Arizona News & Current Events | Public News Service

An AARP study shows the high cost of prescription drugs often forces American seniors to choose between paying for their prescriptions or buying food or paying bills. (pitipat/Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 27, 2021

AARP: Arizona Seniors Need Medicare to Negotiate Drug Costs

PHOENIX, Ariz. - With the cost of prescription drugs growing 69% faster than the average Arizona resident's income, the AARP and others are pushing …

The Bighorn Fire in the Catalina Mountains near Tucson was one of several climate-driven disasters, costing Arizona more than $4 billion in 2020. (Tonia/Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 27, 2021

AZ Business Leaders Endorse President's Build Back Better Plan

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Business leaders in Arizona and across the country are urging Congress to take action to curb climate change by supporting the Biden …

A new report finds more than 80% of U.S. telecom carriers, both big and small companies, are not doing all they can to stop illegal robocalls. (Phoenix021/Adobe Stock)

Report: Telecoms Slow to Install Mandated Robocall-Blocking Tech

PHOENIX - They are irritating, they are unwanted - and now, robocalls are illegal. Consumer watchdog groups hope a looming deadline will finally …

Every 10 years, states, including Arizona, go through the process of using new census data to redraw the boundaries for congressional and legislative districts. (Wikimedia Commons)

Groups: AZ Redistricting Panel Excludes Communities of Color

PHOENIX -- Latinos and other communities of color showed their newfound muscle in the 2020 elections, helping to vote Arizona Democrats into the …

Care industry officials say there is a shortage of qualified caretakers because of low pay and poor working conditions. (LightfieldStudios/Adobe Stock)

Poll Underscores Need for Long-Term Investments for AZ Caregivers

TUCSON, Ariz. -- New polling data from a dozen states, including Arizona, show public support for a key part of the Biden administration's economic …

President Joe Biden plans to accelerate the deployment of solar and wind generation in order to decarbonize 40% of the power grid by 2035. (soonthorne/Adobe Stock)

Biden Clean-Energy Plan Could be Hard Sell in AZ, Western States

CHANDLER, Ariz. - President Joe Biden's $150 billion clean-energy plan aims to rid almost half of the power grid of carbon-based fuels by 2035…

President Joe Biden's American Families Plan would provide paid family leave and improved pay and working conditions for caregivers. (Satjawat/Adobe Stock)

Groups Back American Families Plan to Boost Pay for Caregivers

PHOENIX, Ariz. - A coalition of social activists and care-industry groups is calling for Congress to pass President Joe Biden's American Families …

The jaguar named "El Jefe" is one of only two of the species known to cross from Mexico into Arizona. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Copper-Mining Fight in Santa Ritas Continues After Feds Protect Jaguars

TUCSON, Ariz. - The battle against copper mining the Santa Rita Mountains outside of Tucson continues - even though the feds just handed a victory to …

In a recent poll, Arizona voters said while they want some changes made to parts of the health-care system, they don't want to scrap it and start over. (Valerie Luzina/Adobe Stock)

Arizonans Tell Pollsters They Want Health-Care Costs Reduced

TUCSON, Ariz. - As the COVID-19 pandemic surges yet again, new research finds Arizonans are concerned about both the cost and the quality of their …

A lightning-fast internet connection is something thousands of Arizona households just don't have. This might change if the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act gets through the U.S. House of Representatives. (xiaoliangge/Adobe Stock)

Infrastructure Plan Would Bring Broadband Access, Jobs to Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz - Advocates of broadband internet are urging the U.S. House to pass the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passed by the …

Two bills approved by the Arizona Legislature would drop certain people from the list to receive early ballots and make it more difficult to resolve a mismatched signature on a mail-in ballot. (Simone/Adobe Stock)

AZ Voting Rights Groups Sue to Block Election 'Suppression' Laws

PHOENIX -- A coalition of Arizona voting-rights groups has filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block new voter-suppression laws enacted by the state Le…

The recently formed union Workers for Biological Diversity is part of a national movement by employees of nonprofit agencies to unionize. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Group Employees Form Union

TUCSON, Ariz. - When most people think of a labor union, images of factory workers, carpenters or pipefitters come to mind. But what about workers on …

Children enrolling in most Arizona public schools must receive several vaccines to protect themselves and their classmates from infectious diseases. (CSMedia/Adobe Stock)

Report: Annual Doctor Visit Should be High on 'Back-to-School' Checklist

TUCSON, Ariz. -- It is getting to be "back-to-school" time in Arizona, and pediatricians say a visit to the doctor is as important for kids as …

