News - AZ FREE NEWS

Bill Would Bar Use Of Taxpayer Funds For School Board Association Dues

Jan 18, 2022

By Terri Jo Neff | A state senator has introduced a bill to prohibit public school districts from using taxpayer dollars to pay for membership in a state or national school board association. Current state law allows a school district governing...

House Committee Passes Bill To Ban Critical Race Theory From K-12 Schools

Jan 18, 2022

By Corinne Murdock | The struggle over the presence of critical race theory continues with a new bill proposing to ban the controversial academic concept from K-12 classrooms. State Representative Michelle Udall (R-Mesa) introduced the bill,...

Federal Agency Seeks Comments To Advance More Productive Tech Economy

Jan 18, 2022

By Terri Jo Neff | The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking comments about eight emerging technology areas: Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things in Manufacturing, Quantum Computing, Blockchain Technology, New and...

Bill Would Require Health Care Entities, Insurers to Disclose Religious Denial Of Services

Jan 17, 2022

By Corinne Murdock | The “Patient’s Right to Know Act,” HB2196, would require both health care facilities to disclose any religious denial of services, and then require insurance providers to relay that information to their enrollees. The first...

Millions Available For Travel, Tourism, And Outdoor Recreation Federal Grants

Jan 17, 2022

By Terri Jo Neff | Only two weeks are left to apply to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for grant funding under the American Rescue Plan Act for Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation. The EDA aims to assist communities and regions in...

Arizona Health Department Excluded Comorbidities From Unvaccinated, Vaccinated Fatalities Comparison

Jan 16, 2022

By Corinne Murdock | Absent from the Arizona Department of Health (ADHS) report last week that unvaccinated individuals were 31.1 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than their vaccinated peers were any comorbidities. ADHS also claimed that the...

Tucson Schools to Pilot Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum

Jan 15, 2022

By Corinne Murdock | Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) will pilot a social-emotional learning (SEL) supplemental curriculum at 19 schools this coming spring. TUSD will rely on Character Strong’s SEL supplemental curriculum. The following...

Phoenix Giving Out $100 Gift Cards For Vaccines

Jan 14, 2022

By Corinne Murdock | Individuals may receive $100 grocery gift cards if they get vaccinated fully through the city of Phoenix’s mobile COVID-19 vans. Those interested must register with either Vincere Cancer Center or Premier Lab Solutions, the two...

Secretary of State to Shut Down Candidates’ Signature-Gathering Site, Barring New District Signatures For 2022

Jan 14, 2022

By Corinne Murdock | In a sudden email late Wednesday night, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs’ office informed candidates that their signature-gathering system, E-Qual, would be suspended once the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) certifies...

Gowan Says Arizona Prepared For Type Of Cyberattack Which Crippled Virginia Legislature

Jan 13, 2022

By Terri Jo Neff | With the introduction of legislation this week in the Arizona House of Representatives to prohibit many public entities from using public funds to pay for ransomware attacks, AZ Free News recently spoke with Sen. David Gowan...

Bill Bars Arizona’s Federal-Only Voters From Voting For President, Receiving Early Ballots By Mail

Jan 13, 2022

By Corinne Murdock | A new bill proposes that Arizonans registering to vote must provide proof of citizenship in order to vote in presidential elections and receive early ballots by mail. Federal-only voters aren’t required to provide proof of...

Most Arizona Sheriffs Support Ducey’s Proposed Federal Border Legislation

Jan 13, 2022

By Terri Jo Neff | Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and the majority of Arizona’s sheriffs are tired of waiting for Congress to do something constructive about the unsecured Arizona / Mexico border. So they are joining together to support draft...