A bill pending in the state Senate and pushed by the mining industry would shield cases of environmental contamination from civil lawsuits and penalties according to backers.

Zimmerman Diary has been operating in Arizona for nearly 90 years, but its long-lasting success doesn’t mean its third-generation owners haven’t had to innovate to survive along the way.

Facing rising costs, in March 2011 the Zimmermans installed a shiny new fixture they say will enable them to continue to stay in business regardless of electricity rates.

FREDONIA — Forest officials on the Kaibab Plateau want to mechanically thin trees and do prescribed burns on about 5,000 acres to protect structures from the threat of wildfires.

Arizona legislators are pushing back against the federal government on a host of issues this session by advancing legislation that seeks a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service, sets up a committee to review all federal mandates and requires federal law enforcement officers to notify local sheriffs before taking action.

Another “sagebrush rebellion” is brewing with Arizona possibly laying claim to 25 million acres of federal land. Supporters of the modern day land grab say federal agencies have mismanaged the land and blocked access to natural resources while depriving the state of jobs and revenue from businesses ready to develop those resources.

Republican members of Arizona’s congressional delegation gathered at the state Senate to excoriate the Obama administration and the federal government over policies on forest management, the environment and a host of other issues they say are hurting the economy and hampering job creation.

Legislation aimed at barring the Arizona Corporation Commission from adopting renewable energy standards that are more stringent than what is currently in place is an unconstitutional power grab by lawmakers, the Commission’s lead attorney says.

Republican members of Arizona’s congressional delegation and Gov. Jan Brewer will meet at the state Capitol on Friday for a hearing by the Congressional Western Caucus.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is holding a series of public meetings across Arizona on proposals for renewable energy development.

Three meetings are scheduled next week in Phoenix, Flagstaff and Kingman. Two others are scheduled in Yuma and Tucson next month.

A lawmaker’s attempt to have Arizonans decide whether to revive the voter–approved Heritage Fund is stalled in the House.