Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Chucri is resigning effective Nov. 5 after recordings were leaked showing him criticizing fellow supervisors re: the audit back in March.
Took my son to his first
@Suns
game tonight and a stranger named Danny just pulled us out of the concession line to vastly upgrade our seats. Gave us his season tix seats because his wife and son couldn’t make it. From one dad to another, thanks for making my kid’s night Danny.
An Arizona Supreme Court panel has found probable cause to allow the state Bar to move forward with complaints against three attorneys who represented Kari Lake in cases related to the 2022 election.
AZ Supreme Court denies special action request by Abe Hamadeh and awards attorneys fees to Kris Mayes and Adrian Fontes because Hamadeh’s team “misrepresented to this Court that they had sought such relief when they had not done so…”
One great thing about not covering Scottsdale anymore is that I can now completely ignore the Phoenix Open and avoid that quadrant of the Valley until it’s gone.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge dismisses some, but not all, counts in Kari Lake’s elections contest. The court will hear arguments on two counts related to ballot chain of custody and alleged intentional misconduct affecting ballot printers.
I guess now is as good a time as any to let y’all know next week is my last covering Scottsdale for
@ScottsdaleProg2
. Then I’m off to the Capitol to take over
@TheYellowSheet
.
Granted I’m new at this editor thing but my guiding philosophy is making my reporters feel supported. Our job is to go into the world and challenge the most powerful people in our orbits. The job Is hard, but I should be their support and safe harbor, not another barrier.
Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board just voted to cancel tonight’s meeting after a large group of parents refused to wear masks. The district still has a mask requirement for all buildings.
Charlie Kirk asserts that tall buildings make people liberal: "The higher the building, the more liberal the voter. It just is. The closer to the ground you are, the more conservative you are"
Dem Rep Stahl Hamilton makes a motion to bring her bill repealing Arizona’s territorial near full abortion ban. Republicans are now trying to adjourn rather than vote on her motion. This comes an hour after Republicans Matt Gress made a failed attempt to vote on the repeal.
Dem Rep Stahl Hamilton makes a motion to bring her bill repealing Arizona’s territorial near full abortion ban. Republicans are now trying to adjourn rather than vote on her motion. This comes an hour after Republicans Matt Gress made a failed attempt to vote on the repeal.
This is my last full week
@TheYellowSheet
. I've had a blast over the last 2 years at the weirdest job in AZ journalism, but I decided it was time to return to more traditional reporting. To the political types sad about (or celebrating) my departure, I'll still be around. 1/2
Former Maricopa County Recorder Helen Purcell told me she is "absolutely" confident in the procedures Maricopa County has in place to deal with today's issue with ballot tabulators at 20% of vote centers.
Update: in a separate motion in the public records case bright by the Arizona Republic, Wilenchik wrote the request for withdrawal was due to “specifically, lack of payment on file”
Today is my last day at
@TheYellowSheet
. In lieu of a list of my favorite stories (which most of you wouldn’t be able to read anyway), here’s the best meme I created in my 2+ years on the job.
Breaking: Scottsdale Councilwoman Solange Whitehead announced on Facebook that Mayor Jim Lane will announce a mask mandate tomorrow, a complete reversal from what he told me earlier today
I’m at the
@AZGOP
statutory meeting. Expecting some fireworks today as state committeemen select a new state chair and other positions. Will thread what observations I make from my designated perch high above the crowd.
AZ AG Kris Mayes obtained indictments against 5 people, including 3 former dept of education employees, who allegedly defrauded states school voucher program of $600k using fake kids and false special education paperwork for real children.
And the president of the
@SFGiants
weighs in on Scottsdale Councilman Guy Phillips’ comments...the Giants who occupy Scottsdale Stadium, which just received a multimillion dollar overhaul
Judge appears ready to toss out injunction against harassment filed by Senator Wendy Rogers against Cap Times reporter Camryn Sanchez. Says strongest point is “investigative journalism is a legitimate purpose.”
AZ Sec of State Adrian Fontes has published the 2023 Elections Procedures Manual, giving elections officials a new manual for first time since 2019 after then AG Mark Brnovich wouldn’t sign off on then Sec or State Katie Hobbs’ manual. New manual here:
Republicans infighting in the AZ Senate. Sen Jake Hoffman accuses fellow Republicans of lying to committee chairman about intent of a housing bill. Sen Sonny Borrelli, who sponsored an amendment expanding the bill, told Hoffman “you better check yourself buddy.”
AZ Senate Minority Leader Mitzi Epstein says Democrats will use every procedural rule at their disposal to introduce a repeal of AZ’s 1864 abortion law when Senate meets later today.
Hats off to
@NateBrownNews
,
@CamrynSanchezAZ
and all the other reporters who put in long hours at the Capitol last night to make sure Arizonans will be informed about their budget even though the votes took place while most of them were sleeping.
Governor Hobbs list announced a staff shakeup, including a forthcoming new comms director. Murphy Hebert, who was
@GovernorHobbs
Communications Director, is no longer on the Governor’s staff, Chief of Staff Allie Bones confirmed.
Rep. Jevin Hodge got a bill passed through the AZ House just weeks after being appointed to fill a vacancy. And it was a bill he originally got passed through both chambers before it met a veto in 2012 - when he was a high school senior.
Councilman Guy Phillips said Scottsdale Fashion Square riot was a preview of what can happen if Dems are on City Council.
Ive seen statements like this from other pols too, and they all forget the riot actually happened under a Republican mayor, city council, leg and governor
Scottsdale Unified Superintendent Scott Menzel said Honor Health is working with Maricopa County to schedule days to vaccinate SUSD and PVUSD staff. No date scheduled but said could be late January.
