Page 6 • The Battalion Denver closes one airport, opens another Q The new airport opened 16 months late, and investigations are underway into allegations of wrongdoing. DENVER (AP) — A conga line of snowplows, tugs and trucks loaded with equipment wound its way from Denver’s old airport to its $4.9 billion new one Monday, hours before the first passenger flight was scheduled to land. Most of the 2,000 vehicles in the convoy trav eled at speeds of no more than 15 mph to Denver International Airport along back roads to avoid freeway congestion. The 22-mile trip from Staple- ton International Airport was expected to take about two hours. Mayor Wellington Webb said the new airport — which is 16 months late and $3.2 billion over bud get — represents “the natural evolution of Den ver’s transportation history — from Pony Express to the stagecoach to railroads.” Earlier, Webb greeted the first commercial car go flight to land at the new airport: a Federal Ex press plane that arrived from Memphis at 12:41 a.m., 20 minutes early. “I think now we can put the jokes behind us,” Webb said. “DIA does include airplanes.” The airport’s opening has been delayed four times because of construction problems, including an automated baggage system that chewed up lug gage and spit it out. It eventually was replaced by an old-fashioned tug-and-cart system at all air lines except United. About a dozen investigations are under way into allegations of wrongdoing in the airport pro ject, including shoddy construction. And bondholders sued the city Monday, claim ing officials concealed problems with the project. The class-action lawsuit seeks unspecified dam ages for investors, whose bonds lost value because of delays and cost overruns. A call to city officials wasn’t returned immediately. While the convoy over the rolling prairie around Denver was a dramatic sight, about 70 percent of the equipment was moved from Staple- ton over the weekend as city workers and business owners took advantage of springlike weather. The first commercial passenger flight was scheduled to leave the new airport for Kansas City, Mo., at 6 a.m. Tuesday, followed by the first commercial passenger arrival, from Colorado Springs, at 6:11 a.m. Democrats hold fate of balanced- budget amendment in their hands Q The Senate will vote on the amendment today. WASHINGTON (AP) — After a 13-year struggle, a precedent- shattering vote in the House and a month-long Senate de bate, the fate of a balanced-bud get amendment hinged Monday on five uncommitted Democrats. Star players in the sort of dra ma the Capitol thrives on, they were being coy. “Never before have we been this close to passing the bal anced-budget amendment,” said GOP Sen. Mike DeWine of Ohio. Both sides read their final lines in advance of Tuesday’s vote. Supporters held a news con ference in the Capitol parking lot. Their backdrop was a gigan tic tote board calculating the federal debt to 13 digits. “The debt is the threat,” said Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho. “We must stop building this mon strous debt that can imprison our future generations as noth ing else can.” Opponents relied on behind- the-scenes lobbying by Presi dent Clinton and others to firm up the 34 votes needed to defeat the measure. “We’re not throwing in the towel by any means,” said White House press secretary Mike McCurry, even as he made clear the amendment wasn’t the same as having one of Clinton’s “top legislative orities” up for grabs. But the five Democrats« one most wanted to hearf-- North Dakotans Kent(4! and Byron Dorgan, SamNic Georgia, Wendell Fordoi! tucky and John Breaci Louisiana — said through that they weren’t readyta nounce a final position. Supporters said they® three more votes to prei and some harbored last-mi! hopes they could perst Oregon Mark Hatfield, lone GOP opponent, to ret his position. But Hatfield’s press secre Julie McGregor, put a da® such hopes, saying, “Hen change his mind.” n □ OCc: 1 7 r— 3 Z3 i ^7 c SAVE $$$ \ with thes© J with tnese | j\local couponsj i r Buy Regular Cup of Yogurt*”! Get Small Cup FREE! 1JKTV UtKOTlOIK Featuring Columbo Fat-Free FROZEN yogUkt 1501 FM 2818 (Behind K-Mart) • 764-1644 Tasty Sensations II • Manor East Parking Lot -fPC^TVo/v THE PERFECT TAH swimwear by II Exclusive LATE NIGHT SPECIAL! 11pm - Close 764-7272 Late Night Special One 14” Large One Topping $^99 +Tax (1 Ipm-Close). Additional toppings 95