Arizona News & Current Events | Public News Service

Areas highlighted in yellow have medium levels of COVID-19 transmission, while areas in orange are considered to have high levels of transmission. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Arizona Sees High COVID-19 Transmission Levels

Arizona is seeing some of the highest levels of COVID-19 transmission in the nation. It is the only state with 'medium' or 'high' levels present in …

According to the report, 59% of child deaths in Arizona were from natural causes, followed by fatal accidental injuries, at 29%. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 5, 2022

AZ Child Deaths, Many Preventable, Increased in 2021

A grim reminder is out - that Arizona could be doing more to keep its youngest residents safe and healthy. The state's 29th annual Child Fatality …

Nationwide, more than 700 nursing home residents died from COVID-19 during the four-week period ending on Oct. 23, and more than 35,000 were infected, according to AARP. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Nursing Homes Rank Poorly on COVID Boosters

Arizona is currently in last place nationwide in terms of nursing home residents and staff being up-to-date on their COVID-19 boosters. That's …

According to First Things First, 90% of a child's brain develops before he or she starts kindergarten. (Adobe Stock)

New Parent Guide Helps AZ Parents Meet Challenges of Having a Baby

The Arizona New Parent Guide is a resource that is intended to help new parents meet the challenges of having a baby and support their baby's health …

According to the Bureau of Land Management, the new policy is expected to increase financial costs for state BLM offices as habitat connectivity is assessed. (Adobe Stock)

BLM Prioritizes AZ Habitat Connectivity for Wildlife

The Bureau of Land Management says it will prioritize habitat connectivity of public lands in Arizona and other states, to improve migration routes …

The SunZia Transmission wind project will be located in Torrance, Lincoln and San Miguel counties in New Mexico. (Photo courtesy of Pattern Energy)

AZ Vote Allows Continued Development of Massive Wind Project

The Arizona Corporation Commission has unanimously voted development of the massive SunZia Transmission Wind Project can continue. The commission …

Free Program Fosters Business Skills for AZ Native American Women

Native American women in Arizona are getting a chance to launch their own businesses, with expert advice. Project DreamCatcher is a unique, free …

In 2022, Arizona had 970,751 students enrolled in 1,590 schools in 261 districts across the state, according to Ballotpedia. (Adobe Stock)

AZ School Districts Face Possible Budget Cuts

Arizona school districts could face the tough challenge of having to cut 18% of their current budgets, which amounts to a statewide total of more …

By 3 a.m. on Wednesday, 95% of the votes had been counted in Pima County, according to the county recorder's office. Due to ballot irregularities, tabulation will likely continue for a number of days. (Adobe Stock)

Arizona Election Results Will Be Crucial, and Take Time

Votes in Arizona are still being counted two days post-election, and several close races are still to be called. Arizonans will not only ultimately …

In the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden won in Arizona over Donald Trump by a slim margin. Officials in both parties expect similar close calls to be made in races this time around. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Democrats, Republicans Both Feeling Hopeful Amid Uncertainty

For weeks now, Arizonans have heard the state could be crucial in deciding the direction of the country, and now, it is being closely watched as …

According to the Arizona Secretary of State's website, the Grand Canyon State has more than 1.4 million registered Republicans, more than 1.2 million registered Democrats, and more than 1.4 million voters either unaffiliated or members of other parties. (Adobe Stock)

Make Sure Your AZ Vote is Counted on Election Day

Arizona voters now have less than one week to vote, and if there is one thing voters agree on, it is the stakes are high. Alex Gulotta, Arizona …

According to the U.S. Forest Service, any horse present on the National Forest that doesn't fall under the definition of a wild horse under the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burros Act of 1971 is not authorized, and is considered feral. (Adobe Sock)

AZ Group Wants Wild Horse Killings to Stop

Three dozen wild horses have been shot and killed in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest, and an Arizona group is advocating for protection for …

In a CDC report following COVID-19, unintentional injuries and chronic liver disease were some of the leading reasons for a drastic decline in life expectancy among Native Americans and Alaskan Natives from 2020 to 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Health Disparities Only Part of Problem for AZ Native Americans