A proposal for a federal plan to convert 30 million homes to rooftop solar over the next five years would bring thousands of new jobs and lower energy bills to Arizona. (Zstock/Adobe Stock)

Plan to Convert 1 in 4 AZ Homes to Solar Would Bring Jobs, Lower Bills

TEMPE, Ariz. -- A new report shows federal investment to help convert 30 million homes to distributed solar power could mean big energy savings and …

Before this week, families with children got a deduction on their income tax return for the Child Tax Credit. Under a new law, money from the tax credit will instead be deposited directly into families' bank accounts. (methaphum/Adobe Stock)

Groups Push Congress to Make Child Tax Credit Permanent

PHOENIX -- Starting this week, most Arizona families with children are seeing extra money in their bank accounts, and more than 1.5 million Arizona …

Almost 190 miles of wall on the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona were built before President Joe Biden called a halt to construction earlier this year. (Elizabeth/Adobe Stock)

Border Map Shows Wall Construction Damages Landscape, Migration Routes

TUCSON, Ariz. - A newly released map identifies portions of the U.S.-Mexico border wall built by the Trump administration, and many conservation …

Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir situated on the Arizona-Utah border, draws upwards of 2 million visitors a year for boating and other forms of outdoor recreation. (forcdan/Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br /> — Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir situated on the Arizona-Utah border, draws upwards of 2 million visitors a year for boating and other forms of outdoor recreation. (forcdan/Adobe Stock)

River Managers Take Emergency Steps to Refill Lake Powell

PAGE, Ariz. -- The federal Bureau of Reclamation is taking emergency measures to shore up water levels in Lake Powell, to preserve the reservoir's …

A record number of Arizonans voted in the 2020 presidential election, driven by "get out the vote" campaigns, both by Democrats and Republicans. (Annap/Adobe Stock)

AZ Voters Change Parties in Big Numbers After 2020 Election

TUCSON, Ariz. -- New figures show since the 2020 election, thousands of Arizonans have changed their voter registration to a different party…

A Government Accountability Office report found in 2020, the U.S. Postal Service's package-delivery business generated $11 billion in revenues, but it wasn't enough to put the agency in the black. (Midwest/Adobe Stock)

AZ Groups Back Measure to Reform Postal Service

PHOENIX -- Supporters and customers of the U.S. Postal Service in Arizona and elsewhere are pressing for Congress to pass a bill to shore up the …

A Supreme Court ruling this week upholding a pair of Arizona election laws could open the door for other states to pass restrictive "election security" laws. (Flickr)

Supreme Court Upholds AZ Election Laws in Blow to Voting Rights

PHOENIX -- In a landmark decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a pair of Arizona "election security" laws that many experts believe will …

A new report warns consumers that payments using peer-to-peer apps such as Zelle or Venmo can cause you lose money if you don't set them up properly. (antonioguilliam/Adobe Stock)

Report: Digital Wallets Becoming Favorite Target for Online Scammers

PHOENIX, Ariz - During the pandemic, many Arizonans began using peer-to-peer payment apps - also called digital wallets - to pay for goods and …

A stand of Saguaro cactus and Ironwood trees are framed by Ragged Top Mountain in Arizona's Ironwood Forest National Monument. (TeressaJackson/Adobe Stock)

Arizonans Celebrate 115th Anniversary of Federal Antiquities Act

TUCSON, Ariz. -- June marked the 115th anniversary of the Antiquities Act, a brief but powerful piece of legislation passed in 1906. It allows …

A new survey finds the vast majority of Arizona seniors prefer staying in their home to receive long-term care services, rather than moving into a group-care facility. (AnthonyDiaz/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Arizona Seniors Support Long-Term Care Reform

PHOENIX, Ariz - Arizona seniors want policymakers to reform what they see as the state's outdated long-term care system - to provide safe, high-…

A new report shows Arizona's investments in its children's health, education and overall family economic stability are among the lowest in the 50 states. (cerva/Adobe Stock)<br /><br /> — A new report shows Arizona's investments in its children's health, education and overall family economic stability are among the lowest in the 50 states. (cerva/Adobe Stock)

Report: AZ Under-Invests in Children's Health, Education, Well-Being

PHOENIX -- A decade-long look at how Arizona is taking care of its children finds the state is failing to provide the social, educational and …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

PHOENIX -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both the US …

In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built ranger stations, trails and ramadas at the sprawling South Mountain Park and Preserve in Phoenix and at dozens of other parks and public lands across Arizona. (Flickr)

