PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Department of Transportation urges drivers to use caution and allow extra time for construction zones on state highways over the holidays.

ADOT says some necessary work zone lane restrictions can slow traffic during peak travel times even when construction is not active.

Drivers planning trips to California from the Phoenix area could experience delays on Interstate 10 lasting as long as 90 minutes during peak travel times.

I-10 is narrowed to one lane in both directions for bridge improvements 40 miles west of Phoenix.

Alternates include U.S. 60 through Wickenburg.

ADOT will use I-10 message signs in Phoenix and near the California border to advise drivers of traffic conditions at the Hassayampa River Bridge.

Online:

www.azdot.gov

AZ511

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

The Kingman Daily Miner says police arrested 25-year-old Ryan Allen Berney on suspicion of making counterfeit cash.

Berney was booked on felony charges of forgery after police reportedly found him in possession of more than $300 worth of money he allegedly printed himself.

Lt. Rusty Cooper says police have received more than a dozen reports in the last month of counterfeit bills used at local businesses. Cooper says Berney’s name came up during the course of the investigation, though he would not disclose how.

Cooper adds several others might be involved in the operation in which a computer was used to print $20 bills on a paper similar to resume paper.

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Information from: Kingman Daily Miner

Sgt. Dick told NAZ Today that at Norman Greer was found at around 4:30 am Sunday morning by an Arizona Department of Public Safety Helicopter, using night vision technology.

Officials remind anyone who is outdoors in the wilderness for an extended period of time to always be prepared to stay overnight regardless of familiarity of surroundings.

To see the original story, visit http://www.naztoday.com/news/2010/11/multi-agency-search-for-missing-hunter-underway/

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office says a search and rescue effort began Saturday for Norman Greer. The 62-year-old set out on a hunting trip with his son near Mormon Crossing and Chevron Canyon area off of forest road 504.  His son reported him missing Friday evening after they became separated while on the hunt.

Search and Rescue teams from Apache, Navajo, and Coconino counties are conducting the operation. Sunday morning mounted horse units as well as an Arizona Department of Public Safety helicopter from Tucson will assist in the search efforts.

Norman is a white male wearing a camouflage shirt with sweat pants.  Authorities say Norman is not wearing clothing that is suitable for the cold weather in the area.

The Mohave County Sheriff’s Office is looking for 20-year-old Eric Blake Depierro. The victim, identified as 54-year-old Mario Francisco Izquierdo-Diaz, was found with stab wounds Friday inside a residence.

Investigators say Depierro and Izquierdo-Diaz knew each other. Authorities haven’t said what the motive for the attack was, but they do rule out robbery or burglary.

Depierro is a white male, 5-feet-7 and 140 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office or Silent Witness.

Republicans added three Senate seats in Tuesday’s election, increasing their majority in the 30-member chamber to 21 seats. They added at least two additional seats to their current 35-member majority in the 60-member House and GOP candidates held leads in three other races.

If those leads hold, the Republicans would have veto-proof majorities in both chambers, although it is unclear if they need it. Republican Jan Brewer won a full term Tuesday, and has often agreed with Republican lawmakers.

House and Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats are to meet Wednesday afternoon to select new leaders for the next two years. House Democrats are to meet Thursday afternoon.

Republican Rep. Kirk Adams of Mesa is expected to return as House speaker, but the Senate presidency is open due to Republican Bob Burns’ retirement.

Candidates for Senate president include Mesa Republican Sen. Russell Pearce, the nationally known champion of legislation to crack down on illegal immigration. Others include Senate Majority Whip Steve Pierce of Prescott and House Speaker Pro Tem Steve Yarbrough of Chandler. Yarbrough was uncontested in a Senate race Tuesday.

The president presides over the Senate and has considerable sway over its legislative priorities, scheduling and committee makeup.

Lawmakers report in January for their annual regular session, with much of the focus expected to be on overcoming the state budget’s growing shortfall and on consideration of Republican proposals to spur the state’s ailing economy.

However, the contentious issue of illegal immigration also is expected to return, though some legislators have said they would consider it an unneeded distraction at a time when the state already is defending two laws on that subject in court.

Pearce announced last month he plans to introduce 2011 legislation to challenge automatic U.S. citizenship to the children of illegal immigrants.

The U.S. Supreme Court is now considering an appeal of lower courts’ rulings that uphold the state’s 2007 law imposing sanctions on businesses who knowingly hire illegal immigrants. And a federal circuit court is considering a judge’s order blocking implementation of key provisions of a multifaceted 2010 law on illegal immigration and law enforcement.

The 2010 law has stirred controversy that included protests and boycotts of the state.

Incumbent Democrats who lost races include Rep. Barbara McGuire of Kearny and Sens. Rebecca Rios of Apache Junction, Amanda Aguirre of Yuma and Manny Alvarez of Elfrida. Democratic Reps. Nancy Young Wright of Oro Valley and Rae Waters of Tucson trailed in their races.

The events are intended to give guidance and training on applying for both permanent and seasonal Forest Service jobs.

