Stories You Don't Want to Miss: Recent Episodes
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Controversial border security legislation will appear on Arizona ballots this fall after Republicans in the Arizona House of Representatives approved the measure Tuesday. First responders in the Phoenix area have adopted a new protocol for treating heat stroke. This week, members of the U of A’s wheelchair racing team will be competing at the NCAA Track and Field Championships in Oregon. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, business, tribal natural resources and metro Phoenix news.
High temperatures bring pricey utility bills and added strain on air conditioners, but there are resources out there to help Arizonans keep their homes cool this summer. A contractor is scheduled to begin hauling radioactive material through the reservation en route to a milling site in Utah, which the Navajo Nation opposes but cannot prohibit. Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen says budget talks are heating up at the state Capitol. Plus the latest business, metro Phoenix and aging news.
This week, we examine the politics of water in Arizona. A border security ballot measure advanced through the Arizona Senate Wednesday with amendments Republicans say ensure no one would be racially profiled under the proposal. As Arizona's budget deadline looms, what options do lawmakers and Hobbs have? Plus, the latest Fronteras Desk, business, education and tribal natural resources news.
Arizona officials have called Medicaid fraud one of the biggest scandals in state history. A Phoenix City Councilwoman is upset over her colleagues’ moves to name a new downtown transit center after a former mayor. This week, the Union of Concerned Scientists is sending residents from radiation-exposed communities, including the Navajo Nation, to Capitol Hill. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk and health news.
On Wednesday, Republican lawmakers in the Arizona Senate advanced legislation that would give state and local law enforcement the power to enforce immigration laws. The CDC is asking state health officials to work with their agriculture department counterparts and community partners to protect farmworkers against bird flu. There are many ways protest music supplements Black social justice movements. Plus the latest Arizona education, arts and tribal natural resources news.
Arizona’s 160-year-old law banning abortion in almost all circumstances was repealed. This year, county and city officials are making some changes they hope will protect more people from extreme heat. The Phoenix Mystery Castle owner won’t say what is happening to the property. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, tribal natural resources, education, aging and metro Phoenix news.
An Arizona grand jury has indicted 11 Republicans who sent documents to Washington falsely claiming former President Donald Trump, not President Joe Biden, won the state’s 2020 presidential election. A repeal of the near-total abortion ban passed in the Arizona House and the speaker isn't happy. Low wages, high turnover rates and chronic understaffing plague the direct support professionals workforce, leaving both caregivers and those they support in a precarious position. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, tribal natural resources and education news.
Two Republicans joined all Democrats in the Arizona Senate to take the first step towards repealing Arizona’s near-total ban on abortion. Phoenix had hoped to open 23 public pools this summer, but will open 18 instead. The search committee for the next president of the University of Arizona had its first meeting Wednesday. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, metro Phoenix and tribal natural resources news.
The Arizona Supreme Court issued a ruling this week reinstating a near total ban on abortion in the state, a law that dates back to 1864. A new attraction is coming to Arizona’s billion-dollar Astro-tourism industry. The Phoenix Union High School District is stepping up efforts to educate its students in financial literacy. Plus the latest metro Phoenix and tribal natural resources news.
One Arizona electrical provider says the way to meet rising demand and ambitious sustainability goals is to build a new lake in the middle of the desert. University of Arizona President Robert Robbins will step down following numerous unfavorable reports about the school’s finances. State representatives approved a bill designed to help address the housing crisis by streamlining the zoning process in Arizona cities. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, business and metro Phoenix news.
A new report from ASU’s Kyl Center for Water Policy warns the groundwater supply in the Phoenix area faces some major threats in the years ahead. Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake is asking a court to swiftly determine what damages she owes in a defamation suit brought by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer rather than take the case to trial. Phoenix will require contractors with employees working outside to follow measures intended to prevent heat injury and illness following a City Council vote Tuesday. Plus the latest tribal natural resources, metro Phoenix, education and Fronteras Desk news.
In a speech on the Arizona Senate floor Monday, a state lawmaker told her colleagues that she plans to get an abortion and decried the state’s laws that restrict access to the procedure. Voters in the Arizona tourist town of Sedona are pushing back against a City Council vote earlier this month that would rezone part of a popular park to create car camps for homeless workers. Schools across the country are increasingly adopting no-phone policies. Plus the latest business and metro Phoenix news.
Arizona’s Medicaid agency is struggling to claw back millions of dollars doled out to fraudulent sober living homes. In his annual state of education address to state lawmakers, Arizona schools Superintendent Tom Horne warned teachers are leaving schools at an alarming rate. A photo showing a black bear scaling the border wall in southern Arizona has gone viral on social media — but the photo isn’t actually new. Plus the latest arts, metro Phoenix and tribal resources news.
Republican state lawmakers are backing a package of bills restricting immigration. The state of Arizona has a chief heat officer for the first time. This week, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced $72 million to aid tribal communities in electrifying their homes on a path toward zero-emissions energy systems. Plus the latest in politics, Fronteras Desk, education and metro Phoenix news.
Republican Kari Lake said recently that she wants to look forward on the campaign trail for a U.S. Senate seat in Arizona. As Arizona is in desperate need of more health care professionals, some high schools are giving their students a head start. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, business and metro Phoenix news.
The state’s largest emergency shelter program may soon have to cut services to people experiencing homelessness. Republican lawmakers and Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs are scheduled to begin budget negotiations as the state contends with a massive budget deficit. The owners of a uranium mine just south of the Grand Canyon have embarked on a messaging tour of Arizona to counter what they say are inaccurate portrayals of the mine. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, education and tribal natural resources news.
Fans of major artists like Taylor Swift and Beyoncé have had to deal with surging ticket prices for popular tours in recent years. An effort to require the approval of Congress or the state Legislature to deploy the National Guard is sweeping the nation. The Department of Defense is green-lighting investigations into sites that have been exposed to PFAS contamination. Plus the latest education, tribal natural resources and metro Phoenix news.
Arizona lawmakers agreed to a bipartisan bill Thursday to fix election deadline issues that would have put Arizonans’ votes in upcoming elections at risk. The Department of Defense will help fund investigations for two sites in the Tucson area thought to be the root of groundwater contamination issues. In 2008, the Explosion Detection Dogs Program was created, and they’ve become an essential part of airport security. Plus the latest tribal natural resources, education and metro Phoenix news.
For the first time, the U.S. Geological Survey is considering potential harms to tribes from mining uranium in northern Arizona. High school graduation is an exciting time. But for special education students and their families, it can be complicated. Flute-making is a time-honored artform among tribal communities across Arizona, but this traditional craft may also be under threat.
