
‘Kill the Indian, save the man’: Stories of Indian boarding schools still echo
WASHINGTON – About 180 white tombstones – each belonging to a child who died while attending the Carlisle Indian Industrial School – stand row-by-row in the dewy grass of central Pennsylvania, bearing the names of those who died while being forced to learn the white man’s way. From 1,500 to 1,800 Native American students from.

Sprint to the start: Coyotes ready for unique season following shortened training camp
PHOENIX – The Arizona Coyotes had just 10 days to prepare for the shortened 2020-2021 season, which begins tonight when they host the San Jose Sharks at Gila River Arena. It wasn’t a typical training camp around the NHL, but coach Rick Tocchet and the Coyotes made the most of their truncated time. “It’s a.

Arizona lawmakers split as Trump impeached by House for a second time
WASHINGTON – No Arizona lawmakers broke party ranks as the House Wednesday impeached President Donald Trump on a mostly party-line vote, just one week after a deadly mob attack on the Capitol that critics said was incited by the president. The 232-197 vote also comes 13 months after Trump was first impeached by the House,.

‘Life Is …’ documentary confronts youth suicide in Arizona
What can be done about the alarming rate of suicide among young people? Student journalists at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication have sought answers to that question, seeking workable solutions to what has become a public health crisis. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, youth.

For the love of animals: High suicide rates reflect the many stresses of veterinarians
In 2014, veterinarian Jason Sweitzer started his 10-minute drive home from the clinic in Conejo Valley, California, where he routinely treated animals that had been stabbed, shot, abused and made to suffer other horrors. This time, his thoughts drifted to suicide. “No one else was on the road. What if my car just veered off.

Agencies seek plasma donations to treat COVID-19 patients
PHOENIX – As vaccinations for COVID-19 continue nationwide, blood donation agencies are stepping up efforts to encourage those who’ve had the disease and recovered to donate their plasma to help treat the sick. January is National Blood Donor Month, a time when agencies typically work to recruit more donors as bad winter weather and seasonal.

House votes on removing, possibly impeaching Trump after mob attacks
WASHINGTON – Arizona lawmakers split along party lines late Tuesday as the House passed a resolution urging Vice President Mike Pence to remove President Trump from office – or face the threat of a second impeachment. The 223-205 vote came a week after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in a deadly attack that critics say.

Female inmate firefighters build character but often can’t use fire skills after release
PHOENIX – May Tiwamangkala remembers mornings at Perryville Prison west of Phoenix, when the Wildland Fire Crew members began chanting and stomping their feet on concrete to let the rest of the prison know it was 5 a.m. On their training runs, she recalls, one veteran on the all-women crew would shout, “Who are we?”.

Research finds COVID may worsen symptoms of those with Tourette’s
PHOENIX – Stress, isolation and face mask requirements related to COVID-19 may be worsening symptoms for the estimated 1% of the world’s population who suffer from Tourette syndrome, research shows. The neurological disorder, named for a French doctor who first described the condition in 1885, is characterized by repetitive, involuntary movements or sounds. Common motor.

At Teen Lifeline, teens help in ways only they can
A group of teenagers huddled around a table, some typing essays, others binge-watching a favorite Netflix series. One teen pored over “Frankenstein” for her English class. Each was deeply immersed in their tasks, but when a phone rang, the mood of the room quickly switched. Red lights blinked on each landline and a tri-tone melody.

As soccer season nears, ASU’s Barbieri remains stranded in Brazil
PHOENIX – As the start of the Pac-12 women’s soccer season closes in, Arizona State is without veteran midfielder Lara Barbieri. The ASU senior is from Monte Mor, São Paulo, Brazil, where she has been stranded, unable to return to the United States because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Barbieri has been in Brazil since March,.

The other pandemic: Loneliness widespread with the loss of social connections
PHOENIX – The pandemic has affected different people in different ways, causing financial stress due to job loss, sliding grades, relationship pressures and worries that vulnerable loved ones could contract COVID-19. But one factor that has affected Americans across the country is the loss of social connectedness. Even before the pandemic shuttered schools, restaurants and.

Independent music venues struggle to stay afloat during pandemic
LOS ANGELES – Like music venues around the world, the Paramount ballroom has been forced to endure months of limited work, reduced revenue and a forced transition to the digital world – no easy task for the venerable Boyle Heights venue, which is nearly 100 years old and has a legacy of supporting underdog artists..

Four decades after memorable run with ASU, Lionel Hollins still thriving
PHOENIX — As confetti sprinkled down on the court inside the NBA bubble in Orlando, Florida, most of the Los Angeles Lakers’ players and coaches celebrated their championship together, marking the end to an anomalous season. Assistant coach Lionel Hollins watched his team win on television from his home in Memphis. The Arizona State basketball.

The fight at home: Suicide rate is highest among younger military veterans
Alex Martinez looked over his Air Force dress blues, the uniform he wore when he graduated from boot camp. He touched his insignia – a circle with a star in the center and a striped wing flaring from either side – that signified his rank of airman second class. “I was in the military for.

Making their pitch: Women on Angel City soccer club forging bonds with community
LOS ANGELES – Angel City Football Club is looking to make an impact on women’s sports and soccer with new community initiatives as the team prepares to join the National Women’s Soccer League in 2022. With a star-studded ownership group that includes actress Natalie Portman, former U.S. national team player Abby Wambach and tennis legend.

Cherokee Trail of Tears just one of many forced removals of Eastern tribes to Oklahoma
WASHINGTON – The Trail of Tears, the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation to Oklahoma, was one of the most inhumane policies in American history – but it wasn’t an isolated incident. In 1831, nearly 16,000 members of the Cherokee Nation were forced under armed guard to leave their native lands in the southeastern United.

Phoenix Rising believes new stadium will bring improved fan, player experience
PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC hopes 2021 is about more than just improved play on the field. The organization said it is committed to a better fan experience, too. A club that advanced to the USL Championship in 2020 – before it was canceled because multiple Tampa Bay players tested positive for COVID-19 – also.

Report: ‘Child care deserts’ hit poor, rural Arizona families hardest
WASHINGTON – Arizona has 304,180 infants and toddlers who need child care but only 234,270 slots to accommodate them, with poor and rural families most likely to be left out, a recent study said. Arizona child care advocates said they were not surprised by the numbers in the Bipartisan Policy Center study, which they said.

Watching brother win Fiesta Bowl a special moment for Florida State’s Chubba Purdy
GLENDALE – The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of college football, including postseason bowl games. Although few fans were allowed to attend the Fiesta Bowl, it didn’t spoil the experience for a certain Florida State quarterback in the stands. Seminoles freshman Preston “Chubba” Purdy was at State Farm Stadium on Saturday to watch his.

Balancing act: Olympic athletes try to ramp up training, avoid injury after COVID-19 delay
PHOENIX – Arizona State swim coach Bob Bowman has faced many challenges throughout a nearly 35-year-long coaching career, a portion of it guiding Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian. However, Bowman never had to navigate the postponement of the Olympic Games and all of the potential ramifications of the delay. Welcome to sports in the.

Trump makes way in at least one part of Washington – souvenir shops
WASHINGTON – For two months since the election, President Donald Trump has challenged the election of President-elect Joe Biden, but there is no question that in some parts of Washington it will soon be time for Trump to go. The Trump key chains, that is. And Trump mugs. And T-shirts and posters and finger puppets.

Study: Post-9/11 vets more likely to be employed, and in steadier jobs
WASHINGTON – Post-9/11 veterans are not only more likely to be employed than the general population, they are also more likely to be in jobs that are immune to recession, according to a recent report by the Census Bureau. The Census study, released in November, said the unemployment rate for the nation’s 3 million post-9/11.

Not the ‘blue wave’ they hoped for, but Democrats made gains in 2020
WASHINGTON – For years, Democrats have argued that Arizona was about to turn blue, and this year they came closer than they had in decades, winning the presidential race and unseating an incumbent Republican senator. Close, but not the “blue wave” Democrats had been hoping for. While they grabbed the top two races on the.

Sticks and zones: The right hockey equipment can elevate a player’s game
PHOENIX – Johnny Walker is quite particular with his hockey stick. The Arizona State forward wasn’t happy with his shot at a morning practice last season and marched into the office of equipment manager Jon Laughner with a puzzled look on his face. “I don’t know what to do,” Walker said. “Grab somebody else’s stick,”.

Toned down Fiesta Bowl still has meaning for Oregon, Iowa State
PHOENIX – Pomp, circumstance and long-standing traditions are aspects of college football bowl games that players, coaches and fans have learned to cherish over the years. Yet in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sports as we know them have looked different. That will include the second day of 2021 as well, when No. 10.

Digitized health records, safety apps could be game-changer for athletes at every level
PHOENIX – Most of 2020 has been marred by uncertainty. The fickleness of daily routines. The indecision of divided leadership. The precariousness of an American lifeline, sports, as society once knew them. What lies beyond the scope of doubt, however, is that formerly marginalized voices are headed to the podium to ignite tangible, national growth..

Lending a hand(print): Athletes raise awareness for missing, murdered Indigenous women
PHOENIX – The sight can be jarring: As a runner’s graceful stride brings her closer, her face comes into focus. A rich, red handprint covers her mouth. We will not be silenced. The painted hand has become a powerful symbol for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Movement, known as MMIW, a cause boosted by.

Democrats pass independents, can’t overtake GOP in voter registration
WASHINGTON – Arizona Democrats registered more new voters in the last election cycle than any other party, moving ahead of independents in registration for the first time in 10 years – but still failing to overtake Republicans. Democrats registered 226,579 new voters from 2018 to 2020 to reach 1.38 million voters, or 32.2% of the.

Arizona hate crimes bounced back in 2019, experts fear a surge in 2020
WASHINGTON – Hate crimes in Arizona bounced back in 2019 after a sharp drop the year before, and advocates say they fear the numbers are only going to continue to rise when the tumult of 2020 is reported. Despite a steep increase from the 173 hate crimes recorded in Arizona in 2018, the state’s 217.

‘Divas’ and suckers: The fight to save endangered Colorado River fish
The Colorado River is one of the most engineered river systems in the world. Over millions of years, the creatures that call the river home have adapted to the natural variability of its seasonal highs and lows. But for the past century, they have struggled to keep up with rapid changes in the river’s flows.

As pandemic surges, officials call COVID-19 fatigue real and dangerous
WASHINGTON – The numbers can be numbing. And that’s exactly what health officials fear. More than a half-million Arizonans have contracted COVID-19 and more than 8,700 have died from it so far, according to state data. The disease is surging again, with one week this month seeing an average of 7,770 new cases a day,.

As protests for racial justice divided the country, ASU hockey star found his voice
PHOENIX – When reality sets in … a deep pain and sadness comes over you. It’s a feeling that lingers no matter what unfolds the rest of the day. It occupies your mind, even though I (along with many others) continue to put on a brave face. Those are the words Dominic Garcia penned June.

‘Pushing a rock up the hill’: Former Valley star Tank Johnson leads fight against private prisons
LOS ANGELES – Being locked up was supposed to be a punishment for Terry “Tank” Johnson. It also turned out to be an awakening. In the early 2000s, the product of Tempe McClintock High and the University of Washington was basking in the spotlight of football success – playing seven NFL seasons with Chicago, Dallas.

Prom dress calling attention to missing, murdered Indigenous women added to Smithsonian exhibit
WASHINGTON – It’s one of the most important events in a teenager’s life – high school prom. For Isabella Aiukli Cornell of Oklahoma City, her junior prom in 2018 was about more than just wearing a stylish gown in a high school gymnasium. It was an opportunity to call attention to what has been described.

After years of lowered refugee admissions, Biden plans sharp reversal
One of five stories in the series, “Hello, Joe: How Biden policies may be felt in Arizona.” WASHINGTON – After years of steadily slashing the number of refugees it will accept, the U.S. can expect to see an increase under the incoming Biden administration. An eight-fold increase and then some. President-elect Joe Biden has said.

Researchers at Petrified Forest discover fossil of a reptile with claws and a beak
PHOENIX – A team of researchers at Petrified Forest National Park east of Holbrook have discovered fossilized remains of a new species of prehistoric reptile. The 220-million-year old burrowing reptile is a drepanosaur, an ancient reptile that had a claw on its tail and a birdlike beak. Researchers, who named the species Skybalonyx skapter, announced.

Nonprofit Soldier’s Best Friend pairs rescues with veterans to become service dogs
PHOENIX – Staff Sgt. Terry Stallings served in the Army for 23 years. He was stationed across the globe, including posts in Iraq, Balad, Kuwait, Desert Storm, Mexico, Central America, Alaska, Portugal and Germany. After six combat deployments overseas, he returned home and was diagnosed with post- traumatic stress disorder. Veterans often rely on medications,.

Biden firm on uranium-mining ban around ‘jewel’ of the Grand Canyon
One of five stories in the series, “Hello, Joe: How Biden policies may be felt in Arizona.” WASHINGTON – For four years, the Trump administration took steps to boost uranium mining for what it called national security reasons, a move environmentalists saw as an attempt to open the door to mining near the Grand Canyon..

No fans, no vaccine, no problem: It’s not ideal but Suns excited to showcase new look
PHOENIX – After a disrupted 2019-20 season that ended in a bubble at Walt Disney World, the Phoenix Suns have undergone an offseason makeover that they hope will build on their surprising 8-0 run in Orlando that followed the COVID-19 interruption. The Suns pulled off a blockbuster trade to acquire perennial All-Star point guard Chris.

Tribal leaders optimistic about Biden; Haaland nomination a good start
One of five stories in the series, “Hello, Joe: How Biden policies may be felt in Arizona.” WASHINGTON – The federal government may not have a stellar track record when it comes to keeping promises with Native Americans, but tribal leaders in Arizona said they think President-elect Joe Biden could be the exception. Their hopes.

