Forestry and fire officials told a Senate subcommittee that federal, state and local firefighters need more funding, training and flexibility to effectively battle wildfires.

Gov. Jan Brewer’s agenda in her final regular legislative session lacked the blockbuster policies, drag-out fights and frayed nerves of 2013. Instead, the governor proposed a far more modest agenda in 2014. Relatively small spending increases in a few key areas, two low-profile economic development bills and legislation strengthening the state’s human trafficking laws were among the biggest policies she pursued.

Arizona lawmakers finished one of the fastest sessions in recent memory this April, but still found time for behavior that amazes, amuses and sometimes embarrasses the state’s legislative body.

In the last two years, more than two dozen legislators who had received the support of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry during the 2012 elections fought the business community on two of its biggest policy battles — upholding Common Core and expanding Medicaid.

A federal judge said that efforts by the Green Party to qualify for a place on the Arizona ballot this year may be legally insufficient.

Supporters and foes of a same-sex marriage lawsuit playing out in federal court here finally found a point of agreement: They don’t want the case expanded to decide if there’s a constitutional right to marry an inanimate object.

Secretary of State Ken Bennett is asking a federal judge to rebuff efforts by the Green Party to get its candidates on the Arizona ballot this year.

Three executives of the veterans hospital in Phoenix have been placed on administrative leave amid an investigation into allegations of corruption and unnecessary deaths at the facility, federal officials announced Thursday.

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.

After a year of deliberation, a federal court has ruled that the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission doesn’t have to redraw any part of the state’s legislative districts.