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Mitchell bill falls short of veto-proof passage

After voting against a massive farm bill yesterday in defiance of his party's leadership, Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-5) once again bucked the House Democratic establishment today - this time regarding his own bill. (PolitickerAZ.com, Evan Brown)

Link: http://www.politickeraz.com/evanbrown/1260/mitchell-bill-falls-short-vet...

Arpaio faces hefty budget cuts, vowes to continue sweeps

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio faces hefty budget cuts as he attempts to find money to continue his immigration sweeps, documents obtained Thursday by The Arizona Republic show.

The documents spell out proposed cutbacks to several sheriff's operations in fiscal 2009, which starts July 1. (Arizona Republic, Yvonne Wingett)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/16/20080516sheriffbudget0...

Ariz. backers of same-sex marriage ban call for Senate vote

In the wake of the California court decision legalizing gay marriage, conservative activists said Arizona needs to move forward on a constitutional amendment to block a similar move here. (Arizona Republic, Amanda Crawford)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/16/20080516az-samesex0515...

Governor vetoes emissions proposal

The Legislature's attempt to derail pollution-reducing policies from state agencies is "micromanagement" and "premature," Gov. Janet Napolitano said in vetoing a bill that dealt with greenhouse-gas emissions. (Arizona Republic, Mary Jo Pitzl)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/16/20080516greenhouse0516...

Record numbers of new citizens created; critics say they're too few

PHOENIX — Though immigration officials in Phoenix are churning out record numbers of new U.S. citizens, critics say federal officials aren't working fast enough, so many immigrants won't become citizens in time to vote in November. (Daily Star, AP)

Link: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/politics/239265.php

Az panel creates jobs site for older workers

Gov. Janet Napolitano's Advisory Council on Aging has created a Web site specifically for job-seeking older Arizonans.

The site, www.azmatureworkers.com, will connect employers with older workers looking for jobs, a news release from the governor's office said. (Tuscon Citizen, Ryan Kaye)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/arizona/85465.php

Panel seeking input on judge candidates

A panel charged with picking the next Tucson City Court judge is seeking input on the six candidates.

The candidates are Jose Luis Castillo Jr., a Pima County Consolidated Court justice of the peace; Judy Drickey-Prohow, a lawyer in private practice; Paul L. Eckerstrom, a former Arizona assistant attorney general; George H. Erickson of the city Public Defender's Office; Stephanie J. Meade, a lawyer in private practice; and Ida B. Wilber, a former Pima County prosecutor who left to be a tribal judge. (Tuscon Citizen, A.J. Flick)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/85462.php

Ariz. school voucher programs ruled unconstitutional

It is unconstitutional for the state to give parents money to help pay private-school tuition for their disabled or foster children, the Arizona Court of Appeals decided Thursday.

The 2006 law violates the state Constitution's ban on using public money to aid private schools, the panel said. (Arizona Republic, Pat Kossan)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/16/20080516az-vouchers051...

Gov. signs bill on boosting AIMS scores

Gov. Janet Napolitano has signed into law a bill passed by the Legislature to again let thousands of Arizona high school students use good grades to augment their AIMS test scores.

AIMS measures students' knowledge of math, reading and writing standards, and students have to pass the test to get a diploma. (Arizona Republic, AP)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/15/20080515aims-governor0...

Legal ruling effectively ends Covance battle

Chandler did not violate the state's open meeting law in rezoning the land for controversial drug-testing company Covance, according to the state Attorney General's Office.

The office had investigated to see whether there were violations as alleged by a Covance-opponent the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. (Arizona Republic, Luci Scott)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/05/15/20080515cr-covance0516...