‘My story is not done’: Eddie Johnson begins 20th season as voice of Phoenix Suns
PHOENIX – His story is full of chapters. Some are complete, defined by adversity and accomplishments, and others remain unwritten, blank pages waiting to be filled with more life experiences. Former NBA standout Eddie Johnson is beginning his 20th year as the color analyst for the Phoenix Suns, who open their season tonight against the.

After four years of tumult, businesses hopeful for Biden trade policy
One of five stories in the series, “Hello, Joe: How Biden policies may be felt in Arizona.” WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump entered office pledging to blow up trade deals, and he later imposed tariffs on trading partners around the world – but the biggest threat to Arizona-Mexico trade over the past four years appears.

Record heat proves to be a queen palm’s worst enemy
PHOENIX – Hot summers are nothing new in Arizona, but humans aren’t the only ones who have suffered from record-breaking heat: queen palm trees across the Valley have been burning up. 2020 was the hottest year on record in Phoenix, with 48 days of excessive heat warnings and a heat peak in July and August,.

Biden’s work cut out for him in plan to undo Trump immigration policy
One of five stories in the series, “Hello, Joe: How Biden policies may be felt in Arizona.” WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden has promised to roll back many of the Trump administration’s restrictive immigration policies when he takes office next month. He’s got his work cut out for him. While President Donald Trump’s signature –.

ACA enrollment uptick a ‘pleasant surprise’ after years of declines
WASHINGTON – After years of steady declines, enrollment in Affordable Care Act coverage ticked up in Arizona and held steady in the U.S. this year in what one advocate called a “pleasant surprise” after a challenging year. The six-week open enrollment period that ended last Tuesday showed enrollment going from 153,020 in Arizona for coverage.

Colorado River Basin winter forecast signals dry times ahead
All signs are pointing to a dry start to 2021 across much of the Colorado River watershed, which provides water to about 40 million people in the Western U.S. A lack of precipitation from April to October made this spring, summer and fall one of the region’s driest six-month periods on record. And with a.

6 Arizonans discuss the impact Ruth Bader Ginsburg had on their lives
PHOENIX – Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was a towering figure in the fight against discrimination based on gender, and her death Sept. 18 was a blow to many women who reverently refer to her as the Notorious RBG. On the three-month anniversary of Ginsburg’s death, women across the state continue to remember her legacy. Cronkite.

Gun sales hit record in 2020, driven by pandemic, protests, politics
WASHINGTON – Background checks for gun purchases in Arizona hit their highest level ever in 2020, driven by an unprecedented convergence of a pandemic, a summer of national unrest and a presidential election, experts said. With a month left to go in the year, 610,911 background checks had been performed in the state through November,.

With focus on COVID-19, experts fear opioid crisis may worsen unseen
WASHINGTON – A deadly epidemic has been on the rise this year in Arizona – but this one has drawn scant media attention. With the world focused on COVID-19, local and national experts say a growing number of opioid overdoses and deaths is being overlooked. “COVID-19 has taken up a lot of our space, but.

They shoot, they score: Coyotes’ goal to increase youth hockey participation a success
PHOENIX – From “Rookie of the Year” to “Little Giants,” sports movies captivated kids growing up in the 1990s. One of those was a young girl from Chandler, who fell in love with an unlikely sport. Hockey. For a native of the Valley, hockey seemed as out of place as a cactus in Buffalo. As.

Phoenix PD offers officers mental health training; community members say that’s not enough
PHOENIX – Protesters over the summer called for defunding Phoenix police, motivated in part by deep skepticism about officers’ ability to properly handle mental health crises. Activists point to police shooting deaths of mentally ill Arizonans in the past as evidence that law enforcement officers need help defusing such situations. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.

High-stakes races sparked high-dollar giving by Arizona voters in 2020
WASHINGTON – Arizonans were heavily invested in this fall’s elections in more ways than one, donating a total of at least $110 million to support candidates and high-profile ballot initiatives. That was a sharp increase from the $60 million that state voters donated just four years ago. And the increases this year were seen across.

‘Yelp’-like reviews for social justice? ASU civil rights center seeks ways to target systemic inequality
PHOENIX – Attorney Ehsan Zaffar is leading an initiative to establish a civil rights center at Arizona State University to target inequality in the U.S. To do so, Zaffar envisions a range of products, services and programs – perhaps including Yelp-like reviews of how Arizona companies address social justice issues. “Inequality is the greatest social,.

‘I wanted to do more than hold a sign’: Street medic crew forms out of Black Lives Matter protests
PHOENIX – Three nights after George Floyd suffocated when a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, Black Lives Matter supporters rallied in downtown Phoenix. From 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., hundreds of people were on the streets chanting, “What’s his name? George Floyd!” and “Hands up, don’t shoot!”.

Monday Morning Sun Devil: ASU rout in Territorial Cup reflects state of program
PHOENIX – Running up the score was not Arizona State’s intent during its 70-7 win over Arizona in the Territorial Cup. Rather, the Sun Devils worked to ensure the statement win that had eluded them against USC and UCLA would not slip from their grasp Friday as they built an ever-increasing first-half lead that eventually.


As legal challenges continue to fall, Biden electors set to meet, vote
WASHINGTON – Add one more thing to the list of normal activities that have been upended in 2020 – the job of the state’s presidential electors. What is normally a mundane and largely ceremonial task, often handed out as a reward for loyal party service, has been thrust into the spotlight this year by ongoing.

‘I am that character’: New Marvel heroes battle underrepresentation of Native Americans in comics
FLAGSTAFF – Asgard, Wakanda, Xandar and other intergalactic empires are well-known to comic book fans, but a new comic is hoping to bring readers back to Earth to learn about Indigenous heroes. Penned by Native American artists and writers, “Marvel’s Voices: Indigenous Voices #1” was released Nov. 18, to the delight of Native Americans who.

Three Arizona tribal leaders on diverse slate of 11 electoral voters
WASHINGTON – In what a former Arizona elector called “a sweet irony,” the slate of 11 Democratic presidential electors who will cast Arizona’s Electoral College votes Monday includes three tribal leaders. Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris Jr. will join eight.

Transgender patients face uphill battle for care amid discrimination, doctor shortage
PHOENIX – When Coree Pledge decided to transition from female to male 11 years ago, he couldn’t find a doctor providing hormone replacement therapy in his hometown of Mobile, Alabama. So he drove six hours, one way, to find care in Atlanta. “After about a month of calling and research is when I focused on.

Michelangelo up close: Exhibit brings replicas of Sistine Chapel masterpieces to Phoenix
PHOENIX – Details of Michelangelo’s famous frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, which are all but impossible to see in the Vatican, are right above your head at a new exhibition downtown. Visitors to “Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition” can view life-size prints of some of the artist’s most famous works spread across 10,000 square feet.

House calls: Arizona lawmakers land in COVID-19 quarantine more often
WASHINGTON – Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Peoria, said it can be hard to be socially distant when a large part of your job requires being social. From interacting with constituents, to boarding planes between D.C. and Arizona, to voting on the House floor, Lesko said it’s challenging for members of Congress to limit possible exposure to.

Struggles of Cave Creek district are emblematic of Arizona schools during COVID-19
CAVE CREEK – Students and teachers at the Cave Creek Unified School District returned to in-person classes in early September, joining other schools as petri dishes for how classes could be handled during COVID-19. Weeks later, early results show the struggle – teachers leaving schools over health concerns, students in classrooms led by long-term substitute.

Pandemic, Trump and racism drive voter turnout in some tribal communities
PHOENIX – Enthusiasm across Arizona was higher this election than in the 2016 presidential contest, and final results show the contrast was even more stark in Indian Country, where voters said they were especially motivated because of the COVID-19 pandemic and issues of race. A census analysis of 2018 data found American Indians were at.

Holiday punch: COVID-19 worries mean no holiday party for most offices
WASHINGTON – The staff at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church in Scottsdale was planning to go ahead with its annual office Christmas party this year – but with social distancing and other COVID-19 precautions in place. As coronavirus cases continue to surge in Arizona and across the country, however, the Rev. Thomas Hallsten and parish.

Biosphere 2 study: Tropical forests may be more resilient to rising temperatures than predicted
PHOENIX – Step inside Biosphere 2’s tropical rainforest, which thrives beneath an enormous glass dome, and visitors are met by a wall of warm humidity and lush greenery. The sprawling complex north of Tucson in Oracle provides climate-change researchers unique opportunities to test theories in ways that would be impossible in the field. This is.

What to know about open carry gun laws in Arizona
PHOENIX – Arizona has some of the least restrictive gun laws in the U.S., one of three countries that consider gun ownership a constitutional right. Consider this data: Americans own more than 390 million guns – with 120.5 civilian firearms per 100 people, according to a study by the World Population Review. In February, Arizona.

Immigration advocates hail DACA reinstatement; DHS promises appeal
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration said Monday it will abide by a court order – for now – to start accepting new Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals applications, a move that could affect an estimated 682,000 undocumented immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security is already looking to appeal the Friday court ruling, but advocates for.

Navajo program again distributes reservation coal to heat tribal homes
WASHINGTON – For decades, coal from the Navajo Nation helped deliver water and helped power homes and businesses throughout Arizona and the Southwest. Now, some of that coal is being used to heat Navajo homes as well. For the fifth straight year, the Community Heating Resource Program (CHRP) is helping Navajo residents stay warm through.

No cold elders: Volunteers provide firewood for Navajo families ahead of winter
As winter approaches, volunteers with Chizh for Cheii are preparing to deliver firewood to elders on the Navajo Nation reservation, where nearly 90% of homes rely on wood for heat. The nonprofit organization, whose name means “firewood for Grandpa” in English, launched nine years ago. The volunteers work because they “don’t want people to pass.

First COVID-19 vaccines, vaccinations expected in Arizona by Dec. 15
WASHINGTON – Arizona health officials said they expect to get the first of more than 380,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine by Dec. 15 and will begin vaccinating health care workers and first responders shortly thereafter. Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ made that announcement Friday, as the state submitted its plans for.

Home on the road: COVID-19 closures mean Lakers fans will travel to see the champs play
LOS ANGELES – After the Lakers won their first NBA championship in 10 years, LA fans defied pandemic warnings to rampage through the streets in celebration, leading to vandalism and dozens of arrests. But when the NBA season tips off Dec. 22, Lakers fans won’t be able to watch the defending world champions play at.

Once used to track foodborne illnesses, UArizona team now traces COVID contacts
PHOENIX – It’s been a quiet day on Zoom for Kylie Boyd and Alexandra Shilen. Occasionally, some student volunteers pop into their online room to check in or ask a brief question, then pop back out to hit the phones. On this fall afternoon, Boyd and Shilen are overseeing 13 volunteers who are calling residents.

Navajo warn hospitals at ‘breaking point’ in worsening COVID-19 surge
WASHINGTON – With a shortage of beds, oxygen and staff, the Navajo Nation can no longer depend on regional aid and is sending critical patients farther afield for care, officials reported Thursday. That news came as area health care workers and Navajo government officials warned that the coming surge in COVID-19 cases would be worse.

Superspreaders, clusters and dead ends: Research reveals more about how coronavirus spreads
PHOENIX – Research from Arizona and beyond suggests the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can spread erratically, making some infected people “superspreaders” and others dead ends for transmission. This can create clusters or “micro-hotspots” – neighborhoods, schools, towns or other small geographic areas where the virus runs rampant – even while communities next door remain relatively.

Gilbert’s Made With Love Market reopens, brings together small business owners
GILBERT – Nine months since closing down because of COVID-19, the Made With Love Market is back and bringing some much-needed exposure to small businesses in metro Phoenix. Made With Love Market came to be three years ago with the help of Maribeth Suvlette and her business partner, Cody, along with their shared love for.

Tolleson, Chandler communities saddened by COVID-related deaths of two beloved coaches
PHOENIX – When Arizona Schools Superintendent Kathy Hoffman said at a recent press conference that “two high school coaches have lost their lives to COVID-19,” it rattled a local sports community that largely felt immune to the disease. Tolleson assistant baseball coach Ash Friederich passed away from complications of the disease Oct. 31, and Chandler.

Ducey rejects new COVID-19 limits, as models foresee swamped hospitals
WASHINGTON – Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey again rejected calls for tougher statewide COVID-19 restrictions Wednesday in the face of what experts called a pending “catastrophe,” opting instead for more funding for nurses and more pleas for personal responsibility. Ducey also ordered insurance companies to cover the costs of COVID-19 vaccinations, which could arrive in the.

Kelly takes oath, casts first vote as Arizona’s newest senator
WASHINGTON – Mark Kelly can drop “senator-elect” from his title. Less than a month after Election Day, Kelly was sworn in as the junior senator from Arizona on Wednesday and will serve the remaining two years of the late Sen. John McCain’s term. Kelly, who ran on a promise to be a bipartisan voice in.

Mesa teachers union urges district to halt in-person classes
The Mesa teachers association has urged Mesa Public Schools to halt in-person learning for its more than 63,000 students, citing rising COVID-19 infections in the state’s largest district. Remote learning is the safest option for the district, which operates 80 schools, Joshua Buckley, who heads the Mesa Education Association, said Wednesday. The association sent a.

State posts new COVID-19 case record, as possible holiday surge looms
WASHINGTON – Arizona reported a record 10,322 new COVID-19 cases Tuesday, more than twice the previous high, as cases surged ahead of a holiday season that one health expert said could be a “real scary time.” State health officials were quick to point out that Tuesday’s numbers were artificially high because they encompassed a backlog.

