Albuquerque Media Monitoring
News clips from Wednesday August 19 include stories about:

* John McCain at NMSU Today
* Lobo's Announce New Contract for Rocky Long
* Tom Udall Talks with Veterans At UNM
* Students Moving into Dorms at UNM
* UNM Does Not Endorse Lowering the Drinking Age
* UNM Survey Shows More Than 30% of High School Students Offered Drugs
* Dick Fosbury Raises Money for UNM Cancer Center

2 KASA 9:00 PM

NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ARE BEING WARNED TO STAY OUT OF BORDERING JUAREZ, MEXICO. CAMPUS POLICE TEXTED THE WARNING TODAY TO ALL STUDENTS. THE FALL SEMESTER BEGINS THURSDAY... AND STUDENTS TRADITIONALLY HEAD TO JUAREZ NIGHTCLUBS. BUT, POLICE SAY THAT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA AS VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO ERUPT...AT LEAST 800 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN JUAREZ THIS YEAR... MOST OVER DRUGS. MEANWHILE -- GUNMAN OPENED FIRE, KILLING 13 PEOPLE DURING A FAMILY PARTY IN CHIHUAHUA MEXICO ON SATURDAY. A ONE-YEAR-OLD CHILD IS AMONG THE DEAD. WITNESSES TELL POLICE GUNMEN IN THREE PICK-UP TRUCKS, WEARING SKI MASKS, FIRED ON A CROWD OUTSIDE A DANCE HALL.

THE LOBOS HAVE MADE GREAT STRIDES AS A FOOTBALL TEAM UNDER ROCKY LONG IN HIS DECADE OF SERVICE. TODAY THE UNIVERSITY OFFICIALLY REWARDS COACH LONG WITH DOLLARS AND YEARS. LONG HAS A NEW FIVE YEAR CONTRACT THAT WILL GIVE HIM A PAY INCREASE OF MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. HIS TOTAL PACKAGE IS WORTH 750 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR...UP FROM THE PREVIOUS 439 THOUSAND DOLLARS. LONG'S NEW BASE SALARY IS 240 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR UP FROM 190 THOUSAND DOLLARS. ROCK STEADY LONG IS IN HIS 11TH SEASON. SOME OF HIS ACCOMPLISMENTS INCLUDE STEADY PLAY WITH FIVE BOWL APPEARANCES AND SEVEN STRAIGHT NON-LOSING SEASONS. HE HAS ALSO PUSHED HIM TEAM TO DO WELL IN THE CLASSROOM.

4 KOB 5:00 AM

NEW MEXICO IS A HUGE CAMPAIGN STOP FOR BOTH TOP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES THIS WEEK TOMORROW REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOHN MCCAIN WILL BE VISITING NEW MEXICO. MCCAIN WILL HOLD A TOWN HALL MEETING IN LAS CRUCES. IT WILL BE AT THE "PAN AM CENTER" AT NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY. THE MCCAIN CAMPAIGN SAYS IT HAS SENT OUT E-MAIL INVITATIONS. REPRESENTATIVE TOM UDALL WILL TALK WITH STUDENT VETERANS AT UNM ABOUT ISSUES AFFECTING THEM. UDALL WILL ALSO EXPLAIN THE NEW G-I BILL HE CO- SPONSORED. IF APPROVED, THE BILL WILL PROVIDE A FULL FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE EDUCATION TO VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED SINCE 9-11. THE MEETING WILL BE FROM 10 - 11 THIS MORNING IN THE ANTHROPOLOGY BUILDING-ROOM 163.

4 KOB 4:00 PM

IN TODAY'S DECISION 08 COVERAGE ... PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOHN MCCAIN WILL BE IN NEW MEXICO TOMORROW. THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE WILL SPEAK AT AN INVITATION ONLY TOWN HALL MEETING. IT WILL BE HELD AT NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY'S PAN AM CENTER. MCCAIN'S LAST TRIP TO THE STATE WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO... WHEN HE HELD A TOWN HALL MEETING AT HOTEL ALBUQUERQUE. MEANWHILE... THERE'S INCREASED SPECULATION THAT DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BARACK OBAMA WILL NAME A RUNNING MATE TOMORROW. SOME ANALYSTS STILL HAVE GOVERNOR RICHARDSON ON OBAMA'S SHORT LIST. OTHER POSSIBILITES INCLUDE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR TIM KAINE... INDIANA SENATOR EVAN BAYH AND FORMER CANDIDATE HILLARY CLINTON.

THE UNM CAMPUS IS BUZZING, AS STUDENTS BEGIN MOVING INTO THE DORMS. THE UNIVERSITY EXPECTS AROUND 24-HUNDRED STUDENTS TO MOVE INTO CAMPUS HOUSING TODAY. THE FALL SEMESTER STARTS MONDAY.

