Tucson Sentinel @TucsonSentinel@mastodon.tucsonsentinel.com

‘Primary culprit’ in Arizona’s $1.7 billion budget hole is sagging income tax https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012624_budget_income_tax/primary-culprit-arizonas-17-billion-budget-hole-sagging-income-tax/
Arizona lawmakers must address a $1.7 billion deficit in the coming months as they craft legislation to patch up the current year’s budget and develop a spending plan for the upcoming fiscal year, after the revenue drop-off from the the flat income tax was much worse than anticipated.
#Tucson #Arizona

Regents clarifies UA budget shortfall, says athletics responsible for $35M of $140M deficit https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012624_abor_ua_meeting/regents-clarifies-ua-budget-shortfall-says-athletics-responsible-35m-140m-deficit/
Although the University of Arizona’s budget shortfall is closer to $140 million than the $240 million previously reported, the school is prepared to undergo sweeping changes in budget and oversight, including addressing the $35 million shortfall tied to the Athletic Department.
#Tucson #Arizona

Parents of Arizona's trans youth say bullying starts at top https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012624_trans_parental_rights/parents-arizonas-trans-youth-say-bullying-starts-top/
Often left out of the conversation, parents of trans youth say politicians who argue for more parental rights, yet refuse to listen to their own concerns and the increased anti-trans sentiment from other parents are to blame for harassment faced by their children.
#Tucson #Arizona

Election distrust in Cochise County runs deep, and change is slow to come https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012624_cochise_elections/election-distrust-cochise-county-runs-deep-and-change-slow-come/
More than a year after the midterm election and a commotion that drew national attention, election distrust continues unabated in conservative Cochise County, and county officials are trying to educate the public on how elections are run, hoping to rebuild trust.
#Tucson #Arizona

Regents clarifies UA budget shortfall, says athletics responsible for $35 million of $140 million deficit https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012624_abor_ua_meeting/regents-clarifies-ua-budget-shortfall-says-athletics-responsible-35-million-140-million-deficit/
Although the University of Arizona’s budget shortfall is closer to $140 million than the $240 million previously reported, the school is prepared to undergo sweeping changes in budget and oversight, including addressing the $35 million shortfall tied to the Athletic Department.
#Tucson #Arizona

Arizona legislator faces state ethics committee after threatening lobbyist https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012524_sun_lobbyist_threats/arizona-legislator-faces-state-ethics-committee-after-threatening-lobbyist/
Arizona Rep. Leezah Sun denies threatening to kill a lobbyist by throwing her off a balcony in a Tucson Marriott, but admitted before the state House Ethics Committee that “I said I would bitch-slap her,” during a second meeting of the ethics committee to to discuss her recent behavior.
#Tucson #Arizona

Is more partisanship better for our schools? Sen. Justine Wadsack thinks so. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012524_wadsack_school_boards/is-more-partisanship-better-our-schools-sen-justine-wadsack-thinks-so/
A proposal by Sen. Justine Wadsack would would require Arizona school board candidates to declare a political party and to participate in a partisan primary election, an idea many - including some school board members themselves - think is a terrible idea.
#Tucson #Arizona

Tucson's Irish roots: Pogue Shane MacGowan honored with concert Saturday https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/arts/report/012524_shane_macgowan_tribute/tucsons-irish-roots-pogue-shane-macgowan-honored-with-concert-saturday/
Shane MacGowan of the Pogues died in November 2023, but his life and music still resonate with local artists, who will gather to celebrate the folk-punk bandleader on Saturday.
#Tucson #Arizona

Victim backs Arizona bill to criminalize child ‘grooming’; opponents say it oversteps https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012524_grooming_ban/victim-backs-arizona-bill-criminalize-child-grooming-opponents-say-it-oversteps/
An Arizona GOP bill would increase criminal charges in "grooming" cases, though opponents argue the bill’s language is so broad and vague that it puts innocent behaviors at risk for prosecution.
#Tucson #Arizona

