Uranium mining could resume near the Grand Canyon this year, after the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality issued an air-quality permit to Denison Mines. The company plans to work the Arizona 1 mine, which hasn't been mined for two decades. Conservationists and Native American groups oppose the mining, and express concern that it would pollute the surrounding area, including the Colorado River...A Gilbert home that was featured on the ABC reality TV show Extreme Makeover is for sale. Nichol and Bryan Okvath are asking $1.2 million for their 7200 square-foot ranch-style home. The property also features a movie theater...A fire broke out at Francisco Studios near 23rd Avenue and McDowell Road last night. Several musicians were practicing inside when someone banged on the door to alert them to the blaze. No one was injured, but the music studios suffered significant damage...
A hearing is scheduled in U.S. Bankruptcy Court today to decide the fate of the Phoenix Coyotes hockey team. For the first time in four months of legal wrangling, Canadian billionaire and would-be buyer Jim Balsillie will be in the courtroom. Balsillie wants the judge to validate his bid for the team, and also allow him to relocate the team to Canada, should he become owner...Phoenix saw a larger drop in the percentage of jobs in the past year than any other U.S. city, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Between July of 2008 and July of 2009, the Valley's workforce dropped 7.8 percent. Phoenix came in fourth in terms of total employment losses, behind Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City...Utility company Salt River Project has postponed its proposed 8.8 percent rate hike until at least May, after numerous customers complained. SRP will go ahead with a plan to raise rates by 2.1 percent for renewable energy.
