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Poll: College students not optimistic

By TIMES WIRES
Published June 26, 2006

Commentators have noted that the finale of American Idol this year attracted more votes than any U.S. president ever won. A new poll of college students - a prime audience - may suggest why: They don't believe Washington politicians have done a good job of fixing the country's problems.

The majority think the nation is headed in the wrong direction, and nearly three-quarters are not interested in seeking national office.

The poll was conducted last month by the Panetta Institute, a nonpartisan public policy center in California run by former chief of staff for President Bill Clinton, Leon E. Panetta, and Panetta's wife, Sylvia, who surveyed 800 college students. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

The poll found that 53 percent of the students surveyed believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, compared with 38 percent who felt that way in a similar poll last year. Two-thirds are worried about their future, the poll said.

College students have a low opinion of Congress, with a third saying that most lawmakers are honest and trustworthy. On the subject of President Bush, 66 percent voted against his job performance and 29 percent endorsed it.

And while 54 percent say the economy is excellent or good, they don't have a rosy view of the future: 44 percent believe they will be financially better off than their parents.

Panetta faulted both major parties for failing to reach out to young voters and instead playing to their political bases. "They really don't want to register young people to vote," he said, "because they don't know how they are going to vote."

Wildfire threatens New Mexico residents

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A nearly 2,300-acre wildfire forced residents of three small communities to flee their northern New Mexico homes on Sunday.

The 120 mostly year-round residences in Gallina Plaza, Bear Paw Estates and Albers Valley were told to leave, and a 10-mile stretch of state Highway 96 from Regina to Gallina was closed.

Aircraft dropped water and retardant on the blaze, while bulldozers and hand crews dug lines to stop the flames, said Lawrence Lujan, a fire information officer.

No structures have been lost to the fire, which was zero percent contained Sunday. The cause of the fire, which started Saturday, was under investigation.

In southern New Mexico, a fire burning in the Gila National Forest was held back as thunderstorms brought rain and cooler temperatures to the area. The blaze has charred 47,196 acres of dense stands of ponderosa pine and spruce fir.

The fire, detected June 19, destroyed one cabin and forced an unknown number of evacuations from the area.

Investigators determined a campfire ignited the fire and forest officials have offered a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible.

In southern Colorado, all evacuation orders were lifted Sunday for homes near a 13,780-acre wildfire.

In northern Arizona, a 4,200-acre wildfire that started June 18 and threatened hundreds of homes was 35 percent contained, officials said.

Though an evacuation order was lifted for some residents of Oak Creek Canyon on Saturday, the blaze still threatens homes in the canyon's southern end, where crews focused on finishing a protection line.

North of Sedona, officials reopened two roads leading to the Grand Canyon National Park that were closed because of a 17,589-acre wildfire.

Suspect among 2 dead in distribution center shooting

DENVER - A gunman opened fire Sunday afternoon at a Safeway Inc. distribution center, killing one person and injuring five others, including a police officer, before the shooter was killed.

Several fires were burning inside the building near Interstate 70, said Denver fire Chief Larry Trujillo.

About 60 people who evacuated the building were waiting in two buses to hear whether they could re-enter the building, Regional Transportation District spokesman Scott Reed said.

"I've never been through anything like this," said meat department employee Scott Stroman, in his second week on the job.

Two shooting victims were in critical condition; two were in serious condition, including the officer shot in the leg by the suspect; and one was in fair condition, police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. None of the victims was identified.

Jackson could not immediately confirm whether officers shot the suspect or whether he committed suicide. He also would not identify the suspect or say whether he worked for Safeway.

Forest workers facing more attacks, altercations

WASHINGTON - Attacks, threats and lesser altercations involving Forest Service workers reached an all-time high last year, according to government documents obtained by a public employees advocacy group. Incidents ranged from gunshots to stalking and verbal abuse.

The agency tally shows 477 such reports in 2005, compared with 88 logged a year earlier. The total in 2003 was 104; in 1995, it was 34.

[Last modified June 26, 2006, 02:41:31]