Immigration voted top story in state
 The top 10 stories in Arizona during 2005, according to a vote by members and staff of The Associated Press:
 
The Associated Press
Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, Inc.
 
1. ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: From the statehouse to the broiling southern Arizona desert, stopping illegal immigrants takes on a higher profile in 2005. Gov. Janet Napolitano declares a state of emergency in Arizona's four border counties, civilians from across the region descend on the border to try to help the Border Patrol and state legislators push several measures aimed at illegal immigrants. Still, illegal immigrants continue to pour across the border and to die in record numbers in the desert.

2. AIRLINE MERGER: America West Airlines acquires US Airways to create the nation's fifth-largest airline and begins efforts to merge the two operations.

3. DIOCESE BANKRUPTCY: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Tucson was the second in the nation to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy because of sex abuse claims against priests, and in 2005 it becomes the first one to emerge.

4. MINUTEMAN PROJECT: Volunteers recruited over the Internet travel to the Arizona border in April for a monthlong effort to watch for illegal immigrants and report them to the Border Patrol. While no one can agree on the practical effects of the patrols, few dispute the Minutemen brought national attention to the state's immigration woes.

5. PROSECUTING POLYGAMY: Arizona authorities act on several fronts against public officials in Colorado City, a secluded community dominated by a polygamist sect. The actions include the indictment of sect leader Warren Jeffs.

6. KATRINA EVACUEES: Hundreds of Gulf Coast residents evacuated after Hurricane Katrina find shelter in Phoenix and Tucson.

7. NAPOLITANO CHALLENGERS: Several of the more prominent Republicans who could have potentially challenged Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano in 2006 bow out early. The list of those who decide in 2005 to stay on the sidelines includes Senate President Ken Bennett, U.S. Reps J.D. Hayworth and Rick Renzi and ex-Gov. Fife Symington.

8. DEADLY HEAT: Unusually hot weather in the Phoenix area is blamed for the deaths of at least 32 people during the month of July.

9. ARIZONA FLOODING: Storms lash Arizona in January, causing widespread flooding in some parts of the state that drives people from threatened homes. The storms have a positive side as they ease Arizona's drought and residents are treated to the rare sight of long-dry rivers running with water.

10. ENGLISH EDUCATION: As 2005 draws to a close, a federal judge orders the Legislature to spend more money on education for students learning English and says he will impose fines starting at $500,000 a day if deadlines aren't met.
 
TriValleyCentral.com
Originally published December 31, 2005
 
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