Sen. Rich Crandall, a Mesa Republican, introduced legislation Thursday to arm school teachers in small, remote schools, raid excess funds of the Citizens Clean Election Commission to pay for more police officers on school campuses and pay for mental-health services for students.

Gov. Jan Brewer signed an emergency appropriations bill today that provides $4.4 million for Child Protective Services to hire new staff, and lawmakers sent another bill to her desk to continue funding the Independent Redistricting Commission as it heads to trial in federal court.

The Arizona Legislature has approved $500,000 in extra funding for the Independent Redistricting Commission to allow the commission to pay lawyers defending it from lawsuits.

Arizona lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved an emergency request from Gov. Jan Brewer to hire 50 new Child Protective Services workers.

Supporters of Arizona’s voter-approved medical marijuana system have released a new poll showing healthy support for the system.

A House Committee advanced a bill Thursday that would allow elected officials to more easily launch campaigns for another office without triggering Arizona’s “Resign to Run” law.

It’s early on in the Arizona legislative session, but so far the proposals described by one top Republican as “esoteric” and criticized by Democrats as unconstitutional have dominated the headlines — despite promises from GOP leaders to focus on top-tier issues such as balancing the state budget and improving education.

Name: Rosanna Gabaldon Chamber: House of Representatives Party: Democrat Profession: Sahuarita Town Council, 2009-2012. Hometown: Sahuarita Legislative District: No. 2, which includes all of Santa Cruz County as well as southern reaches of Pima County, southern parts of Tucson and the community of South Tucson. Committee Assignments: Agriculture and Water; Financial Institutions Previous or Current [...]

Name: Juan Carlos Escamilla Chamber: House of Representatives Party: Democrat Profession: Mayor of San Luis. Hometown: San Luis. Legislative District: No. 4, which stretches from southern Yuma County into southern Maricopa County and western Pima County. Committee Assignments: Agriculture and Water; Transportation. Previous or Current Elected Offices: Mayor of San Luis for six years; San [...]

The House Government Committee yesterday advanced two anti-union bills but held a third following a packed hearing that offered plenty of fireworks.