4 KOB 5:00 PM

IT'S MOVING DAY FOR STUDENTS WHO'LL SPEND THE FALL SEMESTER IN DORMS ON THE UNM CAMPUS. SWARMS OF STUDENTS BRAVED THE MOVE-IN TRAFFIC JAM TO GET SETTLED IN THEIR DORM ROOMS. UNM SAYS ABOUT 24-HUNDRED STUDENTS WERE EXPECTED TO MOVE IN TODAY. AS COLLEGE STUDENTS RETURN TO CAMPUS -- SO DO COLLEGE PARITES FOR SOME OF THEM. NOW SOME INFLUENTIAL COLLEGE PRESIDENTS ARE CALLING FOR THE NATIONAL DRINKING AGE TO BE LOWERED FROM 21 TO 18. THE IDEA IS TO CUT DOWN ON BINGE DRINKING BY UNDERAGE STUDENTS. AS NBC'S CHRIS CLACKUM REPORTS -- THE PLAN IS ALREADY BEING BASHED. WITH MANY COLLEGE PRESIDENTS CALLING BINGE DRINKING THEIR MOST SERIOUS CAMPUS PROBLEM... ...SOME NOW SAY LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE.. COULD OFFER SOME SOBERING RESULTS. "I'M JUST SAYING IF WE TREAT THESE 18, 19, 20 YEARS OLDS LIKE ADULTS, THEY'LL ACT LIKE ADULTS SO WE NEED TO START HAVING AN ADULT CONVERSATION." NAMED FOR THE GEMSTONE THAT ANCIENT GREEKS BELIEVED WARDED OFF DRUNKENNESS... ...THE AMETHYST INITIATIVE WAS ORGANIZED EARLIER THIS YEAR... PRESIDENTS FROM UNIVERSITIES LIKE SYRACUSE...DUKE.. DARTMOUTH.. OHIO STATE AND COLLEGES LIKE TRINITY IN CONNECTICUT.. HAVE SIGNED UP TO LOWER AMERICA'S DRINKING AGE. "THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY CONSUMED ALCOHOL BY THE TIME THEY ARRIVE AT COLLEGE AGE." BUT INFLUENTIAL GROUPS LIKE MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING ARE MOUNTING A MAJOR CAMPAIGN TO STAY WITH 21. "WE KNOW THE EARLIER THEY BEGIN TO DRINK THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO BECOME ALCOHOL DEPENDENT OR DRIVE DRUNK." HIGHWAY SAFETY ADVOCATES ALSO SAY STATISTICS AS WELL AS SCIENCE FAVOR STAYING WITH 21. "WHEN THE PURCHASE AGE OF ALCOHOL WENT UP... TEEN DEATHS WENT DOWN" BUT AMONG SOME STUDENTS WHO WOULD BE AFFECTED...AGE DOESN'T MATTER ANYWAY. "I REALLY DON'T THINK IT WOULD CHANGE MUCH MORE THAN IT IS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE EVERYONE DOES IT ANYWAY.." AS TEENAGERS HEAD OFF OR RETURN TO CAMPUS .. ...OPPONENTS HAVE EVEN TAKEN TO WARNING PARENTS ABOUT THE SCHOOLS... WHERE THE PRESIDENT HAS SIGNED UP TO LOWER THE DRINKING AGE. CHRIS CLACKUM, NBC NEWS. EACH STATE CAN DETERMINE ITS LEGAL DRINKING AGE -- BUT ANY STATE THAT LOWERS IT FROM 21-YEARS-OLD LOSES TEN PERCENT OF ITS FEDERAL HIGHWAY MONEY. AT SIX -- WE FIND OUT IF LOCAL COLLEGE STUDENTS AND THE PRESIDENTS OF UNM AND NEW MEXICO STATE SUPPORT THE IDEA.

