Standing in front of a camera at Reid Park Saturday, family and friends of troops stationed in the Gulf recorded messages of love and thanks during the Support America/Support our Troops Rally.

The messages, many filled with tears, will be sent to troops to show Americans support them, even if the media does not always portray that sentiment, rally-goers said.

Mathematics freshman Tyler Harris said the media portrays only an active minority who are against the war, which, he said, is not an accurate representation of the American psyche. [Read article]

The legacy of labor leader CŽsar Ch‡vez and the war in Iraq took center stage at a south-side rally Saturday that organizers estimated drew 650 Tucsonans, including a variety of UA student groups.

Speakers at the third annual CŽsar Ch‡vez Day March and Rally for Peace and Justice drew sharp contrasts between the ideals of Ch‡vez, who spent decades in the latter part of the 20th century fighting for farmworkers' rights, and the U.S. policy on war, which they called autocratic and imperialistic. [Read article]

A UA law student and three Tucsonans were arrested Friday morning after they blocked East Congress Street to protest the war in Iraq.

The second-year law student, John Thomas Hardenbergh, 28, chained himself to the three other people: Michelle Davis, 31; Melynda H. Barnhart, 29; and Juliana Nannarone, 22. The group stretched across East Congress Street for about 15 minutes, completely blocking traffic just before 8:30 a.m., said Officer Kathy Wendling, a Tucson Police spokeswoman. [Read article]

Tucked away in his office high in the Harshbarger building, a Czechoslovakian immigrant works feverishly to keep the Arizona environment safe. Last month, he finally received recognition for his work.

Dr. Shlomo Neuman was named last month as the 2003 Horton Medallist by The American Geophysics Union. The award is presented for a lifetime of outstanding contribution in the field geophysics.

"This recognition reflects things we've known for a long time," said Vic Baker, head of the Department of Hydrology and Water Resources, who insists Neuman has been an international expert in subterranean hydrology for many years. [Read article]

Desk assistant won't hoard your mail but will kick you off that comfy couch

WILDCAT: So what do you do here?

JORDAN: I try to get people's mail delivered.

WILDCAT: You try to get people's mail delivered. Now I'm hearing some hesitation there. Are there some things you just don't want to give up?

JORDAN: No, that's not the thing. I'm just lazy.

WILDCAT: You're just lazy? If I had this job and I'd be all, "Hmm, this looks kind of interesting. I might want to take a peek." You're not anything like that? [Read article]

· Starbucks pays $150,000 a year to be the official coffee of the University of Washington athletic teams.

· By 2001, "The AIDS Quilt" weighed more than 50 tons and could cover 16 football fields.

· The U.S. is the only country that uses electrocution or lethal gas for executions.

· Hungary has matching salt and paprika shakers on every restaurant table. [Read article]

Today

· 1923 ÷ The first U.S. dance marathon, held in New York City, ended when Alma Cummings set a world record of 27 hours on her feet.

· 1995 ÷ Singer Selena, 23, was shot to death in Corpus Christi, Texas, by the founder of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar.

Tuesday

· 1853 ÷ Cincinnati, Ohio, became the first U.S. city to pay its firefighters a regular salary. [Read article]