Phoenix City Council expected to decide fate of local sports tournaments this week
PHOENIX – The City Council is expected to decide as early as Wednesday whether to cancel sports tournaments scheduled for December through February because of the continuing spread of COVID-19. The council’s decision could affect roughly 30 soccer and softball tournaments scheduled to take place at the city’s five sports complexes: Desert West, Encanto, Papago,.

‘Devastating’: Brophy Prep swimming reflects on season halted by COVID-19
PHOENIX – As high schools transition from fall to winter sports, Brophy Prep is left to reflect on a season that ended abruptly. After 32 years of dominating Arizona high school swimming, the boys team finally ran into an opponent the Broncos couldn’t outswim. COVID-19. “I think our first initial reaction was sort of like.

Navajo health director named to Biden’s advisory board on COVID-19
WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden has said dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic will be one of the first orders of business for his administration, and the head of the Navajo Health Department will be there to advise him on it. Biden’s transition team added Dr. Jill Jim over the weekend to the panel of health.

State leaders deride daylong rehash of rejected voting irregularities
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump’s attorneys presented hours of rehashed claims of previously rejected voting irregularities during a daylong meeting Monday that legislative leaders called an “illegitimate” exercise meant to undermine confidence in the elections. The meeting came as state officials certified the results of the election that awarded Arizona’s 11 electoral votes to President-elect.

Census: Not sure it can exclude migrants, but wants to be left to try
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration said it does not know how many immigrants might be excluded from the Census under a 2019 presidential order, but it still urged the Supreme Court on Monday to overturn lower courts that blocked the proposal. That was one of the arguments raised Monday as the court considered President Donald.

Proposition 207: What happens before recreational marijuana becomes legal in Arizona?
PHOENIX – Recreational use of marijuana will soon be legal in Arizona, thanks to Proposition 207’s easy passage, but economic and logistical hurdles remain before Arizonans will feel the effects. The measure – approved by more than 60% of voters in unofficial results from Nov. 3 – decriminalizes recreational marijuana use and possession for those.

Kelly already playing part of senator ahead of next week’s swearing-in
WASHINGTON – He won’t be Arizona’s next U.S. senator for another couple of days, but Sen.-elect Mark Kelly is already acting the part. Just days after Election Day, the Democrat was on Capitol Hill for new member orientation and conversations with sitting senators from both sides of the aisle, including Republicans Mitt Romney of Utah,.

‘We hold these truths to be’ A, B or C? Citizenship test gets harder
WASHINGTON – The good news for prospective citizens is that they will soon have more time to take the civics test that has long been a critical part of the citizenship process. The bad news is that, beginning next week, the test will be twice as long. And harder. And there’s no bonus for getting.

1 in 10 Maricopa County residents have likely had COVID-19, new study finds
PHOENIX – The number of COVID-19 infections in Arizona’s most populous county probably is far higher than what official counts show, according to a survey that found 1 in 10 residents have likely had the novel coronavirus that causes the disease. As health experts worry about a new spike in infections, a study by the.

Appeals court upholds child pornography conviction of Tucson man
WASHINGTON – A federal appeals court Wednesday upheld a Tucson man’s conviction and sentence on child pornography charges, rejecting his argument that procedural problems at trial kept him from presenting his defense. Bryan Rusnak claimed that child pornography found on his home computer in 2014 had been downloaded by a friend without his knowledge. But.

That’s awkward: Trump touts Arizona election review that won’t happen
WASHINGTON – When the Trump campaign announced Tuesday that the Arizona Legislature would hold a public meeting next week to review this year’s elections, there was just one problem. Nobody told state lawmakers. “There is no legitimacy to that claim and there are no hearings being held on that issue on Monday or any other.

Copper rush: Opponents worry feds have fast-tracked Resolution mine OK
WASHINGTON – Activists worry that the Trump administration has fast-tracked the final environmental impact statement for the massive Resolution Copper mine, a project planned for lands near Superior that are claimed as sacred by the San Carlos Apache. Opponents became alarmed when the U.S. Forest Service’s schedules of proposed action, which said the environmental statement.

How Arizona universities are riding the waves of COVID-19
PHOENIX – As cases of COVID-19 continue to surge in Arizona and the rest of the nation, the state’s three public universities are wrangling their approaches to the pandemic in similar but separate ways. Arizona State University developed a saliva-based test and aims to monitor the spread through frequent mass testing. The University of Arizona,.

Food banks receive government help to fill bellies during holidays
PHOENIX – At one point Tuesday, cars came through at a rate of one every minute, six lanes across, to get boxes and bags of turkeys, potatoes and canned food from St. Mary’s Food Bank. Members of the National Guard and volunteers in neon-orange vests, all wearing masks or bandanas, loaded up one car trunk.

COVID-19 cases could push hospital beds, staff to limit, official says
WASHINGTON – The recent surge in COVID-19 cases could push hospital staff and hospital bed capacity to the limit in coming weeks, particularly if people are not careful over Thanksgiving, an Arizona hospital official said Tuesday. Marjorie Bessel, chief clinical officer for Banner Health, said its projections show the system will be using 125% of.

Inequality in dermatology brings misdiagnoses for patients of color
PHOENIX – Lack of representation of people of color in research and textbooks – as well as in white coats – has created gaps of inequality that cause Black patients to be misdiagnosed and undertreated in the field of dermatology, experts say. “Right now, the standard for dermatology is white skin,” said Dr. Chesahna Kindred,.

After weeks of fighting, ballot counting may be near finish in Arizona
WASHINGTON – All 15 Arizona counties had submitted official election results by Monday to the secretary of state, who will certify them in the next week or sooner – ending a contentious weeks-long battle over a normally routine process. That included GOP lawsuits challenging the election, angry rallies outside the Maricopa County Ballot Tabulation Center.

Holiday travel down this year, but millions still hit roads, airports
WASHINGTON – Thanksgiving travel is expected to be down sharply this year because of COVID-19, but as many as 50 million Americans are still expected to travel this week despite pleas from health experts to stay home. And those people who do travel could run into a bewildering array of restrictions when they reach their.

Nico Mannion, former NBA father Pace, reflect on former Pinnacle standout landing with Warriors
PHOENIX – Nico Mannion was considered one of the top college prospects in the country when he signed with the Arizona Wildcats after a standout career at Pinnacle High School. He even played for Italy’s national team as a teenager. So during the recent 2020 NBA Draft, Mannion expected to hear his name called much.

Lost on the front lines: Health care workers in Southwest who died fighting COVID-19
Health care workers across the country have risked their lives to care for COVID-19 patients, and Cronkite News reporters teamed up with the Guardian and Kaiser Health News to tell some of the stories of those who died because of exposure to the novel coronavirus that causes the deadly disease. Mark Daughterty: Nursing assistant played.

Mayors again call for statewide mask mandate as COVID-19 cases surge
WASHINGTON – Democratic mayors from across the state urged Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday to implement a statewide mask mandate, as COVID-19 cases surged past 4,000 for a second straight day and state hospitals neared capacity in their intensive care units. The call by mayors of Phoenix, Tucson, Flagstaff and Tolleson came two days after.

ASU basketball’s crowded backcourt gives ‘Guard U’ a preseason top 25 nod
Updated: ASU will face Rhode Island instead of Baylor, according to Empire Classic officials, following the Baylor coach’s disclosure of a COVID-19 diagnosis. LOS ANGELES – Eight months ago, Remy Martin threw his name into the hat that is the NBA Draft, leaving Arizona State basketball without its starting point guard. Two weeks after losing.

California high school athletes travel to Arizona to keep playing through COVID-19
SAN CLEMENTE, California – High school athletes can’t play competitively this fall semester due to California’s pandemic restrictions, so some elite players are traveling to Arizona and other states to maintain their skills and continue developing a scouting profile for colleges. With some high school sports indefinitely on hold, California athletes on club or travel.

Another judge dismisses another GOP suit over election, ballot count
PHOENIX – Arizona Republicans suffered another blow Thursday to their legal challenges to the election when a Maricopa County judge dismissed a suit claiming that county officials’ audit of ballots was in technical violation of state law. The ruling by Superior Court Judge John Hannah marked the second time in less than a week that.

Schools welcome state mandate for masks in classrooms, buses, events
WASHINGTON – Arizona health officials on Thursday mandated that students wear face coverings in school, on buses and at school activities, an emergency order that school officials called a step in the right direction, but not enough. The order by Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ follows Gov. Doug Ducey’s order this.

Flagstaff’s Snowbowl Ski Resort ready to open with COVID-19 restrictions
Snow in the Valley? Unlikely, but Arizonans can make their way about two hours north from Phoenix to Flagstaff to get a taste of winter. Snowbowl Ski Resort, the Alpine slopes on Northern Arizona’s San Francisco Peaks, opens for the winter season on Friday, with some slight changes due to COVID-19 restrictions. “Obviously we want.

No average Guy: Apache Junction football player remembered for drive, compassion
PHOENIX – Growing up, Alex Guy was called “Shock Collar” because his hits on the football field felt like an electronic dog collar. Throughout junior high school, his football pads acted as a Superman cape because he transformed into a different person on the field. When time came for Guy to undergo his fourth surgery.

Community health centers struggle to serve and survive during pandemic
PHOENIX – On a sun-drenched afternoon, Ana Brito arrives for a doctor’s appointment at Desert Mission Health Center, greeting staff members in Spanish. Nestled on a quiet street in north central Phoenix, the clinic is a one-stop shop for some of the city’s most vulnerable. Brito, 46, and her husband are uninsured, but the clinic.

Judge promises quick decision in latest Arizona GOP attack on election
PHOENIX – A Maricopa County judge said he would decide by Thursday morning whether to let the Arizona Republican Party proceed with its challenge to Maricopa County’s audit of ballots from this month’s election, an audit the party claims violated state law. Maricopa County Superior Court Judge John Hannah Jr. appeared skeptical of GOP arguments.

In emotional Senate farewell, McSally thanks voters, wishes Kelly well
WASHINGTON – A sometimes emotional Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, gave her farewell address on the Senate floor Wednesday, saying that “serving and fighting for Arizona as a U.S. senator has been the opportunity of a lifetime.” McSally also wished “all the best” to Sen.-elect Mark Kelly, the Democrat who unseated her in this month’s elections.

Coconino official backs bill to burn forest waste for renewable energy
WASHINGTON – Coconino County Supervisor Art Babbott urged senators Wednesday to pass a bill that would let limbs and trees left over from forest maintenance be burned for renewable energy. Babbott, testifying before a Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee, said the lack of a market for forest waste has been a bottleneck choking efforts.

Ducey acts to reduce COVID risks from Thanksgiving travelers and winter visitors
PHOENIX – With Thanksgiving and the arrival of winter visitors drawing near, Gov. Doug Ducey announced new efforts to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 from travelers and assist Arizonans most affected by the disease. “I know many in our state are asking: When will it end? The answer is: That’s not on the horizon..

Carbon free energy required by 2050 under Arizona Corporation Commission proposal
PHOENIX – States across the Southwest have adopted clean energy plans that regulate utility companies and work toward carbon-free goals. After lagging for several years, Arizona is starting to catch up. The Arizona Corporation Commission on Friday passed a proposal requiring utilities to be 100% free of carbon emissions by 2050 and meet particular benchmarks.

Want to play golf with Bobby Hurley or Sean Miller? Auction gives you the chance
PHOENIX – Would you play a round of golf with Roy Williams at Pinehurst? How about a foursome involving Ken Griffey Jr. at a Michael Jordan-owned course in Florida? Does hitting chip shots with Bobby Hurley or Sean Miller appeal to you? That’s the hope of Eric Sedransk, who was moved to find a way.

Arizona comes up short on report on lung cancer screening, treatment
WASHINGTON – Arizona was in the bottom tier in three of six categories in a new American Lung Association report, which put the state dead-last for the number of patients who receive treatment after getting a diagnosis of lung cancer. The 2020 “State of Lung Cancer” report released Tuesday also said Arizona ranked 46th among.

‘This is trauma’: Some Latino children face mental health struggles during pandemic
PHOENIX – The halls at Manzanita Elementary School are emptier than they were a year ago. But school social worker Anthony Guillen says he’s far busier, as students struggle to deal with the increased stress and psychological toll brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a typical year at the north central Phoenix school, Guillen.

Ballot count complete, but Republicans press ahead with challenges
WASHINGTON – Arizona elections officials finished counting the last of more than 3.4 million ballots over the weekend and are vowing to certify the results in the next two weeks, despite ongoing challenges from state Republicans. In the final unofficial count, President Donald Trump narrowed the gap with President-elect Joe Biden, but still trailed by.

Mount Graham red squirrel makes comeback, but not out of the woods yet
WASHINGTON – An endangered squirrel that was driven to the brink of extinction by wildfire just three years ago in southern Arizona has seen its numbers more than triple following federal, state and local preservation efforts. The Mount Graham red squirrel population was cut from 252 to just 33 squirrels in the wild after the.

AIA recommends postponing start of winter sports seasons
PHOENIX – The Arizona Interscholastic Association recommended postponing the start of winter high school sports such as basketball, wrestling and soccer to its executive board Monday, possibly pushing the start of those sports into January. AIA Executive Director David Hines will meet with state health and education officials before the executive board votes on the.

Delay of games: Back-to-back cancellations leave ASU football on uncertain path
TEMPE – During a sports year when news of a game cancellation can arrive at the last minute – especially in the scrambled Division I college football season – the Pac-12 Conference took the unusual step Sunday of canceling a football game nearly a week in advance. In a statement on Twitter, the conference said.

‘Disruptive and cruel’: Native Americans worry as Supreme Court weighs repeal of health care act
PHOENIX – Native American leaders are keeping close watch on the Supreme Court battle over whether to repeal all or parts of the Affordable Care Act, a move many say could devastate health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives. “In our vulnerable populations, particularly in the time of COVID-19 and its disproportionate impact on.

