January 2008
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Past editions
Arizona Budget Banking on Speeders
By the Associated Press, Newsmax.com
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano says the deployment of new photo radar or other speed enforcement technology on state highways is all about public safety. But her proposed state budget counts on the anticipated speeding fines to help erase a projected revenue shortfall. The proposal, submitted to the Legislature late Friday, anticipates $120 million in revenue the first year, including $90 million in net income after expenses from the statewide effort. Even bigger dollar amounts are expected in future years. The state faces a projected revenue shortfall of at least $1.2 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Pollster now faces questions himself
By the Oregonian
Oregon's premiere Republican pollster is embroiled in an unusual criminal investigation because of a poll he conducted in New Hampshire that included derogatory information about GOP candidate Mitt Romney and his Mormon religion. New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte identified Bob Moore and his Portland firm, Moore Information, as the pollster behind a survey that has become a hot political issue in the state's first-in-the-nation presidential primary Tuesday. Ayotte said the survey may have violated a state law governing "push polls," which are designed to sound like legitimate surveys but are actually used to spread negative information. New Hampshire law requires that callers be told if a poll is being conducted on behalf of any candidate. Moore refuses to say who commissioned the survey, a matter of intense interest in New Hampshire political circles. His attorney, Terrence Kay of Salem, said the poll was not conducted for a candidate, political party or political action committee. But Ayotte is still raising the possibility that a candidate could be connected to the poll. Moore told The Oregonian that his survey was conducted solely as research for the primary election. "We have never done a push poll, and we are never going to do a push poll," he said. Moore said he can't disclose his client because of a confidentiality agreement. He would not say if he had asked to be released from the agreement. In New Hampshire, Romney and his chief rival in the state's GOP primary, Ariz. Sen. John McCain, have traded shots over who might be responsible. The survey, which reportedly also was conducted in Iowa, included questions about Romney's Mormon faith as well as draft deferments he received during the Vietnam War when he was a missionary in France.
UA checking legal status of students under Proposition 300
By the Associated Press, Arizona Republic
Under Proposition 300, the University of Arizona has been able to corroborate the legal status of 758 of the 877 students it previously reported as not verified. Voters passed Proposition 300 in November 2006. It requires illegal immigrants to pay out-of-state tuition and bans them from receiving state tuition assistance. State universities and community colleges were required to file Proposition 300 compliance reports with the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by June 30 and again Monday. In June, UA reported that 877 students had not proven their legal status to the university. The students were notified that further documentation was needed and 758 students provided it, the university said. The remaining 119 students have been moved from in-state to out-of-state status, according to the report UA filed Monday.
Ex-church music leader faces family in courtroom
By Carlos Illescas, Denver Post
The former music director at Heritage Christian Center, who is accused of molesting a 15-year- old female relative, appeared in Arapahoe County District Court on Monday. James Howard Brown, 38, is being held on $50,000 bond. He faces two counts of sexual assault on a child and one charge of aggravated incest. All three are felonies. Formal charges are expected to be filed against Brown at a court hearing Thursday, when the bail issue also will be revisited. Several of Brown's family members appeared in court, including the mother of the alleged victim. The relatives clasped hands, and the mother held a Bible while Brown was in the courtroom.
By the Associated Press, Newsmax.com
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano says the deployment of new photo radar or other speed enforcement technology on state highways is all about public safety. But her proposed state budget counts on the anticipated speeding fines to help erase a projected revenue shortfall. The proposal, submitted to the Legislature late Friday, anticipates $120 million in revenue the first year, including $90 million in net income after expenses from the statewide effort. Even bigger dollar amounts are expected in future years. The state faces a projected revenue shortfall of at least $1.2 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1.
Pollster now faces questions himself
By the Oregonian
Oregon's premiere Republican pollster is embroiled in an unusual criminal investigation because of a poll he conducted in New Hampshire that included derogatory information about GOP candidate Mitt Romney and his Mormon religion. New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte identified Bob Moore and his Portland firm, Moore Information, as the pollster behind a survey that has become a hot political issue in the state's first-in-the-nation presidential primary Tuesday. Ayotte said the survey may have violated a state law governing "push polls," which are designed to sound like legitimate surveys but are actually used to spread negative information. New Hampshire law requires that callers be told if a poll is being conducted on behalf of any candidate. Moore refuses to say who commissioned the survey, a matter of intense interest in New Hampshire political circles. His attorney, Terrence Kay of Salem, said the poll was not conducted for a candidate, political party or political action committee. But Ayotte is still raising the possibility that a candidate could be connected to the poll. Moore told The Oregonian that his survey was conducted solely as research for the primary election. "We have never done a push poll, and we are never going to do a push poll," he said. Moore said he can't disclose his client because of a confidentiality agreement. He would not say if he had asked to be released from the agreement. In New Hampshire, Romney and his chief rival in the state's GOP primary, Ariz. Sen. John McCain, have traded shots over who might be responsible. The survey, which reportedly also was conducted in Iowa, included questions about Romney's Mormon faith as well as draft deferments he received during the Vietnam War when he was a missionary in France.
UA checking legal status of students under Proposition 300
By the Associated Press, Arizona Republic
Under Proposition 300, the University of Arizona has been able to corroborate the legal status of 758 of the 877 students it previously reported as not verified. Voters passed Proposition 300 in November 2006. It requires illegal immigrants to pay out-of-state tuition and bans them from receiving state tuition assistance. State universities and community colleges were required to file Proposition 300 compliance reports with the Joint Legislative Budget Committee by June 30 and again Monday. In June, UA reported that 877 students had not proven their legal status to the university. The students were notified that further documentation was needed and 758 students provided it, the university said. The remaining 119 students have been moved from in-state to out-of-state status, according to the report UA filed Monday.
Ex-church music leader faces family in courtroom
By Carlos Illescas, Denver Post
The former music director at Heritage Christian Center, who is accused of molesting a 15-year- old female relative, appeared in Arapahoe County District Court on Monday. James Howard Brown, 38, is being held on $50,000 bond. He faces two counts of sexual assault on a child and one charge of aggravated incest. All three are felonies. Formal charges are expected to be filed against Brown at a court hearing Thursday, when the bail issue also will be revisited. Several of Brown's family members appeared in court, including the mother of the alleged victim. The relatives clasped hands, and the mother held a Bible while Brown was in the courtroom.
