ALBUQUERQUE POLICE ARE CRACKING DOWN TONIGHT IN A PROBLEM PART OF TOWN. DOZENS OF OFFICERS WORKED THE AREA ALONG CENTRAL BETWEEN ASTRISCO AND COORS... AND THE SURROUNDING NEIGHBORHOODS. CRIS ORNELAS RODE ALONG WITH OFFICERS TONIGHT... HE'S LIVE IN THE NEWSROOM WITH OUR TOP STORY. POLICE ARE WORKING THE AREA HOPING TO CLEAN IT UP AND HELP REVITALIZE BUSINESS. TONIGHT SEVERAL DOZEN MORE PEOPLE ARE IN JAIL AS A RESULT. WE RODE ALONG WITH OFFICER BRIAN BERRIOS AS HE WORKED TONIGHTS WEED AND SEED PROGRAM. 'especially because its getting warmer in the summer it gets a little crazier so we'll let our presence be known now'FIRST UP IS THIS GENTLEMAN... POLICE THINK HE LOOKS LIKE A MAN WANTED IN A RECENT BURGLARY. WHEN COPS SEARCH HIS POCKETS THEY FIND POT, A PIPE AND A KNIFE. 'we're gonna give you're girlfriend you wallet the only thing we're gonna take out of here is your id ok the less stuff you take to jail the better'THE MAN CLAIMS HE didn't KNOW POLICE WERE LOOKING FOR HIM. 'did you know you had a warrant out for your arrest? no whats it for? its for aggravated burglary'AFTER A SHORT RIDE IN THE BACK OF A COP CAR THE MAN IS BEING PROCESSED AT THIS MAKESHIFT SUBSTATION. BUT POLICE WERE ALSO LOOKING TO CLEAN UP CENTRAL. A VICE OPERATION THIS EVENING FOCUSED ON DRUGS AND PROSTITUTION IN THE AREA. 'today we had two female prostitutes arrested we had 14 johns guys that were trying to pick up prostitutes that were arrested' POLICE WERE ALSO LOOKING FOR ADULTS WILLING TO BUY BOOZE FOR KIDS. THOSE OFFICERS HAD A WANTED FELON FALL RIGHT INTO THEIR LAP. 'we just had one try and purchase alcohol the gentleman said no I cant i've got a felony warrant for my arrest and we just affected an arrest on him he had a 25-thousand dollar bond' AT LAST CHECK POLICE HAD MADE 52 ARRESTS DURING THIS OPERATION. THE SECOND ANNUAL EARTH HOUR WRAPPED UP IN ALBUQUERQUE ABOUT AN HOUR AGO. THE EVENT IS A WORLDWIDE CAMPAIGN TO BRING AWARENESS TO GLOBAL WARMING. THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE WAS SUPPOSED TO PARTICIPATE. VALERIE CASTRO WAS OUT DURING THAT HOUR TO SEE HOW WELL THE CITY DID. SHE'S LIVE DOWNTOWN WITH THE RESULTS. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CITY ANNOUNCED TODAY THAT ALBUQUERQUE WOULD BE PARTICIPATING IN EARTH HOUR AND ENCOURAGED RESIDENTS TO JOIN IN, BUT WE FOUND THE CITY MAY NOT HAVE SET THE BEST EXAMPLE. EARTH HOUR STARTED IN SYDNEY AUSTRALIA LAST YEAR TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT SAVING ENERGY AND THIS IS VIDEO OF WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN DURING THAT TIME -- BUT THIS IS WHAT WE FOUND WHEN WE DROVE AROUND BETWEEN 8PM AND 9M IN DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE. CITY HALL HAD SEVERAL LIGHTS ON INCLUDING THOSE IN CIVIC PLAZA. WE WERE TOLD EVERY PIECE OF NON-ESSENTIAL LIGHTING WOULD BE SHUT OFF IN THE CITY BUT WE FOUND METRO COURT WITH QUITE A FEW LIGHT BULBS BURNING ON THIS SATURDAY NIGHT. 