http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/category/nationworld nationworld news from TucsonSentinel.com - Tucson's independent nonprofit online news en Copyright 2013 2013-06-19T09:17:02+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061813_franks_abortion/gop-quietly-amends-franks-abortion-bill-adds-rape-incest-exceptions/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061813_franks_abortion/gop-quietly-amends-franks-abortion-bill-adds-rape-incest-exceptions/ 16:41:00Z Jonathan Reid House Republicans tried to distance themselves from Rep. Trent Franks’ controversial comments over an abortion bill by quietly amending it to include language that the Glendale Republican had tried to block, experts said. Franks caused a furor last week when he said that “estimates of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low” as he argued against a rape-or-incest exception to his bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks. 2013-06-18T16:41:00+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061813_citizen_voters/bennett-vows-push-voter-id/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061813_citizen_voters/bennett-vows-push-voter-id/ 16:00:00Z Evan Bell Voting-rights advocates hailed the Supreme Court ruling that struck down Arizona’s proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration, but Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett vowed to reinstate the requirement. 2013-06-18T16:00:45+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061713_scalia_voting_rights/scalias-cunning-plan/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061713_scalia_voting_rights/scalias-cunning-plan/ 02:24:00Z Roberto De Vido There goes Justice Scalia, siding with the liberals again ... 2013-06-18T02:24:17+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_nsa_monitoring/nsa-probed-fewer-than-300-calls-2012-report/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_nsa_monitoring/nsa-probed-fewer-than-300-calls-2012-report/ 01:24:00Z Daniel DeFraia The National Security Agency investigated fewer than 300 phone numbers in 2012, according to a three-page US government document. 2013-06-18T01:24:26+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_irs_budget_attack/a-botched-attack-irs-budget/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_irs_budget_attack/a-botched-attack-irs-budget/ 01:16:00Z Justin Cohen An ad calling for the abolishment of the IRS incorrectly claimed that the federal agency’s budget increased by $2 billion. In fact, it’s down by nearly $1 billion during President Barack Obama’s first term. 2013-06-18T01:16:09+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_citizen_obligations/citizens-without-obligations/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_citizen_obligations/citizens-without-obligations/ 00:59:00Z Mike Alberti If American corporations are, as the Supreme Court ruled in 2010, citizens entitled to free speech and other rights from the nation, what corresponding obligations to the nation do these corporations have? 2013-06-18T00:59:29+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_patriot_act/remember-when-patriot-act-debate-was-all-library-records/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_patriot_act/remember-when-patriot-act-debate-was-all-library-records/ 22:48:00Z Justin Elliott In the months following the October 2001, passage of the Patriot Act, there was a heated public debate about the very provision of the law that we now know the government is using to vacuum up phone records of American citizens on a massive scale. Instead, the debate centered on something else: library records. 2013-06-17T22:48:58+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_ice_resign/ice-director-leaving-post-july/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_ice_resign/ice-director-leaving-post-july/ 22:44:00Z Julian Aguilar The director who has overseen U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a period of increased deportations is resigning from his post. John Morton, who has been in charge of the chief investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security since his confirmation in 2009, will return to the private sector at the end of July. 2013-06-17T22:44:06+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_gun_control_op/recommendations-executive-action-combat-gun-crimes/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_gun_control_op/recommendations-executive-action-combat-gun-crimes/ 17:00:00Z Arkadi Gerney Most of the attention in the current gun debate has been focused on congressional action (or inaction) on legislation designed to protect public safety by preventing dangerous individuals from having easy access to guns. There is much that can be done outside of Congress, however, to help strengthen oversight of the gun industry, enhance law-enforcement investigations of gun-related crime, and make it more difficult for criminals to get guns. 2013-06-17T17:00:51+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_columbia_drug/colombia-beware-zombie-drug/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061713_columbia_drug/colombia-beware-zombie-drug/ 16:38:00Z John Otis The drug scopolamine is also known as “the devil’s breath” or “burundanga.” The late salsa diva Celia Cruz sang about it. In a recent documentary, Vice called it “the world’s scariest drug.” 2013-06-17T16:38:20+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061713_scotus_voter_id/supreme-court-strikes-down-az-voter-registration-restrictions/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061713_scotus_voter_id/supreme-court-strikes-down-az-voter-registration-restrictions/#When: 09:30:000 Dylan Smith Updated: The Supreme Court ruled Monday that Arizona cannot require documentation of U.S. citizenship from voters who submit a standard registration form under the federal “Motor Voter” law. The 7-2 decision was written by conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. 2013-06-17T09:30:52+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061613_b_of_a_foreclosures/bofa-lied-homeowners-rewarded-foreclosures-former-employees-say/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061613_b_of_a_foreclosures/bofa-lied-homeowners-rewarded-foreclosures-former-employees-say/ 00:36:00Z Paul Kiel Bank of America employees regularly lied to homeowners seeking loan modifications, denied their applications for made-up reasons, and were rewarded for sending homeowners to foreclosure, according to sworn statements by former bank employees. 2013-06-17T00:36:42+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061613_cong_baseball/playing-hardball-dc-flake-suits-up-congressional-baseball-game/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061613_cong_baseball/playing-hardball-dc-flake-suits-up-congressional-baseball-game/ 00:28:00Z Evan Bell Democrat vs. Republican. It sounds like the definition of partisanship, but Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., hopes Thursday’s congressional baseball game can show the way to greater bipartisanship in Washington. 