Valley Metro planners said they are trying to reassure local businesses along the expanding light rail line that construction is moving as fast as possible. They say lessons learned from the light rail’s first phase of construction should help this time around.

Four people in a pick-up truck plunged 200 feet off a cliff near Apache Junction early Tuesday morning. Emergency crews used a rope pulley system to pull an injured woman out of the canyon. (Photo courtesy of Apache Junction Fire District) Emergency crews faced a daunting task extracting one of the victims, a woman in her 20s who suffered severe head and facial injuries.

The Arizona Department of Transportation has been awarded a grant to help repair damage on U.S. 89, south of Page. The U.S. Department of Transportation has approved $35 million in emergency relief for repairs to the roadway, which collapsed in February.

The Arizona Senate has reversed itself and voted to approve a plan to revamp the retirement system for new elected officials and judges. On Tuesday, the Senate defeated the bill, but during the vote, Senate President Andy Biggs predicted it would pass before the end of the session.

A new report from the Arizona PIRG Education Fund says the state's driving boom is over. It says total vehicle travel miles peaked in 2007, and PIRG's Serena Unrein says driving is likely to decline further because of demographic changes involving the Millennial generation: those people born between 1983 and 2000.

Arizona's unemployment rate remained at 7.9 percent for the third consecutive month in April.  Department of Administration economist Aruna Murthy said while there were month-to-month job gains, they become less impressive compared to the post-recession years of 2010 to 2012.

Fire restrictions go into effect throughout much of the state Wednesday and Thursday. They generally apply to both state and federal land.  Under the Stage One restrictions, campfires are not allowed, except in some developed campgrounds, and smoking is only allowed inside vehicles, or in areas with three feet around them without flammable materials.

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is getting a donation this week, in recognition of National Safe Boating Week. The life jackets are being contributed by Native Air, an Air Ambulance company. Sheriff's Office spokesman Chris Hegstrom says life jackets are major life savers.

American Airlines parent company, AMR Corp. reported a net loss of $105 million for April. The company’s top executives said it is a favorable sign for the future. The figures are an improvement over last April’s $142 million loss.