Free Republic

Here are the latest, unofficial returns from New Mexico TP PR Madrid Wilson Bernalillo 414 413 91,488 90,731 Sandoval 15 15 3,971 3,810 Santa Fe 3 3 604 1,297 Torrance 18 18 2,100 3,266 Valencia 15 15 2,990 3,352 Totals 465 464 101,153 102,456

She was the Democrats' best hope against U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, their No. 1 star in an election season scarred by scandal and war. And Attorney General Patricia Madrid still might be. But we probably won't know for sure until the end of the week. Or next week. After the congressional candidates spent a long evening playing cat-and-mouse in their vote tallies, they went into the morning hours with Wilson holding a 1,303-vote lead. But their fate is bound up in two sets of uncounted ballots totaling more than 5,000 votes. One group consists of more than 2,000 ballots rejected...

Republican Rep. Heather Wilson and Democratic challenger Patricia Madrid brought out some political and local star power Sunday during their separate high-energy, high-decibel political rallies. Wilson's northeast Albuquerque event highlighted her support among some Hispanics and members of the opposing political party, featuring former Rep. Manuel Lujan Jr. and New Mexico musical legend Al Hurricane, who happens to be a Democrat. "She's super bright," said Lujan, who from 1969-1989 held the 1st District seat now held by Wilson. "I served there for 20 years, so I watch her very closely— and I think she does the right thing." At a...

ET has confirmed the surprising news that after more than 11 years of marriage, HEATHER LOCKLEAR, 44, and her rocker husband, RICHIE SAMBORA, 46, are calling it quits. In court papers filed today, Locklear cites "irreconcilable differences" as the reason for the split. "Heather Locklear has filed for divorce from Richie Sambora," according to her publicist. "This is a private matter and there will be no further comment at this time." The "Melrose Place" star and BON JOVI guitarist have one child, 8-year-old AVA ELIZABETH. Locklear was previously married to another rocker, TOMMY LEE.

A funny thing happened over the weekend to the big "Cops Gone Wild" video scandal in San Francisco -- it started getting very quiet. Apparently, Mayor Gavin Newsom and his handlers realized that while the videos were bad, they didn't quite prove -- at least in the public's mind -- Newsom's charge that they were evidence of a "deep-seated" culture of sexism, racism and homophobia running through the department. By Sunday, the message was going out that Newsom -- having made his point and formed a "blue-ribbon" commission to look into the department's culture -- was now ready to get...

Although no one defended the law, the Bar Board of Governors has said three sections cannot lobby to repeal a state law banning homosexuals from adopting because it is too divisive among Bar members. The board voted 31-13 at its December 10 meeting in Naples to accept the recommendation of the Legislative Committee and deny the request of the Family Law, Equal Opportunities Law, and Public Interest Law sections to seek to change the law. The three sections wanted to substitute a best-interest-of-the-child standard for the gay adoption ban. The board devoted almost two hours of debate to the issue....

Two Fathers, With One Happy to Stay at Home By GINIA BELLAFANTE INNEAPOLIS — Right before Christmas, Jamie McConnell arrived at the Lake Country School here, as he does most days of the week, to pick up his son, Ben, 3. Hardly short on spunk, Ben made his way out to the snowy playground, and Mr. McConnell, as parents have done since the dawn of swings and monkey bars, trailed behind. Mr. McConnell had plenty of time to watch Ben romp and to invite one of his classmates and his mother home for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. For years,...