News

By Laurel Morales

Flagstaff, AZ – Arizona's first congressional district Representative Ann Kirkpatrick is finding her way around Capitol Hill. She's cast her first votes and been assigned to committees. Arizona Public Radio's Laurel Morales talked to her about what it feels like to be sworn in after a long campaign.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – Governor Janet Napolitano wants to borrow an unprecedented $1.3 billion to balance this year's budget and the next, so she can avoid making sharp cuts in spending.

By Howard Fischer

By Laurel Morales

Flagstaff, AZ – State lawmakers are looking for ways to deal with the budget deficit. This week republican leaders proposed a 20 percent reduction to K-12 education over the next year and a half. The package also includes a 30 percent cut to Arizona universities. Flagstaff Unified School District Superintendent Kevin Brown told Arizona Public Radio's Laurel Morales this could be devastating.

By Daniel Kraker

Flagstaff, AZ –
The National Transportation Safety Board released new information on last summer's helicopter crash over Flagstaff today, as well as information on the nine most recent fatal crashes involving emergency medical helicopters.

The information on the Flagstaff crash is strictly factual. The board's analysis of what led to the crash isn't due for another six months.

By Howard Fischer

Flagstaff, AZ – Earth Notes: Prairie Dog Communication

One hundred years ago, prairie dog colonies stretched continuously across the Colorado Plateau from Seligman to Winslow and beyond. Today populations in northern Arizona are only 2 percent of what they were, and they continue to decline - just as researchers are discovering that these diminutive animals possess a uniquely complex system of communication.

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 Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – New projections show spending is going to continue to decline the rest of this year and into the next. In fact, it won't return to pre-2007 levels until at least 2013. Economist Elliott Pollack said that's because people feel poorer because they're in debt, have little savings, and their retirement accounts and home values have shrunk.

By Howard Fischer

Phoenix, AZ – The governor acknowledged the economic slump and the hit that it has made in state tax revenues, while also stating that the flip side of that is more Arizonans need help.