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☆ Arizona is running out of water. Big Tech data centers are partly to blame.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Alistair Barr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The area has several data centers that use lots of water. In 2021, all the company's data centers consumed 4.34 billion gallons of water. But these data centers have a part to play in Arizona's water shortage. Why do big tech companies build data centers in the middle of a desert? Microsoft said in 2021 that its Arizona data centers would use "zero water" for cooling using adiabatic cooling, which uses outside air instead of water.

Persons: Katie Hobbs, hasn't, there's Organizations: Google, Bloomberg, Microsoft, Meta Locations: Arizona, Phoenix, Mesa

☆ Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs revokes authority of counties to pursue abortion-related prosecutions
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Katie Hobbs signed an order blocking county attorneys from prosecuting abortion-related cases. Hobbs has shifted the authority of such cases to the Arizona attorney general's office. Katie Hobbs of Arizona on Friday signed an executive order that bars local prosecutors from pursuing abortion-related crimes, a move that seeks to fortify abortion rights in the politically-competitive swing state. In the executive order, the Democratic governor has stripped the authority of prosecutors and subsequently shifted powers to the state's attorney general, Democrat Kris Mayes. The Arizona legislature is still controlled by Republicans, with Hobbs serving as a check on any conservative legislation that comes to her desk.

Persons: Katie Hobbs, Hobbs, —, Kris Mayes, Wade, Pinal County Attorney Kent Volkmer, Rachel Mitchell Organizations: Local, Service, Democratic, Republican, Pinal County Attorney, New York Times, The Times, Republicans Locations: Arizona, Pinal County, Maricopa County

☆ Arizona Governor Says Prosecutors Cannot Enforce Abortion Law
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Jack Healy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Mr. Volkmer, a Republican, said abortion cases were a low priority, and that he generally did not want to come between women and their doctors. But he said most criminal cases belonged with local prosecutors, and said the attorney general’s office was “certainly not equipped” to handle abortion-related cases. There have not been any abortion prosecutions in Arizona since Roe was struck down, legal experts said, and most counties in Arizona do not even have abortion clinics. The state’s abortion providers are clustered around Phoenix and Tucson. Ms. Hobbs won her campaign for governor last year in part by promising to protect abortion rights and reproductive freedom, but the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature has limited what she and other Democrats can do.

Persons: Volkmer, “, Hobbs’s, Roe, Hobbs Organizations: Republican, Democratic Locations: Arizona, Phoenix, Tucson, Minnesota, California

☆ Arizona Gov. Hobbs Tries To Stabilize Her Office After Rocky Start
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Eliza Collins | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/arizona-gov-hobbs-tries-to-stabilize-her-office-after-rocky-start-b722c8b5

Persons: Dow Jones, hobbs Locations: arizona

☆ Arizona governor slams the brakes on Phoenix development because it doesn't have enough water
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Arizona will halt approvals of new developments that don't plan for alternate water sources. The new rule applies to the Phoenix area, whose population just topped 5 million in 2022. The state is also under federal pressure to use less water from the Colorado River. But regulators won't be approving new developments in areas around Phoenix that depend solely on groundwater supplies. Hobbs said a study of the project showed that it will require water sources other than groundwater.

Persons: Katie Hobbs, Hobbs, Phoenix, John Burns Organizations: Service, Los Angeles Times, Democrat, LA Times, Developers, Census, John Burns Real Estate Consulting, Gov Locations: Arizona, Phoenix, Colorado, Arizona , California, Nevada, Chandler, Houston, John Burns Real Estate Consulting . Arizona

☆ Arizona sets limits on construction around Phoenix as groundwater dwindles
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Arizona will not allow new housing construction in the Phoenix area that depends on groundwater, a decision that comes as the state grapples with a multi-decade drought and diminishing water supplies. The decision by the Arizona Department of Water Resources applies only to groundwater supplies and would not affect current homeowners who already have an assured water source. Earlier this year, Arizona projected that developers planning to build homes in the desert west of Phoenix don't have enough groundwater supplies to execute those plans. The decision would allow developers to continue to build in the affected areas but would require them to find alternatives to groundwater supplies. During a nationwide housing shortage, developers are hoping to build homes in growing metropolitan regions such as Phoenix despite water shortages.