Victim backs Arizona bill to criminalize child ‘grooming’; opponents say it oversteps https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012524_grooming_ban/victim-backs-arizona-bill-criminalize-child-grooming-opponents-say-it-oversteps/
An Arizona GOP bill would increase criminal charges in "grooming" cases, though opponents argue the bill’s language is so broad and vague that it puts innocent behaviors at risk for prosecution.
#Tucson #Arizona

9th Circuit judges hear debate over Grand Canyon University’s nonprofit status https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012524_gcu_nonprofit/9th-circuit-judges-hear-debate-over-grand-canyon-universitys-nonprofit-status/
The 9th Circuit heard arguments on whether the U.S. Department of Education has the authority to override the Internal Revenue Service’s determination of a nonprofit entity, regarding why it didn’t grant Grand Canyon University nonprofit status in 2021.
#Tucson #Arizona

Az Republicans seek to curtail property tax breaks for big developments https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012524_development_tax_breaks/az-republicans-seek-curtail-property-tax-breaks-big-developments/
A Republican bill would rein in a controversial tax break used by Arizona municipalities to entice large development projects that cities say they need as a way to entice development and create more affordable housing.
#Tucson #Arizona

Hoffmeyer's double-double & Joe's bench play help Pima women run over Chandler-Gilbert https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/012424_pcc_womens_basketball/hoffmeyers-double-double-joes-bench-play-help-pima-women-run-over-chandler-gilbert/
The Pima Community College women’s basketball team (13-6, 8-4 in ACCAC) put together a third-quarter run to take control against Chandler-Gilbert Community College (9-11, 4-9) on Wednesday at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium.
#Tucson #Arizona

3rd time's a charm as PCC men trip up Chandler-Gilbert https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/012424_pcc_mens_basketball/3rd-times-charm-as-pcc-men-trip-up-chandler-gilbert/
The Pima Community College men’s basketball team (16-3, 8-3 in ACCAC) handed Chandler-Gilbert Community College (17-2, 10-2) just their second loss of the season on Wednesday at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium.
#Tucson #Arizona

Dem bill aims to compensate kids in family vlogging videos https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012524_vlogging_compensation/dem-bill-aims-compensate-kids-family-vlogging-videos/
Advocates and Arizona legislators are supporting a pair of bills aimed at getting fair compensation for child performers in social media and family vlogging channels.
#Tucson #Arizona

Arizona GOP lawmakers renew push to ban DEI programs in state-funded institutions https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012524_dei_divide/arizona-gop-lawmakers-renew-push-ban-dei-programs-state-funded-institutions/
Arizona Republican legislators are trying again to ban diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at institutions that receive state funds, marking the second attempt in two years to ban DEI programs.
#Tucson #Arizona

American Lung Association report card gives Arizona F’s on tobacco control policies https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012524_tobacco_report/american-lung-association-report-card-gives-arizona-fs-tobacco-control-policies/
The American Lung Association released its grades of Arizona tobacco control policies Wednesday in its annual State of Tobacco Control report, with grades based on policies that aim to eliminate tobacco use – and Arizona received three F grades.
#Tucson #Arizona

4th Circuit works to define U.S. port of entry in human smuggling case https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/012524_smuggling_entry/4th-circuit-works-define-us-port-entry-human-smuggling-case/
The Fourth Circuit heard arguments that convictions should be upheld in immigration cases where people were smuggled into the U.S. outside of a port of entry.
#Tucson #Arizona

In 4th term, Gila River tribal governor prioritizing land, water & infrastructure https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012524_gila_river_priorities/in-4th-term-gila-river-tribal-governor-prioritizing-land-water-infrastructure/
Gila River Indian Community Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis was sworn in for his fourth term, saying that he is entering this next administration with the same excitement and energy from his first term, but he has a stronger vision for the future of Gila River.
#Tucson #Arizona

Kari Lake: Conversation with DeWit ‘was so much worse than I remembered’ https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012524_lake_dewit/kari-lake-conversation-with-dewit-was-so-much-worse-than-i-remembered/
U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake took to Rumble Wednesday evening, in what she said was an effort to answer questions about a recently released secret recording she made of a conversation last spring between herself and then-Arizona Republican Party Chairman Jeff DeWit.
#Tucson #Arizona