Amy-Xiaoshi DePaola
Money Reporter, Washington, D.C.Latest from Amy Xiaoshi Depaola
Jury still out, but officials hopeful about ridesharing to medical care
WASHINGTON - Uber to parties, Uber to work, sure. But to the doctor's office? For some Arizona Medicaid recipients, the answer may be yes, and the state will pick up the tab.The first-in-the-nation program is just six months old, but state officials are enthusiastic about its prospects.
Thanksgiving travelers told to expect record-breaking passenger numbers
WASHINGTON - A total of 55 million people are expected to travel over the 12-day Thanksgiving travel season, with 31.6 million of them taking to the skies, both increases over last year. Busiest will be the day before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after - which could set a one-day record of 3.1 million fliers.
In or out?: Millions affected by Equifax breach must decide this week
WASHINGTON - As many as 3 million Arizonans whose personal data may have been exposed in a 2017 data breach have to decide by Tuesday whether to be part of a settlement with Equifax for that breach. Advocates say the settlement is not much, but that consumers should probably take it.
Trump boasts of record judicial appointment pace, promises more to come
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump boasted Wednesday about the record 158 federal judges that have been confirmed under his watch, with dozens more to come as he carries through on a campaign promise to remake federal courts - a prospect that alarms liberal groups.
He was a robber, she sold drugs; only one can get help with school
WASHINGTON - The American Opportunity Tax Credit lets people, including former inmates, claim a credit for college education expenses - unless they were convicted of a drug crime. Lawmakers are trying to lift that ban, saying someone jailed for drugs should not be denied benefits a murder can get.
Arizona joins more than 40 other states in antitrust probe of Facebook
WASHINGTON - Arizona joined 46 other states and territories this week in antitrust investigation of Facebook, including whether the social media giant violated consumer data privacy and whether it is a monopoly that has driven up advertising prices and suppressed competition.
Arizonans rally as court weighs LGBT, transgender workplace protections
WASHINGTON - Arizonans were among the hundreds who ralledi outside the Supreme Court as it considered one of the most emotional questions of its term - whether employment laws that prohibit discrimination "because of ... sex" also apply to sexual orientation and gender identity.
Yee, in Washington, backs $5 billion tax credit plan for school choice
WASHINGTON - Arizona has long been at the forefront of the school choice movement, but State Treasurer Kimberly Yee told a Washington audience more can be be, as she joined others to support the Trump administration's proposed $5 billion Education Freedom Scholarship program.
Start of missing, murdered women panel moving ‘at speed of bureaucracy’
WASHINGTON - State officials agree on this much: "Not one red penny" of the $150,000 allocated for a task force on missing and murdered indigenous women that was created in May has been seen yet. But they disagree on who's to blame.
Phoenix business owner says SBA can do more to help small firms launch
WASHINGTON - A Phoenix business owner told House members Wednesday that the Small Business Administration is doing a better job of giving minority-owned, small businesses a leg up, but that the agency still needs to improve. The commen
Forgone forgiveness: New try at student loan repayment shows few gains
WASHINGTON - A congressional attempt to salvage a foundering student loan forgiveness program was only marginally better, with just 4% of Arizona applications approved in the second round - and that was four times better than the national rate.
Ducey brings pitch for new North American trade deal to Washington
WASHINGTON - Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey joined business leaders in Washington on Monday to push for final approval of the "critical" U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement and protect trade that is worth billions in trade to the state.
State boards waste little time approving professional licenses under new law
WASHINGTON - The state is already approving licenses under a new law that requires most professional licensing boards and commissions to accept valid out-of-state licenses, avoiding the cost and hassle of training and testing for an Arizona license to do what they already know how to do.
Wells Fargo agreement called ‘tremendous victory’ for consumers, Navajo
WASHINGTON - Consumer advocates said that Wells Fargo's $6.5 million settlement of a Navajo Nation lawsuit that charged the bank with preying on tribal members is a "tremendous victory" for Native communities targeted by such practices.
