Senator John McCain takes time out of campaigning for some important paperwork.
And bullfighting returns to Nogales-Tenora over the weekend.
Plus, an Arizona man attempts to break his own skydiving record.
News 13 at 6 starts now.
Live, local, late breaking.
This is News 13 at 6 with Chris Pickle and Randy Garcia tonight.
We'll take you live to Karchner Caverns to catch the excitement of today's grand opening.
What does the future hold for Native Americans?
Hundreds of representatives are in Tucson designing a plan.
And a late breaking decision that may help keep El Pueblo Clinic open, but with some changes.
Now, here's Randy Garcia.
Today was the big day, the opening of Karchner Caverns,
it's southern Arizona's newest tourist attraction.
And folks are coming from all over the country to see the caverns between Benson and Sierra Vista.
This is what it looked like when the first tourists went into the cave around 9 o'clock this morning.
A little history behind the caverns.
Two amateur cave explorers stumbled upon the cave 25 years ago,
and they kept it secret for almost nine years.
They didn't let it become public knowledge until 1988.
Mindy Blake joins us now live from the mouth of the cave,
and was in the first group to tour the caverns today.
Mindy, I bet that was an unbelievable experience.
Oh, it's just incredible. I don't want to give it all away,
because I hope folks will make reservations and come up here and see for themselves.
But when you first go into the cave, they take you into a room called the Rotunda Room.
It's a huge room. It's the size, the floor is the size of a football field,
and it's covered with mud, and just some fascinating, amazing formations all over the place.
And it's really an experience to see. You have to see it for yourself.
Now, the biggest cave column in Arizona is in Karchner Caverns.
A lot of folks didn't know that.
It's called Kubla Khan. The 58-foot column formed when a massive stalactite,
growing down from the ceiling, joined with a stalagmite ascending from the floor.
The two men who discovered the cave gave the column its name.
They got it from a poem.
Now, beside every king, there is a queen, and there is a smaller formation next to Kubla Khan.
It's called Nephrodites.
Now, many of the children who toured the cave told me today they thought the huge column was awesome.
Oh, what was it? What was the best part of it?
I think it was Kubla Khan. It was, looked like butterscotch poured on it,
and it had a real good music tune to it.
Now, Kubla Khan is in the center of what's called the throne room,
and during the tour, tourists actually sit down, and they listen to music and a light show.
It's not like a laser light show, but it just lights up the caves just beautifully,
and it really is a sight to see.
Well, Mindy, just about how tall is Kubla Khan?
It's 58 feet, and it's really high.
When you sit down, when you're listening to the music and watching the light show,
you're right about halfway up, and it's just massive.
Okay, well, how long do the tours themselves take whenever you go in?
About an hour and five minutes, and I tell you, you want it to keep going.
You don't want it to end.
Well, they're going to be opening up, so I'm sure the tours will get longer over time,
but it'll be open more of the caverns.
Yeah, that's right, and you definitely need reservations.
Okay, thanks a lot, Mindy.
You bet.
Well, you could say there's only one drawback to getting into the caves early.
As I just mentioned, not all the caves are open yet.
This is the underground area.
The blue is the upper cave level, and green is the lower cave level.
The yellow area is the only area open to the public.
Now, there were many people excited about today's opening.
Visitors to the cave, and especially the discoverers themselves.
For that, let's go to Jim Becker, who is alive at Karschner right now.
Now, Jim, are the discoverers of Karschner Caverns, are they excited about this day
that it's finally open to the public, or do they have mixed feelings about it?
Well, actually, you know something, they were pretty moved because for them to see these people
coming out of the cave after seeing it for the first time,
it was the same wonder and excitement that Randy and Gary felt
when they first crawled out of that sinkhole 25 years this month.
Now, as far as the people going into the cave and taking the tour,
I went with a group of eighth graders from Pomerane, which is near Benson,
and they were pretty fascinated.
So it's safe to say that everyone who went in that cave today paid attention through the whole tour.
You won't be going in for anybody.
John Bekius drove more than 400 miles from Lake Havasu to see the cave.
He not only gets a tour, but takes home a collector's item as well.
I drove up yesterday in hopes that I'd be able to get a ticket, and I was able to get one.
And it's the first ticket sold for the first tour this morning.
Are you going to hang on to that ticket?
Yes, I will.
Bob Newton didn't have to travel far.
He came with three generations of family members.
My son made the reservations, and I think he made one phone call and got right through,
and we're in the second group.
You're lucky.
I'm lucky. Very lucky.
A quick tram ride up and a tour guide briefing.
Please, please do not touch anything.
