As part of the recently passed state budget which included an expanded Medicaid plan expected to reach some 350,000 Arizonans, local school districts are expected to receive inflation funding next fiscal year.

What do United States Congressman David Schweikert, State Senate Majority Leader John McComish, Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCicco, Kedrick Ellison of the Phoenix Community and Economic Development Department, Kyrene Superintendent Dr. David Shauer, Tempe Union High School Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Baca, and Pangea Development have in common?

A federal judge on Tuesday slapped down the latest efforts by the state to block the Tohono O'odham from building a casino on the edge of Glendale.

With graduation just around the corner, Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton emphasized the importance of college and answered questions about city issues as he spoke to a classroom of seniors on Wednesday at Mountain Pointe High School.

Scrambling to find votes for her Medicaid expansion plan, Gov. Jan Brewer said Thursday she is now willing to approve legislation to stop Planned Parenthood from getting any of the funds.

Gov. Jan Brewer signed a measure Monday to make it easier for schools to get rid of teachers who are not performing up to expectations.

The Independent Redistricting Commission will be getting another check from the state.

Claiming the measures target minorities, some groups are threatening to sue if lawmakers adopt new restrictions on early voting and who can take someone else's ballot to the polls.

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.

Lottery confidentiality

In my 55-plus years as a native of Arizona, our state has always been pragmatically independent and conservative. Only lately has the pragmatism been replaced by dogmatic ideology. This ideology has become more hostile and prominent recently and unfortunately was brought to the forefront immediately before the Holy Days leading up to Easter. It is unfortunate that the vitriolic speak that Maricopa County GOP Chairman Mr. LaFaro chose when speaking at a legislative committee was to compare our governor with Judas’ betrayal of Jesus. It is my opinion that supporting Medicaid expansion to 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level does not amount to equating Gov. Brewer to Judas.

Saying the move would make no sense, Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday refused to insert an anti-abortion provision into her plan to expand the state's Medicaid program.

For all the flak that our state’s education system has taken over the years (I’ve dealt some of it), we proudly lead the nation in an important segment: career and technical education.

Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema joined local leaders, veterans administration officials and volunteer organizations at the opening of a transitional facility for homeless women veterans on Monday.

Clean elections

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton proposed in his state of the city address last month a new program to double police presence in schools and unify work between districts and the police department, which could produce different outcomes in Ahwatukee Foothills schools.

State lawmakers voted Tuesday to give more money to at least some schools willing to stay in session longer.

A part of Arizona's 2010 immigration law aimed at day laborers and those who hire them is unconstitutional and unenforceable, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.

Kyrene School District staff and employees could once again see a salary freeze for the 2013-14 school year as district officials plan for the possibility of bond legislation failure that would give recovery in bond capacity.

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.

The tribal council for the Gila River Indian Community is sending the GRIC Landowners initiative — which could move the Loop 202 Freeway off the Pecos Road Alignment — to be investigated by tribal police before it decides if the initiative will be accepted as is or go to a public vote.

House Speaker Andy Tobin is sidelining two anti-union measures rather than bringing them to the floor for a divisive -- and potentially losing -- vote.

Attorney General Tom Horne and a Sierra Vista Republican lawmaker are pushing a plan to let principals, teachers and janitors at public schools carry guns.

A series of mayors told lawmakers Monday that proposed changes in sales tax laws will mean financial ruin for their cities.

A House panel voted Monday to dangle more money in front of Arizona schools to convince them to add an extra 20 days of instruction.