4 KOB 6:00 PM

SOME UNIVERSITY LEADERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THINK LOWERING THE LEGAL DRINKING AGE WOULD MAKE COLLEGE CAMPUSES SAFER. TODAY WE HIT THE UNM CAMPUS TO SEE WHAT THE UNIVERSITY AND ITS STUDENTS HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THE IDEA. GADI SCHWARTZ IS LIVE AT UNM WITH WHAT HE DISCOVERED. CLOSE TO ONE HUNDRED UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS - FROM CAMPUSES LIKE DUKE AND DARTMOUTH SAY -- THE LAW RIGHT NOW FORCES UNDERAGE DRINKING INTO HIDING AND MAKES IT MORE DANGEROUS. SEEING THEIR KIDS MOVING OUT OF HOME- AND INTO THE DORMS IS HARD FOR PARENTS. I DON'T KNOW I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT MY DAUGHTER. AND IF THEY COULD SEE WHAT CAMERON PITMAN IS UNPACKING IT BE EVEN HARDER. SEE HOUSE OF BLUES WALT DISNEY WORLD PITMAN CLAIMS THE SHOT GLASSES ARE JUST FOR SHOW- BUT PHILOSOPHICALLY HE BELIEVES HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FILL THEM UP. WHY CANT YOU HAVE A BEER OR TAKE A SHOT IF YOU GO FIGHT FOR YOU GO FIGHT FOR YOUR COUNTRY WHY CANT YOU DRINK A BIT YOUNGER. IT'S NOT QUITE THE ARGUMENT MANY UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS HAVE IN MIND AS THEY START A NEW NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO LOWER THE DRINKING AGE TO 18. I THINK THAT BY LOWERING THE AGE IT ALMOST REDUCES THE ENTICEMENT OF WANTING TO DRINK BECAUSE YOUR ABLE TO. THAT'S A LITTLE CLOSER TO WHAT UNIVERSITY LEADERS ARE THINKING IN ORDER TO CURB BINGE DRINKING. BUT SO FAR THE IDEA OF LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE IS JUST RAISING A LOT OF EYEBROWS. ITS JUST GOING TO ALLOW US TO OPEN THE DOOR FOR A 17 YEAR OLD KID WELL HE IS GOING TO BE 18 IN 3 MONTHS SO NO I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF IT. A LOT MORE DEATHS AND FATALITIES ON OUR HIGHWAYS AND A LOT MORE KIDS OVERDOING IT I DON'T THINK YOU ARE MATURE ENOUGH AT 18 TO MAKE THAT DECISIONS SO I THINK 21 IS A BETTER AGE. AND EVEN THE FRESHMEN WITH THE SHOT GLASS COLLECTION KIND OF AGREES --- AT LEAST WITH HIS PARENTS NEARBY. IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SAVE THOSE SHOT GLASSES UNTIL YOUR 21- YES THEY WERE GIVEN TO ME AS A GIFT AS I MIGHT NOT BE HOME WHEN I'M 21 SO HERE'S A GIFT FOR YOU. UNM OFFICIALS SAY PRESIDENT DAVID SCHMIDLY IS ALSO OPPOSED TO REDUCING THE LEGAL DRINKING AGE. REDUCING THE LEGAL DRINKING AGE. SO IS EASTERN NEW MEXICO. NMSU OFFICIALS TELL US THEY ARE STILL UNDECIDED.

4 KOB 6:00 PM

IF YOU'RE AN OLYMPIC TRACK AND FIELD FAN--YOU'VE UNDOUBTEDLY SEEN IT---THE FOSBURY FLOP. ALL THE HIGH JUMPERS USE THE TECHNIQUE. IT TURNS OUT THE MAN WHO CREATED IT---DICK FOSBURY---WAS RECENTLY TREATED FOR CANCER AT U- N-M HOSPITAL.. NOW HE'S HOPING TO INSPIRE OTHER CANCER PATIENTS THROUGH A BLOG. DICK FOSBURY'S WIFE KNOWS THE DIRECTOR OF UNM'S CANCER CENTER ...AND THAT'S WHY THEY CAME HERE FROM IDAHO EARLIER THIS YEAR TO GET TREATMENT FOR HIS LYMPHOMA. HE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ARTHRITIS AFTER ARCHING HIS BACK SO MANY TIMES DOING THE "FOSBURY FLOP" -- LIKE HERE AT THE 1968 GAMES IN MEXICO CITY. BUT AN M-R-I SHOWED A TUMOR. AFTER SURGERY AND MONTHS OF AGGRESSIVE CHEMO...THE 61- YEAR-OLD IS IN WHAT THEY CALL "CLINICAL REMISSION." FOSBURY SAYS IT WAS SUCH AN EYE- OPENING EXPERIENCE HE WANTED TO HELP OTHER CANCER PATIENTS. SO HE AND DOCTOR ROB HROMAS CREATED A BLOG. WHILE HE'S IN BEIJING CELEBRATING THE 40-TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE "FOSBURY FLOP" .... HE'LL WRITE ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES THERE ......NOT AS AN OLYMPIAN BUT AS A CANCER SURVIVOR. FOSBURY AND HIS WIFE CO-WRITE THE BLOG. DOCTOR HROMAS SAYS ONE OF HIS CANCER PATIENTS ACTUALLY HAD A FRONT ROW SEAT TO FOSBURY'S GOLD- MEDAL WINNING JUMP IN '68... AND READING THE BLOG ... MAKES HIM WANT TO TRY HARDER. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO READ FOSBURY'S BLOG .... YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO IT AT OUR WEB SITE---- KOB-DOT- COM.

COACH ROCKY LONG "FINALLY" HAS A CONTRACT EXTENSION THE SCHOOL AND THE COACH CAN AGREE ON... THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO GAVE LONG A FIVE YEAR EXTENSION.. THEY ALSO GAVE HIM A BIG BUMP IN PAY.. LONG'S NEW DEAL IS WORTH SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.. HE USED TO MAKE 439 THOUSAND.. LONG IS IN HIS 11TH YEAR WITH THE LOBOS.. HE IS NOW ONE OF THE TOP FOUR HIGHEST PAID COACHES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST..

