Arizona man charged with smuggling weapons, ammo & gun parts into Mexico https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011924_gun_runner_charged/arizona-man-charged-with-smuggling-weapons-ammo-gun-parts-into-mexico/
A 25-year-old man was arrested after Douglas-area border officers stopped him as he drove into Mexico with nearly 26,000 rounds of ammunition, three rifles, as well as dozens of parts to modify or build dozens of additional weapons.
#Tucson #Arizona
Wife of Az polygamist church leader pleads guilty to tampering with investigation https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011924_polygamy_tampering/wife-az-polygamist-church-leader-pleads-guilty-tampering-with-investigation/
The first of more than 20 wives of a former polygamist church leader accused of sexually abusing underage girls pleaded guilty Thursday to attempting to obstruct an FBI investigation into the leader and his followers.
#Tucson #Arizona
Amid GOP attacks on LGBTQ Arizonans, Democrats continue to push for a nondiscrimination law https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011924_lgbtq_nondiscrimination/amid-gop-attacks-lgbtq-arizonans-democrats-continue-push-nondiscrimination-law/
For the ninth year in a row, Democratic lawmakers are trying to make discrimination against gay and transgender Arizonans illegal, but they face an uphill battle in a Republican-controlled legislature that continues to propose anti-LGBTQ measures.
#Tucson #Arizona
Hispanic & progressive Democrats protest proposals to limit asylum for immigrants https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011924_asylum_limits/hispanic-progressive-democrats-protest-proposals-limit-asylum-immigrants/
Lawmakers from the Congressional Hispanic and Progressive caucuses appealed to U.S. Senate negotiators Thursday to abandon a plan to curb U.S. asylum laws and diminish the president’s ability to grant special protections for immigrants escaping war and natural disasters.
#Tucson #Arizona
U.S. House Republicans move ahead with drive to impeach Mayorkas over immigration policy https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011924_mayorkas_impeachment/us-house-republicans-move-ahead-with-drive-impeach-mayorkas-over-immigration-policy/
U.S. House Republicans Thursday held a second hearing on the impeachment of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, even as Mayorkas works to reach a deal on changes in immigration law with a group of senators.
#Tucson #Arizona
Congress approves stopgap budget to fund government into March, avert shutdown https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011924_congress_budget/congress-approves-stopgap-budget-fund-government-into-march-avert-shutdown/
Both houses of Congress voted to approve a short-term budget that, if signed into law, will yet again sidestep the threat of a government shutdown and, if approved by President Biden, will keep the government programs funded at current levels through early March.
#Tucson #Arizona
Asylum seekers face new requirement to find their own interpreters https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011924_immigrant_interpreters/asylum-seekers-face-new-requirement-find-their-own-interpreters/
Asylum seekers who don’t speak English are once again required to bring their own interpreters to interviews for U.S. immigration services, and some worry it will be a hindrance for those fleeing persecution in their home countries.
#Tucson #Arizona
Feds drop probe of Chuck Huckelberry's 'secret' retirement from Pima County https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011824_huckleberry_feds/feds-drop-probe-chuck-huckelberrys-secret-retirement-from-pima-county/
The U.S. Justice Department has dropped an investigation into the secretive retirement of longtime Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry, finding no federal crimes to prosecute. Plus: Supes mull raise for current Administrator Jan Lesher.
#Tucson #Arizona
Mystery Legislative Theater 2024: GOP battle for sanity turning into a bad sci-fi https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/011324_leg_preview_op/mystery-legislative-theater-2024-gop-battle-sanity-turning-into-bad-sci-fi/
Ahh, it's the legislative season. Wake up and smell the lithium because the crazy has now begun.
#Tucson #Arizona
Az Democrats want a ‘Family Bill of Rights’ for survivors of police violence https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011824_police_violence_rights/az-democrats-want-family-bill-rights-survivors-police-violence/
Arizona Democratic lawmakers are proposing changes in the form of a “Family Bill of Rights” that would create more transparency from law enforcement and cities on investigations into use of force, as well as giving families certain rights.