Don't touch a ton of wall.
Don't put your foot on a curb.
Don't put your hand on a formation.
And the first public tour is underway.
They've seen the pictures.
They've seen the TV images.
Now they're seeing it all right before their eyes.
Fantastic.
It was great.
You enjoyed it?
Greater than I expected.
I'm feeling very small, and it's quite an experience to go into something, literally the living earth.
Well, I didn't think Cubicon would be that big.
I thought they were just like...
I didn't think they were really that big.
But until we got there, it was huge.
For the people who discovered the cave, watching others react takes them back to when they first saw the cave.
We all see things through our own eyes, and it's wonderful in this case to begin to see something that you love through someone else.
And I'm very... almost overcome.
Yeah, gonna bring our family back.
Does it surprise you when people say they're gonna come back?
No. No, we came back.
We came back, and I expect a lot of people will come back.
Now it's interesting to note that while I've been through this tour a couple of times before,
these youngsters that I went with, they saw things that I didn't see the first time.
So if you go again, you're going to see a lot more.
All right.
Thanks a lot, Jim.
I know a lot of people in southern Arizona and the state are just glad that they're open so they can see them.
Now, if you don't know how to get to the caverns, here is how.
Head south on Route 90, just south of I-10.
It should take you between 45 minutes and an hour to get there.
If you would like to tour the caverns, you're going to need reservations and a little good luck to make a reservation.
Make a reservation called the Kartsner Caverns State Park at 520-586 Cave.
Just so you know, weekdays are booked through December, and weekends are already booked through January.
Chris?
Late today, new developments to keep the El Pueblo Clinic open.
This development comes even though there were no doctors or patients at the clinic all day.
The proposal is for the El Rio Clinic to take over El Pueblo in two or three weeks.
Under the proposal, El Pueblo would become El Rio.
But the proposal does not speak of reinstating the fired director, Hector Morales,
or the other staff members who resigned in protest.
And you may remember, that's why this controversy got started in the first place.
Aquino Hospital has also presented a proposal to take over El Pueblo for six months,
but the county would have to foot the bill.
And the county has officially terminated its contract with El Pueblo, effective November 22nd.
Arizona Senator John McCain officially registered for the New Hampshire Republican Presidential Primary today.
He filled out all the necessary paperwork and paid the $1,000 fee.
His rival, Texas Governor George W. Bush, registered on Wednesday.
After a 26-year absence, bullfighting is returning to Nogales-Sonora on Sunday.
You can expect this ring to be packed.
The ring is about three miles south of the Nogales Port of Entry.
Tickets range from $16 to $25.
All right, everybody, let's take a look at your first forecast for tonight.
Calling for clear skies and temperatures pretty mild.
Around 60 for the overnight low sunshine tomorrow.
It's going to be another warm day. We did set a record today.
We may do it again for the third day in a row on Saturday.
Your complete seven-day forecast is coming.
Just ahead on News 13.
The challenge is always as it was.
It's survival in a white-dominated country.
Representatives from 50 Native American nations are in Tucson trying to improve their economy
while retaining their distinct culture.
And later in sports. Tomorrow it's the Wildcats against Oregon State.
We'll have a preview.
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The changing status of Native Americans from their perspective.
300 delegates from 50 Native American nations are gathering this weekend in Tucson.
Arizona's largest reservations are represented at the conference.
Now the largest Indian nation in the entire country is here in Arizona.
The Navajo Nation in the northeast part of the state.
The second largest reservation in Arizona is the Tohono O'odham Nation just west of Tucson.
The nation is co-sponsoring the conference,
which is bringing together Native Americans to discuss economic prosperity and self-rule.
But as Wendy Gillette reports, changing the way of life on Native American reservations is not an easy task.
The federal government is not your friend.
The state governments are not your friend.
It's no different today than it was in 1799 or 1899.
They don't want you around.
When many Native Americans speak about the U.S. government, they don't hold back.
They still want to control our land, what little we have left.
In the mid-70s, Congress gave tribal nations the power of self-rule,
but that freedom brought its own set of problems to reservations like the Tohono O'odham Nation.
That's the topic of discussion at this two-day conference,
how to increase economic prosperity while hanging on to Native American values.
Culture, tradition, religion, respect for the land and so forth.
For economic development, you've got to make sure that they are appropriate to your culture,
to your area.
Native Americans from as far away as New Zealand are attending speeches this weekend and exchanging ideas.
In addition to the speech, delegates can also pick up Native American arts and crafts like these bracelets.
All of the items at this table are designed by members of the Native American Cooperative,
a group of more than 2,700 Native American artisans representing 410 tribal nations.