Persons: Florence Wednesday, Katie Hobbs Organizations: Arizona Gov, Arizona Department of Water Resources, U.S . Locations: Pinal County, AZ, Florence, Arizona, Phoenix, Colorado

LOS ANGELES, June 1 (Reuters) - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is returning for an as yet untitled “Fast & Furious” movie as Luke Hobbs, the actor announced on Twitter on Thursday, after bowing out of the successful franchise in 2021 due to differences with star Vin Diesel. loading“Hobbs is back in the Fast and Furious franchise,” Johnson said in a video message from Hawaii, wearing a lei. “The next Fast & Furious film you’ll see the legendary lawman in will be the HOBBS movie that will serve as a fresh, new chapter & set up for FASTX: Part II,” he added. The "Fast & Furious" franchise has collected more than $7 billion at global box offices, making it the fifth-highest-grossing franchise of all time. We’ll lead with brotherhood and resolve - and always take care of the franchise, characters & FANS that we love,” he said in his post.

Persons: Dwayne, Johnson, Luke Hobbs, Vin Diesel, Hobbs, ” Johnson, HOBBS, Diesel, Jason Momoa, Mario, We’ll, ”, Moana, Chris Morgan, Danielle Broadway, Mary Milliken, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Twitter, FASTX, Mario Bros, Diesel, Thomson Locations: ANGELES, Hawaii

☆ Kyrsten Sinema, eyeing GOP voters, knocks 'both political parties' when asked about election deniers in Arizona
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In 2024, Sinema would likely need support from conservative voters who doubt the 2020 election. "Well, we're currently living in a climate where it's okay to say things that aren't true," Sinema said. "What I think we're facing in our country today is this situation where people don't know what's true and what's not true," said Sinema. Sinema again blamed "the two political parties" for becoming "more extreme." Lake says she's "seriously considering" a Senate campaign, and Sheriff Mark Lamb, already running in the GOP primary, has also cast doubt on the validity of the 2020 election.

☆ Phoenix homeless camp to be cleared after neighbors sued. What happens to vulnerable residents remains unclear
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( Gabe Cohen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Rayann Denny lives in a tent in a homeless encampment in Phoenix. So for now, the crew of helpers has stepped up its years-old effort to try to get residents off the streets. Katie Hobbs this year vetoed one such bill, saying it only served to make homelessness “less visible.”Debbie and Joe Faillace own the Old Station Sub Shop near where a homeless encampment developed. A person walks through a homeless encampment on April 18 in Phoenix. “I think we have a lot of work to do.”Stefanie Powell, right, lives in a tent at a homeless encampment in Phoenix.

☆ Richardson storms to 100m win in Diamond League, Kerley wins 200m
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"Like I said it before, I had to be kicked out from another 100 metres race, so I had to do my best no matter what. I am really happy with my race, third place is a good start and the time is decent," she said. "I feel really good, today was challenging for all athletes but I'm still satisfied with my result," Chopra said. The Czech Republic's Jakub Vadlejch, who won silver in Tokyo, finished second again -- four centimetres shy of Chopra's mark. "It was an exciting race but a little bit windy, so I decided to not push too much and just focus on winning the race," Kipyegon said.

☆ Kyrsten Sinema’s Party of One
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Robert Draper | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

Katie Hobbs, who received almost 11 percent of the Republican vote in her 2022 victory over the far-right Kari Lake. Sinema, even before she left the party in December, had become the Democrat whom Democrats love to hate. In January 2022, after her refusal to pass voting rights legislation by discarding the Senate filibuster that stood in the way, Sinema was censured by Arizona’s Democratic Party. “The decision was really a no-brainer,” a former state party official told me, adding that the censure resolution was supported by more than 90 percent of Arizona’s Democratic precinct committee members. Hobbs, on the other hand, relied heavily on the turnout of a progressive base that might have reacted poorly to Sinema’s presence on the stump.

