Recent Articles from Ryan Van Velzer, Associated Press
Arizona city stews over regulating sober living homes
With a growing segment of the country beginning to view addiction as a disease that needs treatment, a northern Arizona city is mulling over a new law that allows it to register and regulate a cottage industry of sober living homes thriving among its residential neighborhoods.
New laws aim to help Arizona curb overdose abuse, deaths
As prescription pain relievers increasingly fuel addictions around the country, Arizona is moving to curb the sale of unnecessary prescription drugs and reduce the number of overdose-related deaths.
Children’s health insurance program to begin in September
Low-income Arizona families in need of affordable health insurance for their children can begin receiving coverage in September under a new plan offering relief for the working poor.
Ex-Phoenix VA head gets probation in wait list-linked case
A former VA health system director has been sentenced to two years' probation for failing to disclose gifts received while supervising the Phoenix hospital where whistleblowers revealed veterans on secret waiting lists faced scheduling delays of up to a year.
Governor signs bill protecting Salt River wild horses
A herd of wild horses living near Arizona's Salt River came a step closer to new protections under legislation Gov. Doug Ducey signed on Wednesday.
Attorneys ask to unseal records in Phoenix freeway shooting
Now that a judge has dismissed charges against the man arrested for last summer's freeway shootings in the Phoenix area, his attorneys are calling on the court to release all previously sealed documents.
Worker: System blocked some ballots in Arizona primary
A poll worker who was on duty during Arizona's problematic presidential primary testified Monday that the computer system checking in voters would not allow her to give the correct ballots to 36 Democratic voters while she counted about 20 other voters that were listed in the wrong party.
US Sen. John McCain calls for criminal probe into mine spill
U.S. Sen. John McCain on Friday called for a criminal investigation into actions by the Environmental Protection Agency that led to a mine spill polluting rivers in three Western states last summer.
Judge allows release of Arizona freeway shooting suspect
A judge on Tuesday allowed a man charged in freeway shootings that rattled Phoenix last year to be released from jail amid questions about evidence authorities say links him to the crimes.
House delays vote on service animal law
The House delayed voting on a measure that would give business owners more discretion under state law to ask people with misbehaving service animals to leave.
House advances bill trying to nullify national defense laws
The House advanced a proposal Thursday to try and stop the government from indefinitely detaining or executing Arizona citizens without due process, despite criticisms the bill defies what is allowed under the Constitution.
Reagan holds first public meeting on presidential primary
Voters outraged at Arizona officials for bungling the March 22 presidential primary election appeared to personally voice their experiences to Secretary of State Michele Reagan during a community outreach event in Phoenix.