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Commentary

Rio Verde Foothills, Scottsdale City Council, Scottsdale, water, residents, legislators, Hobbs
Jun 30, 2023

A win for Scottsdale, Rio Verde Foothills and Arizona

Last week, Gov. Katie Hobbs signed SB1432 into law with an emergency clause. The bipartisan bill creates a path to water security for Rio Verde Foothills residents.   

Waymo, self-driving vehicles, Arizona, California
Jun 30, 2023

Arizona’s agility as self-driving vehicle testbed

Arizona's leaders have enacted rules to authorize and establish guardrails for autonomous vehicles to operate while entrusting experts with the responsibility of ensuring safe testing.   

death row, justice, equity, Indigenous women, inmates, Black
Jun 27, 2023

Our ‘justice’ system: a paradox of errors and innocence

The release of Barry Jones after nearly 30 years on Arizona's death row, wrongfully convicted for a crime he did not commit, forces us to confront the unsettling of our justice system. Despite being a nation that upholds values of fairness and justice, we've seen these principles denied to too many individuals, especially those of color. As a Black woman, I am deeply disturbed by this pattern.

Colorado River, Lake Mead, Arizona, water cuts, drought
Jun 26, 2023

Climate adaptation in Arizona will require more than just federal funding, luck

The federal government just reached a historic deal with California, Arizona, and Nevada to provide cities, irrigation districts, and tribal governments with around $1.2 billion to temporarily use less water from the Colorado River. In Arizona, these solutions will require unpopular political decisions – and there isn’t much time to enact them.

renewable energy, APS, SRP
Jun 23, 2023

SRP must transition to clean, renewable energy – now   

As state elected officials, community leaders, and most importantly – parents, we are concerned about the future of our children, and believe it’s time for our utilities to start acting with some urgency. 

Colorado River, drought, water w
Jun 23, 2023

Arizona’s water future depends on new supplies 

None of us has a crystal ball, but we can be certain that our water future will require a variety of adaptive changes.   

housing, Pinal County, Census
Jun 21, 2023

Legislature punts again on housing fixes, slashing cities’ endless red tape

The desire for change is there. So, too, is the willingness to vote yes and solve this problem. We need action now, before that 270,000 home deficit grows even larger, and the cost of housing – driven by the law of supply and demand – spirals ever higher.

gig workers, Julie Su, Biden, Kelly, Sinema, pandemic
Jun 16, 2023

Arizona senators need to protect the state’s gig workers

President Biden's Labor Secretary nominee Julie Su presided over the Administration’s proposed new worker classification rule last fall, which could force independent contractors and gig workers to reclassify as full-time W-2 employees. While intended to help contract workers access benefits and union protection, forced reclassification would wreak havoc across the economy and disrupt vital sour[...]

veterinarians, pets, Arizona Corporation Commission, Veterinary Victims League
Jun 16, 2023

Pet group focuses on government, veterinary nonfeasance 

Most of us consider our pets part of the family. In fact, it’s probably one of the few social beliefs broadly shared by most Americans in our too-often-divided country. We don’t usually think of our pets as being political, but neither are they immune to politics. Indeed, many of the problems our pets face are broadly similar to the problems we face and the causes also bear a great resemblance[...]

regulations, public district schools, charter schools, private schools, K-12, lawmakers, STEM, ESAs, school choice, equestrian schools, trade-focused institutions, ESAs, Mayes
Jun 15, 2023

Attorney general engaging in ESA ‘witch hunt’   

It’s time for Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes to dial back the hyperbole aimed at tens of thousands of parents who participate in the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. With scarce evidence, she recently claimed that the program has “no controls” and “no accountability” – this is far from the truth.   

legislation, batting average, Weninger, Osborne
Jun 15, 2023

As the legislature adjourns again, much has been accomplished

The 2023 legislative session has recessed and is expected to come back again July 31. Much has been accomplished focused on keeping the Arizona economy moving forward with investments.

cottage food industry, Hobbs, tamales, Senate, House, legislation, commercial kitchens, home-based businesses
Jun 14, 2023

Health records vindicate Arizona tamale vendors

Home cooking scares Arizona health officials, but real-world evidence should put them at ease. A new investigation finds no confirmed illnesses related to homemade meals or snacks sold in the seven states with the broadest laws.

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