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Recent Articles from Rebekah Zemansky, Cronkite News Service
A push from the right: More conservatives joining fight to change sentencing guidelines
Since the late 1970s, rising crime has led lawmakers to require prison time for many non-violent offenses.
But some say eliminating the options of fines, work release, substance-abuse treatment and house arrest in favor of prison time can turn non-violent offenders into career criminals.
Now, as states face large budget deficits, calls for reforming sentencing for non-violent[...]
Prison hosts speaker series to educate, motivate female inmates
Olympic swimmer Misty Hyman gently coaxes volunteers from the audience to describe their accomplishments and goals.
Selling, making, possessing marijuana alternative spice now a felony in Arizona
Spice, a chemically treated blend of herbs marketed as incense but often smoked as an alternative to marijuana, is now illegal in Arizona.
Themes of proposed license plates include centennial, ‘Don’t Tread on Me’
In a rite of spring, state legislators are proposing at least 12 special license plates that would add to nearly 50 offered by the Arizona Department of Transportation.
Lawmaker: Protect employers with medical marijuana law on the way
Now that Arizona voters have approved the use of medical marijuana, employers need new ways to deal with employees who are impaired for any reason, a state lawmaker said Tuesday.
Commissioner proclaims border safe and secure
The commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection says the border is more safe and secure today because of a 1 1/2 -year-old border crackdown initiative.
Gallardo: Close ‘loophole’ in state law involving gun shows
A Democratic state lawmaker says it’s time to close what he calls a gap in state law that allows people to purchase firearms at gun shows without the same background check required at shops.
State legislators endorse ban on use, sale of synthetic marijuana ‘spice’
Spice, an herb often smoked as a legal alternative to marijuana, should be banned in Arizona because of its dangerous side effects, a state lawmaker said Thursday.
Trapped in violence: Undocumented domestic abuse victims face hurdles
Domestic violence affects women of every country, culture and income level, and victims are often reluctant to seek help for a variety of reasons.
When a woman is in the U.S. illegally, however, she will be even more reluctant to come forward, law enforcement officials and victims’ advocates say. Undocumented immigrants as a group fear dealing with police, and some abusers use that fe[...]
Some communities moving to ban fireworks as state law looms
Payson is one of the first cities in the state to enact a local ordinance banning the use of fireworks that will become legal statewide on Dec. 1. Show Low and Queen Creek have also passed bans, and Flagstaff is considering regulation. Yuma is among cities taking a wait-and-see approach.
Supporters: Allowing land swaps would help preserve bases, aid conservation
Supporters say a ballot proposition designed to make it easier to swap rather than sell or lease state trust land would help faciliate agreements that preserve military installations.
Pima County, Mexican officials agree to share DNA data on border remains
Pima County officials hope an agreement with Mexican officials to share databases of DNA information will help close even more of the 640 cases involving unidentified remains. Dr. Bruce Parks, the county’s chief medical examiner, signed the memorandum of understanding Tuesday with Juan Manuel Calderón-Jaimes, Mexico’s consul general in Tucson.
