Student expected to plead not guilty to first-degree murder

A UA student facing a first-degree murder charge is expected to plead not guilty during her arraignment today for allegedly murdering her newborn baby.

Arraignment for Heather M. Porzel, a microbiology sophomore, will take place at Pima County Superior Court at 1 p.m.

Don Klein, public defender for Porzel, said his client will plead not guilty on a charge of first-degree murder today, for allegedly killing her newborn baby and burying it in the backyard of her parents' Tucson home.

Klein declined to give additional comments on his client.

Porzel was arrested March 9 on the charge of killing her newborn daughter just after birth, said Tucson Police Department Sgt. Marco Borboa.

Borboa said Porzel gave birth to the baby in the bathroom of the home and buried it a week later in the backyard.

Borboa said that on the night of Porzel's arrest, Porzel's mother called 911 after Porzel's 18-year-old brother found the family dog had dug up the newborn infant.

Internationally recognized plant scientist hired by UA

UA will house a $3-4 million a year genetic research program and has hired top plant scientist Rod A. Wing to direct it.

Wing directs the Clemson University Genomics Institute, where he conducts research to unravel the genetic codes of corn, rice, soybeans and similar foods.

The money to bring Wing's program to UA came from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, funds from Proposition 301 and an addition to the state sales tax approved last year.

"The availability of Proposition 301 funds made our ability to attract a noted researcher of this quality much easier," said Gene Sander, dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

Wing's research attracts $3-4 million a year from outside grant funding, mostly through the National Science Foundation Plant Genome Program.

"The UA plant sciences department is one of the top programs in the country," Wing said. "I'm looking forward to being around a fantastic group of colleagues."

The program is expected to employ 60-70 researchers, graduate students, technicians, support personnel and about 20 undergraduate students.

Eventually, Wing's lab will become part of UA's Biomedical Science and Biotechnology Institute, and will include more than 100 UA faculty from various departments.

UA bans quartz halogen lamps

A type of floor lamp used in UA residence halls and offices is reportedly dangerous and is now banned from all UA buildings.

Quartz halogen torchiere floor lamps were previously banned from residence halls but were still being used in offices.

The lamps are now banned from all UA buildings because they are a fire hazard and they consume more energy than traditional lamps.

The quartz halogen lamps only last for 2,000 hours, whereas normal fluorescent lights can last up to 10,000. Therefore, the quartz halogen lamps do not adhere to the University's Energy Conservation Program.

Students and faculty are required to take home any of the lamps in their possession; custodians will not take them as excess trash.

The bulbs of these lamps can reach 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, which may result in either a fire or a shattered bulb.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has reported 435 fires, 34 deaths and 114 injuries in the U.S. as a result of these lamps.

The quartz halogen floor lamp, which is the most hazardous style of the lamp, has a long pole with a bowl at the top around the bulb.

Wine course offered this weekend

Today, tomorrow and Saturday, a course on how to grow grapes in Arizona is being offered at the UA Campus Agriculture Center in Tucson.

The Arizona Wine Growers Association and the University of Arizona Cooperate Extension are sponsoring the course.

The class will feature UA instructors and Arizona wine industry executives such as wine makers and winery owners.

It will consist of two days of lecture starting at 8 a.m. and a day of field demonstrations and tours.

The vineyard field day and winery tour will be given in the morning and afternoon on Saturday.

The course is designed for potential Arizona wine grape growers and will cover pre-plant considerations, vineyard establishment, nutrition and irrigation, crop protection and the winery tour.