Arizona struggles with lack of experienced teachers
A shortage of teachers in Arizona’s public school classrooms has education groups, school administrators, business groups and the Department of Education spreading the word, figuring out the scope of the problem and looking for solutions.
Arizona ranked in top five for alcohol-related deaths in CDC study
Arizona was tied for the fourth-highest rate of alcohol-related deaths among its working-age population from 2006 to 2010, according to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.
Solar industry slowing down in Arizona
Utility regulators are wrestling with how much of a premium to charge energy customers for using solar or other renewable energy sources, the Arizona Republic reported Sunday. For the first time in several years, no large solar plants are being built in Arizona and the number of rooftop-solar installations is down.
Arizona authorities look for ways to combat teacher flight
As the politics of education has brought several reforms to Arizona in recent years, some of them revolutionary, educators say teachers have been fleeing the state, the profession, or to better paying jobs in more affluent districts.
Veteran teacher resignations not surprising
The 2014 school year ended for Humboldt Unified School District Superintendent Paul Stanton with a resignation letter on his desk from two of his veteran teachers.
National Dems see chance to flip AZ Senate blue, but local Dems are skeptical
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is saying that the Arizona Senate is ripe to flip from red to blue, and that the House of Representatives won’t be too far behind.
Pendulum of political power swings in voters’ favor
In her order, trial court Judge Katherine Cooper delved into what has become the signature question the judiciary has had to grapple with in the last few years: Can the courts tell the Legislature, which is vested with the constitutional authority to appropriate, what to do when it comes to funding?
Board votes to fire AZ pension system administrator
The Public Safety Personnel Retirement System board voted this afternoon to terminate the employment of system administrator Jim Hacking.
Capitol Spotlight – Week of July 4
News briefs on hirings, appointments and movements of members of Arizona's political, public policy, legal and business communities.
State lawmaker on effect of school funding ruling: “This is a real financial crisis.”
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge told the Legislature today it must fund each public-school student at a base level of about $233 more than it currently does to begin to make up for years of not adjusting for inflation.
In crowded AZ LD20 House race, Seel is the favorite of precinct committeemen
At the state Capitol, Republican Rep. Carl Seel isn’t always treated with deference by his colleagues. Seel is the only Republican in the House who is not a freshman and does not hold a position in leadership or a committee chairmanship. He formerly was chairman of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, but had that role was stripped from him in 2013.
Outside spending, dark money fuel attack ads in race for Arizona governor
Conservative groups backed by dark money or yet to be-disclosed funding sources are trading blows on the airwaves now that a pro-Christine Jones IE began airing ads attacking Doug Ducey for his own alleged ties to dark money ads.