Arizona lawmakers pan, praise Biden’s combative State of the Union address

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By Ian McKinney
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden delivered a combative State of the Union address Thursday that laid out his achievements and baited Republicans for not doing more, a tone that did not sit well with Arizona’s GOP lawmakers.

Rep. Juan Ciscomani, R-Tucson, called it a “divisive” address that sounded “more like a campaign speech than anything else,” noting that Biden repeatedly targeted former President Donald Trump while glossing over other issues.

“He (Biden) mentioned his predecessor more than anything that I heard him say. So, he was obsessed with that, making comparisons, and quite frankly, when you compare where we were as a nation … it isn’t even close,” Ciscomani said. Continue reading “Arizona lawmakers pan, praise Biden’s combative State of the Union address”

Arizona reports 20% increase in HIV cases, predominantly affecting Hispanic communities

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By Leah Mesquita
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – When Christopher Carrillo discovered a lump behind his ear in 2011, it never occurred to him that the cause could be from HIV.

“Testing wasn’t something that I did,” Carrillo said. “It wasn’t part of my routine.”

After Carrillo researched lymph nodes online and saw a mention of HIV, he decided to see a doctor. The results changed his life forever.

Today, Carrillo is a case manager at the Southwest Center for HIV/AIDS in Phoenix, a health-care facility serving primarily “persons of color, LGBTQIA2S+ and Queer individuals, and those affected by HIV.” He sees a recent wave of new HIV cases in Arizona changing the lives of the Hispanic population around him. Continue reading “Arizona reports 20% increase in HIV cases, predominantly affecting Hispanic communities”

As hearings grow more combative, one committee stands out for its civility

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By Reagan Priest
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Sandy Bahr has testified before committees at the Arizona Legislature since the 1990s and says that, like all lobbyists, she is used to butting heads with lawmakers during hearings.

But Bahr, the director of the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon chapter, said the disagreements have become more frequent and more heated, with what she calls disrespectful treatment from lawmakers toward lobbyists, experts and citizens on the rise.

“The Legislature has not been a particularly friendly place for environmental protection, but it has gotten much worse in the last several years,” Bahr said. Continue reading “As hearings grow more combative, one committee stands out for its civility”

Colorado River states offer competing proposals for managing water

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  • Slug: BC-CNS-Colorado Conflict,990 words.
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By Alex Hager
KUNC

The seven states that use water from the Colorado River proposed competing plans to the federal government this week on the river’s future management, with upper and lower basin states offering their own visions.

Arizona joined California and Nevada with a plan that calls for a new framework for measuring the amount of water in western reservoirs and a method for distributing water cutbacks accordingly.

The proposal from the Upper Basin states – Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming – puts into writing one of their most-repeated talking points: That they bear the brunt of climate change, which is reducing the amount of snow in the mountains where the Colorado River begins, and any new rules for the river need to reflect that. Continue reading “Colorado River states offer competing proposals for managing water”

Prom, conversation, bingo: Seniors seek socialization

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By Kevinjonah Paguio
Cronkite News

GILBERT – Prom. It’s something that usually happens in high school, but not for the residents of Savanna House. On a Saturday afternoon in January, these senior citizens were full of excitement, anticipating the under-the-sea themed prom awaiting them.

One of those seniors, 77-year-old Carol Dudash, relished the primping and prepping of getting dressed up for the event. Step by step, she used her walker to get to the bathroom. With some help from volunteer Joya Haymon, she applied makeup – a rarity. Light strokes brushed on the foundation. A touch of lip gloss brightened her lips.

The Savanna House seniors were joined by residents of two sister communities – Sky Vista and Sky Ridge – who were also excited to break up their daily routine with something special. All three facilities are owned by MBK Senior Living. For some, it was a moment to relive memories of long-ago proms; for others, it was a chance to attend prom for the first time. For the residents of all three communities, it was a chance to meet up and enjoy a fun afternoon. Continue reading “Prom, conversation, bingo: Seniors seek socialization”

Vote ’em if you’ve got ’em: Voters could see flood of questions on ballot

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By Martin Dreyfuss
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – One expert thinks it’s evidence of voter enthusiasm. Another thinks it is more likely caused by voter unhappiness with their elected officials.

What they’re referring to is the avalanche of statewide ballot questions that Arizona voters are likely to face when they go to the polls this fall.

There are already four initiatives on the ballot and another 15 that have been filed with the Arizona Secretary of States’ office and will be added if supporters can collect enough signatures. That does not include resolutions currently working their way through the Legislature that, if passed, would land on this fall’s ballot as referendums. Continue reading “Vote ’em if you’ve got ’em: Voters could see flood of questions on ballot”

Sinema won’t run again, decries system where ‘compromise is a dirty word’

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By Ian McKinney
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema announced Tuesday that she will not run for re-election this fall, lamenting the current state of partisan politics where voters and lawmakers alike prefer to “retreat farther to their partisan corners.”