'Every non essential piece of lighting in the city of albuquerque is going to be turned off and that's what mayor chavez has signed us up for.'ONCE AGAIN, WE WEREN'T TOLD EXACTLY WHAT NON ESSENTIAL LIGHTING IS. AS FAR AS WE COULD TELL FROM THIS VANTAGE POINT ALBUQUERQUE WASN'T A VERY ACTIVE PARTICIPATE IN EARTH HOUR. WE WERE UNABLE TO REACH MAYOR CHAVEZ FOR COMMENT. LIVE DOWNTOWN...VC... EWN 4. HERE'S A LOOK AT OTHER U-S CITIES THAT MARKED EARTH HOUR TONIGHT. THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN LAST YEAR IN AUSTRALIA. THIS YEAR, ORGANIZERS HOPE ONE HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD WILL TAKE PART IN TURNING OFF THEIR LIGHTS AND ELECTRONICS TONIGHT. CREWS IN VALENCIA COUNTY MANAGED TO CONTAIN A GRASS FIRE BEFORE IT REACHED A SCHOOL AND A HOME. THE GRASS FIRE BURNED THIS AFTERNOON IN BELEN NEAR MAIN STREET AND ARAGON. CREWS MANAGED TO CONTAIN IT BEFORE ANY STRUCTURES WERE THREATENED. IT BURNED AROUND THREE ACRES. DRY CONDITIONS IN SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO ARE LEADING TO NEW FIRE RESTRICTIONS. STARTING MONDAY.. SMOKING AND CAMPFIRES ARE PROHIBITED IN THE LINCOLN NATIONAL FOREST. VISITORS CAN USE PRESSURIZED LIQUID OR GAS STOVES.. OR SPACE HEATING DEVICES. A FOREST FIRE MANAGER SAYS LARGER TREES, LOGS, AND BRANCHES ARE VERY DRY ... AND WITH MOISTURE LEVELS SO LOW... THE CHANCES OF A FIRE IGNITING HAVE GREATLY INCREASED. THE EASTERN PART OF THE STATE IS ALSO SEEING DANGEROUS CONDITIONS FOR FIRES. METEOROLOGIST TY SHESKY IS IN THE PINPOINT 4 STORMCENTER WITH MORE. ONCE AGAIN IT LOOKS LIKE GOVERNOR BILL RICHARDSON IS TAKING ON THE ROLE AS HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR. JUST TODAY WE FOUND OUT THAT THE GOVERNOR JUST RETURNED FROM COLUMBIA AFTER DISCUSSING THREE AMERICANS BEING HELD HOSTAGE THERE. WITHOUT MUCH FANFAIR THE GOVERNOR TRAVELED TO BOGOTA, COLUMBIA AND IS NOW BACK IN THE U-S. THESE ARE PICTURES FROM HIS TRIP... MEETING WITH COLUMBIA'S PRESIDENTS AND OTHER LEADERS. IN A PRESS RELEASE SENT OUT BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TODAY... A SPOKESPERSON SAYS THE TRIP WAS COORDINATED BY THE US- STATE DEPARTMENT---WITH AN INVITATION FROM COLUMBIA'S PRESIDENT. RICHARDSON TRAVELED TO COLUMBIA TO EVALUATE THE PROSPECTS FOR THE RELEASE OF THREE U-S CONTRACTORS. THEY WERE CAPTURED IN 2003 BY GUERILLA GROUP---THE REVOLUTIONARY ARMED FORCES OF COLUMBIA. EARLIER THIS MONTH THE FAMILY OF THE HOSTAGES CONTACTED RICHARDSON ASKING HIM TO HELP GET THEM HOME SAFELY. IN THE RELEASE RICHARDSON IS QUOTED AS SAYING 'While I believe this initial trip was successful, the process of freeing the hostages won't happen quickly.' AFTER HIS MEETING WITH HIGH LEVEL OFFICIALS THE COLUMBIAN GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED A NEW INITIATIVE TO FREE NUMEROUS IMPRISONED REBELS---IF THE GROUP HOLDING THE AMERICANS---WOULD RELEASE FORMER COLUMBIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE INGRID BETANCOURT WHO IS REPORTED TO BE SERIOUSLY ILL. RICHARDSON SAYS 'I believe that the new initiative proposed by the Colombian Government, is a positive step toward restarting the humanitarian exchange.'TONIGHT A SPOKESMAN FOR THE GOVERNOR SAYS IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY WHAT'S NEXT IN THE CASE. THE GOVERNOR MOST RECENTLY NEGOTIATED THE RELEASE OF NEW MEXICO HOSTAGE JOURNALIST PAUL SALOPEK IN 2006. HE WAS IN SUDAN WORKING ON A