Congress passes stopgap budget with a day to spare; Arizona vote split

WASHINGTON - It took until the last minute to do it, but Congress on Wednesday passed a short-term budget that avoided a shutdown and will keep the government operating through mid-December.



Scenes from the street in Philadelphia, waiting for the pope

PHILADELPHIA - With the heart of Philadelphia closed to cars for Pope Francis' visit, one person said it's probably what the city looked like in a pre-industrial age, with pedestrians owning the streets.


Latin jazz singer breaking down barriers

Carmela Ramirez music reflects her bi-cultural background. Her love of jazz came from her father. She's fused the two together for a unique sound. (Video by Erica Lang/Cronkite News)

Carmela Ramirez performing. (Video by Erica Lang/Cronkite News)

Arizonans recount ‘beautiful’ experience of seeing pope in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA - They sang, they danced, they cheered through the streets of Philadelphia this weekend as Pope Francis made the last stop on his U.S. tour.


Feds announce new rules to protect farmworkers from pesticide exposure

WASHINGTON - The federal government outlined new safety measures Monday that would protect farmworkers from pesticide exposure by banning pesticide use by minors and sharply increasing training requirements, among other changes.


Drug Take-Back Day attacks addiction threat in Arizona

The graveyard of bright orange prescription bottles and stray single-dose tablets in many home medicine cabinets may be concealing the threat of addiction.


In their own words: Arizonans talk about Pope Francis

WASHINGTON - Among the tens of thousands who descended on Washington for the first stop on Pope Francis' three-city U.S. tour this week were a number of Arizona residents and former residents. Some came for a cause, some came for their faith, some came just to be in the presence of the pope.


Politics never far from pope’s D.C. visit, as groups pressed their issues

WASHINGTON - Petra Falcon was expecting something like a religious experience this week when she was invited to the White House reception for Pope Francis.


Outside Capitol, mood for pope’s speech was part picnic, part pilgrimage

WASHINGTON - They started gathering before the sun came up Thursday, eager for a spot outside the Capitol where they could witness Pope Francis' historic address to a joint session of Congress.


Arizona lawmakers give their blessing to Pope Francis’ speech to Congress

WASHINGTON - Members of Arizona's congressional delegation gave generally high marks to Pope Francis' Thursday speech to Congress that touched on immigration, climate change and the death penalty, among other potentially sensitive topics.