A sharply divided Arizona House has given final approval to a bill lowering the property tax rate assessed on fixtures and other so-called "personal property" businesses own if they expand and add jobs.

For decades, police have been peering into backyards from helicopters to look for signs of crime without having to get search warrants. But the impending revolution of drones, or unmanned aircraft, brings fears of a Big Brother rising to watch over people’s lives. And now concern about unmanned aircraft has spawned legislation to force police officers to get court approval when they want to use the technology in criminal investigations.

An Arizona House panel has given initial approval to a bill requiring state and local law enforcement agencies to get search warrants before using unmanned aircraft to gather evidence in a civil or criminal case.

HB 2262, authored by Rep. Tom Forese, would require scrap metal dealers to register with the Arizona Department of Public Safety. DPS would have to develop an annual report including the numbers of registered scrap metal dealers, unregistered dealers and violations by registered dealers.

Eliminating state sales tax over two upcoming holiday weekends would encourage Arizonans to make more purchases and also serve as a thank you, a state lawmaker contends.

If you live in northern California, seeing a car driving itself down the highway might not surprise you. They may soon be seen on Arizona roads.

Two state lawmakers say Arizona reduce copper thefts by preventing banning individuals from selling air conditioner parts for scrap and how much dealers can pay for the metal.

In a meeting that was announced and canceled within the span of roughly three hours, lawmakers planned to push the message: Dear California businesses: Move to Arizona!

After two hours of discussion among Gov. Jan Brewer and members of the Arizona Commerce Authority on how to boost economic development in Arizona, Rep. Tom Forese delivered a surprisingly candid admonition of the governor.

Forese told our reporter he went up to the Ninth Floor last week to apologize to Brewer after admonishing her at the Arizona Commerce Authority board meeting for her veto of S1041 (property taxes; capital investment; new jobs).