State Republican lawmakers are tightening the leash on several Arizona agencies, and in some cases, seeking to abolish them altogether. Experts say that for thousands of years, women were at the forefront of producing the world’s beer. A new uranium mine has opened near the Grand Canyon. What does this mean for tribal lands? Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, education and metro Phoenix news.
Keeping the Arizona Commerce Authority going is a priority for Gov. Katie Hobbs, but a Republican-controlled panel voted against continuing the agency. Dams are coming down on rivers across the West and many tribes are all for it. Phoenix has launched a special court for low-level offenders experiencing homelessness. Plus the latest education, metro Phoenix and Fronteras Desk news.
The federal government reopened the Lukeville Port of Entry last week, but the underlying issues that prompted the closure are still going on. A pilot program to help Phoenix property owners affected by homelessness could become permanent. Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is getting in touch with school districts to see if they're complying with the state's required Holocaust education law. Plus the latest metro Phoenix and science news.
The Lukeville Port of Entry reopened early Thursday morning in southern Arizona. The Arizona Department of Child Safety is making a concerted effort to reduce the number of foster children in group homes. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office says Cox Communications will spend millions of dollars to settle a lawsuit over allegations that the company broke the state’s consumer fraud act. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, metro Phoenix and science news.
U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly say they want more money for Arizona’s border communities. Preservationists are trying to save a chapel designed by Paolo Soleri. A letter that appeared to be from Arizona State University expelling a student for creating adult content caused a stir among users on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Plus the latest science, tribal natural resources and metro Phoenix news.
Arizona’s Supreme Court is considering whether Arizona should ban almost all abortions, or allow them early in pregnancy. Phoenix will soon require certain property owners to register with the city. Water management in the drought-stressed West is complicated by the interplay between mountains and what is known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, education, tribal natural resources and metro Phoenix news.
Arizona is receiving $24 million to build safer wildlife crossings and reduce collisions with mostly elk along a stretch of Interstate 17 south of Flagstaff. Generative AI tools are capable of writing and creating images — and that has some university professors concerned about cheating. Arizona tribes are trying to tap into the potential of agritourism to reshape their communities financially. Plus the latest science, business and metro Phoenix news.
A Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake can’t inspect around 1.3 million ballot envelopes from the 2022 general election she lost to Gov. Katie Hobbs. Hundreds of migrants and asylum seekers are waiting for processing along a remote stretch of the border in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. A Republican-led panel took shots at Arizona State University, accusing the school of discouraging conservative speakers at two recent events. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, science, tribal natural resources and business news.
The city of Phoenix this month completed an unprecedented effort to clear its largest homeless encampment. A parent of two students at Desert Mountain High School says his children were bullied after Tom Horne, the state superintendent of public instruction, accused two student clubs of spreading antisemitic materials on campus. What if you knew you had Alzheimer’s disease before you had any symptoms? Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, tribal natural resources, business and metro Phoenix news.
Maricopa County’s largest shelter is starting to screen its older clients for possible neurological disorders. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne wants Arizona schools to keep Amnesty International and UNICEF off their campuses. Some Phoenix leaders are pushing for more security along the city’s light rail line. Plus the latest science, metro Phoenix, tribal natural resources and Fronteras Desk news.
Phoenix leaders held a ceremony Thursday to kick off renovations for the future police headquarters. The president of a large Christian university in Phoenix is pushing back against a nearly $38 million fine assigned by the federal government. The Environmental Protection Agency says it will fund new research focused on how PFAS — known as forever chemicals — affect animals and plants in agricultural areas. Plus the latest science, metro Phoenix, business and tribal resources news.
Critics say being a “right to work” state is deceiving and keeps Arizona workers from bargaining and forming unions. The Phoenix Union High School District has partnered with an online certification program in an effort to recruit and retain qualified teachers. Tucson’s City Council has approved a plan laid out by municipal authorities to secure drinking water for residents in the coming years. Plus the latest science, metro Phoenix, business and tribal resources news.
Important deadlines are quickly approaching for federal funding for climate change programs. Migrant families separated under the Trump administration’s "zero tolerance" policy will receive support from the U.S. government under a new settlement between the Biden administration and the ACLU. Gas prices have remained high in Arizona even as prices drop nationwide. Plus the latest science, tribal natural resources, education and metro Phoenix news.
Arizona will be auctioning off shipping containers used to construct former Gov. Doug Ducey’s illegal makeshift border wall. Flu cases and other respiratory infections are on the rise in Arizona. Wednesday was an important holiday for one Native community outside of Tucson. Plus, the latest in business and metro Phoenix news.
A judge this week denied the city of Phoenix’s request for more time to clear the region’s largest homeless encampment. Save Our Schools Arizona delivered a memo to the state’s legislative leadership, governor, treasurer and superintendent of public instruction demanding a plan to deal with what it calls massive overspending on school vouchers. The U.S. government wants to change how it manages Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona to keep a disruptive invasive fish from spawning in its waters and harming protected species. Plus the latest business, tribal natural resources, metro Phoenix and science news.
Only one Phoenix City Council District will remain unchanged after leaders approved new district maps Tuesday. Researchers at the University of Arizona are working with farmers to find new ways, and new crops, that might help with conservation. Plus the latest education, business, metro Phoenix and Fronteras Desk news.
More Arizona school counselors are facing compassion fatigue. Extreme temperatures led to hundreds of deaths in spite of record investments to protect people from heat. Nearly a third of the Navajo Nation still lives without running water, but that doesn’t stop travelers from veering off the grid. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, science and business news.
The ambitious executive immigration plan known as DACA is now likely heading back to the U.S. Supreme Court. After years of hearing complaints about light rail security, one Phoenix council member wants to consider barriers to keep out people who don’t pay fares. SRP has invested $2.6 million to fund 36 research and development projects at Arizona’s three state universities. Plus the latest tribal natural resources, education, metro Phoenix and science news.
The lawsuit against the City of Phoenix to disband its largest homeless encampment, known as the ‘Zone,’ is still ongoing. Over the past several weeks, health insurance giant Humana has reported an uptick in older adults being hospitalized for COVID-19. Arizona is channeling $40 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding toward tutoring students falling behind in school. Plus the latest in business, tribal natural resources and Fronteras Desk news.
The University of Arizona’s Agricultural Extension is helping farmers transition to the farms of the future. The Buckeye Elementary School District is implementing a new program at two of its campuses this year. The Department of Justice and the state of Arizona have reached an agreement on how to handle remediation efforts from the shipping container border wall. Plus the latest science, business and tribal natural resources news.
