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Friday, February 7, 2025

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January jobs report: Unemployment rate falls to 4%, wages rise more than forecast; Trump signs order imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court over investigations of Israel; Ten Commandments in public schools debate reaches South Dakota; Virginia ranks among worst states for wage theft; Mexican long-nosed bat makes appearance in Arizona.

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Attorney General Pam Bondi strikes a Trump tone at the Justice Department, federal workers get more time to consider buyouts, and an unclassified email request from the White House worries CIA vets.

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During Black History Month, a new book shares how a unique partnership built 5,000 schools for Black students, anti-hunger advocates say ag communities would benefit from an expanded SNAP program, and Americans have $90 billion in unpaid medical bills.

2025 is here. What economic trends could affect Arizonans?

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Thursday, January 2, 2025   

Economists in Arizona and around the country said tariffs, cracking down on immigration, tax cuts and reduced energy credits will likely have a direct effect on the economy, and with President-elect Donald Trump soon to take office and having promised policy reform in many areas, change is likely on the way.

Jason Miller, professor of supply chain management at Michigan State University, said if mass deportations are executed by the incoming Trump administration, it could spell trouble for a border state such as Arizona. One in six Arizona workers is an immigrant and industries within the state such as agriculture and construction depend on their labor, according to the American Immigration Council.

"If executed, to potentially cause shortfalls of labor in the agriculture space and also the food-manufacturing space," Miller outlined. "Then what implications could that have for prices that farmers and manufacturers are going to be charging and therefore going to get passed on to consumers."

A June study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics found deporting millions of undocumented workers would result in years of subsequent inflation. With the economy having been the number one issue for so many voters in Arizona and around the nation, expectations are high for Trump to deliver on lower prices and economic stability.

Miller pointed out the U.S. economy seems to be experiencing what he calls "some good tailwinds," but added proposed tariffs could be among the things to change it. He added one of the sectors remaining steady throughout last year was the automotive industry.

"November's sales for motor vehicles were phenomenally strong for light trucks and SUVs," Miller noted. "It was on a seasonally adjusted basis, the third-highest month of all time."

Miller emphasized on a unit sale basis, which refers to the actual number of individual products sold during a time period, vehicle sales still have not bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, as people are choosing to buy more expensive vehicles, such as trucks and SUVs, but far fewer passenger cars. He added with interest rates coming down, it could help drive sales numbers back up.


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Opponents of a South Dakota bill that would require the Ten Commandments be posted in all public school classrooms say it would be an unfunded mandate. (Adobe Stock)

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A South Dakota House committee takes up a controversial bill today that would require all school districts in the state to display the Ten Commandment…


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Some North Dakota school districts are part of a movement that has embraced electric school buses, but the federal funding shakeup carried out by the …

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Immigrant advocates in Florida are ramping up efforts to help families navigate President Donald Trump's new immigration orders, which have increased …


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Social Issues

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The rate of U.S. high school seniors seeking higher education is on the upswing, according to research from Lumina Foundation. Although Hoosier …

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New York State is making historic higher education investments. As part of the 2026 budget proposal, Gov. Kathy Hochul proposes free community …

Gov. Josh Shapiro's Pennsylvania state budget proposal would strengthen efforts to reintroduce vocational education into Pennsylvania classrooms, with a $5.5 million boost for Career and Technical Education. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

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Gov. Josh Shapiro's proposed state budget includes a significant increase for public education to address Pennsylvania's school funding issues and …

Social Issues

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Alabama nonprofits are coming together to tackle challenges that may threaten their survival, from declining donor support to shifting federal …

Health and Wellness

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Consumer advocates in Maine said the availability of enhanced subsidies have helped record numbers of people get the health care coverage they need…

 

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