• Slug: BC-CNS-Guardianship Hearing,730 words.
• 4 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Sophia Biazus
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Health problems forced Bill Chalmers into a guardianship after he retired from Intel as a senior engineering director.

“I suffered from sleep deprivation, and I have something called nocturnal epilepsy,” Chalmers told a group of state legislators and disability advocates at a town hall Thursday at Arizona State University’s downtown Phoenix campus. “It causes me to have disruptive sleep patterns that contributed to my erratic behavior.” Continue reading “State legislators host town hall on guardianship abuses and hear brutal realities of probate court”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Tribal Politics,670 words.
• 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Lillie Boudreaux
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – For more than 160 years, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe has shared land with the Navajo Nation, and for the past 23 years it has had a treaty pending that would give them their own lands.

It’s long past time for Congress to ratify the treaty so that San Juan Southern Paiute tribal members are no longer treated like strangers in their ancestral homeland, tribal President Johnny Lehi Jr. testified Wednesday.

“We’re a small government. We do have our own council, we do have our leadership.” Lehi said. “We need this treaty land to make us stronger in our own self-governance.” Continue reading “Landless San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe could finally get its own homeland”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Border Staffing,760 words.
• 3 photos, video story available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Jasmine Kabiri
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Staffing shortages and a surging workload at the southwest border have depleted morale among customs and border officials, who feel overworked and misused, leaving many ready to quit, a Homeland Security official testified Tuesday.

DHS Inspector General Joseph Cuffari appearance before a House Oversight subcommittee hearing followed the release last month of an audit that was sharply critical of management at the agency.

“Law enforcement personnel feel overworked and are assigned to duties not germane to their primary mission,” Cuffari said in his written testimony.

But Democrats on the committee and the department itself pushed back, saying Cuffari’s findings were based on a flawed survey and that he overlooked efforts the agency is making to support its personnel at a historically challenging time. Continue reading “Audit: As border cases go up, staffing stays the same and morale falls”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Load Day,460 words.
• 4 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Ole Braatelien
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Toilets. Mattresses. Swimming pool slides.

Arizona safety officials say they’ve seen just about everything on the state’s roadways. And all that debris is dangerous: The region saw more than 800 debris-related crashes last year, Maricopa County Supervisor Jack Sellers said.

Gov. Katie Hobbs declared June 6 Arizona’s “Secure Your Load Day,” and Sellers gathered with other state and regional officials Tuesday to highlight its importance.

Greg Byres, state engineer for the Arizona Department of Transportation, reminded drivers to secure their load and call 911 if they see a hazard in the road. Continue reading “From toilets to mattresses: Arizona officials warn motorists to “Secure Your Load” to prevent road debris”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Default Derailed,880 words.
• 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Lillie Boudreaux
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – The Senate gave final approval late Thursday to a bill to suspend the debt ceiling, just days before Monday’s “X-date” when Treasury officials said the government would run out of money and default on its debts.

The 11 p.m. vote came after senators rejected a string of amendments to reach a final vote on a bill that few embraced. It passed with little time to spare following weeks of negotiations between the White House and House Republicans.

“This was a prime example of the sausage-making factory in front of us not exactly looking pretty,” said Bradford Fitch, president and CEO of the Congressional Management Foundation. “Divided government requires the process to be messy.” Continue reading “Senate passes 11th-hour debt ceiling bill, heading off threat of default”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Default Arizona,850 words.
• 2 photos, video story available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Lauren Irwin
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – The House Wednesday approved a debt-limit bill that was almost universally disliked, but which some lawmakers said they would vote for because failing to do so could spark a default on the nation’s debt.

The measure would lift the $31 trillion debt ceiling, allowing the government to borrow so it can pay its bills just days before the Treasury said it would run out of money. In exchange for lifting the cap, the proposal includes limits on some spending, new restrictions on welfare programs and other GOP-demanded cuts.

The Fiscal Responsibility Act scrambled loyalties on both sides of the aisle, with progressive Democrats saying it goes too far and conservative Republicans saying it does not go far enough. Continue reading “Arizona delegation in rare agreement on debt limit bill – nobody likes it”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Water Deal,730 words.
• File photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Liam Coates
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Arizona, California and Nevada unveiled a plan Monday to save 3 million acre-feet of Colorado River water between now and 2026, a stopgap measure to buy time while authorities figure out a long-term plan for the river.

