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Hobbs warns about threats to voter power but defends Axon exception

Hobbs warns about threats to voter power but defends Axon exception

Gov. Katie Hobbs said as a lawmaker she opposed efforts to curtail voters' ability to put questions on the ballot. As governor, her record is mixed.
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Arizona Attorney General Declines to Charge Governor Hobbs in Pay-to-Play Allegations

Arizona Attorney General Declines to Charge Governor Hobbs in Pay-to-Play Allegations

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has announced that state prosecutors will not file criminal charges against Governor Katie Hobbs regarding allegations of a pay-to-play scheme. The accusations stemmed from claims that Governor Hobbs provided preferential treatment to Sunshine Residential Homes, a group home company, after it contributed $100,000 to her inaugural celebration. The Arizona Republic reported that Sunshine Residential Homes received a 30% payment increase from the state, making it one of only two companies to receive such an increase during the 2022-2023 contracting period. Governor Hobbs has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating she was not involved in the decision-making process for the rate increase. Attorney General Mayes, a Democrat like Governor Hobbs, stated that the investigation did not uncover sufficient evidence of a 'quid pro quo' to support a bribery charge. However, Mayes emphasized the need for legislative reform to enhance transparency regarding political donations from...
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Arizona Voters to Decide on Eight Ballot Measures in November

Arizona Voters to Decide on Eight Ballot Measures in November

Arizona voters will consider eight ballot measures in November, following recent decisions by the Arizona Supreme Court that finalized the ballot. Among the measures is Proposition 318, known as the 'Protect Girls’ Sports Act,' which seeks to expand existing state law to require K-12 and college sports teams to be designated by biological sex, as per original birth certificates, starting in 2027. This proposition would also prohibit schools from allowing transgender students to use bathrooms aligning with their gender identity, and these provisions would extend to private athletic associations like Little League. Other measures include Proposition 141, which aims to ban vehicle-miles-traveled taxes, and Proposition 142, an anti-DEI amendment targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in public institutions. Proposition 144, the 'Fast Election Results Act,' proposes election reforms such as requiring government-issued ID for all voting methods and prohibiting foreign nationals from influencing Arizo...
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US imposes deep Colorado River water cuts to California, Nevada and Arizona

US imposes deep Colorado River water cuts to California, Nevada and Arizona

By Andrew Hay and Nichola Groom Aug 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Friday finalized a two-year plan to slash water supplies to California, Nevada and Arizona to manage the drought-stricken Colorado River, while leaving open the possibility of far deeper cuts later in the decade.
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Arizona attorney general declines to charge Gov. Katie Hobbs over pay-to-play allegations

Arizona attorney general declines to charge Gov. Katie Hobbs over pay-to-play allegations

State prosecutors declined to file criminal charges against Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs over allegations that she took part in a pay-to-play scheme with a group home company
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Representative Ciscomani Champions $1.6 Million Investment for Pinal Airpark Air Traffic Control Tower Development

Representative Ciscomani Champions $1.6 Million Investment for Pinal Airpark Air Traffic Control Tower Development

U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani has highlighted a preliminary federal funding allocation of $1.6 million to advance the development of a new air traffic control tower at Pinal Airpark in Marana, Arizona. This funding is critical for supporting various initial phases of the project, including site selection, environmental review, design, and the commencement of construction. The objective is to address the airpark’s significant safety and operational needs, as Pinal Airpark currently operates without a dedicated air traffic control tower despite handling over 100,000 commercial and military flight operations annually. Representative Ciscomani has been actively working towards this goal since 2023, having previously secured a provision in the federal aviation reauthorization package to expedite the tower's development. This investment is part of a larger effort by Representative Ciscomani to secure $42.7 million for 20 local projects within Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District.
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New Poll Shows Katie Hobbs Leading Andy Biggs in Arizona Governor's Race for 2026 Election

New Poll Shows Katie Hobbs Leading Andy Biggs in Arizona Governor's Race for 2026 Election

