Federal grant could extend broadband to Arizona 127,000 homes, businesses https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022223_broadband_grant/federal-grant-could-extend-broadband-arizona-127000-homes-businesses/
The Treasury released $99.4 million in broadband funding to Arizona, money that officials said could bring broadband internet service to an estimated 127,807 households and businesses around the state.
#Tucson #Arizona
Bill would provide oversight, nix bed limits at Arizona State Hospital https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022123_state_hospital_oversight/bill-would-provide-oversight-nix-bed-limits-arizona-state-hospital/
State legislators unanimously advanced a proposal to create an independent board to oversee the Arizona State Hospital, which cares for some of the state’s most vulnerable people, and is currently subject to oversight by the Arizona Department of Health Services.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona House considers making schools offer firearms safety training in grades 6-12 https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022223_firearms_schools/arizona-house-considers-making-schools-offer-firearms-safety-training-grades-6-12/
Arizona’s House of Representatives is continuing to advance a bill requiring public middle and high schools in Arizona to offer training on the proper handling of firearms.
#Tucson #Arizona
Phoenix officials urged to address income discrimination against renters on public assistance https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022223_phoenix_housing_discrimination/phoenix-officials-urged-address-income-discrimination-against-renters-public-assistance/
Residents who have struggled with high rent in Phoenix are calling on city officials to pass an ordinance addressing discrimination against renters who receive public assistance - similar to an ordinance passed by the Tucson City Council in September that is currently on hold.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona Senate Republicans put Hobbs’ choice to lead Administration Dep't on hold https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022123_thorson_nomination_stalled/arizona-senate-republicans-put-hobbs-choice-lead-administration-dept-hold/
The confirmation of Gov. Katie Hobbs’ pick to lead the state’s largest agency stalled after Republican Jake Hoffman said that the nominee didn’t speak “honestly and truthfully” to the state newly formed Senate Director Nominations Committee.
#Tucson #Arizona
Lawsuit alleges recreation.gov parks fee site Is cluttered with 'junk fees,' seeks millions in refunds https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/022123_park_fees/lawsuit-alleges-recreationgov-parks-fee-site-cluttered-with-junk-fees-seeks-millions-refunds/
A lawsuit raises the question of whether unauthorized and possibly illegal “junk fees” that potentially generate hundreds of millions of dollars on Recreation.gov in effect has privatized public lands for the benefit of website operator Booz Allen Hamilton, Inc.
#Tucson #Arizona
Tribal leaders support federal legislation aimed at helping Indigenous families and children https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/022123_native_families_legislation/tribal-leaders-support-federal-legislation-aimed-helping-indigenous-families-and-children/
A bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives geared toward helping Indigenous children and families by providing tribal nations with the tools and resources they need to treat, prevent, investigate, and prosecute instances of family violence, abuse, and child neglect.
#Tucson #Arizona
Tribal leaders support federal legislation aimed at helping Indigenous families and children https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/022123_native_families_legislation/tribal-leaders-support-federal-legislation-aimed-helping-indigenous-families-and-children/
A bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives geared toward helping Indigenous children and families by providing tribal nations with the tools and resources they need to treat, prevent, investigate, and prosecute instances of family violence, abuse, and child neglect.
#Tucson #Arizona
Mark Lamb hints at upcoming run for U.S. Senate at gun-rights rally https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022023_lamb_senate/mark-lamb-hints-upcoming-run-us-senate-gun-rights-rally/
Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb said on Saturday at the Arizona Second Amendment Rally that he is on the verge of running for Senate in 2024 - though he previously said he was content in his role as sheriff and didn’t have plans to run for higher office.
#Tucson #Arizona
Critics say Arizona book ban bill could marginalize trans kids https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022123_transgender_banned_books/critics-say-arizona-book-ban-bill-could-marginalize-trans-kids/
Republican lawmakers say there’s no place for sexual books in schools, but critics of a law proposed in the Arizona Senate argue that the bill could lead to the marginalization of transgender and gender fluid students.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona GOP anti-drag bill would send performers to prison for up to 10 years https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022123_az_gop_drag_bill/arizona-gop-anti-drag-bill-would-send-performers-prison-up-10-years/
Drag artists who perform in front of children would be forced to register as sex offenders and face a minimum of 10 years in prison, under the latest measure Arizona Republican lawmakers have advanced in their vendetta against drag performers.
