State Glance
House committee approves bill on mining near Grand Canyon
FLAGSTAFF — A key congressional committee has endorsed a bill to make permanent a ban on the filing of new mining claims around the Grand Canyon.
The House Natural Resources Committee approved the measure sponsored by its chairman, Democratic Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, on Wednesday.
There is no companion bill in the Senate.
The Obama administration put about 1,562 square miles (4,045 square kilometers) outside the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park off-limits to new hard rock mining claims until 2032. The bill would make it permanent.
Republicans have opposed the measure, saying mining would bring jobs and much-needed revenue to the region.
No uranium mines are open now in Arizona. One company has one on standby south of the Grand Canyon but is waiting for prices to rise.
Arizona Amber Alert canceled after children ‘found safe’
PHOENIX — Arizona authorities say an Amber Alert issued for two young boys taken from state Department of Child Safety custody was canceled after they “were found safe” in Louisiana where their parents were taken into custody.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said Wednesday it had canceled the alert it issued on behalf of the Florence Police Department after the boys were taken Tuesday morning by their parents.
Florence police said Wednesday the alert was canceled after the parents’ vehicle was stopped just before midnight Tuesday by Louisiana State Police on Interstate 20 in Bienville Parish.
According to Florence police, the parents were being held on Arizona felony warrants while the boys were in the temporary custody of a Louisiana child welfare agency.
Arizona authorities say caller found with drugs arrested
CORDES JUNCTION — Authorities in Arizona say they have arrested a 31-year-old woman on suspicion of possessing dangerous drugs after she called to report her suspicion someone had bugged her car.
The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday the arrest of Cheyenne Pechacek was made Sunday evening. Responding deputies discovered a warrant for Pechacek’s arrest and found a tube attached to her key chain containing what she acknowledged could have been the synthetic opioid fentanyl.
They also found unmarked pills in a small bag, a vial with white powder residue and another bag containing 7½ pills scored to look like a prescription drug. No listening devices were found. Pechacek was booked into Camp Verde Detention Center.
Information about a possible defense attorney for Pechacek could not be found online.