State authorities are investigating whether a recently formed group funded by a politically connected mining company violated Arizona’s campaign-finance laws.

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors is looking to appoint someone to replace Bryan Martyn, who recently accepted a position as director of Arizona State Parks.

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer says low rainfall, high temperatures and wind will make the coming months ripe for damaging wildfires.

The governor said Wednesday this year’s below-average snowfall has increased the potential for large blazes in the state’s higher elevations.

A federal agency is backing a request from Gov. Jan Brewer to declare a drought disaster that will help ranchers and farmers.

Mining companies and other businesses will be allowed to keep environmental studies secret, even if they detail possible pollution problems, under industry-backed legislation that gained final House approval Monday.

Under the measure headed to Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, environmental audits generally could not be used as evidence in civil cases.

WASHINGTON – Arizona’s senators urged tribal leaders Thursday to move quickly on a proposed settlement of water-rights claims so they can push the bill through Congress before this session ends.

In separate closed-door meetings with Navajo and Hopi leaders in Tuba City, Republican Sens. Jon Kyl and John McCain stressed the importance of quick action, said those who attended the meetings.

TUBA CITY — Arizona’s two U.S. senators are meeting with tribal leaders today to discuss a water rights settlement.

Jon Kyl introduced legislation earlier this year that would settle the Navajo and Hopi claims to the Little Colorado River system. The tribes would get groundwater delivery projects in exchange for giving up further claims to the water.

Senators Tuesday approved legislation to allow companies to self-audit and keep the information “privileged” when they discover violations of environmental laws.

That information, if it is contained in a self-audit, also can’t also be used as evidence in a civil or administrative proceeding.

Recently elected Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and architectural sustainability consultant Bill McDonough held a conversation with the downtown Phoenix community last month to figure out ways to put the empty lots that dot the city to work.

Billboard foes are cheering Gov. Jan Brewer’s recent veto of a bill that would have permitted electronic billboards on state and federal highways, but more fights are ahead for billboard opponents.