Arizona Daily Star from Tucson, Arizona • Page 9

BEST AVAILABLE COPY Tuesday, September 16, 2003 ARIZONA DAILY STAR A9 HOUGHTON ADOT study focuses on three sections of road Houghton Road upgrades ADOT has studied 20 miles of Houghton to determine what imnrnvements will be needed "7 i by 2030. About 11 miles of the road could become a parkway or freeway. Tanque 'siRd. O.S.L.J uour-lane road II i 7 it i riffle ru'ttfJ-J I Ttllil'ASCUAYAOUITI 4 HMI. Vt.1HMNtl ft -4 rff name of his cousin Lee Marvin Capers, who was killed at age 21.

1973, the memorial evoked awful memories of his time with River Flotilla 1, as a crew member on a patrol boat on the Mito River in the Mekong Delta. He remembers the sobering news other sailors delivered when he came aboard: that crew members like him were lasting an average of three days on the job before being killed. In a single day, 133 members of his unit were killed. It was their names Elmer came looking for on Monday. Like Brown Otter, he broke down as he gazed at the seem Continued from PageAl Interstate 10.

Parkways can handle more traffic than typical urban streets because they have fewer intersections. That means there are fewer places where vehicles get backed up while waiting for traffic signals to change. Freeways can carry even more traffic because they pass over or under all intersecting streets eliminating the need for any traffic signals. Vice Mayor Shirley Scott, who represents Ward 4 on the Southeast Side, expects people to support the idea of turning Houghton into a parkway because it would help them reach other parts of Tucson more quickly: "People here are eager to have access around the city." She said a parkway would probably be preferred over a freeway because people want Houghton to remain a scenic corridor. ADOT's Houghton study has focused on three sections of the road.

Here are the recommendations for what needs to be done on each section by 2030: I East Tanque Verde to East Golf Links roads: Widen Houghton to four lanes and maintain it as a typical urban street. I Golf Links to Interstate 10: Build a six-lane parkway. If a freeway is desired, it could be four to six lanes wide, depending on traffic levels. 1 1-10 to East Sahuarita Road: Continue the parkway or freeway from 1-10 south to East Dawn Road. Between Dawn and Sahuarita, widen Houghton to four lanes.

Intersection upgrades on Golf Links also were recommended to move traffic faster on that road, which is expected to carry traffic from Houghton to other parts of the city. According to ADOT, short-term widening projects should be completed on Houghton to handle traffic until the parkway or freeway is built. Michael Tone, who drives on Houghton almost every day and is the president of the Rita Ranch Neighborhood Association, thinks work to build a parkway or a freeway shouldn't be postponed. "I would rather see them spend the money now, rather than wait 20 or 30 years when costs would just skyrocket." Tone also thinks Houghton should be upgraded before it's seriously clogged with traffic. "The infrastructure really needs to be there before the growth takes place," he said.

ADOT hasn't produced any estimates for how much it would cost to transform the 11 miles of Houghton, but those numbers will be available in March when the study is completed. known for provocative rulings pT rtnrt'lWcM I. -ni-vriT lrv(ngjonHri Eawnj Rd Four-lane road I Sahuarita Rd. Houghton meetings Two meetings will be held for people to comment on ADOT's recommendations to upgrade Houghton Road. Sept.

29: 5 to 7 p.m. at Desert Sky Middle School, 9850 E. Rankin Loop. I Oct. 1:5 to 7 p.m.

at Pantano Christian Church, 10355 E. 29th St. See www.houghtonroad.com to learn more about ADOT's Houghton study. Parker said she has heard from many people who are frustrated that ADOT has no immediate plans to overhaul Houghton. "We don't have any money for this project," she said.

"Everyone is looking for money." The city has asked Congress for $30 million to spend on Houghton from funds generated by the federal gasoline tax. If the city doesn't get that money, Scott said the road upgrades will take a long time. She said developers are required to help out by adding extra lanes whenever they build on property that runs along Houghton. That policy has resulted in areas where the road widens, then narrows, then widens again. "It's kind of a weird hodge-podge, but that's what we have now," Scott said.

I Contact reporter Susanna Canizo at 573-4176 or slcanizoazstarnet.com. Oft, J- '1 tion program. Adding a digital signal allowed the local WB station to expand its reach, said Carol La Fever, chief operating officer of KWBA. The station's broadcasts of Arizona Diamondbacks baseball games are now available to residents in SaddleBrooke via a digital feed to the area's cable TV provider. The digital signal covers a slightly bigger area a bit more clearly than the analog signal, La Fever said.

