Arizona News & Current Events | Public News Service

Forty-three states currently have statewide training available to election administrators. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

Report: AZ sees high levels of threats against election officials leading to turnover

A new report examines election official turnover since 2000 and found it's something that has been increasing steadily and might continue to rise…

People can receive online tax-filing support from IRS staff Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern time. (Adobe Stock)

New IRS tool makes filing taxes easier for some in AZ

Arizonans have until Monday to file their individual income-tax returns, and for some, the Internal Revenue Service wants to make the chore a little …

The Nature Conservancy Arizona will use the funding to purchase conservation easements from willing landowners on up to 20,000 acres. (Juliana Swenson/Adobe Stock)

Millions of dollars going to Verde River conservation in north central AZ

More than $11 million in federal grant money will go to improve land and water conservation in the upper Verde River Watershed and Big Chino Grassland…

Some 60% of Arizona voters consider themselves pro-choice rather than anti-abortion, according to the grassroots organization Indivisible. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Supreme Court reinstates 160-year-old, near-total abortion ban

On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court upheld an 1864 ban on nearly all abortions, except in situations when it is necessary to save the life of a …

Vasectomy procedures are 99.9% effective and take less than 30 minutes, according to Planned Parenthood Arizona. (Adobe Stock)

AZ sees increased demand for vasectomies post-Roe

Planned Parenthood Arizona is expanding vasectomy services to its Central Phoenix health center, a year after it launched a similar program in Tucson…

ESA vouchers will cost the state $825 million in fiscal year 2024, according to Save Our Schools Arizona. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed voucher accountability rules nixed by AZ Republicans

Arizona Superintendent of Public Education Tom Horne and the State Board of Education have rejected a move to enact a new ESA Voucher Handbook…

About 12.9 million people received health coverage under both Medicare and Medicaid in 2021, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

More AZ seniors could qualify for dual-eligible special-needs plans

Arizona is one of the states with the highest percentage of eligible seniors enrolled in dual-use special-needs plans but there is a push to get even …

Almost 50% of Arizona adults believe abortion should be legal

AZ pro-choice advocates secure signatures for 2024 ballot measure

Pro-choice advocates in Arizona said they have surpassed the threshold of required signatures to put a measure on the November ballot which would add …

The Arizona PIRG report says while it's a positive step that certain states have taken the lead in eliminating or curbing so-called 'facility fees,' they can and should do more. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Arizonans should be cautious with facility fees

A new report from the Arizona PIRG Education Fund finds that Arizonans are getting hit with what are known as facility fees, leading to higher costs …

Many factors affect a customer's bill amount, including energy usage, weather, and the number of days in a billing period, according to Arizona Public Service. (Jason Yoder/Adobe Stock)

AARP AZ cites impacts of APS rate increase

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Kerner leads the development and deployment of AI and machine learning tools for the NASA Acres and NASA Harvest consortia. (Samantha Chow/Arizona State University)

ASU researcher uses AI to help address global challenges

An Arizona State University researcher is using artificial intelligence to transform data collected from satellites and other earth observation instru…

As of January, 7,434,577 recipients across the country have received Supplemental Security Income benefits. (Adobe Stock)

Social Security wants to get funds to more Arizonans

The Social Security Administration has launched a campaign to let people know there is money on the table for many Arizonans who may qualify for finan…

Federal physical activity guidelines call for 150 minutes or more of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week for adults, or a combination of the two. (Adobe Stock)

Getting more Arizonans moving to improve physical, mental health

Almost one in four Arizona adults report getting no physical activity or exercise other than on their jobs. An event in Phoenix this Saturday…

Arizona is now among the top 10 states with the most electric vehicle registrations. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed EPA rule aims to increase EV sales

In Arizona, four in every 1,000 people have electric cars and a federal rule soon to be finalized could increase those numbers. It is gaining support …

Most candidate elections in Arizona are determined in the primary, where only 23% of registered adults voted in August 2022, according to Make Elections Fair AZ. (Adobe Stock)

AZ holds its PPE, bipartisan group renews calls for more competition

Today, people across Arizona are voting in the Presidential Preference Election, a chance for registered Democrats and Republicans to choose their …

The types of products recalled most were children's sleepwear, small vehicles such as ATVs and golf carts, toys, infant sleep products, furniture and small kitchen appliances. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Recall announcements up 10% from 2022

A new report found recalls, warnings and penalties for consumer products all increased last year. The recalls led to 550 injuries, 15 deaths and as …

