News

By Daniel Kraker

Flagstaff, AZ – These are tough times for Democrats at the Arizona state legislature. Republicans have strong majorities in the House and Senate, and now Jan Brewer in the Governor's office. Democratic representative Tom Chabin of Flagstaff spoke with Arizona Public Radio's Daniel Kraker about the challenges of having his voice heard at the capitol.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – The state Parks Board will decide today whether to shutter at
least five -- and possibly eight -- parks.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – Members of the state Parks Board balked today at a proposal to
shutter eight locations, saying they wanted to see if there were
better alternatives. Arizona Public Radio's Howard Fischer
reports.

Agency Director Ken Travous said closing the parks was the best
way to deal with the nearly $4.9 million lawmakers took from the
department's operting budget and $17.3 million raided from
special funds, all to deal with a $1.6 billion deficit.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – The vote by the Legislature early Saturday to plug the 1-point-6
billion dollar hole in the budget does not end the fight over
spending cuts.

That's because gap between revenues and expenses for the coming
year could hit $3 billion. John Kavanagh who chairs the House
Appropriations Committee, said that is likely to mean even deeper
cuts to education.

By Laurel Morales

Flagstaff, AZ – During these hard times more and more people are visiting their local library. In northern Arizona the number of books and DVDs checked out is way up. And many unemployed are job hunting, working on resumes and filling out applications on library computers. But libraries aren't immune to budget problems. Arizona Public Radio's Laurel Morales examines how northern Arizona libraries are handling the stress.

That was funny! Oh there's Parker and Cassidy. Hi guys!

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – The director of the state parks system said today he will have to
close parks if lawmakers adopt the budget they are considering.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – State lawmakers early this morning finally approved a revised
budget to deal with the deficit.

Adoption came after the Republican-controlled Legislature beat
back efforts by Democrats to reverse proposed cuts for several
programs, especially funds for public schools, community colleges
and universities. One amendment by Rep. David Schapira
specifically sought to restore the $142 million in cuts to the
university system.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – State lawmakers are poised to cut $1.1 billion from the state
budget today. Arizona Public Radio's Howard Fischer reports.

The plan adopted late Thursday by House and Senate Appropriations
committees reduces state aid to public schools by about $130
million, take $142 million from universities and $9 million from
community colleges.

By Katelyn Seabury

Phoenix, AZ – Students from around the state came together at the state capitol Wednesday to protest what some are calling "the death of Arizona's education system."

By Mark Herz

Flagstaff, AZ – Friday, January 23rd, two friends from Flagstaff died when their small plane crashed.

Frank Protiva and Tom Moody were engineers, pilots, and river runners. I talked to some of their many friends for this remembrance.

Guillermo Cortes, an engineer and Vice President at Frank Protiva's engineering firm, Shephard-Wesnitzer, met him about 12 years ago.

"We became friends right away," Cortes said. "He welcomed anybody in right away."