Franks abruptly quits Congress, hours after setting Jan. 31 resignation

WASHINGTON - Rep. Trent Franks, R-Glendale, abruptly announced his immediate resignation from Congress Friday, just hours after he said he would step down Jan. 31 in the face of a House Ethics inquiry.


Going for the bronze: Advocates push low- to no-cost ACA health plans

WASHINGTON - With one week left to sign up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, advocates are urging Arizona consumers to "window shop" for insurance plans that may be cheaper than they expected or, in some cases, essentially free.


Arizona-based exorcist: Half of world’s population has demons, he turns to Skype to release them

SCOTTSDALE – Mother Teresa, the Roman Catholic nun who devoted her life to serving the poor, was exorcised on her deathbed in late 1996, according to published reports, because the Archbishop of Calcutta feared she was “being attacked by the devil.”

The Rev. Bob Larson

Franks to resign in face of House Ethics probe of possible harassment

WASHINGTON - Rep. Trent Franks, R-Glendale, said Thursday he will resign in the face of a House investigation of his discussions with female staffers about his and his wife's search for a surrogate mother to help them have more children.


Justices grapple with baker’s right to deny service to same-sex couple

WASHINGTON - Supreme Court justices wrestled Tuesday with the line between art and commerce in the case of a Colorado baker who said making a wedding cake for a same-sex couple would violate his First Amendment rights.


Citizenship requests hit new high in state, nation, more growth likely

WASHINGTON - Naturalization applications in Arizona jumped 48 percent over the past three years, to more than 19,000 last year, a number that advocates expect will continue to rise as immigrants look for reassurance in the current political climate.

Citizenship Rush

Flake joins McCain as Republicans line up behind Senate tax-cut plan

WASHINGTON - Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake ended his holdout Friday and agreed to vote for the GOP tax-cut plan, joining fellow Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain and helping Republican leaders get the margin they needed to pass the bill.


DHS backs new death records database despite concerns, delays

PHOENIX – Several Arizona funeral home directors say a new online system to process death certificates has led to delays in cremations and burials.

Messinger Mortuary coffin

At open season midpoint, Obamacare sign-ups boom in state, nation

WASHINGTON - Halfway into the Affordable Care Act's open enrollment season, the number of people signing up per day is sharply higher than it was last year, with about 500 more Arizonans signing up every day this year.

ACA Arizona

Venezuelan teens came to Arizona for basketball, but were left homeless

BUCKEYE - They were teenagers from Venezuela, drawn to Arizona’s Elite 1 Academy with hopes of playing college basketball or making it to the NBA.

Luis Velasquez and Robinson Dominguez

House panel OKs bill to allow concealed gun carry across state lines

WASHINGTON - A House committee gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill that would let gun owners with concealed-carry permits cross state lines without prior approval, as long as they followed local concealed-carry laws.


Arizona rancher, official tell Congress states need voice in water regs

WASHINGTON - Federal regulation of waterways may not be the first issue that comes to mind in a desert state like Arizona, but don't tell that to Pima County cattle rancher Jim Chilton.