Tourists returning to Grand Canyon, but businesses still feel pandemic effects
GRAND CANYON – More tourists are coming to the Grand Canyon, but some businesses are struggling to stay afloat while pandemic restrictions are lifted.
Minimum wage earners can’t afford a two-bedroom rental anywhere, report says
PHOENIX – Americans need to earn $20.40 an hour for a one-bedroom rental and $24.90 an hour for a two-bedroom unit, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. But the average hourly worker makes $18.78 an hour.
Jobs of desperation: How rideshare, food delivery workers lose in the gig economy
Rideshare and food delivery work became even riskier during COVID-19, which put thousands of people out of jobs and into the gig economy. Some now are trying to unionize to negotiate better pay and conditions.
Gallego, other officials join White House push for infrastructure plan
WASHINGTON - Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego joined other mayors and governors at the White House Wednesday to push for the administration's $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan, a measure she has said is needed to reverse decades of "massive underinvestment."
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.
Destination Mars: Elon Musk’s plan to colonize space starts with test flight this month
PHOENIX – In his quest to start a colony on Mars, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is launching his Starship into orbit this month to test whether it’s possible to send passengers safely into space and to other planets. NASA’s ultimate goal also is to explore Mars.
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.
