Arizona posted one of the country’s sharpest declines in so-called “dropout factories” in the last decade, but was still slightly below the national average for high school graduation rates in 2011, according to a recent report. Read more»

The director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement defended the decision to release more than 2,000 illegal immigrants last month, saying it was needed to keep the agency within budget. But John Morton conceded that eight high-risk inmates were mistakenly released. Read more» 1

Andrew Clegg’s commute from his Arizona City home to his former job in Maricopa County took 45 to 90 minutes on a good day – hours if there was a wreck on Interstate 10. The Census Bureau last week confirmed what Clegg knew: It wasn’t the distance that made the trip so long, it was the tens of thousands of others heading in the same direction at the same time. Read more»

The Window Rock Unified School District superintendent said the three-day-old federal budget cuts known as "sequestration" have already forced cuts in her district, and could lead to layoffs and the closure of three of the district's seven schools next year if left to stand. Read more»

Former Arizona Rep. Jim Kolbe joined representatives of business, church and civil rights groups to file briefs supporting same-sex marriage in two upcoming Supreme Court cases on the issue. Kolbe, in a same-sex marriage himself, said it's time marriage equality. Read more»

While much of Washington is focused on the impact of Friday’s “sequestration” cuts, Mesa Mayor Scott Smith is worried that a proposed solution to that problem could end up seriously hurting cities. Read more»

Arizona Republicans blasted a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement decision to release hundreds of illegal immigrants in anticipation of March 1 budget cuts, with one calling it “pure political posturing.” Read more»

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Tuesday that cybersecurity has gone from a fringe issue to becoming one of the top priorities for her department going forward. Read more» 1

After getting a "bum rap" for skipping a White House dinner last year, Gov. Jan Brewer said she suspects people will see her attendance this year as evidence that she and President Barack Obama are"BFFs." But Brewer said she's just doing the people's work. Read more»

Programs that fast-track illegal immigrants through the federal courts are costly, constitutionally questionable and are overburdening courts and should be done away with, civil rights and legal groups said Thursday. Read more» 1

Eight Arizona hospitals were ranked in the top 5 percent in the nation by a national healthcare rating agency, giving Arizona the 13th-best rate of high-achieving hospitals among states. Read more» 1

Grand Canyon National Park could have to cut hours and delay the opening of some park sections if automatic federal budget cuts are allowed to take effect March 1, a park advocacy group said Wednesday. Read more»

Arizona gave up on running its own health-insurance exchange and turned the job over to the federal government instead because of uncertainty over how a state program would work, an Arizona official testified Thursday. Read more»

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told a U.S. Senate committee Wednesday that the border is as secure as ever and it should not be an impediment to the comprehensive immigration reform. Read more» 1

Haile Thomas was one of two Arizonans, along with Avondale Mayor Marie Lopez Rogers, who were invited to join the first lady in the Capitol for the delivery of President Barack Obama’s State of Union address Tuesday. Read more»