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As economy improves, counties push to restore lost state funding
County governments have been heavily hit by state budget cuts in recent years, causing leaders to strip vital services down to the bare bones, lay off skilled employees and slice large chunks of money from nearly every line in their budgets.
State lawmaker pledges to renew fight for ban on texting while driving
State Sen.-elect Steve Farley, D-Tucson, said he will reintroduce legislation next year to ban texting while driving, despite repeated rejections in the House, noting that the rest of the country has finally caught up with his idea.
State IT plan focuses on efficiency, cyber security and a big revamp in 2013
Armed with more money and increased input from the Governor’s Office, Chief Information Officer Aaron Sandeen revamped the Statewide Strategic IT Plan for 2013 with a keen focus on modernizing and securing the state’s vital technology infrastructure while keeping costs down.
Panel scrutinizes federal decision to end immigration agreements with Arizona lawmen
A Republican-led ad hoc committee has begun looking into the implications of the Obama administration’s decision to sever agreements that authorized local law enforcers to check people’s immigration status.
Lawmaker’s next focus: Brewer’s personnel overhaul
After wrapping up work on the budget, senators immediately turned their attention to a sweeping proposal by Gov. Jan Brewer to overhaul the rules that govern state employees.
Legislative budget plan moves forward over Brewer’s concerns
Despite a clear sign that the governor is unhappy with their budget plan, Republican lawmakers swiftly approved the proposal during simultaneous committee hearings in the House and Senate this morning.
Over worker objections, Brewer’s ‘personnel reform’ advances
A House committee approved Gov. Jan Brewer’s vaunted personnel plan, giving the bill its first step toward passage, despite the warnings of public sector unions and government workers who spent hours urging lawmakers not to eliminate their civil service protections.
Senate GOP goes behind closed doors to discuss Brewer’s personnel reform
Republican senators were briefed today about major changes to the state’s personnel system that the governor is seeking.
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.
Fires and floods illustrate critical role of county governments
The summer of 2011 will be recorded as one of the most tragic and devastating in Cochise County history.
Judge halts firing of Quartzsite police officers
A judge has issued temporary restraining orders to block the town of Quartzsite from firing two police officers who had accused their chief of misconduct.
Pinal County Sheriff still waiting for state money
After a contentious vote last session, the Legislature promised to give $1 million to Pinal County to help fight border-related crime.
But the sheriff’s office says it’s still waiting for the money.