ONTO THE CAMPUS -- INTO THE DORMS. THE UNIVERSITY EXPECTS AROUND 24-HUNDRED STUDENTS TO MOVE INTO CAMPUS HOUSING TODAY. THE FALL SEMESTER STARTS ON MONDAY. SOME UNIVERSITY LEADERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE PUSHING TO LOWER THE DRINKING AGE FROM 21 TO 18. IT'S ALL IN AN EFFORT TO CURB BINGE DRINKING ON CAMPUS. BUT SOME ARGUE IT'S NOT GOING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. GADI SCHWARTZ SPENT THE AFTERNOON TALKING TO PARENTS AND UNM STUDENTS ABOUT THE PLAN- HE IS LIVE ON CAMPUS WITH WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. GADI? UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS FROM SCHOOLS LIKE DUKE AND OHIO STATE HAVE STARTED TALKING ABOUT DROPPING THE DRINKING AGE IN ORDER TO MAKE THEIR CAMPUSES SAFER. THINKING IS ALONG THE LINES- KIDS WILL DO IT ANYWAY- MIGHT AS WELL DO IT UNDER OUR SUPERVISION.- BUT UNM SAYS NO WAY. SEEING THEIR KIDS MOVING OUT OF HOME- AND INTO THE DORMS IS HARD FOR PARENTS. I DON'T KNOW I'M JUST WORRIED ABOUT MY DAUGHTER. AND IF THEY COULD SEE WHAT CAMERON PITMAN IS UNPACKING IT BE EVEN HARDER. SEE HOUSE OF BLUES WALT DISNEY WORLD PITMAN CLAIMS THE SHOT GLASSES ARE JUST FOR SHOW- BUT PHILOSOPHICALLY HE BELIEVES HE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FILL THEM UP IF HE WANTS TOO. WHY CANT YOU HAVE A BEER OR TAKE A SHOT IF YOU GO FIGHT FOR YOU GO FIGHT FOR YOUR COUNTRY WHY CANT YOU DRINK A BIT OUNGER. IT'S NOT QUITE THE ARGUMENT MANY UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS HAVE IN MIND AS THEY START A NEW NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO LOWER THE DRINKING AGE TO 18. I THINK THAT BY LOWERING THE AGE IT ALMOST REDUCES THE ENTICEMENT OF WANTING TO DRINK BECAUSE YOUR ABLE TO. THAT'S A LITTLE CLOSER TO WHAT UNIVERSITY LEADERS ARE THINKING IN ORDER TO CURB BINGE DRINKING. BUT SO FAR THE IDEA OF LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE IS JUST RAISING A LOT OF EYEBROWS. ITS JUST GOING TO ALLOW US TO OPEN THE OOR FOR A 17 YEAR OLD KID WELL HE IS GOING TO BE 18 IN 3 MONTHS SO NO I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF IT. A LOT MORE DEATHS AND FATALITIES ON OUR HIGHWAYS AND A LOT MORE KIDS OVERDOING IT I DON'T THINK YOU ARE MATURE ENOUGH AT 18 TO MAKE THAT DECISIONS SO I THINK 21 IS A BETTER AGE. AND EVEN THE FRESHMEN WITH THE SHOT GLASS COLLECTION KIND OF AGREES --- AT LEAST WITH HIS PARENTS NEARBY. IS IT SAFE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE GOING TO SAVE THOSE SHOT GLASSES UNTIL YOUR 21- YES THEY WERE GIVEN TO ME AS A GIFT AS I MIGHT NOT BE HOME WHEN I'M 21 SO HERE'S A GIFT FOR YOU. JUST LIKE UNM- ADMINISTRATORS AT EASTERN NEW MEXICO SAY THEY DO NOT SUPPORT THE NEW INITIATIVE. BUT DOWN AT NMSU- UNIVERSITY OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE STILL UNDECIDED.

4 KOB 6:00 PM

THE MAN WHO CREATED THE "FOSBURY FLOP" WAS RECENTLY TREATED FOR LYMPHOMA HERE AT UNM HOSPITAL ....AND NOW HE WANTS TO HELP OTHER CANCER SURVIVORS WITH A BLOG. DICK FOSBURY'S WIFE KNOWS THE DIRECTOR OF UNM'S CANCER CENTER ...AND THAT'S WHY THEY CAME HERE FROM IDAHO EARLIER THIS YEAR. HE'S NOW IN WHAT THEY CALL "CLINICAL REMISSION." THE 61-YEAR-OLD IS IN BEIJING. WHILE THERE---HE'S WRITING ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES THERE...NOT AS A FORMER OLYMPIAN--- BUT AS A CANCER SURVIVOR. "FROM THE STANDPOINT OF I'VE BEEN THROUGH WHAT YMPICS. AND THIS IS HOW IT CHANGED MY LIFE. IT CHANGED IT FOR FOSBURY'S DOCTOR SAYS MANY OF HIS PATIENTS SAY READING THE BLOG HELPS THEM AND MAKES THEM WANT TO TRY HARDER. IF YOU'D LIKE TO CHECK OUT THE BLOG ... WE HAVE A LINK SET UP AT OUR WEB SITE---KOB- DOT-COM.

4 KOB 10:00 PM

THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO GAVE LONG A FIVE YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION.. HIS NEW DEAL WOULD KEEP HIM HERE UNTIL 2013.. ROCKY'S GETTING A BIG BUMP IN PAY TOO.. LAST YEAR HE MADE 439 THOUSAND DOLLARS.. THE NEW DEAL PAYS HIM 750 THOUSAND A SEASON.. THIS IS HIS 11TH YEAR IN CHARGE OF THE LOBOS ..