Selling crafts is one way some Native Americans are making a living.
Casinos are another, but everyone here says Native Americans need to expand into other areas,
so federal funding is no longer a necessity.
That's our goal, to eventually become self-sufficient, self-reliant and not rely on anybody except within ourselves.
How long do you think that could take?
Well, we don't know. The sooner the better.
Wendy Gillette, News 13.
The conference wraps up tomorrow afternoon, and on a side note,
a Navajo spokesperson says they are meeting with U.S. Census officials to make sure that everyone is counted in the 2000 census.
Navajo officials say the 1990 census missed an estimated 12 percent of reservation residents,
and that could have cost them $3 million in additional federal money per year.
It's a high-flying attempt to break a Guinness World Record right here in Arizona.
Jay Stokes is trying to break the record for making the most consecutive skydives in a 24-hour period.
He set the current record of 384, and he's aiming to outdo himself with 450 jumps.
He has until 8 o'clock tomorrow night to do it.
He's skydiving above Somerton, right outside of Yuma.
Well, nothing like a hot November weekend in the desert, especially since we've never had one before.
But Tom insists cool is coming. His forecast is next.
But first, stocks were on the rise today. Here are the numbers.
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Now, here's Chief Meteorologist Tom Johnston's weather forecast.
All right. Last night I showed you the Sierra Nevada of California doing real well with snowfall.
Not the case in Park City, Utah, ladies and gentlemen.
And this is because of the different flow in the air, specifically the jet stream.
Now, on the other side in northwestern Washington, fish were crossing the roads today.
That's right as the Skokomish River was well above normal.
That's kind of an odd thing to be happening.
You don't see this very often, so some entertaining video indeed.
This is all because of the jet stream, and the jet stream was affected by La Nina.
That takes us into Tom's weather test.
During La Nina, the jet stream is further north A, further south B, or it doesn't change the answer.
And an explanation coming.
La Nina for us, of course, means warmer, drier weather, and we're feeling it.
Another record high today, 90, the old record, 89 set back in 1906.
It's down 10 degrees from that record high.
Currently it's 80 in Tucson. Relative humidity is pretty dry out there,
and that allows temperatures to really drop off after sunset.
We're down to 72 in Stafford, 72 in Douglas.
Still holding at 93 though for Hewlett Bend.
Interesting situation in terms of clouds moving in from the southeast,
also some clouds moving in from the northwest.
But you know what? The whole state of Arizona right now is still high and dry.
There is our little system, our little upper level low that we're going to keep our eye on
as we head through the weekend and into next week.
It's several days away, but it does promise to give us some changes as we head into next week.
Currently high pressure still in control. Another day, another record, our headlines today.
Daytime highs on Friday as we take a look at that map, 89 in Green Valley,
91 in Marana and Casa Grande, 80 in Globe, 85 in Douglas, and 87 in Benson.
Here's your forecast for Tucson for the next seven days.
90 again tomorrow, 87 on Sunday as some clouds start to move in.
Partly cloudy skies expected Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and then by midweek, next week,
we'll see a significant system that will give us some showers.
At least the risk is there, and we haven't been able to say that for quite some time.
Also highs down into the 70s. Currently 80 degrees relative humidity at 15 percent.
It's pressure steady. As we look at the Almanac, it shows that the record, yes,
for the second day in a row has been set here in Tucson.
As we go back to the maps, we'll take you to National now to show you what's happening
across the rest of the nation, and for the most part, it's clear from the southeast all the way to the west.
You can see some cloudiness moving through the Great Lakes.
I want to fly on in, so get ready to head in that direction.
New York State, seeing the rainfall today,
this is one of two systems affecting the U.S.,
and you can see the rainfall moving across the Empire State
and in two portions of central New England.
Temperatures really underneath this area of high pressure warm all across the southern U.S.,
57 in Atlanta, 70 in Dallas, and 91 still in Phoenix.
So much warmer up there. Temperatures tonight across the state,
20s and 30s north, some 40s and 50s, and even some areas, including Tucson,
near 60 degrees tonight, 90 for the high tomorrow.
So we are in a warm trend. Clear, breezy, and mild, near 60 tonight, tomorrow,
mostly sunny and warm, and then tomorrow night, some high clouds moving in.
And your seven-day forecast shows clouds moving in the latter part of the weekend
and eventually will cool down.
And Tom's weather test says, during La Niña, the jet stream is?
Hey.
It's further north. Very good.
Now, remember that La Niña is that cold counterpart of El Niño
in the equator in the Tropic Pacific.
