‘Unsustainable’ growth gives way to slow recovery on state jobless rate
WASHINGTON - Unemployment rates in Arizona inched down to 4.5 percent in October, falling to the lowest rate since the start of the Great Recession and capping one of the longest recoveries on record in the state.
After reeling with U.S. economy, immigrant remittances rebound
WASHINGTON - The global scale of the Great Recession was reflected in remittances, the money immigrants send to family back home, which dropped from $55 billion to $50 billion in one year.
Construction claws back from recession, ‘new normal’ still unclear
WASHINGTON - A decade after the start of the Great Recession, Arizona's hard-hit construction industry has come back, but experts are wondering how far it can go this time.
Progress on new binational drought plan in Colorado basin slow going
WASHINGTON - States, federal and Mexican officials hailed a binational agreement this fall that they said could lead to a radical shift in how the region prepares for and responds to drought.
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.”
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.
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.
