Gun rights

Future bids to oust public officials through recall could get a lot harder under the terms of legislation given preliminary approval Tuesday by the Senate.

As a first generation university student and Phoenix native, I chose to study here in Arizona at Arizona State University because of its distinct take on legislative problem solving. Arizona is independent and unique; it incorporates both an agricultural economy and burgeoning city life all in one state.

Those unwanted text messages for everything from special sales to dating services could soon be a thing of the past.

Lottery confidentiality

Rebuffed in his bid for oversight of Colorado City marshals, Attorney General Tom Horne now wants taxpayer funds for another police agency to patrol the polygamous community.

Arizona cities that want to place or keep photo enforcement cameras on state roads are going to have to prove they do more than generate fines.

Saying it's nobody business, state lawmakers are poised to keep local governments -- and anyone else -- from finding out who owns a gun.

Arizona high schoolers may soon be rid of having to pass AIMS -- or any standardized test -- to graduate.

Parents, teachers, education leaders and activists gathered last week at the State Capitol for an informational meeting that discussed the new Common Core state standards and the possibility of replacing AIMS testing.

Parental custody

A farmer would be horrified over the notion of an Arizona coyote being assigned to watch over his chicken coop. Arizonans should be worried that some public officials think they should be responsible for watching over themselves.

State lawmakers are moving to cut by half what cities and counties have to pay to publish their legal notices.

A new legislative proposal on publication requirements for legal notices could pit large papers against small ones and dailies against weeklies -- all at a potential higher cost to taxpayers.

City elections

The state House on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to legislation that will let the state's largest cities publish their legal notices online rather than spending money to buy newspaper ads.

A bill approved by the state House Monday could eventually force the removal of some of the most controversial red light and photo radar cameras in the state.

Police in Arizona remain free to use drones -- assuming they have them -- to spy on people.

Clean elections

The state House voted Thursday to slam the door on gun buyback programs — even when the owners specifically ask that their weapons be destroyed.

The state House voted Thursday to scrap the generous retirement plan enjoyed by elected officials and judges — but not in a way that would affect any of them.

The state House voted to require that teacher-education programs be revamped to conform with the new Common Core Standards.

Animal abusers would lose the right for anyone in their household to have a pet for at least two years under the terms of legislation approved Thursday by the state House.

State lawmakers took the first steps Monday to what some hope will be outlawing the "isolation rooms'' used by some schools to deal with problem students.

Forget the ferrets. Cancel the cats. And don't even discuss the ducks.