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State unveiling system for online petition gathering
Arizona is preparing to launch a new signature-gathering system that will fundamentally change the way political candidates go about qualifying for the 2012 ballot.
Beginning Feb. 1, voters will be able go online to sign nominating petitions for candidates who want to run for statewide office and the Legislature.
Commerce Authority lawyers exploring whether Cardon should pay back $50K
Attorneys for the Arizona Commerce Authority are poring over outgoing CEO Don Cardon’s contract to see whether the agency can recoup a $50,000 signing bonus he received, and will likely put safeguards into his successor’s contract to make sure it won’t be a question next time.
IRC approves final maps amid clashes
The members of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission spent their final mapmaking meeting the same way they’ve spent most of the past nine months – arguing, sniping at each other and lobbing accusations across the aisle.
Condemned prisoners use separation of powers argument in appeal
Three prisoners took their case to the Arizona Court of Appeals Friday, arguing that the statute governing lethal injection violates the separation of powers doctrine because the Legislature delegated its authority over executions to the executive branch. They also argue that they aren’t left with any legal recourse if the Department of Corrections changes its execution procedures.
Brewer wants changes to tax code, state personnel and K-12 funding
Gov. Jan Brewer filled in the blanks from her State of the State address with an ambitious policy agenda heavy on restructuring the state’s tax system, changing the way public schools are funded, revamping the personnel system for state employees and throwing down the gauntlet over federal environmental and land management policies.
Tobin calls for IRC audit as legal bills top $1M
As the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission continues to rack up legal bills, House Speaker Andy Tobin is seeking a full audit of the commission’s finances.
CPS to overhaul ‘frustrating’ abuse hotline
Overhauling the Child Protective Services abuse hotline and adding police officers to work alongside the agency’s social workers are among the most important recommendations of the Governor’s Child Safety Task Force one of the panel’s co-chairs said Dec. 30 after the recommendations were released.
ADOT seeks $97M from feds for 3 projects – gets zip
The third round of federal transportation grants has come and gone, and Arizona is left with an empty tank. The Arizona Department of Transportation applied for grants for three projects totaling $97 million, but didn’t get a piece of the $511 million doled out.
Corrections ends plans for private prisons to house 5,000 inmates
The Arizona Department of Corrections has scrapped plans to build private prisons to house 5,000 minimum and medium security inmates.
Judge: AZ hasn’t violated rights during executions
The Arizona Department of Corrections hasn't violated the rights of death-row prisoners in its execution process, a federal judge ruled today.
Feds: Sheriff’s Office ‘deeply rooted’ in racial profiling against Latinos
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has always been fond of saying he’s accountable only to the voters.
But the U.S. Department of Justice took the first steps Dec. 15 toward making Arpaio answer to the federal government after unveiling the results of a civil rights probe that one investigator described as “the most egregious racial profiling in the United States.”
CPS system allows some child abuse cases to fall ‘through the cracks’
State law requires county attorneys and police to cooperate with state Child Protective Service caseworkers, but police and prosecutors told the Governor’s Child Safety Task Force today that some child abuse and sex abuse investigations are falling short because of communication failures, antiquated technology and red tape.
