As session shifts into gear, bipartisan overtures turn to politicking
In the past few weeks, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and top Republican lawmakers have engaged in some public mudslinging.
Prosecutor says planned death penalty study not enough
The top prosecutor from the state's second largest county said a planned study of how the death penalty is implemented in Arizona doesn't go far enough.
Native Americans share trauma of Arizona boarding schools
Native American boarding school survivors of abuse and their descendants shared memories and tears in Arizona on U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland's yearlong “Road to Healing” initiative. They spoke Friday at a school in the Gila Indian River Community just south of Phoenix before a large audience that included Gov. Katie Hobbs and Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego.
AG withdraws only outstanding motion for death penalty, Hobbs calls for review of execution process
Gov. Katie Hobbs wants an outside review of the state’s death penalty process, arguing the recent executions carried out by the Department of Corrections “have resulted in serious questions about ADCRR’s execution protocols and lack of transparency.”
Campaign spending for governor hit tens of millions
Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake paid nearly $230,000 to a pair of lawyers who filed her unsuccessful election contest lawsuit, campaign finance documents show.
Parents protest Hobbs’ proposed repeal of universal ESA
A brigade of strollers and children toting magic marker-adorned posters descended upon the Capitol to protest Gov. Katie Hobbs’ proposed repeal of the universal Empowerment Scholarship Account program. Hobbs announced her proposed budget with public education funding hinging on savings from repealing universal ESAs.
Farnsworth’s story of homelessness prompts Senate committee chair to pull Kavanagh’s proposal
A Republican state senator from Mesa's personal experience with mental illness and homelessness derailed a bid by another GOP lawmaker, this one a former cop, to make sleeping on a sidewalk a state crime. Sen. David Farnsworth's extended comments about his struggles led the chairman of a Senate committee to pull Republican Fountain Hills Sen. John Kavanagh's proposal from consideration during a he[...]
Hobbs asks court to toss Lake’s latest bid to overturn election
Gov. Katie Hobbs is asking the state Court of Appeals to toss out Kari Lake's latest bid to overturn the 2022 election saying it is based on "mere speculation of election misconduct and conjecture regarding its supposed result.''
VP Harris touts Arizona-California power transmission line
Vice President Kamala Harris and two cabinet secretaries on Thursday celebrated the start of construction of a new high-capacity power transmission line between Arizona and California, which they hope will lead to future solar energy farms in the desert outside Phoenix.
Managing rural groundwater use goal of state official
Will new urgency around Arizona’s water woes lead to more action on the decades-old issue? Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke said he thinks so, and there’s a few specific things he has in mind for the next few years under new Gov. Katie Hobbs.
Hobbs, legislature should prioritize funding for Border Strike Task Force
As the head of agencies that benefit from the state investment in law enforcement activities related to border crime, the Arizona Sheriff’s Association members urge Gov. Katie Hobbs to consider the important work done using the border task force dollars that have gone for local law enforcement throughout the state.
Finchem still seeking donations to pay off his debt in failed bid
Mark Finchem is still trying to raise money this week to pay off what he said is the debt for his failed bid for secretary of state. In a new fundraising email to supporters on Wednesday, Finchem asked people to "donate $25, $50, $100 or more'' to "stand with election integrity'' and "fight the propaganda.'' But it concludes with a disclosure that any money raised will "help pay off campaign debt.[...]