The National Park Service says annual visitor spending in Arizona topped $1 billion. The telecommunications network for the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is reinvesting in its residents a year after a major disruption in service. And we have the answer for why Phoenix’s official weather readings are taken at Sky Harbor Airport. Plus the latest science, Fronteras Desk and education news.
The Laveen Elementary School District is under scrutiny after a video was released showing a superintendent physically restraining a fifth-grade student. The federal government is rolling back some restrictions on Colorado River water after a wet winter boosted reservoir levels. It’s not just saguaros — the heat is withering all types of plants in Phoenix. Plus the latest science, tribal natural resources and Fronteras Desk news.
President Joe Biden has designated more than 1,500 square miles to the north and south of Grand Canyon National Park as a new national monument. U.S. House Republicans were back in southern Arizona this week for a remote congressional hearing about what they call a crisis at the border created by the Biden administration. More than 30 bills that would affect the LGBTQ community were introduced in the Arizona Legislature this year, but few of them passed. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, science, business and education news.
A new suit alleges Customs and Border Protection is illegally turning away asylum seekers who don’t have an appointment through the CBP One smartphone app. The Creighton Elementary School District in Phoenix is in the midst of an investigation into its special education program. After months of negotiations, state lawmakers finally struck a deal that will allow Maricopa County voters to decide whether or not to extend a half-cent sales tax earmarked for transportation projects. Plus the latest business, tribal natural resources, science and metro Phoenix news.
Gov. Katie Hobbs has released new cost estimates for Arizona’s school voucher program, as part of an effort to get lawmakers to limit the program’s growth. The Wood for Life project is helping Arizona forests while also providing fuel for Native American communities in several other western states. A bill introduced this week by Congressman Raul Grijalva and other lawmakers would strengthen federal protections for workers exposed to extreme heat. Plus the latest science, metro Phoenix and business news.
The longest stretch of 110 degree days in Phoenix history continues. A Phoenix firm has proposed building a dam on a tributary of the Little Colorado River for hydroelectric power. It’s been a little more than two months since the pandemic-era protocol Title 42 came to an end at the U.S.-Mexico border. So what does it look like now? Plus the latest science, business, education and metro Phoenix news.
What began as a pilot project to address some of the plastic waste in Tucson has exploded into something much more. Short-term rentals are becoming increasingly prevalent in Arizona, and full-time homeowners, especially in the state’s most touristy areas, are growing increasingly frustrated by the noise and nuisance. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says Arizona’s 50-50 dual language model is illegal. Plus the latest science and metro Phoenix news.
Vice President Kamala Harris was in the Valley on Thursday, and she made a historic visit to the Gila River Indian Community. A chipmaker will send temporary workers to Phoenix to help build a massive factory, while the state and city pledge to improve a major road near the site. Leaders from the United States, Mexico and Canada are meeting this week to reflect on the regional trade agreement known as the USMCA. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, education and science news.
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says public schools that allow English language learners to use the 50/50 dual language model are violating state law and risk losing state funding. The Phoenix City Council was asked to approve more than $2 million to create a new court for people experiencing homelessness. When the new fiscal year begins on July 1, the Arizona Department of Housing will begin working with the largest budget it’s ever had for the state’s Housing Trust Fund. Plus the latest in metro Phoenix, science, tribal resources and Fronteras Desk news.
A year after Roe v. Wade was overturned, patients seeking abortions in Arizona are facing longer wait times and added barriers for appointments, according to the state’s largest abortion provider. Many Arizonans are wondering how a Saudi Arabian dairy company's search for water ever led to the bone-dry Southwest. In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the federal government does not have to take affirmative steps to secure water for the Navajo Nation. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, education, business and science news.
The housing market in Phoenix has been booming in recent years, but Arizona now faces a stark reality. In exchange for funding, Phoenix leaders want more information from the state’s largest emergency homeless shelter. A federal appeals court has reinstated a lawsuit against the University of Arizona. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, science and metro Phoenix news.
How do AIs respond to people who are suicidal or dealing with sexual assault or addiction? Arizona’s FAFSA completion rates are near the lowest in the country. Three major chemical companies say they’ve reached a tentative settlement with cities suing them for water contamination caused by PFAS. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, tribal resources and business news.
Arizona will stop approving some development projects in areas where groundwater would be the only water source. A Phoenix council member opposed to using tax dollars on stadiums is now supporting a bid to host a major sporting event. Arizona State University has announced plans to launch a new medical school. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk, tribal resources and science news.
This year, Maricopa County is spending more on heat relief than it ever has in hopes of turning the heat-related deaths trend around. New technologies using artificial intelligence are shaking up many industries, including publishing and art. Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has submitted new legal filings. Plus the latest in metro Phoenix and Fronteras Desk news.
KJZZ has been committed to covering Arizona’s water challenges, in our ongoing series, “Every Last Drop.” And this week, we’ve been looking into the contaminants that pose threats to the state’s increasingly precious supply of drinking water. Tempe voters on Tuesday rejected a set of ballot measures that would have created a new venue for the Arizona Coyotes. Plus the latest in metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk, tribal resources, education and science news.
A Flagstaff judge has dismissed a restraining order that state Sen. Wendy Rogers obtained against an Arizona Capitol Times reporter. For the unincorporated community of Rio Verde Foothills, water stopped flowing this year when the nearby city of Scottsdale shut off the taps. Are other small communities facing the same threat? Plus the latest metro Phoenix, science and education news.
A non-profit organization based in the Valley is offering help, in the form of man’s best friend, for combat veterans suffering from PTSD or traumatic brain injuries. On the second floor of Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix is a room filled with Arizona history dating back to territorial days. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, science, business and metro Phoenix news.
There's a centrist political group called No Labels that's getting on the ballot in states like Arizona – and causing some consternation about what their endgame is. Menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes or sleep disturbances can negatively impact women in the workplace and cost billions in lost work time. The US Secretary of Education has been talking about loan forgiveness and school choice. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, business and Fronteras Desk news.
Voters in Tempe are preparing to cast their ballots in a special election on three propositions that will decide the future of its last major piece of prized real estate – a 46-acre tract of land on the northwestern edge of the city within just 2 miles of Sky Harbor Airport. The City of Tucson is returning a portion of ancestral land to the Tohono O’odham Nation in a new resolution passed by the City Council this week. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was before Congress this week answering questions about border apprehensions and the upcoming end of the pandemic-era protocol Title 42, among other issues. Plus the latest science, business and metro Phoenix news.
Tempe residents are expected to soon start receiving ballots for the city’s special election on whether to build an entertainment district around a new home for the Arizona Coyotes. Locals from the Navajo Nation shut down Grand Falls to non-tribal members and now they’re trying to keep it closed. Phoenix is looking for more partners to help protect the city’s most vulnerable this summer. Plus the latest in education and science news.
