Arizona lawmakers pan, praise Biden’s combative State of the Union address

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden gave a combative State of the Union address that laid out his achievements and baited Republicans for not doing more, a tone that did not sit well with Arizona's GOP lawmakers. Democrats, not surprisingly, praised both his tone and agenda.


As hearings grow more combative, one committee stands out for its civility

PHOENIX - Capitol observers say hearings are getting more heated, and their chairman more combative with the public, but there is one island of civility: The House Commerce Committee is more often evokes laughs than lashing out, and many credit the chairman.


Vote ’em if you’ve got ’em: Voters could see flood of questions on ballot

PHOENIX - One expert thinks it's evidence of voter enthusiasm. Another thinks it is more likely voter unhappiness with their elected officials. What they're talking about is the avalanche of statewide ballot questions that Arizona voters are likely to face at this fall's elections.


Sinema won’t run again, decries system where ‘compromise is a dirty word’

WASHINGTON - Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent, announced Tuesday that she will not run for re-election this fall, lamenting the current state of partisan politics where voters and lawmakers alike prefer to "retreat farther to their partisan corners."


Tempe adds advocate, detective to enhance support for trafficking survivors

TEMPE – In an effort to combat human trafficking in Arizona, the city of Tempe has added two new positions, with a victim advocate joining the CARE 7 team and a specialized detective added to the Tempe Police Department.

CARE 7 Victim Services Coordinator Anastasia Stinchfield leads Tempe’s Victim Services team, which is expanding with the addition of a specialized human trafficking advocate. (Photo courtesy of the city of Tempe)

With traffic fatalities on the rise, Phoenix looks for safety solutions

PHOENIX – Phoenix, which had the most traffic deaths in the state in 2022, is working toward eliminating traffic fatalities using its Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan.

Phoenix, which had the most traffic deaths in the state in 2022, is working toward eliminating traffic fatalities using its Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan. (File photo by Andrea Jaramillo/Cronkite News)

Abortion opponents rally at Capitol during ‘crucial time in Arizona’

PHOENIX – Abortion opponents packed the plaza outside the Arizona Capitol on Friday in an impassioned display of anti-abortion advocacy at what one advocate called "a crucial time in Arizona" for the abortion fight.


Congress in action, or inaction? This Congress among the least productive

WASHINGTON - Lawmakers passed a last-minute budget extension Thursday to head off a looming Friday government shutdown - just the 40th law passed by this Congress, which is on pace to be the least productive in at least a half-century.


Arizona GOP legislators pass immigration bills on border crossing and E-Verify

PHOENIX – Arizona lawmakers have advanced a package of immigration legislation that critics are calling “SB 1070 2.0” and gave final approval Wednesday to a bill that would make illegal entry a state crime.

Arizona state Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, reacts to Sen. Priya Sundareshan, D-Tucson, as she explains her vote on SB 1231 at the Arizona Capitol on Feb. 21, 2024. (Photo by Sam Ballesteros/Cronkite News)

Business owners challenge bill requiring E-Verify checks for jobs, benefits

PHOENIX - House Speaker Ben Toma says his latest immigration bill could save Arizona billions in welfare benefits annually, but small business owners rallied Monday to say it will cost the state instead, by driving out businesses and workers.


Two years later, Arizona lawmakers remain divided on Ukraine support

WASHINGTON - Two years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, members of Arizona's congressional delegation remain just as divided as ever on what role the U.S. should play in the war as it enters its third year.


Senate votes to put the ‘illegal’ in illegal migration, make it a state crime

PHOENIX - The Senate voted Wednesday to make it a state crime to illegally enter Arizona by crossing the border between ports of entry - a proposal that Democratic opponents called both racially motivated and unconstitutional.