Bill to spur ‘starter home’ construction would strip Az cities of zoning authority https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/020124_home_construction/bill-spur-starter-home-construction-would-strip-az-cities-zoning-authority/
The Arizona GOP “Arizona Starter Home Act” - even though there is nothing in the bill’s language that expressly advocated for the creation of so-called “starter homes” - faced intense scrutiny from GOP lawmakers and city lobbyists who worried the bill would give free rein to developers.
#Tucson #Arizona
Horne plan for PragerU videos for Arizona schools called ‘irresponsible’ https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013124_horne_prageru/horne-plan-prageru-videos-arizona-schools-called-irresponsible/
The Arizona Department of Education is partnering with conservative advocacy group PragerU to provide K-12 schools with the groups’ video content — content that Democratic lawmakers say is inaccurate and does not belong in public schools.
#Tucson #Arizona
Az GOP claims disenfranchisement in suit vs. Sec State Fontes over election rules https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013124_gop_fontes_lawsuit/az-gop-claims-disenfranchisement-suit-vs-sec-state-fontes-over-election-rules/
Arizona Republicans filed a lawsuit seeking to throw out election rules approved by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, alleging state law doesn’t give Fontes the authority to make rules about how election results are finalized, and even if it did, the rules are not in alignment with state law.
#Tucson #Arizona
Az Republicans sue secretary of state over rules on election certification, claiming disenfranchisement https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013124_gop_fontes_lawsuit/az-republicans-sue-secretary-state-over-rules-election-certification-claiming-disenfranchisement/
Arizona Republicans filed a lawsuit seeking to throw out election rules approved by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, alleging state law doesn’t give Fontes the authority to make rules about how election results are finalized, and even if it did, the rules are not in alignment with state law.
#Tucson #Arizona
U.S. House committee advances impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas to floor https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/013124_mayorkas_impeachment/us-house-committee-advances-impeachment-homeland-security-secretary-mayorkas-floor/
The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security early Wednesday voted 18-15 along party lines to send articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the House floor. Republicans argue the charges are legitimate.
#Tucson #Arizona
From the head down: UA's Robbins' fishy budget talk saves own keister — for now https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/013124_robbins_fault_op/from-head-down-uas-robbins-fishy-budget-talk-saves-own-keister-now/
The University of Arizona's new finance guy provoked more questions than he answered this week during a lackluster effort to explain the school's budget problems.
#Tucson #Arizona
House passes Ciscomani bill to punish drivers who flee BP, cops near border https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013124_ciscomani_pursuits/house-passes-ciscomani-bill-punish-drivers-who-flee-bp-cops-near-border/
Smugglers who lead Border Patrol agents or aiding police officers on high-speed pursuits within 100 miles of the U.S. border could face life sentences if someone is killed during a chase, under a bill passed Tuesday by the House of Representatives.
#Tucson #Arizona
Facing expulsion for threatening to kill lobbyist, Rep. Leezah Sun resigns from Az Legislature https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013124_sun_resigns/facing-expulsion-threatening-kill-lobbyist-rep-leezah-sun-resigns-from-az-legislature/
Minutes before the Arizona House of Representatives was set to vote on expelling her in the wake of an ethics probe that found she engaged in “disorderly behavior,” including threatening to kill a lobbyist, Rep. Leezah Sun resigned.
#Tucson #Arizona
Former Az AG Brnovich says states can take border action; Democrats pan ‘crackpot’ theory https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013124_brnovich_border/former-az-ag-brnovich-says-states-can-take-border-action-democrats-pan-crackpot-theory/
Former Arizona AG Mark Brnovich told a House committee that states have a constitutional right to secure their borders if “the federal government is either unwilling or unable to do so”, during the latest in a string of immigration-focused hearings in the Republican-led House.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona looks to regulate AI and ‘deep fakes’ in elections https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013124_ai_deep_fake_regs/arizona-looks-regulate-ai-and-deep-fakes-elections/
Lawmakers are considering a bill that would give any Arizona resident, or candidate for public office who will be on the ballot, two years to take action against “digital impersonations” - or deep fakes - created without their consent.