Workshops will be hosted throughout the end of the year in many locations. Some of the career options in the Forest Service are: fire, range, timber, recreation, wildlife biology, botany, geology, hydrology, law enforcement, human resources, budget administration, and more.

The workshops are for anyone interested in the Forest Service, but applicants must be at least 18 years of age. For more information on employment fro the Kaibab National Forest, visit: www.fs.usda.gov/kaibab/employment. For more information on employment for the Coconino National Forest, visit: www.fs.fed.us/r3/coconino/employment.

The following is the schedule of the workshops:

• Oct. 20, Northern Arizona University School of Forestry Building; Flagstaff, Az; 4-6P.M. Contact: Amber Dorsch, (928) 214-2455, adorsch@fs.fed.us. This session is intended for applying for positions in the wildland fire organization.
• Oct. 28, Flagstaff East Library, Az; 5:30-8P.M. Contact: Linda Murphy, (928) 527-3457, lmmurphy@fs.fed.us
• Nov. 2, Williams Public Library; Williams, Az; 6-8P.M. Contact: Erin Woodard, (928) 635-5625, ewoodard@fs.fed.us
• Nov. 3, Williams High School Library; Williams, Az; 6-8P.M. Contact Erin Woodard, (928) 635-5625, ewoodard@fs.fed.us
• Nov. 9, Southwest Applied Technical College; Kanab, Utah; 5-7P.M. Contact: Patrick Lair, (928) 643-8172, plair@fs.fed.us
• Nov. 9, Williams Public Library; Williams, Az; 6-8P.M. Contact: Erin Woodard, (928) 635-5625, ewoodard@fs.fed.us
• Nov 10, Williams High School Library; Williams, Az; 6-8P.M. Contact: Erin Woodard, (928) 635-5635
• Nov. 18, Flagstaff East Library; Flagstaff, Az; 5:30-8P.M. Contact: Linda Murphy. (928) 527-3457, lmmurphy@fs.fed.us. This session is intended for those interested in applying for positions in the wildland fire organization.
• Nov. 23, northern Arizona University School of Forestry Building; Flagstaff, Az.; 4-6P.M. Contact: Amber Dorsch, (928) 214-2455, adorsch@fs.fed.us

“We’re taking a leadership role on things that need to be fixed in America. We can’t get Congress to do it,” Republican state Sen. Russell Pearce, of Mesa, said Tuesday. “It’s a national work group so that we have model legislation that we know will be successful, that meets the constitutional criteria.”

The efforts by the state legislators come amid calls to change the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which grants automatic citizenship to U.S.-born children of illegal immigrants. Supporters cite costs to taxpayers for services provided to illegal immigrants and their children.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, the founder of a national group of legislators critical of illegal immigration, said the 14th Amendment “greatly incentives foreign invaders to violate our border and our laws.” He had a news conference Tuesday in Harrisburg, Pa., on the multistate endeavor.

The effort could run afoul of the language in the 14th Amendment and lead to a court battle over the constitutionality of the law. But Metcalfe said providing birthright citizenship to children of illegal immigrants is an “ongoing distortion and twisting” of the amendment.

Metcalfe’s office said lawmakers in at least 12 other states besides Arizona and Pennsylvania said they were making their own announcements about working on the citizenship legislation. Those other states: Alabama, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. Legislators from a total of 41 states are involved in a Metcalfe-founded group concerned with immigration issues.

Pearce was the main sponsor of an Arizona law that would require police enforcing other laws to question people about their immigration status if there’s reason to suspect they’re in the United States illegally. It was to go into effect this summer, but a judge put on hold key provisions pending the resolution of a legal challenge.

Pearce also was the chief sponsor of a 2007 state law targeting employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

He and fellow Arizona legislators plan a Tuesday afternoon news conference to formally announce the effort.

Pearce said the legislation has yet to be drafted, and he declined to comment on possible approaches, including whether it would focus on the issuance of state birth certificates.

“We’re going to address the issue of the unconstitutional declaration of citizenship to those born to non-citizens,” Pearce said. “It is a violation of the 14th Amendment.”

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the 2010 law and who is championing the state’s legal defense of it against a court challenge mounted by the U.S. Justice Department, was noncommittal when asked whether lawmakers should approve legislation on citizenship.

However, Brewer said she was “always concerned” by the possibility of involving the state in a court fight. “No one wants to be in court. No one wants to be fighting the federal government,” she said.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.

By November 1st, travelers between northwestern Arizona and Las Vegas on US Highway 93 will no longer have to travel over the Hoover Dam, thanks to a 1,900-foot, $165 million dollar that was dedicated earlier today.

NAZ Today was there, 890 feet above the Colorado River, for the dedication ceremony.

Videographer: Brandon Neuman

The network had asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco for permission to televise arguments from both sides at the Nov. 1 hearing.

The court’s order lets C-SPAN broadcast the hearing live.

C-SPAN says it intends to broadcast the hearing live.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.