Howard Fischer

By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services

PHOENIX -- Saying they're still "reviewing'' the issue, state officials have not acted on various plans to deal with a controversial monument to Confederate soldiers at a state-run cemetery and ignored a request by a member of the Sierra Vista city council asking to find out how to get rid of it.

By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services

PHOENIX -- Gov. Doug Ducey is justifying his directive to liquor investigators and police to ignore violations of some state laws by restaurants because they need the money from the otherwise illegal sales they are being allowed to make.

In new court filings, attorneys for the governor do not dispute that Arizona law prohibits restaurants from selling alcoholic beverages to go. That right is reserved for holders of other types of liquor licenses, including grocery stores and bars.

By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services
 

PHOENIX -- The nation's top Census Bureau official came to Arizona Thursday in a last-minute push to get people to respond to the decennial count.
But time is running out. And Arizona is lagging. 

By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services

PHOENIX -- The state's jobless rate shrank by close to 45 percent last month.
At a press conference Thursday, Gov. Doug Ducey called the announcement of a 5.9 percent seasonally adjusted employment rate ``a really good sign that people are getting back to work.''
But there may be less there than meets the eye.

By Howard Fischer
Capitol Media Services

PHOENIX -- An average 20% boost in teacher salaries in the past four years has apparently done little to entice people into the classroom and keep experienced staffers there.