Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 23

Today's talker Parrots' pigment as a way to feather their love nest just a red herring Parrots are red to attract mates, right? Maybe not, says an Arizona State University researcher. Behavioral ecologist Kevin McGraw has uncovered the chemistry behind the colors of parrots, describing on a molecular level what is responsible for their bright red feathers. McGra w's work casts a new light on what is chemically responsible for the colors of birds. Details are in a paper published this week in the journal Biology Letters. McGraw said parrots "may not be using color in the classic cases of mate choice or competitive ability." Instead, the pigments may be playing a role as antioxidants to quench free radicals and protect cells and tissues in the body from oxidative damage.

In other words, the pigments help cleanse the parrot's body and keep the birds healthy, McGraw said. So quenching free radicals trumps love, McGraw said. Great. William Hermann flews update A new wildfire plan calls for thinning and burning higher-density stands of ponderosa pine and smaller vegetation spread across thousands of acres of the Kaibab National Forest. The plan is primarily a blueprint for what could happen if the state or federal government were to award funds under the federal Healthy Forests Restoration Act to the plan's drafters, which include the city of Williams, several fire districts and the State Land Department.

The proposal reaches across 250,000 acres of mostly public lands. State Metro News, 602.444.NEWS or metronewsarizonarepublic.com Thursday, February 17, 2005 SECTION THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC news.azcentral.com 1 Ml rht tepid motorists, beware County to invoke law, charge for Cave Creek flood rescue 1 1." another Cave Creek resident, Jacqueline Goodspeed, 65, for entering a flooded area near 58th Street and Desert Hills Drive despite warnings from officers. Neither Zalewski or Good-speed have yet been charged, but Arpaio said Wednesday that he intends to "pursue the law" if they are found guilty of reckless driving. See STUPID MOTORIST Page B6 Road in Cave Creek on Friday. But "Hummers are made to float," sheriff's spokesman Lt.

Paul Chagolla said. "Other people told him not to go in there, and he did it anyway," endangering himself and six passengers, including three children. Zalewski was cited for reckless driving. If he is found guilty of the charge in Cave Creek Municipal Court, he will be prosecuted under the state's stupid motorist law, which was Michael GingThe Arizona Republic The Sheriff's Office helped the Phoenix Fire Department on Wednesday in a rescue near 91st Avenue and Baseline Road. Arizona's future workforce 7 I (V passed in 1995 and requires drivers to reimburse the state for the cost of rescues.

Sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Travis Anglin said the cost of the 55-minute rescue could exceed $800, based on hourly rates for fuel and maintenance of the rescue helicopter, two employees inside the aircraft, insurance and any damage sustained during rescue. Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is considering charging 7 .1 rmnu j. i i i i LiA III I Ife nn ii.J 3 tt -T-i Panel OKs banning junk food in schools High schools put into House bil By Anne Ryman and Jennifer Girardin The Arizona Republic Arizona elementary, middle and high schools would have to ban candy and soft drink sales during the school day under a bill that gathered steam Wednesday. The junk-food bill passed a second big hurdle when it got a 7-2 nod from the House Health Committee The bill still must get through the House Rules Committee and win approval by the full House and Senate.

On Wednesday, Rep. Colette Rosati, R-Scottsdale, successfully introduced an amendment to include high schools again after a vote last week in the House K-12 Education Committee removed upper grades. Rosati said it is important that high schools remain in the legislation because those students are more likely to succumb to peer pressure and consume the wrong food. A second amendment by Rep. Amanda Aguirre, D-Phoenix, would place limits on calories, fat and sugar in See BAN Page B2 Inside Senate committee votes to repeal AIMS test as a high school graduation requirement.

BIO Bill to audit mental-health services from ValueOptions and the state passes a House committee. B6 Senate committee to hear bill aimed at reducing medical malpractice lawsuits. BIO Inside today Promoting the bola tie Its numbers have dwindled, but its goals have not. The Bola Tie Society of Arizona continues to pursue its mission of promoting the wearing of the bola as the state's official neckwear. B2 By I lolly Johnson The Arizona Republic SCOTTSDALE The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office will invoke the state's "stupid motorist law" for the first time, after a Cave Creek man drove around traffic barricades and tried to cross a flooded street last week in his Hummer.

