Here are Cronkite News Service stories that moved from Oct. 13-17. If you have questions or would like to receive the daily news digest by e-mail, please contact Steve Elliott at 602-496-0686 or steve.elliott@asu.edu. If you would like to monitor the status of packages and make requests via Twitter, please visit www.twitter.com/cronkitenews.
WEEKDAY SPECIAL
Required by law, webcams let Arizonans view vote-counting process
PHOENIX (Thursday, Oct. 16) _ It’s a scene straight out of “Mission: Impossible.” A heavy wooden door with keycard access blocks the way into the Maricopa County election center’s ballot-tabulation room. Try getting in without authorization and two guards will stop you. Need to use the bathroom? Sorry, the receptionist says, this place is under lockdown and the public area doesn’t have one. But here’s a tip you don’t have to destroy upon reading: Virtually anyone can get into this room. All you need is an Internet connection. Under a law that took effect in January, counties across the state must provide live webcams of their tabulation rooms any time they house ballots, even when nobody is around.
Slug BC-CNS-Ballot Webcams. By Greg Lindsay. With BC-CNS-Webcams-Address and BC-CNS-Webcams-Quotes.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 (thumbnails, captions below)
WEEKEND SPECIALS
Web site shows awkward moments a click away from wide distribution
SCOTTSDALE _ When Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart and friends socialized with some co-eds in his backyard last spring, people around the country wound up sharing the experience via photos, including one of Leinart holding a beer bong for a guest. Jason Dolence, an Arizona State University student, got the same treatment when someone took a picture showing him standing in his underwear while a fraternity brother threw up in a toilet. “It wasn’t one of my proudest moments,” Dolence said. This publicity came courtesy of TheDirty.com, a Scottsdale-based Web site that features pictures and commentary, submitted anonymously, documenting embarrassing situations and offering sometimes-graphic assessments of the personal lives and physical attributes of those pictured. The site began as DirtyScottsdale.com, covering Scottsdale and ASU, and has expanded, fueled by the Leinart party pictures, to feature submissions from dozens of cities and colleges, including the University of Arizona. Nik Richie, who founded the site in 2007 and offers his own comments on submissions, said what he does is 100 percent legal and provides a public forum.
Slug BC-CNS-TheDirty.com. By Michael Martinez. With BC-CNS-TheDirty.com-Facts.
NOTE: The contents of this article, particularly the 2nd, 5th, 14th and 23rd grafs, may be objectionable to some readers. This story moved Wednesday, Oct. 15. We recommend it for weekend use.
Download Photo (thumbnails, captions below)
THE WEEK’S NEWS
Quagga mussels reach CAP-SRP junction; likely in Phoenix-area canals
PHOENIX (Thursday, Oct. 16) _ Quagga mussels have reached the connection between the Central Arizona Project and Salt River Project and likely have gotten into the system that carries irrigation and drinking water through the Phoenix area, officials said Thursday. The invasive species poses no threat to the public, but the quagga mussel and its cousin the zebra mussel wreaked havoc on drinking water and power plant intakes in the Great Lakes region before the quagga infested lakes along the Colorado River in early 2007. “We know it will be a cost to our maintenance costs; we just don’t know what the effect of the mussel will be,” said Jeff Lane, an SRP spokesman.
Slug BC-CNS-Quagga-SRP. By Megan Thomas. With BC-CNS-Quagga-Box.
Photos 1 | 2 (thumbnails, captions below)
State unemployment rate still climbing, may not improve until 2010
PHOENIX (Thursday, Oct. 16) _ Arizona’s unemployment rate continued to climb in September, fueled by job losses in the construction industry. A state economist said things may not improve until 2010, and a University of Arizona economist said the state is heading into its deepest recession since the early 1980s.
Slug BC-CNS-Unemployment Rate. By Michael Martinez. With BC-CNS-Unemployment-Counties.
National PTA exec: Even in bad economy, states must invest in education
SCOTTSDALE (Tuesday, Oct. 14) _ The sorry economy must not keep states from investing in education, and those that don’t will face consequences later such as losing competitiveness and facing higher rates of juvenile crime, the head of the National Parent Teacher Association said Tuesday. “I know people say that, `Well, the budget’s cut; we’re facing a deficit,’ but you’ve still got to make a commitment to spend dollars on children ” said Byron V. Garrett, the group’s CEO.
Slug BC-CNS-PTA President. By Megan Thomas. With BC-CNS-PTA-Box.
