AP Exclusive: Emails reveal tensions in Colorado River talks
Competing priorities, outsized demands and the federal government's retreat from a threatened deadline stymied a deal last summer on how to drastically reduce water use from the parched Colorado River, emails obtained by The Associated Press show.
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[...]
Ignoring gas planning means utility customers lose
It is time for Southwest Gas to let the public in on its infrastructure plans before the Arizona Corporation Commission allows customers to be charged hundreds of millions of dollars that may have otherwise been avoided.
US law based on anti-Latino racism fuels immigration fight
As thousands of children were taken from their parents at the southern border during a Trump administration crackdown on illegal crossings, a federal public defender in San Diego set out to find new strategies to go after the longstanding deportation law fueling the family separations.
Arizona restricts farming to protect groundwater supply
The Arizona Department of Water Resources this week put a limit on the amount of land that can be watered, designating the Hualapai Valley as an irrigation non-expansion area. That means anyone who hasn't farmed more than 2 acres there during the past five years can't.
Native Americans want input in State Fair rodeo
At the annual Arizona State Fair an event called the All-Indian Rodeo features Native American competitors but isn’t organized by Native Americans – and some indigenous Arizonans want to change that.
Colorado River water users convening amid crisis concerns
Living with less water in the U.S. Southwest is the focus this week for state and federal water administrators, tribal officials, farmers, academics and business representatives, including some from Arizona, meeting about the drought-stricken and overpromised Colorado River.
Tribal leaders welcome return of White House summit, administration pledges
For the first time in six years, leaders of federally recognized tribes from across the country gathered in Washington to meet with Biden administration officials in a gathering one Oklahoma leader called “extremely powerful.”
Democrats kept the Senate this year, but 2024 may be harder
Democrats celebrating a successful effort to keep control of the U.S. Senate this year will soon confront a 2024 campaign that could prove more challenging.
Arizona expected to add over 100,000 jobs, but home prices limiting growth
Arizona will have added more than 100,000 jobs by the end of the year, with 86,000 of them in metro Phoenix, economist Dennis L. Hoffman said at Wednesday’s 59th annual ASU/PNC Bank Economic Forecast Luncheon. Arizona continues to have a pro-growth economic setting with a competitive tax structure, but declining housing affordability, as well as inflation and interest rate hikes threaten to slow[...]
Lengthy vote counts frustrate, but don’t signal problems
Lengthy vote counts can frustrate candidates and their supporters, but they don't indicate anything is wrong with the voting or the tallying of ballots.
After long fight, tribal water bills get primary OK; far from final
A trio of bills affecting water rights and infrastructure for Arizona tribes took a step closer to becoming law Wednesday, a move one official said his tribe has been waiting for since being forced onto the reservation.