Tucson Sentinel @TucsonSentinel@mastodon.tucsonsentinel.com

Feds OK Arizona plan to expand KidsCare eligibility, pay parent caregivers https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022124_kidscare_expansion/feds-ok-arizona-plan-expand-kidscare-eligibility-pay-parent-caregivers/
Arizona officials said they have been given federal approval to expand income eligibility for the state’s KidsCare program, a change that could add 10,000 children to the low-cost health care program run by the state.
#Tucson #Arizona

Resolution to boost state park funding clears Arizona Senate committee https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022024_park_funding/resolution-boost-state-park-funding-clears-arizona-senate-committee/
Arizona is once again a step closer to reinstating consistent state park funding after a Senate committee voted on a resolution that would annually allocate $10 million of the leftover state lottery fund to the Arizona State Parks Heritage Fund.
#Tucson #Arizona

Chub snub? Advocates question plan to protect threatened Colorado River fish https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022024_chub_snub/chub-snub-advocates-question-plan-protect-threatened-colorado-river-fish/
Federal water managers proposed a new plan for water releases from Glen Canyon Dam to protect the native humpback chub in the Grand Canyon, but conservation groups say it does not go far enough.
#Tucson #Arizona

New Labor Department rule could turn many freelancers into employees https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/nationworld/report/022024_freelance_employees/new-labor-department-rule-could-turn-many-freelancers-into-employees/
A U.S. Labor Department regulation that takes effect on March 11 could require many businesses that treat workers as independent contractors to start paying them as employees — although it’s still unclear how much of a difference it will make in practice.
#Tucson #Arizona

Arizona revenues beat revised projections, but large deficit remains https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022024_budget_projections/arizona-revenues-beat-revised-projections-but-large-deficit-remains/
Arizona revenues slightly beat forecasts in January, having more to do with an annual revision of economic projections than it does with sagging state tax collections turning around suddenly, and doesn’t do much to get lawmakers any closer to solving the estimated $1.7 billion deficit.
#Tucson #Arizona

‘It’s home’: Desireé Reed-Francois introduced as University of Arizona’s athletic director https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/022024_ua_athletic_director/its-home-desiree-reed-francois-introduced-as-university-arizonas-athletic-director/
Less than a month after parting ways with Dave Heeke, the University of Arizona introduced alum Desireé Reed-Francois as its new director of athletics, the first female full-time AD in university history.
#Tucson #Arizona

Martes, fecha límite para registrarse para las elecciones 'primarias' presidenciales de Arizona https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/021624_voter_reg_deadline_esp/martes-fecha-limite-para-registrarse-para-las-elecciones-primarias-presidenciales-de-arizona/
Los votantes deben registrarse en los partidos Republicano o Demócrata antes del 20 de febrero a medianoche si desean emitir su voto en la elección de preferencia presidencial de Arizona.
#Tucson #Arizona

Pima County Constable Oscar Vasquez suspended for the remainder of his term https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022024_vasquez_suspended/pima-county-constable-oscar-vasquez-suspended-remainder-his-term/
The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to suspend Constable Oscar Vasquez for the remainder of his term, through the end of the year.
#Tucson #Arizona

Tuesday deadline to register to vote in Arizona presidential 'primary' election https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/021624_voter_reg_deadline/tuesday-deadline-register-vote-arizona-presidential-primary-election/
Voters must register with the Republican or Democratic parties by midnight on Feb. 20 if they want to cast a ballot in Arizona's presidential preference election.
#Tucson #Arizona

What is a truly safe space? A pop-up event might have an answer. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/012924_safe_space_pop_up/what-truly-safe-space-pop-up-event-might-have-answer/
People within the LGBTQ+ community suffer from discrimination, hate crimes, social rejection, isolation, healthcare inequality, and everyday life challenges, and a pop-up bar modeled after San Francisco's historic Maud's could cultivate a safe space in downtown Phoenix.
#Tucson #Arizona

Stephens back in Pima County Board of Supes race https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/021924_stephens_out/stephens-back-pima-county-board-supes-race/
Updated: Republican Beatrice Cory Stephens has dropped out of the race for Pima County supervisor in District 2.
#Tucson #Arizona

Ahead of risky wildfire season, Forest Service warns about budget cuts https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/022024_wildfires_budget_op/ahead-risky-wildfire-season-forest-service-warns-budget-cuts/
An announcement from U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore telling agency employees to expect budget cuts from Congress is raising concerns of a reduction in the firefighting workforce, compounding recruitment and retention challenges that the Forest Service is already facing.
#Tucson #Arizona

Diamondbacks consider all options, including relocation, amid soon expiring stadium deal https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/sports/report/022024_diamondback_stadium/diamondbacks-consider-all-options-including-relocation-amid-soon-expiring-stadium-deal/
Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick left the door open for a possible relocation of the Arizona Diamondbacks amid growing talks of possible league expansion and the continued uncertainty of Chase Field as a viable home ballpark.
#Tucson #Arizona

Az public schools struggle to find teachers as leaders brainstorm staffing solutions https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022024_teacher_shortage/az-public-schools-struggle-find-teachers-as-leaders-brainstorm-staffing-solutions/
The ASU Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College’s annual Strategic School Staffing Summit earlier this month highlighted a collection of potential solutions to the teacher shortage, but the question remains if any will incentivize teachers enough to commit to the classroom long term.
#Tucson #Arizona

Arizona House panel advances GOP plan to check citizenship of welfare recipients https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022024_everify_benefits/arizona-house-panel-advances-gop-plan-check-citizenship-welfare-recipients/
Arizona Republicans gave preliminary approval to a proposal to require cities, towns and agencies to use E-Verify to check the citizenship status of anyone applying for public welfare benefits or a license of any kind, which would be put before voters this fall if it passes the Legislature.
#Tucson #Arizona

Az lawmakers move to ban ‘reunification’ treatment in child custody cases https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/022024_custody_reunification/az-lawmakers-move-ban-reunification-treatment-child-custody-cases/
Arizona lawmakers are looking to put an end to the practice of reunification, reuniting children with an estranged parent after the child has indicated they want to remain in the care of their other “preferred” parent, considering a pair of bills that would effectively end the practice in the state.
#Tucson #Arizona

Contentious election challenges brewing for Pima County Board of Supervisors https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/021324_pima_board_races/contentious-election-challenges-brewing-pima-county-board-supervisors/
Updated: Rounding up the candidates in the 2024 races for Pima County Board of Supervisors.
#Tucson #Arizona

Stephens drops out of Pima County Board of Supes race https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/021924_stephens_out/stephens-drops-out-pima-county-board-supes-race/
Republican Beatrice Cory Stephens has dropped out of the race for Pima County supervisor in District 2.
#Tucson #Arizona

Former ACLU of Arizona prez Roberto Reveles to challenge Wendy Rogers https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/021924_reveles_rogers_election/former-aclu-arizona-prez-roberto-reveles-challenge-wendy-rogers/
Former president of the ACLU of Arizona and founding president of Somos America Democrat Roberto Reveles announced he is running to unseat incumbent ultra far-right conservative Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers, saying there is “no expiration date” on his experience or commitment.
#Tucson #Arizona

Poll: Almost 1 in 4 Az Republicans wants to secede from the U.S. https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/021924_arizona_secession/poll-almost-1-4-az-republicans-wants-secede-from-us/
According to a recent poll, nearly one in four Arizona Republicans think the Grand Canyon State should secede from the United States, a desire for secession driven by Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, who overwhelmingly are more supportive of seceding across the country.
#Tucson #Arizona