Arizona News & Current Events | Public News Service

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)

Thursday, October 6, 2022

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)

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

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" …

Advocates say carbon-capture technology, currently being developed in the United States and other countries, eventually could remove a significant amount of the world's greenhouse gases. Lexiconmedia/Adobe Stock)

Flagstaff Seeks Carbon Capture Technology to Meet 2030 Climate Goals

A technology that once existed only in science fiction soon could emerge as a viable solution to climate change. The city of Flagstaff has added …

U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., addresses an Earth Day rally at the Arizona State Capitol. (EDF/Adriana Zehbrauskas, Moms Clean Air Force)

Environmental Groups Want Earth Day Message Heard Year-Round

Since its inception, Earth Day has been an occasion to advocate for a cleaner planet - but in 2022, climate change is bringing a higher level of …

A recent study finds that parents and teachers need to be involved as more kids ages 8-18, already on social media, are beginning to use the metaverse. (Studio Romantic/Adobe Stock)">

Tech Insider, Health Experts Call Social Media Growing Threat to Kids

Last year, a whistleblower lifted the curtain on how Facebook and its sister companies impact children's mental health. Now, alongside teachers and …

Activist groups are spending $10 million this year to increase the number of Latinos voting in the Arizona primary and the general election. (Shane Morris/Adobe Stock)

Study: Census Undercount Deprives AZ Latinos of Funding, Political Clout

A recent report found the 2020 census significantly undercounted Latinos and other racial and ethnic groups, costing Arizona millions of federal …

More than half of the border-wall construction since 2016 has been along Arizona's southern border with Mexico. (Scott Griesel/Adobe Stock)

Film to Document Environmental Damage Along AZ Border Wall

Conservationists say the 400 miles of walls recently built along the U.S.-Mexico border are causing significant ecological damage and blocking the mi…

The Health Start program guides many Arizonans through pregnancy and the first two years of parenthood. (Anneke/Adobe Stock)

Long-Running AZ Program Gives New Parents, Kids a Healthy Start

A statewide program has worked for four decades to help thousands of Arizonans have healthy pregnancies and a better child-rearing experience…

Native Americans make up about 1% of Arizona State University's 40,000 students on its Tempe campus. (Pixabay)

Arizona State Recognized for Recruiting Native Faculty, Students

An article in the Chronicle of Higher Education showed progress has been made at Arizona State University (ASU) in recruiting Native American faculty …

The 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution holds that government officials who violate their oath of office by insurrection or rebellion shall be barred from holding any future public office. (eurobanks/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Voter Advocates Target AZ Officials Linked to Jan. 6th Insurrection

A legal advocacy group is taking an unusual approach in its attempt to prevent three Arizona officials linked to the January 6th riot from holding pub…

Turbines, used to generate power from natural gas, are a common way many utilities make electricity. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Regulators Back Community Over Power Co. Expansion Bid

A group of small-town activists who challenged a power company over its plans to use fossil-fuel generators to expand capacity got a win this week…

Tempe-based SRP line crews have hooked up more than 20 Navajo Nation homes with electricity over the past two weeks. (SRP)

Volunteers Bring Power to Navajo Homes for First Time

The lights were turned on this week for 20 families in the Navajo Nation, as volunteer power company workers continue to connect previously dark …

The Arizona Legislature has approved numerous changes in the way citizens will vote in the 2022 Arizona Primary. (Adobe Stock)

Senior Voters Need to Plan Now for Arizona's New Election Laws

Lawmakers have been busy this legislative session making changes, for better or worse, to the way Arizonans cast their ballots. For seniors and other …

Arizona high-school graduates from historically underrepresented populations enroll in college at lower rates than their peers, according to the Arizona Board of Regents. (Adobe Stock/Brastock Images)

For Some in AZ, College Dreams Cut Short by Pandemic

Blacks and Latinos in Arizona have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, including their plans to attend college. In 2020…

Arizona ranks as the 10th worst state in the country for death rates of mothers in the first year after they give birth. (Anneke/Adobe Stock)

AZ Lawmakers Consider Medicaid Plan to Extend Postpartum Care

A bill to greatly expand health-care coverage for women after giving birth is nearing its final hurdle in the Arizona Legislature - and with bipartisa…

A survey from The American Psychological Association finds that the return to in-person interactions makes about half of adults uneasy. (Leonidkos/Adobestock)

As Arizonans Return to the Office, Tips for Reducing Anxiety

As COVID cases decline, many Arizonans are headed back into the office for the first time in more than a year, which can cause serious anxiety…

Per a report from the Sentencing Project, most kids are arrested on relatively minor, nonviolent charges. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Bill Would Compel Officers to Inform Minors of Miranda Rights

An Arizona bill would compel police officers to inform minors under 18 of their rights after being arrested; which is required by federal law…

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends employees wear face masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Health Professional Offers Advice on Managing Return to Office Stress

With COVID cases waning, more employers are asking workers to return to the office for the first time since the pandemic began, and mental-health …

The Defense Production Act has been used to accelerate the manufacturing of masks and COVID-19 vaccines. (Adobe Stock)

AZ Lawmaker Urges Biden to Expedite Transition to Clean Energy

As prices at the pump hit record-highs, a coalition of elected officials is asking President Joe Biden to invoke the Defense Production Act to …

Registered voters in Arizona will not automatically receive a mail-in ballot; people must request one from their county recorder's office. (Westock)

AZ Voter Registration Verification Letters Arrive This Month

In the next few weeks, Arizona counties will send voter ID letters to everyone on the rolls, confirming their registration and any new legislative …

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