7 KOAT 5:00 AM

ARIZONA SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN IS ON HIS WAY TO NEW MEXICO. HE WILL VISIT LAS CRUCES TOMORROW. THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL WILL HOST A TOWN HALL MEETING AT NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY'S PAN AMERICAN CENTER. HIS CAMPAIGN STAFF ALREADY SENT OUT EMAILED INVITATIONS TO THE EVENT.

7 KOAT 5:00 PM

SOME EDUCATORS ARE PROPOSING A SURPRISING WAY, TO DEAL WITH BINGE DRINKING ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES... BY LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE! 100 COLLEGE PRESIDENTS FROM SOME OF THE NATION'S BEST KNOWN UNIVERSITIES, SAY THE 21 YEAR OLD AGE LIMIT FOR DRINKING MAY BE MAKING THE PROBLEM WORSE, BY PUSHING THE BEHAVIOR INTO THE SHADOWS. THEY WANT A NATIONAL DEBATE, ABOUT LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE TO 18. "I THINK IF WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW RESPONSIBLE DRINKING AND MODEL RESPONSIBLE DRINKING AND EDUCATE STUDENTS ABOUT IT, THAT WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL FOR EVERYBODY" BUT NOT EVERYONE THINKS IT'S A GOOD IDEA. COMING UP TONIGHT AT 10, HEAR WHAT EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS AT UNM HAVE TO SAY.

7 KOAT 6:00 PM

FOLLOWING SENATOR OBAMA'S TRIP TO THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT, PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL JOHN MCCAIN WILL BE IN LAS CRUCES TOMORROW. THE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL WILL HOST A TOWN HALL MEETING AT NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY'S PAN AMERICAN CENTER. HIS CAMPAIGN STAFF ALREADY SENT OUT EMAILED INVITATIONS TO THE EVENT. AND YOU CAN COUNT ON ACTION 7 NEWS FOR LIVE COVERAGE OF BOTH THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTIONS. I WILL BRING YOU ALL THE ACTION FROM DENVER, STARTING AUGUST 24TH. AND THEN I'M OFF TO MINNEAPOLIS ST PAUL, FOR LIVE COVERAGE FROM THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, BEGINNING AUGUST 31ST.

7 KOAT 10:00 PM

TOMORROW ... THE LAND OF ENCHANTMENT WILL AGAIN HOST A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THREE DAYS. REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN WILL HOST A TOWN HALL MEETING TOMORROW MORNING. TODAY THE ARIZONA SENATOR VISITED AN OFF-SHORE OIL RIG, IN THE GULF OF MEXICO. MCCAIN USED THE VISIT TO PUSH FOR MORE OFF-SHORE DRILLING, TO HELP LOWER COSTS FOR AMERICANS. IN OUR COMMITMENT 2008 COVERAGE ... ACTION SEVEN NEWS REPORTER CHRIS RAMIREZ HAS A PREVIEW OF MCCAIN'S VISIT TO LAS CRUCES. THE STAGE HERE AT THE PAN AMERICAN CENTER IS SET FOR JOHN MCCAIN'S VISIT TOMORROW MORNING. THIS WILL BE MCCAIN'S THIRD VISIT TO THE STATE SINCE MAY. MCCAIN'S CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS ISN'T RELEASING MANY DETAILS. THEY WILL SAY MCCAIN WILL HOLD A TOWNHALL MEETING BEGINNING AT 10 O'CLOCK. DOORS OPEN AT 8-30 TO THE PUBLIC. THIS IS MCCAIN'S FIRST TRIP TO LAS CRUCES AS THE PRESUMTIVE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE. MCCAIN'S VISIT IS TIMELY AFTER A WEEK WITH DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE. HILLARY CLINTON WAS IN ESPANOLA ON SUNDAY AND DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL BARACK OBAMA WAS IN ALBUQUERQUE ON MONDAY. THE CAMPAIGN IS EXPECTING SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE IN ATTENDENCE TOMORROW MORNING. REPORTING FROM NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY, CHRIS RAMIREZ KOAT A7N. DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BARACK OBAMA IS NOW ON A BUS TOUR OF NORTH CAROLINA AND VIRGINIA, FOLLOWING A STOP IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA. WHILE THERE, THE ILLINOIS SENATOR ADDRESSED A CONVENTION OF VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS. OBAMA WANTS MCCAIN TO STOP ATTACKING HIS CHARACTER AND PATRIOTISM ... ESPECIALLY WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE IRAQ WAR. OBAMA ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE U-S ROLE IN THE RECENT CONFLICT IN GEORGIA. THIS CRISIS UNDERSCORES THE NEED FOR ENGAGED U.S. LEADERSHIP IN THE WORLD. WE FAILED TO HEAD OFF THIS CONFLICT AND LOST LEVERAGE IN OUR ABILITY TO CONTAIN IT BECAUSE OUR LEADERS HAVE BEEN DISTRACTED, OUR RESOURCES OVERSTRETCHED, AND OUR ALLIANCES FRAYED. OBAMA PLANS TO RETURN TO SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS SATURDAY ... THE LOCATION WHERE HE ANNOUNCED HE WOULD SEEK THE PRESIDENCY. MANY EXPECT HIM TO ANNOUNCE HIS VICE PRESIDENT THEN. STAY WITH ACTION 7 NEWS FOR POLITICAL COVERAGE YOU CAN COUNT ON. I'LL HAVE LIVE REPORTS FROM THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION IN DENVER, STARTING AUGUST 24TH... AND BEGINNING AUGUST 31ST, I'LL BRING YOU ALL THE ACTION FROM THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION IN MINNESOTA'S TWIN CITIES.