2013-06-17T00:28:57+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061613_rubio_immig/marco-rubio-immigration-reform-bill-almost-ready-go/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061613_rubio_immig/marco-rubio-immigration-reform-bill-almost-ready-go/ 23:29:00Z Kaitlin Funaro Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said on Sunday that 95 percent of the comprehensive immigration reform bill is “ready to go” but he is still pushing for more border security measures. Rubio dismissed concerns from conservative critics that he’s been too soft on immigration and was manipulated by Democrats in the group steering the legislation. 2013-06-16T23:29:59+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061613_latin_am_unification/latin-america-divided-we-stand/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061613_latin_am_unification/latin-america-divided-we-stand/ 23:13:00Z Simeon Tegel United and integrated, the region would be a force to reckon with on the world stage. But does Latin America’s unification reality match up to the rhetoric? 2013-06-16T23:13:06+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061513_immig_fathers_day/for-kids-with-dads-here-illegally-fathers-day-can-harrowing-holiday/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061513_immig_fathers_day/for-kids-with-dads-here-illegally-fathers-day-can-harrowing-holiday/ 23:34:00Z Emilie Eaton Jennifer Briones’ family usually gathers for a barbecue in the park for Father’s Day, but the 16-year-old Phoenix resident said she will likely find something else to do if the family gets together this weekend. 2013-06-15T23:34:42+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061513_social_media_pwr/az-lawmakers-learn-power-social-media-firsthand/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061513_social_media_pwr/az-lawmakers-learn-power-social-media-firsthand/ 23:24:00Z Xi Chen Social media can be a powerful tool for politicians. Or it can be “just another place to put your foot in your mouth,” as two Arizona lawmakers indirectly learned this week. 2013-06-15T23:24:49+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061413_babeu_border/babeu-urges-house-reject-senate-immigration-bill-focus-security/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061413_babeu_border/babeu-urges-house-reject-senate-immigration-bill-focus-security/ 19:28:00Z Emilie Eaton Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu dismissed a U.S. Senate immigration reform bill Thursday, urging House members to back an alternative plan instead that focuses on law enforcement and gives more authority to local police. 2013-06-14T19:28:31+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061413_syria/us-aid-syrian-rebels-concluding-regime-used-chemical-weapons/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061413_syria/us-aid-syrian-rebels-concluding-regime-used-chemical-weapons/ 16:32:00Z Lizzy Tomei U.S. and European intelligence analysts believe Bashar al-Assad’s regime has used chemical weapons against its own people, according to a memo circulated within the U.S. government on Thursday. The White House confirmed Thursday evening that it will be militarily aiding the Syrian rebels in response to convincing evidence of chemical weapons use by the regime. 2013-06-14T16:32:47+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061413_flagday/its-banner-occasion-flag-day/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061413_flagday/its-banner-occasion-flag-day/ 15:37:00Z Dylan Smith Flag Day: In the 236 years since the U.S. flag was adopted by the Continental Congress, it’s seen the addition of a few stars and a stripe or three has been added and removed. 2013-06-14T15:37:34+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061313_military_rape/five-ways-congress-trying-curb-rape-military/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061313_military_rape/five-ways-congress-trying-curb-rape-military/ 17:39:00Z Christie Thompson When the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the U.S. military’s sexual assault crisis, lawmakers grilled Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine officials on the alarmingly high number of rapes and other sexual abuses in their ranks. 2013-06-13T17:39:15+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061313_pacs_2013/lobbying-firm-pacs-start-2013-slow/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061313_pacs_2013/lobbying-firm-pacs-start-2013-slow/ 17:31:00Z David Levinthal Most lobbying firms are not in a hurry to pad politicians’ political coffers early this election cycle, with only a few either raising or spending significant cash, a Center for Public Integrity analysis of Federal Election Commission records indicates. 2013-06-13T17:31:48+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061313_pope_francis/pope-francis-urges-profound-global-economic-change/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061313_pope_francis/pope-francis-urges-profound-global-economic-change/ 17:22:00Z Jason Berry In his candid speeches and sermons, the new pope “forges a moral vocabulary on economics” to remind church leaders — and followers — of their responsibility to the poor. 2013-06-13T17:22:02+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061213_franks_abortion/franks-abortion-remarks-spark-media-frenzy/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061213_franks_abortion/franks-abortion-remarks-spark-media-frenzy/ 02:14:00Z Emilie Eaton U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, R-Glendale, created an online furor Wednesday with comments in a House committee hearing that “the estimates of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low.” 2013-06-13T02:14:19+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061213_farm_bill/az-farmers-cautiously-optimistic-farm-bill-despite-funding-cuts/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/061213_farm_bill/az-farmers-cautiously-optimistic-farm-bill-despite-funding-cuts/ 00:44:00Z Emilie Eaton Arizona farmers are cautiously optimistic at the Senate’s passage this week of a five-year farm bill, even though it cuts $24 billion from current spending levels. 2013-06-13T00:44:09+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061213_immig_then_vs_now/the-top-5-reasons-why-immigration-reform-2013-different-than-1986/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061213_immig_then_vs_now/the-top-5-reasons-why-immigration-reform-2013-different-than-1986/ 00:34:00Z Philip E. Wolgin The specter of the 1986 Immigration Reform and Control Act, or IRCA, has haunted every immigration-reform effort over the past few decades and continues to influence the 2013 reform debates. 