Volunteer strike force on border gets Senate OK
A senator who believes Middle-Eastern terrorist groups are active in Mexico and Central America persuaded her colleagues to advance a proposal that would create an armed volunteer force to help apprehend criminals who illegally enter the United States.
The Senate passed the measure today by a vote of 20-10.
Middle East terror group cited as reason to put armed volunteer militia on Arizona-Mexico border
A senator who wants to create an armed volunteer force that can stop crimes along the Arizona-Mexico border repeated claims Tuesday that terrorist organizations based in the Middle East have formed alliances with drug cartels to the south.
Arizona Legislature could fund militia for border
The Republican-led Arizona Legislature is considering a bill to fund an armed, volunteer state militia to respond to emergencies and patrol the U.S.-Mexico border.
Senate panel OKs bill to create state militia for border security, disasters
A Senate panel today approved a proposal to create an armed militia that could be deployed to the Mexican border and support local governments combat the drug cartels.
Bundgaard ethics investigation postponed
The inquiry into whether Sen. Scott Bundgaard breached ethical rules involving his roadside fight with an ex-girlfriend has been put on hold pending the resolution of a separate complaint he filed against three members of the ethics panel.
Allen wants to know when closed roads in Eastern Arizona will open again
The worst wildfire in Arizona history has been contained, but affected residents as well as local and state officials are only beginning to grapple with its aftermath.
Kyl seeks removal of trees burned by Arizona fire
U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl is proposing legislation that he says would accelerate the removal of dead and dying trees in certain areas burned by the massive Wallow Fire.
Will elimination of matching funds leave a mark on state politics?
Local political consultants and operatives disagree on what effect the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against the matching funds component of Arizona’s public campaign finance option will have on politics.
Lawmakers call for more fire prevention efforts
Western state lawmakers from both parties say they are worried that the federal government's firefighting efforts don't place enough emphasis on prevention, and the result is the kind of devastation taking hold in eastern Arizona, where more than 733 square miles have burned.
Expert says thinning of forests to avert catastrophic fires 10-20 years away
The wheels are in motion to begin thinning Arizona’s forests, but experts say it will take more than a generation of land management before the return of small, yet functional, wild fires.
Snowflake Republican calls for Wallow Fire investigation
Sen. Sylvia Allen, a Snowflake Republican, has asked for Senate President Russell Pearce’s permission for her to convene the Border Security, Federalism & State’s Sovereignty Committee to investigate the Wallow Fire.
Republicans take aim at feds over Wallow Fire
Two Arizona Republicans are angrily questioning whether the United States Forest Service is to blame for the wildfires raging out of control in the eastern part of the state that have charred more than 230,000 acres.