Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

Republican legislative leaders have reached a deal with Gov. Jan Brewer to erase a portion of the estimated $2 billion budget deficit in a special session later this month, including about $300 million in spending cuts. The plan, if carried out, would eliminate a fraction of the overall deficit, and a $1.4 billion shortfall would remain.

In her 2008 State of the State Address, Gov. Janet Napolitano proposed providing, despite the state's growing economic challenges, free college tuition to Arizona high school students who get good grades, perform community service and stay out of trouble.

Safety fears, misinformation and a distrust of doctors hamper efforts to persuade members of minority groups to get vaccinated against the H1N1 flu strain, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials told ethnic media leaders Nov. 5.

What sticks with Kevin Kane most from the first time he received a Purple Heart in Iraq isn't the explosion that sprayed his arms and legs with shrapnel and left him hard of hearing in one ear. It's the Iraqi civilians across the street from his crippled Humvee, apparently unconcerned.

To Dr. Ronald S. Weinstein, a doctor's eyes and ears are as important as instruments or tests. A patient's tone and body language can say as much as his or her words, he said, and eye contact and seeing that a doctor is paying attention establishes trust for the patient. But that doesn't necessarily mean that doctor and patient have to be in the same place, said Weinstein, director of the University of Arizona College of Medicine's Arizona Telemedicine Program.

The Center for Women's Business Research reports that 10.1 million business firms in the United States are owned by women, employing more than 13 million people and generating $1.9 trillion in sales. Women-owned ventures also account for 40 percent of all privately owned firms.

Earlier this year, ASU professor Marjorie Baldwin contributed to the national debate regarding health care reform, advocating incremental changes and warning against rushing into a broad, public health care system that covers everybody.

UPDATED AT 6:27 P.M., OCT. 30 A state law allowing businesses to reduce their tax liabilities by contributing money to organizations that distribute private school tuition payments will remain on the books – for now. A challenge in federal court ...

For many Arizona school districts, a lot is riding on upcoming November budget override elections. Schools already have been hit by state budget reductions, and many districts will have to cut programs and staff even further unless they receive a funding boost from override elections.

CASA GRANDE - The Obama administration is committed to improving the performance of rural schools, the U.S. secretary of education said Oct. 19. "There is significant underinvestment in rural communities, and we would like to right that balance," Arne Duncan told educators from eight counties.