Republican lawmakers are proposing to rein in the powers of the Arizona governor to declare emergencies that can last for months or years without legislative oversight. A state-funded pilot program launched in 2015 that helped several Arizona school districts improve their performance is expanding. Republican Representative Eli Crane of Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District has reintroduced a bill to ratify a treaty that establishes state tribal lands for the San Juan Southern Paiute. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, metro Phoenix and business news.
The city of Phoenix filed a lawsuit to stop a major development planned in Tempe that Phoenix believes is too close to Sky Harbor Airport. An international body that regulates the trade of protected plants and animals has imposed sanctions on Mexico. And Phoenix has less than four months to begin disbanding the Zone. Plus the latest science, education and metro Phoenix news.
State lawmakers blocked a vote on whether Arizona should ratify the federal Equal Rights Amendment. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Tuesday in a case over a land transfer in the Tonto National Forest that would bring a massive copper mine to a sacred indigenous site about an hour east of Phoenix. After many months of mobile home residents begging Phoenix leaders to help them fight evictions, the City Council took action Wednesday night. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, education, Fronteras Desk and science news.
It looks like Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego will have more support on the city council. Most Arizona Corporation Commissioners say a new regulator who met with financial institutions that invest in Arizona utilities did not commit an ethics violation. From auto-generated email responses to term papers written by ChatGPT, artificial intelligence now churns out text that both saves time and opens the door to fraud. Plus the latest in tribal resources, Fronteras Desk and education news.
Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed a bill that would have banned Arizona’s public schools from talking about race in certain ways. For the two most recent years on record, the case counts of Valley fever hit rates not seen since 2012. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, business and tribal resources news.
A market-based approach to pricing water could ease the crisis in the West. A group of Navajo residents living near what’s become a landmark waterfall in northern Arizona want to close it off to tourists and visitors, saying the increasingly popular area is being loved to death. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, science and metro Phoenix news.
The State Bar of Arizona confirmed it’s received two complaints against former Attorney General Mark Brnovich related to reports that he concealed records debunking election fraud claims. The Scottsdale City Council has unanimously approved a proposal to provide water to the Rio Verde Foothills community. Gov. Katie Hobbs has removed all the board members of a binational nonprofit meant to foster ties between Arizona and Sonora. Plus the latest science, metro Phoenix and education news.
Attorneys for the Hobbs administration say more than $200 million in American Rescue Plan grants issued before former Gov. Doug Ducey left office were done so illegally. Arizona's superintendent of public instruction says schools applying for safety grants have to prioritize armed police officers over school counselors. About 2,000 shipping containers used by former Gov. Ducey to keep people out of Arizona could soon be used to house people. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, science and metro Phoenix news.
Wednesday afternoon, the Arizona Senate passed a resolution to waive Arizona’s K-12 spending limit for this academic year. Fifteen Native American tribes, including the Gila River Indian Community, will get a total of $580 million in federal money this year for water rights settlements. The World Health Organization had announced that it would phase out the term "monkeypox," citing the need to move on from what it called racist and stigmatizing language. Plus the latest science, Fronteras Desk and metro Phoenix news.
A wall of shipping containers put up by former Gov. Doug Ducey’s administration along the border in Cochise County last year has been removed. Between the price of groceries, higher mortgage rates and news reports of layoffs, some people are bracing for tougher economic times — or wondering if they should be. California released its own plan this week on Colorado River water cuts. Plus the latest science, Fronteras Desk, education and metro Phoenix news.
A new app from Customs and Border Protection gives asylum seekers waiting at the U.S.-Mexico border the chance to ask for an exception to Title 42 restrictions on asylum. How do Phoenix leaders allow for growth, while making sure there's enough water to meet increased demand? The Arizona House Education Committee advanced a bill Tuesday that would allow school boards to terminate a superintendent's contract for violating board policy. Plus the latest metro Phoenix and science news.
How has disinformation and misdirection shaped the Grand Canyon? The old structures known as "the domes" near Casa Grande are being demolished, after years of back and forth between Pinal County and the owner of the condemned property. U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly were in Yuma this week as part of a bipartisan group of eight congressional members visiting the border. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, science and education news.
Katie Hobbs was formally sworn in as Arizona’s new governor Thursday. This week, President Jpe Biden awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal to former Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers for standing up for democracy during the insurrection. Contractors hired by the state of Arizona have started dismantling a makeshift border wall made of shipping containers in Yuma and Cochise counties. Plus the latest business, science and tribal resources news.
The federal government is suing Arizona over a state-funded project to build a border wall of shipping containers on Forest Service land in Cochise County. Phoenix Children’s Hospital reports it has seen a number of invasive group A strep infections since early November. A deal to sell the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury is now pending approval from the NBA. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, education and metro Phoenix news.
The United States government sued Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and the state on Wednesday over the placement of shipping containers as a makeshift wall on the border with Mexico. Through KJZZ's Q&AZ project, one listener asked: Why isn’t there a checkpoint when you drive back to Arizona? This week marks two years since the U.S. began distributing and administering COVID-19 vaccines. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, metro Phoenix, education and tribal resources news.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has registered as an independent. Phoenix is on track to have the most advanced semiconductor plant in the United States. A growing number of Sonorans are ditching animal products and opening restaurants centered on plant-based foods, in all their forms. Plus the latest education, metro Phoenix, tribal resources and business news.
By a 2-0 vote, supervisors in a small, rural Republican-leaning Arizona county have finally voted to certify the 2022 election results. Tempe’s mayor says the Arizona Coyotes plan would be the best arena deal in Arizona history. The Biden administration says it’s still not sure whether to appeal a court-mandated end to Title 42. And our five-part series "Unsafe" investigates the physical and sexual abuse of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Plus the latest science, education and metro Phoenix news.
Research in the journal Nature Communications suggests beaver dams could more than offset the harmful effects of such changes on water quality. Imagine owning a home and being told you need to move —and take your home with you. A new report from the Human Trafficking Institute finds convicted sex trafficking defendants have not had to pay restitution to victims for years in Arizona. Plus the latest election coverage and education news.
The number of LGBTQ voters in Arizona is projected to dramatically increase in the coming years. Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman is calling on legislators to take immediate action to raise the constitutional spending limit for schools by 18%. A number of residents in the Rio Verde Foothills community outside of Scottsdale recently learned that their water supply was in jeopardy. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, science and metro Phoenix news.
