News briefs

Fraternity members plead not guilty in hazing
incident

CHICO “”mdash; Eight fraternity members pleaded not guilty Monday
to charges stemming from the death of a pledge who died after he
was kept up all night chugging water and performing push-ups.

Matthew Carrington, 21, of Pleasant Hill, died in February of
water intoxication following a hazing ritual for the Chi Tau
fraternity, which had been expelled from California State
University, Chico’s campus but continued to operate.

The four accused of involuntary manslaughter appeared in a
courtroom for the arraignment, Butte County District Attorney Mike
Ramsey said. The other four, who were not legally required to
attend, did not appear and were represented by attorneys.

Since the death, Chico’s president has threatened to shut
down any fraternity or sorority that doesn’t abide by strict
new rules, including a ban on alcohol at recruiting events.

Bug wars may determine fate of local wine
industry

RIVERSIDE “”mdash; State officials are counting on a tiny
Minnesota wasp to eradicate the glassy-winged sharpshooter, a
voracious bug threatening California’s $45 billion wine grape
industry.

The state Department of Agriculture is expected this week to
approve release of the wasp in Riverside, Kern and Ventura
counties. The wasp, known as Anagrus epos, is only 1/32 of an inch
long but it is deadly to the sharpshooter.

The glassy-winged sharpshooter transmits Pierce’s disease,
which destroys grapes as well as almond and citrus trees and
oleanders. Half of Temecula’s 3,000 acres of grapevines were
destroyed by Pierce’s disease in 1999 and 2000.

The introduction of the wasp is the latest in a series of
pest-control efforts that use one insect to kill another.

Compiled from Bruin wire services.