Arizona

August 18, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the deaths of two Marines who were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

The following Marines died Aug. 14 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan:

Cpl. Anthony G. Mihalo, 23, of Naperville, Illinois.

Lance Cpl. Juan Lopez-Castaneda, 19, of Mesa, Arizona.

The Marines were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif.

Source: DoD

McCain Touts Plan at Nuke Plant That Partially Melted Down, Gave Rise to Term "China Syndrome" & Caught Fire Just This Past May

August, 2008 -- Washington, D.C.--As John McCain is paying a visit today to the Enrico Fermi nuclear generating station in Monroe, Michigan he can be expected to tout his costly plan to build 45 new nuclear plants by 2030 and 55 more after that. This plan would effectively double the number of nuclear reactors and the amount of dangerous high-level nuclear waste that would need to be transported across the country.    » read more »

June 6, 2008 -- A new report reveals how the Smoke-Free Arizona Act led to healthier environments for employees and patrons of Arizona restaurants and bars and to indoor workplaces free from the deadly effects of secondhand smoke.

Since the law took effect May 1, 2007, complaints about indoor smoking have dropped dramatically to less than 200 a month from about 1,400 in the first month, according to the first annual report on the Smoke-Free Arizona Act.

"We are proud to state that one year after the Law went into effect, a high level of compliance has been achieved statewide. Most employers responded well in creating smoke-free workplaces while the number of complaints declined significantly, this resulting in cleaner air for Arizona residents," the report concludes.    » read more »

May 21, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, today announced that the Committee approved S. 2555, “The Reducing Global Warming Pollution from Vehicles Act of 2008,” a bill that instructs the President to sign the California waiver so that California and other states can proceed with laws to improve air quality problems from cars.

On December 19, 2007, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson denied California’s request for the waiver – the first time in history that EPA had ever denied outright a request from California for a waiver to do more to cut air pollution.    » read more »

SAN FRANCISCO, 05/19/2008 –The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently ordered the City of Nogales to correct violations of the nation’s Safe Drinking Water Act, specifically, monitoring for disinfection byproducts.

According to the EPA, the City of Nogales failed to submit a plan detailing how it will monitor and sample for disinfection byproducts that could be produced when chlorine, ozone, or chlorine dioxide are used to disinfect the water. If the city fails to comply with the order, it could face fines of up to $32,500 per day.    » read more »

SAN FRANCISCO, 05/19/2008 – Motorola, Inc., Siemens Corp. and GlaxoSmithKline will collectively pay a $500,000 civil penalty for system failures that led to the release of trichloroethylene (TCE) into the public drinking water system in Scottsdale, Ariz., the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice announced today.

The settlement resolves violations of the North Indian Bend Wash consent decree, filed in 2003, which occurred when TCE above contamination limits was released from the Miller Road Treatment Facility on two separate occasions, in October 2007 and January 2008.    » read more »

May 16, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. John K. Daggett, 21, of Phoenix, Arizona, died May 15 in Halifax, Canada, of wounds suffered May 1 in Baghdad, Iraq, when a rocket-propelled grenade struck his vehicle.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.    » read more »

May 16, 2008 -- Despite John McCain's self-professed opposition to earmarks and his claim to have never done anything to help his favorite lobbyists and campaign contributors, the USA Today reveals that McCain did in fact push for what watchdog groups called an "earmark" after a major donor lobbied him for it. According to a lawyer for the watchdog group Public Citizen, executives from SunCor "were asking for a specific earmark. And McCain delivered."

John McCain: Photo by Jason Means (CC)    » read more »

May 14, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Victor M. Cota, 33, of Tucson, Arizona, died May 14 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device in Kadamiyah, Iraq, May 13.

He was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.    » read more »

May 11, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Pfc. Ara T. Deysie, 18, of Parker, Arizona, died May 9 in Paktia Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his unit came under rocket-propelled grenade fire.

He was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

   » read more »

May 10, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - United States Congressman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) endorsed Barack Obama for president today.

Congressman Mitchell is the 275th superdelegate to endorse Obama. Obama is 156 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.

Barack Obama speaks at a rally in Arizona: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)    » read more »

May 05, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Pvt. Corey L. Hicks, 22, of Glendale, Arizona, died May 2 in Baghdad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device.

He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 66th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

   » read more »

April 21 -- The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has issued a High Pollution Advisory for ozone for the Phoenix metropolitan area. Forecasted weather conditions on Tuesday, April 22 are expected to generate levels of ozone that may exceed the federal health standard.

Smog over Phoenix, Arizona: Photo by Bel Vezer (CC)

ADEQ recommends that children and adults with respiratory problems avoid outdoor activities on Thursday and suggests that the general public limit outdoor activity throughout the day.    » read more »

Governor Napolitano Proclaims April 19-26 Infant Immunization Awareness Week in Arizona

April 14, 2008 -- Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and state and local health officials are stressing the importance of immunizations in light of a measles outbreak in Pima County.

Vaccination: Photo by Belinda Hankins Miller (CC)

"This outbreak shows that we can’t let our guard down. Forgotten diseases like measles and polio are still out there, and that’s why it’s important to make sure vaccinations are up to date," the Governor said. "Immunizations are a very safe and effective way to keep Arizona’s children safe, healthy and in school."    » read more »

Napolitano testimony before U.S. House of Representatives on FLAME Act

April 10, 2008 -- PHOENIX – Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano today told the U.S. House of Representatives’ Natural Resources Committee that Congress should pass legislation to provide separate federal funding for catastrophic wildfire response and suppression.

Smoke billows from a wildfire in Sedona, Arizona: Photo by cantaloupe99 (CC)    » read more »