Obama taps Gabrielle Giffords to help pick Fulbright scholars

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is tapping former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords for the board that selects recipients for Fulbright scholarships.

Obama tries to stem controversies, but GOP is unsatisfied

WASHINGTON — President Obama, seeking to regain his footing amid controversies hammering the White House, named a temporary chief for the scandal-marred Internal Revenue Service Thursday and pressed Congress to approve new security money to prevent another Benghazi-style terrorist attack.

Study sets off immigration-bill squabble

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan Senate immigration bill would cost the government a net $6.3 trillion over the next 50 years to provide benefits for millions of people now living in the U.S. illegally, the Heritage Foundation said in a report Monday, setting off a fierce dispute with fellow conser…

Districts force Barber, Kirkpatrick to buck Dems

Ron Barber

Districts force Barber, Kirkpatrick to buck Dems

Ann Kirkpatrick

Districts force Barber, Kirkpatrick to buck Dems

WASHINGTON - Arizona Reps. Ron Barber and Ann Kirkpatrick touted their designation last week as being among the Democrats most likely to buck their party in congressional votes.

Congress needs pay raise, yes, if we want quality work

WASHINGTON

Tucsonans join national push for universal background checks

Catholic Bishop Gerald Kicanas advocated passage of gun-control legislation at a gathering of like-minded people at a news conference held at South Tucson City Hall.

Tucsonans join national push for universal background checks

Pam Simon, a survivor of the Jan. 8, 2011, shootings, listens to speakers at the gathering on the National Day of Action to Reduce Gun Violence.

Tucsonans join national push for universal background checks

In conjunction with activists across the country on the National Day of Action to Reduce Gun Violence, proponents of universal background checks for gun buyers Thursday launched a local effort to pass the legislation.

Fitz Blog: Easter in the news

Headlines from around the world

No assault-weapons ban included in Dems’ Senate bill

WASHINGTON — An assault-weapons ban won’t be in the gun-control legislation that Democrats bring to the Senate floor next month, a decision that means the ban’s chances of survival now are all but hopeless.

Giffords, back at tragic site, asks for wider gun checks

Gabrielle Giffords

Giffords, back at tragic site, asks for wider gun checks

Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords returned Wednesday to the northwest-side grocery store where she was nearly slain on Jan. 8, 2011, to advocate for expanded background checks for gun buyers.

Giffords at Tucson shooting site: Expand gun-buyer background checks

Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords returned Wednesday to the northwest side grocery store where she was nearly slain Jan. 8, 2011 to advocate for expanded background checks for gun buyers.

Giffords in TV ad urges background checks for all gun purchases

Former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is urging key senators to support expanded background checks for gun purchases in a new television ad that is to begin airing Tuesday in Arizona and Iowa.

Congress actually may do something on gun control

OK, so Congress hasn't managed to pass a budget, fix the tax code or avert the automatic spending cuts of the dreaded sequester.

Arizona braces for federal budget cuts

PHOENIX — Dirty bathrooms, closed trails and longer lines at Grand Canyon National Park. Furloughs for thousands of civilian defense workers. Reduced health care access.

Congress passes bill renewing anti-violence law

WASHINGTON — House Republicans raised the white flag Thursday on extending domestic violence protections to gays, lesbians and transsexuals after months of resisting an expansion of the Violence Against Women Act.