Phoenix Blog

State House Speaker Kirk Adams, a Mesa Republican, has launched a series of YouTube videos that explain Arizona's budget crisis -- from the point of view of Republican legislators like him, of course.

Sonoran Alliance, (where we first read about the videos), calls the series a public-relations offensive. Adams has apparently decided Governor Jan Brewer, who has her own solution to the budget problems, has been getting more than her fair share of attention. But Adams' deadpanned rhetoric is tougher to watch than a late-night infomercial, so you're probably better off reading this short summary of his message.

The State Senate is scheduled to vote today on a bill that would prohibit Arizona schools from offering classes that encourage "ethnic solidarity."

The bill also bans classes "designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group." Pushed by state schools chief Tom Horne, its main target is a $2-million "Raza Studies" program in the Tuscon Unified High School District.

Critics say the bill is overkill, even though some things taught by the raza studies program are clearly on the wacky side.

On the other hand, the program has reportedly boosted AIMS scores of its participants.