by Corinne Murdock | Dec 30, 2023 | Economy, News
By Corinne Murdock |
Minimum wage in Arizona will rise to over $14 an hour in the new year, a 50-cent increase from the previous amount of over $13.
At $14.35, that will make Arizona the state with the ninth-highest minimum wage in the country. Only eight Democratic-led states — California, Washington, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Colorado — outrank Arizona in their minimum wages offered.
Arizona was one of 22 states to receive a minimum wage increase.
The state’s minimum wage adjustment originated with Proposition 206 — referred to as the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act — passed by voters in 2016 under former Gov. Doug Ducey. At the time of the act’s passage, the minimum wage was about $8 an hour. The act initiated an incremental increase in the minimum wage from $8 in 2016 to $12 an hour in 2020, with all subsequent annual changes based on cost of living increases.
The act exempts individuals employed by parents or siblings, babysitters, state or federal government employees, and small businesses that gross less than $500,000 annually and don’t have to pay a minimum wage per federal law.
Since 2006, municipalities have been allowed to set a local minimum wage higher than the state.
Flagstaff and Tucson both have their own minimum wage ordinances; Flagstaff requires its wage to be at least $2 higher than the state, while Tucson currently has an incremental increase to reach $15 by 2025.
2024 marks the first year Flagstaff will adjust its minimum wage based on cost of living. Tucson will adopt the same schedule after 2025.
According to those parameters, Flagstaff’s minimum wage will rise to $17.40 come January. Tucson was set to reach a $14.25 minimum wage this year according to its schedule, but according to the law will match the state raise to $14.35.
In recent years, Flagstaff has battled with the state in court over its minimum wage schedule. The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled in February that the city would have to pay the state over $1.1 million for its minimum wage ordinance, per a 2019 law requiring annual assessments of municipalities with a minimum wage exceeding that imposed by the state. These assessments review estimated state agencies’ costs attributable to the higher minimum wage.
The federal minimum wage remains at $7.25 an hour, unchanged since 2009. Democrats in the House and Senate are looking to change that with proposed legislation to increase the minimum wage to $17 by 2028.
According to an Economic Policy Institute analysis, the raise would result in an estimated $86 billion annually in wages for over 27.8 million workers, averaging out to about $3,000 more per worker annually. Those millions affected make up about 19 percent of the national workforce.
In Arizona, the proposed federal minimum wage raise would impact roughly 629,000 workers with an average annual increase of over $900.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a review of similar legislation which proposed a minimum wage increase of $15 an hour by 2027. CBO estimated that earnings would raise for some, but overall there would be a decrease in employment.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Dec 30, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Law enforcement at the front lines of the border crisis is looking for new recruits.
Last week, the Chief Patrol Agent for the Detroit Sector of the United States Border Patrol, Robert Danley, posted a notice to “X” that his agency is hiring. Chief Danley shared information about hiring incentives and the link for interested men and women to apply.
For years, the Border Patrol has been under duress from the deluge of illegal immigration across America’s southern border. The border has been ‘open,’ more or less, for decades, but the situation on the ground has reached unprecedented levels in the past ten years. Over the past three years, during the Biden Administration, the border crisis has arguably been at its peak, forcing the already thin ranks of Border Patrol agents to process hundreds of thousands of incoming illegal aliens.
According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, there were 19,357 Border Patrol agents in Fiscal Year 2022.
Border Patrol agents have faced new threats in 2023, in addition to their wearisome workload at their stations, leading many to wonder how many individuals would want to sign up for what this job has become. In October, the Vice President of the National Border Patrol Council, Art Del Cueto, posted a picture of online messages that contained threats and concerning solicitations about personal information for agents and members of their families.
The messages shared by Del Cueto included the following:
- “We will pay for any addresses of border patrol agents!!”
- “$200 your way if you get me a border patrol agent’s address”
- “$1k if you get me they mommas address”
- “We offer $$$ for information on BP agents”
- “Top dollar on good info”
- “I’ll post us torturing any bp agent u send”
Ali Bradley, a National Correspondent for NewsNation, shared additional insight from conversations with Border Patrol agents, stating that “the agency says the messages also show the intent to post the torture of BPAs on social media.”
Earlier this month, two wives of Border Patrol agents joined Fox News to talk about the crisis and their perceptions of the lawlessness through the eyes of their husbands. One of the women, Alison Anderson, said, “We have literally watched our border be handed over… he often talks about, why did our brothers die? Why did people die defending this country for this administration to sit there, lie about what they’re doing and hand over our border and our national security?”
In Fiscal Year 2023, there were 2,475,669 encounters of illegal immigrants at the southern border – in addition to the ‘gotaways’ who slipped by agents. Through the first two months of the newest fiscal year (October and November), there were 483,404 apprehensions at the southern border. Both months have outpaced FY 23s figures so far.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Dec 29, 2023 | Education, News
By Corinne Murdock |
Another one of Arizona’s 14 career and technical education (CTE) districts can’t prove it effectively prepared students for high-need technical occupations despite spending over $1.4 million.
