Headlines Thursday

Regents may cap tuition hikes Paying for a college education and living in fear of the next wallop to your wallet? Tempe closes lake to boaters Tempe Town Lake is off limits again to boaters, the second of what could be a string of closures this winter. Liberty celebration bittersweet Today marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Over the past 60 years, survivors immigrated to the United States, married, had children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren, but survivors say the liberation anniversaries are bittersweet. Objections raised over student's Christ image A student at Mountain Pointe High School found out first-hand this month that art has the power to ignite passions and debate. Artworks by Erika Vogt-Nilsen Napolitano declares January 'Stalking Awareness Month' Gov. Janet Napolitano has declared January ''Stalking Awareness Month,'' making the state one of only three in the country to recognize the month. Japanese flower farm's roots run deep The Kishiyamas are the last of the Japanese-American flower growers whose gardens once lined Baseline Road for miles. Scottsdale buying last property near stadium Scottsdale is buying the last privately-held property just east of Scottsdale Stadium, but city officials said Wednesday that they are not locked into building a new spring training complex there for the San Francisco Giants. Moms-to-be without insurance to get help A program at Paradise Valley Hospital may patch a gap in health care for pregnant women in the city's Palomino neighborhood. Speed limit at issue on Pima Road A recent crash on Pima Road in north Scottsdale has residents calling for a reduction in the posted 55 mph speed limit on the much-traveled roadway. Immigration agents suspended Five immigration agents based in Phoenix have been suspended with pay for more than a year prompting concern that the federal government's effort to combat immigrant smuggling in Arizona is being jeopardized. West Valley growth predicted to be bigger GLENDALE - West Valley growth during the balance of this decade will be more expansive than the most optimistic regional economic forecasts predict, economist Elliott Pollack says. Spotlight on . . . Tracy Montgomery Tracy Montgomery, 40, a Phoenix police commander, was named in late November to direct the 262 officers assigned to the Cactus Park Precinct in northwest Phoenix. She joined the force in 1985 and is one of the three highest-ranking female supervisors. Closed-campus lunch focus of board session MESA - School board members have a lot of questions when it comes to closing Mesa high school campuses for lunch. On Wednesday, they decided to pursue more answers before bringing the issue up for public discussion. Residents fear contamination near subdivision GILBERT - A Gilbert neighborhood claims its property is contaminated and fears its groundwater supply could be in jeopardy soon. Avondale mayor set to launch ball fields AVONDALE - Mayor Ron Drake will dedicate the new ball fields at Avondale Friendship Park by throwing the first pitch of the T-ball season Feb. 8. The ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. at the park, 12325 W. McDowell Road. Bill seeks to regulate stun guns Police should have the right to shoot and kill any suspect who threatens them with a stun gun, state lawmakers said Wednesday when they took a step toward legislating the weapon in Arizona. Elections audit due on Smith The public will get its first taste this morning of a brewing showdown between the Citizens Clean Elections Commission and a newly elected lawmaker who overspent his public campaign funds. Feds bolster case against Hells Angels Federal prosecutors have beefed up their racketeering case against Arizona's Hells Angels with a superseding indictment that adds new criminal charges and expands allegations that the biker club is a corrupt criminal enterprise. Colleges not ready for population growth If the state's population grows as projected and the university system doesn't take further steps to increase its capacity, the year 2020 will find Arizona with 24,000 more students eligible for college than there are seats at the universities. Bill would toughen laws targeting ID theft State and local policymakers on Wednesday announced legislation aimed at cracking down on identity thieves who have made Arizona their hub. Despite soaring growth, Southwest uses less water Given the Southwest's dizzying growth, you might think the U.S. Geological Survey is bad at math when it reports the following trends in our water use: 27 hospitalized in vehicle crash A Chevrolet Suburban carrying 27 people crashed Wednesday night in San Luis sending all of the occupants to the hospital. It was unknown if there were any fatalities in the crash. How does your solar garden grow? Yuma, APS unveil $500,000 project at West Wetlands Park. Rays of sunshine will be producing power at the Yuma West Wetlands Park. Disbanded SWAT could cost county The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office could lose out on all or part of a $350,000 federal Homeland Security grant because its SWAT team has been disbanded, according to state and Valley grant administrators.