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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[...]
Sinema’s immigration plan doesn’t work for Arizonans
Kyrsten Sinema -- Arizona's Democrat-turned-independent U.S. senator -- and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina recently negotiated an immigration package that, in theory, could solve the worst border crisis in American history. Unfortunately, in practice, the package would do little to staunch the record influx of illegal immigrants. If anything, it could make the problem even worse.Â
Navajo Nation rescinds mask mandate on vast reservation
The Navajo Nation has rescinded a mask mandate that's been in effect since the early days of the Covid pandemic, officials announced Friday, fulfilling a pledge that new tribal President Buu Nygren made while campaigning for the office.
Maricopa County’s ozone pollution is high and getting worse
Maricopa County’s ozone levels are getting worse, harming the health of its 4.5 million residents and threatening to cost the region billions of dollars in the coming years.
Biden intends to make his first visit to US-Mexico border
President Joe Biden said Wednesday he intends to visit the U.S.-Mexico border — his first since taking office — in connection with his meeting next week in Mexico City with the leaders of Mexico and Canada.
Arizona’s falling vaccination rates could lead to serious health issues in future
Vaccination rates among schoolchildren in Arizona have steadily declined since 2012, but the Covid pandemic accelerated the drop across the state. The trend is unlikely to reverse any time soon, which could result in serious health consequences for Arizonans in the future, experts fear.
Arizona slipped from top 10 in Pentagon spending, but defense economy still strong
Pentagon spending in Arizona fell sharply in fiscal 2021, part of an overall decline in expenditures nationally that bumped the state from seventh place among states to 13th, according to Defense Department data released this fall.
Maricopa County sees large spike in flu, Covid and RSV
Arizona's most populous county is warning of a significant rise in cases of the flu, Covid and other respiratory illnesses.
Ducey: no special session to address education unless lawmakers tackle other issues
Lame duck Gov. Doug Ducey said Monday he won't call a special legislative session to deal with problems with school funding before his term ends this month until he gets a promise that lawmakers will deal with some issues on his own agenda.
After a year, omicron still driving Covid surges and worries
A year after omicron began its assault on humanity, the ever-morphing Covid mutant drove virus case counts higher in many places just as Americans gathered for Thanksgiving. It was a prelude to a wave that experts expect to soon wash over the U.S.
Arizona-based Christian firm trying to block ‘abortion pill’
An Arizona-based law firm founded to defend what it says are Christian values in court is trying to block the most used method of abortion.
States move to keep court from lifting Trump asylum policy
A coalition of conservative-leaning states is making a last-ditch effort to keep in place a Trump-era public health rule that allows many asylum seekers to be turned away at the southern U.S. border.