Between 2020 and 2021, Native Americans and Alaskan Natives saw a two-year decrease in their life expectancy - the biggest drop among demographic …

According to Pew Research Center, Latinos are projected to account for 14.3% of all eligible voters across the country in the upcoming midterms. That's up from 12.8% in 2018, and just 7.4% in 2000. (Adobe Stock)

Record Latino Voter Turnout Expected for AZ Midterms

More than 644,000 Arizona Latinos are expected to cast their ballots in November. That's a 9.6% increase in Latino voter turnout since 2018, and an …

Native American students, girls on the right and boys on the left, attend class at the Walapai Indian School in Kingman, Ariz., around 1900. (Wikimedia)

SCOTUS Case on 'Separations' Could Affect AZ, Other Native Families

A case before the U.S. Supreme Court has Native Americans concerned the outcome could revive a centuries-old practice of separating indigenous …

According to The Pew Research Center, 46% of Americans say they would favor or strongly favor making it illegal for healthcare professionals to provide gender-affirming care to people under 18. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Anti-Transgender Laws Face Possible Legal Challenges

Arizona saw a record number of anti-transgender bills in the state legislature this year, aimed largely at youth, and those successfully passed are …

A Sierra Club report found in 2022, only 56% of power utilities have made progress toward lowering emissions, while 9% made no progress, and 35% were actually worse. (R. Gino Santa Maria/Adobe Stock)

AZ Utilities Get Poor Grades for Progress Toward Clean-Energy Goals

Arizona's three major power utilities are doing a poor job of meeting the goals they set to transition from coal and gas to clean energy. A new …

Arizona voters will be asked to make dozens of decisions when they fill out their ballots for the Nov. 8 midterm elections. (pathdoc/Adobe Stock)

LWV Guide Helps Familiarize Arizonans With Midterm Candidates, Issues

The midterm elections are only 30 days away, and early voting begins this Wednesday in most parts of Arizona. Voting advocates say now is the time to …

Critics of Arizona's long-term care system are pushing state legislators for more money and staff for the state Long-Term Care Ombudsman program. (godfather/Adobe Stock)

AZ Seniors List Social Security, Long-Term Care Among Top Midterm Issues

New polling has revealed older Arizonans, who make up more than half the state's registered voters, are more likely to support candidates with strong …

Abortion pills cannot legally be mailed in Arizona, so a Phoenix clinic is counseling women to pick them up in towns just inside the California border. (Kzenon/Adobe Stock)

Phoenix Clinic Develops Plan to Work Around Arizona's Strict Abortion Law

An Arizona women's health clinic has devised a novel workaround to help women end their pregnancy without running afoul of the state's strict anti-abo…

In a proposed rate increase filed with the Arizona Corporation Commission, Southwest Gas customers would pay an average of $5.12 more per month if the utility's request is approved. (Valerii/Adobe Stock)

Beleaguered AZ Consumers Oppose Pending SW Gas Rate Hike

Arizona consumers are contesting a proposed $90 million Southwest Gas rate increase that analysts say would only benefit future - but not current - cu…

Researchers say improving diversity in the nursing profession starts with a more inclusive learning environment. (Adobe Stock)

Researcher: AZ's Nursing Workforce Should Reflect its Patients

Nurses are at the forefront of patient outcomes, and experts say a workforce that better reflects the population it serves can help reduce healthcare …

According to the Bureau of Land Management, there are more than 200,000 abandoned mine sites in Arizona, about 20,000 located on public land. (John Chandler Media/Adobe Stock)

Report: Reclaiming Abandoned, Degraded Lands Benefits Economy, Climate

A new study found reclaiming abandoned mines and other degraded lands could bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the U.S. economy, fight climate …

A number of cities across the country are increasingly using tiny homes as cost-saving alternatives to help shelter people experiencing homelessness. (Sirikornt/Adobe Stock)

Nonprofit Group Builds Tiny Homes to Shelter AZ Youths

By Lourdes Medrano for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Arizona News Connection, reporting for the YES! Media-Public News Service …