Pick one: California multisport athletes forced to choose, putting college recruitment at risk
ANAHEIM, California – Nicholas Mikhail has been a dual-threat in soccer and football throughout his high school career in Southern California. Entering his senior year in 2020, he was prepared to improve his chances of being recruited by college teams. The pandemic, however, had other plans. After the California Interscholastic Federation postponed all seasons in.

Trump backers take their turn, crowding Washington streets in protest
WASHINGTON – Tens of thousands of people turned the streets of Washington into a sea of flags and banners Saturday, marching and chanting in support of an embattled President Donald Trump as his election chances falter. The march went under a number of different names – Million MAGA March, Stop the Steal and March for.

As it drops one challenge, GOP files new suit over election returns
WASHINGTON – The Arizona Republican Party filed a second legal challenge Thursday to Maricopa County’s election returns, even as attorneys for the party were conceding that an earlier suit would not make a difference in the presidential results. With just 1,700 ballots left to count in Arizona as of Friday evening, President Donald Trump trailed.

McSally concedes to Kelly, capping costly and high-profile Senate race
WASHINGTON – Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, conceded Friday to Democratic challenger Mark Kelly, whose heavily funded campaign ousted the sitting Republican to give the state two Democratic senators for the first time in almost 70 years. McSally’s concession came 10 days after polls closed, ending the most expensive race in state history, when it became.

COVID-19 vaccine test subjects weighed risks, rolled up their sleeves
WASHINGTON – With Santa Cruz County facing one of the highest rates of COVID-19 cases in the state, Tubac Fire Department Fire Chief Cheryl Horvath knew that a vaccine is what’s needed to bring an end to the pandemic. But a vaccine requires human volunteers as test subjects. Horvath had never taken part in a.

Phoenix Rising re-sign eight starters, Junior Flemmings not among them
PHOENIX – Phoenix Rising FC announced on Friday it had re-signed eight players from its 2020 Western Conference Championship-winning team, but questions about the 2021 roster remain unanswered. The re-signed players – all starters – include goalkeeper Zac Lubin, defender Darnell King, midfielders Jon Bakero, Kevon Lambert, Santi Moar and Sam Stanton, and forwards Solomon.

Youth advocacy groups kept voters safe and informed on Election Day
LOS ANGELES – Young people stepped up on two fronts this Election Day: volunteering to replace older poll workers who feared exposure to COVID-19 and pushing more of their peers – an age group with historically low turnout – to register and vote. Across the Southwest, such organizations as Future Leaders of America, California Campus.

ASU’s Herm Edwards, multiple players test positive for COVID-19 as game vs. Cal canceled
PHOENIX – Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards has described the coronavirus as the “opponent you can not see” that teams have to prepare for many times this season. Unfortunately, that invisible opponent has made its way to him and his team. Arizona State’s football game scheduled for Saturday versus California was canceled Friday because.

Big Ten, here we come: ASU hockey team opens season at Michigan
TEMPE – We’ll never know what might have been for the 2020 Arizona State men’s hockey team. Ranked No. 13 on March 4, the Sun Devils, with a 22-11-3 record and seven wins in their last nine games, looked poised to make their second straight NCAA Tournament. That changed a week later, when the NCAA.

Trump’s voting irregularity claims get cold reception in court hearing
WASHINGTON – Trump campaign lawyers dropped claims of voter fraud Thursday, telling a Maricopa County Superior Court judge instead that they were in court to point out “good faith errors” by election officials that could have affected the vote count. “We are not alleging fraud in this lawsuit,” said Kory Langhofer, an attorney for the.

Field of flags tries to make sense of staggering COVID-19 death toll
WASHINGTON – The hardest part of Suzanne Firstenberg’s day is when she changes the numbers on the board – each number representing an American who has died as a result of COVID-19. She climbs on a concrete ledge, pulls off a large poster with one number on it and replaces it with a higher number.

Forecast calls for drier, warmer winter to follow ‘nonsoon’ summer
WASHINGTON – State and federal weather officials are predicting a warmer and drier than normal winter for Arizona, which would come on the heels of the driest monsoon ever recorded in the state. The “nonsoon” summer followed by a La Niña winter could spell trouble for water resources and wildfire conditions in a state already.

Arizona State football game against California remains in doubt
PHOENIX – Just two days before Arizona State is scheduled to host California in a Pac-12 football game, the status of the contest is still in question. The game could take place Saturday or Sunday, or not at all. Cal, who had one player test positive earlier this month, has been fighting local COVID-19 protocols.

Burned acreage up sharply, as Arizona 2020 wildfire season winds down
WASHINGTON – The acreage torched by wildfires in Arizona was up sharply this year, but fire officials said it was still not a particularly bad season in terms of lives lost and structures burned in the blazes. The 2020 wildfire season had burned just under 955,000 acres as of Wednesday, according to the Arizona Department.

Despite ‘eerie’ vibe, NASCAR Championship Weekend a hit with drivers, fans
AVONDALE — Before this year, NASCAR crowned Cup champions in Miami, home of sunny skies and crowded beaches. This year the crown jewel of the series finished in the desert, amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Phoenix Raceway played host to its first championship weekend by implementing safety protocols that included a limited number of fans, masks.

Soldiering on: After layoff, guardsman wins ‘best warrior’ competition
WASHINGTON – Daniel D’Ippolito’s situation was hardly unique in March when he was laid off from his job renting heavy equipment, one of the tens of thousands of Arizonans who lost jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic that month. What he’s done since then, however, is unique. After he was laid off, D’Ippolito, a corporal.

Navajo hemp investigation expands to federal marijuana, labor probe
WASHINGTON – A Navajo Nation probe of a controversial, Navajo-owned hemp operation has turned into a federal investigation into reports of marijuana production, interstate drug trafficking and violations of labor and child labor laws. The FBI said Monday it had executed search warrants “in the area of Shiprock” in an operation that included nine federal.

COVID-19 and Veterans Day: Remember your mask as you remember our vets
WASHINGTON – In addition to wearing the traditional red, white and blue, people watching the Veterans Day parade in Prescott are being encouraged to wear something else this year: a mask. It’s just one of the ways that organizations across Arizona have responded to the coronavirus, trying to balance the usual parades and picnics with.

Pandemic shines light on complex coexistence of modern times, traditional ways on Navajo Nation
PHOENIX – The most recent album from Hataalii, a Navajo Nation indie-rock artist, closes with a pair of instrumental tracks called “Rain.” The songs, the artist said, are inspired by the relief that rains bring in hot summer months and the idea that all struggles subside with time. The message connects to something his grandmother.

Trump lawsuit targets Maricopa vote count, as gap with Biden narrows
WASHINGTON – The Trump campaign added Arizona this weekend to the list of states where it has gone to court to challenge the ballot count, charging that Maricopa County rejected ballots that should have been given a second review. The suit, filed Saturday in Maricopa County Superior Court, claims that those rejected ballots would “yield.

Telehealth is the best option for some but not all, mental health experts say
PHOENIX – Telehealth can help treat people with depression or other mental-health issues but patients need to guard their privacy and consider whether the treatment is right for them, health advocates said. June Rolph, a board-certified nurse practitioner in Phoenix, said patients may feel more emotionally removed from the therapeutic process in a video session.

Arizonans will be watching closely when Supreme Court takes up ACA
WASHINGTON – When the Supreme Court takes up the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act – again – Tuesday, Tucson resident Alicia DeWitt will be watching the case closely. Without the ACA, DeWitt said she would not have been able to get health insurance to pay for surgery to remove a brain tumor, and would.

Biden claims ‘clear victory’ as Arizonans await final vote counts in razor-thin election
PHOENIX – Amid celebrations on one side and vows to keep fighting on the other, Arizonans on Sunday awaited final vote counts even as President-elect Joe Biden claimed a “clear victory, a convincing victory” and began making plans for the next four years. Biden and Kamala Harris, making history as the first woman and first.

Tipirneni concedes to Schweikert in District 6, as incumbents sweep
WASHINGTON – Democratic challenger Hiral Tipirneni conceded to Rep. David Schweikert, R-Fountain Hills, in the race for Arizona’s 6th District congressional seat Saturday, after days of counting saw her election night lead evaporate. The latest election results, released Saturday, showed Schweikert’s lead was continuing to grow, with the five-term Republican holding a 52.15% to 47.85%.

Schweikert takes, expands lead, but Tipirneni vows to continue fight
WASHINGTON – Several days of counting have flipped the outlook for the 6th District House race, with Rep. David Schweikert now leading Democratic challenger Hiral Tipirneni by just over 15,000 votes after trailing her on election night. The 51.9% to 48.1% margin for Schweikert, R-Fountain Hills, on Friday is almost a mirror of the 52-48.

Social media disinformation tactics that attempted to deceive Arizonans in the 2020 elections
As election results continue to trickle in, voters have taken to social media to share their confusion and anxiety, and they’ve often been met with lies and misinformation. The heightened spread of disinformation over social media can have negative consequences on America’s democracy, according to Scott Ruston, a research scientist with Arizona State University’s Knowledge.

Each Election Day, voters with disabilities combat barriers to cast ballots
PHOENIX – As the presidential election hangs in the balance, protests erupt at ballot counting stations and controversies swirl about getting every vote tallied, one group in particular faces significant challenges that can leave them out of the process. About 38 million people with disabilities, or one-sixth of the electorate, were eligible to vote this.

Arizona’s renewable energy future at play in Corporation Commission races
PHOENIX – Two Republicans and a Democrat were leading in the race to secure three of the five seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates publicly owned utilities in a state that faces growing challenges from the effects of climate change. Unofficial results from the Secretary of State’s Office on Friday morning showed Republican.

Churches adjust to COVID-19 restrictions in Southwest, many pray to reopen in California
LOS ANGELES – Since the pandemic changed the way American Christians gather, churchgoers have endured record heat and the din of nearby traffic as they filled parking lots and outdoor spaces to practice their faith. Across the Southwest, churches have had to adapt to the threat of COVID-19, with many moving to online or outdoor.

Vote counting anxiety rises as Trump-Biden race tightens in Arizona
PHOENIX – More than 100 supporters of President Donald Trump waved flags and chanted Wednesday night outside the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center, demanding that votes be counted. Inside the center, votes were, in fact, being counted. A second protest came Thursday morning, and others were planned for Thursday night and Friday by conservatives.

Some Maricopa County races narrow, flip as counting continues
PHOENIX – As ballots continue to be counted in Maricopa County, some of the races for countywide officials now hang in the balance. Elections officials on Thursday said they still have to process hundreds of thousands of ballots. The latest results show the early leads for some Democrats have disappeared. Republicans have overtaken Democrats in.

State tops 250,000 COVID-19 cases, 6,000 deaths, renewing safety calls
WASHINGTON – State officials repeated calls for Arizonans to take commonsense health measures, as the state passed two grim milestones this week in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Arizona Department of Health Services reported that the state surpassed 6,000 coronavirus-related deaths Tuesday, one day before it reported that total cases had topped the.

Hot races, new battleground status make Phoenix tops for political ads
PHOENIX – A slew of high-profile races and Arizona’s new status as a battleground state made Phoenix the top market in the country for television political advertising during this election season, according to a recent report. Those factors, along with the fact that the Phoenix market dominates Arizona as few other large cities do in.

Hobbs learns Sharpie ballot rumor, like marker’s ink, is hard to erase
WASHINGTON – Voter intimidation, Russian hacking, stolen ballots and, now, Sharpies. The popular marker has been cited in social media claims as part of a clever strategy to invalidate ballots by using Sharpies, because their ink reportedly cannot be detected by ballot scanning machines. That claim has since been picked up by at least two.

Is ‘wave’ permanent? That’s a political question, not a hairstyle
WASHINGTON – Democrats made impressive inroads in Arizona on Election Day, but experts say it may be too early to determine whether the voting was a “blue wave” – or just “blue-ish.” Early returns showed narrow wins in Arizona for Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, Senate hopeful Mark Kelly, House challenger Hiral Tipirneni and numerous.

Officials: COVID-19 keeps coming for Arizona, and the death toll could be ‘staggering’
PHOENIX – Health officials Wednesday warned of a “staggering” death toll in Arizona as cases of the novel coronavirus continue to rise unabated, citing fatigue over COVID-19 and crowded holiday gatherings as potential dangers. Dr. Joshua LaBaer, executive director of Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute, said its team attributes a resurgence of cases in Arizona.

‘Long time coming’: Latino voters help flip Arizona, tighten key races
PHOENIX – Latino voters fueled by the Trump administration’s failures to curb COVID-19 and the lingering impact of the anti-immigration law known as SB 1070 helped turn Arizona blue after decades of entrenched Republican rule, according to organizers who have spent years working toward this moment. “This feels like a victory lap,” said Eduardo Sainz,.

As most House members head to reelection, Schweikert trails Tipirneni
WASHINGTON – Democratic challenger Hiral Tipirneni clung to a narrow lead Tuesday over embattled Rep. David Schweikert, R-Fountain Hills, in early returns in the race for Arizona’s 6th District seat in Congress. With 97% of precincts reporting, Tipirneni had 162,976 votes to 152,381 for Schweikert, giving her a 52-48 percentage point lead in the race..

Proposition 208 on path to victory; would provide school funds that legislators have not
Proposition 208 on Wednesday held onto its lead, with the majority of Arizonans voting in favor of raising taxes on the wealthy to fund education, according to unofficial election results from the Arizona Secretary of State’s website. By Wednesday afternoon, the measure had a 52.55% “yes” vote. However, there were thousands of early and provisional.

Kelly leads McSally after high-profile, high-cost campaign for Senate
WASHINGTON – Senate Democratic challenger Mark Kelly opened a sizable lead in early returns Tuesday over Republican Sen. Martha McSally, who was desperately fighting to hold the seat she was appointed to just two years ago. With 79% of precincts reporting four hours after the polls closed, Kelly held a 54-45 percentage point lead over.

