County gets $2.2 million for immigrant jail costs
Officials in Maricopa County accepted $2.2 million in reimbursement from the federal government for the costs of jailing illegal immigrants convicted of a felony or two misdemeanors in violations of state or local laws.
Poll: AZ open to gay marriage
Dem pollster Public Policy Polling today released numbers on the state’s support of gay marriage, and the tea party and Occupy Wall Street movements from its Nov. 17 to Nov. 20 survey of 500 voters it conducted.
Brewer prepares ’12 push for personnel reform
Gov. Jan Brewer is getting ready for a 2012 push to revamp the rules governing the hiring and firing of state employees.
‘ResistALEC’ protestors pepper-sprayed, arrested
Police used pepper spray on a crowd of protestors, and arrested six of them, outside a a Scottsdale conference center today that was attended by dozens of lawmakers from around the country.
The roughly 150 demonstrators showed up at the American Legislative Exchange Council summit in Phoenix, to protest what they see as undue corporate influence in government.
Protests planned against conservative lawmakers
Community members and organizations are planning protests Wednesday against groups of conservative lawmakers meeting in Scottsdale. Various organizations ranging from labor to civil rights groups plan to protest against the American Legislative Exchange Council's States and Nation Summit.
Fractured IRC gets back to work
After winning an Arizona Supreme Court battle against a Republican governor and Senate that ordered her removal, reinstated Independent Redistricting Commission Chairwoman Colleen Mathis is facing the immediate challenge of leading a commission that has fractured down party lines.
Phoenix Streetcars
In the late 19th century, just about every city of any size had a streetcar or trolley line. In Phoenix, there was the Phoenix Street Railway System, which operated from 1887 to 1948. It was owned and operated by the great promoter and subdivision mogul, Moses H. Sherman, until 1925, when the city of Phoenix took over operations.
Contractors say fund sweeps cost 42,000 highway jobs, want HURF reimbursed
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and at the Legislature, those measures have included sweeping money from state funds and agencies.
But now that the fiscal outlook is less bleak, some opponents would like the state to reimburse those funds.
Sonoran governor calls his border state ‘safest’ in Mexico
The governor of Sonora, Mexico, defended and even praised his state on its handling of immigration issues during a short press conference Nov. 18 that focused mostly on economic interaction between Arizona and its southern neighbor.
Brewer: No special session without “clear path to victory” at the ballot
Gov. Jan Brewer today said she won’t call a special legislative session to either repeal or reform the independent redistricting process, despite calls from some lawmakers that she do so this week.
The governor’s emphatic statement, which was released after she met with House Speaker Andy Tobin and Senate President Steve Pierce, means the chances of lawmakers convening by tomorrow t[...]
The colorful and tumultuous political career of Evan Mecham
Evan Mecham occupies a place in Arizona political history that has all the earmarks of a Greek tragedy. How else can you explain the events of Mecham’s political life?
Hospital group sues state over provider cuts
The Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association is suing the state and the federal health department over the decision to cut the reimbursement rate to hospitals and health care providers.