Native Americans fight barriers to voting, 100 years after being recognized as U.S. citizens
WOLF POINT, Mont. – The Indian Citizenship Act of 1924 recognized Native Americans as U.S. citizens, yet for decades after, states blocked Indigenous people from voting. Today, experts warn that some states are once again restricting Native Americans’ access to voting.
Navajo and other radiation, uranium mine survivors demand action on stalled RECA compensation program
WASHINGTON – Survivors of radiation exposure from Arizona and New Mexico protested in Washington and demanded a U.S. House vote on a compensation program that expired in June. The Navajo and Laguna Pueblo nations largely made up the group pressuring Speaker Mike Johnson.
California combats climate change: New legislation and ExxonMobil lawsuit take on plastic pollution
LOS ANGELES – California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a plastic bag ban Sunday. Meanwhile, the state and nonprofits are suing ExxonMobil for alleged deception of the public related to plastic recycling.
ASU tuition surcharge, cuts in response to state budget reflect lower Arizona higher education spending
PHOENIX – Arizona State University will make cuts to its Arizona Promise Program and the Arizona Teachers Academy, close the Lake Havasu center and add a tuition surcharge in response to higher education cuts in the state budget. Advocates, students and legislators weigh in.
Arizona has seen growth in clean energy jobs under Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, at a cost Republicans call wasteful
WASHINGTON – The 2-year-old Inflation Reduction Act gives incentives for clean energy projects. Democrats tout job growth and progress against climate change, but Republicans remain skeptical at the high cost.
After Mesa Mayor John Giles endorses Kamala Harris, some Arizona LDS members follow suit
MESA – Mesa Mayor John Giles is a Republican who is voting for Kamala Harris in this upcoming election. Find out why he is switching sides in a crucial election and why other Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members are following in his footsteps.
As civic knowledge declines, programs work to engage young people in democracy
NEW YORK – Civic knowledge is declining, but Generation Z hopes to make a difference in democracy. Camp O’Connor USA in Phoenix and YVote’s Democracy Camp in New York reach students, and another camp in Indiana trains educators to strengthen young people’s civics education and engagement.
More migrants are coming from outside the Americas but Donald Trump’s claims of ‘military invasion’ by China are unfounded
WASHINGTON – Former President Donald Trump and others have claimed the Southwest border has become a route for China and other adversaries to infiltrate the U.S. with an “army” of fighters. It’s true that more migrants are coming from beyond the Americas, but there’s no evidence of their claims.
Maricopa County election official rejects Trump claim that glitch involving 98,000 Arizona voters means someone is ‘trying to rig the election’
WASHINGTON – A glitch in Arizona’s voter registration system has left about 98,000 people on the rolls who haven’t proven citizenship, prompting an allegation of vote rigging from former President Trump. The Arizona secretary of state and Maricopa County recorder reject the fearmongering as they ask the Arizona Supreme Court to decide how to move forward.
Spark the Spectrum empowers Arizona voters with disabilities after court ruling expands accessibility
PHOENIX – A Spark the Spectrum workshop, co-hosted by First Place AZ and the Foundation for Blind Children, aimed to empower voters with disabilities with knowledge for the November election. It is part of the ongoing Vote the Spectrum campaign, dedicated to helping those with autism and intellectual or developmental disabilities navigate the voting process.
American-ish Samoa: Debate persists over rights denied to millions from U.S. territories
SALT LAKE CITY – Nearly 4 million people live in the five inhabited U.S. territories, but their ability to participate in American democracy is limited. When one American Samoan fought for more, he caused rifts across the islands.
Democrats, Republicans across Arizona work to engage underrepresented voters
PHOENIX – Groups on both sides of the aisle aim to educate voters, including Activate 48's "Together We Will" campaign, Arizona Latino Republican Association's candidate recruitment efforts, and events hosted by Arizona Teenage Republicans.