"We're really pleased with the quality and the way it's worked out for us." I Contact reporter Mary Vandeveire at 573-4195 or mevazstarnet.com. Lottery Drawings for Monday, Sept. 15 Fantasy 5 8, 20, 23, 31, 33 Pick 3 1, 2, 4 Lottery information: 325-9141 Online: www.anzonalottery.com Escalant; 1 I i 1 'Oy Parkway or freeway Valencia Rd- I I 1 WAI.I. VI I.I NAM VI. I I.HANS Ml against the wall to make a copy of the Brown Otter views the motives of U.S.

leaders with a measure of skepticism. "I believe, personally, that President Bush had a little vendetta against Saddam Hussein," he said. He hopes the lessons of Vietnam will be taken to heart by the White House, he added. The U.S. military got involved in Vietnam in the early 1960s in an attempt to keep communism from spreading throughout Southeast Asia.

It pulled out in 1975. For Tucsonan Phil Elmer, 58, who served in the Navy in Vietnam between 1965 and 9tli Circuit Court THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN FRANCISCO The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has a well-earned reputation for provocative rulings. It is also known for being the nation's most-reversed federal appeals court partly because its 40 presiden-tially appointed judges make it the largest federal appeals bench in the nation. It is also viewed as the most liberal federal appeals court.

Before Monday's decision to postpone California's recall vote, judges on the San spoken, and their word should and will prevail." State Sen. Tom McClintock, the only other major Republican in the race, blasted the ruling and said he is confident it will be quickly overturned. "I want to remind people that the 9th Circuit is the most reversed court the same court that banned the words "under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance," he said in a statement. "It has become a national laughingstock. This election is called for by the (state) constitution and demanded by the people of California." If the election is delayed until March, many see Davis and Lt.

Gov. Cruz Bustamante, the leading Democratic candidate to replace him, as big winners. That's because registered Democrats are more likely to come to the polls in March, since they'll be choosing a presidential candidate then. Republicans likely will already have a presidential candidate, George Bush. In addition, "time is on Gray Local stations adding Station Standard definition channel number KGUN-TV KMSB-TV K0LD-TV KTTU-TV KUAT-TV KUAS-TV KV0A-TV KWBA-TV 9 11 13 18 6 27 4 58 Source: The stations fully digital, Arnold said, KOLD will have to change its control room, studio production, cameras and electronic news-gathering equipment.

The picture reception from a digital broadcast is crisper and clearer than standard broadcast. Depending on the program, the digital transmissions will offer CD-quality surround sound or programming in both English and Spanish or another language. The most dramatic improve- Digital Casino employee Joe White rubs VIETNAM 'That's what war is. A young man in a body bag' Continued from Page Al monument on Monday. "That's what war is.

A young man in a body bag. It's ugly." He gets angry now, watching the news from Iraq, at the thought of another generation going through the same sort of hell. RECALL Proponents are expected to appeal ruling Continued from Page Al better off if the Oct. 7 vote were delayed until March 2, when primary elections are already scheduled. By then, all California counties should have met state requirements to replace the outdated machines.

The state's chief election official, along with recall proponents who say Gov. Gray Davis should be removed as soon as possible for fiscal mismanagement, are expected to appeal. Monday's decision came on the last of about a dozen legal challenges to the recall. It left candidates, elections officials and voters scrambling to figure out its ramifications. Leading candidates said they would continue campaigning as if the election were still being held Oct.

7, just in case the court's ruling is overturned. "This recall has been like a roller coaster. There are more surprises than you can possibly imagine," Davis said after appearing with former President Bill Clinton at a school dedication in Los Angeles. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the leading Republican in a field of more than 130 candidates trying to replace Davis, called on California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley to immediately appeal the decision and hold the election as planned. "Historically the courts have upheld the rights of voters, and I expect that the court will do so again in this case," the actor-turned-politician said in a statement.

"The people have DIGITAL Standard analog TV still available for Tucson viewers Continued from Page Al said Vince Maffeo, Cox's director of marketing. Then Cox customers can receive the digital transmissions from the local network affiliates, as well as other programming. No antenna will be needed, Maffeo said. ABC affiliate KGUN is shooting for 6ct. 31 to have digital.

The local PBS and WB stations launched digital transmissions in April. "I think in the future it will pay dividends to the viewers. It will really enhance the viewing pleasure," said Jim Arnold, vice president ofKOLD. KOLD spent more than $2 million getting the digital transmission gear into place. To go B'SKSasaKF' I If Francisco-based court were most noted for their 2002 opinion that declared the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional when recited in public schools.

