The Arizona Diamondbacks had a grand slam of a week at the state Capitol. Not only were team owners given exclusive rights this week to run a multimillion-dollar sports betting operation, but the Arizona Senate approved a plan to tax fans to pay for stadium improvements. The Senate also agreed to lend the team...
Read MoreOn Thursday, Governor Doug Ducey signed historic legislation and an amended tribal-state gaming compact that will modernize gaming in Arizona and provide millions of dollars in revenue for critical state needs. As representatives from the Arizona Legislature and 18 Tribal Nations looked on, Governor Ducey marked the culmination of a multi-year effort to modernize...
Read MoreWith the state of Arizona hitting several important public health benchmarks, Governor Doug Ducey today announced several updates to the state’s COVID-19 measures, including on events, businesses and local ordinances. Several key data points contributed to these changes: Mass distribution of the vaccine: 3,041,773 doses of COVID-19 vaccine had been administered to 1,927,278 individuals...
Read MoreA top staffer for Phoenix City Councilman Jim Waring has been chosen to be the executive director of the commission that will redraw Arizona’s political district lines this year. The five-member commission chose Brian Schmitt for the job after interviewing five finalists in a day-long session Tuesday. The 3-2 vote to hire Schmitt, who...
Read MoreOn Monday, Attorney General Mark Brnovich joined a coalition of 12 states in filing a lawsuit against President Joe Biden’s administration over a massive expansion of federal regulations through executive order, potentially impacting nearly every aspect of the economy and Arizonans’ households. “The Biden administration has exceeded its authority in an effort to quickly...
Read MoreBuying cocktails to go with take-out meals could return to Arizona after legislators voted on Wednesday to allow restaurants and bars to resume those services. The ability to sell cocktails to go was offered and later rescinded last year during the pandemic. The vote is a win for restaurants seeking to make extra revenue...
Read MoreDemocratic U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton wants greater judicial representation on the federal level in Arizona. Stanton, in a House Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday, said the state’s rapid increase in population over the last three decades means the federal court system needs to keep pace. “Arizona desperately needs more federal district judges,” Stanton said in...
Read MoreThe Phoenix city council runoff election in Districts 3 and 7 is set for Tuesday, March 9. Here is information about the upcoming election and how you can vote. The District 7 runoff race for outgoing Councilmember Michael Nowakowski’s council spot is between Cinthia Estela and Yassamin Ansari. District 7 covers the area of...
Read MorePresident Biden, in an executive order aimed at “preventing and combating discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation,” is calling on schools across the country to allow transgender athletes to participate in the sport of their gender identity. “Children should be able to learn without worrying about whether they will be...
Read MoreDispensaries have begun applying online for new licenses and Arizona’s medicinal marijuana shops could be selling for adult recreational use in a week. They get new FBI background checks and send $25,000 checks to Arizona’s Department of Health Services as part of the process. “The health department already knows all of us,” said Lilach...
Read More