Gov. Doug Ducey wants to grant pay raises to nearly half of all state employees, with an emphasis on boosting salaries for law enforcement and corrections officers.

The Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board is avoiding running afoul of procurement laws by washing its hands of a $6.4 million funding request for 15 state-of-the art, use-of-force simulators.

Of the nearly 800 fully automatic M-16s Arizona law enforcement organizations have received under a Department of Defense program that gives away surplus military hardware, 13 have gone to a state agency better known for serving farmers and ranchers and protecting consumers.

A bill spawned by police corruption in a polygamist town received unanimous approval Tuesday in the House Government Committee.

And while the bill passed easily and has support of police unions, sparks flew when a Utah civil rights attorney who spoke against the measure suggested the U.S. Department of Justice and Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board could address corrupt police departments.