State Capitol News

Phoenix, AZ – There already is a program allowing the state to turn some
inmates convicted of minor crimes over to Immigration and Customs
Enforcement after completing half their terms. Brewer's new order
affects about 400 others ineligible for that release. And they
would get out only 90 days early. Martin said that's still a
mistake.

Phoenix, AZ – Buz Mills owns Gunsite, a firearms training facility just south
of Paulden. He also is on the board of the National Rifle
Association. But Mills, who garnered no attention last month
when he declared his candidacy, suddenly became a player with the
disclosure he has put $2 million of his own cash into the
campaign. Mills was unavailable. But campaign manager Camilla
Strongin said the move wasn't designed to scare others out of the
race.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – The state's two U-S senators took swipes today at how the
Department of Homeland Security handled the effort by a Nigerian
terrorist to blow up a Detroit-bound airliner.

John McCain said the fact the terrorist was subdued by passengers
does not mean the agency, headed by former Arizona Governor Janet
Napolitano, was doing its job. He said they need to do more than
just check passengers at the airport.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – State health officials annually compile the most popular names
for newborns. The new list, at least on the boys side, remains
relatively static. Three decades ago the most popular name for
boys born in the state was Michael. It also was the most popular
in 1989 and in second spot 10 years after that. It remains
popular, at No. 8 this year.

But girls? That's different.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – The generosity of state residents to the working poor could end
up costing taxpayers here more money. Arizona Public Radio's
Howard Fischer explains.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – Governor Jan Brewer inked her approval late Wednesday to the
package of nearly 200 million dollars in spending cuts and fund
shifts to help balance the budget.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – Well, it's official: Those boom times for population growth in
the Grand Canyon State are over. Arizona Public Radio's Howard
Fischer explains.

New figures from the Census Bureau show that year-over year
growth for the period ending July 1st totaled less than 147,000.
That's just a 1.5 percent increase from the prior year. That
compares to a 3.7 percent annual growth rate just four years
earlier.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – State senators approved a plan Thursday to cut spending and sweep
money from special funds in a bid to close a 1-point-6 billion
dollar hole in the budget. But some funds got better treatment than others.

The reason is purely politics. Rep. Jerry Weiers said he wouldn't
vote for the plan unless his pet fund was protected -- one that
benefits users of off-road vehicles trails. He said it wouldn't
be fair to take the money.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – Lawmakers convene this morning in special session. But the big issues they were
supposed to consider are gone.

One involved the push by Gov. Jan Brewer to ask voters for a
temporary one-cent hike in the state sales tax to help balance
the budget. The other dealt with a separate ballot measure to let
lawmakers raid funds that belong to programs previously approved
by voters. But House Speaker Kirk Adams said Wednesday a couple
of things went wrong.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – The state finally got some really good news today about the
economy. Arizona Public Radio's Howard Fischer reports.

New figures from the state Department of Commerce show the
jobless rate dropped four tenths of a point between October and
November, to 8.9 percent. That is the first time since June the
rate has been below 9 percent. But Aruna Murthy, the agency's
director of economic analysis, said she's not ready to declare
that the worst is over.