La Niña's strong easterly winds bring cold ocean water to the surface
and increased rainfall in the western Pacific.
The jet stream is also affected. It actually goes well to the north,
towards Alaska, the extreme northwest U.S., and comes down around the Great Lakes.
So much of the nation will be drier and warmer than normal, including us here in Southwest.
Don't quiz me after that graphic. Where's it going?
Hispanics play a big part in the southern Arizona community, and the population is growing.
Tonight at 10, we'll take a look at the growing influence Hispanics will have in the next millennium.
And believe it or not, Santa Claus is already coming to town.
We'll tell you where you can get your holiday gift list in early.
That's coming up tonight at 10.
Well, it's not like Pac-10 football has been the most exciting so far this year,
but Steve, it is a big Pac-10 football weekend.
Yeah, that is true, and I think Stanford will kick off tomorrow against ASU in first place
and still not be bowl-eligible by the end of the year.
And you know what? Don't look now, but the Sun Devils have a realistic shot at the Rose Bowl.
We'll talk about it coming up next in the sports.
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Now, the latest sports news from News 13's Steve Quinn.
Who would have ever thought that an Oregon State football game in mid-November would have any meaning?
Tomorrow night, the Beavers have a chance to add to their win total and add to the misery all us Wildcat fans have been failing all season long.
Arizona is actually the underdog as they head to Corvallis.
When was the last time that happened?
But this is a new era at OSU, and new head coach Dennis Erickson has ensured his program will have a winning season for the first time in 28 years.
It should be cold and damp tomorrow night.
At least that's what the Wildcats expect.
And if they can win under those conditions, they will become bold eligible.
Well, it's going to be cold and rainy, and we have to count on that. It's just going to be that way.
And we have to use that. We can't be surprised that that's the way it is.
In fact, we have to almost want it that way.
Because I think what you do in a situation like this is I think you have to want it that way because I think that's a more satisfying win.
If we can go up there and win when it's what they think is their weather, it's their best conditions, it's even more satisfying.
It is a late kickoff tomorrow night. The Cats and Beavers hook up at 8.15 in Tucson time.
Well, with a win tomorrow afternoon over Stanford and a little help from UCLA and Cal, the Sun Devils, believe it or not, will be in the driver's seat for the Rose Bowl.
An ASU win over the Cardinal gets the Sun Devils to 5-2 in conference play, and that would tie them with Stanford.
ASU would obviously own the tiebreaker over the Cardinal.
Then, should UCLA somehow knock off Washington, then ASU, Washington, and Stanford would all be tied at 5-2.
And since ASU already knocked off the Huskies this season, then the Devils would control first place.
Also in the mix, however, is Oregon. A Ducks lost to Cal, coupled with the previously mentioned scenario,
means ASU would play Arizona for a trip to the Rose Bowl, and probably all won't happen.
But first things first, the Sun Devils need to stop Stanford's offense.
They score on everybody and they score on bunches. So it is as big a game for our defense as we've had.
It's the best quarterbacking that we've seen in terms of the passing game this entire season.
ASU and Stanford kick off tomorrow afternoon at 4.30.
Well, it's a big weekend for the Arizona volleyball team with the start of tournament play less than a month away.
The Cats need a few more wins to guarantee their invitation, but it won't be easy this weekend.
The Cats host Cal tonight and second-rank Stanford tomorrow night.
Arizona hasn't beaten the Cardinal in their last 11 tries.
After dropping three straight matches, Arizona has run off three straight conference victories,
and head coach David Rubio believes the early season experience is starting to pay off.
It's more of a maturation process. We won 21-19 in the fifth game against Washington, so it was a tough one.
But we're much, much better. We're steadier. We're playing with more experience and a lot more competitiveness.
So I like the complexion of our team. And again, the last two weeks of the season,
I always felt like we were going to play our best volleyball.
Once again, the Wildcats host Cal tonight and at the McHale Shutter in Stanford tomorrow
at seven football flights and highlights later on tonight.
Alright, thanks a lot. Stay with us. We'll be right back.
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Melt lemon averages 25 to 30 degrees cooler than Tucson.
It will be the case tomorrow. We're looking for 90 here in the city.
61 up there. Elsewhere, travel looks pretty nice with sunshine and abnormally warm temperatures.
Enjoy wearing shorts over the weekend.
See you at 10, y'all.
Tonight on News 13 at 10, our city, Tucson, was born from Hispanic culture.
It's given life to the Old Pueblo.
Tonight, what's in store for Hispanic culture here in Southern Arizona?
And how will it help take us into the next century?
Tonight at 10.