PHOENIX – A state lawmaker wants to force shadowy political groups to disclose the sources of dark money they pump into campaigns. “Most Arizonans are tired of having dark money rule their politics,” said Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson. He authored SB 1265, which would require an individual or organization contributing money that came from another [...]

PHOENIX – Requiring Arizonans to have their signatures notarized to get on the permanent early ballot list or to receive early ballots would help prevent voter fraud, a state lawmaker contends. “When you go into the polls, you show your ID,” said Rep. Carl Seel, R-Phoenix. “Every time you go into the polls, you show [...]

PHOENIX – Requiring school buses to flash lights and display stop signs while picking up or letting off children on private roads would help prevent accidents like one that claimed the life of an eastern Arizona girl in 2008, a state lawmaker says. Current law only covers public roadways. HB 2170, authored by Rep. Karen [...]

WASHINGTON – A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that a drug defendant’s right to confront his accuser was not violated when a witness testified against him in a wig and fake handlebar mustache. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the disguise was necessary to protect the safety of the [...]

WASHINGTON – Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords called on Congress to “be bold, be courageous” and take swift action to prevent gun violence, during a surprise appearance at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday. “Speaking is difficult but I need to say something important,” Giffords said to a hushed room at the outset of a hearing [...]

PHOENIX – Democratic lawmakers say allowing voters to register and cast ballots on the same day would increase election participation, but some county officials worry that it would further complicate the voting process. State Rep. Martin J. Quezada, D-Avondale, and state Sen. Steve Gallardo, D-Phoenix, have introduced legislation that would allow people to register and [...]

WASHINGTON – Arizona earned a D in a national report Wednesday that graded states on their families’ financial security in five broad categories. The report by the Corporation for Enterprise Development said 45 percent of families in Arizona were “liquid-asset poor” – meaning low savings left them vulnerable to a financial shock like the loss [...]

PHOENIX – When Victor Ribakare came to the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo almost 13 years ago, his parents wanted to give their son a quality education. And thanks to school choice policies in Arizona, he said, they were able to afford it. Ribakare, now a senior at Brophy College Preparatory, spoke [...]

PHOENIX – Environmentalists and solar industry leaders rallied Wednesday outside the Arizona Corporation Commission, saying they fear recent cuts to renewable-energy incentives will lead to future reductions that could harm the industry. “There’s no question they’re doing it calculatedly; they know what they’re doing,” said Randy Dunton, a project developer with Hawkins Design Group, which [...]

PHOENIX – Requiring all students under 18 to attend school unless given parental consent would empower parents and lower the state’s dropout rate, a state lawmaker said. “I just thought this would be a bill that says parents are going to have the power on whether their children are attending school,” said Rep. Jeff Dial, [...]

PHOENIX – Saying he’s tired of dealing with faulty parking meters and hearing the same concern from constituents, a Phoenix lawmaker wants to require cities to test and repair their meters on a schedule set by state law. “This bill is aimed at doing one thing, and that is trying to protect the residents and the [...]

PHOENIX – An advocacy group urged Democratic lawmakers Tuesday to focus on prevention as a key to curbing a state crisis in child safety. In a presentation at the Capitol, representatives of the Children’s Action Alliance said they approve of Gov. Jan Brewer’s proposal to increase funding for Child Protective Services. But they said families [...]

PHOENIX – Saying members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community deserve equal treatment under Arizona law, a Democratic lawmaker has introduced four bills addressing employment, adoption and marriage. “To discriminate against someone based on who they love is no different than discriminating against me for the color of my skin or against someone [...]

PHOENIX – Saying it’s cruel to send a live goldfish, rabbit or turtle home as a carnival prize, a state lawmaker is out to ban the practice in Arizona. Rep. John Kavanagh, R–Fountain Hills, said he proposed HB 2072 based on complaints received by his wife, Fountain Hills Mayor Linda Kavanagh, after a carnival visited [...]

PHOENIX – Nearly three years after he survived a traffic accident that claimed the lives of four other motorcyclists, former Phoenix fire captain Ernie Lizarraga knows how lucky he is to be alive – let alone able to drive again. Beyond the numerous broken bones, collapsed lung and lacerated liver and kidney, Lizarraga was left [...]