In the News
Former Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer says it doesn't make sense why current Gov. Doug Ducey shies away from taking a stand on implementing a statewide mask mandate, especially as COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the state.
"Bottom line is that we need the leadership from the top, and if there's 90% as he reported, a mandate in the state by local government, it seems to me it would have been an easy step to have that importance of a governor stepping up and mandating a statewide mask," Brewer told KTAR News 92.3 FM's Gaydos & Chad on Wednesday.
Members of Arizona's congressional delegation are advocating for the state to be selected as the location of the permanent headquarters of the U.S. Space Command.
Across the Valley, the signs are everywhere. "Mask Up!" While most people do, hundreds of people attended rallies last week challenging the validity of Arizona's election count and only a handful wore masks.
Since the Phoenix mask order went into effect on June 20, the police department has handed out 427 friendly warnings to people who were violating the ordinance. There have been no fines issued. But as COVID-19 cases rise, and school districts are forced to return to distance learning, Arizona Education Association President Joe Thomas says Governor Ducey must act now.
The incoming Biden administration faces not only a divided Congress, but a divided electorate. Democrats will likely be forced to make compromises with Republicans if they want to advance any legislation.
Arizona Rep. Greg Stanton, a Democrat, says he hopes this ushers in a new era of bipartisanship.
"It was a close, close election," Stanton said. "And I think that those leaders that are able to truly unite people, work in a bipartisan way, a sincerely bipartisan way, are going to be the leaders that are the most successful."
Chandler High School is remembering a longtime swim coach who died from COVID-19 during the summer. The Chandler Unified School District's governing board voted on Wednesday to rename the aquatics center after Kerry Croswhite. He coached swimming and softball and taught social studies at the school for 15 years of his 35-year teaching career.
Wednesday night's decision by the board was deeply touching to Kerry's wife, Laurie, who has continued to coach at Chandler High after her husband's death.
For months, Rochelle Chee diligently went to the Phoenix Indian Medical Center for prenatal checkups.
She knew a midwife and other staff there well and felt confident in the idea of going to the facility to deliver her first baby, who was growing big, in the 90th percentile for his gestational age.
That's why the Navajo woman was shocked when, at 40 weeks pregnant, she learned the hospital had shut down its obstetrics services with no prior notice.
With the election just days away, Cronkite News is profiling candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot.
How would you rate Arizona's response to the COVID-19 pandemic?
"We've had almost close to 6,000 people die in the state of Arizona – that's unacceptable. … I'm pretty angry about it because it didn't have to happen."
Arizona's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been poor, and it was mishandled from the start, he said.
"We fell weeks behind at the very beginning."
Liz Archuleta is a Coconino County Supervisor and the Arizona Spokesperson for HECHO (Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors)
Arizona has been home to five generations of my family. I am the fourth generation and am proud of our long history of protecting public lands and natural treasures.
Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives two years ago by winning competitive districts like the Southeast Michigan seat now represented by U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and the Nevada seat now held by U.S. Rep. Susie Lee.
Eight members of Congress are calling on the Small Business Administration to investigate whether the operator of a luxury Santa Monica hotel and dozens of other properties properly spent tens of millions of dollars in pandemic relief funding.