As border budget talks wind down, rhetoric from warring sides heats up
WASHINGTON - As congressional negotiators reportedly closed in on a border-security funding compromise, advocates on both sides were complaining about the deal - with immigration advocates saying it gives too much, and strong-border supporters saying it needs to give more.
Arizona’s top 10 specialty license plates
PHOENIX – Arizona offers more than 60 specialty license plates, according to ADOT. The most popular plates include veterans, Arizona Cardinals, and military support.
$300,000 down the drain: Rubber ducky, grease and currency clog treatment plant, cost taxpayers
SURPRISE – Surprise residents toss toys, money and food byproducts like grease into their drains that end up clogging equipment at the Surprise South Water Reclamation Facility. A new campaign teaches Surprise residents to save taxpayer money with proper disposal.
Phoenix mayoral candidates face off over light rail, Suns arena and homelessness
PHOENIX – Phoenix mayoral candidates Kate Gallego and Daniel Valenzuela debated how to approach issues like the Suns’ arena renovations, light rail expansion and homelessness at the Burton Barr Library.
‘In God We Trust’ license plates spark funding furor
PHOENIX – The specialty license plate “In God We Trust” has come under fire because Alliance Defending Freedom, the group behind the plate, is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center for its anti-LGBTQ views.
Kelly announces Senate bid, opening high-stakes race to unseat McSally
WASHINGTON - Former astronaut Mark Kelly said he will seek the Democratic nomination for Senate in 2020, jumpstarting what experts were already predicting would be one of the "most competitive" races of the year in the bist to unseat Republican Sen. Martha McSally.
Keel: State of Native nations ‘strong,’ but feds need to do their part
WASHINGTON - Tribal leaders Monday called on federal lawmakers to avoid another government shutdown, saying the 35-day shutdown that ended in January was felt across Indian Country, hitting everything from housing to tribes' efforts at economic development.
Pro-life groups seize on Trump call for federal late-term abortion ban
WASHINGTON - Even though Arizona has some of the strongest anti-abortion laws in the nation, pro-life advocates hailed President Donald Trump's call last week for a federal ban on late-term abortions, as pro-choice gave such a measure little chance of succeeding in a divided Congress.
Arizona, other states in ‘governors challenge’ target veteran suicides
WASHINGTON - Arizona was one of seven states that met with federal officials and veterans groups in Washington to map out a strategy for reversing the high rate of suicides among vets, a particular problem in Arizona which had the sixth-highest veteran suicide rate in the nation in 2016.
Grand Canyon, other parks, to be reimbursed for funds spent in shutdown
WASHINGTON - The National Park Service will reimburse parks, like the Grand Canyon, that were forced to dip into local maintenance funds to stay open during the government shutdown. But critics say parks should never have had to use their own funding to stay open and worry about long-term effects.
Arizona food banks prepare for possible government shutdown – again
PHOENIX – Food banks that helped furloughed federal employees learned lessons that will help if the government shuts down again.
Clean-water permits take longest in Arizona, study of Southwestern states says
PHOENIX – It takes longer to get a construction permit under the Clean Water Act in Arizona than in any other Southwestern state, a new University of California-Irvine study says. The question is why.
