This week five years ago (April 25, 2003):
Census: Immigration sustains urban counties, outer suburbs flourish
Immigration was one factor that helped stabilize some of the nation’s largest cities last year. 
Researchers say that because of the national trend of moving into suburbs in search of a more affordable home, immigrants are essential to the stabilizing of the population in the city centers themselves. 
The national population has increased at a rate of 280 people a day, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and Maricopa County has the highest annual growth when compared to the nation’s 10 largest counties.
This week 10 years ago (April 24, 1998):
Senate pushes more money for Legislators
A Senate committee has cleared a House-passed proposal that would allow a bypass of voters on the question of legislative pay increases. 
Any increase in the salaries of legislators requires a constitutional amendment and thus must be passed by the voters. 
But HCR2008 would amend Arizona’s Constitution to allow legislators to receive raises without a vote from the people. The proposal instead outlines a system where a commission’s recommended pay raise would automatically take effect.
Some legislators worry that the proposal will appear to be a desperate attempt to raise legislative salaries. To avoid this problem, legislators hope to hold the resolution from the ballot until there is bipartisan support and plenty of resources to conduct a successful campaign to get the resolution passed in November. 
This week 10 years ago (April 27, 1988):
House votes down mandatory seat belts
The House defeated a mandatory seat belt bill 27-29 on April 25 and the next day refused to reconsider the vote.  The motion to reconsider was defeated 27-27 after Speaker Joe Lane chose not to vote and break the tie. 
The bill, H2137, has been the source of extreme controversy in the last few weeks.  Opponents to the bill, who are mostly rural and country representatives, staged a six-hour filibuster that only came to an end when the Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Peter Corpstein said he wouldn’t hear the bill even if the House passed it.
Opposition to the bill is twofold. While most opponents feel that mandating seat belts is outside the legitimate scope of government, they also reject the provision of the bill that would allow court rulings under which damage awards for accident injuries can be reduced by the defendant proving the injured party was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. 
Amendments were also introduced that would have allowed police to fine drivers who are not wearing seat belts, but these amendments instantly failed because legislators were concerned that this gave police to much authority to stop motorists for a seat belt violation only.        
— Compiled by Anjanette Riley