WASHINGTON — Kiana Beazley, a Bear Clan member of the White Mountain Apache tribe, remembers the four days of ritual that celebrated her transition from girlhood to womanhood, surrounded by family and the presence of her ancestors on Indigenous land.

WASHINGTON — A federal court said Thursday that it will take another look at claims that the proposed Resolution Copper mine should be delayed because it sits on land sacred to the Apache and would violate their religious rights.

PHOENIX — A planned mine at Oak Flat does not interfere with the ability of Native Americans to practice their religion, a federal appeals court has ruled.

WASHINGTON — In an effort to help tribal nations preserve and revitalize their traditional languages, a Pinal County tribe and a Navajo college will receive a portion of $7 million in grants from the Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development.

FLORENCE — The 70-year-old Superior man who was facing indecency and bestiality charges after he allegedly exposed himself and had an animal commit a sex act on him in front of both adults and children in April of last year has accepted a plea bargain.

SUPERIOR — A two-vehicle head-on collision that occurred Thursday at 3:47 a.m. on State Route 79 near Superior resulted in a man dying, the Arizona Department of Public Safety reported.

SUPERIOR — The last time the Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s Puya berteroniana plant bloomed, with its unusual emerald-colored flowers, George W. Bush was president and Barack Obama was a presidential hopeful working his way through the rounds of primaries.

FLORENCE — Pinal County is applying for a $6.8 million state grant to install equipment and towers throughout the county to improve access to affordable and reliable internet, especially in rural areas.

SUPERIOR — It has now been just over a year since the U.S. Forest Service released, then quickly rescinded, a Final Environmental Impact Statement regarding the proposed Resolution Copper mine at Oak Flat, just west of Superior.

GOLD CANYON — After almost nine years in the planning stages, Pinal County officials broke ground Feb. 17 on the 498-acre Peralta Regional Park east of Gold Canyon.

FLORENCE — Pending legislation would result in hefty pay increases for sheriff’s deputies all over the state, and possibly layoffs as counties struggle to meet the terms of the law, a Pinal County supervisor said.

FLORENCE — Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb will be the master of ceremonies at a National Law Enforcement Officer Hall of Fame induction ceremony on March 24 near Toledo, Ohio.

FLORENCE — Pinal County has a new $100,000 border protection fund, but it’s more likely to be spent in the local area.

FLORENCE — Repealing the county’s nearly-two-year-old state of emergency is premature and would send a message that the pandemic is over and life is back to normal, but “that’s far from the case,” the Pinal County Board of Supervisors was told Wednesday.

QUEEN VALLEY — Arizona Game and Fish Department officers received an anonymous tip on Jan. 25 about a mule deer doe that had been illegally killed in Pinal County in the Superstition Mountains.

SADDLEBROOKE — A Saddlebrooke man is facing charges after allegedly hitting and attempting to run over a woman during a road rage incident.

FLORENCE — Patricia A. Taylor, who has retired as director of Public Fiduciary, was honored for her more than 35 years of service to Pinal County at Wednesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting.

FLORENCE — Pinal County officials are considering creating a $100,000 contingency fund to reimburse the Sheriff’s Office for overtime, travel and other expenses related to protecting Arizona’s southern border, if called upon to do so.

SUPERIOR — A Superior man is facing indecency and beastiality charges after he allegedly exposed himself and had an animal commit a sex act on him in front of both adults and children.

SUPERIOR — Mayor Mila Besich of Superior has been reappointed to the National League of Cities 2022 Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Federal Advocacy Committee.

FLORENCE — Antibody treatments that may reduce the severity of COVID-19 are available to employees covered under Pinal County’s health insurance, but supplies are short and there’s a waiting list.