2013-06-13T00:34:59+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061213_housing_crisis/housing-crisis-widespread-discrimination-little-taste-enforcement/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061213_housing_crisis/housing-crisis-widespread-discrimination-little-taste-enforcement/ 00:26:00Z Nikole Hannah-Jones The results of Tuesday’s U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development national study on the persistence of housing discrimination are unlikely to shock: Racial and ethnic minorities continue to find themselves locked out of many housing opportunities. 2013-06-13T00:26:04+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061213_american_antihero/the-rise-american-antihero/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061213_american_antihero/the-rise-american-antihero/ 17:15:00Z Jean MacKenzie Edward Snowden’s decision to come forward as the über-leaker behind the latest government abuse scandal has made him into a modern antihero. He and Bradley Manning are shattering traditional concepts of patriotism, loyalty, even legality. A TV series can’t be far behind. 2013-06-12T17:15:36+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_water_treaty/federal-legislation-targets-mexico-over-water-treaty/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_water_treaty/federal-legislation-targets-mexico-over-water-treaty/ 00:51:00Z Julian Aguilar A growing list of federal U.S. lawmakers is urging Mexico to comply with the terms of a 1944 water treaty they say its southern neighbor is violating. 2013-06-12T00:51:29+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_tx_aquifers/focus-aquifers-urged-during-push-water/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_tx_aquifers/focus-aquifers-urged-during-push-water/ 00:44:00Z Julian Aguilar As Texas lawmakers say farmers in the Rio Grande Valley are hurting because Mexico is not honoring a treaty on surface water delivery, experts caution that greater attention should be paid to water deep below the surface. 2013-06-12T00:44:04+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061113_medicaid_churn/potter-smoothing-out-medicaids-churn/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061113_medicaid_churn/potter-smoothing-out-medicaids-churn/ 00:38:00Z Wendell Potter Bipartisanship is so rare on Capitol Hill these days, especially in regard to health care, that when such comity breaks out, it’s worth reporting. 2013-06-12T00:38:13+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061113_engage_parents/were-not-doing-enough-engage-parents-even-though-it-improves-achievement/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061113_engage_parents/were-not-doing-enough-engage-parents-even-though-it-improves-achievement/ 00:28:00Z Jonah Edelman These days, the battle over public school is more pitched than ever. A veteran journalist told us that, in a 30-year career, he’s never covered an issue that provokes as much disagreement and rancor as education. 2013-06-12T00:28:32+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_sotomayor_book/sonia-sotomayor-courts-riches-from-book-deal/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_sotomayor_book/sonia-sotomayor-courts-riches-from-book-deal/ 19:50:00Z Reity O'Brien When they aren’t busy handing down landmark decisions, professing the law or attending the opera, U.S. Supreme Court Justices can make millions in book deals. The high court’s authors raked in nearly $2 million in publishing advances, appearances and royalties during 2012, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor taking home the lion’s share. 2013-06-11T19:50:38+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_pac_matches/charitable-matches-used-entice-pac-giving/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_pac_matches/charitable-matches-used-entice-pac-giving/ 19:48:00Z Michael Beckel Federal law prohibits companies from donating directly to political candidates, which is why individual employees must voluntarily fund corporate-sponsored political action committees — and their bosses can’t force them to donate. Yet one enticement companies are using to attract PAC support is a program that will “match” employees’ donations with contributions to charities of their choosing. 2013-06-11T19:48:58+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_usa_overrated/7-graphs-that-prove-america-overrated/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_usa_overrated/7-graphs-that-prove-america-overrated/ 18:50:00Z Kyle Kim Here are seven metrics that show U.S. citizens’ quality of life isn’t as high as many imagine. 2013-06-11T18:50:31+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_cat_mayor/think-youre-political-animal-think-again/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_cat_mayor/think-youre-political-animal-think-again/ 18:21:00Z Hannah Smith Morris the Cat is running for mayor of a city in Veracruz, Mexico, joining a pantheon of esteemed animal leaders in North America who have not only run, they’ve won. 2013-06-11T18:21:23+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061113_border_myths_op/bordering-truth-myths-and-facts-immigration/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061113_border_myths_op/bordering-truth-myths-and-facts-immigration/ 17:32:00Z Maryada Vallet During Congress’ current debate about immigration reform, the realities faced by immigrants and border communities are all too often misunderstood and misrepresented. What are the facts about border issues? 2013-06-11T17:32:18+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_factcheck_judges_obama/factcheck-obamas-judicial-juggling/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_factcheck_judges_obama/factcheck-obamas-judicial-juggling/ 17:10:00Z Brooks Jackson President Obama incorrectly claims that the Senate has taken three times longer to confirm his court nominees than those of his predecessor, George W. Bush. The president made the claim recently as he announced that he would nominate three judges to fill vacancies on the federal Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. 2013-06-11T17:10:59+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_govt_surveillance/nsa-black-hole-5-things-we-still-dont-know-agencys-snooping/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061113_govt_surveillance/nsa-black-hole-5-things-we-still-dont-know-agencys-snooping/ 16:57:00Z Justin Elliott Last week saw revelations that the FBI and the National Security Agency have been collecting Americans’ phone records en masse and that the agencies have access to data from nine tech companies. But secrecy around the programs has meant even basic questions are still unanswered. Here’s what we still don’t know. 2013-06-11T16:57:02+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061013_mccain_syria_op/sen-mccains-mistaken-rationale-over-syria/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061013_mccain_syria_op/sen-mccains-mistaken-rationale-over-syria/ 22:12:00Z Derrick Goodrich Our five-term senator, John McCain, has been a key advocate for an enhanced U.S. role in Syria, but the senator’s case does not hold water. Not only is he mistaken in his arguments for intervention, but, more fundamentally, he is mistaken as to what justifies a military intervention. 