Sign In
Free Newsletter
DES doubles security budget, adds armed guards
The San Bernardino shooting massacre that took 14 lives last December has prompted Department of Economic Security Director Tim Jeffries to go on a security blitz.
The state budget: potential winners, losers and question marks
Lawmakers are debating a proposed $9.58 billion budget, which for the first time in years, makes significant increases in a handful of key areas.
Arizona officer involved in shooting had raised concerns
At least two officers who trained an Arizona policeman who later shot and killed a woman armed with scissors had serious concerns about his work, including that he was too quick to go for his service weapon, ignored directives from superiors and falsified reports, according to records obtained by The Associated Press.
State museum to mark 50th anniversary of Miranda decision
The Arizona Capitol Museum is marking the upcoming 50th anniversary of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that requires police officers to warn arrested people that they have a right to remain silent.
Hundreds of Arizona prison inmates have used razors, drugs in attempted suicides
There were nearly 500 incidents in Arizona’s prison system when convicts attempted to either hurt or kill themselves in 2015, despite efforts to push for better mental health treatment and a legal settlement ordering the Department of Corrections to improve psychiatric services.
Lawmakers wade into Clean Elections rules fight
Republican lawmakers are hoping to go to the ballot box to settle a dispute over whether the Citizens Clean Elections Commission is subject to the same rulemaking regulations as other state agencies.
Prisons received nearly $1 million to cover leap year costs
The only agency in Arizona that requires leap year funding was allocated more than $900,000 to cover the costs of one extra calendar day.
Ducey budget authority request sparks separation-of-powers concerns
Republican lawmakers will soon have to make a decision that will pit their desire to promote responsible spending against the territoriality they’ve historically exercised over their appropriations authority.
Exodus from Child Safety agency continues despite new spending
In fiscal year 2015, about one-fourth of people who worked at the Department of Child Safety left their jobs. And most of them quit. Turnover at the beleaguered agency is one of the highest within state government at 24.5 percent.
JLBC members question McKay’s absence
Joint Legislative Budget Committee members questioned why they were hearing from Michael Dellner, operations chief at the Department of Child Safety, rather than Greg McKay, the agency’s director, since the Dec. 15 meeting had been on the calendar for weeks.
Tobin to replace longtime financial institutions director
Department of Insurance Director Andy Tobin will replace longtime Superintendent Lauren Kingry as the head of the Arizona Department of Financial Institutions, in a possible sign that Gov. Doug Ducey will move to consolidate the two agencies next year.
Stump accuses critics of acting like ‘mafia’
Commissioner Bob Stump is accusing SolarCity and Checks and Balances Project, a critic of Arizona’s regulatory agency, of acting like a “mafia” following the disclosure that the two have financial ties.
