News

By Gillian Ferris Kohl

Flagstaff, AZ – After last month's historic presidential election, Arizona Senator John McCain is shifting gears, moving away from campaign-related issues and refocusing on the matters of Arizona. Senator McCain is currently on a media tour of his home state. He had intended to visit the KNAU studios in Flagstaff, but because of a scheduling glitch, Senator McCain spoke by phone with Arizona Public Radio's Gillian Ferris Kohl.

Flagstaff, AZ – Earth Notes: Conservation Easements

The problem has been widely reported: Each year, swaths of ranch and farmlands are sold for development, and there's no turning back.

Dave Jenner, a rancher in central Arizona's Yavapai County, didn't want to see that happen to his family's W Diamond Ranch near Skull Valley. In 2008, Jenner put more than 4,000 acres into an agricultural conservation easement.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – We have new figures this afternoon of what the state is collecting in taxes. The numbers, which reflect consumer spending, are far below projections as shoppers, anxious about the economy, are keeping their money in their pockets.

By Mark Herz and Howard Fischer

Flagstaff, AZ – By Howard Fischer, Capitol Correspondent, KNAU Arizona Public Radio
Here are the Top 10 stories of statewide significance for 2008:

1 -- The economy:

The slump hit Arizona harder than most states, with Arizona going from first in job creation to 49th, just ahead of Rhode Island.That was mirrored in the jobless rate which jumped from 4.1percent at the end of 2007 to 6.3 percent a year later -- with predictions of it topping at least 7 percent.

By Mark Herz

Flagstaff, AZ – (Additional questions and answers from co-author, Elizabeth A. Green.)

What distinguishes the civilian conservation corps from other new deal programs?

The CCC was the only residential New Deal program that focused strictly on youth participants. It is generally considered the most popular and successful of all the New Deal programs and definitely lasted the longest of any.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – Outgoing Governor Janet Napolitano said Monday if it were up to her, people living here would be paying more taxes than they donow.

By Howard Fischer

By Gillian Ferris Kohl

Flagstaff, AZ – Northern Arizona has seen a LOT of snow in the last week or so with more expected this Christmas Day. Long-time Flagstaff meteorologist Lee Born sat down with Arizona Public Radio's Gillian Ferris Kohl to dish about all this winter weather.

Flagstaff, AZ – Earth Notes: Mistletoes and Birds

During the holidays, sprigs of mistletoe are bits of nature brought indoors. We know them as places for one particular human ritual, but in the natural world mistletoes play other important, and often overlooked, ecological roles.

In the Southwest, the common big-leaf mistletoe grows in large clumps among the upper branches of willows, cottonwoods and sycamores. It provides a steady and dependable supply of berries for birds like waxwings, bluebirds, and robins.

By Howard Fischer