2013-06-10T22:12:46+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061013_govt_surveillance/the-best-stories-governments-growing-surveillance/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061013_govt_surveillance/the-best-stories-governments-growing-surveillance/ 19:11:00Z Christie Thompson Since 9/11, the government has been collecting enormous amounts of information on citizens. But most of the data grabbing is done in secret. What do we know about what the government knows? Here’s our reading guide to the government’s growing surveillance. 2013-06-10T19:11:34+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061013_garcia_immig_op/garcia-why-arizona-standing-alone-nebraska-cornfield/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/061013_garcia_immig_op/garcia-why-arizona-standing-alone-nebraska-cornfield/ 07:31:00Z Joseph Garcia At least 38 states presently recognize immigrants with deferred action status as eligible for driver’s licenses, yet we stand alone (with Nebraska) in refusing to grant driver’s licenses to certain undocumented immigrants with federal work permits. If Arizona is trying to change its anti-immigrant image and heal its self-inflicted wounds caused by SB 1070, this obviously isn’t going to do it. 2013-06-10T07:31:01+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061013_pentagon_waste/pentagon-may-wasting-1b-year-erroneous-payments-contractors/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/061013_pentagon_waste/pentagon-may-wasting-1b-year-erroneous-payments-contractors/ 07:25:00Z Richard H.P. Sia The Pentagon has been paying hundreds of millions of tax dollars a year to people and companies that don’t deserve it, but its financial management shortcomings are so severe that it’s made little progress in halting the errors or even measuring their magnitude, according to a report released by a Senate committee.. 2013-06-10T07:25:32+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060913_nonprofits_politics/do-nonprofits-names-imply-political-activity/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060913_nonprofits_politics/do-nonprofits-names-imply-political-activity/ 06:25:00Z Michael Beckel Trevor Potter — a Republican lawyer and president of the Campaign Legal Center, which advocates for stronger campaign finance regulations — says that the Internal Revenue Service is right to be on the lookout for organizations with a “significant amount of political activity.” 2013-06-10T06:25:09+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060913_schizophrenia/schizophrenia-diagnosis-possible-using-nerve-cells-from-nose/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060913_schizophrenia/schizophrenia-diagnosis-possible-using-nerve-cells-from-nose/ 06:20:00Z Alexander Besant Nerve cells in the nose may help in diagnosing those with schizophrenia according to new research. The finding could be revolutionary for treating schizophrenia, which presently can only be diagnosed through a mental evaluation. 2013-06-10T06:20:29+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/060913_money_think_again/the-power-money-not-logic/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/060913_money_think_again/the-power-money-not-logic/ 06:07:00Z Eric Alterman When economic historians look back at the current moment, they will likely be shocked first and foremost by the following paradox: During an era when global and technological developments were pushing most nations toward greater economic inequality, the U.S. government did almost everything possible to accelerate these trends and further enrich its wealthiest citizens at the expense of everyone else. 2013-06-10T06:07:28+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060913_verizon_records_judge/secret-court-judge-attended-expenses-paid-terrorism-seminar/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060913_verizon_records_judge/secret-court-judge-attended-expenses-paid-terrorism-seminar/ 06:01:00Z Chris Young U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson, who signed an order requiring Verizon to give the National Security Agency telephone records for tens of millions of American customers, attended an expense-paid judicial seminar sponsored by a libertarian think tank that featured lectures from a vocal proponent of executive branch powers. 2013-06-10T06:01:42+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060913_bennett_voting/bennett-backs-congressional-bill-aimed-cross-state-voter-registration/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060913_bennett_voting/bennett-backs-congressional-bill-aimed-cross-state-voter-registration/ 05:10:00Z Evan Bell Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett testified last week in support of a congressional bill aimed at keeping people from voting in multiple states, comparing it to a similar system pioneered by Arizona. 2013-06-10T05:10:55+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060913_franks_abortion/franks-bill-banning-abortion-after-20-weeks-clears-house-subcommittee/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060913_franks_abortion/franks-bill-banning-abortion-after-20-weeks-clears-house-subcommittee/ 04:30:00Z Jonathan Reid U.S. Rep. Trent Franks’ bill to ban abortions after 20 weeks passed its first hurdle last week, clearing a House subcommittee on a 6-4 straight party-line vote in the face of strong Democratic opposition. Opponents said the bill flies in the face of court rulings, as recently as last month, that rejected similar bans and protected abortion rights. 2013-06-10T04:30:36+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/060913_fiscal_debate_op/time-hit-reset-button-fiscal-debate/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/060913_fiscal_debate_op/time-hit-reset-button-fiscal-debate/ 23:09:00Z Michael Linden The federal budget has dominated the policy and political debate in Washington over the past three years. During this time, both the underlying fiscal landscape and the broader economic context for the debate have shifted in very important ways, yet the debate has remained remarkably static. Most policymakers seem to be stuck in 2010, as if nothing has changed in the years since. 