Briefs
Gila River Indian Community receives $107 million for Colorado River conservation projects
The Gila River Indian Community has been a leader in Colorado River conservation efforts in Arizona, and their efforts are growing as funding from the Inflation Reduction Act will help the tribe launch new water conservation projects in October. “Each one of these projects will allow us to use our water more efficiently on our […]
U.S. Senate panel probes federal government’s role in affordable housing crisis
WASHINGTON — The speaker of the Rhode Island House described how his state has tackled affordable housing and how it could be a model for local and state governments across the country in a Wednesday hearing before members of the U.S. Senate Budget Committee. “My mantra has been: production, production and more production,” Rhode Island […]
Arizona Supreme Court Justice Brutinel to retire
Justice Robert Brutinel will retire from the Arizona Supreme Court at the end of October, he announced Tuesday. His retirement means that Gov. Katie Hobbs will get to appoint his replacement, making her the first Democrat to appoint a justice to the high court in more than 15 years. Brutinel, who was appointed to the […]
Glendale got the Pentagon to help kill an affordable housing bill earlier this year
A California congressman who wanted to know why the U.S. Department of Defense lobbied Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs to veto a bill aimed at spurring “starter home” construction has finally gotten some answers, but he still isn’t satisfied. “I think we still have a serious issue of why, in the housing crisis, the DOD is […]
Harris presses Trump to debate again, and Democrats launch ‘chicken’ billboards
WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris is chiding GOP nominee Donald Trump for not agreeing to another presidential debate before voting ends Nov. 5, though he doesn’t appear inclined to change his mind. “Let’s have another debate,” Harris, the Democratic candidate, said Sunday. “There’s more to talk about and the voters of America deserve to […]
Arizona AG gives clarity on portion of voter registration law SCOTUS let be enforced
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has provided guidance to the state’s county recorders on how to handle a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court that changed the state’s voter registration law just 10 weeks before the election. The nation’s high court on Aug. 22 ruled that Arizona can enforce part of a voter registration law […]
Gunman who allegedly targeted Trump offered $150K to anyone who could ‘finish the job’
WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors Monday said the man accused of trying to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his private golf club in Florida stalked the GOP presidential nominee for a month and in a note offered $150,000 to anyone who could “finish the job,” according to a new court filing. Federal prosecutors detailed how […]
Progressive groups plead with AZ congressional delegation for Supreme Court reforms
A coalition of Arizona progressive groups are calling on Congress to take swift action on proposed structural reforms they say will provide greater accountability and balance to a “broken” U.S. Supreme Court that “has been captured by dangerous right-wing interests.” In a letter to Arizona’s congressional delegation, the 15 progressive groups urged support for the […]
AZ Supreme Court won’t limit 97,000 improperly registered voters
The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that roughly 97,000 voters who are improperly registered to vote because of a glitch in the state’s driver’s license database won’t be limited on who they can vote for in November because no law authorizes county recorders to change their registration status. The voters are erroneously registered to vote because […]
A GOP senator used state resources to endorse a Cottonwood city council candidate
Flagstaff Republican State Sen. Wendy Rogers appears to have violated Arizona’s version of the Hatch Act, which bars the use of government resources for campaign activity, after she published a letter on official Senate letterhead endorsing a candidate for Cottonwood City Council. “The swamp comes after her, yet SHE STANDS STRONG!” Rogers said in a […]
The ‘open primaries’ ballot measure seemingly has too few signatures, but its fate is unclear
A ballot proposition to end partisan primaries appears to have thousands of duplicate signatures, putting it below the threshold to be placed on the ballot. But what that means for voters remains to be seen. Proposition 140 would amend the Arizona Constitution to create an open primary system where all candidates for federal, state and […]
Teamsters won’t endorse either candidate in presidential race
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined to endorse a candidate for president Wednesday, although both parties sought the support of the nation’s largest union. The group’s General Executive Board voted Wednesday to abstain from an endorsement, citing a split among members and a lack of firm commitments from either major party candidate, Vice President Kamala […]