The plan, which has been in the works for years, came just days before the May 31 deadline, when the Biden administration had threatened to impose cuts from the federal level if the states could not reach an agreement of their own. Continue reading “Arizona, California, Nevada agree on cuts to Colorado River water use”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Gender-Affirming Clothing,550 words.
• 9 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Samia Salahi
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Andrea Rodriguez’s relationship with clothing is better now. It took her years of learning about her changing body and sense of self to realize it was not the clothes, but the way she felt inside her clothes.

“It’s important to express yourself that way but also have your own identity— and that comes with a journey of finding yourself, knowing your body,” she said.

“Confidence – gradually, and over time – helps make your relationship with clothing a lot better,” said Rodriguez, a trans woman.

Rodriguez recently grabbed matching black and white tops, a dress and denim shorts, in her size and style, from One-n-Ten, a Phoenix youth center that regularly offers gender-affirming clothing for free. Continue reading “From stilettos to sneakers, center offers LGBTQ youth gender-affirming clothes”

• Slug: BC-CNS-End Title,720 words.
• 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Shelly Garzon
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court has formally dismissed an Arizona-led effort to preserve Title 42, the pandemic-era immigration restriction that was officially ended by the Biden administration last week.

The court on Thursday dismissed Arizona v. Mayorkas as moot – with two justices saying the court should never have agreed to hear the case in the first place.

The dismissal was widely expected after the court removed the case from its argument calendar in February, when it became clear that the end of the pandemic would mean the end of the controversial border policy. And Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes had quietly moved the state away from the case, which was started under her predecessor. Continue reading “Supreme Court dismisses Arizona’s last-ditch attempt to preserve Title 42”

EDS: UPDATES with comment from Hudbay in grafs 6-7. No other changes.

• Slug: BC-CNS-Rosemont Ruling,670 words.
• 2 file photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Liam Coates
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday that regulators were wrong to conclude that parts of Pima County targeted for a copper mine are critical to the preservation of endangered jaguars.

The ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturns a lower court decision and revives hopes for the Rosemont Copper mine, which supporters said would bring hundreds of jobs and billions of dollars in revenue to the region.

But in a dissent, Judge Holly Thomas said the record “amply supports” the government’s finding that the land in Pima County is “critical to the conservation of the jaguar as it faces threats elsewhere in its range.” Continue reading “Court rejects claim that copper mine land is needed for jaguar preservation”

EDS: An earlier version of this story mischaracterized Sky Harbor International Airport’s Part 150 noise compatibility program, which deals with airport noise exposure and abatement. The errors occurred in the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grafs of the original. The story below has been corrected, but clients who used earlier version are asked to run the correction found here.

• Slug: BC-CNS-Entertainment District Q&A, 1160 words.
• Photo, video of mayors, lawsuit and council hearing available (thumbnail, caption below).

By James Powel
Cronkite News

If your time is short:

• Tempe and Phoenix disagree on whether a 1994 agreement allows for multifamily residential development in the proposed Tempe Entertainment District.
• A Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport representative expressed disagreement related to air-traffic noise, and the city has filed a lawsuit against Tempe.
• The Arizona Coyotes’ development arm has filed a notice of claim against the city of Phoenix for interfering with plans for the team’s new home in the proposed district.
• Records indicate that Phoenix has not contested building some multifamily residential housing in areas similarly affected by Sky Harbor noise.

Continue reading “Phoenix, Tempe at odds over whether 1994 agreement allows residential development in proposed entertainment district”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Neverending Stumping,1250 words.
• 2 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Alexis Waiss
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – It was just weeks after the 2022 election that the first candidate for 2024 filed a statement of interest with the Arizona secretary of state’s office. The number of hopefuls filing paperwork for Congress has since ballooned to 49, with still more announcing unofficial bids.

Jacob Rubashkin is not surprised.

“Things have gotten so much more expensive and in order to be in a position to run an effective campaign in those last two to three months, you have to have been fundraising for a year earlier,” said Rubashkin, a reporter for Inside Elections. “That’s just the reality, is that the money is such that you need more time in order to put that together.” Continue reading “Campaign, vote, repeat: Candidates started lining up for 2024 in 2022”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Wall Frontiere,2040 words.
• 11 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Roxanne De La Rosa
Cronkite Borderlands Project

DAJABÓN, Dominican Republic – It’s a breezy, partially cloudy day in March as Mayor Santiago Riverón puffs on a cigar while sitting outside his home on his sprawling ranch not far from the controversial border wall being built between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Riverón loves his country and takes pride in his Dominican heritage. And in an echo of anti-immigrant voices in the United States, he says Haitian people are “invading” his country.