AZ Conservationists, Civic Leaders Back Creation of Civilian Climate Corps

PHOENIX -- An idea from the past could soon return to Arizona and other states to battle the ravages of climate change. Groups such as the Sierra …

A new mobile medical service will provide health care and behavioral services for some 11,000 Arizona students over the next three years. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)<br /><br /> — A new mobile medical service will provide health care and behavioral services for some 11,000 Arizona students over the next three years. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

Mobile Clinics to Provide Medical, Emotional Care for Underserved AZ Students

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Studies estimate about 60% of Arizona children do not have regular access to primary health care, but a new grant program is looking …

Extreme heat and drought due to climate change is making it more difficult for water utilities in the region to deliver to their customers. (Chandler/Adobe Stock) June 4 12:38 p.m. Corrects an earlier caption that incorrectly stated the effect of lower Lake Mead levels on water delivery.

Climate Change, Extreme Heat Pose Challenges for Water Utilities

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. -- The calendar indicates it is June, which means if you live in Arizona, it's only going to get hotter. And while you can …

A new report from the Arizona Public Interest Research Group Education Fund says that while Arizona's towing laws are not the worst in the country, they could do with some improvements. (bluaz/Adobe Stock)

Report: AZ Needs Better Protection for Car Owners Against Predatory Towing

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- If you drive a car or pickup to get around in Arizona, odds are you eventually will have to deal with it being involuntarily …

Chemical engineering is one of dozens of water-related challenges available to Arizona high school students in the Access to Clean Water Challenge 2021. (Have a nice day/Adobe Stock)

Contest Challenges AZ High Schoolers to Solve State's Water Problems

TUCSON, Ariz. - Water is critical to Arizona's future, and the state's three public universities are challenging high school students to propose …

Studies show that needle exchanges save the lives of thousands of drug users each year, and slows the spread of HIV, hepatitis and other infectious diseases. (Wikimedia Commons)

AZ Lawmakers Legalize Needle-Exchange Programs to Fight HIV, Opioids

PHOENIX -- Health-care advocates say Arizona's new needle exchange law could not only save millions of dollars in health care but also slow the spread…

Currently, with no other state or federal enhancements, Arizona pays unemployment insurance beneficiaries a maximum of $240 a week. (Andril/Adobe Stock)<br /><br /> — Currently, with no other state or federal enhancements, Arizona pays unemployment insurance beneficiaries a maximum of $240 a week. (Andril/Adobe Stock)

State to Offer Cash 'Bonus' to Unemployed Arizonans Who Find Jobs

PHOENIX, Ariz. - The State of Arizona is offering cash incentives to move thousands of unemployed people into jobs - but Arizonans who can't find …

Thousands of Census Bureau workers fanned out across Arizona and other states in 2020 to count the population, but there are concerns some Arizona communities may have been undercounted. (Census Bureau)

Low Census Count Denies AZ New Seat in Congress, Millions in Federal Aid

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Political observers and community organizers are both surprised and disappointed Arizona's 2020 population count fell far short of …

President Joe Biden's American Jobs Plan is aimed at creating high-paying union jobs in a clean-energy economy through infrastructure improvements in Arizona and elsewhere. (anatoliy_gleb/Adobe Stock)

Climate Advocates: Biden Plan Will Create AZ Clean-Energy Jobs

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- After the White House's Global Climate Summit last week, groups in Arizona and elsewhere are backing President Joe Biden's goal of …

The black-footed ferret is among the dozens of threatened and endangered species in Arizona that would be protected under the Recovering America's Wildlife Act. (iriska/Adobe Stock)

AZ Conservationists Back Bipartisan 'Recovering America’s Wildlife Act'

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Conservation groups are hailing Congress' new Recovering America's Wildlife Act as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect at-…

The Central Arizona Project pumps most of its water in the fall and winter months to the Lake Pleasant reservoir, northwest of Phoenix, where it is stored and distributed in the spring and summer across the state. (CAP)

CAP Cuts Costs, Goes Green to Deliver Water to Arizonans

TEMPE, Ariz. - Four out of five Arizonans use water delivered to them across the state through the pumps, canals and reservoirs of the Central …

Under President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan, thousands of new workers would be needed to improve bridges and roads, repair water systems and build a clean-energy economy. (jdoms/Adobe Stock)

Biden Climate Plan to Include Roads, Jobs, Clean Energy for AZ, U.S.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- When President Joe Biden hosts a virtual summit on Earth Day, he's not only seeking to engage world powers on environmental issues…

The pandemic forced many "Meals on Wheels" and similar programs to limit their daily deliveries to older adults, but they hope to expand with new funds from the American Rescue Plan. (Mediteraneo/Adobe Stock)

