Greg McKay confirmed as new Child Safety director
The state Senate confirmed Greg McKay as the new director of the Department of Child Safety despite objections from some legislators who say they lacked all the necessary information to vet Gov. Doug Ducey’s appointee.
House approves measure prohibiting ACA insurance plans from covering abortions
The state House voted Monday to deny coverage for women for elective abortions if they get their insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
Common Core opponents express confidence Ducey will get rid of the standards despite his comments today
Gov. Doug Ducey sought to split the middle in the contentious debate over Common Core, calling on the Arizona Board of Education to review and possibly replace parts of the K-12 education standards, but rejecting their wholesale replacement.
Water trauma: Apprehensive farmers could face radical shortages
The Colorado River may see a shortage as soon as next year, and the probability of one in 2017 jumps to 61 percent. If Lake Mead’s water level drops below 1,075 feet, agricultural users of Central Arizona Project water will see a big cut.
Bill would create one-stop-shop for campaign finance reports
A proposal by Secretary of State Michele Reagan would turn her office into a clearinghouse for campaign finance reports for cities and counties that choose to opt into the system.
Ducey names five to Board of Education
Gov. Doug Ducey named five new members to the Arizona Board of Education, perhaps the most eagerly awaited appointments the new governor has to make, thanks the board’s role in adopting the controversial K-12 education standards known as Common Core.
Lawmakers again vote to increase amount of money they can take from private donors
For the second time in two years, state lawmakers are voting to increase the amount of money they can take from private donors.
Lawmakers fell in line as the usual budget opposition failed to materialize
Gov. Doug Ducey and Republican legislative leadership’s quest for swift passage of their first budget was aided by unusually lackluster opposition from Democratic lawmakers and GOP critics.
University budget cuts: Numbers from JLBC and other sources reflect a harsher reality
Gov. Doug Ducey and Republican lawmakers have boasted their budget includes more spending on education than ever in Arizona’s history. But the numbers behind the cuts to higher education paint a different picture for the state’s university system and community colleges.
Door-to-door visits ask customers for solar complaints
A dark money group based in Virginia is going door to door in the Valley, asking solar customers to detail their negative experiences with solar leasing.
Senate committee votes to kill Common Core, but full Senate vote could keep standards alive
The Senate Education Committee voted today to kill Arizona's Common Core academic standards as foes blamed them for everything from the use of a sexually graphic book in one high school to making automatons of Arizona children.
Elections committee kills ballot harvesting ban revival
Lawmakers attempted to revive one of the most controversial portions of a repealed election law from 2013 via a last-minute strike-everything amendment to a bill in a special meeting of House Elections Committee Thursday. But they were rebuffed by one of the original opponents of the wide-reaching election bill from 2013.