Explore the vast range of titles available.

And (Todd) Harris and Block aren't even on the ballot in Tuesday's special election. They are merely hired mouthpieces -- Harris is on leave from the National Republican Congressional Committee to work for the Wilson campaign; Block is a Democratic Party consultant -- part of a massive Washington contingent that headed to the Southwest for a month of high-stakes campaigning. But they are what this race -- and in a larger sense this year's congressional elections -- is all about. Here at the juncture of the Rio Grande and historic Route 66 is where the battle for the House begins. In the minds of the political pros back in Washington it is too important to leave to the candidates, Heather Wilson, a Republican endorsed by Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.), and Phil Maloof, the multimillionaire Democrat from a popular local family. If Maloof wins, Democrats will be 10 seats away from regaining control and head into the fall with a pleasant tail wind. But if Wilson can hang on to the seat for Republicans, the GOP will widen the gap to a dozen and help alleviate fears that the party is not ready for this year's arduous campaign. \"Heather needs all the help we can give her to keep this seat in Republican control,\" an aide to Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) wrote in a recent fund-raising appeal. \"Let's send a message this month that our majority is safe.\"

The Republican Party poured an unprecedented $1 million into Tuesday's New Mexico special election to defeat a multimillionaire Democrat and retain a House seat that Democrats hoped would propel them toward regaining control of the House in November. Aided by a strong finish on the part of the pro-environmental Green Party candidate, Republican Heather Wilson defeated Democrat Phil Maloof with 45 percent of the vote. Maloof finished with about 39 percent, according to official but incomplete results. The turnout was close to 40 percent, state officials said. For Democrats, who hoped state Sen. Maloof would be able to spend his way to victory, the election once again illustrated the Republican Party's deep pockets. In addition to the $1 million Wilson received from various GOP committees, she raised $1.5 million. Maloof, who spent about $1.5 million of his family fortune, benefited from about $1 million from other sources ranging from the party to a pro-term limits group.

Among the moguls and mogulettes attending Thursday's birthday bash for Elaine Wynn at Wynn Las Vegas: Donald and Melania Trump, Steven Spielberg, Quincy Jones, Paul Anka, Richard Branson, Sidney Poitier, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Robert Wagner and Jill St. John, and George Hamilton. American opera star Renee Fleming, one of Elaine Wynn's favorites, was the featured entertainer ... Others spotted on the property: Demi Moore, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, pollster Frank Luntz and Phyllis McGuire ... In town for the Hard Rock Hotel's 10th anniversary weekend: Jamie Foxx, [Jessica Simpson], Matthew Perry, Courtney Cox Arquette, David Arquette, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, [Danny Masterson], [Wilmer Valderrama], [Tommy Lee], Laura Prepon, Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Dave Navarro, Carmen Electra, Jerry O'Connell, Rebecca Romijn, Jesse Metcalfe, Shannon Elizabeth, Pamela Anderson, Stephen Dorff, Michael Douglas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Martin Sheen, Nicky Hilton, Kevin Connelly, Robbie Williams, Laura Dern, Kenny G, Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, Josh Duhamel and Johnny Knoxville ...

At least nine state lawmakers are retiring from the Legislature or seeking other offices, and the state Democratic and Republican parties are busy lining up candidates to replace them. In the Senate, two Democrats are retiring and two Republicans are running for other elective offices. In the House, two Democrats are vacating their seats to run for the state Senate, and another is retiring. Two Republicans in the House are leaving the Legislature to run for Congress. Democratic and Republican party leaders predicted hard-fought, intense battles for control of the Legislature. Democrats control the House and Senate, but Republicans hope to tilt the legislative power structure in November.

  The measure (SB300) sponsored by Sen. Phil Maloof, D-Albuquerque, would increase the state minimum wage from $4.25 to $6.15 over three years. It would allow a 90-day \"training wage\" of 85 percent of the minimum wage for employees under the age of 20. Businesses that are not engaged in interstate commerce do not have to pay the federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour, Maloof said. Those employers are bound by the state minimum wage, he said. \"A ban on an abortion procedure that is not performed, an attempt to prohibit same-sex marriage which has never been available in New Mexico, appropriations of tobacco-settlement money for everything except teen tobacco prevention and cessation, a budget already promised to be vetoed by the governor -- yes, I'd say it's been a very productive 30-day legislative session.\" -- Linda Siegle, lobbyist for several progressive causes.

  The committee actually adopted [Phil Maloof]'s amended proposal as a combination \"committee substitute\" for Maloof's bill and another \"three strikes and you're out\" bill proposed by Sen. Joe Carraro, R- Albuquerque. District Attorney Henry Valdez of Santa Fe told the committee that the amended bill would not \"affect a great number of individuals,\" but would still get at those criminals who \"most deserve to be put away.\" Douglas Booth, representing the American Civil Liberties Union, and Mark Donatelli, representing the state's criminal trial lawyers, continued to oppose the bill. They said it would not affect the crime rate and that its main effect would be to lock up geriatric prisoners long after the age that most law violators continue to commit serious crimes. Booth said statistics show that only 1 percent of violent felonies are committed by people over 60.

\"Around town he's a well-known ladies' man and a charmer with a wonderful sense of humour.\" [Britney Spears] and [Phil Maloof] then adjourned to a club in nearby Mandalay Bay where they danced most of the night. Since breaking up with childhood sweetheart Justin Timberlake last Easter, Spears has been seen with less cleancut dates including Irish actor Colin Farrell and Limp Bizkit singer Fred Durst. Her latest choice is likely to infuriate her managers.

The cast's most recent additions are veterans Paul Winfield (playing a hotel general manager) and Tony Plana (as a police sergeant), both of whom had roles in [Lorenzo Doumani]'s boxing drama \"Knockout.\" Joining them in the co-starring cast: Joe Don Baker (as the sisters' father), former \"Murder One\" lead Daniel Benzali as the local coroner; and, as the resident bad guy, rocker John Taylor of Duran Duran. The organs aren't the only attraction; bronze statues, model airplanes hanging from a cloud-decked ceiling and a \"safari room\" filled with African artifacts also may beckon the cameras. [Bob Maes] isn't sure if [Phil Maloof] himself will be there to welcome the HGTV cameras, but he and artist Rebecca Conway, who also works on Maloof's musical treasures, will be on hand to lead the tour. Because Cirque du Soleil's \"Quidom\" show will soon depart London for Manchester, the British TV segment will serve to introduce Cirque du Soleil to Manchester audiences, with more than a little help from their hometown hero, explains \"Mystere\" publicist Pien Koopman.

Above, Sacramento Kings foward Chris Webber, far right, races to join the Maloof family and teammates for a pose during the groundbreaking of the $265 million Palms hotel-casino on West Flamingo Road...

\"I know from that game, and playing exhibition games here, what a terrific atmosphere it is in the Pit,\" [Rick Adelman] said. \"It's going to be very similar to the atmosphere we have in Sacramento, in our building. It's a thrill to the team, it's a thrill to the coaching staff and the organization to come to Albuquerque where the Maloofs are from, grew up and still reside. You're going to see a very exciting team.\" Some of the Grizzlies have unpleasant memories of the Pit. [Mike Bibby] and [Michael Dickerson] played at the University of Arizona during a loss to UNM in 1996. Vancouver rookie Stromile Swift was in the Pit when he and his LSU teammates lost to Wisconsin in last season's NCAA Tournament. Caption: KINGS ARE COMING: Sacramento coach Rick Adelman, left, and [Phil Maloof], the NBA team's owner, answer questions Friday regarding an upcoming exhibition game in the Pit.; Photo: MARK HOLM/JOURNAL; Color