An advocacy group says forest rangers are "intimidating" hikers into paying fees at recreation sites such as Sabino Canyon even though a federal court has blocked such fees.

Despite safety concerns that some police officers have raised about changing the definition of intersections in Arizona, traffic engineers from the state’s two largest metro areas said small changes to traffic light timing should address at least some of those concerns.

Democrats are hailing first lady Michelle Obama's visit to Tucson as the latest sign that Arizona will be up for grabs in November's presidential election, but Republicans insist that the state will go red just like it has the past three election cycles. Obama is expected to deliver remarks at a fundraiser in the southern Arizona city on Monday evening as part of a four-state campaign push in the West, with other stops in Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico.

Nicholas Fontana, a Tucson criminal defense attorney who will replace former Rep. Daniel Patterson in the Arizona House of Representatives, said he switched his life-long Democratic affiliation to independent, just so he would qualify for the seat.

State representatives today passed a scaled-back bill that would allow religious-based employers to deny contraception coverage to their workers.

The amended bill, HB2625, passed the Arizona House by a vote of 36-21, and will need to go back to the Senate for final approval there. If approved there, it will be delivered to Gov. Jan Brewer for either a signature or a veto.

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.