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1/3 of the Politics Desk @kjzzphoenix.bsky.social
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Story is updated with information from a cease-and-desist letter County Attorney Rachel Mitchell sent to the Trump-aligned group representing Heap, arguing they don't actually represent the Recorder, because she didn't appoint them as outside counsel and, thus, the suit is moot.

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap has filed a lawsuit against the county’s board of supervisors, escalating a monthslong fight over control of Maricopa County’s elections. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Republicans in the Arizona House introduced their own state budget proposal, even though they have not been involved in negotiations taking place between Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and Senate Republicans. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Two state lawmakers will attempt to unseat fellow Republicans on the Arizona Corporation Commission, the state’s top utility regulator. It's the latest inter-party challenge backed by the Freedom Caucus and its leader, state Sen. Jake Hoffman. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Austin Smith reportedly resigned from Turning Point Action last year after the signature fraud allegations became public. His Linkedin showed he started working there again this year but the page was deleted today shortly after I requested comment from a spox for Turning Point.

The latest Prickly newsletter is out now. Find out what's happening at the Arizona Legislature — and subscribe to get it delivered to your inbox every other week.

After vetoing a record 143 bills in 2023 — her first year in office — Gov. Katie Hobbs killed half that number a year later. But her veto tally jumped back up this year. @camrynsanchez.bsky.social and I took a look at why. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

“It is a technology that should not and constitutionally cannot be applied to the American people. Even testing for eventual overseas use in legitimate combat theaters raises a lot of questions about what kind of data is being collected.” Story by @jerodmacevoy.com

After President Donald Trump called for the re-opening of Arizona’s first coal power plant, the state’s top utility regulator said bringing the facility back online would cost nearly $2 billion. www.kjzz.org/business/202...

As congressional Republicans attempt to cut Medicaid spending, Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill that could expand the program in Arizona to cover treatments for obesity. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Health care executives from across AZ joined Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs to call on the state’s congressional delegation to reject Medicaid cuts, saying they could result in 200k Arizonans losing care and hurt rural communities. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Eyewitnesses say that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are once again detaining asylum seekers outside of a federal immigration court in Phoenix. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

A former top attorney for the Arizona Corporation Commission has agreed to settle a discrimination lawsuit she filed against the commission last year. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

I went to immigration court yesterday to observe protests in response to ICE detaining people seeking asylum. I ended up in a court room observing an asylum case, a process I didn't really understand until I saw it in person. Here's what I witnessed: www.kjzz.org/fronteras-de...

A federal immigration judge in Phoenix denied asylum to a woman after finding she had credible fears that she would be killed by a drug cartel if she returns to Mexico. www.kjzz.org/fronteras-de...

State budget negotiations are progressing slowly at the Arizona Capitol as the Republicans who control the Legislature have yet to engage in formal talks with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ office. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge sent the criminal case against Arizona’s so-called fake electors back to the grand jury, which further delays a case that has moved slowly through the courts since the original indictment came down over one year ago. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Black leaders from across the state have come out in support of embattled Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Robert Branscomb, who is navigating infighting, a call to resign and contentious union negotiations with party staff. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Proposed budget cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting would affect tribal radio stations and Native news programs. Often in rural, tribal communities, public broadcasting is the only news source.

Gov. Katie Hobbs joined other Democratic governors around the country to decry cuts to federal Medicaid spending proposed by Republican lawmakers that could result in over 8 million Americans losing their health coverage. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Arizona won’t become the next major player in the cryptocurrency industry after Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed three virtual currency bills, but a new law Hobbs did sign will establish the state’s first fund for unclaimed digital assets. www.kjzz.org/business/202...

Meet the 13-year-old Chandler resident who helped break through bipartisan gridlock at the Arizona Capitol to save disability services her brother relies on. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

In open letter defending AZ Democratic Party chair Robert Branscomb, 11 Black community members call for unity around a man whom they call a "change agent." Pointedly, they call on "all elected statewide Democratic officials to meet this moment with unity and collaboration."

Four years after Arizona first allowed payments to student athletes, a new law expands the ways universities and colleges can compensate sought-after sports stars and raise the money to pay them. www.kjzz.org/education/20...

Democratic leaders from across the state are concerned about the Arizona Democratic Party’s apparent lack of a plan heading into the 2026 election cycle. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...

AZ Dem news: 10 county party chairs signed letter to state party Chairman Robert Branscomb expressing concerns with party budgeting process, including lack of info on planning for upcoming election season and "an independent contract to allow payment to you as a non-employee"

A local Democratic leader in Tempe is drafting a letter calling on Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Robert Branscomb to resign after an internal struggle between Branscomb and Arizona’s top elected Democrats spilled into public view. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

The directors of the Arizona Department of Health Services and the state’s Medicaid agency have resigned, saying the confirmation process overseen by the Republican-led Arizona Senate has become too politicized. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

As the latest round of negotiations over a bill to fund improvements for the @Dbacks are set to kick off, Gov. Hobbs says she wants a compromise all sides can agree on, while Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin says everyone needs to think bigger. www.kjzz.org/business/202...

Families celebrate Arizona bipartisan solution for disability services funding, but parent caregiver program's future remains unclear. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Legislation to fund stadium improvements for the Arizona Diamondbacks continues to languish at the Arizona Legislature amid opposition from officials in Phoenix and Maricopa County, whose tax dollars would fund much of the project. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

The Arizona Democratic Party publicly declared its support for organized labor years ago, but now it is at odds with a union representing its own staff. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...

After a months-long stalemate, the state Legislature passed a bipartisan plan to send emergency funding to a program that supports Arizonans with developmental disabilities, with just days left before the program runs out of money. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

The Senate passes the bill 28-1. On to the governor.

After it looked like partisan gridlock would reign another day, the AZ House of Representatives approved a bipartisan plan to send emergency funding to a program that supports Arizonans with developmental disabilities days it would run out of $$$. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Wheels are turning at the Capitol on a funding solution for the Division of Developmental Disabilities. Speaker Montenegro says negotiations are ongoing with Republicans and Gov Hobbs. Democrats confirm but say there are still sticking points. That includes Republican desire to pull some money from

The AZ House of Representatives gave a standing ovation to retiring Major General Kerry L. Muehlenbeck, who led the state’s National Guard.

Former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely announced his candidacy to replace Republican Congressman Andy Biggs, who is running for governor. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

A schism in the Arizona Democratic Party spilled into public view over the weekend, revealing a split between the party’s top elected officials and its new chairman. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Lawyers for Arizona’s so-called fake electors claim prosecutors misled the grand jury that indicted the defendants one year ago and are asking a judge to force prosecutors to seek new indictments. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Parents of children with disabilities are attempting to recall four Republican state lawmakers amid a fight at the Arizona Capitol over funding for services their children require. From @camrynsanchez.bsky.social www.kjzz.org/kjzz-news/20...

Gov. Katie Hobbs threatened to veto every bill sent to her until the Republicans who control the Arizona Legislature send her a bipartisan solution to resolve an impending fiscal cliff at a program relied on by Arizonans with developmental disabilities. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Gov. Hobbs says there's a "bill moratorium" until the legislature sends her a bipartisan bill to fund the Division of Developmental Disabilities. Her spokesman confirms this means she will veto any new bills sent her way. She will take normal action on bills leg already sent her

Republicans at the AZ Legislature forced through their own plan to send emergency funding to a program that provides services to Arizonans with developmental disabilities, blocking a competing bipartisan proposal. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Republican lawmakers at the Arizona Legislature advanced a package of bills designed to force state and local officials to support the Trump administration's effort to deport millions of people. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...