Download Photo (thumbnail, caption below)
ELECTION ADVISORY
Here are election-related stories produced by Cronkite News Service:Corporation Commission:
CorpComm Candidate Profile: George
CorpComm Candidate Profile: Kennedy
CorpComm Candidate Profile: McClure
CorpComm Candidate Profile: Newman
CorpComm Candidate Profile: Stump
CorpComm Candidate Profile: Wong
Ballot Propositions:
100: Proposition aims to keep state from adding real estate sales tax (10-8)
101: Medical professionals lead fight over patient choice (10-8)
201: Unions, home builders battling over homeowner disputes (10-6)
203: Supporters of raise for lawmakers say low pay costs Arizona (9-24)
Other Election Enterprise:
Required by law, webcams let Arizonans view vote-counting process (10-16)
Voters deciding the future of dozens of rural Arizona school districts (10-3)
Economy, immigration could boost Hispanic vote for president (9-25)
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PHOTOS:
Click thumbnails to see full-resolution images and download; caption information is in the file under File>File Info.
THEDIRTY.COM
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-THEDIRTY.COM: Nik Richie, founder of TheDirty.com, says he provides a public forum through his Scottsdale-based Web site featuring anonymously submitted photos of people in awkward situations and comments about the personal lives and physical attributes of those shown. The site originally focused on Scottsdale and Arizona State University, but it has expanded since posting photos of Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart partying at his home earlier this year. Richie’s real name is Hooman Karamian, but he goes by the pseudonym he uses on his site. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Mike Martinez)
BALLOT WEBCAMS
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-BALLOT WEBCAMS: Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell stands outside the ballot-tabulation room at the county’s election headquarters in Phoenix on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008. Under a state law that took effect in January, all Arizona counties have installed webcams to provide live Internet video feeds of areas where ballots are counted. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Greg Lindsay)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-BALLOT WEBCAMS: Workers prepare for election night in the ballot-tablulation room at Maricopa County’s election headquarters in Phoenix. Under a state law that took effect in January, all Arizona counties have installed webcams to provide live Internet video feeds of areas where ballots are counted. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Greg Lindsay)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-BALLOT WEBCAMS: Webcams look down from the ceiling in the ballot-tabulation room at Maricopa County’s election center in Phoenix. Under a state law that took effect in January, all Arizona counties have installed webcams to provide live Internet video feeds of areas where ballots are counted. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Greg Lindsay)
QUAGGA-SRP
CAPTION WITH BC-CNS-QUAGGA-SRP: Quagga mussels discovered in Lake Mead are seen in this Jan. 9, 2007, handout photo from the National Park Service. The quagga mussel, along with its cousin the zebra mussel, has caused widespread and expensive problems in the Midwest and Northeast. On Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008, officials reported that the mussel had been found at the junction of the Central Arizona Project and Salt River Project and that the quagga likely had gotten into canals that carry drinking and irrigation water through Phoenix. (Cronkite News Service Photo/National Park Service)
CAPTION WITH BC-CNS-QUAGGA-SRP: A quagga mussel discovered in Lake Mead is seen in this Jan. 9, 2007, handout photo from the National Park Service, with a ruler providing scale. The quagga mussel, along with its cousin the zebra mussel, has caused widespread and expensive problems in the Midwest and Northeast. On Thursday, Oct. 16, 2008, officials reported that the mussel had been found at the junction of the Central Arizona Project and Salt River Project and that the quagga likely had gotten into canals that carry drinking and irrigation water through Phoenix. (Cronkite News Service Photo/National Park Service)
PTA PRESIDENT
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-PTA PRESIDENT: Byron V. Garrett, CEO of the National Parent Teacher Association, poses during an appearance Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008, in Scottsdale. In an interview, Garrett said states that don’t continue funding education adequately despite the poor economy will face consequences later such as a lack of competitiveness and higher rates of juvenile crime. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Megan Thomas)
ELECTION: CORPORATION COMMISSION
CORPORATION COMMISSION MUGSHOTS: Top row, left to right: George, Kennedy, McClure. Bottom row, left to right: Newman, Stump, Wong. (Cronkite News Service Photos/Deanna Dent)
ELECTION: RURAL REDISTRICTING
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-RURAL REDISTRICTING: Olivia Rodriguez, longtime school board member in the Stanfield Elementary School District in Pinal County, is joined by her grandchildren outside Stanfield Elementary School, the district’s only school. From left to right: Austin Rodriguez, 8; Olivia Rodriguez holding Samantha Rodriguez, 3; and Michael Rodriguez, 13. Olivia Rodriguez says a plan to unite her district with a portion of the Casa Grande Union High School District isn’t in the best interest of students because the district as structured knows how to meet the community’s needs. Of the 76 districts around Arizona deciding whether to combine into unified districts, 42 are in rural areas outside Maricopa County. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Greg Lindsay)
