Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 21h

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.

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Maricopa County recorder escalates legal fight vs. Board of Supervisors over control of elections

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 ...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 1d

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.

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Congresswoman-elect Grijalva's win is certified. Mayes threatens litigation if she's not sworn in

Arizona leaders certified Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva's win Tuesday and demanded she be sworn in. Southern Arizona voters elected Grijalva in a special election on Sept. 23, but she still has...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 2d

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.
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Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport won't play 'political' message blaming Democrats for shutdown

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 ...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 6d

Now, ASU President Michael Crow said he doesn't believe the Department will fund the new facility. 5/5
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ASU opens $270 million semiconductor research facility. But larger federal project is likely dead

Arizona State University opened a new $270 million research project that officials say will put the state at the forefront in developing new semiconductor manufacturing technologies. But an even large...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 6d

At the time, Sec of Commerce Howard Lutnick said the Dept will keep "control of taxpayer funds and delivers investments and benefits for all Americans." That left a lot of uncertainty about the future of the ASU facility. 4/5

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 6d

But the Trump Administration clawed that funding back in August, claiming the way Biden's Commerce Dept allocated the money violated federal law. 3/5
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Trump administration claws back funds from $1.1 billion ASU semiconductor facility

The Department of Commerce announced it is pulling back billions of dollars in funding for semiconductor research awarded by former President Joe Biden’s administration, which included funding for a $...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 6d

The Biden Admin awarded billions in CHIPS Act $ to a new nonprofit that was supposed to invest in R&D. Some of that money was supposed to a new research and development facility at ASU's Research Park that was announced weeks before Biden left office. 2/5
news.asu.edu/20250106-sci...

ASU selected as home and partner for CHIPS and Science Act-funded national facility for semiconductor advanced packaging | ASU News

Following a week where a spirited effort by the Sun Devil football team captured the nation’s attention in the Peach Bowl, it is Arizona State University’s capability as a top-tier research university...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 6d

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

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 6d

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...

ASU opens $270 million semiconductor research facility. But larger federal project is likely dead

Arizona State University opened a new $270 million research project that officials say will put the state at the forefront in developing new semiconductor manufacturing technologies. But an even large...

www.kjzz.org

Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 7d

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.
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Arizonans claim new unemployment portal has payment glitches. She says it cost her car, benefits

Tolleson resident Sommers Bennett says she hasn’t received unemployment payments for weeks, because of an error in the state’s new benefits system that the Arizona Department of Economic Services is a...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 8d

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.
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Arizonans say new unemployment benefits portal is rife with glitches, errors

When the Arizona Department of Economic Security launched the CACTUS unemployment system in September, it said the new tool would make it easier for people to manage their benefits. But in the month s...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 9d

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.
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Chino Valley bans large-scale solar and wind projects

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.

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 13d

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.

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Fontes takes steps to finalize Arizona Election Procedures Manual despite GOP legal threats

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 ...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 20d

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.

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A year after the Coyotes left, new group announces plans to bring NHL team back to Arizona

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 mo...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 22d

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.

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Fontes refuses DOJ demands for Arizona voter information

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.

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 22d

Advocates fear third parties could cash in on uranium miners and downwinders after RECA renewal. Important reporting from Gabriel Pietrorazio.
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Advocates fear third parties could cash in on uranium miners and downwinders after RECA renewal

Two years ahead of what could be a final round of applications, allegations of predatory representation and solicitation are on the rise, and especially targeting tribal communities.

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 27d

Arizona regulators have started the process to repeal efficiency rules requiring the state’s largest utilities to achieve annual energy savings.

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Arizona regulators begin process to repeal utility energy efficiency rules

Arizona regulators have started the process to repeal efficiency rules requiring the state’s largest utilities to achieve annual energy savings.

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 28d

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.
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Regulators green light power plant near Gila Bend first approved in 2001. Critics say that's a problem

The Arizona Corporation Commission paved the way for the construction of a new gas power plant near Gila Bend two decades after regulators first approved the project, drawing criticism from opponents ...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 28d

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.

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Arizona prison system making changes after 'common law' filings led to prisoner's release

Arizona prison officials are making changes after admitting they wrongfully released prisoner David Cramer two decades early as a result of fraudulent court documents filed by his family. But Cramer’s...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · Sep 13

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.

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Scottsdale City Council takes 1st steps toward 'Axon bill' lawsuit

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 headquar...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · Sep 12

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs joined other Democratic governors from around the country in issuing an executive order to expand access to COVID vaccines.

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Hobbs issues executive order expanding COVID-19 vaccine access in Arizona

Gov. Katie Hobbs issued an executive order Thursday to ensure Arizonans can access COVID-19 vaccines.

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · Sep 10

The State Bar of Arizona filed a lawsuit against family members of the Arizona inmate who prison officials wrongly released from custody earlier this year, accusing them of illegally acting as attorneys.
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State Bar of Arizona: Daughters of inmate released on fake documents illegally acted as lawyers

The State Bar of Arizona filed a lawsuit against family members of the Arizona inmate who prison officials wrongly released from custody earlier this year, accusing them of illegally acting as attorne...

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · Sep 10

Scottsdale will not sue the state of Arizona over legislation that paved the way for Axon to build a new headquarters in the city, for now. But a main critic of the project says he is prepared to sue if the city doesn't.
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Scottsdale City Council votes against suing Arizona over 'Axon bill' — for now

Scottsdale will not sue the state of Arizona over legislation that paved the way for Axon to build a new headquarters in the city, for now.

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · Sep 9

And officials aren't saying how he fooled the system after years of filing fake documents that were flagged by either the Clerk's Office or judges.

Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · Sep 9

The Maricopa County Clerk's Office even sent a letter to Cramer and his associates in 2019 warning them to stop or the clerk would contact law enforcement. But the Clerk's Office isn't saying whether they made good on that threat.

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