Officials: State making gains on teacher vacancies, still has way to go

WASHINGTON - Arizona school officials told a Washington forum Tuesday that the state has made strides in teacher recruiting and retention, but there is still a long way to go to fixing a problem that saw 21% of teacher jobs vacant at the start of this school year.


Census officials will work to accurately count all communities in 2020

PHOENIX – Census officials emphasized improvements in accuracy for 2020 to reduce historical undercounts of minorities.


McSally to pen memoir – just in time for her 2020 Senate bid

WASHINGTON - Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., announced a book deal Monday that will put her memoir, "Dare to Fly," on bookshelves in May, just six months before she stands for re-election.She's just the latest to pen a book, joining former Arizona Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake as election-year authors.


Fundraising shows Schweikert down, but analysts say he’s not out yet

WASHINGTON - Rep. David Schweikert's fundraising is down, he has a well-funded Democratic challenger and his office is dogged by ethics complaints. All that combines to make the 6th District competitive, but it doesn't mean the Schweikert should be counted out yet, analysts say.


Impeach Trump? Not an option for his supporters at Capitol Hill rally

WASHINGTON - With chants like "Pelosi's got to go" and "Four more years," hundreds of protesters marched to the West Lawn of the Capitol to voice their support for President Donald Trump - and disdain for Congress.investigating his possible impeachment.


Lawmakers optimistic for bill on National Museum of the American Latino

WASHINGTON - The dream of a national museum dedicated to the Latin American experience took one step closer to reality Thursday, as lawmakers and advocates touted a bill that they think has a good chance of putting a museum on the National Mall.


Senate approves Arizonan Barrett as fourth female Air Force secretary

WASHINGTON - The Senate voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to confirm Arizona businesswoman Barbara Barrett as the next Air Force secretary, one day after brushing aside an attempt to stall her nomination over Air Force use of Trump hotels for official business.


Schweikert among 129 House Republicans who join rebuke of Trump on Syria

WASHINGTON - Three Arizona Republicans held fast with President Donald Trump as the House voted 354-60 Wednesday to rebuke the president's decision to pull U.S. troops out of northern Syria, leaving former U.S. allies, the Kurds, open to attacks by Turkish forces.


Breakfast and a side of bipartisanship: Lawmakers revive get-together

WASHINGTON – It's a contentious time in Washington, but – for an hour a month at least – Arizona Democrats and Republicans sit down to chat over breakfast.


Despite ICE detainer ruling, business as usual for Arizona sheriffs

WASHINGTON - Two weeks after a federal court halted some detainer requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Arizona law enforcement agencies say they are still doing business with the agency as usual.


Arizona lawmakers join critics of Trump’s troop withdrawal from Syria

WASHINGTON - Arizona lawmakers joined a growing bipartisan chorus critical of President Donald Trump's decision to pull American troops from Northern Syria. Sen. Martha McSally is one of several Republicans who said the move could allow a return of the Islamic State that could threaten the U.S.


Town hollow: Report says lawmakers had few town halls; GOP had none

WASHINGTON - Arizona lawmakers have held just 28 town halls this year - 19 of those by Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Sedona. Neither of the state's senators have had a town hall this year and no Republicans in the state's House delegation had done so, a new report says.