The announcement ends months of speculation over Sinema’s political future and removes the possibility of what could have been a three-way race for Senate, as Sinema left the Democratic Party in 2022 to become an independent.

That followed a series of votes that angered progressives, who targeted Sinema over her refusal to back a higher minimum wage and to preserve the filibuster, among other actions. Continue reading “Sinema won’t run again, decries system where ‘compromise is a dirty word’”

Tempe adds advocate, detective to enhance support for trafficking survivors

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By Sadie Buggle
Cronkite News

TEMPE – The city of Tempe is bolstering its fight against human trafficking with the introduction of two new positions: a trafficking victim advocate and a specialized detective.

These roles, made possible by a three-year federal grant, will work to strengthen the city’s efforts to combat human trafficking and provide comprehensive support to trafficking victims and survivors. Continue reading “Tempe adds advocate, detective to enhance support for trafficking survivors”

If trees could talk: Tree rings show recent decades warmest in 500 years

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  • Slug: BC-CNS-Tree Tales,530 words.
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By Alex Hager
KUNC

The current Western megadrought is unlike any other dry period the region has experienced over the past 500 years.

That’s according to a new study in which scientists looked at tree rings to track changing temperatures going back to 1553. Researchers found that human-fueled climate change is driving temperatures higher, which makes soil drier and droughts more frequent, intense and widespread. Continue reading “If trees could talk: Tree rings show recent decades warmest in 500 years”

With traffic fatalities on the rise, Phoenix looks for safety solutions

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By John Sanders
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Traffic safety continues to be a complicated issue in Arizona. With streets full of cars, it can be difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to navigate safely.

Traffic fatalities have been on the rise. A report from the Arizona Department of Transportation noted 1,294 traffic fatalities in 2022, an 8.6% increase from 2021. The report also indicated 302 pedestrian and 48 cyclist deaths – both up from the prior year.

In Phoenix, which had the most traffic deaths in the ADOT report, at 301, the city in 2022 enacted the Vision Zero Road Safety Action Plan. Vision Zero is a nationwide effort that looks to eliminate traffic fatalities. Phoenix’s plan includes the “4E approach” to make roads safer for all, which includes evaluation, engineering, enforcement and education. Continue reading “With traffic fatalities on the rise, Phoenix looks for safety solutions”

Abortion opponents rally at Capitol during ‘crucial time in Arizona’

  • Slug: BC-CNS-Life March,790 words.
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By Lillie Boudreaux
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Abortion opponents packed the plaza outside the Arizona Capitol on Friday in an impassioned display of anti-abortion advocacy at what one advocate called “a crucial time in Arizona” for the abortion fight.

This year’s March for Life comes as the Arizona Supreme Court is considering whether to reinstate an abortion ban in the state, while activists are fighting to put a question on this fall’s ballot that would enshrine abortion rights in the state constitution. Continue reading “Abortion opponents rally at Capitol during ‘crucial time in Arizona’”

Congress in action, or inaction? This Congress among the least productive

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By Ian McKinney
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – Lawmakers passed a last-minute budget extension Thursday to head off a looming Friday government shutdown – just the 40th law passed by this Congress, which is on pace to be the least productive in at least a half-century.

Those 40 bills – four of which were continuing resolutions to extend the budget that Congress has been unable to pass since fiscal 2024 started Oct. 1 – are about 11% of what would normally be passed at this point in a typical congressional session. Continue reading “Congress in action, or inaction? This Congress among the least productive”

Arizona GOP legislators pass immigration bills on border crossing and E-Verify

EDS: UPDATES original lede, second and sixth grafs to reflect governor’s veto of SB 1231. No other changes.

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By David Ulloa Jr.
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Gov. Katie Hobbs on Monday vetoed a bill that would have made it a state crime to cross the border illegally, one of a package of bills that critics have called modern versions of SB 1070.

Other bills in the package – including a proposed ballot initiative that would expand the use of E-Verify to welfare recipients as well as workers – have been approved in the House with strong Republican support, but have not yet reached the governor.

Critics such as Lena Avalos, a senior policy adviser at Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), see the bills as “a coordinated attack on communities of color and immigrant communities.” They compare this year’s bills to SB 1070, the controversial 2010 Arizona legislation that gave local law enforcement the power to enforce immigration law.

Continue reading “Arizona GOP legislators pass immigration bills on border crossing and E-Verify”

LGBTQ+ youth face increased risk for suicide and barriers to accessing mental health care

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By Mia Milinovich
Cronkite News

TUCSON – LGBTQ+ youth across the country are facing an increased risk for suicide, as reported by the 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People by the Trevor Project. At the forefront of this issue are conversations about anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, barriers to accessing mental health care and the importance of resources for the community.