#Tucson #Arizona
Az House Ethics Committee says legislator committed a ‘pattern of disorderly conduct’ https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013124_sun_conduct/az-house-ethics-committee-says-legislator-committed-pattern-disorderly-conduct/
Arizona state Representative Leezah Sun committed a “pattern of disorderly behavior” that culminated in a death threat against a lobbyist, the Arizona House Ethics Committee concluded, paving the way to a possible censure or expulsion from the legislature.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona House Ethics Committee says legislator committed a ‘pattern of disorderly conduct’ https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013124_sun_conduct/arizona-house-ethics-committee-says-legislator-committed-pattern-disorderly-conduct/
Arizona state Representative Leezah Sun committed a “pattern of disorderly behavior” that culminated in a death threat against a lobbyist, the Arizona House Ethics Committee concluded, paving the way to a possible censure or expulsion from the legislature.
#Tucson #Arizona
Az lawmakers approve $8 million to continue busing asylum seekers from border https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013124_border_buses/az-lawmakers-approve-8-million-continue-busing-asylum-seekers-from-border/
Arizona legislators on Tuesday approved an additional $8 million that will let the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs keep busing migrants away from border communities, a program that has transported more than 81,000 people since 2022.
#Tucson #Arizona
Pima's Gonzales has 44 points & 14 3-pointers to earn ACCAC Player of the Week nod https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/013024_pcc_mens_basketball/pimas-gonzales-has-44-points-14-3-pointers-earn-accac-player-week-nod/
Pima Community College men’s basketball player Cohenj Gonzales (Mesquite HS) was a major factor in the team's two wins during the week of Jan. 21-27.
#Tucson #Arizona
Arizona school vouchers cost taxpayers more per student, but Republicans say they don’t https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013124_esa_horne/arizona-school-vouchers-cost-taxpayers-more-per-student-but-republicans-say-they-dont/
The Republicans in charge of the Arizona Department of Education and the state Senate say that the state’s school voucher program saves taxpayers money, and that any statements to the contrary are myths - but the numbers say something different.
#Tucson #Arizona
Advocates: Poor sex education & outreach is to blame for HIV increase in Arizona https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013124_hiv_rates/advocates-poor-sex-education-outreach-blame-hiv-increase-arizona/
A state health department report released last December shows that HIV transmissions in Arizona have grown to alarming numbers, bucking national trends where the virus is declining across most of the country.
#Tucson #Arizona
Texas' border standoff with the feds is igniting calls for secession & fears of violence https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/013124_texas_border/texas-border-standoff-with-feds-igniting-calls-secession-fears-violence/
The calls for Texas to defend itself and defy the federal government have set fire to a long simmering fight over states’ rights, emboldening right-wing figures small and large, a standoff that comes amid a recent and growing acceptance of political violence.
#Tucson #Arizona
Texas' standoff with the feds in Eagle Pass is igniting calls for secession & fears of violence https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/013124_texas_border/texas-standoff-with-feds-eagle-pass-igniting-calls-secession-fears-violence/
The calls for Texas to defend itself and defy the federal government have set fire to a long simmering fight over states’ rights, emboldening right-wing figures small and large, a standoff that comes amid a recent and growing acceptance of political violence.
#Tucson #Arizona
ATC's 'Intimate Apparel' weaves individual brilliance with uneven execution https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/arts/report/013024_intimate_apparel/atcs-intimate-apparel-weaves-individual-brilliance-with-uneven-execution/
Arizona Theatre Company opens the new year with a potent third installment of an otherwise boilerplate season. "Intimate Apparel" is a riveting script, but ATC's production doesn't fully unpack as technical elements overshadow the performances.
#Tucson #Arizona
Facing $177M shortfall, University of Arizona moves to stop financial bleeding https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/013024_ua_budget/facing-177m-shortfall-university-arizona-moves-stop-financial-bleeding/
The University of Arizona faces a $177 million deficit, and over the next 18 to 36 months the school will pursue consolidations and layoffs throughout its administration, as well as across-the-board budget cuts of 5 to 15 percent.
#Tucson #Arizona
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