A report issued last week by the Arizona auditor general revealed that the Cobre Valley Institute of Technology (CVIT) didn’t collect, validate, and use complete data to assess whether students were successfully prepared to enter high-need occupations or earned industry certifications through its programs.
“Without collecting, validating, and using complete and reliable key outcome data about jobs obtained and certifications earned by its students, the District could not demonstrate to students, parents, the public, and State policymakers that its programs were effective in achieving the statutory purpose of preparing students for entry into high-need occupations,” reported the audit.
CVIT reported that it didn’t factor student employment and industry certification data because it didn’t have a reason to distrust self-reported data from its students and member districts. The auditor general rejected the permissiveness as prone to corrupting the data quality with errors and misreporting.
High-need occupations are those defined by the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity and the Arizona Department of Education as high-skill, high-wage, or in-demand occupations. These careers normally don’t require a higher education or advanced degree, and may require certification or licensure.
CVIT paid over $176,000 to partner with Eastern Arizona College: $130,000 in tuition and other fees for its students to attend the program and $46,000 for classroom supplies and equipment purchases. It also paid over $575,000 in satellite funding to its member districts and about $120,000 on grants passed to member districts and equipment purchases.
Administrative costs were the second-biggest portion of the $1.4 million collectively, totaling about $529,000. CVIT spent about $356,000 on salaries and benefits for its superintendent and business manager, administrative supplies and equipment, audit services, and advertising, as well as nearly $173,000 on support services for the salaries and benefits of staff performing program director duties, attendance software and services, insurance costs, school safety supplies and equipment, and cell phone services.
According to the auditor general, CVIT didn’t have consistent processes in place to collect student job placement data, though it surveyed students who completed a CTE program to determine if they were employed, enrolled in postsecondary education, or enlisted in the military, and were using skills and knowledge acquired in their CTE programs.
Additionally, CVIT only validated certification data for students who attended central campus programs, not member districts.
The auditor general recommended CVIT develop and implement consistent data collection protocols for all CTE programs: collecting and validating complete data such as student certifications earned and post-graduate jobs obtained. CVIT issued a response agreeing with the auditor general’s finding and recommendations.
CVIT wasn’t the only CTE district to fail to prove its funding adequately prepared students for high-need occupations. The auditor general reported in September that the Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology also didn’t.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Dec 29, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
An Arizona legislator is turning the tables on the Democrat incumbent President of the United States.
Earlier this month, freshman State Representative Cory McGarr announced that he would be sponsoring a bill in the upcoming legislative session to “remove Joe Biden from the ballot.”
The news was released alongside two other legislators from other states – Pennsylvania State Representative Aaron Bernstine and Georgia State Representative Charlice Byrd. Bernstine and Byrd also plan on introducing similar bills in their respective chambers, according to their release.
In a post on “X,” McGarr said, “Biden is leading an insurrection on the border. Time to remove him from the ballot.”
The catalyst for the bills stemmed from the recent decision from the Colorado State Supreme Court to remove former President Donald J. Trump from the ballot in the state for 2024. The trio of legislators admitted as much in a joint statement, saying, “The absurdity of radical Democrat judges removing Donald Trump from the ballot in Colorado will be a stain on the American political system for decades. By their very own interpretation of the law, Joe Biden is 100% not eligible to run for political office.” The lawmakers added, “Democrats’ insane justification to remove Trump can just as easily be applied to Joe Biden for his ‘insurrection’ at the southern border and his alleged corrupt family business dealings with China. Colorado radicals just changed the game and we are not going to sit quietly while they destroy our Republic.”
A few of McGarr’s colleagues noted their approval of his efforts. Representative Travis Grantham gave a one-word nod to the joint statement posted to the social media platform.
Representative Rachel Jones cheered on the announcement, stating, “My seatmate!!!”
Representative Alexander Kolodin weighed in, writing, “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.”
Guy Benson, a national political pundit and writer on Fox News and Townhall.com picked up on the news from the three legislators. He posted the following to his “X” account: “Here we go…GOP state lawmakers file legislation to remove Biden from the ballot in 3 states, claiming he’s guilty of aiding an ‘insurrection’ at the border & citing his family’s foreign business dealings. They explicitly say their goal is to ‘showcase the absurdity’ of Colorado.”
McGarr and his out-of-state colleagues ended their joint statement with their rationale for the future introduction of these bills. They said, “To be clear our objective is to showcase the absurdity of Colorado’s decision and allow ALL candidates to be on the ballot in all states. To do that, we must fight back as Republicans against the communists currently running our great country.”
The motivations for these bills may become moot, however, thanks to a surprising revelation from the Colorado Secretary of State on Thursday. Secretary of State Jena Griswold issued a statement to share that, with the appeal from the state’s Republican Party, “Donald Trump will be included as a candidate on January 5, 2024, unless the U.S. Supreme Court declines to take the case or otherwise affirms the Colorado Supreme Court ruling.” Griswold highlighted her belief that “Donald Trump engaged in insurrection and was disqualified under the Constitution from the Colorado Ballot.”