Arizona on path to approve Prop 207 to legalize marijuana, clear criminal records
PHOENIX – Arizona voters appeared poised to approve the legalization of recreational marijuana, with the Associated Press declaring the measure had passed Tuesday night. The measure also would allow certain marijuana offenders to seek to have their criminal records expunged. Proposition 207 would give adults 21 and older the right to possess an ounce of.

Officials ‘braced for the worst,’ but report little voter intimidation
WASHINGTON – Elections officials feared cases of voter intimidation would mar Election Day, but said Tuesday they had seen few problems over the course of the day and that the issues they did encounter were quickly resolved. While advocates reported isolated instances of voter intimidation and other issues with casting ballots in Arizona on Tuesday,.

Maricopa County voters lean toward Democrats for sheriff, county attorney
PHOENIX – Maricopa County residents voted for several countywide officials, including sheriff, attorney, assessor, treasurer, school superintendent and recorder. In a county that has historically leaned Republican, Democrats appeared poised to have a lead on several high-profile offices, according to unofficial results from the Maricopa County Recorder’s office Wednesday. There were at least 400,000 early.

Blue wave in the Grand Canyon State: Biden, Kelly projected winners as Arizona takes center stage in 2020
PHOENIX – Amid a pandemic that changed the way Americans live and vote, Joe Biden was the projected winner over Donald Trump in Arizona, leading a blue wave to flip a longtime Republican stronghold that chose a Democrat for the White House for only the second time since 1952. Mark Kelly also was projected to.

Party? Hardly. COVID-19 puts a damper on post-election celebrations
WASHINGTON – The post-election victory party – which can only really be a victory for half of those throwing them, after all – has become another victim of COVID-19. In an election year like no other, election night will look like no other. Campaigns have scrambled to find pandemic-safe ways to gather supporters together to.

Campaign donors gladly put their money where candidates’ mouths are
WASHINGTON – All politics is local, the saying goes. But it’s also personal for the individual donors who put their money – often only a few dollars at a time – where their candidates’ mouths are. Donors like Norma Wolford of Surprise, who made 43 separate donations to President Donald Trump’s re-election bid. Or Truly.

Election updates: Voters defy COVID, misgivings to make their voices heard
Millions of people voted early in Arizona, and countless more on Tuesday took on an Election Day tradition as COVID-19 precautions shadowed polling places. They cast their vote in person at places of worship, community centers, schools, nonprofit headquarters, government buildings and other locations in Arizona marked with a directional arrow on a familiar “Vote.

What’s at stake in Arizona’s 2020 election
PHOENIX – Election Day finally has arrived after months of controversy over COVID-19, the resulting economic freefall and impassioned demands for social justice stemming from the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police. Arizona emerged as a battleground state in the 2020 presidential race, spurring dueling visits from the candidates and attracting millions.

TikTok politics: Video-sharing app users move from hobby to headlines
WASHINGTON – Phoenix resident Rye Taylor started using TikTok as a hobby when it debuted in the U.S. in 2018, then started pushing her message of body positivity once she grasped the app’s impact on her audience. And then came the heated 2020 elections. With more than 47,000 followers, Taylor said she discovered she could.

Elections and chill: Officials temper hopes for election-night returns
WASHINGTON – Tuesday is Election Day, but county election officials are asking voters to think more in terms of election week. Recorders say they do not expect problems – in fact, they believe Arizona is in better shape than most states – but are trying to tamp down expectations in light of what could be.

Arizona officials expect crowded polls, but hope for smooth final day
WASHINGTON – Election officials anticipate longer-than-usual lines at polling places Tuesday, but said early in-person voting in the state has been going “very, very well” so far. “We have been working on this for the whole year. And we have had other elections during this pandemic, so I think we’re ready,” said Erika Flores, deputy.

Arizona collegiate athletes speak out on importance of voting
PHOENIX – Athletes are speaking up more than ever about social issues, often crossing a boundary between the field of play into the arena of politics that many tried to tip-toe in the past. And as the 2020 election approached, college athletes across Arizona used their platform to encourage fellow students, members of their wider.

Just before the election, poll on climate change suggests Arizona voters want more federal action
PHOENIX – Twenty-four hours after Tuesday’s election, the U.S. officially will exit the Paris Agreement, an effort by nearly 200 countries to reduce the threat of man-made climate change. This comes as Arizona voters are expressing a growing interest in climate change and environmental policy. A new survey of voters indicates Arizonans are becoming more.

Halloween 2020: A different kind of mask, but just as scary this year
WASHINGTON – When health officials said Arizona residents could enjoy trick-or-treating this year if they found “various creative ways” to distribute candy during a pandemic, they may not have had Timothy Landis-level creativity in mind. The Litchfield Park resident has modified his annual pirate ship display to include a “candy chute,” which pretend pirates on.

Cities, police brace for possible unrest after heated election
WASHINGTON – National and local law enforcement agencies are preparing to respond in case civil disturbances break out after Tuesday’s elections, which experts fear may have a “different venue for challenging election results, namely in the streets.” And that may be true whichever side wins. Seth Jones, director of the Transnational Threats Project at the.

Arizona voters have already cast a record 2.3 million early ballots
WASHINGTON – Arizonans are already setting voting records this year, driven by a bitterly contested presidential race, a large number of new voters and COVID-19 fears that voting in-person may not be safe. With four days left until Election Day, state election officials had already received 2.3 million ballots Friday, closing in on the total.

Voters, officials prepare for possible intimidation at the polls
Just days before Election Day, elections officials are on alert for voter intimidation – which can range from threatening emails to campaigning too close to a polling location – and working to educate voters about their rights and how to respond. Intimidation is illegal under state and federal law, and can result in lawsuits, fines.

As corporate America responds to racism, some firms vow to address health disparities
PHOENIX – In the wake of George Floyd’s death last May and subsequent demands for social justice for Black Americans, corporations are pledging to improve hiring practices, institute antiracism training and provide more advancement opportunities for people of color. Others have taken a different approach – vowing to specifically address health disparities that leave Black.

Ducey defends shift in guidelines for return to virtual schooling
WASHINGTON – The Ducey administration defended its decision Thursday to toughen guidelines for when Arizona schools should revert to virtual education, from in-person or hybrid schooling, in the face of surging COVID-19 cases. Gov. Doug Ducey said the recommendation that schools return to online teaching once three different transmission criteria are in the “substantial” category.

Trump support among Latinos steady; still trails Democrats by far
WASHINGTON – Phoenix resident Rey Torres is “very happy to have been born into my culture” of a Mexican-American family – just don’t ask him if that means Democrats will be getting his vote this fall. President Donald Trump has “respect for American jobs and … a laser focus on bringing jobs back to our.

Corporation Commission: Affordable, reliable utilities a priority for Lea Márquez Peterson
Candidate name: Lea Márquez Peterson Political affiliation: Republican Position sought: Arizona corporation commissioner City of residence: Tucson Age: Unverified Career: Appointed to the Corporation Commission in 2019; former president and CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. The.

Corporation Commission: Jim O’Connor looks to stand up to utilities companies
Candidate name: Jim O’Connor Political affiliation: Republican Position sought: Arizona corporation commissioner City of residence: Scottsdale Age: 74 Career: Former registered securities adviser With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. The five-member Corporation Commission, which was established by the Arizona Constitution, regulates public utilities and decides.

Corporation Commission: Eric Sloan wants a ‘fair deal’ for Arizona ratepayers
Candidate name: Eric Sloan Political affiliation: Republican Position sought: Arizona corporation commissioner City of residence: Scottsdale Age: 38 Career: Owner of an economic development firm With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. The five-member Corporation Commission, which was established by the Arizona Constitution, regulates public utilities.

Corporation Commission: Bill Mundell aims to make Arizona solar capital of the world
Candidate name: William “Bill” Mundell Political affiliation: Democrat Position sought: Arizona corporation commissioner City of residence: Scottsdale Age: Unverified Career: Lawyer, former judge and legislator, Arizona Corporation Commission chairman 2001-02, commission member 1999-2008 With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. The five-member Corporation Commission, which was.

Corporation Commission: Anna Tovar wants to ensure renewable energy is affordable
Candidate name: Anna Tovar Political affiliation: Democrat Position sought: Arizona corporation commissioner City of residence: Tolleson Career: Mayor of Tolleson; former teacher and Arizona legislator With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. The five-member Corporation Commission, which was established by the Arizona Constitution, regulates public utilities.

Corporation Commission: Shea Stanfield hopes to turn Arizona blue and green
Candidate name: Shea Stanfield Political affiliation: Democrat Position sought: Arizona corporation commissioner City of residence: Scottsdale Age: Unverified Career: Teacher, land preservationist, former Cave Creek Town Council member With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. The five-member Corporation Commission, which was established by the Arizona Constitution,.

FCC grants no-cost broadband spectrum licenses to 11 Arizona tribes
WASHINGTON – The Federal Communications Commission has granted broadband spectrum licenses to 11 Arizona tribes in what FCC Chairman Ajit Pai called “a major step forward in our efforts to close the digital divide on Tribal lands.” The awards, announced last week, were the result of a “first of its kind” Rural Tribal Priority Window.

7 common mistakes to avoid when voting (no, don’t mail that ballot)
PHOENIX – As Election Day looms, the biggest worry for many Arizona voters is whether their votes will be counted. Ballot rejection is a possibility. Voters may forget to sign mail-in ballots, use the wrong color ink to mark the ballot and mail an early ballot too late for delivery by Nov. 3. Thousands of.

As COVID-19 cases surge anew, some towns lift mask mandates
WASHINGTON – Payson Mayor Tom Morrisey thinks mask-wearing is one of the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 in his town – but he doesn’t want to force residents to do it. Payson is one of a number of local governments that have lifted facemask ordinances in recent weeks, even as infections in.

Arizona’s status as a toss-up gives voters clout, draws Trump, Harris
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris were back stumping in Arizona Wednesday, evidence of what one report calls the high “voter power” of residents of the swing state. The WalletHub report, “2020’s States with the Most and Least Powerful Voters,” rated Arizona the state with the fifth-most powerful voters,.

Los Angeles just won NBA, MLB crowns, but COVID-19 has parades on hold
LOS ANGELES – The Dodgers won their first World Series since 1988 Tuesday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, leaving Los Angeles sports fans eager for an official celebration despite the rising cases of COVID-19 in the county. Thousands of fans gathered downtown, at Dodger Stadium and in other parts of LA to watch Mookie.

#ChalkTheVote: Arizona families hit the sidewalks to encourage voting
PHOENIX – Divya Yoder and her family were out on the sidewalk in front of their home one recent Sunday, writing chalk messages to encourage their neighbors to vote. “Vote early,” one read. “United we stand,” read another. The Yoders weren’t the only family taking chalk to concrete with similar messages in recent days. Hundreds.

Air Trump: Cost of trips to campaign events still hard to pin down
WASHINGTON – When Air Force One touches down in Arizona for President Donald Trump’s campaign visits to Bullhead City and Goodyear on Wednesday, it will be at least the 20th campaign stop for the jet in the past eight days. Who pays for those trips? You do. Maybe. Or maybe the Trump campaign does. Or.

Arizona natives Cody Bellinger, Aaron Slegers represent opposite sides in World Series
PHOENIX – Two Valley natives are representing teams on opposite sides of the World Series this year. Cody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who was born in Scottsdale and attended Hamilton High School, is no stranger to the big stage, batting his way to a third Series appearance at the ripe age of 25..

As COVID adds hours and challenges, teachers look to Proposition 208 for more school funding
PHOENIX – Amid a pandemic that has prompted some teachers to leave their profession, Arizonans are considering a proposal to raise taxes for high earners to help schools pay for salary increases and hire more staff. Proposition 208 would add a 3.5% surcharge to taxable income above $250,000 for individuals or $500,000 for couples, increasing.

Arizona senators split as divided Senate puts Barrett on Supreme Court
WASHINGTON – Arizona conservative groups hailed the confirmation of “capable, brilliant” Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, after a rushed vote Monday that split the Senate along party lines. Barrett’s confirmation comes less than six weeks after the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and cements a conservative majority on the high court.

Separate and unequal: Pay gap affects women, minorities, families
PHOENIX – The pay gap is confoundingly stubborn: On average across the United States, women make 81 cents for every dollar a man makes, with the size of the gap varying based on a woman’s job, family status and race. In Arizona, women fare slightly better than the national data, making 84 cents for every.

Report: Migrant deaths in the desert have reached seven-year high
WASHINGTON – Remains of 181 migrants were found in the Arizona desert through the end of September, 37 more than in all of last year and the most since 2013, according to the group Humane Borders. The rise in migrant deaths comes during a year of intense heat and little precipitation for Arizona – but.

Trump cites Arizona’s success fighting COVID-19, as cases resume rise
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump name-dropped Arizona early in Thursday’s presidential debate, claiming the “very big spike” in COVID-19 cases in the state is “now gone.” Except that it’s not. New cases are up – twice in the past week they topped 1,000 – the rate of positive tests rose as did hospitalizations – although.

Judge denies early Pascua Yaqui voting site, ending years-long feud
WASHINGTON – The Pascua Yaqui Tribe will not get the early voting location it has been asking for since 2018, after a federal judge flatly denied the request he said would overburden an elections office “already stretched to its breaking point.” The ruling by U.S. District Judge James Soto Thursday night was the second blow.

Maricopa County Sheriff: Paul Penzone wants to build more trust in law enforcement
Candidate name: Paul Penzone Political affiliation: Democrat Position sought: Maricopa County Sheriff City of residence: Scottsdale Age: 53 Career: Maricopa County sheriff since 2017; former Phoenix police sergeant, former vice president of a nonprofit aiding victims of child abuse With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot..

