Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Track to Arizona Politics

Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris Jr. left no doubt during a press conference today that his tribe believes it has the authority to continue building and eventually operate its $400 million West Valley casino, despite the Arizona Department of Gaming’s declaration that it will work to block the project.

In return for tribes’ agreement to limit the number and size of casinos and amount of games offered, the poison pill is designed to protect them against state lawmakers or courts granting non-tribal entities licenses to operate casinos in Arizona.

Arizona plans to appeal a court ruling that bars authorities from enforcing the state's 2005 immigrant smuggling law — once a powerful tool for local authorities to confront illegal immigration.

The Arizona Supreme Court is set to take up Gov. Jan Brewer's appeal of a decision allowing a lawsuit challenging her Medicaid expansion plan to proceed.

Federal officials say 3,100 Arizonans will lose health insurance coverage they bought through the federal marketplace if they don't provide proof of citizenship or legal immigration status by the end of the month.

Despite what its name may suggest, National Bank of Arizona, which bills itself as the state’s “largest community bank” devotes a considerable amount of time and effort encouraging its employees to strengthen their local communities through various volunteering activities.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled in favor of a group of charter schools on Feb. 3, saying the state cannot reduce voter approved-funds earmarked for teacher pay raises and the classroom to offset over payments in previous years.

Although the Washington Elementary School District began introducing the Common Core teaching standards ahead of the state’s suggested schedule, full implementation at all grade levels has proved to be a bit of a moving target.

The 141-student, rural, isolated Topock Elementary School District has been preparing for and implementing new and potentially expensive teaching methods and a computer-based assessment. The keys have been collaboration paired with some timely technology grants.

The state’s largest school district has been preparing to teach the Common Core standards in much the same way that smaller districts have – with several consecutive years of teacher training, millions of dollars in technology upgrades and parent education. However, despite a successful 2012 bond election, money is still tight.