The assistant director of Arizona's Department of Economic Security says her boss bought employees alcohol during the workday after they agreed to give up their job protections.

Republican Gov. Doug Ducey has appointed a former Democratic leader in the Arizona Legislature to a top position in the Department of Economic Security.

After 16 years in the Legislature, Leah Landrum Taylor is enjoying her time away from elected office just fine. She has zero plans to throw her hat back into the ring – she’s having too much fun doing karaoke and watching her three kids grow up.

Police are investigating threats made against the state schools chief and the former Senate minority leader, according to Arizona Department of Education Chief of Staff Michael Bradley.

Former Sen. Leah Landrum Taylor has landed a job as special projects director for the Arizona Department of Education.

Democratic Sen. Ed Ableser of Tempe regained his title of most absentee lawmaker this year, showing up for only 62 percent of Senate floor sessions, though he voted on 70 percent of all the bills put before the chamber.

Several employees testified that the director who supervised Arizona child welfare workers knew about uninvestigated child abuse cases back in 2011, the Arizona Republic reported Thursday. At least four workers said that Clarence Carter was informed about thousands of reports of child abuse and neglect that had gone without a state-mandated investigation.

Three weeks after the Senate surprised the Capitol community by unilaterally moving forward with a bare bones budget proposal, Republicans in the House and Senate came to an agreement on a spending plan they hope the governor will accept.

Sen. Olivia Cajero Bedford questioned Sen. Steve Gallardo’s honesty in regards to his sexual orientation in a closed-door caucus meeting on Tuesday and said Gallardo should “act more gay.”

Senate Democrats held a closed-door meeting Tuesday afternoon that spiraled out of control, resulting in a bungled attempt at a vote to oust caucus leaders.