KNAU and Arizona News

By Laurel Morales

Flagstaff, AZ – Lee Enterprises, publisher of the Arizona Daily Sun, is having trouble paying its debt. Last week (Jan. 8) Lee's largest paper, the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, laid off 39 employees - the latest in a series of lay offs. That's left many wondering how the Daily Sun and other Lee papers will survive. Arizona Public Radio's Laurel Morales reports.

By Daniel Kraker

Flagstaff, AZ – Prescott native Kris Mayes was elected chairwoman of the Arizona Corporation Commission earlier this week. The low-profile commission makes decisions about high-profile topics: everything from electric power rates to rural water supplies to securities regulation. Mayes, who's a Republican, told Arizona Public Radio's Daniel Kraker she'll continue the commission's emphasis on renewable energy.

By Laurel Morales

Flagstaff, AZ – On the day after Christmas northern Arizona lost a man who was a cherished gift to the community. Northern Arizona University theater professor emeritus Clifford White died of a heart attack while shoveling snow. He was 83. Arizona Public Radio's Laurel Morales has this remembrance.

By Mark Herz

Flagstaff, AZ – Yavapai County is closing one of its two jails--driving to the Verde Valley facility could cost cities and towns a lot of money and man-hours.

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.

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 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.

By Laurel Morales

Flagstaff, AZ – In late November Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials arrested 80 people in the span of three days. The arrests took place in northern Arizona and many in Flagstaff. Up until recently Flagstaff was considered by many undocumented people to be a sort of safe haven, where immigration laws weren't strictly enforced. But as Arizona Public Radio's Laurel Morales reports that perception is changing.