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Report: renters are paying more than half of income on housing

A new report said many renters in Arizona are being forced to choose between necessities, like food and paying the rent.

Per Diem allowances for lawmakers to be cut Tuesday

The state legislative session has been stalled the last several weeks as talks continue over Medicaid expansion.

StoryCorps Phoenix: David and Suzanne Harbster

We are pleased to share the voices and conversations of our community from StoryCorps Phoenix. StoryCorps Phoenix is the project that records the stories of everyday people and archives them at the Library of Congress.

Small business owner reflects on Proposition 100's impact

Some of the loudest critics of Proposition 100, the voter-approved temporary one cent sales tax increase, were small business owners.

Improvements for Highway 89 drivers, vendors

Help is on the way for drivers — and vendors — displaced by the closure of a section of Highway 89 in northern Arizona.

DES head reveals new program and new vision for social services

The Arizona Department of Economic Security is launching a pilot program for 1000 people that sets up a one-stop shop for services to ensure consumers get all of the benefits they are eligible for. It is the first step in implementing a new vision in how the social safety net should work.

Poll shows Latinos support comprehensive sex ed

A new poll shows strong support among Latinos for sex education, including birth control.

Experts see big opportunities for drones in farming

The Federal Aviation Administration is developing regulations to open the skies to drones by 2015. Agriculture is expected to be one of the largest potential markets for drones.

SRP rejects amended lease agreement for Navajo Generating Station

There is a dispute brewing over a lease agreement for a coal-fired power plant that provides electricity to millions of people in Arizona, California and Nevada. A co-owner of the plant is at odds with the Navajo tribe over water rights and other issues.

Bill requiring landlords to disclose foreclosures advances

Arizona landlords may soon have to tell tenants when their property enters foreclosure.

Nice weather is helping firefighters control a wildfire near Safford

Firefighters are battling a 40 acre wildfire at Rincon Canyon near Safford in southeast Arizona. The so-called Marijilda fire is about 70 percent contained.

Morrison Institute suggests changes to Arizona's initiative process

Arizona has been a national leader in the number of potentially impactful ballot propositions that voters have needed to approve or reject. The Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University recently released a report that included possible changes to improve the ballot initiative process.

Survey shows Phoenix PD chief unpopular

Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia has been on the job for almost a year, but according to a survey from two police unions he is unpopular.

Arizona housing foreclosure rates continue to drop

The number of foreclosures being started in Arizona continues to drop, according to the monitoring firm RealtyTrac. Vice President Darren Blomquist says about 3,900 Arizona properties got foreclosure notices during April.

Quartzsite: After the crowds

Every winter, hundreds of thousands of snowbirds with RVs descend on the tiny desert town of Quartzsite, Ariz. For a few months, this dusty little place on I-10 morphs into what National Geographic calls “The World’s Largest Parking Lot," but in the summer it almost becomes a ghost town.

Phoenix PD's first gun buyback gets big response, maybe too big

Last weekend, the Phoenix Police Department held the first of three weekly gun buyback events, and the turnout was unexpected.

Arizona Senate approves changes to pension plan

The Arizona Senate has reversed itself and voted to approve a plan to revamp the retirement system for new elected officials and judges.

Federal Aviation Administration restores funding for air traffic towers but Arizona not included

The Federal Aviation Administration said some airport traffic control towers it wanted to close late at night to save money will now be allowed to stay open. But, Wednesday’s announcement does not save some towers at Arizona airports the FAA plans to close this summer.

Jodi Arias found guilty of first-degree murder

The jury has spoken in the Jodi Arias trial. Arias has been found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of former boyfriend Travis Alexander.

Views on the Jodi Arias from inside and outside the courtroom

The Jodi Arias murder trial in Phoenix has dominated coverage on local television stations and national networks. Arizona Republic critic Bill Goodykoontz offered insights on why the case has attracted so much attention.