Sherriff Joe Arpaio is leaving office with mixed legacy

The full-throated bravado that made Sheriff Joe Arpaio a household name in debates over illegal immigration and the treatment of jail inmates was missing as he started his last news conference in a law enforcement career that spanned a half-century. After being charged with a crime and booted from office by voters, the 84-year-old Arpaio looked tired and dispirited as he defended his investigation of President Barack Obama's birth certificate - a debunked controversy that critics say Arpaio exploited to raise funds from his supporters.

The new 2017 laws you need to know

Completely hands free, drivers now face up to a $200 ticket if caught holding their cell phone while operating their vehicle. Officials said cell phone must be mounted on the dashboard, windshield or console and drivers can only swipe, or tap once to activate or deactivate a feature or function.

Federal Judge Halts Transgender Protections in Obamacare

A federal judge halted protections for transgender individuals that were found in the Affordable Care Act, issuing the injunction just a day before the safeguards would go into effect. US District Judge Reed O'Connor in Texas halted the protections for their treatments and for abortion-related services, siding with the state of Texas against the Obama administration on Saturday.

Cruel bully or modern-day Wyatt Earp? Sheriff’s mixed legacy

FILE - In this Feb. 4, 2009, file photo, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, left, orders approximately 200 convicted illegal immigrants handcuffed together and moved into a separate area of Tent City, for incarcerati... PHOENIX - The full-throated bravado that made Sheriff Joe Arpaio a household name in debates over illegal immigration and the treatment of jail inmates was missing as he started his last news conference in a law enforcement career that spanned a half-century.

Dems Miss an ObamaCare Opportunity

As Republicans prepare to make good on their promises to dismantle and bury ObamaCare, Democrats have settled on a strategy for a final defense of the controversial law: a conference call with reporters. In communicating indignation to their grassroots voters and donors, however, Democrats are passing on a means of effectively defending ObamaCare from the coming GOP onslaught.

Claiming mandate, GOP Congress lays plans to propel sweeping conservative agenda

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks at a Dec. 8, 2016 ceremony where the official portrait of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was unveiled in the Kennedy Caucus Room on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks at a Dec. 8, 2016 ceremony where the official portrait of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., was unveiled in the Kennedy Caucus Room on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. For six years, since they took back the House of Representatives, Republicans have added to a pile of legislation that moldered outside the White House. In their thwarted agenda, financial regulations were to be unspooled.

Justice, retirement systems among Daugaard’s top priorities

Gov. Dennis Daugaard enters his final two years in office aiming to tackle issues ranging from rising methamphetamine use to the solvency of the state retirement system. During the legislative session that starts Jan. 10, the Republican governor will likely be the final word on reshaping a voter-approved government ethics overhaul and deciding whether to restrict the bathrooms that transgender students use.

In 2017, GOP Congress sees mandate to undo Obamaa s agenda

Republicans' grip on all levers of power stands as a mandate to the GOP-led Congress, which will move swiftly to try to undo eight years of outgoing President Barack Obama's agenda. With Republican President-elect Donald Trump weeks away from assuming office, GOP lawmakers plan to open the 115th Congress on Tuesday and immediately take steps to repeal Obama's health care law.

In 2017, GOP Congress sees mandate to undo Obama’s agenda

" Republicans' grip on all levers of power stands as a mandate to the GOP-led Congress, which will move swiftly to try to undo eight years of outgoing President Barack Obama's agenda. With Republican President-elect Donald Trump weeks away from assuming office, GOP lawmakers plan to open the 115th Congress on Tuesday and immediately take steps to repeal Obama's health care law.

Massachusetts Democrats hope to tie GOP Gov. Baker to Trump

Massachusetts Democrats are hoping to take a notch out of Republican Gov. Charlie Baker's sky-high popularity numbers by lashing him to Donald Trump's incoming administration. In a series of tweets and in an online petition, the Massachusetts Democratic Party has called on Baker to denounce a string of top Trump advisers and Cabinet picks.

Obama lines up a meeting with lawmakers, a speech in Chicago

Eager to stop Republicans from destroying his signature health care law, President Barack Obama and Democratic lawmakers will meet next week to try to forge a common strategy. Obama also plans a major valedictory speech in Chicago, his hometown, shortly before his presidency ends.

Surprise! Republicans Could Be on the Verge of Dismantling Medicare

House Speaker Paul Ryan and other Republican leaders have big plans to save Medicare that would involve a major overhaul to the program, including privatization. Even though most Republicans are on board, Ryan and others in favor of his plans are likely to face significant opposition to such a sweeping overhaul.

Advocates of hate crimes law ready to try again

When advocates for a hate-crimes bill took their case to the Legislature last year, their cause was quickly overshadowed by a separate effort to expand the state's civil rights law to include LGBT protections. The latter measure, which ultimately failed, became known derisively as the "bathroom bill" with opponents who claimed, falsely, that it would allow predatory men to sneak into women's restrooms.