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Obama nominates two for federal judgeships in Arizona
President Barack Obama is nominating two Tucson lawyers to serve as U.S. District Court judges.
The ‘Ancient and Honorable Pueblo’
The Big Apple. The Windy City. The Old Pueblo. Each name says that city is one of a kind. Ever wonder how Tucson came to be called the Old Pueblo? It’s hard to tell how nicknames get started, but like the town itself, it goes back a ways.
Commissioners eye free mapping software, say it could be used differently than creators intended
Although all five members of Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission have said they're either aware of, or had logged into, the online mapping software that was released to the public recently by the Arizona Competitive Districts Coalition, which has a stated goal of increasing the number of “competitive districts,” they don't all agree about how it will be used.
Ethnic studies fight gets local: Controversial program pits Democrats against Democrats
The cultural clash over Tucson Unified School District’s ethnic studies program used to be one of Phoenix against the Old Pueblo.
A new conflict has emerged, however, which pits teachers in the program, their supporters and the Pima County Democratic Party against two Democratic school board members, the district’s superintendent and a Tucson group dedicated to improving public sch[...]
Counties skittish about personnel reform bill
In a matter of hours, a dispute over a single word transformed a minor reform of county personnel systems into a full-blown overhaul.
County officials across the state are wary of a bill that many say was pushed through too hastily in the middle of the legislative session’s final night, with little input from the counties themselves. The bill wasn’t vetted properly, critics said, an[...]
Merit selection of judges facing possible revamp
Merit selection proponents had to give ground this year in the annual struggle to do away with the state’s system of choosing judges.
Judge strikes down Thomas’ motions to dismiss disbarment case
A judge on April 14 struck down motions by former County Attorney Andrew Thomas to dismiss an attorney discipline cases against him.
Policy in the budget — by the bills
As amended, the bill allows AHCCCS to adopt rules necessary to implement a program given available funds, providing the agency the ability to make changes to its services, eligibility and rates. Also, the bill contains an intent clause for certain transplant services that were eliminated last year to be funded, and a “notwithstanding” language that the Governor’s Office says gives the agency[...]
Payback, policy changes included in budget bills
Lawmakers this year said they strove to keep non-budget policy changes out of the budget package and, while many that were originally considered were removed, they couldn’t completely insulate the final compromise from policies whose ties to the budget are tenuous, at best.
Arizona settles suit with payday lender Quik Cash
A major payday lender has agreed to pay as much as $170,000 to settle a consumer fraud lawsuit filed by the Arizona Attorney General in 2009.
Census report shows bust in Arizona’s economy, population growth
Maricopa County has added more people – almost a million – than any other U.S. county in the past decade, but that growth has slowed substantially since the economy soured, according Census Bureau estimates released Monday.
Baja Arizona? Annoyed with Legislature, group wants Pima County to form new state
Pima County politicians have joked about the idea of political separation from more-conservative Maricopa County for decades. But the Legislature’s recent moves on topics including immigration caused some to stop laughing and form a political committee advocating that this county of more than 1 million people leave Arizona and create a new state.