Maricopa County Sheriff: Jerry Sheridan wants to repair law enforcement’s relationship with the public
Candidate name: Jerry Sheridan Political affiliation: Republican Position sought: Maricopa County Sheriff City of residence: Phoenix Age: 62 Career: 40 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as former chief deputy for Sheriff Joe Arpaio. With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. If elected, would you.

U.S. House, District 9: Dave Giles emphasizes individual freedom in bid for Congress
Candidate name: Dave Giles Political affiliation: Republican Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 9 City of residence: Gilbert Age: 68 Career: Engineer and business consultant with international experience With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. How would you rate Arizona’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic?.

U.S. House, District 9: COVID-19 relief package, climate change are top priorities for Greg Stanton
Candidate name: Greg Stanton Political affiliation: Democrat Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 9 City of residence: Phoenix Age: 50 Career: U.S. representative for District 9; former Phoenix mayor and city councilman. With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. How would you rate Arizona’s response.

Black advocates spotlight uneven rates of food allergies in children
PHOENIX – Thomas Silvera and Dina Hawthorne-Silvera lost their son, Elijah, when he was just 3. He had a severe anaphylactic reaction to a grilled cheese sandwich he was given at a day care center in New York City in 2017. Since then, the couple have run the nonprofit Elijah-Alavi Foundation to advocate for and.

September jobless rate rose, as more workers got back in labor force
WASHINGTON – Arizona’s unemployment rate bounced back up to 6.7% in September, but economists say there may actually be some positives behind what look like negative numbers at first glance. At least one of the reasons for the increased jobless rate is that more than 150,000 people returned to the labor force, which suggests that.

Friday is deadline to request mail ballot, arrange for remote voting from hospitals, nursing homes
PHOENIX – Time is running out for voters to request mail ballots and for voters in nursing homes and hospitals to get help from a special elections team, state and county election officials said Thursday. “There is still time to do so for this general election. But you must do it by tomorrow (Friday),” Secretary.

University of Arizona team cheers success of asteroid-contact mission
WASHINGTON – After more than a decade of work, $800 million and 200 million miles of space travel, it all came down to six seconds. That’s how long OSIRIS-REx spent on the surface of near-Earth asteroid Bennu, collecting a small sample of soil before lifting off again for a return trip to Earth. But those.

Data on COVID-19’s impact on schools is available from Maricopa County
With some Arizona districts opening their campuses and welcoming students back into physical classrooms, many parents in Maricopa County want information on how to keep kids safe from COVID-19 outbreaks. The county is home to 58 school districts that serve more than 700,000 students. Since the start of the school year in August, Maricopa County.

APS wants to raise rates, but during pandemic, many Arizonans aren’t on board
PHOENIX – Arizona Public Service, the state’s largest utility provider, is proposing a rate increase starting next year, a move opposed by many customers reeling from the financial fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate hike, which would raise rates 3% to 6% for the majority of its 2.7 million customers statewide, would increase the.

McSally heaps praise on Barrett on eve of first confirmation vote
WASHINGTON – Arizona Sen. Martha McSally left little doubt how she plans to vote on Supreme Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination, calling Barrett “a gift to America” during a brief meeting Wednesday. The meeting, one of a series between senators and Barrett, came on the eve of a Senate Judiciary Committee vote on the.

GOP expects Schweikert to hold off challenger; analysts aren’t so sure
WASHINGTON – A national Republican campaign official expressed confidence Wednesday that Rep. David Schweikert, R-Fountain Hills, can fend off a challenge from Democrat Hiral Tipirneni, who leads in some polls and has raised millions more for her campaign. Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., chairman of the Republican National Congressional Committee, based his confidence on Schweikert’s “established.

U.S. House, District 7: Arizona should have trusted the people on COVID-19, Josh Barnett says
Candidate name: Josh Barnett Political affiliation: Republican Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 7 City of residence: South Phoenix Age: Unverified Career: Entrepreneur With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. How would you rate Arizona’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic? “There’s things we’ve done that.

U.S. House, District 7: Ruben Gallego cites climate change, Native issues as key
Candidate name: Ruben Gallego Political affiliation: Democrat Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 7 City of residence: South Phoenix Age: 40 Current office: U.S. representative for District 7; previously served in the Arizona Legislature With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. How would you rate.

COVID-19 cases surging toward 1,000 a day, ASU expert warns
PHOENIX – Arizona is experiencing a COVID-19 surge similar to the one it saw in mid-June, and a vaccine that will get the population closer to herd immunity is in the distant future, the director of ASU’s Biodesign Institute said Wednesday. “We are very close for a seven-day trailing average to crossing the 1,000 new.

Dodgers host postseason drive-ins for fans during World Series games against Rays
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans are no strangers to the October Classic, with this season marking the team’s third appearance in the World Series in four years. The difference in 2020? Most fans are watching the games at home and are nowhere near their team in Texas. Because of the.

U.S. House, District 6: Independent Tom Lewellen says repairing Social Security, Medicare are top issues
Candidate name: Tom Lewellen Political affiliation: Independent Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 6 City of residence: Scottsdale Age: 69 Career: Technology industry executive, entrepreneur and author of several books on economics and politics With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. How would you rate.

U.S. House, District 6: Hiral Tipirneni touts her health care experience, focuses on economic security
Candidate name: Hiral Tipirneni Political affiliation: Democrat Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 6 City of residence: Glendale Age: 53 Career: Medical doctor With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. How would you rate Arizona’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic? Why? “The response to the.

U.S. House, District 6: David Schweikert focused on border security, business taxes, slowing COVID-19
Candidate name: David Schweikert Political affiliation: Republican Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 6 City of residence: Fountain Hills Age: 58 Current office: U.S. representative since 2010 EDITOR’S NOTE: David Schweikert did not respond to multiple written and telephone requests for an interview. Because he did not respond to questions about his priorities and.

Virtual learning poses unique challenges for Arizona’s 148,000 students in special ed programs
PHOENIX – Many Arizona schools stuck with virtual instruction this fall as the COVID-19 pandemic persists, but for the 148,000 children who take part in special education programs, the new online environment can be a particular challenge. When school started back in August, June Krafft was busy at home running from room to room, making.

U.S. House, District 5: Andy Biggs stands against abortion, gun control
Candidate name: Andy Biggs Political affiliation: Republican Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 5 City of residence: Gilbert Age: 63 Current office: U.S. House of Representatives; Arizona legislator for 14 years EDITOR’S NOTE: Andy Biggs did not respond to multiple written and telephone requests for an interview. Because he did not respond to questions.

U.S. House, District 5: Joan Greene faults COVID-19 response, touts health care as economic key
Candidate name: Joan Green Political affiliation: Democrat Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 5 City of residence: Phoenix Age: 59 Career: Entrepreneur and founder of Greene and Associates With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. How would you rate Arizona’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic?.

‘We help with loneliness’: Iranian American Society maintains sense of community online
For younger users of the Arizona Persian Cultural Center, the Scottsdale home of the Iranian American Society of Arizona, the pandemic-driven transition to virtual classes and events has been relatively easy. But for older members, who’ve struggled to use Zoom and long for the potlucks and bingo games they enjoyed before COVID-19, the road has.

U.S. House, District 4: Federal ‘overbearance’ is our biggest problem, Paul Gosar says
Candidate name: Paul Gosar Political affiliation: Republican Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 4 City of residence: Prescott Age: 61 Current office: U.S. representative for District 4; formerly a dentist With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. How would you rate Arizona’s response to the.

U.S. House, District 4: Affordable, accessible health care is top priority for Delina DiSanto
Candidate name: Delina DiSanto Political affiliation: Democrat Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 4 City of residence: Cave Creek Age: 63 Career: Registered nurse, former hospital finance administrator With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. How would you rate Arizona’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic?.

Trump stops in Prescott, Tucson draw GOP crowds, Democratic jeers
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump was welcomed by boisterous MAGA-hatted crowds in Prescott and Tucson on Monday, the last stops on a Western swing as the campaign entered its final two weeks. But not everyone was putting out the welcome mat. Democrats in the state criticized what they called the president’s “super spreader” events during.

Arizona Senate race breaks record, pulling in whopping $133.7 million
WASHINGTON – Arizona’s Senate race is now the state’s most expensive campaign, with the latest Federal Election Commission filings showing the two candidates have pulled in a staggering $133.7 million so far. Republican Sen. Martha McSally had raised $50.9 million as of Sept. 30, while Democratic challenger Mark Kelly reported raising $82.8 million by that.

Supreme Court to hear Trump plan to use Pentagon funds for border wall
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court said Monday it will consider whether the Trump administration can use an emergency declaration to divert $2.5 billion on Defense Department funds to construct the southern border wall. Two lower courts have rejected the administration’s argument, agreeing with opponents who argue that the emergency declaration was meant to bypass Congress.

NAU linebacker has spotlight in Biden ad during Monday Night Football
LOS ANGELES – The intersection of sports and politics will take center stage again Monday night when a campaign ad featuring a Northern Arizona football player will air during ESPN’s broadcast of the Arizona Cardinals-Dallas Cowboys game. Tristen Vance, a Hamilton High School graduate and linebacker for the Lumberjacks, expected to play his final season.

Giles joins mayors questioning reliability of shortened census count
WASHINGTON – Mesa Mayor John Giles joined mayors from around the country Monday questioning the reliability of the just-ended census and demanding that the Census Bureau be given more time to verify its count of the U.S. population. Giles and others on the U.S. Conference of Mayors call said recent court fights over the census,.

U.S. House, District 3: School choice, illegal immigration top issues for Daniel Wood
Candidate name: Daniel Wood Political affiliation: Republican Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 3 City of residence: Maricopa Age: (b. 1978) Career: Executive protection agent for a private agency; former police officer in Georgia and former Marine With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot. How.

U.S. House, District 3: Raul Grijalva says change requires investment in people
Candidate name: Raul Grijalva Political affiliation: Democrat Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 3 City of residence: Tucson Age: 72 Current office or career: U.S. representative for District 3 since 2002; Pima County supervisor from 1988 to 2002 With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot..

Firefighters work through PTSD with peer support, counseling
GLENDALE – The horror took place about a decade ago, but the scene regularly replayed on a loop in Ashley Losch’s mind. On that day, Losch, a Glendale firefighter and paramedic, entered a home and saw three gunshot victims: a 1-year-old, a 3-year-old and their father, who shot them both before killing himself. She walked.

Arizona cities defend progress after slipping in clean energy ranking
WASHINGTON – Local officials pushed back this week against a new report that showed three Arizona cities slipping in a national ranking on clean-energy policies, saying the report does not appear to reflect their clean- and renewable-energy efforts. The 2020 City Clean Energy Scorecard, released last week by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,.

Shuttered by COVID-19, concert venues band together for a virtual show
WASHINGTON – In a typical year, there would be nothing unusual about longtime Arizona concert promoter Steve Chilton scrambling all over a venue to prepare for a show. But this is not a typical year. And the concert Chilton is pulling together this weekend is far from typical. “I’ll be on my couch,” he said..

Magic Kingdom fans impatient over continued closure of Disneyland
ANAHEIM, California – Guidelines for theme park reopening are coming “very shortly,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in mid-September, but the Magic Kingdom remains closed and Disney fans, laid-off workers and city officials are pleading for tourism’s return to Orange County. Newsom last week pointed to the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and told reporters the.

U.S. House, District 2: Brandon Martin wants secure borders, in-person voting
Candidate name: Brandon Martin Political affiliation: Republican Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 2 City of residence: Tombstone Age: 35 Current office or career: Executive director of Keepers of Liberty, a conservative nonprofit founded this year; formerly worked in Army intelligence With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the.

U.S. House, District 2: Ann Kirkpatrick puts health care at forefront
Candidate name: Ann Kirkpatrick Political affiliation: Democrat Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 2 City of residence: Tucson Age: 70 Current office or career: U.S. representative for District 2. She has been a lawyer, state legislator and represented District 1 in Congress With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates who.

Court: Mailed Navajo ballots should not get extra time to be counted
WASHINGTON – Native Americans may face barriers to voting in general, but that is not enough to require that ballots mailed from the Navajo Nation get 10 extra days to be counted, a federal appeals court said Thursday. The ruling by a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld a lower court that rejected.

Add COVID-19 to list of things driving Arizona teachers from jobs
WASHINGTON – Arizona schools have long struggled with teacher shortages but the problem was made worse this year by COVID-19, which has led to more teachers quitting or taking leave, school officials said. Just over 28% of teaching slots were still vacant several weeks into the 2020-2021 school year, up from 21% last year, according.

Fire damage, ‘smoke taint’ add to challenges for Napa wineries during peak of harvest
LOS ANGELES – Napa Valley is no stranger to natural disasters. Year after year, the world renowned wine region faces flames. In 2019, wind and the Kincade Fire brought smoke and blackouts. In 2018, the County Fire affected a small part of the valley – the same year the enormous Camp Fire devastated other parts.

Rush to register voters is on after court shortens registration window
WASHINGTON – Voting rights groups who thought they had until Oct. 23 to register new voters were scrambling Wednesday after a federal court set a new registration deadline of 11:59 p.m. Thursday. The ruling late Tuesday by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stays a lower court’s order that extended the deadline from the.

State, tribal leaders condemn use of force against border protesters
WASHINGTON – Tohono O’odham and congressional officials are condemning the “utterly shameful” use of tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse a small group of people during a peaceful border wall protest Monday near Ajo. The incident began as Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers were responding to reports that a couple dozen people had.

Groups mount ‘all hands’ push to count people with Census cut short
WASHINGTON – Arizona advocacy groups mounted an “all hands on deck” push to boost last-minute census response rates after the Census Bureau announced plans to end the 2020 census count Thursday, two weeks earlier than expected. The announcement came just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned lower courts that had ordered the.