IS 21 TO OLD FOR THE DRINKING AGE? ONE HUNDRED PRESIDENTS FROM SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S BEST KNOWN COLLEGES WANT LAWMAKERS TO THINK ABOUT LOWERING IT TO 18. THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO ISN'T ON THE LIST. ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER A-J SMITH WENT TO UNM AND EXPLAINS WHY. 2:50-2:52 JILL YEAGLEY/PROGRAM MANAGER/CAMPUS OFFICE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION "LUDICROUS AND REALLY VERY DANGEROUS." THAT'S WHAT JILL YEAGLEY WITH UNM'S CAMPUS OFFICE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION THINKS ABOUT LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE TO EIGHTEEN. BUT ONE HUNDRED PRESIDENTS FROM COLLEGES AROUND THE COUNTRY WANT LAWMAKERS TO CONSIDER MAKING THE CHANGE. :54-1:08 JILL YEAGLEY/PROGRAM MANAGER/CAMPUS OFFICE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION "THE 21 LEGAL DRINKING AGE IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST PROVEN EFFECTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH STRATEGIES." WE WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THE STUDENTS THOUGHT. 21:46-21:55 AJ SMITH/ACTION 7 NEWS "IT'S FRESHMAN ORIENTATION HERE AT UNM SO MOST OF THE STUDENTS THAT WE FOUND WERE EIGHTEEN AND YOU MAY BE SURPRISED WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE." 17:18-17:23 MARC RODRIGUEZ/FRESHMAN/18 YEAR OLD "ALREADY 21 YEAR OLDS CAN'T HANDLE IT AND THEY ABUSE IT SO I DON'T THINK IT'S GOOD, I DON'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA AT ALL." WHAT ABOUT THE THEORY HELD BY THOSE 1-HUNDRED COLLEGE PRESIDENTS - THAT 18 YEAR OLDS ARE DRINKING ANYWAY AND DOING IT MORE DANGEROUSLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DO IT SECRETLY? 16:17-16:21 KEVIN KLEIN/FRESHMAN/18 YEAR OLD "THEY DO HAVE TO DO IT SECRETLY SO IT MAKES IT HARDER AND MORE EFFORT FOR THEM TO DO IT." SOME STUDENTS HAD STRONG OPINIONS, BUT OTHERS WEREN'T SO SURE. 14:56-15:05 KATIE SHEPPARD/FRESHMAN/18 YEAR OLD "YOUR BRAIN IS STILL GROWING AND STUFF SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'D BE THE RIGHT THING AND I THINK WE STILL HAVE TO MATURE AND GO THROUGH THESE YEARS. BUT I ALSO DON'T THINK IT WOULD MAKE THAT MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE AT THE SAME TIME." AND THIS 22-YEAR OLD, WHO WAS AGAINST LOWERING THE DRINKING AGE, KNEW HER ANSWER WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT WHEN SHE WAS EIGHTEEN. 19:32-19:34 SHAUNA BOYLES/NOT A STUDENT/22-YEAR-OLD "I WOULD'VE WANTED IT LOWER. I WOULDN'T WANT IT 21." IT LOOKS LIKE THE DEBATE HAS BEEN STARTED. AT UNM, A-J SMITH, ACTION 7 NEWS. THE MOVEMENT BY COLLEGE PRESIDENTS TO LOWER THE DRINKING AGE IS KNOWN AS THE AMETHYST INITIATIVE.

7 KOAT 10:00 PM

LOBO FOOTBALL COACH ROCKY LONG HAS A BRAND NEW CONTRACT.. REWARDING THE LONG TIME LOBO WITH A BIG-TIME DEAL THAT HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR MONTHS NOW, IT'S A 5-YEAR CONTRACT THAT WILL PAY COACH LONG 750-THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR.. THAT'S AN INCREASE OF OVER 300-THOUSAND DOLALRS FROM HIS PREVIOUS CONTRACT THAT WAS SET TO EXPIRE AT THE END OF NEXT SEASON ... NO VERBATEM ALTHOUGH ROCKY'S OVERALL RECORD AT UNM IS 61-AND-61, THE LOBOS ARE THE ONLY ALTHOUGH ROCKY'S OVERALL RECORD AT UNM IS 61-AND-61, THE LOBOS ARE THE ONLY TEAM IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST THAT HAVE POSTED 7-STRAIGHT NON-LOSING SEASONS.. READY OR NOT, THE LOBOS OPEN UP AH WEEK FROM SATURDAY AT HOME AGAINST T-C-U..

