Recent Articles from Kyra Haas Arizona Capitol Times
Concerns about education funding impact start, end of session
The 2022 legislative session started and ended with concerns about a constitutional provision voters approved in 1980 that limits public school spending – even if the legislature has already allocated the money.
988 is new mental health crisis number
A new mental health crisis hotline number, 988, launches around the country on July 16, and people who operate Arizona’s existing crisis system say the state is well-positioned to handle the change and anticipated uptick in calls.
Faced with hostility, election officials are resigning
After a decade serving as Yavapai County recorder, Leslie Hoffman announced her resignation this week and said the hostility directed toward her and her office during the past two years played into her decision to leave.
Education groups give state budget mixed reviews
Though some education groups said it didn’t go far enough, others lauded the $18 billion bipartisan budget passed early Thursday morning as a step in the right direction for K-12 education funding.
GOP candidate sues Republican Party, chairwoman
Longshot Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Neely is suing the Republican Party of Arizona, Chairwoman Kelli Ward and unnamed party officials, alleging he was unlawfully excluded from party debates and events.
Bowers testifies Trump pushed him to overturn election results
Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers testified to Congress on Tuesday that former President Donald Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani admitted to not having evidence of fraud in the 2020 election.
Court: use of secret juries does not violate law
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that courts’ routine use of secret juries does not violate state law or the First Amendment.
Survey shows election campaigns don’t address issues voters care about
A new survey indicates that what Arizona voters care about is different from the talking points taking center stage in election campaigns.
Atwood executed for 1984 murder, kidnapping
The state of Arizona executed death row inmate Frank Atwood on June 8 at the state prison in Florence.
Judge strikes often tied to perception of bias
In Superior Court actions, each side is entitled to one change of judge, but some judges are struck much more frequently than others, which could create a perception of partiality, attorneys said.
Mother sues state over son’s prison suicide
The mother of a young man who died by hanging in a Buckeye prison in January 2021 says that the prison’s negligence is to blame for her son’s death, which came two weeks after his arrival.
Clemency board denies death row prisoner’s leniency request
The Arizona Board of Executive Clemency unanimously denied clemency to death row inmate Frank Atwood, who was sentenced to death for the 1984 kidnapping and murder of 8-year-old Vicki Lynne Hoskinson.