Rising COVID cases leave Arizona ‘headed toward exponential growth,’ expert warns
PHOENIX – A prominent health expert expressed worry Wednesday about rising COVID-19 numbers across Arizona, saying the trend is reminiscent of early summer conditions that preceded a spike in cases and rollback of measures to reopen businesses. “This is a moment to sort of stop and take measure and think hard about: What can we.

As costs rise and participation falls, nonprofits helping families pay for youth sports
PHOENIX – Raquel McNabb, a former college athlete and mother of four active children, has witnessed firsthand how money affects or limits a child’s ability to participate in sports. Maybe kids can afford the uniform, but not the travel expense. Others can’t pay for the required equipment. Some children never get around the first road.

Glendale homeowners association orders removal of Black Lives Matter sign
GLENDALE – Melanie Boyle hung a hand-painted Black Lives Matter sign on her home in July to show her support for the movement and its demands for justice. “I wanted to do this little act of putting up a sign and open more conversation about it in my area,” she said. Conversations with her neighbors.

Arizona faces back-to-back court hearings with weeks to Election Day
WASHINGTON – The road to the ballot box in Arizona apparently runs through the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which heard two cases in just the past two days concerning ballots and voter registration in the state. Late Tuesday night, the court ruled in one of those cases, reversing a lower court order that.

COVID-19, faltering economy cited as border numbers plummet for 2020
WASHINGTON – The number of migrants apprehended at the southern border fell sharply in fiscal 2020, a drop analysts attribute in large part fears of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic havoc left in its wake. Final numbers are set to be released Wednesday at an event with Border Patrol officials in Tucson, but apprehensions.

Supreme Court’s Census ruling a ‘bitter pill’ to tribes, advocates
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court Tuesday said the Census Bureau can stop its count of the population, a blow to tribal leaders and local advocates for underrepresented communities in Arizona who said they would be hit hardest by an undercount. The court blocked lower courts that had ordered the bureau to continue counting until Oct..

Proposition 208 proposes income surtax on high earners to fund education
With the election just days away, Cronkite News is taking a closer look at some of the measures on the Nov. 3 ballot. As Arizona public schools face the challenge of COVID-19 and continued teacher shortages, Proposition 208 – which would increase funding for teachers, support staff and education programs through a surtax on high.

U.S. House, District 1: Tom O’Halleran calls for unity, more information on COVID-19
Candidate name: Tom O’Halleran Political affiliation: Democrat Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 1 City of residence: Village of Oak Creek Age: 74 Current office and career: U.S. representative for District 1; former Chicago police officer, former business owner With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates who will be on.

U.S. House, District 1: Tiffany Shedd focuses on border security, tax cuts, health care
Candidate name: Tiffany Shedd Political affiliation: Republican Position sought: U.S. House of Representatives, District 1 City of residence: Eloy Age: 51 Career: Small business owner, farmer, attorney and firearms instructor, and a former bilingual kindergarten teacher EDITOR’S NOTE: Tiffany Shedd did not respond to multiple written and telephone requests for an interview. Because she did.

Legal sports betting in Arizona still on the back burner in 2020
LOS ANGELES — More than two years after the federal ban on sports betting was lifted, Arizona is one of 28 states that have not passed legislation to legalize gambling on sports in-person or online. A bill that would have legalized land-based sports books, Senate Bill 1525, with exclusive rights going to Native American tribes,.

As Jupiter dazzles in the night sky, new research suggests its moons are warming each other
PHOENIX – With a glance toward the southern sky this month, you’ll see Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. With a telescope or good binoculars, you may also see several of Jupiter’s 79 known moons. Four of those moons, Europa, Callisto, Ganymede and Io, are heating up more than scientists thought they should.

Fire officials claim success in fighting COVID-19 while fighting fires
WASHINGTON – Battling wildfires while battling the COVID-19 pandemic “definitely added a new challenge” for Arizona fire officials this year, but it’s a challenge many say they have met. Exact numbers are hard to come by, but calls to fire departments around the state found most officials reporting only a handful of positive test results.

Advocates worry ‘food insecurity’ gains could be upended by COVID-19
WASHINGTON – Advocates fear that years of steady improvements in the level of “food insecurity” among Arizona children could be reversed this year by the economic toll of COVID-19, a shift that could have long-lasting effects. The group Feeding America estimated that 19% of children in Arizona in 2018 were food insecure – defined as.

Proposition 207 would legalize recreational marijuana for those 21 or older
With the election just days away, Cronkite News is taking a closer look at some of the measures on the Nov. 3 ballot. Four years after Arizona voters rejected legalizing recreational marijuana, the issue is back, appearing on November’s ballot as Proposition 207. Eleven states have legalized recreational marijuana. Arizona joins three others – Montana,.

Goodbye, Columbus?: Arizona celebrates first Indigenous Peoples’ Day
WASHINGTON – Native Americans in Arizona finally celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day as an official state holiday Monday – but it was a win with an asterisk. After years of advocacy by tribal groups, Gov. Doug Ducey last month signed a proclamation making Oct. 12, 2020, a joint celebration of both Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus.

Money talks: How Arizona’s pro sports franchises compare to the competition
Each year, Forbes magazine compiles important financial information about the “Big 4” North American sports leagues – the NBA, NFL, NHL and MLB – to determine the value of their teams. In September, Forbes released its 2020 NFL list, bringing its rankings of three of the leagues up to date. The most recent report for.

Hot up ahead: Arizona will have more ‘extreme heat’ days, researchers say
PHOENIX – Arizona will experience more days of extreme heat in the coming decade, according to an Arizona State University study that comes on the heels of the state’s hottest summer on record. But researchers are looking for ways to mitigate a hotter, drier climate. The study, “The motley drivers of heat and cold exposure.

CDC: Masks, business limits helped curb spread of COVID-19 in Arizona
WASHINGTON – A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report Friday credited mask mandates and business restrictions for slowing the spread of COVID-19 in Arizona, reversing an early summer spike blamed on an early easing of restrictions. The study, in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, tracked cases in the state from Jan. 22.

Sharpshooters could target Grand Canyon bison by 2021 under herd plan
WASHINGTON – State and federal officials have agreed on a plan that includes bringing in volunteer sharpshooters to cut the number of bison on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Lethal removal has long been discussed as a way to reduce the herd, along with hazing and relocation, but the Sept. 25 agreement between.

Gyms have reopened in Arizona while California gyms are suing to do the same
LOS ANGELES – Arizonans got the green light to return to public gyms on Aug. 27, but Californians in Los Angeles County and 17 other counties are awaiting a decision in the California Fitness Alliance’s lawsuit to resume indoor workouts. The coalition formed in March in response to closures ordered to slow the spread of.

Biden, Harris get on the bus for small businesses in Arizona
PHOENIX – Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris, on their first trip to Arizona, dropped by a union hall Thursday and several small businesses they say need federal relief from the COVID-19 pandemic. Their bus tour, which began in Flagstaff, included an outdoor stop at Barrio Cafe, a central Phoenix staple.

Kayla Mueller’s story featured in debate, recalled in Phoenix event
WASHINGTON – Family friends said Prescott residents Carl and Marsha Mueller are “overwhelmed” by a whirlwind three days that saw the indictment of terrorists accused of killing their daughter, Kayla, whose story was featured in Wednesday’s vice presidential debate. That was followed by an event in Phoenix Thursday honoring Kayla and, on Friday, the two.

Pence draws contrasts between Biden, Trump at campaign event in Peoria
PEORIA – With only 26 days until the election and polls consistently showing the Trump campaign trailing in Arizona, Vice President Mike Pence visited a military and tactical gear company Thursday for a “Make America Great Again” campaign event. Pence began by calling his Wednesday night debate with Democrat Kamala Harris a “debate between two.

As COVID-19 upends volleyball season, Tolleson, Phoenix Union districts improvise
PHOENIX – Although the girls volleyball season began on Sept. 22 under the AIA’s modified guidelines, several schools will not be eligible for the postseason, including those in the Tolleson Union and Phoenix Union school districts. The COVID-19 metrics were high for residents in his district, Phoenix Union Athletic Director Zachary Muñoz said, and many.

Making a splash: Resort, lagoon and sky bar added to Glendale sports entertainment district ahead of Super Bowl
GLENDALE – A new resort and water park planned for the city’s sports entertainment district can help anchor economic development and keep West Valley residents spending time and money closer to home, city officials and developers said. Officials said Crystal Lagoons Island Resort, scheduled to open two years, is expected to draw Arizonans and tourists.

Detention center in Eloy has most COVID-19 cases of any ICE facility
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story mischaracterized the status of COVID-19 cases in the facilities. The numbers cited are cumulative cases. This story has been updated. A full description of the correction can be found here. PHOENIX – La Palma Correctional Center, a privately run immigration detention center in Eloy, has recorded the most.

Bill pressures CDC to give Native Americans better access to federal health data
PHOENIX – A measure passed by the U.S. House aims to remove barriers that Native Americans face in accessing public health data – something advocates say is key to providing a clearer picture of how COVID-19 and other diseases are disproportionately affecting tribes. Experts said Native Americans have been denied access to some state and.

Sen. McSally, Mark Kelly clash over issues ranging from COVID-19 to border security in Senate debate
PHOENIX – Republican Sen. Martha McSally and Democratic challenger Mark Kelly, two military veterans battling for a congressional seat in Arizona that is drawing the attention of the nation, debated over the country’s COVID-19 response, jobs and immigration and President Trump’s attacks on Arizona Sen. John McCain. Kelly and McSally wielded the usual disdain of.

Advocates rush to register voters after judge extends deadline 18 days
WASHINGTON – Arizona nonprofits are working “nonstop” to register voters before opponents can overturn a federal judge’s ruling that extended the state’s voter registration deadline from Monday to Oct. 23. U.S. District Judge Steven Logan agreed with voter advocacy groups that COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the state earlier this year may have cost “possibly tens.

Maricopa official confident polls will run smoothly as early voting starts
WASHINGTON – Maricopa County officials said they are “ready and prepared” for the start of in-person voting Wednesday, despite a recent national report that identified it as one of seven Arizona counties at high risk of a poll worker shortage. The Voter Protection Corps survey predicted the already-difficult issue of attracting poll workers would “be.

Court blocks order giving voters more time to fix unsigned mail ballots
WASHINGTON – A federal appeals court Tuesday temporarily blocked a lower court ruling that would have given Arizona voters five days past Election Day to fix early ballots that were accidentally filed without a signature. The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means current law stands – for.

Sierra, in Hopkins ICU, becomes fourth state lawmaker hit by COVID-19
WASHINGTON – Arizona Rep. Lorenzo Sierra, D-Avondale, was being treated in the intensive care unit of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore Monday for “complications related to COVID-19,” one day after being hospitalized with the virus in Washington. Sierra and his wife, Rhonda Cagle, both began showing symptoms of the disease while visiting family in Washington.

McSally begins Spanish-language ads in Senate race, well behind Kelly
WASHINGTON – Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, bought $110,350 worth of ads on Spanish-language TV stations this week and last – just a quarter of what her Democratic challenger has spent over the past two months. McSally’s buys on Univision and Telemundo stations in Arizona are her first Spanish-language broadcast ads in this campaign, according to.

Swipe right on 2020 election: Groups vie for young Arizona voters in new ways
PHOENIX – Activists who believe young voters in Arizona have the power to swing the state are working to mobilize this often inconsistent and underrepresented group by engaging with them across all platforms – including Bumble and Tinder. Roughly 35% of eligible Arizonans did not vote in 2016, spurring advocacy groups on both sides to.

UArizona and partners work to increase colorectal cancer screenings among American Indians
PHOENIX – Colorectal cancer has received a great deal of attention since actor Chadwick Boseman lost his four-year battle to the disease in August. It’s the second-leading cause of cancer death among Native Americans, prompting calls for increased screenings to improve detection and treatment of colorectal disease. Donald Haverkamp, an epidemiologist with the U.S. Centers.

Supreme Court to review Arizona voting laws overturned as discriminatory
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Friday said it would hear Arizona’s defense of two election laws, on ballot-collecting and out-of-precinct voting, that were struck down by a lower court earlier this year as racially discriminatory. The controversial voting restrictions are still in effect, as the lower court’s ruling was put on hold for a.

Judge blocks ‘unlawful’ plan to end Census Monday; Arizona still lags
WASHINGTON – A federal judge reiterated her order Thursday that the Census Bureau continue its count until Oct. 31, saying plans to end earlier were “erroneous … unlawful” and they undermined the credibility of the count. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Lucy H Koh came just five days before the bureau said it planned.

Trump COVID-19 diagnosis scrambles Arizona events; Biden still to visit
WASHINGTON – News that President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19 led to well-wishes from Arizona lawmakers Friday, a scrambling of the president’s planned visits to the state next week – and some grumbling about the lack of safeguards at previous Trump rallies. The White House announced Friday morning that Trump and first lady Melania.

Hydroxychloroquine’s effectiveness still debated after Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis
President Donald Trump repeatedly has touted hydroxychloroquine as a possible “game changer” in the fight against COVID-19, and in May he told reporters he has taken it as a precaution. But his physician did not prescribe the antimalaria drug after the president tested positive on Thursday, instead giving him an antibody cocktail, according to White.

‘Long-haulers’ battle COVID-19 for months, but research into why is scant
PHOENIX – Although most cases of COVID-19 appear to be mild with a recovery time of a few weeks, health experts are seeing more patients who suffer symptoms for months or get better only to relapse down the road. These “long-haulers” may face organ damage or such debilitating symptoms that even climbing a flight of.