In northern Arizona, officials are working to clear overgrown tree lines that haven’t been touched in generations. Arizona ranks ninth among states with the most widespread shortages of health professionals, and the Health Resources and Services Administration has labeled the state a “medically underserved region.” For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress have been released. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, metro Phoenix and business news.
Lawmakers in southern Arizona are renewing calls to the federal government to help clean up contaminated water in Tucson. After a tumultuous–and longer than expected summer, the Phoenix Suns are back to start another season hosting the Mavericks, the very team that forced a bitter end to their playoff run in May. And how are Democrat Katie Hobbs and Republican Kari Lake shoring up support among the voters who should be easiest for them to win? Plus the latest education, metro Phoenix and science news.
Arizonans will soon have a new Attorney General for the first time in eight years. A movement is underway to expand private security officers to Phoenix city parks. The race for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction pits Incumbent Democrat Kathy Hoffman against someone who's held the office before - Republican Tom Horne. Plus the latest in metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk, and science news.
Should the public have a right to know the original source of all campaign spending? Arizonans will vote on several propositions including what is advertised as the Predatory Debt Collection Protection Act. “Forest ninja bison” are sneaking around Grand Canyon National Park. And the Mexican government confirms that it was hit by a major cyber attack. Plus the latest in education, tribal natural resources and science news.
A federal appeals court is expected to rule on the future of DACA soon. A disturbing crime in central Phoenix forced neighbors to convince the city to let them install locked gates to block public access to alleys behind their homes. With the reinstatement of a territorial-era ban that dates back to the 1860s, Arizona women are no longer able to seek abortion care in most cases. Plus the latest metro Phoenix and education news.
The embattled owner of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury announced Wednesday that he’s looking for someone to buy the teams. Advocacy group needs over 100,000 signatures by Sept. 23 to bring school vouchers back on the ballot. Jupiter is making its closest approach to Earth in 70 years, and Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff is offering the public the chance to view the gas giant through several of its telescopes. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk and education news.
Turnover in leadership is underway this week at the Phoenix Police Department. A government watchdog report out this month finds that IT systems run by the Department of Homeland Security failed to keep track of some migrants at the border in 2021. The candidates for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction squared off in a debate Wednesday night. Plus the latest in business, science and metro Phoenix news.
The latest Arizona Academic Standards Assessment results show students statewide performed slightly better in the last school year than they did in the previous year. Phoenix has a five-year goal to reduce deadly crashes by 25%. Scientists have long tried to clarify the complex relationship between uncomfortable temperatures, human behavior and societal stability. Plus the latest metro Phoenix and Fronteras Desk news.
While Arizona is being asked to cut back when Colorado River restrictions go into effect next year, some residents of the state are in danger of being cut off completely from their water supplies. Nearly 6,500 Arizona families have applied for school vouchers under an expansion of the controversial education program. Arizona’s COVID-19 outbreak continues to show signs of improvement, according to the latest update from the state health department. Plus the latest business, metro Phoenix and Fronteras Desk news.
No major city in the U.S. gets more triple-digit days than Phoenix, but that famous desert heat is leading to more and more deaths. Starting next year, students will be able to pursue bachelor’s degrees at some of the Maricopa County Community Colleges. And does Arizona have enough water to support more microchip production? Plus the latest in science, tribal resources and Fronteras Desk news.
Tucson water authorities briefed community members Tuesday about the city’s drinking water sources and plans for the future. Northern Arizona has been besieged with almost daily flooding after a pair of devastating wildfires near Flagstaff this year. Two-thirds of homeowners who lose their home in a wildfire do not get enough money from their insurance to rebuild or replace their homes. Plus the latest science, metro Phoenix and education news.
A Phoenix city council candidate says the state’s highest court should hear his lawsuit to keep an opponent off the November ballot. Arizona K-12 schools will receive 500 million dollars in new funding this year, but may be prevented from spending it. Officials say a major aqueduct project designed to bring potable water to Yaqui towns in Sonora is moving ahead. Plus the latest in science, metro Phoenix and business news.
Thursday night, two days after polls closed in Arizona, The Associated Press called the Republican primary for governor for former local news anchor Kari Lake. The Broadway Curve Improvement project addresses one of the most famous and busiest traffic interchanges in the state. A growing number of people in the Sonoran capital Hermosillo are starting to consider how the city and its residents can deal with the impacts of climate change in the already hot, dry Sonoran Desert. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, education, tribal resources and science news.
In northern Arizona, flooding threatens about 500 hundred homes; the result of a worst case scenario where several burn scars in the pine tree mountains are now exposed to a heavy monsoon year. One in three Native American elders will develop Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. And the Village Auntie is helping Muslim communities talk about sex. Plus the latest metro Phoenix and science news.
A flurry of endorsements for GOP-gubernatorial hopeful Karrin Taylor Robson have made the Arizona primary a proxy battle for the state of the Republican Party. The United States and Canada are requesting dispute settlement talks with Mexico over what they say are discriminatory energy policies. Mesa’s swap meets and trailer parks become art as one artist searches for his Native roots. Plus the latest education, science and metro Phoenix news.
Mexico’s president visited the White House this week to meet with President Joe Biden. And you've probably seen the new photos from the Webb Telescope, but a University of Arizona scientist says the pictures exceeded expectations. Plus the latest in education and business news.
A new study from the University of Arizona shows a connection between dying stars and the creation of complex carbon molecules. A new policy giving tribes a say could slow down AZ Snowbowl development plans. Mexico is set to begin placing concrete blocks around a protected area in the uppermost part of the Gulf of California. Plus the latest metro Phoenix and business news.
A recent survey by the Center for the Future of Arizona sought to buck the conventional wisdom about election year politicking. The athletic conference to which Arizona State and the University of Arizona belong may be headed for disintegration. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that states can prosecute non-Native Americans for crimes committed on tribal land when the victim is Native American. Plus the latest science, Fronteras Desk and metro Phoenix news.
The latest Jan. 6 hearing in Washington, D.C., shined an even brighter spotlight on Arizona on Tuesday. A physician shortage is affecting the country. Women with an intellectual or developmental disability are 12 times as likely to experience sexual assault compared to those without a disability. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, business and metro Phoenix news.
The number of Valley fever cases is on the rise, but what happens when Valley fever and COVID-19 collide? It’s been a decade since the Dream Act was put in place to protect DACA kids. In less than two months, Phoenix police officers will collect bigger paychecks, making the Phoenix Police Department the highest paid law enforcement agency in the state. Plus the latest education, metro Phoenix and business news.
The Scottsdale-based company Axon, best known for developing the Taser, announced its halting plans to develop drones equipped with Tasers. A drowning in Tempe Town Lake has raised issues around the role of the police. The latest update on COVID-19 in Arizona has some scientists worried. Plus the latest in education, metro Phoenix and Fronteras Desk news.
