Here are Cronkite News Service stories that moved from Nov. 12-16. If you have questions or would like to receive the daily news digest by e-mail, please contact
WEEKEND SPECIAL
TOWN FOUNDER’S PAST CLOUDS EFFORT TO HONOR HIM WITH STATUE
BULLHEAD CITY _ Historians say William Harrison Hardy’s entrepreneurial acumen turned a bleak patch of northwestern Arizona into Hardyville, a thriving river port on the site of present-day Bullhead City. But historians also note that Hardy was an Indian killer, and that has people here struggling over a proposal to honor him with a bronze bust or statue. A bust of Hardy was to have graced a new subdivision, but that plan was dropped when the project was sold. The sculptor, Lou Hunt, then proposed that the city purchase and display the work, which has yet to be completed, but some residents objected because of Hardy’s background and others objected to the cost. The controversy surprised Hunt, who has created statues of the founders of Lake Havasu City and Laughlin, Nev., which are displayed prominently in those Colorado River communities. “I don’t understand it at all,” Hunt said. “There are statues the world over of white men, black men, Native Americans who have lived through history and killed other people.”
Slug BC-CNS-Statue Dispute. By Jonathan J. Cooper.
Photos: 1 | 2 (thumbnails, captions below)
WEEKDAY SPECIALS (Stories offered for use throughout the week)
SEVERAL FACTORS COMBINE TO MAKE THIS A MILDER YEAR FOR WILDFIRES
MUNDS PARK _ Using flaming kerosene, members of the Mormon Lake Hot Shots burn off leaves, needles and other underbrush from the forest south of this northern Arizona community. Their goal: keeping any wildfire in the area from becoming the next Rodeo-Chediski fire. Despite continuing drought, Arizona has so far had its mildest year for wildfires since 2001. Officials say prescribed burns such as this one, covering 190 acres, are one reason for that. “Prescribed fires are our insurance policy against catastrophic wildfires,” said Brienne Untalan, a spokeswoman for the Coconino National Forest.
Slug BC-CNS-2007 Wildfires. By Stephanie Sanchez. With BC-CNS-Wildfires-Years.
Photos: 1 | 2 (thumbnails, captions below)
THE WEEK’S NEWS
HEAD OF AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD SERVICE RALLIES TEENS ON DARFUR
PHOENIX (Friday, Nov. 16) _ The head of American Jewish World Service came to the Arizona State Capitol on Friday to rally high schoolers to oppose the killing in Darfur. “It’s important for young people to learn about these issues,” Ruth Messinger said.
Slug BC-CNS-Students-Darfur. By Stephanie Sanchez.
COMING SOON TO A HIGHWAY NEAR YOU: DPS UNVEILS PHOTO RADAR VEHICLES
PHOENIX (Thursday, Nov. 15) _ Photo radar, a technology used to catch speeders in some Arizona cities, could be coming soon to a highway near you. On Thursday, the Arizona Department of Public Safety unveiled the first of 20 photo radar vehicles that will be stationed in areas prone to speeding and accidents.
Slug BC-CNS-DPS-Photo Radar. By Stephanie Sanchez.
Photos: 1 | 2 (thumbnails, captions below)
OFFICIALS: HUNTERS EMBRACING LEAD-FREE BULLETS TO HELP CONDORS
PHOENIX (Wednesday, Nov. 14) _ Eight out of 10 hunters with big game permits in the California condor’s range are taking advantage of a program offering free lead-free ammunition intended to save the condors from contracting lead poisoning, state officials said Wednesday. Environmental groups have called on the state to ban lead ammunition to protect the condors.
Slug BC-CNS-Condors-Lead. By Sonu Munshi.
Download Photo (thumbnail, caption below)
MCCAIN: FEDERAL INACTION FORCES STATE ACTION ON IMMIGRATION
PHOENIX (Wednesday, Nov. 14) _ Presidential hopeful Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said Wednesday that while he respects the state’s new employer sanctions law targeting illegal immigration it only exists because the U.S. Congress failed to pass immigration reform. “It’s a result of the failure of Congress and the president,” McCain said at a news conference at his office here. “It’s a federal responsibility.”
Slug BC-CNS-McCain-Immigration. By Eric Graf.
SOME OFFICIALS SAY ALTERNATIVE DIPLOMA WOULD HURT TRADE PROGRAMS
PHOENIX (Tuesday, Nov. 13) _ A state proposal to allow college-bound high school students to pursue an alternative “regents diploma” requiring extra coursework would hurt enrollment in school district programs that teach trade skills because credits for those programs wouldn’t count, representatives from several districts said at public hearing Tuesday.
Slug BC-CNS-Trade Programs. By
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PHOTOS: Click thumbnails to see full-resolution images and download
DPS-PHOTO RADAR
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-DPS-PHOTO RADAR: An Arizona Department of Public Safety vehicle equipped with photo radar is displayed for the media Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007, in Phoenix. DPS says the units will be stationed along sections of highways prone to speeding and accidents. Officials emphasized that photo radar isn’t a substitute for officers. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Stephanie Sanchez)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-DPS-PHOTO RADAR: An Arizona Department of Public Safety vehicle equipped with photo radar equipment is displayed for the media Thursday, Nov. 15, 2007, in Phoenix. DPS says the units will be stationed along sections of highways prone to speeding and accidents. Officials emphasized that photo radar isn’t a substitute for officers. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Stephanie Sanchez)
STATUE DISPUTE
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-STATUE DISPUTE: A clay model of William Harrison Hardy, who founded a community called Hardyville on the site of present-day Bullhead City, is shown at the Lake Havasu City home of sculptor Lou Hunt. Hunt designed the model for a bust that was to adorn a new subdivision, but that deal fell through. She has proposed that Bullhead City buy a bust or statue of Hardy, but that effort remains uncertain, in part, because of concerns because of Hardy’s documented disdain for American Indians and his killing of Indians. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Jonathan J. Cooper)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-STATUE DISPUTE: Sculptor Lou Hunt stands with a clay model she created of William Harrison Hardy, who founded a community called Hardyville on the site of present-day Bullhead City. Hunt designed the model for a bust that was to adorn a new subdivision, but that deal fell through. She has proposed that Bullhead City buy a bust or statue of Hardy, but that effort remains uncertain, in part, because of concerns because of Hardy’s documented disdain for American Indians and his killing of Indians. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Jonathan J. Cooper)
2007 FIRES
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-2007 FIRES: A member of the Mormon Lake Hot Shots ignites the forest floor south of Munds Park during a 190-acre controlled burn on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. Officials say controlled burns are one reason that 2007 has been a relatively light year for wildfires despite continuing drought. Through mid-October, 1,926 fires had burned 63,908 acres around Arizona. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Stephanie Sanchez)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-2007 FIRES: Underbrush burns south of Munds Park during a 190-acre controlled burn on Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2007. Officials say controlled burns are one reason that 2007 has been a relatively light year for wildfires despite continuing drought. Through mid-October, 1,926 fires had burned 63,908 acres around Arizona. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Stephanie Sanchez)
CONDORS-LEAD
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-CONDORS-LEAD: California condor No. 350 is shown in 2004 after it fledged at Grand Canyon National Park. State officials say 80 percent of hunters with permits for big game in the condor’s range are taking advantage of a program offering lead-free ammunition to help prevent the condors from contracting lead poisoning. Several wildlife groups want Arizona to ban lead ammunition to help protect the condors, which can pick up the toxic metal from piles of animal entrails left in the wilderness by hunters. (Photo Credit: Chad Olson, National Park Service, via Cronkite News Service)