Latest Arizona state government News
Fontes blocked from using new rule to certify election results when counties refuse to
PHOENIX (AP) — Democratic Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes has been blocked from using a new provision of the election procedures manual that would have let him certify election results in the state if a county refuses to sign off on its own results. In a decision Friday,...
Retirement on Arizona right-leaning high court gives Democratic governor rare chance to fill seat
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Supreme Court Justice Robert Brutinel announced Tuesday he will retire this fall, giving Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs a rare opportunity to fill his seat on the Republican-dominated court. Brutinel's retirement is effective Oct. 31, capping off more than four...
Takeaways from AP's report on churches starting schools in voucher states
Some churches are launching new Christian schools on their campuses, seeking to give parents more education options that align with religious values. State school voucher programs are not the driving reason, but they are making the start-up process easier, pastors and Christian...
Vouchers ease start-up stress for churches seeing demand for more Christian schools
Florida pastor Melvin Adams knows a few hours of church programming every week is no match for the more than 30 hours children spend at secular schools, absorbing lessons that he says run counter to their family’s Christian beliefs. Like other theologically conservative pastors in...
Arizona's 1864 abortion ban is officially off the books
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona’s Civil War-era ban on nearly all abortions officially is being repealed Saturday. The western swing state has been whipsawed over recent months, starting with the Arizona Supreme Court deciding in April to let the state enforce the long-dormant 1864 law...
Trump refuses to criticize Laura Loomer amid concerns from Republican allies about her influence
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif. (AP) — Donald Trump refused on Friday to condemn recent racist and conspiratorial comments from right-wing provocateur Laura Loomer, who traveled with him earlier this week to Tuesday night's presidential debate and several 9/11 memorial events. ...
Election officials ask for more federal money but say voting is secure in their states
NEW YORK (AP) — Top election officials from two presidential swing states on Wednesday pleaded for more federal money for election infrastructure, even as they express confidence in their preparations for November's vote. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Arizona...
Prosecutors in Arizona's fake electors case dispute defendants' allegations of a political motive
PHOENIX (AP) — A three-day hearing on whether to dismiss charges against Republicans accused of plotting to overturn the results of the close 2020 presidential race in Arizona concluded Wednesday with prosecutors insisting their case is not politically motivated after defendants argued their...
Defense attorneys in Arizona's fake elector case call prosecutors politically motivated
PHOENIX (AP) — Attorneys representing Republicans accused of scheming to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential race in Arizona argued Tuesday that prosecutors were politically motivated in seeking a grand jury indictment against their clients. Their charges came on the a...
Rudy Giuliani did nothing illegal in Arizona's fake elector case, his lawyer says
PHOENIX (AP) — A lawyer for Rudy Giuliani said Monday that the charges against his client in Arizona’s fake elector case should be thrown out because Giuliani did nothing criminal in contesting Joe Biden’s narrow 2020 victory in the state over Donald Trump. An indictment said...
