have been attached.

(NEW ORLEANS) -- Two well-known stars have been added to the list of people who will be marshals in upcoming Mardi Gras parades. For decades special groups, called krewes, have worked for nearly a year organizing their official parade and celebration. Two of the largest krewes are Bacchus and Pegasus.

The former has picked comedian Jon Lovitz, standup, TV and movie star to head its main float. Pegasus has tapped platinum-recording artist Edwin McCain to marshal its forces. He's best known for his hits "Solitude" and "I'll Be."

Technically, both will be crowned "king" of their respective parade.

In past years, the krewe have picked a vast array of talent to lead their endeavors. Included have been: Nicolas Cage (Bacchus), ex-Seinfeld star Jason Alexander (Endymion), Mario Andretti (Pegasus) and New Orleans singer Charmaine Neville (Morpheus).

There are Mardi Gras parades in many other cities in Louisiana and surrounding areas in the time before Ash Wednesday. Fat Tuesday is March 3, this year.