American Rescue Plan to Boost AZ Senior Nutrition Programs

PRESCOTT, Ariz. - Meal programs for older adults often are underfunded in the best of times, but when the pandemic hit Arizona and other states…

A new report is calling for major changes to America's fossil fuel-based transportation system, which it says pollutes the environment, causes unnecessary deaths, harms the public health, and contributes to climate change. (Flickr)<br /> — A new report is calling for major changes to America's fossil fuel-based transportation system, which it says pollutes the environment, causes unnecessary deaths, harms the public health, and contributes to climate change. (Flickr)

Report Calls for Major Changes to AZ's, Nation's Transportation System

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- An analysis of the nation's transportation infrastructure calls for policymakers to lay the groundwork now for a sustainable…

The Navajo Nation is one of dozens of tribal lands where thousands of cases of missing and murdered Native Americans remain unsolved. (Flickr)<br /><br /> — The Navajo Nation is one of dozens of tribal lands where thousands of cases of missing and murdered Native Americans remain unsolved. (Flickr)

Haaland Prioritizes Cases of Missing, Murdered Native Americans

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. -- Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has created a new law enforcement unit to put renewed focus on resolving the cases of Native …

Working parents whose employer does not provide paid family leave must often lose a day of pay to take time off to care for a sick child. (syda/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Families, Economy Need Paid Leave to Recover from Pandemic

MESA, Ariz. -- The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the lack of a paid family-leave system has had devastating consequences for families, public health …

Some Arizona seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes, have to choose during some months between paying their electric bill or buying groceries or prescription drugs. (andone/Adobe Stock) <br /> — Some Arizona seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes, have to choose during some months between paying their electric bill or buying groceries or prescription drugs. (andone/Adobe Stock)

AZ Regulators Consider Extending Ban on Utility Shut-offs

PHOENIX - As climate change continues to push Arizona's environment to deadly extremes, regulators are debating whether to limit when and how …

Bald eagles from Canada and the northwest Rockies migrate to Arizona in the winter months to build nests and mate. A 1999 survey found 74 nesting pairs in Arizona, up from only 11 in 1978. (Tagayuki Ogawa/flickr)

Bald Eagles Make Stunning Comeback from Brink of Extinction

MORMON LAKE, Ariz. -- Bald eagle populations in Arizona and across the nation have quadrupled in the last decade, after once being on the brink of …

Students from multi-generational families who studied at home during the pandemic may be putting their grandparents at risk now that Arizona is returning to in-class studies. (studio romantic/Adobe Stock)

Keeping Grandparents Safe as AZ Students Return to Classroom

TUCSON, Ariz. -- As Arizona classrooms begin reopening this week, students and educators seem equally enthusiastic over a return to in-school …

Financial experts say it's more important than ever for women to create a retirement plan and decide how to fund it, with or without the support of a spouse. (insta_prints/Adobe stock)<br /><br /> — Financial experts say it's more important than ever for women to create a retirement plan and decide how to fund it, with or without the support of a spouse. (insta_prints/Adobe stock)

Financial Advisers: Women Need Their Own Retirement Plans

TEMPE, Ariz. - Most people look forward to a comfortable retirement, but when it comes to saving for it, many women face a dilemma: Research shows …

Medical care for a child with a life-threatening condition can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, but the UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation can help families cover those expenses. (Photographee.eu/Adobe Stock)

Foundation Helps Families Cover Costs of Children's Medical Care

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- It's something every parent fears: Their child has a life-threatening or chronic disease, and in addition to the stress of …

Oak Flat in the Tonto National Forest in considered sacred ground by several native tribes and also is a popular area for outdoor recreation. (Elias Butler/Wikimedia Commons)

Biden Order Temporarily Blocks Start of Oak Flat Mine Project

GLOBE, Ariz. -- Native Americans, conservationists and a host of other advocates are cheering a Biden administration move to delay plans for a copper …

Almost 2 million Arizonans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, but advocates for people with disabilities say they have, so far, been left out of the program. (weya/Adobe Stock)<br /><br /> — Almost 2 million Arizonans have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, but advocates for people with disabilities say they have, so far, been left out of the program. (weya/Adobe Stock)

Groups Seek COVID Vaccine Priority for Arizonans with Disabilities

PHOENIX, Ariz. - A coalition is calling on Gov. Doug Ducey and Arizona's Department of Health Services to prioritize access to the COVID-19 vaccine …

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PNS Daily Newscast - September 27, 2021

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