Senator who questioned Iraq war beats conservative fellow Republican for re-election

In the latest test of the country's politics of polarization, the middle ground held on.

Rhode Island Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee said his victory against a conservative challenger sent a message across the nation that moderate Republicans remained "alive and kicking" after beating back a challenger that ran to his political right.

"Partisan politics must not prevail," he said Tuesday.

His primary win over Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey was notable in a year that saw moderates from each party lose primaries to hard-line candidates. Chafee thanked Democratic-leaning independents for supporting him, while he also got backing from the Bush administration -- with his seat critical to Republicans trying to hold a Senate majority -- even after he bucked them on Iraq, taxes and the environment.

The Rhode Island Senate primary was the most closely watched on the last big day of primaries before the November elections, with races also in Arizona, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia./AP

Five dollars too steep for some cable car riders

SAN FRANCISCO -- Since increasing the fare to $5, cable car ridership in San Francisco has dropped, according to the mayor's office.

"This was my biggest fear when we raised the fare," Newsom said. "I think we're right at the cusp of losing visitors who come to San Francisco and want to enjoy a ride on a cable car."

City officials raised the cable car fares last year to ease a $57 million deficit. While bus and streetcar fares went up 25 cents, to $1.50, cable car fares nearly doubled. In part that's because it costs much more to operate the cable cars, $312 an hour compared with $188 for a streetcar and $126 for a diesel bus.

As a result, revenue is up more than 20 percent over the past year. Considering, however, that fares went up 67 percent, it's evident that the cable car charm isn't enough to lure riders like it once did.

It's unclear just how much ridership has dropped. Muni doesn't track ridership on the individual cable cars.

A Municipal Railway citizens advisory group has recommended that transfers be allowed on cable cars./AP

Truckee man arrested for

abducting baby from ex-girlfriend

TRUCKEE -- A Truckee man was behind bars Wednesday, accused of snatching his 10-month old baby from the car of his ex-girlfriend and trying to run the woman over.

Truckee police said the woman had a restraining order against Carlos Alberto Zarate when he confronted her in a parking lot Tuesday night.

Police said the baby was strapped in a car seat in the mother's car when Zarate took the baby and put it in his own vehicle.

As he was driving away, police said the woman tried to approach the car and Zarate swerved into her, knocking her down.

Zarate, 20, was found located at his residence a short time later and taken into custody without incident, police said.

He was jailed on suspicion of child abduction by a non-custodial parent, assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, child endangerment and violating a court order, police said./AP