The concerns over water across the Southwest are growing. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality recently granted an aquifer protection permit for a uranium mine located less than 10 miles from a tribal community in the Grand Canyon. And we are celebrating graduates from kindergarten to college in 2022. Plus the latest in Fronteras Desk and metro Phoenix news.
For the second year in a row, Arizona enters June facing the threat of a government shutdown. Asylum restrictions at the border are still in place after a court in Louisiana ruled the CDC could not repeal Title 42 as planned earlier this week. Arizona recorded more than 11-thousand new COVID-19 cases in the past week, according to the health department. Plus the latest in education, business and metro Phoenix news.
Researchers have completed a study of body-camera use by Phoenix police. A growing global debate over an energy source with a deadly past is playing out amidst the sweet sage and pine trees of the forests right by the Grand Canyon. COVID-19 is on the rise again in Arizona, but the state is seeing a steady increase in influenza cases, too. Plus the latest in education, metro Phoenix and Fronteras Desk news.
Arizona resumed executions after a nearly eight-year hiatus. Clarence Dixon died by lethal injection Wednesday at a state prison in Florence. This month, the Phoenix Police Department should place its first order for drones. Groups that challenged the voter-approved tax to fund education are now asking for $1 million in legal fees from the state and initiative organizers. Plus the latest science and tribal resources news.
The biggest concern across the Southwest is water and the future of water. The pandemic shone a light on the limits of the healthcare system, but it also illuminated the distress that has long beleaguered doctors and nurses. The City of Tucson wants some funding from the bipartisan infrastructure package passed by Congress to go towards cleaning up groundwater contaminants. Plus the latest in tribal resources, business, education and metro Phoenix news.
Plans for the former Metrocenter Mall in Phoenix have grown since KJZZ first reported the deal last December. The Phoenix City Council recently approved a heat response plan for this summer. The fires burning near Flagstaff and Bisbee signals the start of the Arizona wildfire season. Plus the latest education, Fronteras Desk and metro Phoenix news.
Flagstaff residents learned Wednesday night that they will be in for a tough weekend from the Tunnel Fire with no evident end. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is slated to testify to the House Judiciary Committee next week about border and immigration issues. Late last month, Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation that would delay gender-affirming surgery until the age of 18. Plus the latest in business, metro Phoenix and education news.
If you want to know what’s going on with the coronavirus pandemic in neighboring Sonora, arguably the best source isn’t the state government, a news outlet or a well-staffed NGO: it’s a single graduate student with a passion for turning big data into clear insight. The Arizona Department of Health Services has stopped reporting some information on COVID-19 hospitalizations. Renewal construction will soon be underway at Quitobaquito Springs — a cherished natural water source at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Plus the latest in business, metro Phoenix and education news.
Lawsuits filed against U-S representatives Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar, as well as state representative Mark Finchem, say their support of and participation in the January 6th attack on the U-S capitol disqualifies them from running for office in 2022. Arizona is set to become one of the most restrictive states in the country for abortion access. The large non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity is starting a new program in Northern Arizona where home prices outpace living wages in a mountain town with few options for home ownership. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, tribal resources, education and Fronteras Desk news.
Earlier this week, Governor Doug Ducey signed a bill that attempts to supersede federal law when it comes to registering voters. Abortion access in Arizona is likely to become much more limited. Title 42 — the pandemic-era restriction on asylum at the border — is expected to end in May, and advocacy organizations that work with asylum seekers say that end-date should come sooner. Plus the latest in metro Phoenix, business, education and Fronteras Desk news.
A Phoenix church wants families of Afghan diplomats brought here before they’re forced back home to risk persecution from the Taliban. The pandemic’s disruptions of daily routines, emotional support networks and vaccination rates have raised concerns in education, physical health and mental wellbeing among young people to crisis levels. The Maricopa County attorney resigned this week and now that decision will have a big impact for the county. Plus the latest in tribal resources, Fronteras Desk and science news.
There’s a new voting proposal to make public every cast ballot in most local and statewide elections. The National Federation of Independent Business has found that nearly half of owners surveyed had openings they could not fill, even though nearly 180 thousand leisure and hospitality workers were hired across the country. And March 16 marks two years since Arizona officials first began closing schools statewide due to COVID-19. Plus the latest metro Phoenix and Fronteras Desk news.
The 2020 U.S. Census count missed Blacks, Latinos, and Native Americans at a higher rate than their white counterparts, officials admit. After passing the Arizona Senate, the House Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would ban those born male from competing in girl’s sports. Major League Baseball’s 99-day lockout is ending. Plus the latest science, metro Phoenix and Fronteras Desk news.
Governor Doug Ducey dodged questions Wednesday about his prior commitment to now-censured Senator Wendy Rogers. Federal officials are investigating the shootings of two high-profile Mexican gray wolves just weeks apart in northern Arizona and New Mexico. A federal appeals court has ruled against environmental groups and an Arizona tribe in their bid to keep a uranium mine, near the Grand Canyon, from operating. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, business and science news.
The Phoenix City Council voted to move forward with a plan for the police department to buy and use drones. It’s been six months since the U.S. began evacuating tens of thousands in Afghanistan after the country’s government fell and U.S. troops withdrew. School leaders and teachers had been on edge as a spending cap rule threatened to stop money flowing to schools. Plus the latest in science, business and metro Phoenix news.
Numbers are falling, but more than 6,000 Arizonans per day are still testing positive for COVID-19. A refugee resettlement group is asking the public to voice support for the Afghan Adjustment Act — legislation that would provide Afghan refugees a pathway to permanent legal status in the United States. And a new approach for medical students is keeping humanity and the arts front and center. Plus the latest business, education and tribal resources news.
A group of Phoenix educators and community members held a demonstration on Monday calling on Arizona lawmakers to address a looming school funding crisis. We'll take a look at what’s life like now for those living and working in nursing homes. State Rep. John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills is sparking controversy for comments he made about Afghan refugees who are being housed in a hotel in Scottsdale. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, business and science news.
The Food and Drug Administration has announced it’s limiting the use of two types of monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19. The Colorado River is in dire straits because an ongoing drought driven by climate change is threatening its future, but one Arizona tribe is in a unique position: It has water to spare. Phoenix council members started moving toward becoming a “Vision Zero” city. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk, and education news.
On Wednesday, Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema joined West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin and 50 Senate Republicans to vote against changing the filibuster. A smash room in Phoenix is giving patients and their caregivers an outlet for their anger and depression. An Indigenous woman facing federal charges for blocking construction of former President Donald Trump’s border wall in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in 2020 was found not guilty Wednesday on religious freedom grounds. Plus the latest in metro Phoenix, science, tribal resources and Fronteras Desk news.
