KNAU and Arizona News

By Daniel Kraker

Farmington, NM – Yesterday, the Environmental Protection Agency said they'd take a second look at a permit granted to a controversial coal-fired power plant known as Desert Rock. It's located on the Navajo reservation in northern New Mexico. Now the EPA is reconsidering. It could be an early signal of how the Obama administration plans to tackle air quality issues and even global warming. Arizona Public Radio's Daniel Kraker reports.

By Laurel Morales

Snowflake, AZ – The town of Snowflake has been hit harder by the economic crisis than most communities in northern Arizona. A hundred people were laid off at Catalyst Paper in a town of 5-thousand. More recently the plant has shut down for several days at a time because they don't have the demand for paper that they used to. Arizona Public Radio's Laurel Morales talked to current and former employees about the cut backs and how they fit into the bigger economic picture.

By Gillian Ferris Kohl

Flagstaff, AZ – Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Washington, D.C. for President Barack Obama's inauguration. Some of those witnesses were from northern Arizona, including Williams resident Patrick Lucas. He told Arizona Public Radio's Gillian Ferris Kohl what it was like to be part of such an historic celebration.

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 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 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 Daniel Kraker

Flagstaff, AZ – Prescott native Kris Mayes was elected chairwoman of the Arizona Corporation Commission earlier this week. The low-profile commission makes decisions about high-profile topics: everything from electric power rates to rural water supplies to securities regulation. Mayes, who's a Republican, told Arizona Public Radio's Daniel Kraker she'll continue the commission's emphasis on renewable energy.

By Laurel Morales

Flagstaff, AZ – On the day after Christmas northern Arizona lost a man who was a cherished gift to the community. Northern Arizona University theater professor emeritus Clifford White died of a heart attack while shoveling snow. He was 83. Arizona Public Radio's Laurel Morales has this remembrance.