Here are Cronkite News Service stories that moved from Sept. 22-26. 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.
WEEKEND SPECIAL
Supporters of raise for lawmakers say low pay costs Arizonans
ANTHEM _ As a state lawmaker, Doug Clark is used to discussing issues important to students in his community. This morning, while most people are having breakfast, he’s meeting with two dozen teenage boys in an auditorium at Boulder Creek High School. The subject: gearing up for the soccer season. “We’re going to have practice out there every Monday, Wednesday and Friday so we can get back in shape,” Clark tells his audience. “This is going to be a winning season.” Clark, a Republican, is finishing his first term representing District 6, which stretches from north Phoenix past New River, in the state House of Representatives. He isn’t running for re-election, and this meeting helps begin a new chapter in his life as this school’s head soccer coach. Colleagues, Democrats as well as Republicans, say Clark is an example of someone who could make a great impact at the Arizona State Legislature. But Clark, who pursued his interest in education on several committees, said he simply can’t afford to continue in the role because of the low pay and the time required.
Slug BC-CNS-Lawmaker Pay. By Deanna Dent. With BC-CNS-Lawmaker Pay-Box.
NOTE: This story moved Thursday. We recommend it for weekend use.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 (thumbnails, captions below)
WEEKDAY SPECIALS: For use throughout the week
Economy, immigration could boost Hispanic vote in November
PHOENIX (Thursday, Sept. 25) _ Victor Camacho, an electrician, said he’ll be thinking about the business he’s lost lately when he casts a ballot for president. “I think it’s important to vote because the economy is bad,” Camacho said as he left a restaurant. “I have definitely felt that my business is hurting.” Camacho also said organizations including Mi Familia Vota and Immigrants Without Borders have encouraged him to vote based on issues including Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s crackdowns on illegal immigrants. Both presidential campaigns are eager to woo Hispanics, a group that traditionally hasn’t maximized its impact as a voting bloc. This year, experts and activists say, the struggling economy, immigration policy, the candidates themselves and groups promoting voter registration could make Hispanic voters a more powerful force around Arizona and the nation.
Slug BC-CNS-Hispanic Voters. By Mike Martinez. With BC-CNS-Hispanic Voters-Box.
Photos: 1 | 2 (thumbnails, captions below)
Crews discovering treasures that bring to life mysterious Tovrea Castle
PHOENIX (Monday, Sept. 22) _ Behind the thick cactus gardens and wedding cake-style exterior, crews readying Tovrea Castle for public tours are discovering treasures that bring to life a site shrouded in mystery for most of its 80 years. The wine cellar, made from a vault hauled over from First Bank of Arizona, has no doorknobs because the castle’s second owner, Della Tovrea, had a premonition that she would be locked inside. The cellar was lined with old newspaper clippings, one dealing with Babe Ruth’s exploits on the field. The kitchen has a bullet hole from when Della Tovrea was being robbed and beaten by intruders in 1968.
Slug BC-CNS-Tovrea’s Treasures. By Kelly McGrath. With BC-CNS-Tovrea Castle-Box.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 (thumbnails, captions below)
Multimedia: A Flash slideshow is available by following the link. Clients are welcome to link to our site.
THE WEEK’S NEWS
Officials announce program to deter illegal ‘straw’ purchases of firearms
PHOENIX _ Just because someone isn’t allowed to get a gun doesn’t mean he or she can’t get a gun, and rules to stop surrogates from purchasing guns for such people will make the state safer, officials said Wednesday. The U.S. attorney for Arizona joined other federal officials to announce “Don’t Lie for the Other Guy,” the return of a campaign to reduce such purchases of firearms.
Slug BC-CNS-Straw Purchases. By Maria Konopken.
Multimedia: Flash video is available by following the link. We can e-mail the FLV file, but clients are welcome to link to our presentation.
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PHOTOS:
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LAWMAKER PAY
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)
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)
TOVREA CASTLE
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TOVREA CASTLE: The city of Phoenix is renovating Tovrea Castle, a landmark just east of Sky Harbor International Airport. The castle, built in the late 1920s by Italian immigrant Alessio Carraro, was intended to be a hotel surrounded by luxury homes. But Carraro gave up that dream and sold the castle in 1931 to the Tovrea family.
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TOVREA CASTLE: Jason Johnson, a city of Phoenix worker involved in the restoration of Tovrea Castle, shows the building’s foundation, which must be rebuilt to comply with municipal codes. Phoenix bought the castle in 1993 and has expanded its holdings in the years since to include 44 acres. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Kelly McGrath)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TOVREA CASTLE: Tovrea Castle’s wine cellar is a vault hauled over from First Bank of Arizona. It has no doorknobs because Della Tovrea, who lived in the castle for more than 30 years, had a premonition she would be locked inside. Tovrea moved out in 1968 after she was robbed and beaten.
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TOVREA CASTLE: Crews are restoring items including the Tovrea Castle’s light fixtures. The fixture at right is as crews found it. The one at left has been restored to its original condition. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Kelly McGrath)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TOVREA CASTLE: The interior of the Tovrea Castle is undergoing extensive renovations to prepare it for public tours. The work includes adding a sprinkler system. Workers say the structure deteriorated after owner Della Tovrea moved out in 1968. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Kelly McGrath)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TOVREA CASTLE: This brass pyramid on the grounds of Tovrea Castle honors members of the Tovrea family, including Edward Ambrose Tovrea, who purchased the property in 1931 with his wife, Della. E.A. Tovrea, who is buried elsewhere, died in 1932 of pneumonia. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Kelly McGrath)