EDUCATION REFORM: ESCHEW CLICHES
posted to AZ Week Notebook
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Friday, January 27th 2012 at 13:26
Sound bites dominate many realms of public discourse, but few match what we hear in discussions about public education. "Do more with less," "Accountability," "Competition for public schools," "Parental choice." Those phrases and more are oversimplifying the discussion and missing real change that can help children learn.
Read MoreNEW CD4 SURVEY SIZES UP REPUBLICAN FIELD
posted to Political Buzz
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From the desk of Andrea Kelly on Thursday, January 26th 2012 at 16:11
Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu is running for Congress this fall in the new district 4, and he commissioned a survey to see how he stacks up against two of his Republican opponents: state Sen. Ron Gould and U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar
Read MoreJONATHAN PATON RUNNING FOR CD1
posted to Political Buzz
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From the desk of Andrea Kelly on Wednesday, January 25th 2012 at 7:33
Former Republican state lawmaker is first Republican to enter the race for a large district, but Democrats are hoping to take the seat back this year.
Read MoreRUSSELL PEARCE HEADS BAN AMNESTY NOW
posted to Political Buzz
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From the desk of Christopher Conover on Tuesday, January 24th 2012 at 12:46
Ousted Senate President Russell Pearce is heading the group Ban Amnesty Now.
Read MoreEDUCATION IN ARIZONA MAKES BABY STEPS
posted to AZ Week Notebook
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From the desk of Caitlin Wilenchik on Tuesday, January 24th 2012 at 11:41
Arizona plans to make big changes to its policies for public schools. How they are planning on doing this? Everyone has an opinion for how education should run, but can the major stakeholders have a consensus? What's the plan? Our Arizona Week program this week will get to the bottom of it all.
Read MoreAZ VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINE NEARS
posted to Political Buzz
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Tuesday, January 24th 2012 at 8:00
Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum. Who will be nominated by the Republican Party to challenge President Obama in November? Arizona Republicans will have their say Feb. 28, and if current events are a marker, it will still be an open question. That begs participation. But first, register to vote
Read MoreGIFFORDS' RESIGNATION SETS OFF SCRAMBLE
posted to Political Buzz
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Monday, January 23rd 2012 at 10:14
Politicians who often only dream of a seat in Congress are doing more than that today in Southern Arizona. It's likely that several candidates will step forward from both parties for the special primary election expected to be called in April to fill Gabrielle Giffords' soon-to-be-vacated seat. Whos thinking about it and what are the factors?
Read More'FUTURE SCARCITY' FOR WATER IN AZ
posted to AZ Week Notebook
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Friday, January 20th 2012 at 12:47
Arizona is within a generation of a water crisis driven by current trends in usage, population and business growth and other factors, including climate change, water experts say. Hence, they say, now is the time for a focused and inclusive dialogue about how the state can sustain its water supply for a century or more.
Read MoreYOUR WATER: THE NEXT 100 YEARS
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From the desk of Amer Taleb on Thursday, January 19th 2012 at 8:00
Will the water stop running during your shower tomorrow? Probably not. In 20 years? Who knows. The next century will greet Arizona with tremendous urbanization and population growth. A water-induced crisis is not inevitable, but inaction can change that. In a state with an economy driven by water resource certainty, residents can't afford to overlook their evolving water resources for long.
Read MoreOBAMA WILL VISIT AZ, STILL CONSIDERED IN PLAY
posted to Political Buzz
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Wednesday, January 18th 2012 at 13:04
Republican dominance in Arizona politics notwithstanding, Democratic President Obama will visit Phoenix in one week as part of a five-state trip. The White House has said Obama will visit Arizona, Iowa, Colorado, Michigan and Nevada after delivering his State of the Union speech. All could be considered swing states.
Read MoreDEALING WITH THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
posted to Political Buzz
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Wednesday, January 18th 2012 at 12:48
Perhaps it's a throwback to the tens of thousands of years ago when mammoths roamed the land that now is Southern Arizona. Or perhaps is a human curiosity about exotic creatures of all sorts. Who can explain Tucsonans' madness about elephants? And once again, pachyderms are amid controversy in the Old Pueblo.
Read MoreWHERE WILL TOMORROW'S WATER COME FROM?
posted to AZ Week Notebook
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Wednesday, January 18th 2012 at 8:10
The University of Arizona's annual conference on water issues will be held next week in Tucson. The conference will focus on extending the water supply another century. No one questions that water is the No. 1 economic and societal issue in the state. But as long as it flows cleanly from the tap, are we willing to do anything about it?
