Arizona regulators scaled back a program operated by the state’s largest utility designed to encourage energy efficiency, arguing they were trimming ineffective initiatives and eliminating unnecessary expenses. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Arizona Attorney General's office tells me Trump admin threats to withhold SNAP funding to states, including AZ, that won't turn over beneficiary data are illegal due to court orders blocking the effort. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

I took a look at changes made to SNAP by the Big Beautiful Bill and how the government shutdown could provide a preview of how those changes will affect the food assistance ecosystem in AZ over the next few years. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

A new lawsuit filed Tuesday seeks to void the name change of the Arizona Independent Party, arguing it will cause widespread voter confusion.

Calling the alleged activity “more egregious than TikTok,” AZ AG Kris Mayes filed a lawsuit against Temu, alleging the Chinese-owned online retailer company cheats consumers while illegally collecting their data. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

The Mesa Police Department arrested a longtime Valley activist on Tuesday morning as he was documenting federal immigration activities, leading to backlash from protesters and state officials. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

The Citizen Clean Elections Commission is calling on Sec of State Adrian Fontes to reverse a decision allowing one of the AZ's newest political parties to rebrand itself, arguing the new name will cause mass voter confusion. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

At a conference of western governors in Arizona last week, the region’s energy future dominated the conversion as populations and the AI data center industry continue to grow and drive up demand. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Western governors, gathered for a conference in Paradise Valley, concentrated on the need to grow the American energy industry dramatically to meet the nation’s exploding demand for electricity. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

During his first countywide election, Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap’s office rejected ballots at a rate nearly three times as high as seen in recent elections, causing alarm for some county leaders. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...

Court records show that a group of Arizonans accused of using fraudulent documents to get an inmate out of prison 20 years early attempted to use a similar scheme to free a second inmate. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

I say this a lot privately to colleagues and for no reason whatsoever I’m going to say it here: access journalism is a cancer.

Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky said a new deal to build Axon's HQ - and cancel a voter referendum - provides "finality." But plenty of questions remain about the future of the project. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

AG Mayes won't say whether she'll appeal decision sending fake electors case back to grand jury by Nov 21 deadline but she dismissed reports earlier this month inferring she was preparing to drop the case "I guess I would caution folks against reading into my comments." www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

A dispute between a Medicaid insurer Mercy Care and an autism therapy provider could leave hundreds of patients searching for new places to receive care next year, though I just found out Mercy Care delayed the end of the contract from January to March. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Congressman Andy Biggs said today he will vote to release the Epstein files when it comes up for a vote in the House. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

With Congress making progress towards ending the government shutdown, Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva could be sworn into office at some point this week. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...

A West Valley school board member is suing her own district, claiming her fellow board members violated the law by censuring her over allegations that she “humiliated” employees and displayed other unprofessional behavior. www.kjzz.org/education/20...

A judge rejected Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap's request to block an audit of the county's voting systems ordered by the Board of Supervisors. Story to come.

The new Arizona Independent Party is joining forces with a national group as both organizations attempt to create a viable third party option appealing to moderate and centrist voters. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

In Tuesday’s elections, voters considered requests from school districts across metro Phoenix to use local property taxes to increase budgets and fund new construction. Early returns show mixed results. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...

The Maricopa Supervisors and Recorder Justin Heap agree that the county needs to audit its election systems, but they remain at odds over who should oversee the process. Here's the latest from the legal battle over control of the county's latest. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Gov. Katie Hobbs says problems with Arizona's unemployment system are the result of federal funding cuts, not a new benefits tool launched by the state last month. But many people who rely on the system say otherwise. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Arizona food banks are already seeing increased demand as the freeze on SNAP benefits nears, from Katherine Davis-Young www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

AZ AG Kris Mayes joined a lawsuit to force the Trump Administration to continue funding SNAP food assistance during the shutdown. And she wants Gov Hobbs and lawmakers to approve emergency funding in the meantime - but that doesn’t look likely. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Republican Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell and Democratic Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes are asking a judge to overturn a state law designed to prevent criminal prosecutions that infringe on First Amendment protections. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Elon Musk says Tesla will bring its self-driving taxis to Arizona by the end of the year, and one state lawmaker says the more the merrier. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

After announcing Congressional run, Gina Swoboda will not immediately resign as Arizona Republican Party chair despite calls from some party members — but she did open the door for those members to replace her at the AZ GOP’s annual meeting in January. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...