A recent poll conducted by Noble Predictive Insights indicates that Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs holds a significant lead over Republican challenger Andy Biggs in the Arizona gubernatorial election for 2026. The poll, conducted from August 10 to August 13, 2026, surveyed 1,040 registered Arizona voters, including 923 likely voters. The results show Hobbs leading Biggs by 13 points, with 48% support compared to Biggs' 35% among likely voters. The poll also noted 1% support for the No Labels Party's Teri Ann Hourihan and 2% for Risa Lombardo, who is listed as the Green Party's candidate despite the party's opposition to her candidacy. Approximately 12% of likely voters surveyed remain undecided. Officials with Noble Predictive Insights suggest that Hobbs' summer advertising campaign has contributed to her increased support, with her share of the vote among registered voters rising five points since May, while Biggs' has decreased by the same margin.
Arizona Republic Arizona Republic
Arizona's anti-discrimination law must be enforceable | Opinion

Arizona's anti-discrimination law must be enforceable | Opinion

Arizona Supreme Court case could determine whether public employees can sue if they believe state agencies violated Arizona's anti-discrimination law.
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Arizona Supreme Court Blocks School Voucher Regulation Measure and GOP Override Attempt from Ballot

Arizona Supreme Court Blocks School Voucher Regulation Measure and GOP Override Attempt from Ballot

The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled against two significant ballot measures concerning the state's school voucher program. Proposition 212, also known as the Protect Education Act, which aimed to introduce sweeping regulations to Arizona's billion-dollar universal school voucher program, will not appear on the ballot. The court upheld a lower court's decision that disqualified a sufficient number of voter signatures, placing it below the required threshold. Prop. 212 sought to add an income eligibility cap, establish penalties for voucher misuse, and mandate educational and safety requirements for schools accepting vouchers. Concurrently, Proposition 145, a Republican-led referral designed to prevent future regulations on the school voucher system, was also blocked from the November ballot. The court agreed with a lower court's July decision that Prop. 145 was unconstitutional, citing that its main provisions changed different parts of the Arizona Constitution and lacked sufficient connection, violating th...
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GOP Referral to Prevent School Voucher Regulations Blocked from Arizona Ballot

GOP Referral to Prevent School Voucher Regulations Blocked from Arizona Ballot

A Republican-led ballot referral, Proposition 145, designed to prevent any future regulation of Arizona's private school voucher system, has been officially blocked from the November ballot by the Arizona Supreme Court. The court ruled that the measure violates the state Constitution. Proposition 145 contained two main provisions: one that would have forbidden any voucher money from being taken from military families, and another that would have made future reforms to the voucher system nearly impossible by enshrining protections for it in the Arizona Constitution. This second provision would have voided even voter-backed efforts to restrain the program. Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer, writing for the majority, stated that Prop. 145's two main provisions were not sufficiently related to satisfy the Arizona Constitution's separate amendment requirement, which prohibits ballot measures from making multiple, disparate changes. The court also noted that the provisions had significantly different impacts, going...
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Arizona Supreme Court rejects GOP-backed school voucher ballot measure

Arizona Supreme Court rejects GOP-backed school voucher ballot measure

Arizona's Supreme Court ruled that lawmakers unconstitutionally combined two separate changes into one ballot measure on school vouchers.
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Arizona Supreme Court Blocks ESA Reform Measure Proposition 212 from November Ballot

Arizona Supreme Court Blocks ESA Reform Measure Proposition 212 from November Ballot

Arizona voters will not have the opportunity to vote on Proposition 212, a measure aimed at reforming the state's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, in the upcoming November election. This decision follows a ruling by the Arizona Supreme Court, which upheld a lower court's finding that the initiative lacked sufficient valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. Proposition 212 sought to introduce reforms such as income caps, student testing requirements, educator fingerprinting, and provisions allowing the state to recoup unspent ESA funds. Organizers of the initiative, including Save Our Schools Arizona, expressed disappointment, stating that the ruling prevents voters from having a say on the billion-dollar ESA voucher program. Concurrently, Proposition 145, a measure that would have blocked Prop. 212 and future ESA reforms, was also kept off the ballot by the Supreme Court, which upheld a lower court's decision that it violated the state's Separate Amendment rule.