Read MoreGOV. WANTS MORE FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Saturday, January 14th 2012 at 11:08
Gov. Jan Brewer says a little money will make a big difference for Arizonans in need of help with behavioral health issues, including paying for treatment, medication and other services. Many lost state aid when the Legislature made and Brewer agreed to big cuts in AHCCCS/Medicaid last year. Here's what she proposes now.
Read MoreROMNEY RUNNING AWAY WITH ARIZONA
posted to Political Buzz
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From the desk of Christopher Conover on Friday, January 13th 2012 at 12:35
A new poll shows Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney with a wide lead coming into the February primary.
Read MorePREDICTABLE POLITICS? DO SOMETHING UNPREDICTABLE
posted to AZ Week Notebook
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Friday, January 13th 2012 at 10:14
The state legislative session is under way, and the rhetoric is flying. No surprises here. So how about creating a surprise? Get involved. Exert your authority as a citizen and a voter. Contact a legislator to let him or her know what you think on a bill. It will be a good civic exercise both for now and for the coming election cycle.
Read MoreAZ GETS OUT OF SOME DEBT, AT 15% INTEREST
posted to Political Buzz
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Friday, January 13th 2012 at 9:59
Much was made a few years ago when the state of Arizona took out mortgages on the state Capitol and Executive Office Tower in Phoenix. The state got $81 million by doing so, with a plan to pay it back in 20 years. Now with state cash flow much better, the governor wants to pay it off early, but some are unhappy about it.
Read MoreBREWER: REDISTRICTING FIGHT'S NOT OVER
posted to AZ Week Notebook
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Thursday, January 12th 2012 at 14:20
From the we-knew-this-was-coming category: Gov. Jan Brewer will support a legislative effort to change the way Arizona redraws political boundaries. That's, of course, after the state Supreme Court rejected her and the Republican Senate super majority's try to remove Independent Redistricting Commission chair Colleen Mathis.
Read MoreHELL PHONE
posted to Cue Sheet
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From the desk of James Reel on Thursday, January 12th 2012 at 6:26
I trust this sorry episode will be edited out of the eventual New York Philharmonic broadcast (we carry the series on Monday nights), but had you had the misfortune to be in the audience a few nights ago, you would have witnessed Mahler's Ninth Symphony being brought to an absolute halt by a ringing cell phone. Conductor Alan Gilbert stopped the orchestra and had to stare down the offender. Here's a good account of the fiasco.
Read MoreLUJAN REPLACES SINEMA
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From the desk of Christopher Conover on Wednesday, January 11th 2012 at 16:16
The state Senate now has only one vacant seat.
Read MoreTUCSON WILL REVISIT BAN ON TEXTING WHILE DRIVING
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From the desk of Andrea Kelly on Wednesday, January 11th 2012 at 16:12
The Tucson City Council seems ready to pass an ordinance banning texting while driving, but they haven't done so yet. The members of the council decided to make changes to the proposal, and take another vote in a few weeks.
Read MoreGABBY COMIC
posted to Political Buzz
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From the desk of Christopher Conover on Tuesday, January 10th 2012 at 15:39
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is getting her own comic book.
Read MoreARIZONA'S PRESIDENITAL FIELD SOLIDIFIES
posted to Political Buzz
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From the desk of Andrea Kelly on Monday, January 9th 2012 at 12:28
Today is the deadline for candidates to file to be on Arizona's primary ballots. A number of the major, national Republican candidates have filed, and another party has a primary, too.
Read MoreSEEKING BREWER'S 2012 AGENDA
posted to AZ Week Notebook
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Monday, January 9th 2012 at 7:00
What will Gov. Jan Brewer ask of the Arizona Legislature in 2012? With the state taking in more revenue than last year, will she be able to get some of it for her favorite projects? She's seeking more funding for tourism promotion. What about education? Anything more coming for business and job development? Other priorities?
Read MoreABBEY ADDICTS OR DOWNTON DIVAS?
posted to Inside TV
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From the desk of Susie Hernandez on Friday, January 6th 2012 at 14:26
Never before have so many staffers and viewers of AZPM been antsy for a premiere. Thank goodness for the encore of Downton Abbey's first season--our collective memories are refreshed just in time for the new season. We have seven Sundays of period drama bliss ahead of us. Downton Abbey's new season has come. The wait is OVER!
Read MoreMENTAL HEALTH HELP? NOT AFTER JAN. 8
posted to AZ Week Notebook
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Friday, January 6th 2012 at 9:23
All the talk of ramping up resources for better services to the mentally unstable has turned out to be just that since last Jan. 8. Talk. Oh, there have been few forums, and more training in one or two Tucson locales. But at the state level, nary a peep nor a dime more for mental health services. In fact, state funding has declined.
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