Millions in federal funding set to restore public lands across western states https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060123_public_lands_funding/millions-federal-funding-set-restore-public-lands-across-western-states/
The Bureau of Land Management announced that it is receiving $161 million in federal funding to restore several landscapes across the western United States, an effort the agency says will create jobs and recreational opportunities while improving water quality and critical habitats.
#Tucson #Arizona
The Bee is not to be: Final Arizona spellers out of National Spelling Bee https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060123_national_spelling_bee/the-bee-not-be-final-arizona-spellers-out-national-spelling-bee/
The last of Arizona's three spellers at the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee were eliminated Wednesday afternoon, end of two days of competition that began with 229 spellers from every state and a handful of foreign countries.
#Tucson #Arizona
GOP-led states plan new voter data systems to replace one they rejected. Good luck with that. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060123_gop_voter_system/gop-led-states-plan-new-voter-data-systems-replace-one-they-rejected-good-luck-with-that/
So far this year, seven Republican-led states have left the Electronic Registration Information Center, an interstate compact for sharing voter registration data, and amid the exodus, some states have said they plan to create their own data-sharing networks to replace ERIC.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona delegation in rare agreement on debt limit bill – nobody likes it https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/060123_arizona_debt_limit/arizona-delegation-rare-agreement-debt-limit-bill-8211-nobody-likes-it/
The House approved a debt-limit bill that was almost universally disliked, but one which some lawmakers said they would vote for because failing to do so could spark a default - including Arizona lawmakers, where party lines were blurred by supporters and opponents of the bill.
#Tucson #Arizona
U.S. House approves debt limit package, sending it to Senate days before default deadline https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060123_house_debt_limit/us-house-approves-debt-limit-package-sending-it-senate-days-before-default-deadline/
The U.S. House took a broadly bipartisan vote Wednesday night on the debt limit package, sending it to the U.S. Senate where lawmakers are expected to vote quickly to clear the measure.
#Tucson #Arizona
As Medicaid purge begins, 'staggering numbers' of Americans lose coverage https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/060123_medicaid_purge/as-medicaid-purge-begins-staggering-numbers-americans-lose-coverage/
More than 600,000 Americans have lost Medicaid coverage since pandemic protections ended on April 1, as states are deciding who stays and who goes - and the overwhelming majority of people who have lost coverage were dropped because of technicalities.
#Tucson #Arizona
Border Patrol chief announces retirement by June https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/053123_ortiz_retiring/border-patrol-chief-announces-retirement-by-june/
The head of the U.S. Border Patrol announced his retirement Tuesday, following a tenure marked by the pandemic-era restriction known as Title 42 and thousands of migrant encounters by agents across the U.S.-Mexico border.
#Tucson #Arizona
Chad Campbell, former Arizona Dem legislative leader, will be Katie Hobbs’ new chief of staff https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/053123_campbell_hobbs/chad-campbell-former-arizona-dem-legislative-leader-will-katie-hobbs-new-chief-staff/
After several staff shake ups in the past few months, Gov. Katie Hobbs has hired former Arizona House of Representatives Democratic Leader Chad Campbell as her new chief of staff.
#Tucson #Arizona
Chad Campbell, former Arizona Dem legislative leader, will be Katie Hobbs’ new chief of staff https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/053123_campbell_hobbs/chad-campbell-former-arizona-dem-legislative-leader-will-katie-hobbs-new-chief-staff/
After several staff shake ups in the past few months, Gov. Katie Hobbs has hired former Arizona House of Representatives Democratic Leader Chad Campbell as her new chief of staff.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona appeals court says some marijuana sales convictions can be expunged https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/053123_marijuana_sales_convictions/arizona-appeals-court-says-some-marijuana-sales-convictions-can-expunged/
Some convictions for marijuana sales are eligible for expungement under Proposition 207 - which legalized the drug for adult use - the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled, ruling voters must have meant to include transportation of marijuana for sales to be eligible for expungement.