Board seemed largely sympathetic to folks asking them not to certify - mostly based on issues in Maricopa County - but also listened to attorney's advice that they simply did not have legal authority to delay canvass and that challenges can't go forward until canvass is done
Election deniers are putting pressure on county supervisors in several AZ counties to not certify their midterm election results. Will all counties vote to certify by the Nov. 28 (next Monday) deadline?
Here's what I'm watching ... 👀👀👀
I’m just a man. Sitting in the gallery. Watching Howie navigate the empty desks waiting for someone to come back and tell him what’s going on with this K-12 budget bill.
Breaking: Maricopa County Superior Court Judge denies petition by Republican National Committee to extend voting hours in AZ. Said court has no evidence anyone was actually denied right to vote and would have no way to even extend the hours because of the late hour.
The cool thing about working for a local pub is that sometimes we’re just an uncredited tip sheet for larger statewide/national papers and also get paid less.
Since tourists are flooding Scottsdale (and I heard a certain shop owner is making the viral rounds), figured I’d repost this story I wrote a few years ago about the counterfeit Indian jewelry trade.
The way this was announced is confusing. It’s up to $1800 per student for districts that haven’t already received $1800 or more from previous federal pandemic distributions. So some districts - like Phoenix Union or SUSD - don’t qualify for addtl $$$ whether they comply or not
So, now Gov.
@DougDucey
will be paying school districts $1,800 per student to ignore public health guidelines and follow a not-yet-in-effect state law that forbids them from requiring masks? We're now paying schools to put kids at risk?
I want my reporters to have lives outside of their jobs. In my experience, that’s a good thing. When we have the chance to take a break and recharge, we hit our beats with more vigor. A bunch of burnt out husks do no good for anyone.
Wheels coming off. Folks are trying to speak over ward, apparently upset about the credentialing issue and “approval of agenda” (?). Ward puts one committeeman in “timeout” in the lobby. Lots of boos.
Rep. Smith drops out due to challenge alleging he forged petition signatures. Says he is concerned about cost of litigating. Worth noting he works for TPUSA, which hasn't shied of funding litigation for allies in past, including a lawsuit by parents against Scottsdale Unified
The local newspaper guy and the national correspondent. Not bad for two for Thunderbird High School newspaper editors. Good to see you
@VaughnHillyard
. Keep up the great work!
AZ Senate session doesn’t start for an hour and there’s already a screaming match in the gallery. Some shouting “My body, my choice,” as a louder chorus led by Senator David Farnsworth yells “End abortion now”
A bunch of cheers when Tyler Bowyer introduces resolution to censure Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and when he announces that a resolution to honor John McCain failed.
Look, I know cities and school districts are entirely different entities with little overlap in authority, but when I see something like this days after my kindergartner has to go back online...the level of cognitive dissonance is baffling.
NEW: Phoenix will allow a soccer tournament with about 500 teams to take place in north Phoenix this weekend, as public officials & CDC recommend staying home for Thanksgiving to prevent spread of COVID-19.
Here's the memo:
AZ Rep Travis Grantham’s “Tamale Bill” passes unanimously out of AZ House to much applause. Gov Hobbs vetoed a similar bill last year but Grantham says changes were made to address concerns. Still waiting to hear Gov’s position on new bill.
Says the national party and Mitch McConnell failed to help az candidates financially, which elicited boos. Meanwhile,
@JimSmall
reported state party spent $330k on an election night party.
That motion to table fails. Republicans Ken Bennett, TJ Shope and Shawnna Bolick stood with Dems to kill the motion to table. Same happens with a vote to recess for an hour.
The AZ House of Representatives denied a records request I filed to obtain the rest of the footage from a covertly installed camera that captured Rep. Stahl Hamilton hiding Bibles.
I’ll be on
@kjzzphoenix
tomorrow morning breaking down the Scottsdale City Council and mayoral elections. Tune in to hear what my brother calls “definitely not an NPR voice”.
I reached peak dad last night when I single-handedly removed our old washing machine and brought in the new one without a furniture dolly. Just the perfect combo of boneheaded unpreparedness and will to get shit done.
Just saw 39 seniors at Coronado High School received promise scholarship that will pay for them to attend community college. A few years ago a story I wrote about the program caught the eye of a former grad who donated to help fund the program. Local news makes a difference.
In case you’re wondering how dead the Capitol is on a weekend, the guy who stole the Carl Hayden bust just climbed up on the monument, kicked it off, and walked away with it at 1 pm on Sunday in September, according to security cam footage.
Breaking: Scottsdale PD announced YouTuber
@jakepaul
has been charged with criminal trespass and unlawful assembly for allegedly participating in riot at Scottsdale Fashion Square mall.
@eturleye
@BrianaWhitney
@CamrynSanchezAZ
got this from AZ GOP: “Every American citizen has the right to fair treatment throughout the judicial system. The Republican Party of Arizona respects due process and the Constitution. We support Mr. Kaufman’s decision to suspend his campaign.”
My last job required regular Facebook usage and my current job requires none. I’ve opened that app maybe 4 times in the past month and, gotta tell ya, it feels great to only be latched on to one digital hellscape.
Breaking: SUSD in negotiations with
@PHXRisingFC
to lease city’s 68th st property for new practice facility. Properly used to house the old Tonalea schools.
My son cried today because it’s his last day of school and he doesn’t want it to end. I cried when I saw that a bunch of kids like him won’t have the opportunity to lament, celebrate or live the end of their school year. What a fucked up place we’ve made.
Judge says she will sign a temporary restraining order to stop Maricopa County's ballot preparation process pending an evidentiary hearing in this case. County "strongly" opposed this, saying it is on a tight timeline to print ballots.