Advocates alarmed by reports administration may lower refugee cap again
WASHINGTON - Advocates reacted with alarm Tuesday to published reports that the Trump administration may again cut the number of refugees allowed in to the U.S., a move they said would endanger vulnerable people and tarnish the country's standing.
Deferred action on DACA: Program lives on; advocates worry for how long
WASHINGTON - Two years after the Trump administration announced plans to kill Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the program still has a pulse - though advocates worry about how long that might last, and the Supreme Court could settle the question this fall.
A family affair: Father, son make mark as graffiti grows in acceptance
PHOENIX - Some dads play catch with their sons. Noe "Such Styles" Baez painted graffiti with his son Champ, paving the way for what may be the only father-son graffiti team in the increasingly popular world of graffiti art.
DHS plan to close Flores ‘loophole’ likely to get tied in knots
WASHINGTON - The Trump administration unveiled new rules to replace the Flores agreement, a 1997 court ruling that severely limits the amount of time migrant children can be held by the government, but advocates say plan is flawed and that Flores is not likely to go down without a fight.
Venezuelan artists strive to survive, make a difference in Peru
Talented Venezuelan migrants in Peru share their stories about trying to earn a living through art.
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.
Alzheimer’s advocates support bill requiring dementia training for care providers, first responders
PHOENIX – Caregivers and nonprofit leaders support SB 1357, which would create a coalition to study and recommend mandatory Alzheimer’s training for health care professionals and first responders.
Hatchery near Flagstaff undergoes $3.3 million in renovations to raise trout in the desert
FLAGSTAFF – Sterling Springs Hatchery near Flagstaff is undergoing a $3.3 million renovation to repair old infrastructure, as well as add technology that will allow the facility to operate with less water, all in an effort to grow fish in the desert.
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.
Former Arizona forester taps years of history in new Forest Service job
WASHINGTON - Former Arizona State Forester Vicki Christiansen will draw on her years of experience as she takes on her new role as chief of the U.S. Forest Service, which faces problems of funds, growing wildfires and a lingering culture of harassment at the agency.
Officials hopeful ‘fire funding fix’ helps tame brutal wildfire seasons
WASHINGTON – After years of wrangling, Congress last year passed the "fire funding fix" that creates a $2.25 billion emergency fund that federal officials can tap when the cost of fighting wildfires exceeds the budget, as it has done regularly for years now.
Mexican immigrants in U.S. continue drop, driven by politics, economics
WASHINGTON - The number of Mexican-born immigrants in the United States dropped by about 300,000 people between 2016 and 2017, according to Census Bureau data, part of a years-long shift that experts say is likely driven by changes on both sides of the border.