Petroglyphs and other rock formations dot the landscape in the Great Bend of the Gila, which could become a National Conservation Area. (Dawn Kish/The Wilderness Society)

Bill Would Give Tribal Leaders Stake In Managing AZ Conservation Lands

A bill to make tribal governments equal partners with the federal government in managing a pair of Arizona land preserves advanced in the U.S…

Interior Department Changes 650 Place Names to Remove Racial Slur

The U.S. Department of the Interior has ordered name changes for nearly 650 sites on federal lands, in Arizona and across the country, containing …

Doctors say sickle cell disease patients rely on a diverse and available blood supply to treat the effects of the disease. (belyjmishka/Adobe Stock)

Sickle Cell Awareness Month Aims to Inform, Educate about Genetic Disease

September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, a time when doctors and patient advocates hope to spread awareness of a complex and often misunderstood …

Suicide prevention professionals say if you are concerned that someone you know is considering suicide, talk with them about finding help. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Suicide Prevention Month Aims to Remove Stigma of Asking for Help

September is National Suicide Prevention Month, highlighting a pressing issue in Arizona and across the country. Arizona has one of the highest …

More than 46 million people, one in five Americans, have unpaid medical debts on their credit report, according to Debt.org. (Adobe Stock)

Changes to Medical-Debt Listings on Credit Reports Benefit AZ Consumers

Health care can be expensive, and sometimes Arizonans get a bill that's more than they can afford. Unpaid medical bills can reduce a person's credit …

Experts say having a legal, up-to-date will is a powerful way to protect your loved ones and make decisions about the future on your own terms. (photographyfirm/Adobe Stock)

Make-a-Will Month a Good Time for End-of-Life Conversations

August is National Make-a-Will Month, and experts believe it is a good time for Arizona families to have a conversation about end-of-life plans…

AARP and others say the Medicare portion of the Inflation Reduction Act will help American seniors save millions of dollars on prescription drugs. (Stock Footage Inc/Adobe Stock)

AARP: Inflation Reduction Act to Save Seniors Millions on Drug Costs

President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act this week, lowering energy costs, building a green economy, reducing pollution, reforming the …

Since the 2020 election, at least 19 states have passed 34 laws restrict�ing access to voting, according to the Brennan Center For Justice. (Orlowiski Designs/Adobe Stock)

Voting-Rights Groups Sue AZ to Block 'Election Security' Bills

Voting-rights advocates are suing the state of Arizona over new regulations they say make it harder for some people to register and would block thousa…

Solar panels on parking-lot shade structures are part of the Climate Change and Sustainability Plan at Pima Community College in Tucson, Ariz. (Media Dept./PCC)

Pima Community College Reduces Carbon Footprint, Promotes Sustainability

As Congress debates a bill to fund climate-change solutions, Pima Community College is doing its own work to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and …

An annual study on the health and well-being of American children found that the incidence of mental-health issues increased significantly during the pandemic. (Prostock studio/Adobestock)

Annual Report Finds Arizona Children Increasingly Face Anxiety, Depression

Advocacy groups are sounding the alarm about the well-being of Arizona's children. The 2022 Kids Count Data Book released today ranks Arizona 44th …

Research shows the single biggest health care issue facing most Arizonans, and Americans in general, is out-of-pocket medical costs. (SB Arts Media/Adobe Stock)

Arizonans Say Congress Needs to Do More to Rein In Health Costs

Congress is considering a major legislative package that could affect not only investments in climate change but also the affordability of health care…

A report from the USPS Office of the Inspector General finds while upfront costs for electric vehicles may be greater, the Postal Service would save money over time by deploying more EVs. (eqroy/Adobe Stock)

USPS Boosts Electric Vehicles in New Delivery Fleet to 50%

The U.S. Postal Service is buying nearly 85,000 new vehicles, and estimates about 40% of them will be electric vehicles. That includes 50,000 new …

In 2020, Arizona crisis counselors received more than 2,000 calls daily ranging from people seeking information to individuals people experiencing thoughts of suicide. (Syda/Adobe Stock)

