Posted in Analysis Democracy

November 2022: The Anti-Democracy Coalition

If such lethargy prevails this time, the outcome of a few key contests for secretary of state in November 2022 could lead to tragic consequences for American democracy in 2024 and beyond. by Steven Harper Sunday,…

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Posted in Analysis Government Law

The Invisible Hand of Steve Twist

How an Arizona man who’s never held elected office has shaped one of America’s most punitive criminal justice systems. by Nicole Santa Cruz April 5,2022 ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Co-published with The Arizona…

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Posted in Analysis Arizona Voter suppression

Sinema enabling new AZ GOP voter purge law?

“The GOP continues to suppress voting rights across the country,” said one advocacy group. “Do you see what’s happening in your state, Senator Sinema?” by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams Thursday, March 31, 2022 Democratic Sen. Kyrsten…

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Posted in Arizona Voter suppression

Arizona Senate Passes GOP Voter Purge Bill

‘Most Extreme ‘ in US “This is a recipe for chaos, not election integrity, and it would likely cut the state’s electorate in half overnight,” warned one observer. by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams March 25, 2022…

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Posted in Arizona News

Bill banning most abortions after 15 weeks passes Arizona Senate, heads to AZ House

by Madison Thomas, Cronkite News February 24, 2022 Phoenix  –  A bill banning abortions after 15 weeks gestation, except in cases of medical emergency, has passed the state Senate on a party-line vote and been sent to…

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Posted in Analysis

Like the truck-machines in ‘Mad Max,’ the ‘freedom convoy’ relies on access to fuel

Truckers and supporters gather in Delta, B.C. on Jan. 23 before departing on a cross-country convoy that arrived in Ottawa five days later.  THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck by Krista Collier-Jarvis, Dalhousie University February 12, 2022 The…

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Posted in Child Welfare Op/Ed

Welfare is no substitute for a child tax credit

Some in Congress say the child tax credit isn’t needed because Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a success. Our reporting found it’s marked by repeated failures. by Eli Hager, ProPublica     Those in Congress…

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Posted in Analysis Arizona Insurrection 2021

Now every day in Arizona Is January 6

Arizona’s latest voter restriction law will remove an estimated 100,000 eligible voters from its early voting mailing list. by Steven Harper February 1, 2022 Former President Donald J. Trump and his Republican allies are using three…

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Posted in Indigenous News Infrastructure Internet

Vicious circle: Tribal broadband program hindered by lack of broadband

by Camila Pedrosa, Cronkite News January 20, 2022 Washington – Tribal advocates told a Senate panel this week the federal government’s effort to fund expanded broadband infrastructure in Indian Country overlooked a fundamental issue. Many tribes did…

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Posted in Arizona Coronavirus News

No time to party: With omicron surging in Arizona, officials stress masks, tests, COVID vaccines

by Molly Hudson, Cronkite News January 20 2022 Phoenix – Arizonans who have had COVID-19 shouldn’t count on immunity from the highly contagious omicron variant, which continues to spread in the state, a leading health expert said…

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An endangered Mexican gray wolf known as Anubis was illegally shot and killed in Arizona on January 2, 2022. (Photo: Keith Hayes)
Posted in Colorado Plateau Conservation Environment Wildlife

Federal Action sought after endangered wolf Anubis killed in Arizona

“It’s tragic that Anubis was killed and many of us are grieving his loss, but despite this heinous crime, it is also profound confirmation that northern Arizona should be part of the wolf recovery effort.” by…

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Posted in Arizona Civil Rights Investigations

Hundreds of Arizona schools report inaccurate civil rights data, violate federal law

by Sam Kmack, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting June 14, 2021 PHOENIX—Hundreds of Arizona’s public schools failed to report accurate civil rights data to the U.S. Department of Education for the 2017-2018 school year, a violation…

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Arianna Bermudez comforts her son, David, in their apartment at the Phoenix Rescue Mission.
Posted in Arizona Investigations

A mother needed Welfare. Instead, AZ used welfare funds to take her son.

