Here are Cronkite News Service stories that moved from Nov. 5-9. 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.

WEEKEND SPECIAL

ROMNEY GETS BOOST FROM HEAVILY MORMON COMMUNITIES IN ARIZONA

MESA _ Barbara Householder said she supports Mitt Romney because of his stand on family values. The fact that Romney, like Householder, is a Mormon makes him even more appealing and is part of the reason her family contributed $500 to his campaign, she said. “His solid reputation speaks for itself, but knowing he’s from the same religion tells me he shares our core values,” said Householder, who owns FunCity Costumes in Mesa. “It helps me hope and believe that he’ll be the best president for this country.” U.S. Sen. John McCain’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination leads Arizona in fundraising, bringing in $2.4 million in the first three quarters of 2007. But residents of Mesa and Gilbert have given far more to Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts: $548,000 to the $109,000 raised there by McCain, according to Federal Election Commission records. Political experts say Mesa and Gilbert are examples of areas with large Mormon populations rallying behind Romney. But Mormons who have donated to Romney say they share far more with the candidate than religion.

Slug BC-CNS-Romney-Arizona. By Sonu Munshi. With BC-CNS-Romney-Box.

Photos: 1 | 2 (thumbnails, captions below)

Data: Contributions to GOP, Democratic candidates by ZIP code _ Web page / Excel.

WEEKDAY SPECIALS (Stories offered for use throughout the week)

WESTERN EXCHANGE PROGRAM HELPS EDUCATE ARIZONA VETERINARIANS

PHOENIX _ With no veterinary school in Arizona, Carolyn Kenski traveled from Tucson to Washington State University to pursue her career. And she’s paying in-state tuition, along with 58 other Arizonans studying veterinary medicine out of state. That’s thanks to a decades-old exchange program among states in the West. The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) helps Arizonans study veterinary medicine, dentistry and other subjects not offered at public institutions here. Meanwhile, students from other states can use WICHE to study medicine, pharmacy and other subjects in Arizona. “It’s a wonderful program because it allowed me to get in-state tuition, and that saved me a lot of money and reduced my debt load,” Kenski said. With Arizona facing a shortage of veterinarians, especially in rural areas, officials say the program is one way to help.

Slug BC-CNS-Veterinarians-Exchange. By Stephanie Sanchez. With BC-CNS-WICHE-Programs.

THE WEEK’S NEWS

CONSERVATIVE RESEARCHER, SCHOOLS CHIEF DEBATE STANDARDIZED TESTS

PHOENIX _ Standardized tests are improperly administered in Arizona schools, and the state’s top education official is exaggerating the results, a conservative researcher charged Thursday. “It’s a bit like watching Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa beating these baseball records,” said Matthew Ladner, vice president of research at the Goldwater Institute. “It could be that they’re just better baseball players. Or it could be that the ball is juiced or the players are taking steroids.” Ladner debated Tom Horne, Arizona’s superintendent of public instruction, at an annual meeting of education researchers held at Arizona State University’s downtown Phoenix campus.

Slug BC-CNS-Education Debate. By Jonathan J. Cooper.

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EDUCATION DEBATE

CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-EDUCATION DEBATE: Tom Horne, Arizona’s superintendent of public instruction, makes a point during a debate Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, at Arizona State University’s Downtown Phoenix Campus. Horne and Matthew Ladner, vice president of research at the Goldwater Institute, discussed standardized tests and other subjects at an annual meeting of education researchers. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Stephanie Sanchez)

ROMNEY-ARIZONA

CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-ROMNEY-ARIZONA: Barbara Householder, owner of FunCity Costumes in Mesa, works in her store on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007. Householder said her family donated to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney because of his stands on the issues, but she also says the fact that he is Mormon makes him even more appealing to her family, which is Mormon as well. While U.S. Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign has raised the most money in Arizona, Romney has raised far more money in Mesa and Gilbert, cities with large Mormon populations. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Sonu Munshi)

CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-ROMNEY-ARIZONA: Barbara Householder, owner of FunCity Costumes in Mesa, works in her store on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2007. Householder said her family donated to Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney because of his stands on the issues, but she also says the fact that he is Mormon makes him even more appealing to her family, which is Mormon as well. While U.S. Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign has raised the most money in Arizona, Romney has raised far more money in Mesa and Gilbert, cities with large Mormon populations. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Sonu Munshi)