Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 32

EFF ONES Journal Politics Writer The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is giving Republican Rep. Heather Wilson its version of a thank-you gift. The pro-business, Washington, D.C.-based group is footing the bill for a sizable new TV advertising campaign in New Mexico that praises support of a controversial Medicare drug program. lot of people in Washington talk about improving health care.

Heather Wilson is doing something about says the new ad, which began airing this week on Albuquerque network TV stations. The ads in part are a way of members of Congress who voted for said Bill Miller political director for the chamber. believe it was an important piece of The drug program, one of pet topics, is also a pet target of her 1st Congressional District opponent, Democratic state Attorney General Patricia Madrid. Meanwhile, the ad purchase is not the only outside-of-New Mexico money funnel- ECTION Me tr Ne Me xico A LBUQUERQUE OURNAL AY ONTH ATURDAY ULY 29,2006 How fast is too fast? With the city using speed cameras at intersections and in vans parked around town, how far over the limit do you have to go to get a ticket? Road Warrior Westphal has the answer. Page E2 Look up Gaze at the stars weather permitting star ting at sunset tonight at the Oak Flat Picnic area, nine miles south of the I-40 Tijeras exit, courtesy of the Albuquer que Astr onomical Society and the Sandia Ranger District.

Charlie Moore City News823-3841 John Robertson State News823-3911 505 or 575? How should New Mexico implement the new area code? Vote online at abqjournal.com LASSIFIED 4 everybody is going to be happy with the decision. The overlay makes everybody a bit miserable while the split makes some very miserable and the rest perfectly Public Regulation Commissioner Jason Marks, about the ways a new area code could be assigned in New Mexico. Copyright 2006 Alb uquer que Journal OLLEEN EILD Journal Investigative Reporter Deputy Insurance Superintendent Joe Ruiz opted not to resign Friday over allegations he solicited a charitable contribution from an insurance company, but impossible to say whether been fired. Ruiz told the Journal he had been given until noon Friday to resign or face termination by Public Regulation Commission chief of staff Danny Mayfield. Mayfield issued a statement late Friday that said he had taken action on a personnel matter is the best interest of the agency but say what it was or who it involved.

He added that the commission would continue work diligently to assure that the integrity of the agency is Commissioner Linda Lovejoy issued a statement criticizing May- action. Like Mayfield, she say who was involved or what happened. She did say the individual given many years of service to the and should have been given an opportunity to be heard before the commission in closed session. Ruiz said late Friday he been formally informed he was terminated and had decided not to resign on the advice of his attorney. Ruiz, who earns $72,000 a year, has been on paid administrative leave since allegations surfaced in a civil lawsuit that he solicited charitable donations from an insurance company facing administrative fines.

He referred questions to his Insurance Official Refuses To Resign Ruiz Was Told He Would Face Firing RUIZ: Decided not to quit PROTESTING MIDEAST WAR ROBERTO E. About 70 people showed up Friday evening in Albuquerque to protest attacks in Lebanon and Gaza. Here, Sue Small, left, of Los Lunas, and Fatima right, from Egypt, were among the group that gathered along Central Avenue in Nob Hill. The protest was sponsored by the Arab-Jewish Peace Alliance and Stop the War Machine. Wilson Ad A $100,000 Thank-You Madrid Campaign Also To Receive Out-of-State Funds WILSON: New TV ad paid for by business group See STATE on PAGE E3 Journal Staff Report The Rail Runner Express commuter train will begin running on biodiesel fuel, becoming one of the first commuter rail systems in the country to do so, according to state officials.

Rail Runner is fast and clean, and with the switch to biodiesel it will be green as Gov. Bill Richardson stated in a news release. The fuel is made from the vegetable waste of farm products and about 30-cents-a-gallon cheaper than regular diesel fuel, according to the state. fuel source burns much more efficiently and much cleaner for the said Lawrence Rael, executive director of the Mid- Region Council of Governments. Rail Runner service between Bernalillo and Downtown Albuquerque began two weeks ago.

Eventually, under the first phase, the service will stretch as far south as Belen. The service is to be extended to Santa Fe by late 2008. Rail Runner Will Be Switching To Biodiesel Fuel OHN LECK Journal Staff Writer Could urban heating make it rain more in and around desert cities? Scientists have known this can happen in humid places like St. Louis and Houston, but new research by the University of J. Marshal Shepherd suggests the same thing may happen in arid cities as well.

Shepherd looked at rainfall records in Phoenix, and found a 12 to 14 percent increase in summer monsoon rainfall on the northeastern fringe, an apparent response to urban growth. Cities create heat in the vicinity of pavement and buildings, and Shepherd thinks that may be responsible. Shepherd is not sure why, but his hypothesis is that the extra rain happens when moist air from thunderstorms in the mountains east of Phoenix hits the warm air hovering over the city itself. Moisture from irrigation in the city itself also may play a role, he said, along with air pollutants. Could the same thing happen in Albuquerque, which is also flanked by mountains? certainly Shepherd said in a telephone interview.

ICK ATHANSON Journal Staff Writer Local Fox affiliate KASA-TV, Channel 2, has been sold and will be operated by the management team of KRQE-TV, Channel 13, the local CBS affiliate. LIN TV of Providence, R.I., the parent company of KRQE, paid a reported $55 million for KASA, owned by Raycom Media of Mont- gomery, Ala. The transfer of the FCC license is expected to occur before end, said Bill Anderson, general manager. TV purchased KASA as part of its operating philosophy to run duopolies (two stations) in each of their he said. KASA will remain a Fox affiliate but will move its operation into the KRQE facility near Downtown.

The KASA building on University NE is part of the sale but its use been determined, Anderson said. Many of 33 employees will find jobs under the new man- agement, but will be some employees who make the transition because be doubled said Anderson, who will become general manager of both stations. GM, Erick Steffens, be among the new employees, he said. Neither will the news team from KOB-TV Channel 4, which produces 9 p.m. newscast.

KASA will continue to air a 9 p.m. newscast, it will be with Anderson said. News of the sale comes just as Nielsen Media Research released its July TV ratings, showing KRQE is holding its No. 1 position for the 10 p.m. newscast.

The station garnered a Monday through Friday rating of 8.9. KOB finished second with a 6.8 rating, and KOAT-TV, Channel 7, came in third with a 6.6 rating. Each rating point represents about 6,500 viewers. Te am Wi ll Operate KASA Fox affiliate was sold for a eported $55million Urban Growth To Blame for Rain? Resear ch er links xtr a precipitation in desert cities to Deadly crash An accident on Interstate 25 near Santo Domingo Pueblo claims two and sends three children to the hospital. Page E2 Teens leaving juvenile lockup New Mexico School in Springer is on track to become a DWI jail by the end of the year.

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