The Trevor Project surveyed 28,000 LGBTQ young people from ages 13 to 24 across the U.S. and found that 41% of them seriously considered suicide. The report also showed that 49% of LGBTQ youth in Arizona seriously considered suicide and 16% of them attempted it in 2022.
Continue reading “LGBTQ+ youth face increased risk for suicide and barriers to accessing mental health care”

Phoenix continues outreach to struggling teens during Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

  • Slug: BC-CNS-Teen Dating Violence. 660 words.
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By Donovan Growney
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The city of Phoenix has been highlighting teen safety in romantic relationships for February’s Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. The city provides outreach programs to help tackle the complex issue and uses marketing materials to increase awareness.

Melissa Jimenez is a victim advocate supervisor at the city’s Family Advocacy Center, which provides services to victims of violent crimes. Jimenez said that raising awareness is just a small part of what the city is doing.

Continue reading “Phoenix continues outreach to struggling teens during Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month”

Former drug user tells story at Maricopa County’s first Spanish-only forum on fentanyl addiction

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By Brenna Gauchat
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Ronny Morales never finished his journalism degree at Arizona State University. After attending the school for four years, the Cronkite Noticias student was just one internship credit short of graduating.

Morales said it was not his lack of enthusiasm or experience in the field that prevented him from graduating, it was his fentanyl addiction.

“The first newscast I did (for Cronkite Noticias), I was not necessarily in the grips of addiction quite yet, but I was definitely falling into it,” Morales said. “And then towards the end, I was trying to get off and I think you could see it.”

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid drug that produces feelings of euphoria, relaxation and pain relief. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, it is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin as a pain reliever.

Continue reading “Former drug user tells story at Maricopa County’s first Spanish-only forum on fentanyl addiction”

‘All I wanted to do was dance’: Ballet scholarship competition helps further dancers’ dreams

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By Marnie Jordan
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – Dancers nervously wait backstage to perform in front of judges who may determine the fate of their careers. Once a performer’s number and name are called, they elegantly walk on stage under dramatic stage lights as they prepare to start their routine.

In the darkness of the auditorium, the audience, the judges sit and wait.

“It feels like my skin is on fire and has ants all over it,” says 17-year-old performer Alicia Lucchesi. “And then I get on stage and it’s still there, but the second I start moving, it’s like it disappears. I come off and it feels like I’ve taken the first breath after a million years of not breathing.”

Continue reading “‘All I wanted to do was dance’: Ballet scholarship competition helps further dancers’ dreams”

Business owners challenge bill requiring E-Verify checks for jobs, benefits

  • Slug: BC-CNS-EVerify Vilified,780 words.
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By Martin Dreyfuss
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – House Speaker Ben Toma says his latest immigration bill could save Arizona billions in welfare benefits annually, but small-business owners rallied Monday to say it will cost the state instead, by driving out businesses and workers.

The business owners, backed by advocates and Democratic lawmakers, said HCR 2060 – which would require proof of citizenship to work or to receive any public assistance – will wind up hurting the state’s economy while renewing fear among Latinos in Arizona. Continue reading “Business owners challenge bill requiring E-Verify checks for jobs, benefits”

Going on offense over Defense spending: Biden touts benefits to states

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By Ian McKinney
Cronkite News

WASHINGTON – When the Senate approved $95 billion in military and other aid for Ukraine and Israel earlier this month, President Joe Biden singled out Arizona as one of the states that would benefit from the increased defense spending.

It’s not clear whether Ukrainian aid is entirely the cause, but there’s no question that defense spending has been good to the state. The Pentagon spent $15 billion in Arizona in fiscal 2022, the last year for which data is available, up from $14.6 billion the year before. Continue reading “Going on offense over Defense spending: Biden touts benefits to states”

New software tool takes on institutionalized racism in health care

  • Slug: BC-CNS-Health Equity Software. 950 words.
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By Annika Tourlas
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – An expecting mother goes for her first ultrasound with a new doctor. During the appointment, the doctor’s attention is drawn to an alert on her computer about the maternal mortality rate for Black women, like her new patient, being 2.6 times higher than that for non-Hispanic white women in the United States. The doctor adjusts her patient’s care plan, making personalized clinical decisions.

With the integration of Truity, a comprehensive health equity software platform developed by TruLite Health, this hypothetical situation may soon become real for patients of Mayo Clinic Arizona.

“If you are not white, male, educated, living in an urban ZIP code, have some money and straight, your outcomes are likely worse in some capacity, and that’s the disparity,” Dr. Alan Roga, co-founder and CEO of TruLite Health, said. “How’s that possible in the wealthiest country in the world?”

The Truity software tool is designed to identify and remedy the kinds of disparities named by Roga, for instance the“institutionalized racism and bias in medicine” researchers have highlighted as reasons behind the disparate Black maternal mortality rates.

Continue reading “New software tool takes on institutionalized racism in health care”