Arizona’s charter schools are indeed a success story for our state. Our leaders should be applauded for having the vision to carefully create a climate in which school choice benefits so many through specialized learning, improved test scores, and education options.

Back when she was a lawmaker and chair of the Senate Elections Committee, Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan made it her top priority to hold political campaigns accountable and shine a light on dark money.

Government spending transparency websites give citizens and government officials the ability to monitor many aspects of state spending in order to save taxpayers money, realize more efficient government administration, enjoy more competitive bidding for public projects, and spend less staff time on information requests.

Hours after the experts had their say – the budget analysts, representatives from the Arizona Board of Regents, and the presidents of the Grand Canyon State’s public universities – the public had a chance to testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Jan. 27. Senators got more than they bargained for.

Four months ago, the Arizona Capitol Times set out to learn how much of the state’s business is being conducted on smartphones, via newer technologies like text messages, social media chats and third-party messenger applications. But getting access to those messages, which most experts and public officials agree are covered under the state public records laws, can be extremely difficult.

Members of the Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council spoke frankly about their strategy for killing a bill proposed by Republican Rep. Bob Thorpe of Flagstaff during a recent meeting to discuss possible law enforcement related bills. Thorpe has said his goal is to add transparency and accountability in the civil forfeiture laws.

The Clean Elections Commission today (June 1) voted to instruct its legal counsel to take action after the AG’s Office dropped its appeal and motion for stay in Galassini v. Fountain Hills, which invalidated the old definition of ‘political committee.’

Arizona has improved its transparency on government spending but has a lot of work to do when it comes to providing information on tax credits for businesses, an advocacy group reported Tuesday.

Arizona public schools would get a one-year freeze on consequences from a new high-stakes learning test under legislation the state Department of Education plans to offer during the next session.

Specter of anonymous campaign spending looms over 2014

Next year’s elections are shaping up like 2012 — organizations with generic names, big checkbooks and secret contributors spending millions to influence Arizona’s elections.