Arizona students returned to schools last week as the state was experiencing yet another spike of COVID-19, this time due to the highly infectious omicron variant. Since the pandemic began, more adults have been seeking information about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. And an initiative aimed at improving educational opportunities and addressing other community challenges in Maryvale addresses the issue of internet access. Plus the latest in Fronteras Desk, metro Phoenix and business news.
As the pandemic continues to strain the U.S. health care system, a growing number of providers in Arizona and across the country are offering patients a new option for treatment: the chance to be “hospitalized” in your own home. Mushing was once a way of life for some Flagstaff residents, who owned teams of huskies and held annual races in the Arizona high country. Homeownership is becoming out of reach for more and more Arizonans, so Habitat for Humanity is betting on new technology to cut construction costs. Plus the latest in metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk and education news.
Big changes are coming to the former Metrocenter Mall in Phoenix. Arizona wildfires are burning hotter and bigger just about every year, in spite of federal efforts to thin fuel loads. Lake Mead is at historically low levels, and Arizona will take mandatory cuts to its Colorado River water supply starting in January. And what makes a movie a Christmas movie? Plus the latest business, education and Fronteras Desk news.
A trial continues for one Indigenous protester facing federal charges for blocking construction machinery at a site in Arizona’s Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. One scientist wants you to be able to do more than applaud at a concert. COVID-19 intensive care unit bed use in Arizona is now at the highest level since mid-February. Plus the latest business, metro Phoenix and education news.
Phoenix will require more than 14,000 city employees to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Statements acknowledging Native American lands are becoming more common. For the first time, University of Arizona researchers say they’ve found a vaccine that can prevent Valley fever in pets. They’re hopeful it will protect humans someday, too. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, metro Phoenix and business news.
For the first time in nearly 20 months, visitors on non-essential trips started crossing into the United States along the border with Mexico on Monday. Many Arizona families have been waiting for this moment and rushed to get their young children inoculated as soon as possible. The Maricopa County Community College District sent an email to employees Monday announcing it will comply with a federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate. Plus the latest in metro Phoenix and business news.
Much of the country is recovering from the most recent COVID-19 surge, but Arizona is still riding the wave, leading the U.S. with a 50% bump in cases over the past two weeks. Civil rights investigators are asking about the possessions of people living on the street in Phoenix as part of the Justice Department's investigation. More northbound travelers are expected as pandemic travel restrictions are lifted at the U.S.-Mexico border. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, education and business news.
After multiple extensions, the eviction moratorium order ended in late August and now more Arizonans are now losing their homes. An iconic mural that outlived the building it was designed for now has a new home. “The Phoenix” has landed at the Rental Car Center at Sky Harbor Airport. COVID-19 vaccines for kids are on the way, but will parents participate? Plus the latest in metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk and education news.
At least two Phoenix council members describe the police department’s staffing levels as “a crisis.” Since so many people added animals to their families over the past 19 months, attorneys are preparing for a rise in pet custody cases. With the U.S.-Mexico border set to reopen to many fully vaccinated travelers next month, Mexico’s president promised Wednesday to ensure easier access to required vaccination certificates. Plus the latest science, tribal resources, education and metro Phoenix news.
Phoenix students are speaking out against a policy change at Great Hearts Academies charter schools. Almost two years after China reported the first known case of COVID-19, experts still cannot confirm how the pandemic began. The National Labor Relations Board has sided with coffee shop employees at Sky Harbor Airport in a dispute over masks. Plus the latest Valley, Fronteras Desk, and tribal resource news.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has made progressives more than mad. The Democrat’s opposition to raising the minimum wage, changing the filibuster, and the price tag for President Joe Biden’s social spending plan have some groups poised to back a primary challenger in 2024. Even as Arizona’s COVID-19 outbreak shows signs of improvement, the state’s hospitals are approaching capacity. Tuesday, Biden announced his intent to nominate two of Arizona’s own as chairs of the National Endowment for the Humanities and National Endowment for the Arts. Plus the latest in Fronteras Desk, education, business and metro Phoenix news.
A widely criticized, Republican-led review of the 2020 general election in Maricopa County concluded that Joe Biden received more votes for president than Donald Trump. Arizona publishes less information on its COVID-19 data dashboard than many other states do and experts say a few key changes could provide a valuable public service. Phoenix is trying to hire more people to keep up with demand for rent relief. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, education and metro Phoenix news.
A federal judge Thursday ordered the Biden administration to stop deporting families using a public health policy implemented under former President Donald Trump at the start of the global pandemic. Some Phoenix residents are taking action to reclaim their neighborhood park. A judge hears arguments over Arizona’s mask mandate ban. Plus, the latest in science and metro Phoenix news.
Twenty years after 9/11, America’s longest war has ended. How to educate children during a global pandemic: It’s a question parents, teachers, health experts and politicians around the world have been grappling with for more than a year now. Arizona has set up sports gambling in less than 150 days. Plus the latest in education, science and metro Phoenix news.
The U.S. Justice Department’s power to investigate Phoenix police came from a landmark 1990s crime bill. Phoenix is hosting the 102nd National Convention of the American Legion. Mexican leaders have faced sharp criticism after images showed the country’s immigration officials and national guard crack down on migrants at its southern border. Plus the latest in education, tribal natural resources, science and metro Phoenix news
Four patients have been treated for injuries on as much as 30 percent of their skin after a suspected gas explosion Thursday in Chandler. After two years of debate, Phoenix leaders have unanimously approved the sale of a city-owned lot that houses Arizona’s oldest American Legion Post. Arizona’s COVID-19 outbreak is still widespread and medical experts say cases are rising at an alarming pace among Arizona children. Plus the latest in science, Fronteras Desk and tribal resource news.
At a press conference Wednesday, the Biden administration announced plans to go after states such as Arizona that are trying to block mask mandates at K-12 public schools. Two lawsuits filed against the state of Arizona claim that new laws adopted by Republican legislators as part of the state budget are unconstitutional and unenforceable. Mexico says it will begin accepting Afghan refugees. Plus the latest in business, science, tribal natural resources and metro Phoenix news.
Education advocates have filed a lawsuit against legislation that prohibits mask mandates in Arizona’s K-12 public schools, colleges and universities. COVID cases are again burdening the health care system. Just south of Arizona, a group of young Sonorans spent a week hiking, camping and learning about borderlands restoration. Plus the latest in tribal resources, business and Valley news.