Arizona spends a majority of its welfare budget on the Department of Child Safety. The agency then investigates many poor parents, sometimes removing their children for reasons stemming from their poverty. by Eli Hager, photography by…

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Starbucks employees celebrate after voting to unionize on December 9, 2021 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo: Eleonore Sens/AFP via Getty Images)
Posted in News Workers

Starbucks union drive spreads to Mass, Ariz,

‘Next!’ “We want the company to succeed,” organizers of the Mesa unionization effort said, “and we want our work lives to be the best they can be.” by Brett Wilkins, Common Dreams Friday, December 17, 2021…

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Tucson police officers respond to an officer-involved shooting in which a 61-year-old wheelchair-bound man was shot nine times in the back and side after allegedly shoplifting a toolbox from a Lowe's home improvement store on November 29, 2021. (Photo: Tucson Police Department)
Posted in Arizona Police Killings

Man in wheelchair fatally shot in the back by Tucson police officer

‘Indefensible‘ Richard Lee Richards was shot nine times in the back and side by a Tucson officer, who has since been fired, earlier this week.   Noting that up to half of all fatal U.S. police…

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Deb Haaland—then a Democratic congresswoman representing New Mexico's First District but now U.S. interior secretary—visits Chaco Canyon in 2019. (Photo: Monica Sanchez/Natural Resources Democrats/Flickr/cc)
Posted in Climate change Indigenous News

Indigenous leaders hail Biden’s proposed Chaco Canyon drilling ban as ‘Important first step’

“We are most hopeful that this action is a turning point where the United States natural resource management planning philosophy focuses on the protection of all living beings.” by Brett Wilkins, Common Dreams November 16, 2021…

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Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) attends a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing on May 12, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Jonathan Ernst-Pool/Getty Images)
Posted in Arizona News

Republican Paul Gosar shares edited video of him killing AOC

‘He Should Be Expelled’ “This man should not serve in Congress,” said Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). “Fantasizing about violently attacking your colleagues has no place in our political discourse and society.” by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams…

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A right-wing mob, fueled by then-President Donald Trump's lies about voter fraud, violently rioted at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from certifying the 2020 presidential election results in a joint session of the 117th Congress on January 6, 2021. (Photo: Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Posted in Investigations News

Any lawmaker involved in planning Jan. 6 insurrection ‘Must be expelled,’ says AOC

Organizers of the deadly assault on the U.S. Capitol say that several congressional Republicans and White House officials helped plan former President Donald Trump’s coup attempt. Arizona’s Gossar and Biggs understood they were participating in a…

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Anuj Shrestha, special to ProPublica
Posted in Analysis Conspiracy theories Right Wing Militias

Oath Keepers in the State House

How a Militia Movement Took Root in the Republican Mainstream by Isaac Arnsdorf, ProPublica October 21, 2021   North Carolina state representative Mike Clampitt swore an oath to uphold the Constitution after his election in 2016…

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Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) hobnobs with attendees of a May 17, 2019 event hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. (Photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr/cc)
Posted in Dark Money News Politics

While roadblocking Party agenda, Sinema absconds to Europe for fundraising

“She might as well start fundraising for McConnell at this point.” by Jake Johnson, Common Dreams Thursday, October 14, 2021 With President Joe Biden’s popular legislative agenda hanging in the balance largely due to her obstruction,…

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Low-wage workers, economists, faith leaders, and a progressive lawmaker spoke about Democrats' budget reconciliation package outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on October 12, 2021. (Photo: Poor People's Campaign/Twitter)
Posted in Analysis Restart 2021 Workers

Essential, low-wage workers share why they need reconciliation package

‘Please Help Us’ “We’ve heard the voices of the poor. We’ve heard the voices crying out, demanding justice. All I want to know right now, Joe Manchin, is which side are you on?” by Jessica Corbett,…

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(L-R) U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) speak to reporters as they arrive at the U.S. Capitol after a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on June 24, 2021. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)
Posted in Climate change News Restart 2021

Sinema pushing $100 billion in climate cuts from reconciliation bill

A Sunrise Movement leader said the Arizona Democrat’s reported proposal for the Build Back Better package is “not surprising since she’s been meeting nonstop with corporate executives.” by Jessica Corbet, Common Dreams October 8, 2021  Already…

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Posted in Immigration News Restart 2021

Protesters confront Sinema directly, she calls the move ‘unacceptable’

by Simon Williams/Cronkite News Oct. 5, 2021 Washington – Progressives upset with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema took their protests directly to the Arizona Democrat this weekend, ambushing her in public spaces three times to get answers on…

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Posted in Immigration News

Sinema ignores constituent’s plea on immigration

“If Karina was a corporation and held a giant fundraiser for Sinema, maybe she’d get an answer,” said one advocate. by Julia Conley, Common Dreams Tuesday, October 5, 2021 Progressive critics on Tuesday accused Sen. Kyrsten…

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