Wake-Up Call: Friday, August 8, 2008

With the PolitickerAZ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Arizona's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

With the PolitickerAZ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Arizona's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.

Cook moves AZ-1 race to ‘Lean Democratic’

The race to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Flagstaff) is tilting away from the Republican Party, according to The Cook Political Report.

The non-partisan Washington tip sheet Thursday moved the 1st Congressional District race into its "Lean Democratic" category from "Toss Up." (PolitickerAZ.com, Jamie Klatell)

Link: http://www.politickeraz.com/jamieklatell/1843/cook-moves-az-1-race-lean-...

Mayor's wife files for divorce

The estranged wife of Gilbert Mayor Steve Berman filed for divorce this week.

Michelle Berman, 45, is seeking a divorce from Steve Berman, 60, after less than 10 months of marriage. The two married November 2007 after dating for six years. (Arizona Republic, Mike Walbert)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/08/07/20080807gr-divorce0807...

Abortion pits ACLU vs. Arpaio

The American Civil Liberties Union on Thursday asked that Sheriff Joe Arpaio be held in contempt of court for violating a 2005 ruling regarding county jail inmates' rights to be transported to clinics to have abortions.

According to a motion filed with Maricopa County Superior Court, in May, an inmate identified as "Mary Roe" asked to be taken from jail to have an abortion and was told she needed to get a court order to do so - when a standing Superior Court injunction prohibits the Sheriff's Office from demanding such court orders. (Arizona Republic, Michael Kiefer)

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2008/08/08/20080808abortion0808.h...

Denogean: Hit piece first shot of GOP civil war in Az?

Attention-grabbing fliers landed in Mesa mailboxes this week, marking the launch of a no-holds-barred attack on one of the state's most controversial political figures and, perhaps, the start of an all-out war for control of the state Republican Party. (Tucson Citizen, Anne Denogean)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/93131.php

Don Imus back on air in Tucson Sept. 2

Lady Wildcats look out, Don Imus will be back on the air in Tucson on Sept. 2.

He returns to KJLL AM 1330 and will broadcast from 3 to until 6 a.m., until daylight savings time ends in November, when the show will run from 4 to 7 a.m. (Tucson Citizen, Blake Morlock)

Link:  http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/93101.php

GOP supporter opposes Rep. Pearce's Senate bid

A longtime Republican campaign consultant and the owner of a string of fast-food restaurants are behind a campaign to persuade Mesa residents to oust one of the most powerful Republicans from the Legislature.

Jason LeVecke told Capitol Media Services on Thursday he is helping to finance Mesa Deserves Better because he believes voters in west Mesa are not familiar with Russell Pearce, the man they first elected to the House in 2000 and three times since. Pearce, legally barred from serving more than eight consecutive years or four terms in the House, is running for the state Senate. (East Valley Tribune, Howard Fischer)

Link: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/122582

Dems buck governor's greenhouse plan

PHOENIX -- Three of the four Democrats running for Arizona Corporation Commission said they believe Gov. Janet Napolitano cannot enter into a regional agreement to cap "greenhouse gases" on her own. (Daily Sun, Howard Fischer)

Link: http://www.azdailysun.com/articles/2008/08/07/news/state/20080807_arizo_...

UA senior to cover GOP convention for MySpace, NBC

A University of Arizona student has been chosen by MySpace, NBC News and msnbc.com to be a citizen journalist at the Republican National Convention from Sept. 1-4. (Tucson Citizen, Renee Schafer Horton)

Link: http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/93064.php

U.S. dollar keeps losing value vs. peso

PHOENIX — The plunging U.S. dollar could keep some Arizonans and other Americans from making vacation plans to Mexico.

The dollar has lost a tenth of its value against the Mexican peso since January, meaning that beach trips to Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta and other sunny points south of the border are quickly becoming more expensive. (Tucson Citizen, AP)

Link:  http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/local/93052.php

With the PolitickerAZ.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Arizona's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.