Southern Arizona Democrats’ hopes to have former Rep. Daniel Patterson replaced by one of their own were dashed today when the Secretary of State said the legislative seat will be filled by an independent.

State Rep. Daniel Patterson says he will file a detailed response to a report in which investigators are recommending he be expelled from the Legislature.

Tucson will be allowed to conduct its partisan city council elections despite what a state law says.

The Arizona House has refused to immediately expel Rep. Daniel Patterson over allegations of inappropriate behavior toward other lawmakers but agreed to speed up the pending ethics case against the newly turned independent from Tucson.

Investigators are recommending expulsion for Rep. Daniel Patterson, the Arizona lawmaker accused of beating up his ex-girlfriend, saying he violated ethical standards and that he likely committed numerous other crimes.

An embattled Tucson lawmaker this morning formally left the Democratic Party and became the Legislature’s only independent.

TUCSON a�� Text message while driving within the Tucson city limits is now against the law. The new ordinance began Sunday.

A report by special investigators into the ethics charges against a Tucson Democrat accused of beating his ex-girlfriend will be delayed until at least Friday, but the investigation and future hearings are expected to continue after that.

The woman who last month accused a Tucson lawmaker of assaulting her now says her claims of violence were never true and is calling domestic violence charges and a legislative ethics inquest to be dropped.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is holding a series of public meetings across Arizona on proposals for renewable energy development. Three meetings are scheduled next week in Phoenix, Flagstaff and Kingman. Two others are scheduled in Yuma and Tucson next month.