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Recent Articles from Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services
State employees with new family members can get up to 12 paid weeks off
More than 34,000 state employees are now eligible to get up to 12 weeks off with pay when they have a new family member. And that immediately covers those whose newborns, adoptions and foster placements occurred as far back as the first of the year.
Horne files suit to get court to rule schools not using ‘structured English immersion’ violating law
Hoping to force the issue, state schools chief Tom Horne filed suit late Wednesday to get a court to rule that any school that doesn't use "structured English immersion'' to teach students who are not proficient is violating the law.
Arizona judge rules common practice of validating ballot signatures illegal
A practice used by some, if not all, Arizona counties to verify signatures on early ballots may be illegal.
Petersen and Toma trying to torpedo deal that would lead to state’s obligation to pay for gender-affirming surgery
Top Republican lawmakers are trying to torpedo a deal that would result in a court order that would forever obligate the state to pay for gender-affirming surgery for its employees and dependents.
Organizations advocating for homeless residents’ rights drop lawsuit aimed at preventing ‘sweeps’
Three organizations advocating for rights for the homeless have quietly dropped their lawsuit to prevent "sweeps'' of encampments by the city of Tucson.
Hunters can use lead ammunition despite bullets left behind killing other animals
Hunters in Arizona won't be barred from using lead ammunition even if the bullets left behind can cause the death of other animals. In a new ruling Friday, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a bid by the Center for Biological Diversity to order the U.S. Forest Service to ban the use of the ammo in the Kaibab National Forest.
Toma and Petersen claim doctors have no legal right to challenge abortion ban
Arizona's top two Republican lawmakers say doctors have no legal right to challenge a 2021 ban the GOP-controlled Legislature enacted on abortions due to fetal abnormalities because they aren't saying they intend to violate it.
Lake can argue she’s entitled to review signatures on ballot envelopes
Kari Lake is going to get a chance to argue she's entitled to examine signatures on ballot envelopes from the 2022 election in her bid to overturn the gubernatorial election.
Feds ready to dismiss lawsuit against Arizona over border containers
The federal government is finally ready to drop its lawsuit against the state over the storage containers it contends were erected illegally last year on Forest Service land by Gov. Doug Ducey.
Wadsack, Hobbs disagree over meeting tied to vouchers
A member of the legislative Freedom Caucus is boasting that she's getting a meeting with Gov. Katie Hobbs, a meeting she said will let her explain to the governor the virtues of making vouchers of taxpayer dollars available to all parents so their children can attend private and parochial schools.
Cactus League president says Arizona communities need to invest in stadiums used by major league teams
The president of the Cactus League said Friday that Arizona communities need to continue to invest in the stadiums used by the major league teams that practice and play there.
Auditor general finds flaws with Arizonans who obtain licenses to drive
Unqualified Arizonans may be getting state licenses to drive because of practices of private companies authorized by the state Motor Vehicle Division to issue them, according to a new report.
