Arizona senators add millions to budget plan; CPS, universities, gene researchers among beneficiaries

PHOENIX - State senators approved their version of a new $8.8 billion budget Thursday - but not before adding millions of dollars in spending to the original Republican plan.

Senate GOP outlines coming year's budget

PHOENIX - Senate Republicans are proposing a nearly $8.8 billion spending plan for the coming year, a 1.6 percent hike over current levels.

Legislative briefs: foster care, playground acidents and ballot measures

Brewer removes some foster care restrictions

Tim Steller: Turnover rampant in CPS jobs, keeping agency in crisis

It's not the recruitment video you'd expect. One by one, workers hit you with the tough reality of working for Child Protective Services.

Arizona Child Protective Services had contact with family of Tucson toddler who died

Child Protective Services workers had prior contact with the mother of an 18-month-old twin girl who died Friday of injuries that police said were caused by repeated physical abuse.

Injured Tucson toddler dies, parents facing murder charges

An 18-month-old twin girl who was hospitalized earlier this week with severe injuries died Friday morning, said Sgt. Chris Widmer, spokesman for the Tucson Police Department.

Tucson girls taken by parents recovered in Mexico

U.S. and Mexican law enforcement agencies have recovered two young children taken by non-custodial parents.

Tucson pair accused in abuse of twin girls, 18 months

The parents of 18-month-old twins were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of child abuse.

Critics, CPS differ over whether agency's keeping up on parent-child visits

Child Protective Services is falling down on providing supervised parental visits and other critical services, private agencies hired by the state to provide those services say.

New law allots $4.4M to hire 50 CPS workers

Clarence Carter, director of the Department of Economic Security, right, and state lawmakers watch as Gov. Jan Brewer signs legislation to hire more CPS caseworkers.

New law allots $4.4M to hire 50 CPS workers

PHOENIX - A new law providing $4.4 million to fund 50 more Child Protective Services workers will be just a stopgap measure without efforts to halt abuse in the first place, the head of the agency said Thursday.

Brewer releases $8.9B state budget plan

PHOENIX — Gov. Jan Brewer is proposing an $8.9 billion spending plan for next year, including a first-in-the-nation system of tying state aid for public schools to academic performance, an increase of nearly $400 million.

Fitz Blog: Brewer states "State of the State"

In her fifth State of the State speech, Gov. Jan Brewer proposed expanding Arizona's Medicaid program, funding 200 more caseworkers for Child Protective Services and spending more money on public education.

Gov. Brewer proposes expanding Ariz.'s Medicaid program

PHOENIX — Parting ways with her own Republican Party, Gov. Jan Brewer today proposed expanding Arizona's Medicaid program to take advantage of the federal Affordable Care Act.

CPS getting new investigation unit

PHOENIX - The head of the new investigations unit of Arizona's Child Protective Services wants to fill in cracks that he says can be deadly for children and haunting for those trying - but failing - to protect them.

Boy, 6, takes gun to school, is now with CPS; dad held

A 6-year-old boy who had a handgun in his backpack at Keeling Elementary School has been turned over to Child Protective Services.

Money squeeze cuts basic services at CPS

PHOENIX - Basic services for families are being cut at Arizona's child-welfare agency as it tries to adjust to a multimillion-dollar budget shortfall, and documents obtained by the Arizona Republic show budget problems threaten to limit supervised visits between parents and their children.

Prison for teen in violent Tucson home invasion

A Tucson mother of three told a teenage home invader Monday his actions devastated her family, but she is praying for him.

AZ health chief decries kids' 'co-sleeping' deaths

PHOENIX - The state's top health official said Wednesday there's a simple, cost-free way to prevent dozens of children from dying each year: Let them sleep alone.