I was a social worker and I was working with people who didn’t know how to stick up for themselves. And I realized that people need champions.
Read More »Erica McFadden: Champion of showing how it can be done
State, marijuana industry push for better kitchen regulation 
As a renewed effort to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Arizona ramps up, substantial issues identified by state auditors still hover over the existing Medical Marijuana Program and solutions aren’t quite as clear as some might suggest.
Read More »The Breakdown: Last laugh
Arizona kicked off the holiday weekend with a fight with Nike that put the governor in the national spotlight. Was that the intent all along, and what might that signal for Gov. Doug Ducey’s future plans?
Read More »The Breakdown: Fun with funds
Affordable housing advocates scored a win this legislative session after lawmakers voted to reverse a decade-long trend of capping the state Housing Trust Fund’s budget.
Read More »Health director says no intent to misallocate Medical Marijuana funds
Days after an unflattering performance audit found the state Department of Health Services had misallocated money from the Medical Marijuana Fund, the agency’s director said she will ensure requests for those dollars will face more scrutiny.
Read More »Health department misspent nearly $1M from Medical Marijuana Program
The state Department of Health Services has misallocated nearly $1 million meant to operate the Medical Marijuana Program that serves nearly 200,000 patients, according to a state audit.
Read More »The Breakdown: Wrap it up already
The 2019 legislative session is finally behind us. Or is it?
Read More »Session Wrap with Charlene Fernandez 
House Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez came into the 2019 legislative session hopeful that the 31-29 split in the chamber would lead to more opportunities for her Democratic colleagues.
Read More »Session Wrap with Rusty Bowers 
Even after a taxing 134-day session, House Speaker Rusty Bowers remains patently himself when he sits down with the Arizona Capitol Times – reflective, resolute and ready with a story, which this time was about the day his brother shot himself in the foot.
Read More »Lawmakers weigh in on disputes, divisiveness of session 
The state House of Representatives is notoriously cantankerous, but this legislative session was more confrontational than anyone remembers. Some felt it more than others, but the consensus is the 2019 legislative session was different.
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