#Tucson #Arizona
GOP calls for food, rental tax cuts but Arizona cities argue it does more harm than good https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022123_food_rental_tax_cuts/gop-calls-food-rental-tax-cuts-but-arizona-cities-argue-it-does-more-harm-than-good/
Republican lawmakers are looking to slash food and rental taxes in a bid to help Arizonans deal with spiking inflation, but city officials warn that doing so won’t help those in need — and will actually increase costs elsewhere.
#Tucson #Arizona
Bill would force cities to remove homeless encampments, charge unhoused Arizonans with a crime https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022123_az_homeless_laws/bill-would-force-cities-remove-homeless-encampments-charge-unhoused-arizonans-with-crime/
Arizona lawmakers were told that a proposal to force cities to remove all homeless encampments and charge everyone living in them with trespassing was likely unconstitutional, but they nonetheless gave the measure a thumbs up.
#Tucson #Arizona
Republicans want to speed up Arizona Medicaid disenrollment https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022123_az_medicaid_disenrollment/republicans-want-speed-up-arizona-medicaid-disenrollment/
Hundreds of thousands of Arizonans are at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage over the next year because they are no longer eligible, and some state lawmakers are looking to speed up the disenrollment process.
#Tucson #Arizona
Pima County forms 'blue ribbon' jail commission: a new hoosegow in the offing? https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/022023_agenda_jail_op/pima-county-forms-blue-ribbon-jail-commission-new-hoosegow-offing/
The number of people behind bars is up 30% in Pima County, but jail staffing is down 45 percent in the wake of the pandemic. This is a problem without any obvious solution. The county supes are in a tight spot. Plus more in local government meetings this week.
#Tucson #Arizona
24 Hours in the Old Pueblo: Mountain bikers rally at temporary city https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/022123_24_hrs_old_pueblo/24-hours-old-pueblo-mountain-bikers-rally-temporary-city/
Each year, a temporary town of mountain bikers rises from the desert north of Tucson and remains bustling for three days. The 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo event welcomed about 4,000 attendees this weekend, 55 percent of them from out of state.
#Tucson #Arizona
Supreme Court cancels arguments over Title 42 border policy https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/021723_scotus_title_42/supreme-court-cancels-arguments-over-title-42-border-policy/
The U.S. Supreme Court canceled arguments in a case over the emergency health order the federal government has used for nearly three years to quickly turn away migrants, including those seeking asylum, at the southern border.
#Tucson #Arizona
Partial grand jury report released in Trump election interference probe https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/021723_trump_election_grand_jury/partial-grand-jury-report-released-trump-election-interference-probe/
A Georgia judge on Thursday released parts of the final report produced by a special purpose grand jury seated last year as part of an investigation into potential criminal interference with the state's 2020 elections by former President Donald Trump and several of his allies.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona GOP legislators subpoenaed to testify in special counsel probe of Trump https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/021723_gop_trump_subpoenas/arizona-gop-legislators-subpoenaed-testify-special-counsel-probe-trump/
At least three Arizona Republican state legislators have been subpoenaed by the U.S. Justice Department’s special counsel, Jack Smith, as part of the criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump and his efforts to reverse his 2020 election loss.
#Tucson #Arizona
Diamondbacks’ relationship with Bally Sports Arizona in limbo after parent company misses payment https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/021723_mlb_television_rights/diamondbacks-relationship-with-bally-sports-arizona-limbo-after-parent-company-misses-payment/
Major League Baseball is prepared to take back the television rights to 14 teams if Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of the 19 regional Bally Sports Networks, files for bankruptcy after failing to make a $140 million interest payment on its nearly $9 million debt.
#Tucson #Arizona
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