Recent Articles from Joe Henke, Cronkite News Service
Years after they became mandatory, employment checks are spotty
Five years after it took effect and more than year after it was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, an Arizona law requiring that businesses check the citizenship of every new hire is often disregarded and rarely enforced.
Conservation group sues – again – to protect Mexican gray wolf in Arizona
For the second time in less than two weeks, a Tucson-based conversation group has sued the federal government over its handling of the Mexican gray wolf.
State lawmaker pledges to renew fight for ban on texting while driving
State Sen.-elect Steve Farley, D-Tucson, said he will reintroduce legislation next year to ban texting while driving, despite repeated rejections in the House, noting that the rest of the country has finally caught up with his idea.
Report: Online sales cost state $708 million in lost sales taxes this year
Booming sales on Cyber Monday might have meant savings for consumers, but they could also have meant lost revenue for the state of Arizona, a new report said.
Mesa mayor in D.C. to discuss ‘fiscal cliff’ with White House, Congress
Mesa Mayor Scott Smith had a message Thursday for White House and congressional lawmakers he met with to talk about the looming “fiscal cliff” – make the hard choices, as mayors did with their budgets.
Arizona farmers rally in Washington to urge action on stalled farm bill
Sixteen Arizona farmers left their crops and cattle behind Wednesday and traveled to Washington with the Arizona Farm Bureau to rally at the Capitol for the stalled farm bill.
With presidential aspirations behind him, McCain again addresses convention
When he last stepped on a Republican National Convention stage, the GOP was John McCain’s party. It was 2008 and the Arizona senator had just been picked by delegates in St. Paul, Minn., as their presidential nominee. McCain stepped on the convention stage again Wednesday in Tampa, but this time he was there to deliver a speech on foreign policy and he stood in the shadow of current nominee Mitt[...]
Mesa mayor skips election back home to talk art at Tampa convention
Mesa Mayor Scott Smith was up for re-election Tuesday, but instead of campaigning back home he was in Tampa talking about public art.