Poverty rate climbed in 2020, but pandemic assistance blunted losses
WASHINGTON - The U.S. poverty rate rose from 10.5% to 11.4% last year, reversing years of steady declines, but that increase in poverty was offset by pandemic relief funds and other benefits, according to new Census Bureau data.
Pandemic unemployment relief ends, cutting off 45,000 jobless in state
WASHINGTON - A federal pandemic relief program that provided extra financial aid to jobless workers ended Monday, hitting more than 45,000 unemployed Arizonans who had already seen the state pull away another source of federal aid in July.
Jobless rate better, but flat, as Arizona employment, workforce surge
WASHINGTON - More workers than ever before are in Arizona's labor force and the number of people with jobs has almost reached pre-pandemic levels. But the number of jobless Arizonans remains higher than it was pre-pandemic, even as unemployment fell to 6.6%.
Court rejects Trump clean water rule with ‘significant’ Arizona impact
WASHINGTON - Environmental groups welcomed a federal judge's decision this week to overturn Trump-era clean-water regulations that were so narrow that many waterways in Arizona ended up being excluded from federal oversight.
With 253,000 Arizonans behind on rent, court halts eviction moratorium
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court's decision to overturn a national eviction moratorium late Thursday comes as an estimated one-fifth of U.S. renters are behind on the rent - including 253,000 in Arizona.
ASU vs. Ohio State? ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 alliance could change landscape of college football
PHOENIX – The ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 conferences announced an official alliance Tuesday – a move that could impact Arizona State, University of Arizona and the Fiesta Bowl.
From a raft in the Canyon, the West’s shifting water problems are evident
In 1990, the big problem for the Colorado River was managing too much water. Now, it's adjusting to too little, a problem likely to get worse as drought and climate change pose a profound challenge for the river that provides water for more than 40 million people.
In rush to restore budget earmarks, Arizona lawmakers made modest asks
WASHINGTON - When Congress restored budget earmarks this year, 332 House members rushed in with $7.1 billion in special requests to fund local projects. Arizona lawmakers were part of that rush, but with requests that were relatively modest compared to the rest of the House.
Vision quest: New ASU baseball coach Bloomquist has high expectations for program
PHOENIX – One of ASU’s many successful baseball alumni, Willie Bloomquist, rejoins the team this year as its coach. From a high school player desperate to play in Arizona to a veteran athlete bringing real-world experience to the field, his dedication to the Sun Devils has never wavered.
DACA recipients’ future uncertain – again – after latest court ruling
WASHINGTON - A federal judge's ruling that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is unlawful should have no practical impact on more than 600,000 covered immigrants for now - but it is sure to have an emotional impact, advocates say.
Direct child tax credit checks start for thousands of Arizona families
WASHINGTON - Thousands of Arizona families will start getting direct payments from the federal government this week under the expanded child tax credit program, part of the American Rescue Plan that could mean up to $300 per child per month for the next year.
Taking AIM: Arizona hospitals band together to fight maternal mortality
PHOENIX – Pregnancy-related deaths have been rising in the U.S., especially among Black and Indigenous women. In Arizona, a new effort aims to address that by providing hospitals with standards of care to help spot complications before it’s too late.