New 988 Suicide-Prevention Hotline Will Save Arizonans Time, Lives

Mental-health advocates say the new 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline could save the lives of many Arizonans and others facing a crisis. The new three-…

In 2018, undocumented immigrants in Arizona paid an estimated $228.5 million in state and local taxes, not including federal taxes. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Groups Push for In-State Tuition for Undocumented, DACA Graduates

A measure to provide in-state tuition to all Arizona high school graduates regardless of immigration status will be on the ballot this November…

The Arizona District Attorney joined the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice to bring a lawsuit against HB 2492. (bizoo_n/Adobe Stock)

AZ Groups Support DOJ Lawsuit to Block Registration Barrier

The U.S. Department of Justice wants to block an Arizona law that requires what its lawsuit calls "onerous documentary proof of citizenship" in order …

Coal-fired energy generation accounts for as much as 80% of air pollutants in some parts of the country. (lilifest/Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Ruling on EPA Emissions Puts State Climate Goals at Risk

Groups working to curb climate change said a Supreme Court ruling limiting the ability of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to control carbon …

An American Hospice Association study shows while there has been an increased effort by hospices to reach out to non-white populations, hospice care is still underutilized by Latino families. (ljr_images/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Latino Families to Discuss End-of-Life Options

Hispanic groups are coming together to encourage people in Arizona and elsewhere to begin end-of-life conversations with their loved ones before illne…

Thru federal Energy Information Agency reports in 2020, the U.S natural gas transportation network delivered about 27.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas to about 77.3 million customers. (Jason/Adobe Stuck)

Report: Leaks in Gas Pipeline Network Cause Damage, Death, Pollution

A new study shows that almost daily leaks along America's 310,000-mile network of natural gas pipelines are causing death, injury and large-scale …

Studies show that veterans who reach retirement age are often overwhelmed when trying to decide among the myriad health-care options. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Updated Guide Aims to Help AZ Veterans Navigate Health-Care Options

For many retired Arizona veterans, traversing the health care system can be both frustrating and challenging. Now, AARP has launched an updated …

The Granite Reef Underground Water Storage Project near Mesa is Arizona's largest water-banking facility. (SRP)

Once-Obscure AZ Water Bank to Allocate "Surplus" Water Supplies

Two decades of extreme drought have put a squeeze on Arizona's water supply, but a once-obscure state agency could soon be at the forefront of …

The number of heat-related deaths in Metro Phoenix increased by almost 400% between 2010 and 2020. (Pixabay)<br /><br />

AZ Program Trains Volunteers to Help Prevent Heat Deaths

The summer heat in Arizona is downright miserable for most people, but for some it can become deadly, as temperatures often reach 110 degrees or …

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sends out an average of six recall notices a week for tainted or potentially unsafe food products. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Study: FDA's Food-Recall Notices Don't Reach Most Consumers

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues hundreds of recall notices for potentially unsafe food products each year, but consumer advocates …

Arizona and other states are slated to receive billions of federal dollars over the next five years to build a network of electric-vehicle charging stations. (hogoboom/Adobe Stock)

Study: AZ Can Save Billions by Converting to Electric Vehicles by 2035

A new report found by speeding up the timetable to fully adopt electric vehicles, Arizona could reap significant health and economic benefits in the …

Researchers say four out of 10 Americans who contract the COVID-19 virus will later develop symptoms of

AZ Volunteers Needed for Study to Determine Causes of 'Long COVID'

The National Institutes of Health has begun a nationwide research project to better understand how to prevent and treat what's become known as "long" …

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Public News Service (podcast)"
	"Hey Google, play the Public News Service podcast"
	"Alexa, play Public News Service podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the 2022 Talks podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the 2022 Talks podcast"
	"Alexa, play 2000 22 Talks podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app

Audio Activation
	"Siri, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Hey Google, play the Yonder Report podcast"
	"Alexa, play the Yonder Report podcast" or "Alexa, what's my news flash?" once you set it up in the Alexa app

PNS Daily Newscast - December 7, 2022

2022Talks - December 7, 2022

The Yonder Report - December 1, 2022

Arizona