It seems Arizona’s population has become more than its roads can handle — and people are lining up behind a grand plan to speed things up.

If all goes well, the East Valley is about to become a ripped-up maze of asphalt and concrete as cities begin a wild construction spree aimed at improving infrastructure and creating jobs - a blitz that will be paid for through the federal stimulus plan that is on the brink of becoming law.

A House panel voted Wednesday to require those seeking unemployment benefits to prove that they were fired and did not just quit.

State lawmakers are poised to make it more difficult for some people to collect unemployment benefits.

State lawmakers approved a comprehensive plan Wednesday that would put firms out of business in Arizona if they repeatedly hire undocumented workers.

State lawmakers approved a comprehensive plan Wednesday that would put firms out of business in Arizona if they repeatedly hire undocumented workers.

Public service runs in Joan Krueger's family.

Congressional Republican candidates Kirk Adams and Matt Salmon faced off Tuesday in a debate that focused on experience -- one candidate’s recent spending cuts at the state level vs. the other’s older record of balanced budgets in Congress.

Business leaders from around the state have taken the first step toward what one says will probably be a request for voters to raise their own gas or sales taxes — or both — to build more roads.

Lee Watkins has turned a struggling, two-truck towing business into an industry powerhouse by securing lucrative government contracts throughout the East Valley.

Lee Watkins has turned a struggling, two-truck towing business into an industry powerhouse by securing lucrative government contracts throughout the East Valley.

Sitting at a large round table surrounded by the entire Tempe City Council, Bill Butler, a straight-talking regular at council meetings, is telling them what he thinks about a planned veterans war memorial.

Sitting at a large round table surrounded by the entire Tempe City Council, Bill Butler, a straight-talking regular at council meetings, is telling them what he thinks about a planned veterans war memorial.

We encourage readers to submit letters to the editor on issues of interest to East Valley residents. Submissions should be no longer than 300 words, factually accurate and original thoughts of the writer. Please be brief and include name, address, city and phone number for verification. Letters and call-in comments may be edited for clarity and length.

The Tribune’s May 3 article “Thousands Protest Arpaio on Immigration” really should have pointed out that many of these protesters are interlopers from other states, whereas 730,426 of us from Maricopa County voted for Sheriff Joe Arpaio this last election, as well as landslides in his previous four elections.

Top officials across the East Valley say an Arizona homebuilder coalition’s legislative efforts to get a suspension or rollback on impact fees — those fees developers pay to help offset cost of infrastructure like roads, water and sewer lines — would cripple infrastructure development.

More Arizonans could gain access to health care, drivers might want to save their spare change to pay for toll roads and students could find themselves in class another hour studying more math and science after lawmakers finish the 2007 legislative session.

The Tribune has received many Letters to the Editor dealing with issues in Tuesday's election. Not all the letters could be printed in the newspaper due to space constraints, so we are posting them online so our readers have a chance to see them all. Letters are separated by topics.