Parks director headed for new job in Santa Barbara County
After two and a half years with Arizona State Parks, Renée Bahl will be leaving the agency in December for a new job in central-southern California’s coastal Santa Barbara County. Bahl came to the parks department when budgets were being slashed and the department was trying to determine which of the parks it was going to be able to keep open. Now, she said, the outlook is far rosier.
AZ Supreme Court won’t block Mathis’ removal
The Arizona Supreme Court has rejected Colleen Mathis’ request to block her removal as Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission chair while the appeal of her ouster works its way through the court system.
Mathis can continue to appeal her decision, but will do so as the former IRC chairwoman, the court ruled on Tuesday.
IRC will hire attorneys for Brewer inquiry
The embattled Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission will hire attorneys for three members in response to Gov. Jan Brewer’s demands for information about allegations of serious misconduct.
ACA to award deal-closing cash for Tempe company’s expansion
After being in place for four months, the Arizona Commerce Authority Oct. 24 announced its first award from its $25 million deal-closing fund.
State budget revenue up $80M in August
Major economic indicators in Arizona point to a steady recovery, although some bumps remain.
Revenues in August grew by 8.6 percent, buoyed by strong showings in sales and individual income taxes.
Ed Board delays release of school grading system
The Arizona State Board of Education decided today to delay releasing the specifics of its new school assessment rating system to further study how certain populations of students should be figured into the overall score.
Report: Prisons have security lapses
The Arizona Department of Corrections’ oversight of private prisons has improved since a deadly, July 2010 escape, but the Office of the Auditor General also found the state-run prisons have their own security problems.
Obama offers states more flexibility to meet No Child Left Behind
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama unveiled a waiver program Friday that opens the door for states to sidestep education obstacles in the much-maligned No Child Left Behind law. The new program gives states flexibility in the use of federal funds and on No Child Left Behind deadlines – as long as states adjust school policies to be more in line with the White House.
Bennett fundraising ad for WWII guns will air at ASU game
Arizona State University is helping Secretary of State Ken Bennett get a little publicity for his efforts to bring two World War II-era warship guns to the Capitol.
Brewer planning China ‘trade mission’
Gov. Jan Brewer will be racking up some frequent flier miles next month when she heads up a team of Arizona government officials and business leaders that will be traveling to China in hopes of attracting Chinese business investments in Arizona.
Bladine disputes claim of invalid IRC contract; commission to reaffirm mapping firm
The executive director of the Independent Redistricting Commission refutes a claim that the group’s contract with its mapping firm is invalid.
Judge upholds state Medicaid cuts
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge upheld a partial enrollment freeze for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, rejecting a liberal advocacy group’s claims that the cuts violated a voter mandate.