Endangered species throw roadblock in path of Rosemont Copper mine
WASHINGTON - A federal judge has overturned environmental permits for the proposed Rosemont Copper Mine, saying the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to consider the mine's impact on several endangered species in the Santa Rita Mountains.
‘What’s old is new again’: Advocates say tribal voting hurdles remain
WASHINGTON - Voting barriers for Native Americans have always existed, but polling cutbacks, discriminatory voter ID laws and lack of funding are making things worse, advocates told a House panel Tuesday - the same day a federal court reinstated an Arizona law against "ballot harvesting."
Court upholds ruling against state prisons for poor inmate health care
WASHINGTON - A federal appeals court upheld a contempt order and a $1.44 million fine against the Arizona Department of Corrections this week, saying the agency has been "deliberately indifferent" to health care for inmates.
Heat deaths continue to rise, as federal disaster relief continues to lag
WASHINGTON - The Federal Emergency Management Agency doles out billions annually in response to tornadoes, hurricanes and other disasters, but the deadliest disaster goes largely unfunded - extreme heat, cited as the cause of death for about 100 people a year in Maricopa County alone.
Feds waived environment, other regs on 90 miles of state border in 2019
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration waived environmental and other regulations on nearly one quarter of Arizona's border with Mexico last year to ease the way for border wall construction, a review of government documents shows.
Navajo Generating Station, coal mine face years of breakdown, cleanup
WASHINGTON - They may have turned out the lights, but the party's not over at the Navajo Generating Station and Kayenta coal mine. The facilities' owners face years of decommissioning and cleanup and possible decades of environmental monitoring of the sites, which closed for good this fall.
Role reversal: Teen caring for father with Alzheimer’s shares her experience
CERRITOS, Calif. – Emily Jenkins has helped care for her father since he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease about 10 years ago. She just turned 19.
Why are racehorses still dying? Authorities struggle to find the answers
ARCADIA, Calif. – Horses are dying at a rapid rate at Santa Anita Racetrack, home of the 2019 Breeders’ Cup. But betting on horses continues at a rapid clip, even as experts look for the reasons behind the deaths.
Tackle this: Decline in youth football participation raises questions about future
PHOENIX – Youth tackle football numbers have been dropping steadily for years. With flag football on the rise and legislation a possibility, are we looking at the end of youth tackle football?
Advocates urge immigrants to act fast, as higher citizenship fees loom
WASHINGTON - Immigration experts and advocates in Arizona are urging people to file their paperwork as soon as possible as federal agencies eye steeper processing fees across a broad range of citizenship forms.
On Virginia’s Eastern Shore, wild horses are an asset, not a headache
CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. - While Western communities struggle to control wild horse populations that are overwhelming the federal lands they roam, a small town out on an island off Virginia's Eastern Shore has turned the presence of wild horses from a problem to an asset.
He was a robber, she sold drugs; only one can get help with school
WASHINGTON - The American Opportunity Tax Credit lets people, including former inmates, claim a credit for college education expenses - unless they were convicted of a drug crime. Lawmakers are trying to lift that ban, saying someone jailed for drugs should not be denied benefits a murder can get.