STORY FOR NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC. SALOPEK AND HIS TWO COLLEAGUES WERE ACCUSED OF BEING SPIES. POLICE CONTINUE LOOKING FOR A TEAM OF ARMED ROBBERS THEY SAY HAVE HIT 25 ALBUQUERQUE BUSINESSES. POLICE SAY THE FIVE MEN AND ONE WOMAN ARE A VERY ORGANIZED CREW. THEY APPARENTLY WAIT FOR ALL THE CUSTOMERS TO CLEAR OUT OF A BUSINESS BEFORE GOING IN, DEMAND CASH FROM THE REGISTER, AND CLEAN OUT THE SAFE. 18:28-18:34 'They are in out between 2 and 4 minutes so it seems they have some sort of plan before they go in'THE CREW HAS EARNED THE NAME 'THE BACKPACK BANDITS' BECAUSE ONE OR MORE OF THEM ALWAYS HAS A BACKPACK. POLICE SAY THEY ALWAYS WEAR MASKS OR BANDANAS AND GLOVES... MAKING THEM HARD TO IDENTIFY. THE ONLY VEHICLE DESCRIPTION POLICE HAVE IS A HYUNDAI ELANTRA OR A DODGE INTREPID. POLICE ARE TRYING TO FIND FOUR MORE SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN A SHOOTOUT NEAR A FARMINGTON RESTAURANT. OFFICERS SAY THEY WERE EATING AT A CHILI'S THURSDAY, WHEN THEY HEARD GUNSHOTS OUTSIDE, BELIEVED TO BE FROM A GANG RELATED ARGUMENT. THE OFFICERS SAY WHEN THEY WENT OUTSIDE, EVERYONE WAS GONE EXCEPT FOR 26-YEAR-OLD JESUS LOVATO, WHO POINTED A GUN AT THEM. HE SURRENDERED AFTER ONE OFFICER FIRED A SHOT AT HIM. FARMINGTON POLICE HAVE ISSUED WARRANTS FOR FOUR MORE SUSPECTS. THEY ARE TIMOTHY JARAMILLO, ALEXANDER WENGER, AND SAM AND LEO LOVATO. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL FARMINGTON POLICE. THE DRIVER OF A CAR AUTHORITIES SAY CAUSED A FIERY HIGHWAY CRASH IN MASSACHUSETTES, NOW FACES CHARGES. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE CAR HIT A TANKER TRUCK FULL OF FUEL ON INTERSTATE 91, FORCING IT TO ROLLOVER AND CATCH FIRE. THE TRUCK'S DRIVER DIED OF HIS INJURIES SEVERAL HOURS LATER. THE DRIVER OF THE CAR IS CHARGED WITH NEGLIGENT MOTOR VEHICLE HOMICIDE. HILLARY CLINTON AND BARACK OBAMA ARE SCRAMBLING FOR THE LAST REMAINING DELEGATES IN TEXAS. THE STATE HELD ANOTHER ROUND OF CAUCUSES TODAY. THE LATEST RESULTS SHOW CLINTON AND OBAMA ALL TIED UP. HOWEVER, JUST ABOUT EVERY COUNT SHOWS OBAMA BEATING CLINTON IN THE OVERALL RACE FOR DELEGATES. THAT HAS SOME TOP DEMOCRATS CALLING FOR A WINNER TO BE DECIDED SOON, IN ORDER TO PREVENT FIGHTING AT THE PARTY'S NATIONAL CONVENTION THIS AUGUST. BUT OBAMA AND CLINTON BOTH AGREE THAT EVERY STATE SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO VOTE BEFORE A NOMINEE IS CHOSEN. Presidential candidate :00-:05) 'The more people get a chance to vote, the better it is for our democracy.' Presidential candidate :28-:32) 'My attitude is - Senator Clinton can run as long as she wants.' THE LAST PRIMARIES AND CAUCUSES WRAP UP IN JUNE. SOME WONDERED IF FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOHN EDWARDS WOULD MAKE AN ENDORSEMENT TODAY... DURING A YOUNG DEMOCRAT'S CONVENTION IN NORTH CAROLINA. INSTEAD, EDWARDS HAD KIND WORDS FOR BOTH BARACK OBAMA AND HILLARY CLINTON. HE SAID OBAMA IS EXTRAORDINARILY TALENTED AND PRAISED HIM FOR BRINGING NEW PEOPLE INTO THE POLITICAL PROCESS. AS FOR CLINTON, EDWARDS COMMENDED ON HER STRENGTH AND LEADERSHIP. THE I-R-S WORKED OVER TIME TODAY, TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE