Welcome back to The Round Up. It's the end of the week, so that means news time. Here's your weekly speed read of all the news around ASU, Arizona and the country.
Around ASU
Tempe Police had a successful year on Mill Avenue last year. In 2010, police officers seized more than 2,000 fake IDs from various establishments. The bars, all along Mill Avenue, included Zuma Grill and Mill Cue Club, among others. Those who are underage and caught using a fake ID could face a fine or, in extreme cases, arrest. A word to the wise — leave your fake ID at home and go to the local cinema instead.
A bill that would ease up tuition costs on veterans passed through a committee in the state House of Representatives this week. Those who served and were discharged honorably will be able to pay in-state tuition should this bill become law. The House of Representatives Military Affairs and Public Safety committee passed it unanimously this week. It must make it through one more committee before it heads to the House floor for a final vote.
Two students were evacuated from Egypt due to the uprising that has broken out against Egyptian President Honsi Mubarak. The students were evacuated to a European city and then flew to the United States. The names of the students have not yet been released.
Around Arizona
Those who wish to see state Sen. President Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, booted out of office began their ground operation this week, reports Jim Walsh of The Arizona Republic. Citizens for a Better Arizona, the group behind the recall effort, have 120 days to collect 7,756 signatures from constituents in Pearce's legislative district. Should the group be successful, there would be a special election. Pearce has been the primary advocate of controversial legislation such as SB 1070, Arizona's controversial immigration law, and a drive to revoke birthright citizenship.
Arizona universities were faced with tough questions about funding this week, reports Mary Jo Pitzi of The Arizona Republic. ASU finds itself with $595 million more in funding than it had before the recession. ASU President Michael Crow said this is due to enrollment. Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said this justified more cuts. "If that's true, they should have no problem with a funding reduction," Kavanagh told The Republic. Crow explained that much of that money is allocated to specific areas such as student housing. Gov. Jan Brewer is proposing a $170 million cut to the state's universities.
The state Legislature is proposing a law that would allow Arizona to nullify and disregard federal laws, Eyder Peralta of NPR reports. Senate Bill 1433 would allow the Legislature to form a committee of 12 lawmakers — six from each house — and let them decide which federal laws are constitutional and which federal laws Arizona will follow. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Lori Klein, R-Anthem, and co-sponsored by Sen. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa.
Around the U.S.
The White House and Egyptian President Honsi Mubarak are discussing plans for Mubarak to resign power immediately, Helene Cooper and Mark Landler of The New York Times report. The transition government would be led by Vice President Omar Suleiman and would have the support of the Egyptian military. So far Mubarak has resisted, but should the plan go through, it would attempt to lay the groundwork for free and fair elections in September.
A Penscola, Fla. judge struck down the health care overhaul in its entirety, report N. C. Aizenman and Amy Goldstein of The Washington Post. U.S. District Judge Roger Vinson ruled that the individual mandate in The Affordable Care Act was unconstitutional. He felt it was bound to many aspects of the law and thus ruled against the entire law. The score is tied at two. Two courts have upheld the law and two courts have ruled it unconstitutional. The first ruling verdict against the law came from a judge in Virginia who only ruled the individual mandate unconstitutional and left the rest of the law intact.