Shane Brennan
Shane Brennan(he/him/his)
News Reporter, Phoenix

Shane Brennan expects to graduate in spring 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication and a minor in business. Brennan reports for The State Press and works for Blaze Radio.

Latest from Shane Brennan

Empathy and humanity are at the center of Holocaust education in Arizona

PHOENIX – Arizona teachers, including some who have visited Holocaust sites, are looking for ways to teach middle and high school students about the Holocaust and other genocides. Experts say teaching it builds empathy and warns of “the dangers of staying silent in the face of evil.”

When Amanda Johnson was visiting the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Poland, she didn’t take photos of the heart-wrenching scenes at the memorial. Instead, she bought books to share with her students and help them learn about the millions of Jewish people who were killed during the Holocaust. Photo taken on Sept. 6, 2022, at Corona del Sol High School in Tempe. (Photo by Sophie Oppfelt/Cronkite News)

Tight elections for attorney general, schools superintendent could trigger automatic recounts

PHOENIX – The results of statewide elections for attorney general and superintendent of public instruction are currently within the margin for an automatic recount, with about 10,000 ballots left to be counted. The process across every county in the state would go into late December before recount results are released to the public.

With just more than 10,000 ballots left to be counted statewide, Arizona’s races for attorney general and state superintendent will likely trigger recounts next month. (Photo by Drake Presto/Cronkite News)

Katie Hobbs rallies supporters and declares victory in Arizona governor race

PHOENIX – Democrat Katie Hobbs declared victory in the Arizona governor race after holding onto a tight early lead over Republican opponent Kari Lake, who had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Katie Hobbs declares victory in the Arizona governor race at a rally at Luna Culture Lab in Phoenix on Nov. 15, 2022. The Associated Press and other media outlets called the race in favor of Hobbs Monday, though Republican Kari Lake has not conceded. (Photo by Alexia Faith/Cronkite News)

Doug Ducey, federal government battle over shipping containers at the border

YUMA – State and Yuma officials concede that placing old shipping containers at the border is not the permanent or effective solution they want, but they did it anyway. Now, what some call a political stunt has the state embroiled in a legal fight with the federal government.


Propositions: Measures to limit ‘dark money’ and medical debt pass

PHOENIX – Proposition 211, the ballot measure requiring disclosure for political spending, has passed, according to the Associated Press.


Arizona governor: Katie Hobbs holds narrow lead over Trump ally Kari Lake

PHOENIX – Democrat Katie Hobbs maintained a narrow lead Wednesday over Republican Kari Lake in Arizona’s race for governor. The race is one of the most competitive – and most consequential – in the country.

Left: Katie Hobbs, Democratic candidate for Arizona governor, speaks during the election party for Arizona Democrats at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel Nov. 8, 2022, in Phoenix. Right: Kari Lake, Republican candidate for governor, casts her vote in downtown Phoenix on Election Day and then addresses the media. (Photos by Mary Grace Grabill and Grace Edwards/Cronkite News)

See updates from Arizona voters and polling locations on Election Day

PHOENIX – Voters across Arizona headed to the polls to make their voices heard this midterm election. Their votes on candidate races and propositions will determine the future of Arizona. This year, tensions are high as Arizonans decide on a new governor as well as a U.S. senator, among other races.


Civility in elections declining as political polarization rises, but there may be hope

PHOENIX – “Coward.” “Conspiracy theorist.” “Psychopath.” These are just a few of the insults hurled at opposing candidates in Arizona political races this election season. Experts say election civility is declining as political polarization rises, and the Arizona gubernatorial race between Kari Lake and Katie Hobbs is a prime example.


Clean Elections looks for new partner after fallout over Katie Hobbs, Kari Lake interviews

PHOENIX – Citizens Clean Elections Commission is moving forward with the search to find a new broadcast partner for the Arizona gubernatorial event after Arizona PBS scheduled an interview with Democrat Katie Hobbs, who had declined to debate Republican Kari Lake, without its knowledge.

Republican Kari Lake, left, is running against Democrat Katie Hobbs, right, in the Arizona race for governor. A kerfuffle over interviews with the two candidates has caused Citizens Clean Elections Commission to ditch Arizona PBS as its gubernatorial event partner. (Photos courtesy of Kari Lake, Katie Hobbs campaigns)

Mark Kelly and Blake Masters clash on immigration, abortion in U.S. Senate debate

PHOENIX – Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., GOP challenger Blake Masters and Libertarian Marc Victor clashed on the debate stage Thursday night. The U.S. Senate candidates from Arizona doubled down on their mostly party line positions on abortion, immigation and more.


Sky Harbor to build taxiway overpass with federal funds to support growing air traffic

PHOENIX – Sky Harbor is receiving federal funding to build a $260 million taxiway that will create easier flow for planes on the tarmac before takeoff and after landing. More than half the project is funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.


Opponents confident of meeting deadline to block school voucher expansion

PHOENIX - Organizers of a petition drive to put the state's expanded empowerment scholarship accounts on the 2024 ballot are confident they can collect the needed signatures before this weekend, when the vast expansion of the school voucher program would take effect.


A growing unsheltered community in Phoenix receives help from Project Connect

PHOENIX – Volunteers with Project Connect helped hundreds of unsheltered people receive health care, housing and ID services as homelessness continues to rise.