Less than 40% of Arizona doctors use prescription drug database, despite state law
PHOENIX – Arizona law requires doctors to check a state database before they write a new prescription for a controlled substance, such as prescription opioids. But more than 60% do not.
A tale of two cities: What Baltimore can teach Arizona about fighting fentanyl overdoses
PHOENIX – After researchers proved fentanyl testing strips were the most accurate method of detecting the opioid, Maryland decriminalized them. But they’re illegal in Arizona, which advocates say is only making the overdose problem worse.
A long road: Opioid-addicted rural residents travel hundreds of miles to reach methadone clinics
MORENCI – Most of Arizona’s 12 methadone clinics are in the Phoenix area, leaving rural residents recovering from opioid use to travel miles for such treatment.
Training, change in tactics can reduce dangers to police officers handling drugs
PHOENIX – Newer and more powerful drugs like fentanyl and concerns for officer safety have complicated once routine police work, such as field testing suspected drugs. An Arizona toxicologist and some law-enforcement agencies said training makes a difference. Vertical: Government/health
Arizona primary elections might be held earlier in August
PHOENIX – A bill in the Arizona Legislature would change the date of primaries to the first Tuesday in August, instead of 10 weeks out from a general election.
Gallego wins big in runoff to become second woman elected Phoenix mayor
PHOENIX– Kate Gallego won the runoff election for Phoenix mayor Tuesday night, handily defeating former City Councilman and firefighter Daniel Valenzuela.
‘Full speed ahead’: Mark Kelly launches Senate bid at Phoenix rally
PHOENIX – Former Astronaut Mark Kelly launched his campaign for U.S. Senate Sunday afternoon in downtown Phoenix, attracting several hundred supporters to hear his plan for Arizona.
Kelly announces Senate bid, opening high-stakes race to unseat McSally
WASHINGTON - Former astronaut Mark Kelly said he will seek the Democratic nomination for Senate in 2020, jumpstarting what experts were already predicting would be one of the "most competitive" races of the year in the bist to unseat Republican Sen. Martha McSally.
Arizona high court hears appeal of Phoenix law protecting LGBT rights
PHOENIX – The Arizona Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday over the non-discrimination ordinance Phoenix approved in 2013 to protect the rights of gay Americans. The Christian owners of a calligraphy studio argue the law violates their rights to free speech and religion.
Move over, single-use plastics: Gilbert company makes Earth-friendly replacements
GILBERT – An Arizona company is working to get rid of all single-use plastics in grocery stores. This year the Gilbert-based company, Footprint, started producing paper straws, and has plans to expand overseas.
In a hole: Arizona officials lack funds to find, secure at least 100,000 abandoned mines
PHOENIX – Arizona has an estimated 100,000 abandoned mines, according to the Arizona State Mine Inspector’s Office. However, officials have only identified about 19,000 of them. As more people move to and visit Arizona – many eager to explore the state’s more remote lands – the chances of people coming across one of these hazardous mines only increase.
NAU policies on composting, single-use plastics are catching on in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF – Northern Arizona University has a robust composting program and recently banned plastic straws in dining halls. Now these efforts are showing up in Flagstaff businesses.
