Firefighters get pay boost, say more needed as wildfires keep growing
WASHINGTON - Advocates welcomed the announcement that federal firefighter pay will increase by as much as $20,000 this year, a potentially "life-changing" step for the chronically underpaid crews. But they say more still needs to be done to attract and retain firefighters.
Remote work has potential to boost employment for those with disabilities
PHOENIX – People living with disabilities have some of the highest rates of unemployment. Ability360 has job training programs for those who want to be part of the workforce.
It’s beginning to look a lot like a post-COVID Christmas for retailers
WASHINGTON - In the second holiday season of the pandemic era, goods may cost more, but Americans have more money to spend - and they appear to be eager to spend it, and that's true in Arizona, where retailers say holiday shopping is already in full swing.
White House orders workplace vaccinations, state officials vow fight
WASHINGTON - Just hours after the Biden administration issued regulations Thursday to require that businesses mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for their workers, Arizona officials were vowing to fight what one called a "direct attack" on personal liberty.
Arizona projects get sizeable cut of Great American Outdoors Act funds
WASHINGTON - Arizona projects got $110 million last year and will get another $159 million in the fiscal year that started this month, or more than 9% of all funding nationally under the Great American Outdoors Act for those two years.
Brnovich joins Ducey, vows to block Biden’s business vaccine mandate
WASHINGTON - The Biden administration plan to mandate COVID-19 vaccinations for workers in large companies is likely weeks away from being implemented, but Arizona officials are already lining up with pledges to stop it.
How COVID-19 and red tape pushed millions to the brink of homelessness
Across the U.S., as many as 1 in 5 renters have fallen behind on rent during the pandemic. For families who have no financial safety net to fall back on, the economic consequences of the pandemic have pushed them to the precipice of homelessness. The situation is made worse by bureaucracy.
Essential but ignored: How day care powered the pandemic workforce
The pandemic exposed how vulnerable and essential child care providers are in America. The median hourly wage is $10.31, and most workers receive no benefits, but they play a crucial role in getting people back to work.
Child welfare systems face additional challenges during pandemic
Systems meant to deal with abused and neglected children are facing many new challenges in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which put many parents out of work and many families on the streets.
From a raft in the Canyon, the West’s shifting water problems are evident
In 1990, the big problem for the Colorado River was managing too much water. Now, it's adjusting to too little, a problem likely to get worse as drought and climate change pose a profound challenge for the river that provides water for more than 40 million people.
A Colorado River showdown is looming. Let the posturing begin.
A showdown is looming among the states that rely on the Colorado River for drinking and irrigation water. Negotiations are set to start on the river's future among worsening drought conditions.
Workers rally in Phoenix, U.S. for $15 minimum wage, end of reliance on tipping
PHOENIX – Leaders in Arizona labor organizations joined a nationwide rally for a $15 minimum federal wage and to get rid of tipping. President Joe Biden added the measure in an economic stimulus plan to relieve the fallout from COVID-19.
