KJZZ's Stories You Don't Want to Miss

By a 2-0 vote, supervisors in a small, rural Republican-leaning Arizona county have finally voted to certify the 2022 election results. Tempe’s mayor says the Arizona Coyotes plan would be the best arena deal in Arizona history. The Biden administration says it’s still not sure whether to appeal a court-mandated end to Title 42.  And our five-part series "Unsafe" investigates the physical and sexual abuse of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Plus the latest science, education and metro Phoenix news.

Research in the journal Nature Communications suggests beaver dams could more than offset the harmful effects of such changes on water quality. Imagine owning a home and being told you need to move —and take your home with you.  A new report from the Human Trafficking Institute finds convicted sex trafficking defendants have not had to pay restitution to victims for years in Arizona. Plus the latest election coverage and education news.

The number of LGBTQ voters in Arizona is projected to dramatically increase in the coming years. Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman is calling on legislators to take immediate action to raise the constitutional spending limit for schools by 18%. A number of residents in the Rio Verde Foothills community outside of Scottsdale recently learned that their water supply was in jeopardy. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, science and metro Phoenix news.

In northern Arizona, officials are working to clear overgrown tree lines that haven’t been touched in generations. Arizona ranks ninth among states with the most widespread shortages of health professionals, and the Health Resources and Services Administration has labeled the state a “medically underserved region.” For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, scores from the National Assessment of Educational Progress have been released. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, metro Phoenix and business news.

Lawmakers in southern Arizona are renewing calls to the federal government to help clean up contaminated water in Tucson. After a tumultuous–and longer than expected summer, the Phoenix Suns are back to start another season hosting the Mavericks, the very team that forced a bitter end to their playoff run in May. And how are Democrat Katie Hobbs and Republican Kari Lake shoring up support among the voters who should be easiest for them to win? Plus the latest education, metro Phoenix and science news.

Arizonans will soon have a new Attorney General for the first time in eight years. A movement is underway to expand private security officers to Phoenix city parks. The race for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction pits Incumbent Democrat Kathy Hoffman against someone who's held the office before - Republican Tom Horne. Plus the latest in metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk, and science news.

Should the public have a right to know the original source of all campaign spending? Arizonans will vote on several propositions including what is advertised as the Predatory Debt Collection Protection Act. “Forest ninja bison” are sneaking around Grand Canyon National Park. And the Mexican government confirms that it was hit by a major cyber attack. Plus the latest in education, tribal natural resources and science news.

A federal appeals court is expected to rule on the future of DACA soon. A disturbing crime in central Phoenix forced neighbors to convince the city to let them install locked gates to block public access to alleys behind their homes. With the reinstatement of a territorial-era ban that dates back to the 1860s, Arizona women are no longer able to seek abortion care in most cases. Plus the latest metro Phoenix and education news.

The embattled owner of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury announced Wednesday that he’s looking for someone to buy the teams. Advocacy group needs over 100,000 signatures by Sept. 23 to bring school vouchers back on the ballot.  Jupiter is making its closest approach to Earth in 70 years, and Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff is offering the public the chance to view the gas giant through several of its telescopes. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk and education news.

Turnover in leadership is underway this week at the Phoenix Police Department.  A government watchdog report out this month finds that IT systems run by the Department of Homeland Security failed to keep track of some migrants at the border in 2021. The candidates for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction squared off in a debate Wednesday night. Plus the latest in business, science and metro Phoenix news.