Police redact, blur body cam footage – backlog grows
Police records custodians spend hours combing through and blurring body camera footage to comply with privacy concerns under records law, while requestors, ranging from attorneys to journalists to civilians, can wait weeks, if not months on end to see the footage they seek.
Sun denies acting on behalf of AG in ethics response
A Democratic lawmaker denied allegations that she claimed to act on behalf of Attorney General Kris Mayes when she improperly interfered with a child custodial case in the summer and denied allegations of threatening Tolleson officials.
Toma probably won’t offer bill to revamp ESA program
The Republican speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives indicated Nov. 14 that he doesn't plan to write any legislation with the goal of overhauling the state’s growing Empowerment Scholarship Account program after he chaired a House panel tasked with oversight into the program.
Judge questions arguments by Trump’s attorney that Castro is ‘frivolous’ presidential candidate
A federal judge is questioning arguments by the lawyer for Donald Trump that he can declare that John Castro is a "frivolous'' candidate for president and therefore has no legal right to try to block the bid by the former president to try to get elected again.
Senate, House Republicans pitch plan to renew Proposition 123 and use millions for teacher pay
Senate and House Republicans announced a plan to renew Proposition 123 via voter referendum and allocate the $300 million or so from the land trust endowment solely to teacher pay.
After 2020 election, public records requests soared
Following the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, one of the nation’s most watched counties is receiving an unprecedented increase in public records requests.
Audit finds vulnerable adult care lacking
After a state-funded audit found significant gaps in the care that elderly people and vulnerable adults receive at care facilities, members of the Legislature are hoping to establish a working group in conjunction with the Governor’s Office to fill gaps in the care system.
State voters could decide next year whether to enshrine abortion rights into constitution
Arizona voters will decide next year whether to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution.
Business owners hopeful as Phoenix meets deadline to clean up ‘The Zone’
The city of Phoenix has met a court-ordered Nov. 4 deadline to remove all tents and makeshift structures from the area around the Human Services Campus known as “The Zone,” and business owners in the area are hopeful.
Attorneys for state deny lawmakers did anything wrong by allocating millions for Prescott Rodeo
Lawyers for the state are denying that lawmakers did anything wrong by allocating $15.3 million for the Prescott Rodeo.
Legislature chips away at government transparency
The Arizona Legislature has often been hostile to transparency by introducing bills to limit access to public records and carving out exceptions in sunshine laws in the name of privacy.
Lesko’s decision opens door for fresh faces in LD27
U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko’s decision not to run for re-election in Congress leaves an opportunity for fresh faces to replace some of the most high-profile Republicans in the state Legislature, including the leader of the state House of Representatives. House Speaker Ben Toma, R-Peoria, announced his candidacy on Nov. 2 to run for the seat occupied by Lesko in Congress.