2013-06-09T23:09:00+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060913_wild_horses/wild-horse-burro-roundups-are-costly-ineffective-study-says/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060913_wild_horses/wild-horse-burro-roundups-are-costly-ineffective-study-says/ 19:13:00Z Evan Bell The federal government’s program of rounding up wild horses and burros is costly and does little to stem the growth of herds – and may actually be helping herds grow, a new report said Wednesday. 2013-06-09T19:13:26+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060913_syria_mccain/as-mccain-urges-intervention-syrians-az-keep-wary-eye/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060913_syria_mccain/as-mccain-urges-intervention-syrians-az-keep-wary-eye/ 16:58:00Z Jonathan Reid U.S. Sen. John McCain told a Washington audience Thursday that the United States must establish a safe zone in Syria and arm the opposition with “heavy weapons” before the region sinks “deeper into extremism and conflict.” But Reda Taleb thinks that would be a mistake. Taleb is one of several Syrians in Arizona who are keeping an eye on the conflict in their homeland, and on McCain’s actions. 2013-06-09T16:58:41+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/060713_enema_by_the_state/enema-by-state/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/060713_enema_by_the_state/enema-by-state/ 00:53:00Z Roberto De Vido The National Security Agency and the FBI are conducting surveillance of Americans’ telephone and internet communications activities. And some people are surprised. 2013-06-08T00:53:54+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/060713_lion_wiswatch/indie-publishers-wi-lawmakers-should-take-clear-eyed-look-journalism-center/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/060713_lion_wiswatch/indie-publishers-wi-lawmakers-should-take-clear-eyed-look-journalism-center/ 17:31:00Z Dylan Smith The Board of the Local Independent Online News Publishers group, chaired by Sentinel Editor Dylan Smith, called attention to a vote by Wisconsin legislators to to evict the nonprofit, nonpartisan Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism from the UW-Madison campus. 2013-06-07T17:31:27+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060613_natl_monuments/gosar-grijalva-grapple-over-bills-rein-president-natl-monuments/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060613_natl_monuments/gosar-grijalva-grapple-over-bills-rein-president-natl-monuments/ 05:29:00Z Evan Bell To U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Prescott, his bill to bar the president from establishing new national monuments in Arizona without congressional approval is simply about transparency. To U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Tucson, it’s a threat to a law that has helped preserve such treasures as the Grand Canyon and the Sonoran Desert. 2013-06-07T05:29:13+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060613_d-day_facts/d-day-five-facts-know/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060613_d-day_facts/d-day-five-facts-know/ 16:26:00Z Stacey Leasca June 6, 1944, marked the first day of the the Normandy landings during WWII. While this day will forever be marked in history, there are a few facts that go unnoticed. 2013-06-06T16:26:48+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060613_immig_factcheck/factcheck-immigration-bills-63-trillion-price-tag/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060613_immig_factcheck/factcheck-immigration-bills-63-trillion-price-tag/ 16:09:00Z Robert Farley Critics of a bipartisan Senate bill to overhaul the nation’s immigration system falsely claim that it will cost an additional $6.3 trillion, citing a study by a conservative group that opposes the bill. However, the report is not an analysis of the bill, and it says the cost of keeping the status quo “could run into the trillions” – so the net cost would be substantially lower than $6.3 trillion. 2013-06-06T16:09:13+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060513_marijuana_seizure/border-patrol-seizes-17m-marijuana-tuesday/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060513_marijuana_seizure/border-patrol-seizes-17m-marijuana-tuesday/ 23:44:00Z Ryan Revock In separate incidents northwest of Tucson on Tuesday morning, U.S. Border Patrol agents seized two abandoned trucks that held 3,400 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $1.7 million. Other recent seizures included $370,000 worth of meth in Nogales, and two seizures totaling $150,000 of marijuana in Douglas. 2013-06-05T23:44:49+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060513_citizenship_economy/advocates-say-path-citizenship-path-brighter-economy-all/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060513_citizenship_economy/advocates-say-path-citizenship-path-brighter-economy-all/ 15:35:00Z Nela Lichtscheidl Immigration advocates released a study of Latino banking habits Tuesday that they said supports the case for a pathway to citizenship, which they said in turn opens the door to greater economic prosperity for all. 2013-06-05T15:35:49+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060513_bp_furlough/barber-urges-ok-deal-avoid-border-patrol-furloughs/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060513_bp_furlough/barber-urges-ok-deal-avoid-border-patrol-furloughs/ 15:19:00Z Emilie Eaton Border Patrol agents may not face furlough days if leaders of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee approve a Department of Homeland Security plan that would cut agents’ overtime pay instead. Rep. Ron Barber, D-Tucson, wrote to the ranking members of the Appropriations Committee Tuesday and urged them to act on the proposal. 2013-06-05T15:19:54+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060413_knights_templar_explainer/explainer-who-are-mexicos-knights-templar/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060413_knights_templar_explainer/explainer-who-are-mexicos-knights-templar/ 18:19:00Z Dudley Althaus They worship their leader “San Nazario” like a saint and claim they need extortion cash to protect the unprotected. But for many, this cult-like, meth-pushing Mexican gang is a menace to society. 2013-06-04T18:19:14+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060413_knights_templar_mx/confronting-mexicos-knights-templar-cartel/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060413_knights_templar_mx/confronting-mexicos-knights-templar-cartel/ 17:01:00Z Dudley Althaus The county of Coalcoman, Michoacan became fed up with the cult-like Knights Templar gang’s extorting, raping and killing. Here’s what it took to stop it — for now. 2013-06-04T17:01:23+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060313_az_pupil_funds_schools/az-ranks-near-bottom-per-pupil-school-spending-again/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060313_az_pupil_funds_schools/az-ranks-near-bottom-per-pupil-school-spending-again/ 01:36:00Z Jonathan Reid Arizona public schools again had some of the lowest per-pupil spending in the nation in 2011, ahead of only Oklahoma, Idaho and Utah, according to a recent Census Bureau report, which said Arizona spent an average of $7,666 per student, well below the national average of $10,560. 