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Proposed sales tax hike blocks budget deal
With the clock ticking, lawmakers and the governor held a series of closed-door meetings leading up to the Sept. 5 deadline for action on a slate of budget bills. But the negotiations did not produce the outcome Gov. Jan Brewer had desired - a bipartisan coalition of support for a special election to temporarily raise the sales tax to help balance the budget.
Health Services director Humble can’t shake ‘interim’ tag
Will Humble was named in January as the interim director at the Arizona Department of Health Services, replacing January Contreras. Nearly eight months later, Brewer has nearly finished filling the department head positions that traditionally change when a new governor takes residence on the Ninth Floor.
Credit unions help strapped state employees
As state employees across the country are being hammered by layoffs, pay cuts and forced unpaid days off, some state employees' credit unions are stepping in to help workers get through these tough times. Services include a variety of loan programs and even one Web site for recession and job-related tips.
Ariz. official doesn’t have stance on texting ban
Arizona's highway safety director says he's not ready to say whether the state should ban texting while driving. Meeting in Georgia, the Governors Highway Safety Association reversed itself and came out for a texting ban. The group cited a Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study that found drivers who are texting increase the risk of a crash or near-crash by 23 times.
New state panel to advise on key water issues
Increasing collaboration among offices responsible for Arizona's water supply will better prepare the state to conserve and reuse its most precious natural resource, an agency head said Aug. 31.
Number of mentally ill in Maricopa Co. increases
The number of seriously mentally ill people in Maricopa County has exploded in recent years and is expected to grow another 45 percent by 2015, according to state estimates.
DPS relies on loans; money needed by Sept. 11
In two weeks, Highway Patrol cars could be sitting empty in government parking lots and the state crime lab could be bereft of forensic criminologists if Gov. Jan Brewer doesn't sign a budget bill nearly identical to one she vetoed nearly two months ago.
Wercinski announces candidacy for Secretary of State
Former Arizona Real Estate Commissioner Sam Wercinski has announced he will run for Secretary of State. Wercinski, a former Air Force officer, issued a press release and a call for contributions on Aug. 28 after concluding a six week campaign organizing effort.
GAO report faults Border Patrol on checkpoints
A draft government study found the Border Patrol isn't measuring how its checkpoints along the border affect the quality of life in surrounding communities. One of the findings of a Government Accountability Office draft report was that the Border Patrol hasn't documented how many agents it needs to confront smugglers sneaking around a proposed permanent checkpoint on Interstate 19 in southern [...]
Medical alert: Short on vaccine, state prepares for flu pandemic
If you think the flu season is fast approaching, think again - health authorities say it never really left. Active cases of swine flu are popping up in virtually every Arizona county, which is especially unusual during the state's hot summer months.
Tax appeals skyrocket as home values plummet
After learning in February that 99 percent of all Maricopa County homeowners could expect to see the value of their homes decrease from the previous year, Gregory Sarena was stunned to learn the county assessor concluded his Cave Creek residence had gone up 20 percent within one year.
From teen pregnancies to heart attacks, DHS statistician tracks health data
Sooner or later, Christopher Mrela will have your number - if he doesn't already. As the statistician for the Department of Health Services, Mrela is a man of many numbers. He's compiling them now for the "Arizona Health Status and Vital Statistics Report." It's due out in September.
