Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

OLYMPIA, Wash. - In a decision that could give momentum to other efforts to expand voting to inmates, a federal appeals court ruled that incarcerated felons should be allowed to vote in Washington state. There's a patchwork of laws across the nation concerning restoration of felons' voting rights, but only Maine and Vermont allow those behind bars to cast ballots.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department says its officers will step up efforts to ensure that people are complying with the state's off-highway vehicle laws.

The Arizona Republican Party says Hispanics are playing an increasingly integral role in the state's politics, so the party is launching a new Web site focused on their issues and concerns.

An advocate for immigrant and civil rights has started using text messages to warn residents about crime sweeps by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Fewer tax dollars has led Phoenix and other cities to cut municipal court costs. To save money on utilities, Avondale's city court closes one day a week. City Manager Charlie McClendon said he had little choice but to close the city court each Friday.

Arizona's 16 DUI task forces around the state made more than 14,000 driving-under-the-influence arrests in 2009 including nearly 4,500 from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Those figures are up from 2008 when the task forces made some 10,500 DUI arrests but only about 2,700 from the Thanksgiving-to-Jan. 1 holiday span.

LAKE HAVASU CITY - The Lake Havasu City manager has asked the Arizona State Parks Board to let the city take operational control of Lake Havasu State Park if state budget cuts force state parks to close. City Manager Charlie Cassens sent the request in a letter to the parks board, the governor's office, the governor's task force and others, informing state officials the city wants to keep the park open.

Judge Norman J. Davis has been selected to become the new presiding judge of Maricopa County Superior Court on July 1. Arizona Supreme Court Chief Justice Rebecca White Berch announced the selection Dec. 29.

Travelers flying out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport may encounter increased security measures in the aftermath of the foiled terrorist attack on an inbound U.S. flight on Christmas.

Seizures of money bound mostly for Mexico's violent drug cartels more than quadrupled this year on the Arizona border, and government officials are crediting beefed-up screening at checkpoints. Inspectors intercepted $1.1 million heading into Mexico in fiscal 2008. This year, they netted $4.9 million.