2013-06-04T01:36:34+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/060313_comm_colleges_op/are-community-colleges-truly-preparing-future-american-workforce/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/060313_comm_colleges_op/are-community-colleges-truly-preparing-future-american-workforce/ 21:08:00Z Hetchinger Report We were very surprised at the findings of a new report showing that the instructors in many of our community colleges expect very little from their first-year students—and a large fraction of those entering these institutions cannot meet even those low standards. 2013-06-03T21:08:22+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060313_immg_economy_tx/report-immigrants-increasing-economic-strength/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060313_immg_economy_tx/report-immigrants-increasing-economic-strength/ 18:38:00Z Julian Aguilar Since the 2010 U.S. census, the number of naturalized citizens has increased substantially in Texas, and the state’s immigrants account for significant purchasing power and economic output, according to an analysis by a Washington-based think tank urging immigration reform. 2013-06-03T18:38:14+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/arts/report/060313_german_words/germany-drops-its-longest-word/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/arts/report/060313_german_words/germany-drops-its-longest-word/ 18:26:00Z Katrine Dermody The German language isn’t for the faint of heart, with words that can seem infinitely long. In what may be considered a major win for the diction-impaired, Germans have officially removed their longest word from the national lexicon. 2013-06-03T18:26:12+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060313_wva_guns/now-you-cant-ban-guns-public-pool/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060313_wva_guns/now-you-cant-ban-guns-public-pool/ 18:04:00Z Lois Beckett If you feel unsafe at a public pool in Charleston, W.Va., you may soon have the right to lie there on a towel with a handgun at your side. For 20 years, Charleston has been an island of modest gun restrictions in a very pro-gun rights state. But its gun laws — including a ban on guns in city parks, pools and recreation centers — are now likely to be rolled back, the latest victory in a long-standing push to deny cities the power to regulate guns. 2013-06-03T18:04:01+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060213_medicaid_battle/distortions-medicaid-battle/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060213_medicaid_battle/distortions-medicaid-battle/ 22:46:00Z Brooks Jackson Conservative critics of the Affordable Care Act are misrepresenting a study examining the health benefits of expanding Medicaid to cover more low-income people. In Arizona, a group calling itself American Commitment has launched a series of 30-second Web ads claiming that “a recent study shows that Medicaid doesn’t even improve physical health.” But that’s a distortion. 2013-06-02T22:46:23+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053113_mx_city_kidnappings/mexico-city-police-investigate-possible-kidnapping-11-people-from-bar/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053113_mx_city_kidnappings/mexico-city-police-investigate-possible-kidnapping-11-people-from-bar/ 01:09:00Z Dudley Althaus It may seem hard to believe — 11 young people kidnapped in broad daylight in this bustling capital. But that is exactly what distraught relatives believe happened last Sunday morning. 2013-06-01T01:09:11+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053113_immig_medicare/study-immigrants-contribute-more-medicare-than-they-take-out/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053113_immig_medicare/study-immigrants-contribute-more-medicare-than-they-take-out/ 18:37:00Z Jordan Rau As Congress mulls changing America’s border and naturalization rules, a study finds that immigrant workers are helping buttress Medicare’s finances, because they contribute tens of billions a year more than immigrant retirees use in medical services. 2013-05-31T18:37:07+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053113_executions/a-prolonged-stay-reasons-behind-slow-pace-executions/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053113_executions/a-prolonged-stay-reasons-behind-slow-pace-executions/ 15:24:00Z Raymond Bonner States that impose the death penalty have been facing a crisis in recent years: They are short on the drugs used in executions. 2013-05-31T15:24:36+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053113_eyelid_lifts/eyelid-lifts-skyrocket-among-medicare-patients-costing-taxpayers-millions/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053113_eyelid_lifts/eyelid-lifts-skyrocket-among-medicare-patients-costing-taxpayers-millions/ 15:17:00Z Joe Eaton Aging Americans worried about their droopy upper eyelids often rely on the plastic surgeon’s scalpel to turn back the hands of time. Increasingly, Medicare is footing the bill. 2013-05-31T15:17:07+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/053013_immigration_reform/researchers-immigration-reform-should-focus-families-less-security/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/053013_immigration_reform/researchers-immigration-reform-should-focus-families-less-security/ 02:03:00Z Emilie Eaton The Senate’s comprehensive immigration reform bill is a step in the right direction, but it puts too much emphasis on border security and not enough on helping families stay together, a group of researchers said Thursday. 