Arizona venues get $45 million in COVID relief, but many still waiting
WASHINGTON - Federal officials have awarded $45.3 million in COVID-19 relief funds to 68 Arizona concert venues, a vast improvement over the single grant awarded a month ago but still far short of the need, advocates say.
Traffic stop: Commuting times, costs fell sharply during pandemic year
WASHINGTON - The COVID-19 pandemic led to sharp drops in commuting last year, with cities in Arizona and across the U.S. seeing drops of 50% or more in the number of hours and dollars they wasted, and the gallons of gas burned, while stuck in traffic, a new report shows.
AZ goes EV: Rate of electric car ownership relatively high in Arizona
WASHINGTON - Arizona had 28,770 registered electric vehicles in June, government data shows, the seventh-highest number among states. When ownership is measured per 1,000 residents, Arizona inches up a notch to sixth place, with just over four EVs per 1,000 people.
Biden, senators tentatively agree on $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators announced agreement Thursday on a "historic" $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan that is heavy on construction but does not include the "human infrastructure" the White House originally wanted.
Officials ‘devastated’ as feds extend nonessential border travel ban
WASHINGTON - Border officials said they were "devastated" this week to find that the federal government has extended a COVID-19 ban on nonessential border crossings for another month, potentially crippling businesses there.
Arizona’s aerospace and defense industry has close financial ties to Israeli security
PHOENIX – Amid recent violent clashes in the Middle East, Gov. Doug Ducey tweeted "Arizona stands with Israel." Beyond the show of support, Arizona also is where the Iron Dome, a key Israeli defense technology, was created.
From doughnuts to cash to … pot? Incentives rise as vaccination rates slide
MESA – With vaccination rates declining, public and private entities are trying to reverse the trend. From free doughnuts to cold, hard cash, individuals stepping up to get pricked can be rewarded in many ways.
Border officials eye Monday reopening to nonessential travel with hope
WASHINGTON - Border officials urged lawmakers to stick to a plan to reopen the border to nonessential travel Monday, even as they said more needs to be done to prepare for the expected surge in traffic.
Tempe mayor calls for ‘continued and increased’ housing, transit funds
WASHINGTON - Tempe Mayor Corey Woods told a Senate panel that cities like his need federal funding for affordable housing and public transit, saying local investment alone cannot do the job. His testimony came as Washington wrangles over massive infrastructure proposals.
Airport, TSA officials say as passengers return, so do security delays
PHOENIX - Due to the low volume of air travelers at the height of the pandemic, getting through security was quick and easy. But passengers are coming back and travelers now should come prepared for a process that's a bit more difficult, officials say.
National park visitors – and money – returning after 2020 plunge
WASHINGTON - After hitting a 40-year low in the pandemic year of 2020, national park visitors - and their dollars - are steadily returning, but they are still below pre-pandemic levels, according to new National Park Service data.
Concert, theater owners call pandemic relief fund efforts a ‘disaster’
WASHINGTON - Arizona business owners said a federal program aimed at helping theaters and concert venues shuttered by COVID-19 "has been a disaster," taking until this month to deliver the first grants from a fund that was approved last year.
