KTAR / Local / Stories
Phoenix PD announce arrest in double killing
Phoenix police announced Wednesday evening the arrest of a man wanted in connection with two homicides Monday.

Arizona wardens seek info on bat killings
Officials with the Arizona Game and Fish Department say someone has shot and killed nearly 90 Mexican free-tail bats in an abandoned mine east of Apache Junction.

McCain, Kyl voice support for border troops
U.S. Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl said Wednesday that they support sending National Guard troops to the nation's southern border to guard against spillover violence from Mexico's drug war.

Arizona borrows $340M amid budget woes
Arizona's general fund on Wednesday borrowed nearly $340 million from a state investment pool to stay in the black while paying tax refunds and state aid to public schools amid an overall budget crisis.

Dem lawyer announces candidacy for Ariz. treasurer
Phoenix lawyer Andrei Cherny on Wednesday announced his candidacy for the 2010 Democratic nomination for Arizona state treasurer, saying he'd use the office to set an economic strategy for the state.

Napolitano: Request for Guard on border under study
On her first trip back to Arizona as Homeland Security secretary, Janet Napolitano said Wednesday that requests for putting the National Guard back along the Mexican border are under review.

Windy weather across Arizona, I-40 reopens
A 17-mile stretch of Interstate 40 in northern Arizona was closed Wednesday morning when a dust storm reduced visibility to near zero.

Mayor, Harkins CEO push for Wolverine premiere
Tempe's mayor wants to bring the red carpet to town.

Dog finds human skull
Man's best friend finds a human skull.

Plane lands in Phoenix school yard, no one hurt
A small plane with engine trouble landed on a school playground in west Phoenix Wednesday. No one was hurt.

`Livability Summit' provides info on going green
Turning Phoenix "green" is at the top of the list for one Valley organization.

Civic leader Marty Shultz is Valley Leadership's 'Man of Year'
Valley Leadership's 2008 "Man of the Year" is not a big name athlete or a prominent political figure, but he has been a driving force in the Valley's growth for decades.

Sheriff says suspected illegal immigrant paid $85K a year
Two men have been arrested at a Scottsdale business in a case related to the state's employer sanctions law.

Downtown Phoenix bemoans no Suns' playoff games
The Phoenix Suns are wrapping up a season -- in which they have failed to make the NBA playoffs for the first time in years -- and the players and fans are not the only ones who are disappointed.

Bobcat killed by Prescott Valley police was rabid
Preliminary tests on a bobcat shot by Prescott Valley officers Monday shows the cat had rabies.


KTAR / Local / Stories
Tucson nursing home agrees to pay $17,500 fine
A Tucson nursing home has agreed to pay $17,500 in civil penalties for more than two dozen violations, including failing to protect its residents from sexual abuse.

UA student intent on bringing schools to Sudan
By day, Abraham Deng Ater is a University of Arizona graduate student, toiling toward his master's degree in public health. By night, he's a Costco employee, corralling shopping carts that are scattered across the darkened parking lot like spilled marbles.

Police: Suspect entering young women's apartments
Scottsdale police are investigating an incident they believe may have been committed by a man who has gone into the apartments of college-age women and watched them as they slept.

Iraqi who aided US troops getting aid in Tucson
Sgt. Joseph Cardone left immediately after seeing the address.

58-year-old Tempe woman dies after apartment fire
A 58-year-old Tempe woman has died after a fire swept through her apartment.

Dads in Eloy prison can still read to their kids
It's never too late to try being the best parent one can be - even from a prison cell miles away from home.

Teens critical after party shooting in Phoenix
Two Valley teens are in critical condition after a drive-by shooting at a house party in central Phoenix.

Endangered jaguar gets tooth surgery at Phoenix Zoo
An endangered jaguar on loan from Mexico is being treated at the Phoenix Zoo for injuries suffered while in captivity.

'Gov. Brewer' would shift power to conservative
Jan Brewer's 25 years of elected service in Arizona state and local government appears to be headed a new high: the governorship.

Scottsdale creeper strikes again
Scottsdale police said a man who sneaks into young girls' apartments at night and stares at them while they're in bed has struck again.

ICE makes arrests in Flagstaff sweep
Agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement have made more than a dozen arrests in Flagstaff in recent days.

Prescott official questions PR contract
A Prescott City Councilman is questioning a large public relations contract awarded to promote a joint water pipeline project with the town of Prescott Valley.

Man who passed himself off as lawyer gets 15 years
A man who passed himself off as a lawyer while operating a Phoenix office called ``Divorce with Dignity'' has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison.

2 new So. Arizona hospitals won't be built
A southern Arizona hospital group has shelved plans to build new hospitals in Sahuarita and Nogales.

Kingman man all aboard for showing model train set
In the years following his retirement, local resident Dave Bacon kept his mind and body limber by restoring vintage cars. The gleaming 1928 Studebaker sitting in his garage and the plethora of awards adorning his walls are a testament to the effort the 70-year old ex-mechanic put into his hobby.


