by Terri Jo Neff | Aug 15, 2021 | Education, News
By Terri Jo Neff |
Whether a new state law concerning mask mandates is effective now, or doesn’t go into force until Sept. 29 is the question a Maricopa County judge must answer, but even he admits the final decision will be made by someone else.
Judge Randall Warner held oral arguments Friday morning in a petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO) requested by Douglas Hester against his employer, Phoenix Union High School District, which recently announced a mandatory mask policy for its students, parents, and staff when on school property, including buses.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) currently recommend K-12 students, parents, and staff wear masks when indoors even if vaccinated for COVID-19. Phoenix Union and at least nine other districts across the state have announced or implemented mask mandate.
Hester contends the new state law barring cities, towns, charter and public schools, community colleges, and public universities from ordering or enforcing any such mandated mask usage became effective June 30.
One or both the sides in the case could appeal Warner’s decision on the effective date of the no-mask mandate statute, depending on how he rules and the reasoning behind his decision. Warner acknowledged as such Friday when he said his ultimate duty in the case is to “tee it up for the Supreme Court” and let the justices make the final ruling
Hester, a science teacher for the district, contends HB2898, the K-12 Education Budget Reconciliation Bill which created the new law, is already in effect due to a retroactive clause. Therefore, he wants Warner to issue a TRO to block enforcement of Phoenix Union’s new policy.
Phoenix Union, through its attorney Mary O’Grady, opposes any TRO. O’Grady also filed a motion on the district’s behalf asking Warner to dismiss the case. It is the district’s position that the effective date of the new statute is not until Sept. 29, the ninety-first day after the legislative session ended.
The district also questioned why legislators would include a retroactive effective date if the new law took effect on the schedule Hester’s attorney Alex Kolodin contends is in place.
According to Kolodin, the 90-day provision does not apply to HB2898m the K-12 Budget reconciliation bill. He argued Friday that is one reason appropriations bills are not subject to voter referendums.
“The retroactivity clause, the governor, and members of the Legislature have all expressed their intent was for schools to not be able to do this after June 30 by putting in that retroactivity clause,” he argued.
Hester named the Phoenix Union District and its eight board members as defendants. Warner’s decision is expected next week.
by Corinne Murdock | Aug 15, 2021 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
Blake Masters reported that he’s managed to outraise his opponents entire first quarter showings – in one single month. The COO of the tech investment firm Thiel Capital and president of the Thiel Foundation made the announcement in a press release Friday.
Masters reported receiving over $507,000 in contributions, though the Federal Election Commission (FEC) doesn’t have his numbers published yet. Others vying for the Republican slot – Arizona’s current Attorney General Mark Brnovich, solar power businessman Jim Lamon, and former Arizona National Guard Adjutant General Michael McGuire – raised about $70,000 to over $250,000 less in their entire first quarter according to the FEC. In his first quarter, Brnovich raised $438,000.
The Senate hopeful credited his bulk of supporters – namely, first-time donors – for making this surge in campaign contributions possible.
Masters acknowledged that money shouldn’t be everything, but asserted that incumbent Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) would raise hundreds of millions to win this race. He noted further that he must be doing something right because “the Left” is attacking him primarily.
“Money isn’t the only thing in politics, but unfortunately, without it, you’re toast,” said Masters. “Mark Kelly and the Democrats are going to raise more than $100 million to try to keep this seat. Republicans need a nominee who can bring new energy, new voters, and new donors to the fight.”
Masters asserted that this pattern of donations is proof that constituents are tired of “cookie-cutter politicians.” He says their money is proof of where their vote lies.
“I raised more $ in my first month than my opponents did in their entire first quarter,” said Masters. “More proof that people are tired of cookie-cutter politicians. We need new energy in order to take this country back!
https://twitter.com/bgmasters/status/1426202818860355589
The latest polls don’t reflect where Masters lies with voters; he entered the race almost one month ago to date.
Former President Donald Trump hasn’t endorsed any candidate for this race.
Masters has the backing of fellow Thiel Capital higher-up, founder and tech billionaire Peter Thiel, who is currently backing GOP candidates in other states such as Ohio’s Senate hopeful and bestselling author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” J.D. Vance.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by AZ Free News | Aug 14, 2021 | News
Today, Governor Doug Ducey is recognizing National Navajo Code Talkers Day, now an official state holiday, to honor the Navajo Code Talkers who answered the call to protect our nation.
“Arizona is proud and grateful for the incredible work of the Code Talkers,” Governor Ducey said in the video. “Their bravery and ingenuity was instrumental in helping the Allied Forces claim victory in World War II.”
Navajo Code Talkers Day celebrates the selfless sacrifice of these brave men, including Arizona’s remaining Code Talkers: Thomas Begay, John Kinsel Jr, Samuel Sandoval and Peter MacDonald.
Governor Ducey on March 29 signed legislation sponsored by Senator Jamescita Peshlakai that makes National Navajo Code Talkers Day a legal state holiday every year on August 14. Under the legislation, if National Navajo Code Talkers Day falls on a day other than Sunday, the Sunday following August 14 is to be observed as the holiday.
The United States government recruited and enlisted more than 400 Navajo men to serve in standard communications units. The Navajo Code Talkers used their unbreakable code to assist in every major operation involving the United States Marines in the Pacific theatre, including during the battle of Iwo Jima where they successfully transmitted more than 800 messages without error.
Navajo Code Talkers Day was established through a presidential proclamation by President Ronald Reagan on August 14, 1982. In 2014, Arizona passed legislation declaring every August 14 Navajo Code Talkers Day in Arizona.
