Pandemic, culture wars revive ‘school choice’ policy push
With memories fresh from pandemic-era school closures and curriculum battles — particularly over how matters of gender and race are taught — legions of parents are trekking to the marble floors of their state Capitols to fight to create education savings accounts, also known as ESAs. Such accounts exist in Arizona and West Virginia, though Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs argues the dollars would be b[...]
Arizona gets failing grades in Lung Association tobacco report card
Arizona lags behind in policies that prevent and reduce tobacco use, according to the American Lung Association’s annual “State of Tobacco Control” report. The state received failing grades in three of five categories and did not improve on any of its grades from last year.
Bill addresses release of terminally ill inmates
The Board of Executive Clemency would no longer have to seek out a governor’s signature to grant release to inmates with terminal illnesses and would generally expand the power of the board to grant medical release under a proposed bill.
Republicans advance bill that would boost penalties for fentanyl suppliers
Republicans in the state Senate are working to greatly boost the penalties for people who supply the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl, advancing a bill on Thursday that would subject someone who makes, transports or sells the drug to life in prison or the death penalty if someone dies after taking the drug.
Top Republicans ask judge to save Hamadeh from legal fees
The top Republicans in the House and Senate are asking a judge to save failed GOP attorney general candidate Abe Hamadeh from having to pay the legal fees of others he sued in his unsuccessful lawsuit to be declared the winner.
Record numbers sign up for Obamacare health coverage
A record number of Arizonans signed up for health insurance this year under the Affordable Care Act, as enrollment in the program continues to rebound from the Trump administration’s efforts to suppress coverage.
House committee authorizes placement of memorial to slain journalist Bolles
State lawmakers took the first steps Wednesday to honoring assassinated reporter Don Bolles in the same way Arizona honors various veterans, pioneer women, the Ten Commandments and Jesuit missionary Father Kino. Without dissent the House Government Committee authorized placement of a memorial to The Arizona Republic investigative reporter in Wesley Bolin Plaza.
1st pediatric-related death in Maricopa County this season
Health officials in Arizona's largest county have confirmed the first pediatric-related death this season in the Phoenix metro area.
Hia-Ced O’odham seek federal recognition as tribe
In Arizona, 22 federally recognized tribes inhabit nearly every region of the state, according to the Arizona State Museum, but the Hia-Ced isn’t one of them. But some descendants of those four surviving families are working to change that. They’re researching the history of the Hia-Ced to prove their existence and distinctions and working to advocate for recognition with the federal governme[...]
Judge won’t compel Scottsdale to share water
An Arizona judge says she won't compel Scottsdale to resume an arrangement that allowed residents of a neighboring community to get their water from a city standpipe, saying the flap isn't the court's concern.
Four Oath Keepers, including Arizona man, convicted of Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy
Four members of the Oath Keepers, including one Arizona man, were convicted Monday of seditious conspiracy in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack in the second major trial of far-right extremists accused of plotting to forcibly keep President Donald Trump in power.
Three current and former GOP lawmakers want to avoid paying legal fees of Democrat
Three current and former Republican lawmakers are hoping to avoid paying the legal fees of a Democrat who a judge said was unfairly sued by them because she and others asked the FBI and Department of Justice to investigate their actions around the Jan. 6 riot.