Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have each released their first Spanish-language television ad in Arizona as they try to appeal to Latino voters ahead of the state’s primary on Tuesday. Clinton’s ad casts the former secretary of state as a friend of the Latino community. It touts her record…
The rate of unintended pregnancy in the United States has declined substantially for the first time in decades, a new study finds. The study by the Guttmacher Institute finds that the rate of unintended pregnancies among women and girls between the ages of 15 and 44 dropped from 54 percent…
Faith leaders from a range of religious backgrounds banded together to condemn several bills moving through the Arizona Legislature that they say promote discrimination against immigrants and refugees. One proposed law is House Bill 2370, which would allow the state to refuse to help refugees if it can’t ensure they…
In Latino neighborhoods, eloteros are about as popular as the ice cream man. They ride around in bikes selling corn on the cob covered in mayonnaise, cotija cheese, lime, salt, and chili powder. The blast of their bugle bicycle horns are the eloteros’ iconic call to customers. “They’ve definitely become…
Arizona continues to lead the country in reports of flu-like illnesses, and health officials say they’re not sure why. “It’s hard to say why Arizona is topping the charts this flu season,” Cara Christ, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, stated on the department’s website. She said the…
A bill decried by critics as another assault on public education is advancing in the Arizona Legislature. It would allow every Arizona public school student to attend a private school at the expense of taxpayers. Currently, only a limited number of students can attend private schools using state money through…
Arizona State University has partnered with Cisco Systems, Inc. to launch a project aimed at teaching minority youth how to become entrepreneurs. The grant-funded project plans to help an estimated 1,000 high school students and about 300 community college students create solutions to problems they see happening in their communities…
Uber’s and Lyft’s independent drivers may soon be able to pick up passengers arriving at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport just like they do at airports in several other cities across the United States. The Phoenix Aviation Advisory Board voted 5-4 Thursday night to approve a new policy that…
A bill targeting notary publics who prey on immigrants by pretending to be lawyers and providing legal services cleared its first hurdle at the Arizona Legislature on Wednesday. Senate Bill 1271 passed out of the Senate Government Committee with a 6-1 vote. The measure would allow county attorneys, not just…
On the heels of Phoenix’s eliminating the opening prayer at City Council meetings rather than cave to Satanists, a member of the Satanic Temple now it scheduled to give the invocation at a Scottsdale City Council meeting in April. “The Satanic Temple requested to deliver an invocation at a City…
Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, who’s already received the nod from Democratic Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva, has scored more endorsements from Latino leaders here. State Senator Martin Quezada (D-Phoenix) and Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo joined about a dozen other Latinos — most of them members of the Arizona Legislature —…
Mesa Mayor John Giles announced in his State of the City address today that Arizona State University will open a new campus in downtown Mesa. Joining him to make the big announcement was ASU’s mascot. “Sparky and I are here to announce very, very exciting news,” Giles said. “We are…
In a move that blocks a Satanist group from giving the invocation at the next Phoenix City Council meeting, the council voted 5-4 Wednesday night to no longer open every meeting with a prayer. It instead will call for a moment of silence. A member of the Satanic Temple from…
A bill moving through the Arizona Legislature would make it a felony to take someone else’s early ballot to a polling place or an elections office. The House Elections Committee approved the bill, known as HB 2023, on a 4-2 party-line vote this week. Republicans voted in support and Democrats…
More than a year after it became known that veterans were dying while waiting for care, the new head of the Phoenix VA Health Care System told vets Thursday night that she wants to regain their trust and work with them to make improvements. “We have made progress here at…
Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton and his wife, Nicole, announced today that they are separating. “After 10 years of marriage that brought us tremendous joy and two beautiful children, we have decided to separate,” the Stantons announced through the mayor’s public Facebook page. “This is a difficult but amicable decision.” The…
Oscar Vazquez, who grew up in Arizona as an undocumented immigrant and went on to serve in the U.S. Army, was a special guest at President Barack Obama’s final State of the Union address Tuesday night. He sat in the guest box of First Lady Michelle Obama along with 22…
Striking Phoenix bus drivers admit that they’re starting to worry about how the strike is affecting their lives, but they say they’re not willing to give up. “Even though I don’t have money, I couldn’t face my fellow workers knowing I let them down,” said Vanessa Washington, a driver and…
A count of the homeless people living in Maricopa County will take place later this month in an effort to learn who’s experiencing homelessness and the resources they need. The Maricopa Association of Governments coordinates the Point-in-Time homeless count in Maricopa County each year to secure homeless-assistance funding from the…
Gun-control advocates will hold a vigil Sunday at the “Release the Fear” sculpture in downtown Phoenix to honor victims of gun violence. “When we talk about gun violence, it doesn’t just affect the victims or their immediate family members,” said Geraldine Hills, founder of Arizonans for Gun Safety. “This takes…
State Senator Martin Quezada plans to introduce legislation early next year targeting fraudsters who deceive undocumented immigrants by falsely claiming they’re authorized to provide legal advice or services concerning immigration. Quezada said he’s taking action because he’s tired of seeing immigrants getting scammed by “notarios” who pose as attorneys. Typically,…
Surrounded by Republican bigwigs, including John McCain and Jeff Flake, Democratic state Senator Carlyle Begay, whose district covers the Navajo Nation, announced that he is joining the Republican Party. “With an open mind and heart, I clearly see the Republican Party is a party of progress, a party of hope,…