The driver, Paul Zalewski, 47, reportedly ignored warnings not to enter Creek Canyon HOTEL DEATHS Murder charges tossed on technicality By Michael Kiefer The Arizona Republic The prosecutor said that Shane Koos killed two young men in a downtown Phoenix hotel room in 2002 after a marijuana deal went bad. Koos' lawyer said he wasn't even there. A jury will never get to decide. Late last month, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge threw out the murder charges because of a technicality regarding how Koos was charged. The families of the victims were stunned.

"I don't really blame the prosecutor," said Myra Gul-lick, the grandmother of Michael Metz, who died in the hotel room. I am so shocked by it, I really can't tell you what happened." "It was a horrible shock," said Laura Ramirez, whose son Carlos also was killed. The acquittals on the two murders stemmed from the exacting criteria needed to make a felony murder charge stick. Koos was facing two counts of felony murder, meaning he was tried for killing two people during the commission of another felony, in this case, the marijuana deal. But the statutes for felony murder are quite specific in listing the felonies that may be used in the charge.

Sale of marijuana can be; purchasing marijuana can't. The prosecution's own case was built on the theory that Koos was in the hotel room to buy the drug, not sell it. The judge had no choice but to dismiss the charges. Because of double jeopardy, Koos cannot be retried See TECHNICALITY Page B6 Index Acts of Kindness B2 Arizona Diary B2 Lottery B2 Education B3 PhoenixScottsdale B4 E. ValleyW.

Valley B5 Opinions B8, 9 Valley State B10 Obituaries B10, 11 Valley 101 B12 Weather B12 azfcentral For the latest news, go to newMZcentral.com. The proposed proves the Grigsby and Paedn Hancock frame a new Habitat for Humanity home in Peoria. Students in schools in the Peoria Unified School District are helping to build the home. it i -6 Arlene Gallegos (left), Zach construction classes at high for careers Tech classes put students on track 4 Rob SchumacherThe Arizona Repu Preparing for the future: Career and technology courses help students see the relevance of "regular" classroom material. Education.

B3 azbntralcom More about education news and trends, including how to prevent teen drinking during spring break, educationj2central.com. i ARIZONA mm By Louie Villalobos The Arizona Republic A construction course at Peoria High School gave Arlene Gallegos, 18, the skills to do something important for the community while applying math concepts she has learned in class. For Paedn Hancock, 17, the technical classes offered at Cactus High School provided him a taste of what he's certain will be his future career. Students and school districts through the Valley are discovering the benefits of career- and technical-education programs, or CTE, and formerly known as "voc-ed." Not only do the courses prepare students for jobs, but they also increase involvement in extracurricular activities and improve achievement in the classroom. A large percentage of students who have taken at least two credits of CTE courses met or exceeded AIMS standards for reading, writing and math last school year, according to the Arizona Department of Education.

The programs are growing in popularity. More than 40 percent of all high school students in Arizona took at least one CTE course in 2003. In the Mesa Public Schools, the largest district in the state, more than 90 percent of middle and high school students take at least one of the courses before they graduate. That number is the same for the Peoria district, the third-largest in Arizona. Tom Home, Arizona's superintendent of public instruction, has promised to See CAREERS Page B2 i Aitl UN at Online poll hand-wringing over the "guns in bars" law that even here, with most liberal gun laws in America, we can't have BEDBUGG, Literary licenses Sun City resident Steve May drives a 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon Camper.

He chose this slogan (left) because his vehicle has two beds, and another Volkswagen product the Beetle, was also known as the Bug. Phoenix resident Shannon Perry picked the slogan (right) on her license plate because her daughter graduated from Texas Christian University, where the mascot is a horned frog. TODAY'S QUESTION: Would you support raising the minimum wage in Arizona to $7.10 an hour from $5.15 an hour? Yes. No. Unsure.

Vote by 4 p.m. at newt.azcentral.com. Look for results here Friday. Wednesday's poll results QUESTION: Should Arizona's community colleges be allowed to offer baccalaureate degrees? Yes, 69. No, 27.

Unsure, 4. ari honest conversation about firearms. Maybe because if we did, we'd learn that both sides otthe argument are wrong. B12 azjcentralcom jb) fb) II IJJI (o) 1 Co lJ s(c (o) fall A I A it (C (zj I ni iui If Sf li 4) i' I.