story archive
Stories by Joel T. Vernile
Posted Dec 9, 2017, 1:50 pm
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
With one week left to sign up for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, advocates are urging Arizona consumers to “window shop” for insurance plans that may be cheaper than they expected or, in some cases, essentially free.... Read more»
Posted Dec 6, 2017, 2:28 pm
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
Halfway into the Affordable Care Act’s open enrollment, the number of people signing up per day is sharply higher than it was last year, with about 500 more Arizonans signing up every day. The deadline is Dec. 15, and premiums in Arizona are expected to increase by only about 2 percent this year.... Read more»
Posted Nov 27, 2017, 9:34 am
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
Police department policies on the use of body-worn cameras, including at the Tucson, Phoenix and Mesa departments, present the possibility for abuse of the technology, according to a report by a national civil rights group.... Read more»
Posted Nov 8, 2017, 12:01 pm
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
Arizona is one of the few states expected to see a decrease in average premium costs during the Affordable Care Act open enrollment period that opened last week – if consumers can figure out how to sign up. The window to enroll has been cut in half from previous years, to 45 days, hours have been shortened, outreach and advertising budgets have been cut — in what critics are calling a Trump administration campaign to “sabotage” Obamacare after Congress was unable to kill it.... Read more»
Posted Nov 4, 2017, 10:19 pm
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
The House Friday passed a GOP bill to extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program for five years by pulling funds from other programs under Obamacare, angering Democrats who called the cuts unnecessary.... Read more»
Posted Oct 31, 2017, 11:58 pm
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
An emotional Sen. John McCain returned Monday to the Naval Academy where he entered public service more than 60 years ago, and called on midshipmen there to always to “do the right thing” and fight for American ideals.... Read more»
Posted Oct 30, 2017, 1:52 pm
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
The Bureau of Land Management has recommended closing 53,300 acres of the Sonoran Desert National Monument to recreational shooting, but keeping the remaining 443,000 open to shooters.... Read more»
Posted Oct 18, 2017, 9:49 am
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
Republican Senate hopeful Kelli Ward flexed newfound political muscle Tuesday with a planned campaign kickoff in Scottsdale that promised appearances by conservative heavy-hitters, radio host Laura Ingraham and former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon.... Read more»
Posted Oct 12, 2017, 11:19 am
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
A federal appeals court said a Pinal County sheriff’s deputy must face a lawsuit brought by the family of an unarmed man he shot twice in the back in Eloy in 2014.... Read more»
Posted Oct 5, 2017, 12:19 pm
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
The House voted along party lines Tuesday to approve Arizona Rep. Trent Franks’ bill that bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy except in cases of rape, incest or threats to the life of the mother.... Read more»
Posted Sep 27, 2017, 11:23 am
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
House leaders said they hope to have a vote as soon as next week on a bill by Rep. Trent Franks, R-Glendale, that would prohibit abortions in most cases after 20 weeks of pregnancy.... Read more»
Posted Sep 20, 2017, 9:49 am
Joel T. Vernile & Adrienne St. Clair/Cronkite News
ASen. John McCain, a key vote in the failure of the last Obamacare repeal attempt, refused to say Tuesday how he will vote on a new GOP plan.... Read more»
Posted Sep 14, 2017, 10:01 am
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
Reps. Kyrsten Sinema and Martha McSally were among a bipartisan group of 13 House members invited to the White House to talk about tax reform Wednesday with President Donald Trump.... Read more»
Posted Sep 6, 2017, 3:34 pm
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
Trump administration officials defended their proposal to “wind down” a deferred deportation program over the next six months, calling it the least disruptive way of terminating a program that has protected 800,000 young immigrants.... Read more»
Posted Aug 28, 2017, 10:37 am
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
A federal appeals court Friday ordered district judges in Arizona to stop shackling defendants unless they first determine that restraints are needed for “maintaining security and order” in the court.... Read more»
Posted Aug 22, 2017, 10:24 pm
Joel T. Vernile
/Cronkite News
The primary race for Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake’s seat is heating up as one of Flake’s main antagonists, President Donald Trump, is visiting the state.... Read more»