The viral pandemic is finally getting the state to fund a hotline that has been mired in controversy for years.

Gubernatorial press aide Patrick Ptak denied late Sunday that his boss was withholding information from the public about conditions in Arizona or the role Ducey wants the Guard to play.

In an executive order, Ducey allowed people out of a job or facing economic hardship because of the pandemic to access unemployment benefits. He also unveiled an administrative action from the Arizona Department of Revenue to extend the income tax filing deadline to July 15, mirroring the new federal deadline.

Gov. Doug Ducey insisted Friday he has no intent to order Arizonans to stay at home as his counterparts in New York and California have done.

As some grocery store shelves lay as bare as Cactus League stadiums and restaurant dining rooms, lawmakers in the Arizona Legislature are scurrying to wrap up their business, begin their social isolation and hunker down for a storm. Their rainy day is here.

There is plenty of time until signatures are due, and plenty of time for knocking on doors, but just a short amount of days that we must nip this virus before it infects thousands of Arizonans. It would be wise for all such contact to come to a screeching halt until this virus is contained and managed.

Arizona opened election polls Tuesday for Democrats to pick a presidential candidate as the state deals with a public health crisis that has crippled parts of the nation.

As COVID-19 cases in Arizona continue to grow, Gov. Doug Ducey and other state health care and political leaders are asking people to take extra precautions as state and commercial testing providers prepare for more people requesting a test for the virus.

Gov. Doug Ducey and Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman announced Sunday all public schools will be closed until March 27.

The state's top prosecutor says legislators may want to consider adopting laws to protect Arizona consumers from price gouging.