COLLEGE GRAD JOB PICTURE: MIXED
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Thursday, May 10th 2012 at 9:23
A new survey from Rutgers University paints a bleak picture for college grads in the jo market. Yet, the urging from everyone still is to go to college, get a degree and seek a career path. How is that idea holding up in Arizona, where thousands are getting their degrees this month?
Read MoreON FRIDAY: COLLEGE GRAD JOB PROSPECTS
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Tuesday, May 8th 2012 at 18:23
Arizona State University graduated thousands last week. The University of Arizona does the same this week. Where will all these newly minted alumni go to work? We will take a look on Friday's Arizona Week. Some have good job prospects, others not so much, and many have big debt to pay off.
Read MoreWHAT WOULD YOU ASK GOV. BREWER?
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Monday, May 7th 2012 at 16:47
Hundreds of bills are sitting on Gov. Jan Brewer's desk, awaiting action from her. She has until May 15 to complete the work -- sign, veto or let go into effect without her signature -- according to the Arizona Republic. We hope to talk with Brewer for Arizona Week's Friday broadcast to see how the work is going.
Read MoreLIGHTS! CAMERAS! POLITICIANS!
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Friday, May 4th 2012 at 9:23
Setup of a news camera and lights almost always attracts attention. In the case of Arizona Week's video crew at the state Capitol Thursday, it was attention on steroids. Pols of all stripes stopped by to inquire what was going on, and a couple even offered themselves up for interviews.
Read MoreEDUCATION TOTALS 56% OF STATE BUDGET
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Wednesday, May 2nd 2012 at 8:43
But it's not enough, some Arizona educational proponents say. We'll talk to them and others on Friday for a big-picture look at state spending on education. That spending will rise in the next fiscal year for the first time in five years as the state experiences its first surplus in that time.
Read MoreEDUCATION: GOLD MINE OR SHAFT?
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Tuesday, May 1st 2012 at 6:00
Arizona legislators are about to approve a budget that will allow spending for public education at all levels of about $120 million more than they originally wanted. It's part of their budget compromise with Gov. Jan Brewer, who wanted more than twice that added to school funding. What are the short- and long-term effects?
Read MoreLEGISLATURE LINGERS; BUDGET IN ABEYANCE
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Wednesday, April 25th 2012 at 12:23
Passed bills piling up, but Brewer won't budge. Legislative session passes 100-day mark, with no end in sight. Budget differences center on varied estimates for state revenues in the next two years. For a complete update, watch Arizona Week Friday.
Read MoreEVALUATING SB 1070'S ARGUMENTS
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From the desk of Amer Taleb on Tuesday, April 17th 2012 at 13:31
The climax to the debate about SB 1070's constitutionality begins next week, when the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments from Arizona and the federal government. 'Read More' for quick a analysis of both sides of the issue.
Read MoreSB 1070 AND THE SUPREME COURT
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Monday, April 16th 2012 at 15:28
Arizona's controversial -- and mostly on hold -- immigration legislation, known as SB 1070, will be argued before the U.S. Supreme Court on April 25. Friday's Arizona Week will look at the political origins and subsequent fallout and at the legal and constitutional implications of the legislation.
Read MoreNOTHING LIKE A LITTLE RETAIL THERAPY
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Friday, April 13th 2012 at 9:00
Some of the biggest names in retailing were in Tucson this week for the 16th annual Global Retailing Conference, hosted by the University of Arizona's Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing. Hundreds of retail executives, vendors and media explored the rapidly changing world of retail consumerism. What did they find?
Read MoreSHOP TILL WE DROP?
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Thursday, April 12th 2012 at 9:02
Arizona Week explores the world of retail consumerism this week, from the point of view of those who run the businesses and figure out new ways to be successful. Four business leaders and entrepreneurs will be on the program discussing their strategies and what's next in the world of retailing.
Read MoreARE U.S. CONSUMERS COMING BACK?
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Tuesday, April 10th 2012 at 9:44
We will strive to answer that question and more with this Friday's Arizona Week broadcast, as we visit with retailing executives attending the University of Arizona's Global Retailing Conference. Will consumers return full force any time soon? What's the balance between brick-and-mortar stores and online shopping? And more.
Read MoreAZ LEGISLATURE IN HOME STRETCH
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Tuesday, April 3rd 2012 at 9:23
By all reckonings, the Arizona Legislature has less than a month left before adjournment, and it that time, it has a slew of bills to deal with. Not the least of them are the state budget for 2012-13 and the governor's state personnel reform package. What's in the offing?
