KNAU and Arizona 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 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 – 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."

By Gillian Ferris Kohl

Flagstaff, AZ – After a few weeks' hiatus, winter returned to northern Arizona this week. The snowfall wasn't huge, but it was enough to cause icy road conditions and some school delays. Arizona Public Radio's Gillian Ferris Kohl spoke with Flagstaff meteorologist, Lee Born, about this week's blast of winter weather.

By Daniel Kraker

By Daniel Kraker

Tuba City, AZ – When President Barack Obama was elected, a group of middle school students on the Navajo Nation wrote him letters telling him about life on the reservation. Many write honestly about the poverty they live in, but also dispense advice, and offer lots of invitations to their homes.

The project was the idea of Margaret Erhart, who teaches creative writing at Eagle's Nest Intermediate School in Tuba City, on the western edge of the Navajo reservation.

By Mark Herz

Flagstaff, AZ – A long version of our talk with the author of "Maus."