News In Brief

GO AHEAD, KICK THE TIRES In Douglasville, Ga., Jim Jeter's 1982 Toyota Starlet still runs well after 999,421 miles. But for now it's going nowhere - until just the right moment arrives to be driven to the million-mile mark. And that would be? When "Toyota makes me an offer I can't refuse" or until the grandkids can appreciate the significance, "and I don't have any yet." Jeter changes the oil every 3,000 miles but has had to replace only the alternator, starter, and a few other parts. He's petitioning the Guinness Book of World Records to list his old hatchback as the longest-lasting car. The current standard: 684,297 miles by a '79 Cadillac.

HOT OFF THE PRESSES

American publishers aren't alone in their ability to generate "instant books" on major stories in the news. In Beijing, at least two on the May 7 US bombing of China's Embassy in Yugoslavia are reportedly about to hit the market.

Parents are key to raising moral values, survey finds

An opinion survey conducted for Shell Oil Co. by Peter Hart Research Associates found 56 percent of Americans identifying moral values as the nation's most serious problem. More than 80 percent think young people now have a poorer sense of right and wrong than children did 50 years ago. Two-thirds say society's moral standards are becoming worse; only 6 percent say they're improving; more than 25 percent say they're staying about the same. How people responded to two issues raised by the survey:

What is nation's top problem?

1. Moral values

2. Race relations

3. Environment

4. Economy

5. National defense

Main causes of moral decline:

1. Families not teaching values

2. Rise in drug use

3. Examples set by parents

4. Portrayal of life and values on TV and in movies

5. Standards set by public officials.

- PRNewswire