Maricopa County's latest report says 71% of heat-related deaths last year occurred on days with an excessive heat warning. (Adobe Stock)

Higher heat-related fatalities prompt warnings for Arizonans

Summer will be here before you know it, and experts say now is the time to get prepared for Arizona's scorching and life-threatening temperatures…

COVID-19 is still one of the leading causes of death in Arizona, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)<br />

CDC updates COVID guidelines, stunning some health advocates

About four years ago, COVID-19 started to put the world on pause. Now, new guidlines are giving some Arizonans pause. Across the country, many who …

Less than half of adults said they consider the right to contraception a

AZ Democrats rally for contraception access

Last week, Gov. Katie Hobbs called on the state Legislature to pass a law to guarantee women the right to contraception. Making birth control a …

The Arizona Attainment Alliance pointed to the pilot program between NAU and Coconino Community College as an early proof of the validity of the universal admissions concept. (Jimmy Emerson/Flickr)

NAU receives award for rethinking college admissions

Northern Arizona University has been awarded $750,000 because of how the institution is changing its framing around college admissions, by doing away …

Arizona lawmakers battle it out over immigration proposals

The Republican-controlled Arizona Legislature has passed a number of bills that some immigration advocates are calling "SB 1070 2.0." Senate Bill 1231…

Arizona is one of only three states offering families 100% eligibility for ESA vouchers, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: AZ doesn't do enough to fund, support public schools

A new report is handing out grades to states for their support of public schools and Arizona gets an "F." The Network for Public Education's "Public …

During the 2004 general election, Arizona voters approved Proposition 200, which requires

AZ leaders and businesses speak out against immigration proposal

Rep. Ben Toma, R-Peoria, Speaker of the Arizona House, has introduced legislation with hopes to curtail illegal immigration and save Arizonans big in …

All mail-election voters will automatically receive a ballot beginning 27 days before Election Day. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day. (Scott Van Blarcom/Adobe Stock)

Arizona's PPE is on the horizon: What voters need to know

Arizona is gearing up for its presidential preference election that takes place in less than a month, and registered Democrats and Republicans were …

For every $1 spent by the EPA, there could be as much as $77 in human health benefits in 2032, according to the EPA. (Adobe Stock)

Arizonans celebrate new EPA soot standards

Arizona leaders are encouraged by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new soot standards they said will protect people from dangerous and …

Around 79% of Arizona voters think the low level of water in rivers is a serious problem, according to the 2024 Conservation in the West Poll. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: AZ voters show strong preference for conservation efforts

Voters from Arizona and across the West say a public official's position on conservation will be an important factor when deciding who to support in t…

The FCC's rule would give state attorneys general across the country new tools to go after bad actors behind these nefarious robocalls. (Adobe Stock)

AZ could lead way in AI-related legislation

Arizona lawmakers are hoping to make it easier for politicians to take legal action as the use of deepfakes increases during election campaigns…

Achieve60 AZ's goal is directly related to projections that 70% of Arizona's job openings will require completion of some form of education beyond high school. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Strong majority in AZ values postsecondary education

A new poll finds in Arizona, an overwhelming majority believes increasing the number of adults with college degrees, certificates, and credentials …

There are 37 EV models available for less than the average new vehicle purchase price of $48,000, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. (Terry Lee White / Adobe Stock)

Analysis: EVs could save Arizonans big

Electric vehicles could save Arizonans up to almost $25,000 compared to gasoline vehicles over 10 years, depending on specific makes and models…

A 2023 study found that more than 80% of Americans assume that the health data collected by apps is covered by HIPAA, even though it isn't. (Adobe Stock)

Report: AZ has no data privacy law, expert says its time to take action

Arizona is among states that have considered passing consumer privacy laws but have yet to do so. While the state doesn't have anything on the books…

Three in ten U.S. adults say they regularly get news via Facebook, according to Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Online data security could mitigate radicalization, extremism

Experts are saying social media algorithms are radicalizing users and increasing extremism in Arizona and around the country ahead of the 2024 preside…

A recent survey showed 65% of Americans will likely trust 2024 election results, compared with 54% in April last year. (John Davis/Adobe Stock)

AZ elections administrator calls on federal government for investment

Congress recently cleared legislation to extend government funding into March, but one Arizona elections official would like to see federal lawmakers …

