Critics blast DHS environmental waivers that clear way for border wall
WASHINGTON - The Department of Homeland Security said ti will waive dozens of environmental, health and other laws to clear the way for construction on about 58 miles of border barriers, including 12 miles of fencing near Yuma, in a move quickly attacked by lawmakers and environmentalists.
Phoenix bishop brings anti-abortion, traditional marriage message to D.C.
WASHINGTON - Phoenix Bishop Thomas Olmsted was a featured speaker at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, telling a packed room that abortion is "an unspeakable crime," that leaders must open their hearts to Jesus Christ and that there is a "weakening of marriage" in the U.S.
Mueller report says Russian hacking once went through Arizona server
PHOENIX - The road from Washington to St. Petersburg apparently passes through Arizona, according to the Mueller report, which said Russian intelligence officers used a "leased computer" in Arizona to help funnel information stolen from hacked Democratic Party computers.
Better mental health services key to reducing police-involved shootings, Phoenix police say
PHOENIX – Phoenix police blame a growing number of 911 calls involving people with mental health issues for a spike in officer-involved shootings.
Same report, different take for state lawmakers eyeing Mueller report
PHOENIX - Arizona lawmakers looked at the same 448-page Mueller report and saw two different things, with two very different reactions, depending on which side of the aisle they are on. If there was a common thread, it was that nobody's mind appeared to be changed by the report.
House Ethics panel releases details in ongoing probe of Schweikert
WASHINGTON - The House Ethics Committee released details of its probe of Rep. David Schweikert, R-Fountain Hills, that began last year finding "substantial reason to believe" he may have approved improper office expenditures and campaign contributions.
Mother urges Phoenix police to carry life-saving overdose drug
PHOENIX – Only 100 of Phoenix’s specialty police officers carry Narcan, a nasal spray form of naloxone. A mother who lost two children to opioid overdoses is trying to change that.
Arizona’s messy tax system hampers small businesses battling online retailers for tax fairness
PHOENIX – The Arizona Legislature is considering a bill that would require online retailers who do not have a physical facility in the state to pay sales taxes on goods purchased by Arizonans. However, the state’s 93 city tax codes complicate the issue.
Advocates work to slow the revolving door of repeat prisoners
TEMPE – Criminal justice officials and community members at an Arizona Town Hall session discussed ways to reform the state’s broken criminal justice system.
CBP: Southern border apprehensions topped 360,000 in first half of year
WASHINGTON - Frontline border officials told a Senate panel that the crisis at the southern border is real and that "something has to change" to combat the growing number of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border, which topped 360,000 for the first half of fiscal 2019.
House, Senate OK Colorado River drought plan, capping years of debate
WASHINGTON - Two weeks after water officials told Congress of the "urgent" need to approve the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan, the House and Senate both passed the plan, moving one step closet to ending years negotiations by seven states in the river basin.
Shift of CBP officers has led to border slowdown that’s hurting trade
WASHNGTON - President Donald Trump may have backed off his threat to close the border, but business leaders form both sides of the border say there is a very real slowdown in crossings that's hurting businesses, after the redeployment of Customs and Border Protection officers.