☆ These are the top Senate races to watch in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

They have reason to be hopeful: Democrats face a daunting 2024 Senate map that puts them on defense in 23 of the cycle's 34 races, including multiple seats considered ripe for GOP challenges. The grim outlook has some Senate Democrats considering retirement, even after the caucus expanded to a 51-49 majority following a better-than-expected showing in the midterms. Jim Justice, reportedly the state's richest man and one of its favored contenders for the Senate race. But the 2024 Senate race in Ohio is currently considered a toss-up, as Republicans have made significant gains in the state in the last two election cycles. Sabato's Crystal Ball and the Cook Political Report both say the Michigan Senate race leans Democratic.

☆ The Hot Issue Bedeviling Arizona’s New Governor: Tamales
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Jack Healy | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Critics said her veto would hurt the working-class immigrants that Ms. Hobbs had championed during her campaign. “That is just absurd.”Ms. Hernandez said she felt personally connected to the issue. “She used to be the Cake Lady,” Ms. Hernandez said. We wouldn’t have been able to put food on the table. Several tamale vendors said they would gladly register with the state if they could.

☆ Opinion: Gun control after Louisville shooting has a chance
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Max Burns | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Meanwhile, Democrats — once wary of mentioning gun control at all — have finally rediscovered their voice. See heated gun control discussion between lawmakers in the halls of Congress 01:19 - Source: CNNDemocrats’ rising confidence in fighting for gun reform comes against a backdrop of tireless coalition-building from gun safety activists and community organizers across the country. Everytown credits at least 51 pieces of state-level gun safety legislation passed in 2022 to their state-by-state strategy. Over the summer, an NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that 59% of American adults think it’s more important to control gun violence than to protect gun rights (35%) — “its highest point in nearly a decade.” These figures have surely factored into Democrats new assertiveness on gun control. “Republicans look completely unreasonable when they won’t even discuss background checks, gun safety measures like storage or red flag laws,” Del Percio warned.

☆ Arizona Legislature Expels Republican Lawmaker Over Conspiracy Theory
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-12 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The Arizona state House on Wednesday voted to expel Rep. Liz Harris, a Republican. Harris was expelled after inviting a conspiracy theorist to a committee hearing in February. Harris had previously promoted the QAnon conspiracy theory and authored a debunked report alleging mass voter fraud in the 2020 election. Harris did not immediately respond to a request for comment, nor did the Arizona Republican Party. Harris is the third state lawmaker to be removed from office by her colleagues this year.

☆ Private equity firms lend less as demand cools
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( Chibuike Oguh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The amount of loans disbursed by direct lenders so far in 2023 has not shown any pickup, the Refinitiv data shows. Also weighing on deal volumes is the cost of borrowing from private equity firms. This has dampened demand for loans from private equity firms. For their part, private equity firms have also become more risk-averse when it comes to lending, as the economic slowdown and sticky price inflation erode the credit worthiness of some borrowers. To be sure, major deals using private equity firms as lenders are still getting done as banks have continued their retrenchment from risky debt.

☆ The battle over abortion access could return to the ballot box in four states in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Millions of Americans lost legal access to abortion after the overturn of Roe v. Wade. The GOP used state ballot initiatives banning same-sex marriage to juice turnout, including in the critical state of Ohio. "The majority of Arizonans support safe, legal abortion, and we need to roll back many of the restrictions that are in place now." Two abortion rights groups are teaming up to put the question before voters in 2024. The ballot box might also be abortion rights advocates' best hope as the unicameral legislature appears to be on the verge of breaking a filibuster to pass a 6-week abortion ban.

☆ ‘Every Parent’s Nightmare’: TikTok Is a Venue for Child Sexual Exploitation
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Tawnell D. Hobbs | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/tiktok-child-sexual-exploitation-children-teens-29f9ac2

☆ Mike Lindell says he wants to work with the RNC to run an election crimes unit — after getting only 4 votes for RNC chair
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Mike Lindell wants to work with the RNC to set up an "election crimes unit." "Later in the week, we're setting up the election crime unit, Steve. "Well, when you work with me, it's election crime, not a weak word like election integrity. It's called the election crime," Lindell said. It's unclear what Lindell's proposed election crime unit would do.

