‘Extended closure’ expected after deadly Arizona crash, leak
A key highway through Arizona remains closed outside Tucson this morning, a day after a deadly crash caused a hazardous material leak and forced evacuations nearby.
Fuel lines from Los Angeles to Vegas, Phoenix shut by leak
A leak in a fuel pipeline facility in California forced a shutdown of deliveries of gasoline and diesel from the Los Angeles area east to areas including Phoenix and Las Vegas, but officials said Friday they believed supplies would not immediately be affected.
Panel OKs cuts on zoning regulations for housing
A Senate committee passed legislation on Feb. 8 to drastically reduce zoning regulations on housing, despite opposition from municipalities that want to retain the power to make zoning decisions themselves.
Republican budget proposal fails in House after Harris votes against caucus
It seemed nearly inevitable that legislative Republicans would send their continuation budget proposal to Gov. Katie Hobbs this week for a quick veto, starting the negotiation process between the Republican majority Legislature and the ninth floor. Plans have now changed after one stray vote from a Republican lawmaker who promised she wouldn’t vote on any bills to protest a “fraudulent” elec[...]
It’s time we take serious look at intercity passenger rail
The Sun Corridor connecting Phoenix and Tucson is defined as a megaregion. It’s one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, with population growth anticipated to double by 2040. Recent spikes in population growth have demonstrated strains on our already overburdened freeways, which impact our safety, environment and ability to address the demands of a modern economy and quality of life.
Hospitality, tourism, sports industries fight human trafficking
It’s a Penalty, an organization working to prevent abuse, human trafficking and exploitation worldwide, campaigns around major sporting events year-round with the goal of eradicating exploitation, abuse and human trafficking by 2030. That organization, as well as the tourism, sporting and hospitality industries are working together to fight human trafficking ahead of Super Bowl LVII.
California is lone holdout in Colorado River cuts proposal
Six Western states that rely on water from the Colorado River have agreed on a model to dramatically cut water use in the basin, months after the federal government called for action and an initial deadline passed.
Rain, snow won’t be enough to end West’s drought
The West has been slammed by wet weather this winter: An “atmospheric river” has pummeled California with weeks of heavy rain and the Rocky Mountains are getting buried with snow. That’s good news for the Colorado River, but climate scientists say the 40 million people who use the river’s water should take the good news with a grain of salt.
Gun dealers fighting Mexico’s claim they’re responsible for violence
Attorneys for five Arizona gun dealers are asking a federal judge to toss out a claim by the Mexican government that they are responsible for violence in that country. In a new court filing, the team of lawyers says nothing in the complaint alleges any evidence that the weapons sold by the five companies -- three in Tucson, one in Yuma and one in Phoenix -- actually were used by Mexican cartels in[...]
Should federal grants favor highway repair over expansion?
Arizona officials refer to a notoriously congested stretch of desert highway through tribal land as the Wild Horse Pass Corridor, a label that's less about horses than the bustling casino by the same name located just north of where the interstate constricts to four lanes.
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[...]
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.