ELECTION: PROP 203
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-LAWMAKER PAY: Outgoing state Rep. Doug Clark, R-Anthem, speaks to students Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem in his new role as head soccer coach. Clark, who also is a real estate agent, said he isn’t running for the Legislature because he can’t make a living given the pay and the hours required. Arizona voters will decide in November whether to give lawmakers a raise from $24,000 to $30,000 a year. It would be the first raise for lawmakers since 1998. Voters have rejected raises for four straight elections. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Deanna Dent)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-LAWMAKER PAY: Outgoing state Rep. Doug Clark, R-Anthem, speaks to students Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem in his new role as head soccer coach. Clark, who also is a real estate agent, said he isn’t running for the Legislature because he can’t make a living given the pay and the hours required. Arizona voters will decide in November whether to give lawmakers a raise from $24,000 to $30,000 a year. It would be the first raise for lawmakers since 1998. Voters have rejected raises for four straight elections. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Deanna Dent)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-LAWMAKER PAY: Outgoing state Rep. Doug Clark, R-Anthem, speaks to students Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008, at Boulder Creek High School in Anthem in his new role as head soccer coach. Clark, who also is a real estate agent, said he isn’t running for the Legislature because he can’t make a living given the pay and the hours required. Arizona voters will decide in November whether to give lawmakers a raise from $24,000 to $30,000 a year. It would be the first raise for lawmakers since 1998. Voters have rejected raises for four straight elections. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Deanna Dent)
ELECTION: HISPANIC VOTERS
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-HISPANIC VOTERS: Elias Bermudez, founder and director of the Immigrants Without Borders in Phoenix, is shown in April 2008 standing next to a sign seeking registered voters to sign a petition for a candidate wishing to oppose Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Bermudez says the poor economy is among the reasons more Hispanics will vote in this presidential election. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Daniel J. Quigley)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-HISPANIC VOTERS: Victor Camacho, an electrician, is pictured in Phoenix on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2008. Camacho said he’ll be thinking about his struggling business when he votes in the presidential election. “I think it’s important to vote because the economy is bad,” Camacho said. Both presidential campaigns are eager woo Hispanics, a growing group that traditionally hasn’t marshaled its strength as a voting block. This year, experts say, the struggling economy, immigration policy, the candidates and the actions of groups promoting voter registration could make Hispanic voters a more powerful force around Arizona and the nation. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Michael Martinez)
ELECTION: PROP 201
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-HOME WARRANTIES: Terry Landa shows tile he says was installed improperly in the Goodyear home he and his wife, Mary, bought two and a half years ago. The Landas said they’ve spent about $20,000 fixing a leaky roof, finishing wiring and sealing vents to keep bugs out of the home, and they want the builder to cover the repairs. Arizona voters will decide Nov. 4 whether to require builders to provide a 10-year warranty on each new home. Proposition 201, dubbed the “Homeowner Bill of Rights” by proponents, also would, among other things, allow homeowners to choose who fixes defects in new homes and guarantee fair compensation for repairs not completed. Behind the scenes, the campaign pits trade unions, which are pushing for the change, against home builders. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Maria Konopken)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-HOME WARRANTIES: Terry and Mary Landa say disintegrating stucco is one of the problems with a home they purchased in Goodyear two and a half years ago. Arizona voters will decide Nov. 4 whether to require builders to provide a 10-year warranty on each new home. Proposition 201, dubbed the “Homeowner Bill of Rights” by proponents, also would, among other things, allow homeowners to choose who fixes defects in new homes and guarantee fair compensation for repairs not completed. Behind the scenes, the campaign pits trade unions, which are pushing for the change, against home builders. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Maria Konopken)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-HOME WARRANTIES: Terry and Mary Landa say homes along the foundation that let in bugs are among the problems with a home they purchased in Goodyear two and a half years ago. Arizona voters will decide Nov. 4 whether to require builders to provide a 10-year warranty on each new home. Proposition 201, dubbed the “Homeowner Bill of Rights” by proponents, also would, among other things, allow homeowners to choose who fixes defects in new homes and guarantee fair compensation for repairs not completed. Behind the scenes, the campaign pits trade unions, which are pushing for the change, against home builders. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Maria Konopken)