Nationwide airline layoffs hit hundreds of workers in Arizona
WASHINGTON – To American Airlines flight attendant Robyn Walters, her co-workers are like family. That made it all the more difficult last weekend when she had to say goodbye to colleagues who were working their last flights before being furloughed. “It’s been absolutely heartbreaking,” Walters said. “They’re being separated from a career they’ve grown to.

State passes COVID-19 milestone, as final county meets reopening mark
WASHINGTON – Arizona officials hailed a COVID-19 milestone Thursday, when the final county in the state crossed a coronavirus transmission threshold that lets some shuttered businesses begin the process of reopening. The Arizona Department of Health Services said Graham County moved from the “substantial” to “moderate” transmission category, in which businesses such as restaurants, waterparks.

California condor release watched virtually around the world
PHOENIX – About 1,900 people watched online Saturday as, one-by-one, four young California condors flapped through the opening in their release cage to take to the skies above Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, casting shadows on the windswept rocks below. The Peregrine Fund and several of its partners, including the federal Bureau of Land Management and.

Judge halts fee hike that would have nearly doubled cost of citizenship
WASHINGTON – A federal judge late Tuesday blocked a steep increase in application fees set to take effect Friday for people seeking U.S. citizenship, an increase that advocates feared would have locked many immigrants out. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White said that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services did not follow proper procedures when it ordered.

No ‘proud’ moment: Reaction to Trump gaffe goes from dismay to distress
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended his debate comments on the right-wing extremists known as the Proud Boys, but reaction from officials in Arizona ranged from dismissal to dismay. The furor began Tuesday night during the nationally televised debate with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, when Trump was asked to condemn violent groups.

Democrats pounce on Trump income tax story, renew calls for transparency
President Donald Trump denies it, Arizona Republicans largely ignored it but state Democrats pounced on it – a New York Times report this week that the president paid as little as $750 in federal income taxes in 2016 and 2017. “These reports show that Donald Trump is one of the biggest con artists in American.

Arizona’s lack of mental health care providers comes into focus as COVID-19 increases depression, anxiety
PHOENIX – Arizona ranks close to last in the nation when it comes to available mental health care providers – a problem that’s been underscored during a pandemic that is increasing anxiety and depression. Heather Ross, a clinical assistant professor at Arizona State University who advises Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego on health policy issues, said.

Hopi leader: Congress must act to save ‘life changing’ diabetes program
WASHINGTON – A “life-changing” diabetes program for Native Americans will expire Dec. 11 if Congress doesn’t take action, advocates said. Hopi Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma said it is “critical” that lawmakers reauthorize the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, which serves tribes across Arizona and the nation. “There is no doubt that our program has changed the.

Napier rejects Democrats’ claim of racist infiltration of police
WASHINGTON – Pima County Sheriff Mark Napier pushed back against claims that white supremacists have infiltrated law enforcement agencies, telling a House committee Tuesday that he has “simply not been exposed” to any evidence of that. Napier said that while “bad actors” may slip through, police share community outrage at the actions of what he.

Feds cite safety for Quitobaquito closing; critics see other motives
WASHINGTON – The National Park Service cited public safety concerns for its decision this week to prohibit access to a sacred Tohono O’odham site, a move that comes amid rising tensions between border wall protestors and federal agents. Park service officials said the decision to shut down roads to the Quitobaquito Springs, posted Monday on.

Navajo drives unite two goals: COVID-19 relief and upping census participation
MANY FARMS – On a hazy weekday morning, Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and about two dozen masked volunteers pull into the parking lot of a local chapter house. For as far as the eye can see, cars and trucks line up along Indian Route 59. The volunteers, including representatives from World Central Kitchen, hustle.

Court says House can sue White House over funds diverted to border wall
WASHINGTON – Critics of the Trump administration’s border wall on Monday welcomed a court ruling that breathed new life into a congressional lawsuit challenging the White House’s decision to divert funds to the project from other agencies. The ruling Friday by a panel of a federal circuit court in Washington said President Donald Trump’s decision.

USCIS scrambles to resume naturalizations after COVID-19, budget cuts
WASHINGTON – Arizona nursing assistant Perla Macias dreamed of the day when she would be sworn in as a citizen after 21 years living in the U.S. – followed by a big family celebration afterward. She was on the verge of realizing that dream when it was derailed for six months this spring, first by.

Arizona poverty rate continued fall in 2019, still topped national rate
WASHINGTON – The poverty rate in Arizona fell for the eighth straight year in 2019, to 13.5%, but while advocates welcomed that as “great news” they also cautioned that the state’s economic gains were not shared equally by all Arizonans. Despite the improvements, the Census Bureau numbers show Arizona’s poverty rate remained higher than the.

‘A lot of differences’: Experts address health disparities among Asian American subgroups
PHOENIX – They’re often labeled the “model minority,” a misconception surrounding the nation’s 20 million Asian Americans that assumes financial stability, high levels of education and better health across the board. But experts say that myth can mask higher rates of some chronic illnesses and hinder efforts to improve early detection and treatment of certain.

Alone among Democrats, Sinema stays silent on GOP Supreme Court push
WASHINGTON – Almost every Senate Democrat has come out against President Donald Trump’s plan to rush through a replacement for the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, saying the nomination should wait until after the looming elections. Every Senate Democrat but one – Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema. While other Democrats were using language like.

‘It’s about humanity’: Vigil honors Dion Johnson, other Black victims of police violence
PHOENIX – Violence has marred some protests across the country after Kentucky prosecutors declined to charge officers in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor, but a peaceful gathering Thursday night in Phoenix City Hall Plaza struck a more somber note. More than a hundred people gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor Black Americans killed.

Action on missing, murdered women legislation caps years of advocacy
WASHINGTON – Native American advocates and victim’s families have worked for years to draw attention to Indian Country’s epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous women. The federal government finally passed legislation that could help do something about it. The House gave final approval this week to two bills, Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act,.

With clock ticking – and state lagging – Census court fight continues
WASHINGTON – A see-saw legal battle over the 2020 Census continued Friday, with the government pushing to end the count in just five days while local governments, including two Arizona tribes, hoped to extend it to Oct. 31. It comes as state officials are scrambling to improve Arizona’s census response rate, which was ninth-lowest in.

COVID-19 in Arizona: Ducey says state will remain open, prepare for fall
Gov. Doug Ducey emphasized his commitment to keeping the state open in a “safe and healthy way” during a news conference Thursday, with no current plans for “dramatic changes” to be made despite “a gradual rise in cases.” “Arizona’s economy is open, Arizona’s educational institutions are open, Arizona’s tourism institutions are open,” the second-term Republican.

‘Very real’: Mental health issues spike in high school athletes due to lack of sports, study shows
PHOENIX – For the past six months, high school athletes have been left holding their breath. Ever since the World Health Organization (WHO) classified COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, the future of Valley sports in the fall has been uncertain. “One day we’re playing, one day we’re not … now we are playing.

COVID-19 not top health concern of voters in Arizona, other battlegrounds
WASHINGTON – COVID-19 may be getting the headlines but it’s not the top health care issue on the minds of voters in a number of battleground states, including Arizona, according to a poll released Thursday. The poll by the Commonwealth Fund found voters in seven of 10 battleground states said they were more likely to.

Pac-12 conference calls audible, will return to football competition Nov. 6
PHOENIX – After postponing fall sports in August, Pac-12 CEOs called an audible Thursday and voted to play a shortened football season amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Conference teams will compete in a seven-game season beginning Nov. 6. The Pac-12 Championship game is scheduled for Dec. 18, enabling conference teams to be considered for the College.

Census: Number of Arizonans without health insurance rose again in 2019
WASHINGTON – The number of Arizonans without health insurance jumped to more than 800,000 last year, the third consecutive year of increases for the state, according to the latest data from the Census Bureau. The number of uninsured also rose nationwide, but not as sharply as in Arizona. Nationally, the share of people without insurance.

California will allow former inmates to have records expunged so they can fight fires
With California in the middle of peak fire season, blazes across the state have been a challenge for firefighters, with fewer incarcerated firefighters in the field because of responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. A new law seeks to boost their ranks. The problem of staffing fires has grown acute since March, when the California Department.

‘Baby-Friendly’ hospitals tackle health disparities by encouraging Native mothers to breastfeed
PHOENIX – The Whiteriver Indian Hospital in eastern Arizona is combating health disparities among Native Americans by teaching new mothers strong breastfeeding practices, which research shows improves such ailments as obesity and Type 1 diabetes in kids. The medical center on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation is one of about 10 hospitals under the Indian.

Sinema pushes Wolf on damage from border wall; Wolf cites security
WASHINGTON – Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema confronted the acting head of Homeland Security Wednesday over border wall construction she said has ignored the needs of local communities and bypassed environmental assessment reports. The questions came during a Senate Homeland Security Committee confirmation hearing on the nomination of acting Secretary Chad Wolf – who has been.

Maricopa official: Disinformation poses threat to election security
WASHINGTON – Election officials need to be as concerned about voting disinformation as they are about people tampering with ballots themselves, a Maricopa County official said Wednesday during a forum on securing the election. Michael Moore, information security officer for the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office, said “voter confidence is paramount,” but he worries that a.

Admirers line up to pay respects to Ginsburg, a ‘lion of equality’
WASHINGTON – Long lines formed outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday as admirers came to pay their final respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal icon whom one mourner called a “lion of equality.” It was the first of several days of official ceremonies to mourn Ginsburg, who died Friday of complications.

This is how voting by mail will look in Arizona in November
PHOENIX – Nationally and in Arizona, as Nov. 3 approaches, many Arizonans still have concerns about getting their mail-in ballots returned on time – and counted. Voting by mail has become polarized, and some experts have warned that results may be delayed for weeks in presidential and local elections. Arizona is a national example: For.

‘Crazy, crazy’ real estate market puts Gilbert near top of rankings
WASHINGTON – Gilbert resident Nadia Saco bought the home of her dreams this August. But landing it, she said, was a “nightmare.” Saco, 32, and her husband, who spent a year and a half looking for a larger home for their growing family, were outbid on two houses before finally winning a bidding war for.

Movement to defund police gains urgency in Arizona
PHOENIX – A years-old movement to reform police departments, which reentered the national debate last spring when a Minneapolis police officer dug his knee into George Floyd’s back until he couldn’t breathe, has taken root in Arizona. “No justice, no peace, defund the police!” The chant is a nationwide call to action, voiced by millions.

Suns determined to be all in on NBA’s commitment to social justice movement
PHOENIX – After police officers in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, seven times from behind as they attempted to arrest him, NBA players decided to amplify their voices by silencing their game. The incident involving Blake came just months after police in Minneapolis were charged with killing another Black man, George Floyd,.

So you want to transfer? How changing high schools for sports works during COVID-19 era
PHOENIX – When the executive board of the Arizona Interscholastic Association recently approved updated recommendations from its Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, it cleared the way for the delayed 2020 fall sports season to kick off. However, some school districts might still decide not to play any sports in the fall because of safety concerns amid.

‘The sky’s the limit’: Diamondbacks believe rebuild off to promising start
PHOENIX – For the most part, 2020 has been a disappointing year for the Arizona Diamondbacks. After several aggressive offseason moves, it looked like the team was preparing a serious challenge to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ reign in the National League West. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing MLB to sprint through a shortened 60-game.

State trooper who killed Dion Johnson will not face charges, county attorney says
PHOENIX – The state trooper who shot and killed Dion Johnson will not face criminal charges, Maricopa County’s top prosecutor announced Monday, saying the trooper feared for his life. “Please know these decisions are not made lightly,” County Attorney Allister Adel said at a news conference. The May 25 death of Johnson, a 28-year-old Black.

Ginsburg’s decades on high court included numerous Arizona rulings
WASHINGTON – In a 27-year career on the Supreme Court, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote more than 200 opinions and countless dissenting opinions that were known for the sharp language that made them one of her trademarks. Any case before the Supreme Court has national impact, but a fraction of cases the court decided during.

Push to replace Ginsburg renews focus on high-stakes Arizona race
WASHINGTON – Arizona’s already high-profile Senate race drew new attention with the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and news that a new Arizona senator could be seated in time to vote on her replacement. With Democratic challenger Mark Kelly currently leading Sen. Martha McSally, R-Arizona, in both polling and fundraising, Democrats could.

Pac-12 must satisfy six states before kicking off football season
PHOENIX – With the presidents and chancellors of Big Ten universities voting to resume football last week, players and fans called on Pac-12 Conference Commissioner Larry Scott to join other Power Five conferences and allow the football season to kick off. However, Scott said in a statement that universities in California and Oregon do not.

‘That was my identity’: COVID-19 pandemic costing stadium workers their jobs
PHOENIX – In March, teams in the NBA and NHL were closing in on the playoffs, spring training was in full swing in Arizona’s Cactus League and Florida’s Grapefruit League. March Madness was about to unfold as college basketball teams competed in conference tournaments. Then it all came to a stunning, abrupt halt because of.

Arizonan on Trump’s short list for Supreme Court has low profile
WASHINGTON – When President Donald Trump sits down to pick a Supreme Court nominee to take the seat of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday, Phoenix native Bridget Bade will be on the list. Trump added Bade 10 days ago, along with 19 others, to his short list of potential Supreme Court justices, bringing.

Arizona users shrug at U.S. ban on TikTok, WeChat as Chinese spy tools
WASHINGTON – Arizona users of the popular apps TikTok and WeChat brushed off federal government threats Friday to prohibit the platforms, and downplayed concerns that the two products are being used as a tool for Chinese spying. The Commerce Department said Friday that downloads and updates for the two apps would be blocked effective Sunday,.

Arizona jobless rate plummets in August, nearing pre-pandemic levels
WASHINGTON – Arizona’s unemployment rate plummeted last month to almost pre-pandemic levels, falling from 10.7% in July to 5.9% in August, according to the latest data from