That decision has been appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Just two weeks ago, the 9th Circuit overturned more than 100 death sentences in Arizona, Idaho, Montana and Nevada. That case is likely to be taken to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court reversed the 9th Circuit after it upheld the right of Califor Davis' side," said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College. "As time goes on, the novelty will wear off and supporters of recall will find it difficult to maintain the same level of anger as they once had." Schwarzenegger, who has been criticized for giving few specifics and eschewing debates in favor of tightly managed public appearances, could be hurt the most of any candidate by a delayed election, said Mark Petracca, a political science professor at the University of California at Irvine. "The fact that it was a short election meant he could get away with running on his personality and celebrity status," Petracca said. "If you're adding another five or six months to the election cycle, I don't know if he can just continue to give glib responses to questions and get away with it." Then again, a delay might give Schwarzenegger time to better prepare, said Tony digital broadcast ingly endless list of casualties. "Just look, look at the loss, the waste," he said.

Still, he doubts that the Iraq war will become another Vietnam. "History will never repeat this war again," Elmer said. The Vietnam memorial will be outside Casino del Sol until Sunday afternoon. The Pascua Yaquis brought the exhibit to town to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of gaining federal status as a tribe. I Contact reporter Carol Ann Alaimo at 573-4138 or at caalaimoazstarnet.com.

nia marijuana clubs to dole out pot to the sick. It also reversed a 9th Circuit ruling overturning a law allowing authorities to kick tenants out of federal housing projects for drug use. Sometimes the 9th Circuit reverses its own controversial three-judge decisions before cases reach the Supreme Court such as a ruling that inmates have a right to mail their sperm from prison. And contrary to its liberal image, the court reinstated tough Reagan-era drug sentencing laws. Quinn, co-editor of the nonpartisan "California Target Book," an influential political guide.

"It helps the Republicans because they were not ready for this election," Quinn said. "It also gives Schwarzenegger more time to become more conversant on the issues." In recent polls, voters have been almost evenly divided on whether or not to recall Davis, who was re-elected to a second term in November. If they do throw him out, polls have Bustamante leading Schwarzenegger by a slim margin. McClintock is a distant third. Monday's ruling came in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, which argued that relying on highly contested punch-card systems would violate the voting rights of minorities concentrated in the counties that use them.

Because of high error rates, all California counties were supposed to replace the outdated punch-card voting systems by next March's election. ing need not worry. The standard definition, or analog, dial isn't changing. The stations say it looks as though local broadcasting in standard definition will continue for some time. The stations are adding digital transmissions at the request of the Federal Communications Commission.

The agency has given TV stations until 2006 to make the conversion to digital signals. It plans to reclaim the analog part of the radio spectrum and auction it off for advanced communications services such as next-generation cell phones. The time frame depends on whether viewers in a given market are perceived as having access to digital TV and on how access is defined by the number of households with digital TVs or availability of services. Prices for digital TVs have gone down in the last few years, but even at the low end, consumers will still spend at least $1,400 for the TV and $300 for the tuner, said Shawn Polston, assistant sales manager at Roh's I -si 1 A.E. Araiza Staff Houghton Road could become a parkway or freeway if money can be found to follow recommendations of a state transportation study.

channel number Audio Video. Tom Collier, president and CEO of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona, said consumers don't need to rush to buy digital TVs. "If you want to be the first one on your block and you have the money to do that, that's a different story," Collier said. The benefits are geared toward the broadcasters rather than the people spending money, Collier said. Digital TV allows stations to do more on the same channel.

For example, in a couple of months PBS will start offering four different programs during the day on its digital Channel 28, said David Ross, KUATKUAS assistant general manager. On Channel 28-1 will be the same programming offered on the station's analog channel; Channel 28-2 will be PBS Kids; Channel 28-3 will be PBS adult education; and Channel 28-4 will be a rebroadcast of programming. At night, the station will devote the channel to a single high-defini Digital launch date 35 25 32 19 30 28 23 44 Target Oct. 31 Sept. 15 Sept.

11 Sept. 15 April 2003 December 2002 Sept. 15 April 2003 Staff ment comes with high-definition television, which offers up to 10 times the picture detail of standard, or analog, TV. Currently, the amount of high-definition programming is limited and varies by network and station. CBS, for example, has converted most of its prime-time evening schedule to high-definition.

In addition, sporting events are sometimes televised in high-definition format. Tucson viewers who don't want to change to digital view.