azcentral.com: The legislature struck a compromise and electronic billboards are now approved in Phoenix and southwestern Arizona, but nowhere else in Arizona. The governor previously vetoed the original bill and the new bill is revised.
Legal Insurrection: The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments today about Arizona’s controversial illegal immigratio law, SB 1070. Based on the initial reports, it appears that the Court may uphold at least one key provision of the law, which allows state law enforcement to inquire about a person’s immigration status. Even some of the Court’s liberal Justices seemed skeptical about prohibiting state law enforcement from checking the immigration status of a person within the state’s borders. What remains unclear is how the Court will view the provisions of the law that make it a state crime to violate federal immigration law.
findlaw.com: On Wednesday, April 25, the Supreme Court will hear from both sides of the argument as to whether states can adopt their own policies on handling illegal immigration. Arizona’s lawmakers appear to be staunchly supportive of such sovereignty:
“If the federal government had been doing and would continue to do its job in securing the border here in southern Arizona, this would not be an issue. Unfortunately, they failed to do that so Arizona stepped up and said, ‘We want to be partners. Here’s a role we think we can play,'” said Sheriff Larry Dever of Cochise County, which shares an 83.5-mile border with Mexico in the state’s southeastern corner.
Five states have adopted policies similar to Arizona’s. For the entire article on this hotly debated issue, click here.
Arizona Department of Health Services: The Department of Health Services in Arizona is considering adding four new conditions to the approved list for “debilitating” conditions. Apparently the health department has made it through the first phase of deciding whether to add (1) Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; (2) Generalized Anxiety Disorder; (3) Migraines; and (4) Depression. A public hearing will be held on May 25 from 1-4pm regarding these conditions and whether they will be added. Stay tuned…
AZ Central: “Gov. Jan Brewer rebuffed gun-rights advocates by vetoing for a second time a bill to allow guns on public property, and sent a strong message that such a proposal would need wider support from police, cities and the public before she would sign it.
Brewer’s veto of the bill, which could have let guns into city halls, police stations, county courts, senior centers, swimming pools, libraries and the state Capitol, was the latest setback for a push to expand the right to carry guns in public places in Arizona.”