RECEIVE THEIR STIMULUS CHECKS FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T NORMALLY FILE TAX RETURNS MUST DO SO IN ORDER TO QUALIFY FOR THE CHECKS. THEY INCLUDE RETIREES AND DISABLED VETERANS. THE I-R-S OPENED OFFICES IN NEW MEXICO AND AROUND THE COUNTRY TODAY TO HELP THEM OUT. THE CHECKS, WHICH START GOING OUT IN MAY, GIVE UP TO 600 DOLLARS TO INDIVIDUALS, AND UP TO 1200 DOLLARS TO COUPLES. PEOPLE WITH CHILDREN WILL GET EXTRA MONEY. THERE WAS SOME FANCY DOGGIE DINING TO BE HAD TONIGHT. WE'LL TAKE YOU TO A FUNDRAISER INVOLVING PETS AND THEIR OWNERS. AND... ANOTHER FUNDRAISER HAS PEOPLE HITTING THE PAVEMENT TO FIGHT ALL-TOO-COMMON DISEASES. THESE STORIES ARE COMING UP ON EYEWITNESS NEW FOUR AT TEN. DOGS AND THEIR OWNERS GOT TOGETHER FOR 'YAPPY' HOUR THIS EVENING. IT WAS PART OF THE MAYOR'S ANNUAL DOG BALL TONIGHT AT THE ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON MUSEUM. THE GALA EVENT ALSO FEATURED DINNER, MUSIC, AND DANCING TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE ANIMAL KENNEL KOMPADRES. THE NON PROFIT GROUP WILL USE THE MONEY TO HELP OUT THE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL WELFARE. 8:15-8:21 'folks are having a great time, their pets are having a great time. and we're raising money for a tremendous cause' MAYOR CHAVEZ ALSO TELLS US TONIGHT'S EVENT SAW A SELL-OUT CROWD. 20-THOUSAND DOLLARS A MONTH... THAT'S HOW MUCH THE CITY OF FARMINGTON DISHED OUT FOR ITS NOW OUSTED CITY MANAGER. A STUDY OF CITY RECORDS SHOWS THE CITY SPENT NEARLY 180- THOUSAND DOLLARS ON COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH MIKE MILLER. MILLER WAS CITY MANAGER FOR NINE MONTHS BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO FIRE HIM.. SAYING HIS AGGRESSIVE MANAGEMENT STYLE WASN'T WORKING OUT. THE MONEY INCLUDES MILLER'S SALARY, A SEVERANCE PACKAGE, TRAVEL AND RELOCATION EXPENSES AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS RETIREMENT ACCOUNT. MILLER WAS ALSO FIRED FROM HIS PREVIOUS JOB AS CITY MANAGER IN COLUMBIA, TENNESSEE. FARMINGTON WILL START TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR A NEW CITY MANAGER STARTING APRIL FIRST... UNTIL THE 15TH. MAYOR BILL STANDLEY SAYS THE COUNCIL SHOULD CONFIRM A NEW CITY MANAGER BY APRIL 22ND. WORLD WAR TWO SOLDIERS FORCED TO WALK 65 MILES WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER IN THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH... WILL BE HONORED TOMORROW. AROUND 18- HUNDRED NEW MEXICANS WERE AMONG THE 70- THOUSAND SOLDIERS CAPTURED BY JAPANESE TROOPS IN THE PHILLIPPINES... AND FORCED TO MARCH TO PRISON CAMPS. FEWER THAN 900 OF THOSE NEW MEXICANS SURVIVED. TO HONOR THE TROOPS, A 26-MILE MEMORIAL MARCH IS BEING HELD TOMORROW AT WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE. HUNDREDS ENJOYED THE WARM WEATHER TODAY, BY WALKING FOR CHARITY. THE 16TH ANNUAL HEART AND STROKE WALK WAS HELD THIS MORNING AT ALBUQUERQUE ACADEMY'S WALKING TRAIL. EVENT ORGANIZERS FROM THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION SAY AROUND 14- HUNDRED PEOPLE SHOWED UP, AND THEY RAISED AT LEAST 80-THOUSAND DOLLARS. THAT MAKES IT A BIGGER SUCCESS THAT LAST YEAR'S WALK. ANOTHER WALK