Record numbers sign up for Obamacare health coverage in Arizona, U.S.
WASHINGTON - A record number of Arizonans signed up for health insurance this year under the Affordable Care Act, as enrollment in the program continues to rebound from the Trump administration's efforts to suppress coverage.
Building the future: Trade occupations encouraged as demand for skilled labor grows
PHOENIX – Trade labor jobs are in high demand across the U.S., with many companies desperate for skilled laborers. TradeUp! and West-MEC are handing middle and high school students hard hats and teaching them such crucial skills as electricians, welders and mechanics.
Maricopa County’s ozone pollution is high and getting worse
PHOENIX – The EPA recently moved Phoenix up in ozone non-attainment levels, from marginal to moderate. City officials are worried they won’t meet attainment by 2024, when the restrictions get tight and some businesses may not be able to operate.
Phoenix led the nation in inflation in 2022, but rise may slow in 2023
WASHINGTON – After a year in which the Valley saw the nation's highest inflation rate for metro areas, experts say consumers can expect inflation to ease in 2023 - but warn that it's not going away entirely.
Vietnamese EV survives Arizona’s heat, but navigating a tight U.S. market will be tougher
LOS ANGELES – Although it performed well in Arizona’s heat, the Vietnamese EV VinFast won’t have it easy competing against a cascade of new electric models on the way from established automakers, experts say.
It’s electric: ADOT planning a statewide network of EV chargers along interstates
PHOENIX – Thanks to federal funding, the Arizona Department of Transportation will receive millions to upgrade existing electric vehicle chargers and install new ones along interstate highways.
Already struggling, farmers face another challenge with diesel shortage
As if this year hasn’t been rough enough on the agriculture community, with droughts and inflation, farmers can now add "global diesel shortage" to their hardship bingo card for 2022.
After overwhelming voter OK, political ‘dark money’ law hailed as model
WASHINGTON - It could be months before the impact of Proposition 211 is seen in Arizona, but experts are already hailing the new law aimed at exposing "dark money" in politics as a model for the rest of the nation.
Supporters: Debt collection act an important protection, but not a cure-all
WASHINGTON - Prop 209's backers say voter approval of the Predatory Debt Collection Protection Act will go a long way toward keeping people from being "forced out on the street" for medical debt. But they say consumers will still need to be on their guard.
Voters limited their own power to legislate, told state lawmakers to butt out
WASHINGTON - Arizona voters this fall made it slightly tougher on themselves when it comes to passing laws at the ballot box, but they also sent a strong message to state legislators - keep your hands off voter initiatives.
Fire districts face uncertain funding future after ballot measure’s failure
WASHINGTON – Voters said no to a plan that would have added one-tenth of a penny to the state sales tax to benefit rural fire districts, but firefighters warn that the need - and the threat to public safety - have not gone away.
SRP researches cloud seeding in White Mountains to create snow amid historic drought
PHOENIX – SRP is researching cloud seeding along the Mogollon Rim as Arizona continues to struggle with its worst drought in 1,200 years. The partnership with the White Mountain Apache Tribe could bring Arizona its first cloud seeding operation.