13 KRQE 5:30 PM .

ACCORDING TO A UNM SURVEY...MORE THAN 30-PERCENT OF STUDENTS IN NEW MEXICO HAVE BEEN OFFERED DRUGS AT SCHOOL. IF YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT DRUGS... TONIGHT WE CAN HELP START THE CONVERSATION. AT SEVEN THIS EVENING... NEWS 13 WILL BE AIRING A DOCUMENTARY CALLED "HIGH." CHRIS SCHUELER/DIRECTOR /PROD UCER: YOUTH CAME TO US AND SAID THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE IN OUR STATE... AND PEOPLE AREN'T TALKING ABOUT IN THE RIGHT WAY. CHRIS SCHUELER, THE DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER OF THE DOCUMENTARY "HIGH" SAYS HE SEARCHED FOR THE RIGHT WAYS TO TELL KIDS AND PARENTS IN NEW MEXICO THE FACTS ABOUT DRUGS .... NAT POP---SOUND OF SAW THE DOCUMENTARY STARTS WITH AN AUTOPSY OF A YOUNG PERSON WHO HAS OVERDOSED.. DR. NINE/THERE ARE BASICALLY TWO WAYS DRUGS REACT IN THE BODY. A LOCAL BRAIN EXPERT ALSO EXPLAINS IN THE DOCUMENTARY WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUNG MINDS ON DRUGS.... CHRIS SCHUELER/SO ANYTHING WE INTRODUCE TO THE BRAIN BEFORE MID 20'S...HAS AN EFFECT ON HOW THE BRAIN SYNAPSES FORM TOGETHER. PLUS, THERE ARE THE STORIES OF THE USERS: KID: I DID IT AND I GOT HOOK LIKE THAT. I THINK THE MOST I REGRET..IS THE PAIN I CAUSED MY MOTHER. NAT POP OF MUSIC AND, A MOTHER DESCRIBES...THE PAIN OF A LOSING A SON TO A DRUG THAT'S QUICKLY GROWING IN POPULARITY AMONG YOUTH... PRESCRIPTION PAINKILLERS. SCHUELER HOPES THE DOCUMENTARY GRABS PEOPLE'S ATTENTION AND GETS THEM TALKING. CHRIS/KIDS AND PARENTS START A CONVERSATION. IN TONIGHT'S DOCUMENTARY...YOU 'LL ALSO HEAR FROM UNDERCOVER OFFICERS, TEACHERS, AND COUNSELORS...WHO DESCRIBE HOW EASY IT IS FOR KIDS TO SCORE DRUGS. THE DOCUMENTARY AIRS TONIGHT AT SEVEN ON NEWS 13. AFTER IT AIRS...WE WILL HAVE A LIVE CALL IN SHOW. EXPERTS WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS AND GIVE ADVICE ON HOW YOU CAN SPOT DRUG ABUSE IN YOUR KIDS, AND GET THEM HELP.

UNDER ROCKY LONG IN HIS DECADE OF SERVICE. TODAY THE UNIVERSITY OFFICIALLY REWARDS COACH LONG WITH DOLLARS AND YEARS. LONG HAS A NEW FIVE YEAR CONTRACT THAT WILL GIVE HIM A PAY INCREASE OF MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. HIS TOTAL PACKAGE IS WORTH 750 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR...UP FROM THE PREVIOUS 439 THOUSAND DOLLARS. LONG'S NEW BASE SALARY IS 240 THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR UP FROM 190 THOUSAND DOLLARS. ROCK STEADY LONG IS IN HIS 11TH SEASON. SOME OF HIS ACCOMPLISMENTS INCLUDE STEADY PLAY WITH FIVE BOWL APPEARANCES AND SEVEN STRAIGHT NON- LOSING SEASONS. HE HAS ALSO PUSHED HIM TEAM TO DO WELL IN THE CLASSROOM. .

