Brewer, lawmakers blast League on illegal immigration; League says they missed the point
Before Gov. Jan Brewer and legislative leadership can settle their most recent legal dispute with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, the sides may have to agree on exactly what they're fighting about.
Lawsuit settlement tosses rule on removing wolves for livestock kills
Mexican gray wolves no longer will be subject to the "three strikes and you're out" rule, thanks to a settlement reached between environmental groups and the federal government. The informal rule went by the bureaucratic sounding name of standard operating procedure 13 (SOP 13), which allowed wolves to be removed from the wild for attacking and killing livestock three times within a year.
Former veterans agency chief indicted for fraud, conflict, misuse of funds
The Arizona Attorney General's Office announced on Nov. 19 that a former director of the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services has been indicted on eight felony charges, including counts of conflict of interest, fraud and misuse of public money.
Municipalities file special action for access to SRP watershed records
Two municipalities are challenging the authority of one of the state's largest utilities and are now asking a Maricopa County court to order Salt River Project (SRP) to turn over records under the state's public records law.
Probe of Navajo president moves ahead with AG’s OK
WINDOW ROCK - An investigation into whether the leader of the country's largest American Indian reservation and others broke any laws in connection with two companies that operated on the Navajo Nation is moving forward.
Gay rights group files lawsuit against Brewer
Ten state employees have filed a federal lawsuit against Gov. Jan Brewer in an effort to reverse a state policy that bans state benefits to the domestic partners of state employees.
Suit filed to block uranium-mine from opening near Grand Canyon
A trio of environmental groups has followed through on a threat to sue the Bureau of Land Management for giving a green light to a uranium-mine north of the Grand Canyon.
Draft bills show special session cuts of $300M
Draft versions of the bills lawmakers are expected to consider this week in a special legislative session show about $300 million in spending cuts to education and social services, as well as the restoration of funding for high-tech economic development.
Lawmakers getting hammered in court; resources strained
Arizona's 49th Legislature has been tasked with keeping the state financially afloat during the most troubling economic times in state history. But the choices lawmakers made this year in an effort to balance the budget have led to six lawsuits challenging the state's use of fund sweeps to fill in deficits.
Lobbyist, lawmaker to resume Clean Elections clash
The Citizens Clean Elections Commission has renewed a $6,500-per-month contract with lobbyist Mike Williams, setting up another battle over the fate of the public campaign-funding system. Todd Lang, director of the Clean Elections Commission, said hiring a lobbyist was necessary to protect a system he credits with increasing political participation of the public and encouraging people to run fo[...]
Adams fires back via Twitter after League vote to sue state
A recent vote by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns to sue the Legislature in an attempt to undo provisions passed in the most recent special session could have broader effects on the lobbying group for local governments.
No justice for Tucson in DC sniper’s death sentence
John Allen Muhammad was executed Nov. 10, but the sniper mastermind will never be held legally accountable for a killing in Tucson that police believe was a precursor to the sniper spree that left 10 people dead in the Washington, D.C., area.