The new rules adopted by both GOP-led chambers effectively shield members and their staff from public records requests, making investigations into any potential wrongdoing far more difficult. The exemptions from public records laws and the ability to destroy emails after 90 days apply to both chambers. Because the chambers adopted the changes via rule changes, not legislation, Republicans were able to bypass the need for Democratic Gov. Legislatures having the ability to shield themselves from public records laws is not unheard of. Minnesota, Iowa, Oklahoma and Massachusetts also have laws in place effectively exempting state legislators from public records requests, according to record request nonprofit MuckRock, though it remains exceedingly common for lawmakers in states where such exemptions don't explicitly exist to avoid complying with public records laws.

☆ New Mexico asks court to overturn cities' abortion bans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Andrew Hay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The move comes after the New Mexico cities of Hobbs, Clovis and two surrounding counties bordering Texas passed ordinances in recent months to restrict abortion clinics and access to abortion pills. New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez filed an extraordinary writ in New Mexico Supreme Court to block the ordinances which he said were based on flawed interpretations of 19th century federal regulations on abortion medication. Right-to-life activists said the regulations remained valid under federal law and vowed to work on bringing such ordinances to more cities in New Mexico, the only state bordering Texas where abortion remains legal. New Mexico's largest cities of Las Cruces and Albuquerque have become regional destinations for women seeking abortions since the U.S. Supreme Court in June ended the nationwide constitutional right to the procedure. In direct response, New Mexico Democrats have drafted legislation to prevent cities from overriding state laws guaranteeing womens' rights to reproductive healthcare.

☆ Arizona might have to stop construction on homes for more than 800,000 people if it can't find another water source
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-18 | by ( Robert Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Housing plans for upwards of 800,000 people in Arizona might be put on hold because of the state's challenge with water. Newly elected Governor Katie Hobbs made a point to recognize the state's water struggles in her State of the State address on January 9. The state water finance board is reviewing plans for a new water desalination plant, which could help convert groundwater or water imported from Mexico into usable water. However, researchers like Kathleen Ferris at Arizona State university say the plant probably won't be available in time to mitigate the water shortage that Arizona is already experiencing. "We should not be allowing this growth to occur when the water isn't there," Ferris told the Arizona Republic.

☆ Arizona suburb sues the city of Scottsdale for cutting off its water supply
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A saguaro-cactus lined road where new homes are being built in in Rio Verde Foothills, Arizona, on January 7, 2023. An Arizona suburb has filed a lawsuit against the city of Scottsdale after the city cut off the community from its municipal water supply amid extreme drought conditions and declining water levels in the Colorado River. In the lawsuit, filed Thursday in Maricopa County Superior Court, residents in the unincorporated community of Rio Verde Foothills are seeking an injunction against Scottsdale to force the city to resume water services. The dispute comes after the federal government last year announced unprecedented water cuts in Arizona due to water shortages along the Colorado River. Earlier this month, hundreds of homes outside of Scottsdale could no longer access water from the city, leaving residents with no reliable source of water.

Arizona Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs is taking the state’s child protective services agency in a radically different direction in the wake of a ProPublica-NBC News investigation into the racial disparities that have plagued the child welfare system here. This week, Hobbs, a Democrat, announced that she has selected Matthew Stewart, a Black community advocate, as the new head of Arizona’s Department of Child Safety. Arizona’s child welfare system has long disproportionately investigated Black families. After leaving DCS, Stewart formed the community organization Our Sister Our Brother, which has fought the department for more equitable treatment of Black and also low-income parents. Child welfare experts in the state and families affected by the system praised Stewart’s selection, though some wondered how much change he could bring about even in DCS’ top position.

☆ America's democracy survived Trump in 2022. But what about 2023?
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-30 | by ( Tara Setmayer | Tara Setmayer Is A Resident Scholar At The University Of Virginia Center For Politics | A Senior Adviser At The Lincoln Project. She Is A Former Gop Congressional Communications Director. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

That led hundreds of election deniers to run for offices across the country in 2022. But in 2022, American democracy became an issue outside the political norm for voters’ consideration. But it wasn’t just the outcome of the election that signaled that our democracy was still holding on in 2022. Thankfully, the majority of them did, with the exception of professional election deniers like Kari Lake, who lost the Arizona governor’s race to Katie Hobbs. Not since the tumultuous political climate of the 1930s has American democracy faced such a perilous era.

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