13 KRQE 10:00 PM

CHILE -- IT IS OUR STATE VEGETABLE -- PART OF OUR IDENTITY. BUT NEW MEXICO'S COMMERCIAL CHILE INDUSTRY IS IN CRISIS, AND IN DANGER OF DISAPPEARING. TODAY -- GROWERS, RESEARCHERS AND PROCESSORS GATHERED NEAR LAS CRUCES TO LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS. OUR BOB MARTIN HAS THE STORY. IN RECENT YEARS... TWO THIRDS OF NEW MEXICO'S CHILE FARMERS HAVE QUIT. THE CHILE ASSOCIATION SAYS WITHOUT A RESCUE -- THE COMMERCIAL CHILE INDUSTRY COULD SOON BE GONE HERE... WE REALLY ARE ON AN UNEVEN PLAYING FIELD ...WITH LABOR COSTS MUCH LOWER IN OTHER COUNTRIES AND REGULATION MUCH LESS IN OTHER COUNTRIES... WE'RE HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME COMPETING. FOLKS FROM ALL PARTS OF THE INDUSTRY GATHERED TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO SAVE COMMERCIAL CHILE PRODUCTION HERE. MANY SAY CHILE PICKING "MACHINES" ARE THE ANSWER. RIGHT NOW -- GREEN CHILE BRUISES TOO EASILY AND MUST BE PICKED BY HAND. FEW WANT THE JOB... IN RECENT YEARS, MANY GROWERS CAN'T EVEN PICK THEIR CROPS BECAUSE THERE JUST AREN'T ENOUGH PEOPLE AVAILABLE AT ANY COST TO GET THEM OUT IN THE FIELD AND PERFORM THE HARVEST. THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND NEW MEXICO STATE HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING THIS PROTOTYPE. THEY BORROWED RUBBER FINGERS FROM ANOTHER AG BUSINESS... THOSE RUBBER FINGERS ARE USED IN THE POULTRY PROCESSING INDUSTRY TO TAKE THE FEATHERS OFF OF TURKEYS...NMSU IS ALSO TESTING THIS "RED" CHILE PICKER FROM ISRAEL -- TO SEE IF IT CAN BE ALTERED TO SAFELY PICK GREEN CHILE. IT LOOKS PROMISING. IF PROTOTYPE GREEN CHILE HARVESTING MACHINES LIKE THIS ONE ARE SUCCESSFUL, THEY'LL CREATE A NEED FOR ANOTHER MACHINE. WHEN PEOPLE HARVEST THESE BY HAND...THEY CAN BREAK OFF THE PESKY STEM IF ITS NECESSARY. HARVESTING MACHINES CANNOT DO THAT. SO -- NMSU IS WORKING ON A MECHANICAL DE- STEMMER. IN ADDITION -- PLANT RESEARCHERS ARE WORKING TO BREED CHILES THAT STAND UP TO MACHINES -- WHILE MAINTAINING THAT NEW MEXICO FLAVOR. BOB MARTIN -- KRQE NEWS 13 -- NEAR LAS CRUCES. INDUSTRY LEADERS SAY THEY WILL SOON SEEK HELP FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO MAKE NEW MEXICO CHILE A "CERTIFIED" STATE CROP. THAT WOULD PUT IT IN A LEAGUE WITH IDAHO POTATOES, IOWA CORN AND WASHINGTON APPLES.

LONG HAS A NEW FIVE YEAR CONTRACT THAT WILL GIVE HIM A PAY INCREASE OF MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS. HIS TOTAL PACKAGE IS WORTH 750 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR...UP FROM THE PREVIOUS 439 THOUSAND LONG IS EN HIS 11TH SEASON WITH FIVE BOWL APPEARANCES, STEADY VICTORIES I CONFERENCE PLAY AND TEAM IMPROVEMENT IN THE CLASSROOM. HE IS VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE NEW DEAL BUT HAS HIS MIND ON SOMETHING ELSE. COLLEGESOCCERNE WS.COM HAS NAMED LOBO SENIOR CHRIS WRIGHT A SECOND TEAM ALL AMERICAN.THE 2007 MOUNTAIN WRIGHT A SECOND TEAM ALL AMERICAN. THE 2007 MOUNTAIN PACIFIC SPORTS FEDERATION PLAYER OF THE Y THE LEAGUE IN GOALS LAST YEAR WITH 12. THE LOBOS HOST NOTRE DAME IN AN EXHIBITION TOMORROW NIGHT AT SEVEN. THEY WILL HOLD THEIR LAST PRACTICE IN GALLUP TOMORROW.

41 KLUZ 5:00 PM

MARTES 19 DE AGOSTO Y CON NOSOTROS TRAEMOS LO MAS INTERESANTE EN LOS DEPORTES... EL DEPARTAMENTO ATLETICO DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE NM ATRAVES DE SE VICE PRESIDENTE PAUL KREBS, ANUNCIO AFICIALMENTE LA EXTENCION DE CONTRATO PARA EL TECNICO DEL EQUIPO DE FOOTBALL AMERICANO ROCKY LONG POR OTROS 5 AQOS LO CUAL LO MANTENDRA AL FRENTE DE LOS LOBOS HASTA EL 30 DE JUNIO DEL 2013 GANANDO UN SUELDO DE 240 MIL DOLARS POR AQO. ROCKY LONG JUGO COMO QUATERBACK EN EL EQUIPO DE LOS LOBOS DESDE 1969 - 1971 Y ESTRO A SU TEMPORADA NUMERO 11 CON EL EQUIPO DE UNM EMPATANDO LA MARCA CON ROY JOHNSON EN ANTIDAD DE TEMPORADAS AL FRENTE DE LOS LOBOS.EL EQUIPO DE FUTBOL SOCCER FEMENIL, POR SU PARTE ARRANCA SU ACTIVIDAD FUERA DE CASA, ENFRENTANDO A LAS PIONEERS DE COLORADO