IN SPORTS, C1Coming up short: Slow start, openquarterback leave ASU vulnerable.Paola Boivin: Give Texas credit. Theprogram is power in every sense ofthe word.One strange play: How a bizarrecall against UT led to a Sun Devilstouchdown.UT linebacker Sergio Kindle takes down ASU’s Rudy Burgess.

The University of Texas hit its stride early at San Diego’s Holiday Bowl on Thursdaynight, and Arizona State never caught up. One bizarre play allowed ASU a climacticscore, but the Sun Devils couldn’t match the touchdowns that gave Texas a 52-34 win.

IT’S NO HOLIDAY FOR ASU

2007 INNUMBERS

■ Gunman kills leading political figure Benazir Bhutto■ Death shatters U.S. anti-terror strategy for the region■ Unrest risks further chaos in nuclear-armed nation

ASSASSINATIONROCKS PAKISTAN

B.K. BANGASH/ASSOCIATED PRESS

A supporter of Benazir Bhutto mourns her Thursday at the site of the suicide attack in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

THE ARIZONA REPUBLICA

By Judi VillaThe Arizona Republic

The first three times Hector Arvizu wasreleased from prison, it was the same story.

It might take a month, and once, it took ayear and a half, but always he went back tousing methamphetamine and wound upback in prison.

But this time, Arvizu, 38, is serving hisyearlong sentence in a special prison yardcreated to make inmates more successfulwhen they are released. He earned hisGED, is taking mandatory classes to learnto make better choices and already is cre-ating a transition plan for his release in two

months.Arvizu is benefiting from a nationwide

push to focus more efforts on prisoner re-entry to reduce recidivism and prevent fu-ture crimes.

When he walks out of prison this time,Arvizu will move into a halfway house forthree months.

See PAROLEES Page A12

TODAY’S QUICK READ

IndexAstrology E6 Puzzles E3-5Comics E4, 5 Quick Flicks P8Dear Abby E6 Sports TV C2High Schools C9 Television E5Lottery B2 Things To Do E1Obituaries B6, 7 Valley 101 B8Opinions B4, 5 Weather B8

Classified:Looking for agreat deal?Find it insideRepublicClassified,CL1, insidethe Carssection.

A Gannett Newspaper:118th year, No. 224.Copyright 2007,The Arizona Republic

•

WeatherMostly sunny: Light winds. High55. Low 33. B8

Today’s gift: The gift of relaxation: Ways tounwind from the holidays, by yourself orwith friends. Arizona Living, E3

uOUR GIFTS TO YOUt

YOUR WORLD

YOUR LIFE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 200750¢

58 Valley Locations • nearest location call: 1.888.99.jiffy

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A GOODYEAR FORTOURISM

Airlines filled seats,hotels filled beds in ’07

TODAYThe numbers from 2007 showgood news for the tourism indus-try — but expensive news fortravelers, who had to pay up.Business, D3

COMING UPSaturday: What we did for fun,in Arizona Living.

Economic impactof annual events(in millions)

$473

$401.7

$310.8

$180.4FBR Open

Spring training

Fiesta Bowl/BCS championship

NASCAR

Source: Republic researchTHE ARIZONA REPUBLIC

Who killed Bhutto?Al-Qaida, insurgents,even the militarydraw suspicions. A16

Eyewitness account:There was pandemo-nium. Then came theexplosion. She didn’thave a chance. A18

Pakistan primer:History of key U.S.ally shows a nationfraught with internalconflict. A22

Today’s editorial:The loss of BenazirBhutto is devastatingfor the U.S. B4

See how many parolees live in everyValley ZIP code in a database at

datacentral.azcentral.com.

ANJUM NAVEED/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Supporters of Bhutto carry her body out of the hospital in a plain wooden coffin.Bhutto, a former prime minister of Pakistan, had hoped to reclaim the role.

By Sadaqat Jan and Zarar KhanAssociated Press

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan — En-raged crowds rioted across Pakistanand hopes for democracy hung by athread after Benazir Bhutto wasgunned down Thursday as she wavedto supporters from the sunroof of herarmored vehicle.

The death of President PervezMusharraf ’s most powerful opponentthrew the nation into chaos just 12days before elections and threatenedits already unsteady role as a keyfighter against Islamic terror.

The murder of Bhutto, one of Pakis-tan’s most famous and enduring poli-ticians, sparked violence that killed atleast nine people and plunged effortsto restore democracy to this nuclear-armed U.S. ally into turmoil.

Another opposition politician, Na-waz Sharif, announced he was boycot-ting Jan. 8 parliamentary elections in

Election now in doubtas riots engulf country

See ASSASSINATION Page A18

By Matthew PenningtonAssociated Press

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The as-sassination of opposition leader Bena-zir Bhutto deals a stunning blow to lib-eral political forces trying to combat

rising Islamic extre-mism in Pakistan.

Gathering unrest byher supporters also risks tipping thevolatile country into further chaos andputs additional pressure on PresidentPervez Musharraf as he struggles tokeep order and stay in power.

It quashes hopes of Western govern-ments that the charismatic, two-timeformer prime minister could team upwith Musharraf and galvanize Pakis-tan’s fight against Taliban and al-Qaidamilitants after Jan. 8’s elections, whichare now themselves in doubt.

“This assassination is the most seri-ous setback for democracy in Pakis-tan,” said Rasul Baksh Rais, a politicalscientist at Lahore’s University of

Death ‘the most serioussetback for democracy’

ANALYSIS

See ANALYSIS Page A19

Programs equip prisonerswith skills to re-enter society

Nation & World3 million will have to wait for tax refund:More than 3 million people will have to waituntil February to get their tax refunds be-cause of Congress’ late fix to the alternativeminimum tax, the IRS says. A7

Tiger wall was below suggested height:The director of the San Francisco Zoo,where a teen was killed by a tiger, acknowl-edges that the wall around the animal’s penwas below the recommended height. A8

Valley & StatePolitical fight over Na-tional Guard position:Some Democrats say aRepublican’s personalspat with Gen. David Ra-taczak (left) could havereal consequences forthe National Guard if hispost becomes vacant. B1

Today’s letter to the editor: The pasthundred years have been incredible. Lookhow far and fast technology has benefitedthe human race. What is the hurry? B4

SportsWild beat Coyotes 3-2: Niklas Backstrommakes 46 saves and Minnesota’s defenselimits scoring chances as the Wild edgePhoenix at Jobing.com Arena. The Coyotesgive up three power-play goals. C13

BusinessClosed broker owes commissions: Gilbert-based Re/Max 2000 owes its real-estateagents more than $100,000, they say. Theagency closed over the weekend. D1

Grocery-store clinics stress convenience:Supporters of the in-store health clinics saythat they provide an inexpensive option forpeople who lack insurance or who are inneed of quick treatment of minor issues. D1