McNeil firing followed EEOC complaint on racial, gender comments
One day before Gov. Jan Brewer fired Arizona Department of Administration Brian McNeil, the Governor’s Office received a complaint filed against him with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that he’d created a hostile work environment by making inappropriate comments about an employee’s ethnicity and gender.
Brewer fires ADOA director McNeil
Gov. Jan Brewer has fired Arizona Department of Administration Director Brian McNeil over what the administration described as a “personnel matter,” a move that stunned Capitol observers due to its peculiar timing and McNeil’s deep ties to the governor.
Brewer appoints lead counsel Sciarrotta to judgeship
Gov. Jan Brewer’s general counsel Joe Sciarrotta will go from the Ninth Floor to the bench when his boss leaves office next year.
AZ jobless rate dips, but job growth still ‘mediocre’
The state’s jobless rate dropped four-tenths of a point in April, the biggest month-over-month decline in decades and the first time the rate has been less than 7 percent since 2008.
Department of Administration lifts stay of mental health contract
The Arizona Department of Administration lifted a stay that had halted a multibillion-dollar contract for behavioral health services in Maricopa County, following a recommendation by an administrative law judge.
Administrative law judge upholds health care contract over Magellan protest
An administrative law judge recommended that the Arizona Department of Health Services move forward with a multibillion-dollar contract for behavioral health services in Maricopa County, rejecting an appeal by Magellan Health Services of Arizona, which argued that it should have received the contract instead.
Top Horne staffer eyes Gaming director post
The Department of Gaming director’s position that was recently vacated by Attorney General Tom Horne’s Republican primary opponent may end up being filled by one of Horne’s top staffers.
Debt Dilemma
2010 decision to mortgage state’s assets threatens cash reserves
Borrowing billions of dollars allowed Arizona to limp through the worst financial crisis in its history. But the decision to mortgage state assets that include the House and Senate buildings has an unwanted underside: It precludes the state from having significant cash reserves.
Assessing the shutdown
Could have small impact on state government, big effect on Arizona economy
State agencies that rely heavily on federal funds won’t be affected much by the government shutdown, at least in the short term.
Brewer defends appointment of ousted clemency board director
Gov. Brewer defended her decision to appoint Jesse Hernandez as chairman and executive director of the Arizona Board of Executive Clemency, an appointment that has come under fire since his ouster from the position last week.
Arizona jobless rate inches up
Arizona’s economy might be recovering, but the job market didn’t quite keep pace — or at least not last month.
Arizona food-stamp rolls rise, continue to cling to near-record highs
Arizona added 17,000 people to its food stamp rolls in October, as near-record-high levels of assistance continued to stubbornly hang on after 18 months.