2013-05-31T02:03:34+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053013_guns_mental_crisis/texas-bill-lets-police-take-guns-from-those-mental-crisis/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053013_guns_mental_crisis/texas-bill-lets-police-take-guns-from-those-mental-crisis/ 01:57:00Z Brandi Grissom Police would have new authority to take firearms away from Texans who are in a mental crisis under a bill the House approved last Tuesday that is now headed to Gov. Rick Perry’s desk. 2013-05-31T01:57:59+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053013_rand_paul_pac/pro-rand-paul-super-pacs-name-may-violate-law/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053013_rand_paul_pac/pro-rand-paul-super-pacs-name-may-violate-law/ 01:53:00Z Michael Beckel Supporters of Republican Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., have launched “Rand PAC 2016.” But because the super PAC uses the potential presidential candidate’s first name, this action may violate federal law. 2013-05-31T01:53:53+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053013_peru_counterfeit/peru-counterfeit-currency-king/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053013_peru_counterfeit/peru-counterfeit-currency-king/ 01:47:00Z Simeon Tegel South America’s cocaine giant is also the best at fabricating phony dollar bills. The US Secret Service is working with Peruvian police to stop it. 2013-05-31T01:47:54+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053013_bachmann_donors/small-donors-fueled-michele-bachmanns-campaign/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053013_bachmann_donors/small-donors-fueled-michele-bachmanns-campaign/ 01:38:00Z Michael Beckel What do the woman who founded the Congressional Tea Party Caucus, the co-chairmen of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the U.S. Senate’s lone self-described “democratic socialist” have in common? They all rank among the top beneficiaries of small-dollar political donors, according to a Center for Public Integrity analysis of federal records. 2013-05-31T01:38:33+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/053013_johnny_peacemaker/johnny-peacemaker/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/053013_johnny_peacemaker/johnny-peacemaker/ 21:54:00Z Roberto De Vido Senator John McCain visited Syria earlier this week to meet with rebel leaders. Why? He ain’t sayin’. 2013-05-30T21:54:08+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/053013_climate_change/blame-news-publics-ignorance-climate/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/053013_climate_change/blame-news-publics-ignorance-climate/ 17:23:00Z Eric Alterman In a blog post titled, “Scientists agree on climate change. So why doesn’t everyone else?,” The Washington Post’s Brad Plumer covers a new survey by John Cook and Dana Nuccitelli of Skeptical Science. According to the survey, “Among abstracts [of published scientific papers] expressing a position on AGW [anthropogenic global warming], 97.1% endorsed the consensus position that humans are causing global warming.” 2013-05-30T17:23:04+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052913_eu_syria/eu-lifts-arms-embargo-syrian-rebels-extends-sanctions-assads-regime/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052913_eu_syria/eu-lifts-arms-embargo-syrian-rebels-extends-sanctions-assads-regime/ 01:25:00Z Paul Ames The European Union decided to let an arms embargo against the Syrian rebels expire, while the White House reportedly asked the Pentagon to draw up plans for a no-fly zone in Syria. 2013-05-30T01:25:09+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/052913_faith_in_values/faith-values-sequestration-hurts-all-us-not-just-most-vulnerable/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/052913_faith_in_values/faith-values-sequestration-hurts-all-us-not-just-most-vulnerable/ 01:18:00Z Sally Steenland It’s Day 90 of sequestration—the across-the-board spending cuts that went into effect March 1, which the Obama administration predicted would be devastating and conservatives insisted wouldn’t be so bad. Three months in, it’s worth asking how harmful the phased-in cuts have been—although that depends on whom you ask. 2013-05-30T01:18:57+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052813_hrw_immig_prosecutions/detained-immigrants-increasingly-hit-with-criminal-charges/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052813_hrw_immig_prosecutions/detained-immigrants-increasingly-hit-with-criminal-charges/ 19:11:00Z Kevin Douglas Grant The U.S. government now brings federal criminal charges against undocumented immigrants at an exponentially higher rate than it did 10 years ago, finds a Human Rights Watch report released last week. The result is a much high number of detained immigrants spending time in jail before deportation and for many, exclusion from future legalization under immigration reform legislation. 2013-05-28T19:11:40+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/052813_garcia_immig_op/garcia-immigration-reform-passes-major-milestone/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/052813_garcia_immig_op/garcia-immigration-reform-passes-major-milestone/ 18:39:00Z Joseph Garcia There is the pathway to citizenship – and then there is the bumpy, bone-jarring road that comes before undocumented immigrants can even begin to take their first step on what likely will be at least a 13-year journey. 2013-05-28T18:39:03+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052813_mccain_syria/mccain-sneaks-into-syria-meets-with-rebels/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052813_mccain_syria/mccain-sneaks-into-syria-meets-with-rebels/ 16:59:00Z Talia Ralph John McCain, Republican senator and former presidential candidate, secretly visited Syria on Monday, where he met with rebel leaders. 2013-05-28T16:59:27+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/052713_security_focus/report-focus-border-security-overshadows-economic-benefits/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/052713_security_focus/report-focus-border-security-overshadows-economic-benefits/ 00:20:00Z Nela Lichtscheidl Rep. Raul Grijalva, D- Tucson, knows there are benefits to be had from a U.S.-Mexico relationship, but fears the possibilities have been endangered by the hostility that has become part of the immigration debate. “The border lines went from a unique American landscape of people, history, and land itself, to a threat … to something to be feared,” he said. “Making that transition has affected the border tremendously.” 2013-05-28T00:20:59+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/052713_insurer_loopholes/potter-insurers-use-loopholes-avoid-essential-benefits/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/052713_insurer_loopholes/potter-insurers-use-loopholes-avoid-essential-benefits/ 00:16:00Z Wendell Potter There is an age-old tradition in this country: if you don’t like a law and can’t get rid of it, look for a loophole. That’s what some companies that don’t want to comply with an important Obamacare requirement have done, and it appears they’ve hit pay dirt. 2013-05-28T00:16:03+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052713_gop_irs_overreach/republican-overreach-irs/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052713_gop_irs_overreach/republican-overreach-irs/ 00:07:00Z Robert Farley While there has been plenty to find fault with in the revelation that the IRS targeted some tea party groups seeking tax exempt status, some of the Republican rhetoric has been an overreach. 