People in Arizona remember a different Jan Brewer from the tough-talking Republican governor at the center of the bitter immigration debate swirling out of her state. If politicians have multiple lives, her previous ones showed a much more personable presence - one pundit called her "delightful." Not eloquent but engaging, not book-smart but pragmatic, Brewer would often crack jokes in boring committee meetings when she was a state legislator, trading punch lines with another lawmaker who acted as the co... (more)

When Julie Murphy first decided to sell lemonade, she just wanted a little money to buy some treats. The 7-year-old's plans are a lot grander now. After county health inspectors shut down her lemonade stand last month because she didn't have a food-safety license, radio station 105.1 and Les Schwab Tire Centers set her up in business for an afternoon. (more)

Former mayor acknowledges developers have "right" to build, but defers to question, "should they?" (more)

Florida's attorney general, gubernatorial candidate Bill McCollum, proposed an immigration law Wednesday that would go "one step further" than Arizona's controversial law cracking down on illegal immigration. The law would require police to verify immigration status while making a lawful stop and would require employers to use the E-Verify system to check citizenship status before hiring. It would also let judges levy harsher penalties on convicts who are illegal immigrants — the provision that would ... (more)

In her gubernatorial campaign, California billionaire Meg Whitman fancies herself a turnaround artist, not unlike CEOs who take on failing companies and put them in the black. In her analysis of why the nation's most populous state and the world's 12th largest economy has a chronically dysfunctional government, one villain stands out: public-employee unions. (more)

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Gov. Joe Manchin is tapping former chief counsel Carte Goodwin, a member of a prominent West Virginia family, to succeed the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, Democratic officials told The Associated Press on Friday. Three people familiar with the governor's pick spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment ahead of an official announcement. (more)

PHOENIX – A new poll shows Arizona Sen. John McCain widening his lead over his Republican challenger ahead of next month's GOP primary. The Rocky Mountain Poll released Wednesday shows McCain leading former U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth 64 percent to 19 percent. Political newcomer Jim Deakin had 5 percent. McCain's margin has widened from a 54 percent to 28 percent lead he held over Hayworth in the same poll in April. (more)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Democratic Senator Barbara Boxer's edge over Republican challenger Carly Fiorina has dwindled to 3 points as she seeks re-election in November, with more Californians now holding an unfavorable view of the three-term senator, a poll released on Thursday showed. (more)

A top aide to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich said he believed Barack Obama knew of Blagojevich’s plot to win himself a presidential Cabinet post in exchange for appointing Valerie Jarrett to the U.S. Senate. John Harris, Blagojevich’s former chief of staff, testified Wednesday in the former governor’s corruption trial that three days after the Nov. 4, 2008, presidential election, the ex-governor told Harris he felt confident Obama knew he wanted to swap perks. (more)

The National Guard lifts sandbags in Buras, Louisiana, on June 11 to fill in gaps between barrier islands. (CNN) Governor Bobby Jindal (R-LA) defied the Obama Administration today and ordered the National Guard to build sand barrier walls off the Louisiana coast. ABC News reported (more)