Colorado Democrats building support for diplomacy in Iraq

WASHINGTON (AP) - A bipartisan effort to give diplomacy a bigger role in the effort to stabilize Iraq is quietly gaining strength, with nearly 50 senators and House members backing a measure making the Iraq Study Group's recommendations official U.S. policy.

The plan, floated this month, would set a series of benchmarks the Iraqis must meet in exchange for continued U.S. support.

Key backers are two Democrats from Colorado, Sen. Ken Salazar and Rep. Mark Udall, and three Republicans: Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Rep. Frank Wolf of Virginia and Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas.

Four more senators signed on to support the measure Thursday: Bob Bennett, R-Utah, Bob Casey, D-Pa., Mark Pryor, D-Ark., and Judd Gregg, R-N.H. They said the plan is the best way to end debate over the costly and unpopular war.

"The administration is working with the Iraqi government and engaging its neighbors to determine the next steps toward a peaceful resolution, and this bipartisan legislation will only help to augment their efforts," Bennett said in a statement.

The senators plan to introduce the bill next month.

BIG 12 COACHES, COMMISSIONERS MEET IN SPRINGS

Big 12 coaches and commissioners gathered in Colorado Springs on Thursday to discuss where the 2008 football championship game should be held.

Officials were also discussing whether to move the men's basketball title game to Saturday, from Sunday.

Officials were to wrap up their three-day spring meeting Thursday, but there was no immediate word on whether they would settle on the football or basketball title game questions.

COMING TOMORROW IN THE GAZETTE

Uncle Wilber, the mechanical performer in the Acacia Park fountain, is having technical difficulties. Saturday, the

musical and visual surprise that erupts once per hour debuted - only to shut down several

hours later. The city has called in experts to find the problem, likely mechanical or

computer-related. Meanwhile, the fountain's water will keep flowing.

Pfc. Nicholas A. Madaras was one of 30 Fort Carson soldiers who had their names added this year to a memorial at

the post’s front gate. He and the 219 other troops who have died in Iraq since 2003 — regular Army and reserves

who trained at the post — were remembered Thursday in a ceremony that drew hundreds.

Contacts were made, business cards swapped and goodie bags filled at Thursday’s Springs Business Expo.

The expo, presented by the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce, offered the opportunity for a broad

range of businesses and organizations to tout products and services. There were 253 booths, the last two snapped up

Thursday morning.

The third consecutive week of record-setting gas prices in Colorado Springs is taking a toll on wallets, but motorists

aren’t necessarily cutting back. They may grumble about the prices, but many say they aren’t ready to alter their lifestyles,

unlike the oil crisis of the 1970s when Americans sacrificed their love affair with the automobile.

Tour de France winner Floyd Landis was blessed with a fair hearing and failed to prove, or even suggest, his

innocence, writes sports columnist David Ramsey. Dr. Wolfram Meier-Augenstein served as a sympathetic expert

witness for the Landis defense. He offered a superb summary of the proceedings. “Even cheaters have a right to a fair

hearing,” Meier-Augenstein said.

Falcon School District 49 is introducing a popular international curriculum at several of its schools in a push to offer more choice for families and improve student achievement. The district is the third in the Pikes Peak region to pursue the expensive and rigorous program, called International Baccalaureate, or IB. The region’s two largest districts, Colorado Springs School District 11 and Academy School District 20, each have IB schools.

Colorado Springs’ new stormwater enterprise bought eight new vehicles costing $250,189 this year, most of them

2008 models. The purchase signals the enterprise is gearing up in the face of a 17-percent delinquency rate and a

court challenge that could lead to a ballot measure seeking to make the new stormwater fees voluntary.

On the edge of the controversial Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in southeast Colorado lies a place where red rock cliffs

flank a valley floor covered in wildflowers. This is Picket Wire Canyon, where the valley floor holds 150 million years of history including the largest dinosaur track site in North America.

Downtown is losing another bookstore — but it’s only temporary this time. The Book Broker will move at the end of

July to 4622A Northpark Drive, near Interstate 25 and Garden of the Gods Road. The used-book store will stay there

while its home at 119 E. Bijou St. is renovated and the developer adds three stories to the one-story building.

SPORTS TONIGHT

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox entertain Fresno with two seven-inning games starting at 4:30 p.m. on 1460 AM. The Colorado Rockies are at Arizona at 7:30 on FSN (850 AM). Cleveland visits Detroit trying to even their NBA series at 1 at 6 p.m.on TNT. In the Coca-Cola 600 there is qualifying at 5 on the Speed channel. The Mets play at the Braves at 5:30 on TBS. The Carquest Auto Parts 300 practice is at 4 on the Speed channel. Chicago visits New York in MLS play at 5 on ESPN2.

HAPPENING TONIGHT

KITTIE: 7 p.m., Black Sheep, 2106 E. Platte Ave., $12; 520-9090.

NEKROMANTIX, WITH THE HEART ATTACKS, WESTBOUND TRAIN AND SOCIETY’S PARASITES, 8 p.m., Gothic Theatre, 3263 S. Broadway St., Englewood, $12-$14; Ticketmaster.

TELEVISION TONIGHT

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE: Season premiere: "American Idol" may be over for another season, but its dance counterpart is back for another season. It starts out presenting the highlights and lowlights from auditions around the country. 7:00 p.m. (FOX)

ON THE LOT: In the second round of auditions on this new reality series, the hopeful directors are tasked with the "24-Hour Film Shoot" project, where the contestants must shoot and edit a short film in a 24-hour period; and the "one-page, one-hour" film shoot, where they will have an hour to film a one-page scene. 8:25 p.m. (FOX)

ADVENTURES IN HOLLYHOOD: In the season finale, the guys head back to Memphis for some inspiration as they struggle to write the single for their new album. Will they return to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, or will these Southern boys stay close to home? 9:00 p.m. (MTV)