Nearly four in 10 people taking four or more prescription drugs say they have difficulty affording their prescriptions, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Democrats announce plan to fight rising drug costs

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs recently unveiled a plan to fight the rising costs of prescription drugs in the Grand Canyon State. Senate Bill 1533 would …

Women are less likely to receive CPR from a bystander. Barriers include fear of legal ramifications and accusations of inappropriate touching, according to the American Heart Association. (Adobe Stock)

Health experts call for Arizonans to learn hands-only CPR

Today is the first day of American Heart Month - and one Arizona cardiology nurse practitioner wants to shed light on the importance of good heart hea…

All taxpayers contribute to funding partisan elections, but unaffiliated voters must take an extra step to participate, according to Make Elections Fair AZ. (Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan AZ group renews call for open primaries

A bipartisan Arizona group that is pushing for open primaries in the state says it isn't surprised by the relatively low voter turnout in recent prima…

The EPA estimates by 2045, the clean truck rule could result in up to 2,900 fewer premature deaths and 6,700 fewer hospital admissions and emergency room visits. (Mike Mareen/Adobe Stock)

AZ leaders advocate for 'clean truck' standards

Arizona leaders and community members rallied late last week to urge support for the Environmental Protection Agency's clean truck standards for heavy…

Most Arizona voters believe the drought is continuing to worsen, and that policymakers need to do more to protect the state's water future and secure long-term water supplies. (Adobe Stock)

On 'Environmental Day,' AZ leaders show support for water bills

Arizona leaders, advocates and high school students gathered to commemorate Environmental Day at the Arizona State Capitol on Thursday. Rep. …

Arizona has about 1,900 licensed assisted living homes and centers, according to AARP Arizona. (Dragana Gordic/Adobe Stock)

AARP-AZ applauds Gov. Hobbs for long-term care policy priorities

According to AARP Arizona, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs is "spot on" with the policy improvements she says she'll prioritize for Arizona's long-…

People are more likely to believe misinformation that paints opponents in a negative light than they are to believe misinformation that is negative about their own in-group, according to the American Psychological Association. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Expert explains how 'weaponization' of social media threatens democracy

The use of social media to organize the January 6th insurrection marked a turning point in American political protest, according to a scholar on …

Forest and woodland habitats cover approximately 18.6 million acres or roughly 25% of the state, according to Arizona Game & Fish. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: 'Historic' plan could help improve Arizona forests' health

An Arizona conservationist is lauding the U.S. Forest Service for announcing what some are calling a "historic proposal" to conserve old-growth …

Influenza symptoms include fever of at least 100� F., a cough and sore throat, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. (Adobe Stock)

ASU nursing expert provides tips to stay healthy during 'tripledemic'

It is the time of year again where it seems many Arizonans are getting sick. State data show flu and RSV cases are on the rise in the Grand Canyon …

AZ governor's 2024 priorities: border security, water, education

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs delivered her State of the State address on Monday, with a focus on key issues like water, border security and education…

Nearly 74% of likely Arizona voters agree groundwater is essential for communities, farming, industry and Arizona's way of life. (Adobe Stock)

Water: Top focus for AZ 2024 environmental groups

More than two dozen Arizona organizations have laid out their 2024 environmental priorities. Sandy Bahr, director of the Grand Canyon Chapter of the …

Latinos represent just under 20% of the U.S. population but account for 24% of all car sales, according to Autoproyecto. (Adobe Stock)

Group helps AZ Latino communities achieve 'climate liberation'

The nonprofit organization Corazón Latino has been awarded $15,000 to help Latino communities in Arizona fight for what they are calling "climate…

AZ election official tests artificial intelligence ahead of 2024 election

The Grand Canyon State's top election official is testing open-access artificial-intelligence tools in preparation for a potential wave of disinformat…

Nationally, Black youths are almost five times as likely as their white peers to be held in juvenile facilities, an equivalent ratio to 10 years ago. (Adobe Stock)

Despite drop in youth incarceration, racial disparities continue in AZ, nation

New data released by The Sentencing Project found youths of color continue to face disproportionate incarceration rates compared with their white peer…

Indigenous AZ researcher calls for more quality focused farming

By Breanna Draxler for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Yes! Magazine-Public News …

The median monthly cost of an assisted living in Arizona is close to $4,000. (Adobe Stock)

AARP: AZ assisted living needs more transparency, accountability

AARP Arizona wants long-term care facilities in the state to do more to ensure the highest level of care for their residents, including being held …

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