The reasons for the construction of the wall that borders this northwestern city of 17,000, he says, are to prevent people from poverty-stricken, gang-overrun Haiti from illegally entering, and to make a resounding political statement. Continue reading “Dominican Republic border wall deepens tensions over Haitian immigration”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Havasu Krusin’,200.
• 3 photos, video story available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Drake Presto
Cronkite News

LAKE HAVASU – This year marks the 25th anniversary of Anderson Powersports Desert Storm boating event.

Four days of events commenced with Krusin’ for a Kause April 19 at Windsor Beach.

The event gave dozens of children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to experience rides on high-performance boats. New Horizons Center, Lake Havasu High School and RISE Services brought participants, and boat owners volunteered their time and boats. Continue reading “Lake Havasu boating event gives unique experience to boat enthusiasts with disabilities”

EDS: UPDATES previous story with change in hed and throughout to reflect legislative leaders and Chamber of Commerce filing emergency appeal to Supreme Court. Will not be led.

• Slug: BC-CNS-COVID Court WRITETHRU,890.
• File photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Alexis Waiss
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Arizona legislative leaders have asked the Supreme Court to reverse a lower court’s ruling that said President Joe Biden had the authority to require COVID-19 vaccinations for workers on federal contracts in Arizona.

In an emergency petition filed Tuesday, Arizona House and Senate and the Arizona Chamber of Commerce said the April 19 ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals would allow what they called an “unprecedented claim of presidential authority.” Continue reading “State challenges Biden – again – on COVID-19 vaccine mandate for contractors”

• Slug: BC-CNS-Veterinarian Shortage,1700.
• 6 photos available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Sarah Min Heller
Cronkite News

GLENDALE — Veterinarians and students dashed around and huddled over exam tables, as caged dogs and cats awaited or recovered from treatment at Midwestern University’s College of Veterinary Medicine on a recent spring weekday.

“I like making an impact on animals, as well as the people who care for them,” said Jazmine Kim, who is planning to graduate from Midwestern in 2024. “The opportunities that I’ve had here are ones that I will carry with me forever.”

Kim, 32, was a vet tech before starting at Midwestern. She planned to work with wildlife, but found she enjoys dogs and cats. And because Arizona has made veterinary school extremely affordable through a new loan repayment program, this Washington state transplant is planning to practice veterinary medicine in the Grand Canyon State for at least four years. Continue reading “Arizona’s veterinary medicine grads aid shortfall of vets in nation, state”

• Slug: BC-CNS-CN2Go Weekly Update. Runtime 6:4215:43.
• Download audio briefing here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download)

(Music) 

This is your Cronkite News to Go briefing…

(Bring up music briefly and duck below and out )

I’m Ayana Hamilton … Continue reading “CN2Go Weekly Update: Black women work for missing Black girls; helping Black infants; and a credit for your charity”

• Slug: BC-CNS-COVID Court,880.
• File photo available (thumbnail, caption below).

By Alexis Waiss
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Legislative leaders said they expect to appeal a federal court ruling that said President Joe Biden had the authority to require COVID-19 vaccinations for workers on federal contracts in Arizona.

The ruling Wednesday by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court that had blocked the mandate in Arizona because it exceeded the president’s authority. The circuit court ruling also ran counter to findings in a number of other federal courts around the country that had blocked the 2021 vaccination mandate. Continue reading “State may challenge Biden – again – on COVID-19 vaccine rule for contractors”

• Slug: Sports-Buckhorn Baths,540 words.
• Photo, audio story available (thumbnails, captions below).

By Jeffrey Hinkle
Cronkite News

MESA – Nestled on the corner of Main Street and Recker Road in Mesa is a building that looks like any old, dilapidated building that has fallen into disrepair.

But this tiny roadside building, known as the Buckhorn Baths Motel, is one of the reasons why the Cactus League is what it is today, and was one of the founding pieces of spring training in Arizona. Continue reading “The hot-tub league: How a Mesa spa brought spring training to Arizona”