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Recent Articles from Rachel Leingang
Governor wants to strip back rules that make it complicated to become a teacher
Four weeks into the 2016 school year, more than 2,000 teacher positions in Arizona were still unfilled. One way lawmakers and Gov. Doug Ducey want to address the problem: Make it easier to become a teacher.
Douglas wants more than Ducey’s funding assurances for unfinished IT work
Ducey’s assurance isn’t enough, said Douglas’s spokesman, Stefan Swiat. The department wants the governor’s office and the Arizona Legislature to publicly spell out how much exactly they will set aside for the IT needs, he said.
Bill transfers burden from parents to prosecutors in some sex cases
A Republican lawmaker wants to change the state’s sexual abuse statutes in response to an Arizona Supreme Court ruling that raised questions about whether parents changing a baby’s diaper could be charged with molestation.
Chamber chief faces firestorm for calling teachers’ union ‘crybabies’
The head of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce waded into a storm of criticism after calling the teachers’ union “crybabies” for asking for pay raises.
House panel approves poverty benefits extension, but with strings attached
An Arizona House panel approved a bill that would allow people living in poverty to receive cash assistance for longer.
Rooftop solar group wants net metering decision reversed
A major rooftop solar group wants the state’s utility regulators to redo a decision it made last month to end net metering.
Lawrence calls for local partisan elections, raising objections from cities
A Republican state lawmaker wants all local elections, from city councils to water boards, to be partisan.
Office babies: Ducey wants to let more parents bring infants to work
Gov. Doug Ducey wants the Infant at Work program, currently in place at Health Services and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, to expand to other state agencies, citing the program as a “win-win-win” for parents, babies and employers.
Jack August, beloved chronicler of the Southwest, dies
Dr. Jack August, historian and biographer of many prominent Arizonans, died Friday at age 63.
Commissioners pick Forese as new chairman, while top staffers leave
Regulators today picked Tom Forese as chair of the Arizona Corporation Commission. Former gubernatorial staffer Ted Vogt also took over as executive director of the regulatory agency.
Explosive spending could be new norm for Corp Comm elections
More than $7 million poured into this year’s Arizona Corporation Commission, largely from two continually sparring foes whose businesses rely heavily on the regulatory body.
Matthew Earl Jones: A passion for Arizona’s film industry
Matthew Earl Jones brings with him lots of industry resources and a passion for making Arizona the top film industry destination, despite its lack of tax credits, and continuing to expand the local infrastructure needed to support film and digital media.