The Phoenix Police Department is now under investigation by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department. Wednesday, Mexico filed a civil lawsuit against 11 U.S.-based gun manufacturers. An Indigenous community in neighboring Sonora, Mexico, is experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in the midst of a water shortage. Plus the latest in science, business and metro Phoenix news.
Critics of the partisan, GOP-led review of the 2020 election in Maricopa County say whatever claims are made by contractors conducting the so-called audit will be unreliable, and likely biased. Women are increasingly taking up space in the historically male-dominated field of environmental conservation. Corporate leaders of Amtrak, Arizona business representatives and politicians participated in a roundtable discussion Tuesday. Plus, the latest in science, tribal natural resources and metro Phoenix news.
COVID-19 cases continue to climb in Arizona — and, unfortunately, so do hospitalizations. Wednesday was the first day of school for the Chandler Unified School District. The East Valley district is among the first to start the new school year after lawmakers passed legislation that bans mask mandates at schools. The city of Glendale is working with community organizations to distribute grant funding to people experiencing homelessness. Plus the latest in Fronteras Desk, tribal natural resources, science and metro Phoenix news.
Senate President Karen Fann and the vendors she hired to conduct a controversial review of the 2020 vote in Maricopa County often deride the county’s own efforts to verify the accuracy of the election. Teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful for many teachers. Historic preservationists in Phoenix are fighting to save Arizona’s oldest American Legion Post. Plus the latest in science, Fronteras Desk, and Valley news.
President Biden set a goal that 70% of American adults would have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the Fourth of July, but Arizona fell short. Arizona lawmakers are banning most of the state’s K-12 schools from requiring students or staff to wear masks. We spend a lot of time on the road as we make our way across the Valley. But a new concept could have a big impact on that. Plus the latest science, Fronteras Desk and Valley news.
The U.S. Supreme Court issued it’s ruling in an Arizona voting rights case. From the White House to Phoenix City Hall, labor unions arguably are finding their strongest advocates in years. The highly infectious form of COVID-19 known as the Delta variant is quickly becoming more dominant in Arizona. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk and education news.
Arizona senators worked through the night to pass a series of budget bills early Wednesday after weeks of negotiations. The U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on college athletes and pay. Coronavirus cases have been steadily increasing in neighboring Sonora, Mexico, for more than a month now. Plus the latest in tribal natural resources, science and metro Phoenix news.
June 19 is now a federal holiday, as President Joe Biden signed legislation Thursday recognizing Juneteenth as the end of slavery in America. Arizona State University and the other state universities have vaccination policy in place to the coming school year, but now the governor has weighed in. This week has been hot! And it’s been dry despite the official start of monsoon season this week. Plus the latest business, Fronteras Desk and Phoenix area news.
The threat of a state government shutdown on July 1st looms large over negotiations, which may now be sidetracked by another session, called by Governor Doug Ducey, to deal with wildfires east of the Valley. As the number of people received the COVID-19 vaccine slows down, the conversation is turning to incentives. Virtual art classes can help people with dementia — and new research shows such classes may help rewire the brains of people suffering from the disease. Plus the latest in business, education and Fronteras Desk news.
Demand for COVID-19 vaccines is slowing. Now, Arizona’s health department plans to shut down its seven mass vaccination sites across the state. The arts groups across the Valley have been making plans to serve and entertain residents. As part of its historic celebrations, Mexico has been actively working on the repatriation of archaeological objects — some of them from the U.S. Plus the latest in business, education and metro Phoenix news.
Plans by Republican leaders in the Arizona state Senate to pass a $12.8 billion budget fell apart today on Thursday. The school year is wrapping up but after a year of COVID-19 issues, there is a lot of interest in summer school. Top Mexican environmental officials met with communities affected by a 2014 mining spill in neighboring Sonora, Mexico, this weekend, and now area residents say they’re holding those leaders and the mining company accountable to remedy long-standing impacts of the disaster. Plus the latest in business, science and metro Phoenix news.
Some communities are getting vaccinated in higher numbers than others in Arizona. The Valley’s first major professional sports franchise returns to the postseason this weekend after a decade-long absence. A new study from researchers at Harvard University and the University of Arkansas finds that school vouchers made a difference for some, but not all disadvantaged students. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, science and Valley news.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says COVID-19 vaccines are effective enough that fully vaccinated Americans don’t need face masks anymore in most settings. Snowpack plays a big role in the West’s water supply, but some researchers say that groundwater is equally important — particularly in the Colorado River watershed. And more on the mining worries near Oak Flat. Plus, hear the latest education, Valley, Fronteras Desk and business news.
The derailment of a subway train in Mexico City as a result of a collapsing bridge on Monday night has left at least 23 people dead and more than 70 injured. The Justice Department wants answers from Republican Senate President Karen Fann. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has sent a nearly 20-year-old water rights lawsuit by the Navajo Nation back to a federal courtroom in Arizona, where the case has been thrown out twice before. Plus the latest in business, science and Valley news.
We share our series called "Biden’s 100-Day Plan" from the Fronteras Desk. Officials involved with a state Senate-ordered review of the 2020 election in Maricopa County still can’t — or won’t — say how much the endeavor costs, and who exactly is paying for it. The debate over wearing masks in schools continues. Plus the latest in Valley news, business, science and tribal resources.
Republican state Sen. Kelly Townsend cast the decisive vote against a bill to purge voters from Arizona’s popular permanent early voting list on principle. Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and four councilmembers took their oaths of office Monday. Volunteers and citizen scientists with the Arizona Museum of Natural History have helped discover a new species of plant-eating dinosaur that lived about 79 million years ago. Plus, the latest in education and Fronteras Desk news.
Arizona’s equivalent to a fire engine for responding to cyberattacks has been regularly called to action in Arizona over the past couple of years. A group of women marched through the streets of the Sonora capital Hermosillo on Wednesday to protest what they call a patriarchal system that fails to protect victims from their aggressors. The Navajo Nation has approved a couple of solar projects that will provide electricity to tribal communities. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, education and business news.
One Arizona community near the Grand Canyon has been able to use its isolated location as a defense against the coronavirus. Being positive may not be all it’s cracked up to be. And Sean Miller will no longer be the head coach of the University of Arizona men’s basketball team. Plus the latest in science, Fronteras Desk and business news.
Senate Republicans brought on a familiar face to help negotiate with Maricopa County as they prepare to recount the 2 point 1 million ballots voters cast there in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a global shortage of microchips, and to address that, Intel announced it will vastly expand its Arizona-based manufacturing plants, including hiring thousands of new employees. The Department of Interior received input on its oil and gas policy last week. Plus the latest in science, education, Valley, and Fronteras Desk news.