According to the International Trade Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, Arizona’s exports of merchandise to Mexico totaled $19.4 billion in 2013. That makes Arizona the nation’s fifth-largest exporter to Mexico, trailing only Texas, California, Michigan and Illinois. Read more»

Pointing to an advocacy group's report listing Arizona among states falling behind in addressing distracted driving, rules for novice drivers and protecting occupants of vehicles, AAA Arizona is calling on state lawmakers to strengthen traffic-safety laws. Read more»

Business owners in downtown Mesa say they expect the 3.1-mile expansion of Metro light rail to cause some headaches but lead to a rejuvenation of the area when it is completed in late 2015 or early 2016. Work to lay tracks is scheduled to start next month. Read more»

Mayor Greg Stanton says Phoenix must become more innovative and increase its exports. In his State of the City Address, Stanton said Phoenix will double exports to Mexico in the next five years. Read more»

Super Bowl XLIX will be held next year in Glendale, but downtown Phoenix will play a big role as well. At a news conference Tuesday, the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee announced that downtown will host an outdoor fan campus dubbed Super Bowl Central and the NFL’s headquarters and media center. Read more»

A state House committee unanimously endorsed a bill Thursday that would appropriate $250,000 for an external review of Child Protective Services. Read more»

A system to alert the public when a law enforcement officer has been attacked would make communities safer for both residents and officers, according to one lawmaker. Read more»

Arizonans deserve a better accounting of what they get in return for in state tax credits given each year to companies, a public interest advocate says. HB 2586, authored by Darin Mitchell, R-Litchfield Park, which would require the Arizona Department of Revenue to produce an annual report on recipients of five state tax credits. Read more»

A bill that would prohibit novice drivers from using cellphones except in emergencies advanced Thursday through the House Transportation Committee. However, two bills seeking to ban texting by all drivers apparently are going nowhere. Read more»

Calling it a response to state regulators bullying small businesses, a lawmaker wants to require agencies to list owners’ rights on their websites and present them prior to any investigation. Read more»

Arizona’s transportation system is sorely in need of improvements, but state fuel taxes that fund such work aren’t keeping pace, a state lawmaker contends. “We are entering a crisis in transportation this year,” said Sen. Steve Farley, D-Tucson. Read more»

Reducing taxes and government regulation would help Arizona’s small businesses bolster the economy and create jobs, advocates said this week in making their case to state lawmakers. Read more»