2013-05-28T00:07:05+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052713_background_factcheck/factchecking-flake-background-checks/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052713_background_factcheck/factchecking-flake-background-checks/ 16:50:00Z Robert Farley An ad from Mayor’s Against Illegal Guns accuses Sen. Jeff Flake of breaking a promise to strengthen background checks because he voted against a bill that would have expanded background checks. But Flake did not promise to expand background checks, and he voted in favor of a bill that he argues (though others contest) would have strengthened the system. 2013-05-27T16:50:40+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/052713_az_vets/az-vets-face-long-delays-claims-requests/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/052713_az_vets/az-vets-face-long-delays-claims-requests/ 16:26:00Z Emilie Eaton A veteran’s benefits claim filed today with the Phoenix office of the Department of Veterans Affairs might not be closed until well after Memorial Day. Of 2014. In fact, it would be well past Labor Day and almost Columbus Day of next year before the average claim was completed in the Phoenix office, one of the slowest in the nation for closing such claims. 2013-05-27T16:26:03+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/fallen/our-fallen-tucsonans-killed-iraq-and-afghanistan-wars/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/fallen/our-fallen-tucsonans-killed-iraq-and-afghanistan-wars/#When: 15:42:000 Dylan Smith Updated: After a decade of war, dozens from Tucson and Southern Arizona have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 2013-04-30T15:42:26-07:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/052613_steenking_badges/smile-youre-under-arrest/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/052613_steenking_badges/smile-youre-under-arrest/ 06:21:00Z Roberto De Vido Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio violated the civil rights of Latinos who were detained during immigration sweeps, a federal judge has ruled. 2013-05-27T06:21:21+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052613_tx_immigration/texas-stands-out-multiple-immigration-fronts/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052613_tx_immigration/texas-stands-out-multiple-immigration-fronts/ 00:14:00Z Julian Aguilar As Congress wades deeper into the debate over comprehensive immigration reform legislation, Texas is standing out both for enforcement within its borders and for its appeal to 21st century activists who are seeking an overhaul to the country’s system. 2013-05-27T00:14:46+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052413_irs_facts/six-facts-lost-irs-scandal/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052413_irs_facts/six-facts-lost-irs-scandal/ 19:24:00Z Kim Barker In the furious fallout from the revelation that the IRS flagged applications from conservative nonprofits for extra review because of their political activity, some points about the big picture — and big donors — have fallen through the cracks. Consider this our Top 6 list of need-to-know facts on social welfare nonprofits, also known as dark money groups because they don’t have to disclose their donors. 2013-05-24T19:24:42+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/042313_bp_dogs/puppies-join-border-patrol-effort-sniff-out-smugglers/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/042313_bp_dogs/puppies-join-border-patrol-effort-sniff-out-smugglers/ 19:03:00Z Rebekah Zemansky Meet Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector Canine Unit through their two newest agents, Kirpy and Kala, who started training in March. The Belgian Malinois puppies will soon work with border agents to keep smugglers at bay. (with video) 2013-05-24T19:03:20+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052213_bostom_bomb_fbi/fla-man-with-alleged-ties-tsarnaev-killed-during-fbi-questioning/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052213_bostom_bomb_fbi/fla-man-with-alleged-ties-tsarnaev-killed-during-fbi-questioning/ 15:56:00Z Kaitlin Funaro A man shot and killed during FBI questioning in Orlando, Fla. allegedly had ties to Tamerlan Tsarnaev, the dead suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing, sources said Wednesday. 2013-05-22T15:56:19+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052213_immg_bill/key-senate-committee-approves-immigration-overhaul/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052213_immg_bill/key-senate-committee-approves-immigration-overhaul/ 15:33:00Z Kaitlin Funaro The Senate Judiciary Committee gave a sweeping immigration bill the stamp of approval Tuesday, setting the stage for a debate before the full Senate next month. 2013-05-22T15:33:59+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052113_tea_party_endorsements/tea-party-nonprofits-rarely-endorsed-political-candidates/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052113_tea_party_endorsements/tea-party-nonprofits-rarely-endorsed-political-candidates/ 01:39:00Z Michael Beckel Tea party groups and other conservative nonprofits at the heart of a scandal rocking the Internal Revenue Service have, of late, largely avoided electoral politics, according to a Center for Public Integrity review of Federal Election Commission filings. 2013-05-22T01:39:58+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052113_montt_conviction/genocide-conviction-rios-montt-overturned-guatemala-now/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052113_montt_conviction/genocide-conviction-rios-montt-overturned-guatemala-now/ 01:04:00Z Faine Greenwood Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt’s conviction for genocide was overturned and his trial must begin anew starting from the point in mid-April when a dispute started over which judge should hear the case, the country’s highest court said Monday. 2013-05-22T01:04:46+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052113_israel_syria/israeli-defense-chief-warns-syria-cross-border-fire-golan-heights/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/052113_israel_syria/israeli-defense-chief-warns-syria-cross-border-fire-golan-heights/ 00:57:00Z Noga Tarnopolsky A new front seems to be developing in the ever-changing Syrian civil war — a front of cross-border bluster. 2013-05-22T00:57:36+00:00 http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/052113_irs_propublica/sound-fury-and-irs-mess/ http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/052113_irs_propublica/sound-fury-and-irs-mess/ 19:11:00Z Richard Tofel ProPublica’s job is to report the news rather than to make news ourselves, but sometimes we find an article of ours to be itself a subject of public debate. Last week was such a time, when two articles we had published back in December and January became the subject of significant attention in light of the uproar over IRS oversight of the process for granting tax exemption to so-called “social welfare” groups. 2013-05-21T19:11:15+00:00