As the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office noted, January 5 is the “deadline for (the office) to certify the names and party affiliations of candidates on the 2024 Presidential Primary Ballot,” and it is also a conference day for the nation’s high court.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Dec 28, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A familiar political party is coming back to Arizona ballots in 2024.
Last week, the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office announced that the Green Party “has exceeded the minimum signature requirement of 34,127 and has qualified as a new party for federal, statewide, and legislative races in the 2024 Primary and General Elections under Arizona law.”
The Party recognized its feat on “X,” writing, “The Arizona Green Party is incredibly proud to announce that we have once again achieved official political party recognition in the State of Arizona and WILL be on the ballot for the 2024 & 2026 Primary Elections.” The state’s Green Party leadership expressed gratitude to their volunteers, saying, “Thank you to the many dedicated activists, supporters, and volunteers who made this happen. Let’s turn AZ GREEN in 2024!”
Dr. Jill Stein, a candidate for the Green Party nomination, acknowledged the news from the Grand Canyon State and noted the significance of this achievement for her political faction. Stein said, “BREAKING: We’re on the ballot in Arizona! Congrats to the Arizona Green Party for this huge win – bringing Green Party ballot access to 20 states and counting! We’re well on the way to getting our urgently-needed pro-worker, anti-war, climate action campaign on the ballot across the US!”
According to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, the Green Party “did not file in time to appear on the March Presidential Preference Election ballot.”
Stein appeared on the 2016 November General Election ballot as the Green Party’s nominee in Arizona, where she obtained 34,345 votes. The Green Party was not afforded a spot on the ballot in 2020, when Joe Biden beat then-President Donald Trump by 10,457 votes in the state. If Arizona replicates the 2020 presidential election finish, Stein’s inclusion on the 2024 ballot could possibly be the difference between a Democrat or Republican carrying the state’s eleven electoral votes.
On its website, the Arizona Green Party asserts that it “supports livable wages, universal health care, free higher education, student debt forgiveness, full reproductive rights for women, human rights for all immigrants, LGBTQ+, with commitment to racial justice, non-violence, and environmental sustainability.”
Last month, Fontes announced that the Patriot Party of Arizona did not submit enough signatures to qualify for the ballot in Arizona elections throughout 2024.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Dec 28, 2023 | Education, News
By Corinne Murdock |
Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) extended its application deadline for a sex ed curriculum committee serving grades 6-9 to about mid-January.
The district disclosed that it had received enough applicants to form the Sex Ed/Human Growth and Development (HGD) committee, but that not all of the desired learning communities were represented in the applicant pool.
SUSD divides its schools into five learning communities that comprise a school feeder pattern: Arcadia Learning Community, which includes Arcadia High School, Echo Canyon K-8, Ingleside Middle School, and the Hopi and Tavan elementary schools; Chaparral Learning Community, which includes Chaparral High School, Cocopah Middle School, Copper Ridge K-8, and the Cherokee, Cochise, and Sequoya elementary schools; Coronado Learning Community, which includes Coronado High School, Tonalea Middle School, and the Hohokam, Pima, and Yavapai elementary schools; Desert Mountain Learning Community, which includes Desert Mountain High School, Desert Canyon Middle School, Mountainside Middle School, Cheyenne K-8, and the Anasazi, Desert Canyon, Laguna, and Redfield elementary schools; and Saguaro Learning Community, which includes Saguaro High School, Mohave Middle School, and the Kiva, Navajo, and Pueblo elementary schools.
The committee will be tasked with learning Arizona laws establishing processes and guidelines for HGD/sex education materials; discussing and identifying criteria for evaluating resources beyond statutory criteria; reviewing, evaluating, and discussing vendor-submitted resources; reviewing teacher and parental feedback; and recommending resources to the SUSD Governing Board for formal approval and adoption.
Arizona law requires parental permission for any sexual education lessons in grades 6-12. Sexual education is prohibited before the fifth grade.
Even prior to seeking out parental permission, school districts and charter schools must make all sex ed curricula available for review online and in person, and notify parents where these materials may be reviewed at least two weeks prior to offering the instruction.
Development of the curriculum also requires public notification, review, and input for at least 60 days before the governing board votes on the curriculum.
Committee members serve as unpaid volunteers, though eligible certified employees could receive horizontal move hours for committee meetings that occur after the school day. Members are scheduled to meet twice in January, and once in February, March, and April, though SUSD noted that there will be the possibility that more meetings could occur to accomplish their work.
The original application deadline was scheduled for earlier this month, in mid-December, with an announcement of the committee members promised for Dec. 22. The new deadline is end of day Friday, Jan. 12, 2024.
The first meeting date is scheduled less than a week after the new deadline.
At least half of the committee members will be SUSD-certified teachers who possess content knowledge of sex ed/HGD curriculum.
Those deciding on committee membership are three individuals from the SUSD Cabinet, Ed Services Department, and/or the Teaching and Learning Department.
Parent and community member applicants are asked to provide experience and/or expertise relative to sex education, such as any training, prior employment, health care background, and education levels; examples of membership on past teams that were successful; and the main reason for interest in serving on the committee.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
