Here are Cronkite News Service stories that moved from Jan. 14-18. If you have questions or would like to receive the daily news digest by e-mail, please contact Steve Elliott at 602-496-0686 or steve.elliott@asu.edu.
BILLS SEEK PLATES HONORING MILITARY, GOLD STAR FAMILIES, AZ HIGHWAYS
PHOENIX (Thursday, Jan. 17) _ Arizona drivers can choose from more than 30 special license plates promoting the state’s three universities, cancer awareness, spaying and neutering pets, child abuse prevention and more. Lawmakers are looking to expand that list this session, offering bills to create license plates supporting the military and Arizona Highways magazine and recognizing the families of war dead.
Slug BC-CNS-Special Plates. By Daniel J. Quigley. With BC-CNS-Plates-Proposals.
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BILL WOULD MAKE JUDGES GIVE THE FULL SENTENCE IN EXTREME DUI
PHOENIX (Thursday, Jan. 17) _ Judges would have no option to suspend part of the sentence for those guilty of a first or second extreme DUI under a bill that received a Senate committee’s endorsement Thursday. SB 1004, sponsored by Sen. Jim Waring, R-Phoenix, would eliminate conflicting language in laws governing DUI sentencing. A change approved last year forbids judges from suspending part of the sentence for offenders who complete court-ordered screening, education or treatment. But another statute continued to say judges could suspend some of the sentence if an offender had a blood-alcohol level of less than 0.20. That left judges citing one or the other, Waring said.
Slug BC-CNS-Extreme DUI. By Lauren Proper. With BC-CNS-Extreme DUI-Box.
GROUPS CALL FOR STRONGER LAWS ON SEAT BELTS, BOOSTER SEATS
PHOENIX (Wednesday, Jan. 17) _ Arizona needs a law allowing law officers to pull over drivers for failing to wear seat belts and another requiring safety seats for children up to age 8, leaders of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and other groups said Wednesday. Government and private groups committed to traffic safety used an event at the State Capitol to pitch lawmakers on those and other ideas.
Slug BC-CNS-Traffic Safety. By Nora Avery-Page. With BC-CNS-Traffic Safety-Stats.
Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 (thumbnails, captions below)
PANEL ENDORSES CONTINUING WESTERN EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE
PHOENIX (Tuesday, Jan. 15) _ A state House panel on Tuesday endorsed a 10-year extension of an exchange program that allows Arizona students to pay resident tuition to study veterinary medicine, dentistry and other subjects not offered at public institutions here. Leaders say the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) helps address a shortage of veterinarians that’s most acute in rural Arizona.
Slug BC-CNS-WICHE Continuation. By Lauren Proper.
LAWMAKER WANTS LOW-INCOME SENIORS EXEMPT FROM VEHICLE TAX
PHOENIX (Tuesday, Jan. 15) _ A state lawmaker wants to give low-income seniors a break on Arizona’s vehicle license tax. Sen. Jay Tibshraeny has introduced a bill that would allow those 65 and older who already receive property tax protection based on their income to receive an exemption for one vehicle. A Senate committee gave the measure a slim endorsement Tuesday.
Slug BC-CNS-Seniors-Vehicle Tax. By Daniel Raven.
TUCSON LAWMAKER WANTS TO HELP RESIDENTS INSTALL DUAL-FLUSH TOILETS
PHOENIX (Friday, Jan. 18) _ A state lawmaker wants to conserve Arizona’s water by giving a tax credit to those who replace their toilets with dual-flush versions, which use less water for liquid waste. Upgrading to a dual-flush toilet can save thousands of gallons of water per year, said Rep. Marian McClure, R-Tucson. “With our population living in a desert state in the middle of a drought, it just seemed like a good idea,” McClure said.
Slug BC-CNS-Toilets-Taxes. By Grayson Steinberg. With BC-CNS-Toilets-Taxes-Box.
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PHOTOS: Click thumbnails to see full-resolution images and download
TOILETS-TAXES
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TOILETS-TAXES: A dual-flush toilet is shown at Westar Kitchen and Bath in Tempe. The toilet has buttons on top of the tank offering a regular flush for solid waste and a lesser flush for liquid waste. Rep. Marian McClure, R-Tucson, has introduced a bill calling for a tax credit for those who install dual-flow toilets, which are more expensive than regular toilets. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Stephanie Sanchez)
SPECIAL PLATES
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-SPECIAL PLATES: Arizona Support Our Troops is suggesting this design for a special license plate honoring the military. A bill to create the plate received an endorsement Thursday, Jan. 17, 2008, from the House Transportation Committee. The committee also endorsed a bill calling for a license plate honoring Arizona Highways magazine. A Senate bill that has yet to reach committee would create a plate available to families of fallen military members. (Photo Credit: Arizona Support Our Troops via Cronkite News Service)
TRAFFIC SAFETY
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TRAFFIC SAFETY: Richard Fimbres (left), director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, and Roger Vanderpool, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, attend a traffic safety event Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix. Public and private groups used the event to demonstrate rescue techniques and pitch lawmakers on the idea of stronger traffic safety laws. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Nora Avery-Page)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TRAFFIC SAFETY: Firefighters and paramedics from the Phoenix Fire Department demonstrate rescue techniques Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, outside the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix. Public and private groups used the event to pitch lawmakers on the idea of stronger traffic safety laws. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Nora Avery-Page)
CAPTION FOR BC-CNS-TRAFFIC SAFETY: A firefighter from the Phoenix Fire Department demonstrates rescue techniques Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008, outside the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix. Public and private groups used the event to pitch lawmakers on the idea of stronger traffic safety laws. (Cronkite News Service Photo/Nora Avery-Page)