Governor Ducey has issued five proclamations to honor the Code Talkers since 2017.
by Corinne Murdock | Aug 14, 2021 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
The Democratic Party (DNC) and Arizona’s Democratic Party are looking to sue the state of Arizona legalizing third party services to purge voter rolls. In a press release, the DNC alluded that both President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris had a hand in urging this legal action.
The DNC sent their demand letter on Wednesday, thereby taking the first step toward legal action. In accordance with federal law, the DNC notified Arizona through a letter of their intent to challenge the voter rolls law.
The law allows the state legislature to enable a third-party service to review voter rolls to assess voter eligibility. That third-party service may then advise the secretary of state and county election officials to remove voters it deemed ineligible.
The DNC argued that this process is unlawful because it lacks standards, proper notification to voters, and keeps local election officials out of the process.
“[The law] violates the National Voter Registration Act because it does not have a standard by which eligibility is determined nor does it provide notification to voters that their registration is in jeopardy,” asserted the DNC. “It also violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, both because it deprives voters of the right to vote without notice and an opportunity to contest the basis of their removal from the rolls, and because it impermissibly allows Arizonans’ fundamental right to vote to be compromised by an unaccountable private party selected by the legislature.
DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison argued that Arizona’s new law removed voters unfairly and without due notice.
“Rather than leaving elections to election professionals, Arizona’s Republican legislature has granted itself the power to appoint a private party to unilaterally disqualify voters without even giving them notice,” said Harrison.
Arizona doesn’t offer same-day voting registration. Rather, voters are responsible for ensuring that they’re registered to vote in advance. Last year, the deadline was extended by court order to mid-October. A complete list of voter registration deadlines can be found here.
Arizona DNC Chair and State Representative Raquel Terán (D-Phoenix) had a slightly different perspective on the matter. She said that this law was a petty attempt by far-right politicians to rewrite election law after losing the presidency.
“Arizona Republicans are so upset they lost that they’re trying to rewrite election rules instead of changing their extreme policies,” said Terán. “Arizona Democrats are proud to join the DNC’s legal action to make sure that voters, not far-right politicians, get to choose who represents them. We are fighting to make sure that every voter has the freedom to make their voice heard.”
The Arizona GOP didn’t respond to AZ Free News by press time.
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Aug 13, 2021 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
Gilbert Public Schools (GPS) students are coming home with more than what they learned at school today – some are coming home with exposure to gender theory.
GPS students are reporting that teachers are surveying students about their “preferred pronouns.” If a female student doesn’t want to go by feminine pronouns, or a male student doesn’t want to go by male pronouns, then they may choose to identify themselves by “nonbinary pronouns” or “neopronouns.”
One GPS parent reported that her student witnessed a fight between certain students and “furries” – people with an interest in anthropomorphic animals, sometimes dressing like them – over a handout asking about preferred pronouns. The furries were concerned that their preferred pronouns weren’t options on the handout.
Preferred pronouns may disregard proper grammar entirely – such as the nonbinary pronouns “they/them.” Neopronouns can be anything, even “animal-themed” like “coyoteself.” It’s up to an individual to determine their pronouns. According to those who subscribe to or support alternative pronouns, their preferred pronouns can change by the day – even by the minute.
Beyond the traditional pronouns for males and females, popularized preferred pronouns include ze (or, zie, sie, xie, and xe, pronounced “zee”) and hir (pronounced “heer”).
Below is an example of one of the handouts from a GPS teacher:
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinnejournalist@gmail.com.
by Corinne Murdock | Aug 12, 2021 | News
By Corinne Murdock |
Arizona State University (ASU), Northern Arizona University (NAU), and University of Arizona (UArizona) all announced a mask mandate on Wednesday. NAU even encourages students to police their peers on mask wearing and social distancing. As of press time, UArizona hasn’t updated their face covering policy – though President Robert Robbins promised that further guidance would be available this week.
All three universities will enforce the mandate indoors where social distancing isn’t possible. This includes classrooms, teaching or research labs, all clinical programs and centers that serve the public, meeting rooms, workshops, and design or production studios. The universities say that they may even require masks in certain outdoor settings and activities where social distancing can’t be maintained.
These mask mandates will go into effect when classes resume – for ASU, that’s next week. NAU and UArizona start classes in two weeks’ time.
Several weeks ago, ASU said that masks would be recommended only for most students except for certain health care centers and non-campus shuttles. However, the university did allude to the possibility of expanding its mask mandate beyond those areas.
“ […] ASU is now strongly recommending that everyone on campus wear a face cover when inside a university building. We previously communicated that face covers would be required in certain health care centers and on-campus shuttles. Those requirements may extend further to select buildings and at events that may pose a higher risk of transmission,” wrote ASU. “Notification will be provided in advance of events and/or at building entrances if face covers are required. Consistent with the governor’s executive order and the CDC guidelines, we are not making distinctions between the vaccinated and unvaccinated. This will apply to all individuals regardless of their vaccination status.”
Students have already planned protests against ASU’s mask mandate. Maricopa County Young Republicans and the Arizona Young Republicans announced that they would take part in a protest on Friday. Republican governor-hopeful Kari Lake and other special guests will make an appearance at the protest.
“We are going to stand with our brother[s] and sisters at ASU tomorrow!” wrote Arizona Young Republicans. “The madness must end! #FreeASU[.]”
https://twitter.com/ArizonaYRs/status/1425842512497811456
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
