In the News
Around 4,400 novel coronavirus cases in Arizona were reported in the last three days, bringing its latest confirmed cases to 35,706, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
Congressman Greg Stanton stated Sunday in a post on his official Twitter account: "Arizona is the new national hotspot for COVID-19 with more than 4,400 new cases in just the last 72 hours. Per capita, Arizona's infection rate is now more than three times higher than New York state. It's spreading like wildfire."
WASHINGTON – The brother of George Floyd, whose death at the hands of Minneapolis police sparked nationwide protests, told a somber House committee Wednesday that he hopes his testimony can bring changes so that Floyd's "death will not be in vain."
"People have come together to make change," said Philonise Floyd, the lead witness in a daylong hearing by the House Judiciary Committee on police practices and accountability.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-Rep. Greg Stanton today cosponsored a comprehensive reform bill to hold police accountable, change the culture of law enforcement and repair trust between law enforcement and communities. The Justice in Policing Act of 2020 was introduced this morning by House leadership, members of the Congressional Black Caucus and House Judiciary Committee, and Sens. Cory Booker and Kamala Harris.
WASHINGTON - Congressional Democrats outlined their vision for sweeping police reforms on Capitol Hill Monday, following weeks of nationwide protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota.
Congressional Democrats unveiled a sweeping police reform bill Monday that would ban the use of chokeholds and make it easier to hold officers accountable, a bill that one Arizona police group blasted as "one-sided" and "disappointing."
At least three Arizona lawmakers are among more than 200 co-sponsors of the Justice in Policing Act of 2020, which comes after a week of nationwide protests sparked by the May 25 killing of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody.
National protests over the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis on Monday, reached Phoenix Thursday night.
Hundreds of Arizonans gathered in downtown Phoenix, standing in solidarity with Floyd and other Americans who were killed by police officers.
On Friday and earlier this week, several Arizona leaders spoke out, saying the killing was indefensible.
PHOENIX - Four Arizona representatives sent letters to nursing facilities Tuesday, asking them to independently provide coronavirus case information.
Representative Ruben Gallego tweeted a copy of the letter Tuesday afternoon, saying: "Transparency is key when it comes to protecting some of our most vulnerable populations. We sent a letter to every Arizona nursing home today asking them to release their COVID-19 data publicly."
WASHINGTON - In Arizona, access to air conditioning can be a matter of life and death.
Last year, a record 283 people in Arizona died from heat-related causes, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
Even though arrests have sharply declined during the COVID-19 crisis in the US, the federal government is still buying up riot gear and hiring more and more private security services, some of which are being paid for by congressional budget relief funds.
Amid the trillions of dollars in spending by the US government to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic has been millions of dollars for security services and police equipment, including riot gear and disposable handcuffs.