PARTING JAB AT OBAMA

0-97 was the final vote on a tongue-in-cheek budget amendment proposed by retiring GOP Sen. Wayne Allard Thursday as a jab at U.S. Senate colleague and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The amendment added $300 billion of annual spending to the federal budget - the amount Allard said it would cost to pay for all the programs Obama has promised. Having made his point, Allard cast the first vote against his "Obama Spend-O-Rama Amendment," and the rest of the Senate, including Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton followed.

"Hey, Allard, you working this hard?"

Obama loud enough to be heard in the galleries as he entered the Senate chamber to cast his vote

"Vote yes."

Allard replied from across the chamber, making a thumbs-up gesture

In fairness, Allard said he could have offered the amendment for any one of the candidates, including John McCain, whom he has endorsed.

Sources: M.E. Sprengelmeyer, Associated Press

LUNCH LADY A REAL LIFESAVER

Don't blame the mystery meat. In this case, it was a piece of bread that got stuck in the throat of third-grader Brittnay Wilson last April in the lunchroom of Shaffer Elementary in Lakewood.

When kitchen manager Mary Zimmerman saw what was happening, she performed the Heimlich maneuver, which up until then she'd only seen done on TV. Her quick action earned Zimmerman the nickname of "Lifesaving Lunch Lady."

She's being recognized today by the American Red Cross Mile High Chapter.