#Tucson #Arizona
Soccer refereeing by the numbers: Abuse, pay, rigor factor in to ref shortage https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/011824_soccer_referee_data/soccer-refereeing-by-numbers-abuse-pay-rigor-factor-ref-shortage/
There’s a shortage of soccer referees across the United States, including in Arizona, and it’s easy to see why: The logistics of games going on every week, the number of certified referees, strain on refs and ongoing abuse from fans, players and coaches.
#Tucson #Arizona
An Arizona ban on traffic ticket quotas has bipartisan support, but is it necessary? https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011824_traffic_ticket_ban/an-arizona-ban-traffic-ticket-quotas-has-bipartisan-support-but-it-necessary/
A ban on traffic ticket quotas is a proposal that Arizona lawmakers from both sides of the aisle can get behind, but it’s unclear if legislation on the issue solves an existing problem.
#Tucson #Arizona
Democrats want a ‘Family Bill of Rights’ for survivors of police violence https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011824_police_violence_rights/democrats-want-family-bill-rights-survivors-police-violence/
Arizona Democratic lawmakers are proposing changes in the form of a “Family Bill of Rights” that would create more transparency from law enforcement and cities on investigations into use of force, as well as giving families certain rights.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona auditors found $1.8 million in fraud & theft in 2023 https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011824_auditors_fraud/arizona-auditors-found-18-million-fraud-theft-2023/
In a year-end report, the Arizona Auditor General outlined a series of criminal acts that the agency’s investigators discovered during routine audits, including one state worker who allegedly siphoned more than $1.7 million from an education program.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona Senate panel blasts Commerce Authority in face of audit, legal questions https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011824_commerce_criticism/arizona-senate-panel-blasts-commerce-authority-face-audit-legal-questions/
A Senate committee grilled Arizona Commerce Authority officials, just one day after Attorney General Kris Mayes said the agency’s wining and dining of CEOs violated the state’s gift clause.
#Tucson #Arizona
New Mexico judgment gives public access to court pleadings on receipt https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/011824_public_access_fight/new-mexico-judgment-gives-public-access-court-pleadings-receipt/
A federal court judgment requires that New Mexico courts give access to new pleadings as they are received across the virtual counter, joining Arizona, Nevada and California in returning traditional access to press and public in electronic times.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona's ‘tamale bill’ is back for a redo after last year’s surprise veto https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011824_tamale_bill_redo/arizonas-tamale-bill-back-redo-after-last-years-surprise-veto/
Arizona’s infamous tamale bill, first introduced to the state Legislature last year that would allow home cooks who sell food to the public to expand their offerings to include items that require refrigeration, like tamales and cheesecakes, is back on the table.
#Tucson #Arizona
GOP cmte leader shoots down Grijalva’s request to reschedule Southern Az border hearing https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011724_grijalva_letter/gop-cmte-leader-shoots-down-grijalvas-request-reschedule-southern-az-border-hearing/
U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva blasted Rep. Bruce Westerman on Wednesday after the Arkansas Republican refused to reschedule a Southern Arizona field hearing on border issues set for Feb. 8, when Grijalva will be attending an annual confab of House Democrats.
#Tucson #Arizona
Soccer preseason in Tucson will include CF Montréal, Minnesota United & top women's teams https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/011724_desert-friendlies/soccer-preseason-tucson-will-include-cf-montreal-minnesota-united-top-womens-teams/
On Tuesday, FC Tucson announced visits by teams from Major League Soccer, United Soccer League and the National Women’s Soccer League for preseason matches — including area native Carlos Merancio, now with Spokane Velocity.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona AG: No recount of narrow vote margin for Tucson mayor & Council raise https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/011724_tucson_recount/arizona-ag-no-recount-narrow-vote-margin-tucson-mayor-council-raise/
Updated: Tucson's mayor and City Council received a hefty raise with a narrow ballot margin in November, and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a legal opinion Wednesday that the 289-vote edge doesn't trigger a recount under state law.
#Tucson #Arizona
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