Recent Articles from Paul Davenport, Associated Press
Brewer signs budget approved by Legislature
Gov. Jan Brewer on Monday signed into law a new state budget that reflects the state's improving finances.
The budget's spending totals just under $8.6 billion for the 2012-2013 fiscal year starting July 1.
Arizona Senate OKs tax cuts as session nears end
Arizona lawmakers advanced tax cut legislation Thursday as they pushed to end their regular session, despite complaints that they courted danger by moving forward with proposals put on their desks just hours earlier.
Arizona House OKs bill to demand US public lands
Arizona may join Utah in demanding that the federal government surrender control of millions of acres of public land to the state. Arizona legislation that appeared dead a month ago was approved Monday by the state House.
Ariz. high court to explain redistricting ruling
The Arizona Supreme Court is scheduled to issue a long-awaited opinion today explaining why it overturned Gov. Jan Brewer's removal of the head of the state's redistricting commission.
Rep. Robson cites compromise on billboards
A legislator who sponsored a vetoed bill to legalize electronic billboards in Arizona says agreement has been reached on a compromise to allow the outdoor advertising.
Legislature on verge of missing session adjournment goal
A year ago, the Arizona Legislature was just days away from adjournment of its annual legislative session, having already approved a state budget that included painful cuts to state services. But while lawmakers missed their self-imposed 2011 adjournment target of 100 days by just five hours, there's little chance the Legislature will come near as close this year.
Bill banning abortions after 20 weeks sent to Brewer
The Arizona Legislature has approved an anti-abortion bill that includes generally banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
AZ House OKs secrecy for environmental reports
Mining companies and other businesses will be allowed to keep environmental studies secret, even if they detail possible pollution problems, under industry-backed legislation that gained final House approval Monday. Under the measure headed to Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, environmental audits generally could not be used as evidence in civil cases.
Arizona House rejects immediate ouster of Patterson
The Arizona House has refused to immediately expel Rep. Daniel Patterson over allegations of inappropriate behavior toward other lawmakers but agreed to speed up the pending ethics case against the newly turned independent from Tucson.
Compromise could scrap ballot measure on Clean Elections
A proposed ballot measure to effectively dismantle Arizona's system that provides public money for state election candidates' campaigns would itself be scrapped under a compromise between the program's supporters and opponents.
Arizona legislators again say yes to free tickets
It's been a year since the Fiesta Bowl scandal embarrassed legislators, but at least some Arizona lawmakers still like their perks. The Arizona Diamondbacks have again offered free tickets to legislators for the baseball team's first game of the season, and a team executive said Tuesday that at least 40 of the 90 senators and representatives have accepted so far.
Lawmaker: Campus guns bill is dead
Controversial legislation to allow concealed weapons on Arizona university and college campuses is dead, the proposal's sponsor said Tuesday. State Sen. Ron Gould, a Republican from Lake Havasu City, told The Associated Press that there is not enough support among lawmakers for the bill.