#Tucson #Arizona
Citing wildfire risk, State Farm will stop selling home insurance in California https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053123_wildfire_insurance/citing-wildfire-risk-state-farm-will-stop-selling-home-insurance-california/
State Farm announced that it would no longer offer home insurance to new customers in California, a decision at least partially motivated by the effects of climate change, and one that could impact other places at high risk of climate change-fueled natural disasters.
#Tucson #Arizona
Denials of health insurance claims are rising — and getting weirder https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053123_insurance_denials/denials-health-insurance-claims-are-rising-and-getting-weirder/
Millions of Americans in the past few years have filed a health care insurance claim that once might have been paid immediately but now is denied, and the Department of Health and Human Services - tasked with with monitoring denials - hasn’t fulfilled that assignment.
#Tucson #Arizona
Spellbound: Arizona middle schoolers compete in national spelling bee https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/053123_spelling_bee/spellbound-arizona-middle-schoolers-compete-national-spelling-bee/
Three Arizona students, including Marana Middle School's Karen Baaba Opoku-Appoh, are among the 229 young spellers from around the U.S. and a handful of foreign countries competing at the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee.
#Tucson #Arizona
New work requirements for some SNAP recipients included in debt limit deal https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053123_snap_debt_deal/new-work-requirements-some-snap-recipients-included-debt-limit-deal/
The debt ceiling deal struck by President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy showed concessions from both sides, and preserves in part new work requirements for some food stamp recipients but now with exceptions for certain populations, including veterans.
#Tucson #Arizona
Political cudgel hangs above McCarthy after debt compromise https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053123_mccarthy_debt/political-cudgel-hangs-above-mccarthy-after-debt-compromise/
Critical of the deal on the debt ceiling that's been struck with the White House, Republican lawmakers say they can wield the same leverage they used to install Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House to strip him of his party leadership.
#Tucson #Arizona
Debt limit deal hits turbulence in Congress as leaders prep for vote https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/053023_debt_limit_turbulence/debt-limit-deal-hits-turbulence-congress-as-leaders-prep-vote/
Congress began moving the bipartisan debt limit package forward Tuesday, though frustrations with provisions in the bill could make for narrow passage in the U.S. House and U.S. Senate.
#Tucson #Arizona
In 'Iconoclasm,' Daniel Martin Diaz ponders AI shape of things to come https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/arts/report/053023_diaz_iconoclasm/in-iconoclasm-daniel-martin-diaz-ponders-ai-shape-things-come/
Peering into the scrying mirror — depicting a world equally grotesque and apocalyptic — Tucson artist Daniel Martin Diaz's new book “Iconoclasm: AI and The Devaluation of Humanity's Achievements” makes inquiries into the impact of artificial intelligence on the arts and the shape of things to come.
#Tucson #Arizona
Amphi to discuss grading, '90s retro sell-off during only local gov't meeting this week. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/052923_agenda_uno_op/amphi-discuss-grading-90s-retro-sell-off-during-only-local-govt-meeting-this-week/
Local elected leaders will hold just one meeting this week, when the Amphitheater Unified School District Governing Board will discuss an update to how the district uses testing to place students in grades.
#Tucson #Arizona
The rise of Dark Sleepy: Biden rolls, McCarthy caves, Ciscomani might have to save us all https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/052923_debt_ceiling_op/the-rise-dark-sleepy-biden-rolls-mccarthy-caves-ciscomani-might-have-save-us-all/
Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy promised his party he'd play hardball during negotiations with Joe Biden over the debt ceiling. So what's with all the Nerf?
#Tucson #Arizona
Judge allows continued environmental lawsuit over Interstate 11 routes near Tucson https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/053023_i-11_challenge/judge-allows-continued-environmental-lawsuit-over-interstate-11-routes-near-tucson/
A judge rejected arguments from federal officials attempting to unravel a lawsuit by environmental groups over the proposed Interstate 11 plan, including two possible routes that could carve through "pristine desert" west of Tucson.
#Tucson #Arizona
Tucson Sentinel's independent nonprofit newsroom learns from & informs Southern Arizonans about the community challenges & unique culture of our Borderlands.