KTAR / Local / Stories
Lots of help available to stop smoking today
As "The Great American Smokeout" is observed today,the Arizona Department of Health Services is launching new services to help smokers kick the habit.

Report: Napolitano tapped for Homeland Security
Gov. Janet Napolitano reportedly is President-elect Barack Obama's primary choice to be secretary of the Homeland Security Department.

Another hearing today for young murder suspect
An 8-year-old murder suspect faces a hearing today to determine whether he will be kept in custody, and if so where, while awaiting the outcome of his case.

Mesa plans to cut jobs, cut pay for employees
All Mesa employees face a 2 percent reduction in their base pay effective on Jan. 5.

Navajos open first casino near Gallup
The Navajo Nation opened its first casino Wednesday just east of Gallup, N.M., hoping that slot machines, poker and bingo will inject new income into the tribe.

Audio: St. Johns hearing (11/19)

Ariz. ordered to OK 'choose life' plate by Jan. 23
Now that an anti-abortion group has won a long legal fight, an Arizona commission is being ordered to meet by Jan. 23 and approve a special ``choose life'' license plate.

Pearce to head Ariz. Senate Appropriations panel
A veteran state lawmaker who has fought to restrain state spending will serve as the Arizona Senate's next Appropriations Committee chairman.

Napolitano says she's 'not looking' for new job
Gov. Janet Napolitano says she's not looking for another job.

Arizona State bullish on journalism education
As the newspaper business struggles to survive, journalism would seem to be a hard sell for young people trying to pick a career.

Gov trying to collect debt from federal government
Gov. Janet Napolitano has been talking to the federal government about more money for Arizona.

Teen jumps 12 feet to escape flames
A 16-year-old girl jumped from her second-story bedroom window Wednesday morning to escape a fire tearing through her home.

Tucson RV company files for bankruptcy
A longtime Tucson-based auto dealership company has filed for bankruptcy protection but plans to stay in business.

Sports proving a boon to Glendale's economy
USA Basketball, which is moving its headquarters to Glendale from Colorado Springs, Colo., will bring millions of dollars to the Valley.

AZ prison worker indicted for wife's murder in Minnesota
BENSON, Minn. -- A Minnesota grand jury has indicted a corrections officer in Arizona on charges of first- and second-degree murder in the 2004 shooting death of his wife.


KTAR / Local / Stories
AZ environmental agency may be extended for 2 years
Arizona legislators have concluded a hearing on the future of the state's environmental regulatory agency by calling for a short reauthorization and new restraints on state action on climate change.

Is gas usage headed back up as prices drop?
The sky-high gas prices of the past summer had a big impact on Arizona drivers.

Reporter shot to death in Mexican border city
A crime reporter in the violent Mexican border city of Juarez was killed Thursday as he warmed up his car, reigniting journalist deaths amid a rising wave of drug violence.

Napolitano testifies before Congress on stimulus package
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano testified before Congress Thursday that the nation is in need of a second stimulus package that increases federal contributions to Medicaid and provides funding for "ready-to-go" infrastructure projects that are already planned.

Local grocer says it 's competitive with chains on healthy foods
While Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and Safeway all made Health Magazine's list of national supermarket chains offering the freshest and healthiest foods, Bashas' markets here in the Valley say they can compete with anyone.

Valley expert: Summit may be most important since WWII
The G-20 economic summit in Washington, D.C., this weekend is crucial to solving the global financial crisis, says Valley financial expert Wayne Stutzer.

Despite hard times, people play Arizona Lottery
The economy is not taking a toll on the Arizona Lottery.

Counterfeit toys found at Arizona-Mexico border
U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials say inspectors have seized 125,000 counterfeit toys in recent weeks at the Port of Entry in San Luis.

Falling demand responsible for lower oil prices
The main catalyst behind plunging oil prices is lower demand, according to Joe Sparano with the Western States Petroleum Association.

Stomach super-bug hits hospitals
A stomach super-bug is giving doctors a headache.

Valley auto dealers watch bailout discussions
Some Valley auto dealers are anxiously awaiting a federal government decision on a financial rescue package for Detroit's troubled big three automakers.

Arizona jumps to No. 2 in nation for foreclosures
Arizona now has the second-highest foreclosure rate in the nation, according to the latest report from Realty-Trac.

Man gets long prison term for two rapes
A Tucson man accused of raping two women within four months has been sentenced to 32 1/2 years in prison.

Scottsdale, ADOT must pay for flood damage
The city must pay investors in a Scottsdale office complex $195,000 for damages related to flooding while state transportation officials have to pay more than $7 million.

Army soldier found dead in barracks
A soldier has been found dead in a medical barracks at Fort Huachuca, officials at the Army base said.