Last year, AZ regulators adopted a novel interpretation of state law that allowed a 200MW gas power plant expansion to circumvent environmental review. A judge just overruled the regulators (but didn't get into the thorny issue at the center of the case) www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

The Arizona Supreme Court granted Attorney General Kris Mayes’ request to delay an upcoming deadline for her to decide the next steps in the so-called “fake electors” case. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...

With Rep. David Schweikert out of Arizona's CD1 race, @camrynsanchez.bsky.social and I break down what could happen in one of the state’s few competitive congressional districts. Check out the latest episode of the Prickly podcast. www.kjzz.org/podcast/pric...

A Maricopa County judge has set a hearing on Nov. 6 to consider Recorder Justin Heap's request for a court order blocking the Board of Supervisors from letting a 3rd party audit election systems. Judge is particularly concerned about claims the 3rd party isn't vetted.

The AZ Department of Economic Security has acknowledged for the first time that a glitch in the state’s new unemployment system is preventing some Arizonans from receiving benefits - but the dept continues to deny the system faces wider spread problems www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap is asking a judge to block the Board of Supervisors from auditing the county’s election systems, the most recent development in a monthslong fight over control of county elections. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

AZ AG Mayes said she will sue Speaker Johnson if doesn’t swear in Grijalva in the next 2 days. “We will likely, if this doesn't get resolved very quickly, be seeking a declaratory action from a federal judge and trying to get her sworn in,” she said. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport joined a handful of other airports across the country that have refused to display a video from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Arizona has a booming semiconductor industry, is currently hosting industry power players at SEMICON West and just announced a new cutting edge $270M research facility at ASU. So, why are the feds pulling out of a $1B investment at the university's Research Park? 1/5

ASU opens $270 million semiconductor research facility. But larger federal CHIPS Act project is likely dead, ASU Pres Michael Crow says. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

A Valley resident says she hasn’t received unemployment payments for weeks, because of an error in the state’s new benefits system that the Department of Economic Services is aware of but can’t seem to fix. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

When the Arizona Dept of Economic Security launched a new unemployment system, it said the tool would make it easier for people to manage benefits. But Arizonans who rely on those benefits say the portal is bogged down by glitches and other errors. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Chino Valley became the latest Arizona community to adopt rules restricting renewable energy development when the town’s council adopted a ban on new large-scale solar and wind projects, following a trend that's worrying renewable advocates. www.kjzz.org/business/202...

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes submitted a new draft of the state’s Elections Procedures Manual to the governor and attorney general for approval, despite concerns from Republican lawmakers that parts of the document violate election laws. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...

A group trying to bring a professional NHL franchise back to Arizona is backed by some of the biggest names in Arizona hockey, but several big questions remain unanswered about who will provide the money to create a new team and where they would play. www.kjzz.org/business/202...

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes continues to refuse to turn over voter data to the Department of Justice, despite months of demands and legal threats from federal officials. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Advocates fear third parties could cash in on uranium miners and downwinders after RECA renewal. Important reporting from Gabriel Pietrorazio. www.kjzz.org/tribal-natur...

Arizona regulators have started the process to repeal efficiency rules requiring the state’s largest utilities to achieve annual energy savings. www.kjzz.org/business/202...

Regulators paved the way for the construction of a new gas power plant near Gila Bend first approved in 2001, drawing criticism from opponents who say the public hasn’t had a fair chance to weigh in on the plans in over 20 years. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

AZ prison officials are making changes after admitting they wrongfully released prisoner due to fraudulent court documents filed by his family. But Cramer’s daughters continue to deny they did anything wrong, arguing his release was legal. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

The Scottsdale City Council voted to take the first steps toward filing a lawsuit challenging a state law that circumvented a voter referendum and paved the way for Axon to build a new global headquarters in the city. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs joined other Democratic governors from around the country in issuing an executive order to expand access to COVID vaccines. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...