Read MoreLATINOS IN AMERICA TODAY
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From the desk of Caitlin Wilenchik on Wednesday, March 28th 2012 at 13:50
By the numbers, the growing Latino population in Arizona and across the nation is beginning to show influence in politic, education, business and economics and society in general. Here's a rundown of some of our research leading to Friday's Arizona Week broadcast on Latino progress.
Read MoreCHECKING IN ON LATINO PROGRESS
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Tuesday, March 27th 2012 at 12:11
The late Arizona-born labor leader Cesar Chavez was born March 31, 1927. To mark his birthday, Friday's Arizona Week will focus on Latino progress in politics, education, social issues and business/economics.
Read More'NEW NORMAL' IN AZ HOUSING MARKET?
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Tuesday, March 13th 2012 at 9:21
Arizona State University's Michael Orr is an acknowledged expert -- probably the state's leading expert -- in the real estate market. He will be on Friday's Arizona Week to discuss the residential market, its current status and its futurte. We will ask him if there's a "new normal" coming in Arizona real estate. What else should we ask?
Read MoreAZ HOUSING MARKET RISING, S-L-O-W-L-Y
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Monday, March 12th 2012 at 12:45
The monthly foreclosure report from RealtyTrac is expected this week. Foreclosures peaked in 2010, bank delays reduced the number in 2011, but January 2012 saw nearly 9,000 foreclosures statewide, 5,987 in Maricopa County alone. Meantime, new home sales and resale prices rose slightly in January. Will improvement continue?
Read MoreECONOMISTS AGREE: AZ REBOUNDING
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Friday, March 9th 2012 at 18:00
A sustained trend of employment numbers improvement plus government incentives are driving Arizona's economic recovery, three economists say on Friday's Arizona Week. It's still going slowly and will take several years to make the state whole again economically, but the movement is almost all positive.
Read MoreWHENCE ARIZONA'S ECONOMY?
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Wednesday, March 7th 2012 at 12:29
Arizona's January unemployment statistics will be released on Thursday in Phoenix, and the direction they go will tell if the state is keeping pace with national economic growth. The federal government will release its unemployment statistics for February on Friday. What should we be watching for?
Read MoreCOUNTY BY COUNTY, JOB PICTURE IMPROVES
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From the desk of Amer Taleb on Tuesday, March 6th 2012 at 12:09
Arizona’s unemployment rate is more than double what it was in 2007. Still, there’s been a significant drop in unemployment over the last few years. The state’s two biggest counties regained a combined 34,000 jobs in 2011 alone. View more numbers from across Arizona here.
Read MoreLOOKING CLOSER AT UNEMPLOYMENT
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From the desk of Amer Taleb on Monday, March 5th 2012 at 8:00
Although stagnant for the last two months of 2011, Arizona's unemployment rate has dropped significantly over the last few years.The first unemployment data of the year will be released this Thursday. Click here for a rundown of 2011's unemployment statistics.
Read MorePERSONNEL REFORM: IT'S HE SAID, SHE SAID
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Friday, March 2nd 2012 at 15:34
Polar opposites is an apt description for the arguments put forth by proponents and opponents of Gov. Jan Brewer's proposed overhaul of the state personnel system. In separate interviews for Arizona Week, a Goldwater Institute lawyer and a state employees union official were about as far apart as could be on the bill.
Read MorePERSONNEL REFORM: WHY OR WHY NOT?
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Tuesday, February 28th 2012 at 10:43
Strong arguments come from both sides in the campaign by Gov. Jan Brewer to reform Arizona's state employee hiring and firing system. The impetus for the reform came from a Goldwater Institute report. Main opposition comes from employee unions and associations. Here's a quick look at both sides.
Read MoreREFORM COMING FOR STATE WORKER HIRING, FIRING
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Monday, February 27th 2012 at 12:14
Among Gov. Jan Brewer's "Four Cornerstones of Reform" is modernizing state government. Brewer's lead method for doing so is to make it easier to hire and fire state workers. Her assumptions are ensconced in a bill that is working its way through the Legislature. Sounds esoteric, so why should the average Arizonan care?
Read MoreREVENUE RISE DOESN'T MEAN MORE SPENDING
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From the desk of Michael Chihak on Friday, February 24th 2012 at 10:34
Arizona's increased tax revenues -- consistently exceeding projections and expectations this year -- won't necessarily mean more spending by state government. Gov. Jan Brewer wants more, including $250 million for education and $50 million for prisons. But legislative leaders want to save it for potential rough times to come.
Read MoreNews and commentary from Arizona Week producer/host Michael Chihak and interns Melanie Huonker and Lucy Valencia.
