Public kept at bay as Israeli diplomat addresses joint legislative session
PHOENIX – The public was kept out of a joint session of the Arizona Legislature Wednesday where an Israeli diplomat said "Hamas must be eradicated" after an Oct. 7 attack sparked a war that has since killed thousands of civilians.
Arizona Legislature considers tougher animal cruelty laws after spike in cases
CHANDLER – Arizona SB 1047 aims to strengthen animal-cruelty laws following a spike in cruelty investigations and last year’s high-profile Chandler case. The bill aims to fortify protections for pets statewide.
‘My dad, he needed help’: Woman says her dead father deserved more from Nevada police
LAS VEGAS – In 2019, Roy Scott called 911 to report a break-in, but when Las Vegas police showed up, events snowballed into a physical confrontation, despite Scott telling officers he had paranoid schizophrenia.
California law enforcement agencies have hindered transparency efforts in use-of-force cases
PHOENIX – While California is considered a progressive state, local law enforcement conduct has been veiled by some of the strongest privacy protections in the country. Attempts at greater transparency are being stymied by police departments and unions.
Mental health problems and meth common in deaths in non-shooting police encounters in Nevada
An investigation by the Howard Center and AP found that people in Nevada who died during or after police encounters often had both histories of mental illness and meth in their systems at the time of their deaths.
How non-shooting deaths involving police slip through the cracks in Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS – At least 12 people died in Nevada from 2012 to 2021 during or after police encounters that did not involve a gun, according to an investigation by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at ASU and The Associated Press.
Menthol cigarettes, heavily marketed to African American communities for years, face possible state and federal bans
PHOENIX – Since the 1960s, menthol cigarettes have been heavily marketed to African American and other minority communities, which have suffered lasting health effects. Now a movement to ban menthol tobacco products is mounting.
Tohono O’odham Nation receives grant to expand internet connectivity
TOHONO O’ODHAM NATION – The Tohono O'odham Nation received $10 million in grants to expand its internet connectivity to regions that previously had no internet.
Phoenix-area Black businesses face challenges with start-up capital
PHOENIX – Black businesses are facing funding problems to start up. The State of Black Business report has recommendations to help fix the problem.
Organizations assist Native American voters as election year ramps up
PHOENIX – Organizations like Arizona Native Voter and the Native American Rights Fund work to help Native Americans vote. With hurdles like restrictions on post office box addresses and voting accessibility in rural areas, voters may struggle to cast their votes.
Schools trying new approaches to combat absenteeism and low graduation rates among Hispanic students
PHOENIX – The latest Datos report highlighted a high rate of absenteeism and low graduation rates for Hispanic students. State Superintendent Tom Horne and Valley school districts have differing ideas of how to help.
As more families seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, groups step in to help as they wait
NOGALES, Sonora, Mexico – Due to a lack of resources at the Arizona-Mexico border, more families are stuck in limbo as they seek asylum.
