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.

McCain: GOP stands to benefit from OK of immigration bill

PHOENIX - Approval of a comprehensive immigration plan with Republican votes would enable the party to once again compete for Latino votes here, Arizona's senior U.S. senator said Thursday.

Arizona redistricting challenge heads to US court today

PHOENIX - Republican interests head to federal court today hoping to realign the state's legislative districts more to their liking.

Senate vote: OK $85 billion cuts, avert shutdown

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate approved legislation Wednesday to lock in $85 billion in widely decried spending cuts aimed at restraining soaring federal deficits — and to avoid a government shutdown just a week away.

Leadership means dealing with those who dislike you

When it comes to Republicans, President Obama sees himself as a kind of reverse Sally Field: They don't like him. They really, really, don't like him.

GOP senators tell Obama to tone down the attacks

WASHINGTON — Polite yet firm, Senate Republicans told President Obama on Thursday to tone down his political attacks and prod Democratic allies to support controversial changes in Medicare if he wants a compromise reducing deficits and providing stability to federal benefit programs.

Conservative forum unwise to snub Christie, gays

What can you do with a man like Chris Christie?

Napolitano: U.S.-Mexico border more secure than ever

WASHINGTON — The Senate opened its first hearing on a comprehensive immigration overhaul Wednesday with a call from a committee chairman for swift action on a pathway to citizenship for the nation’s 11 million illegal immigrants. Tensions quickly emerged as shouting protesters interrupted th…

GOP legislators vote to alter guidelines to recall elections

PHOENIX - Hoping to avoid another ouster of one of their own, Republican legislators on Thursday voted to change the rules for recall elections.

Dem supervisors block Miller's pick for fair panel

The Democrats on the Pima County Board of Supervisors defeated a move by new Republican Supervisor Ally Miller to appoint conservative talk-radio host Joe Higgins to the Pima County Fair Commission.

Redistrict panelists can claim immunity

PHOENIX - Members of the Independent Redistricting Commission do not need to answer certain questions from those who are suing them, a federal court has ruled.

Fitz Blog: The Pledge of Allegiance is in the news

Rep. Steve Smith, a Republican from Maricopa and sponsor of a bill requiring all students to say the pledge of allegiance, suffered a setback when his head exploded. When an aide informed Smith the pledge was written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a prominent socialist, Smith’s head spun, tripl…

GOP: Brewer budget flawed

PHOENIX - Republican budget planners called the governor's revenue projections too rosy Tuesday, announcing they want a much smaller spending plan than she proposed last week.

Agreement reached in Barber-McSally ballot dispute

The dispute over 130 provisional ballots in the Congressional District 2 race has been resolved, for now anyway.

Political notebook: Young and not-so-young voters make poll worker feel 'like a little kid'

Canara Price, 99, says she'll continue to vote in person as long as she can walk because there was a time she wasn't allowed to.

Political notebook: Young and not-so-young voters make poll worker feel 'like a little kid'

Paul Jamrog, 64, thought his first time working at the polls would be frustrating, mainly because he'd have to keep his political opinions to himself.

Political events

• Nov. 6. General election night. Polls open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Political events

• Oct. 28. Meet-and-greet with Nancy Young Wright, Democratic candidate for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 1. From 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Dusenberry Library, 5605 E. River Road.

Political events

• Oct. 22. Democrats of Greater Tucson luncheon with guest speakers Mark Stegeman, Kristel Ann Foster, Cam Juarez and Betts Putnam-Hidalgo; all candidates for TUSD Board. At noon at Dragon's View Restaurant, 400 Bonita Avenue. Lunch is $8.50.

Judge tosses legal challenge to Arizona political maps

PHOENIX — A judge this morning threw out a bid by some Republicans to void the congressional and legislative lines drawn by the Independent Redistricting Commission.