IN ALBUQUERQUE RAISED MONEY TO FIGHT H-I-V AND AIDS. THE ONE MILE WALK KICKED OFF AT CIVIC PLAZA, WITH THE HOPE OF RAISING 60- THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE MONEY WILL GO TO 'NEW MEXICO AIDS SERVICES' FOR EDUCATION AND SUPPORT PROGRAMS. THOUSANDS TOOK PART IN THE NATIONAL MARATHON TODAY IN WASHINGTON D-C. FOR HIS THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR, MICHAEL WARDIAN FINISHED FIRST. HE ALSO SET A NEW COURSE RECORD.. COMPLETING THE MARATHON IN 2- HOURS AND 25- MINUTES. WARDIAN WILL TAKE HOME A TWO- THOUSAND DOLLAR PRIZE. WE'LL TAKE YOU THE BALL PARK AS THE LOBOS PLAYED A THE LOBOS PLAYED A DOUBLE HEADER AGAINST VERMONT... AND THE TAR HEELS PUT ON A SHOW IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT... SPORTS IS NEXT WITH LEE... BUT NOW HERE'S A LOOK AT TONIGHT'S POWERBALL AND NEW MEXICO LOTTERY NUMBERS. THE WAY THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS HANDLED TENNESSEE YOU WOULD FIGURE THEY COULD HANG WITH NUMBER ONE NORTH CAROLINA... TYLER HANSBOUGH SCORED 20 SECOND HALF POINTS HE FINISHED WITH A DOUBLE DOUBLE ...28-POINTS AND 13 REBOUNDS... === BUT DOWN THE STRETCH THE CARDINALS MAKING THIS A GAME AND IT'S TY LAWSON WITH THE 3-POINTER... === THEN IT'S HANSBROUGH WITH THE PUMP FAKE AND THE JUMPER...THE TAR HEELS ARE HEADED TO THE FINAL-4...THEY BEAT LOUISVILLE 83-TO- 73... in the WEST IT WAS UCLA AGAINST THE XAVIER MUSKETEERS... AND EVEN THE BIG GUY WAS KNOCKING DOWN SHOTS FOR THE BRUINS ...KEVIN LOVE HAD 19-POINTS AND 10-REBOUNDS AS THE BRUIN ARE GOING TO THEIR 3RD STRAIGHT FINAL- 4...THEY BEAT XAVIER 76-TO-57... WOMEN'S NCAA TOURNAMENT IS GOING ON TOO...LOUISVILLE FACING NORTH CAROLINA ...THE LADY TAR HEELS RUNNING THE FLOOR AND IT'S AND IT'S JESSICA BRELAND WITH THE HOOP ...UNC GO ON TO GET THE WIN 78-TO-74... THE TCU HORNED FROGS HAVE A NEW HEAD BASKETBALL COACH TONIGHT...HE IS FORMER KENT STATE HEAD COACH JIM CHRISTIAN... HE LED THE GOLDEN FLASHES TO 28-WINS THIS SEASON BEFORE FALLING TO THE RUNNING REBELS OF UNLV IN THE OPENING ROUND OF THE NCAA TOURNAMENT... CHRISTIAN REPLACES NEIL DOUGHERTY... THE LOBOS LOOKING FOR A SWEEP AS THEY PLAYED A DOUBLE DIP AGAINST VERMONT... WE OPEN UP IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 5TH AND MIKE BROWNSTIEN WITH THE FLAIR TO RIGHT... THAT FALLS AND THAT SCORES ONE... THE LOBOS GO ON TO BEAT VERMONT 9-TO-4... IN GAME ONE AND WIN GAME TWO 9-TO-4...BUT RAY BIRMINGHAM SAYS IT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH ... THE CUBS AND THE MARINERS READY TO HEAD NORTH BUT NOT BEFORE THEY PLAY ONE MORE IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN ...AND THE CUBS SAY THAT KARRY WOOD IS GOING TO BE THEIR CLOSER AND HE LOOKED GREAT TODAY AS THE CUBS BEAT THE 'M'S' 4-TO-2...THE CUBS OPEN with the BREWERS ON MONDAY... THIS WEEK STOP ON THE PGA TOUR IS THE ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS AND THE PLAYERS WERE FIGHTING THE RAIN AND LIGHTING MOST OF THE DAY... WOODY AUSTIN MADE THE BIGGEST MOVE OF THE DAY AND ALMOST GET THE HOLE IN ONE AT NUMBER 9... HE IS 4-UNDER ON THE DAY 8-UNDER FOR THE TOURNAMENT...NICOL AS THOMPSON...BRINY BAIRD AND PETER LONARD ALSO ON TOP...
