KJZZ's Stories You Don't Want to Miss

Education advocates have filed a lawsuit against legislation that prohibits mask mandates in Arizona’s K-12 public schools, colleges and universities. COVID cases are again burdening the health care system. Just south of Arizona, a group of young Sonorans spent a week hiking, camping and learning about borderlands restoration. Plus the latest in tribal resources, business and Valley news.

The Phoenix Police Department is now under investigation by the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Justice Department. Wednesday, Mexico filed a civil lawsuit against 11 U.S.-based gun manufacturers. An Indigenous community in neighboring Sonora, Mexico, is experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 cases in the midst of a water shortage. Plus the latest in science, business and metro Phoenix news.

Critics of the partisan, GOP-led review of the 2020 election in Maricopa County say whatever claims are made by contractors conducting the so-called audit will be unreliable, and likely biased. Women are increasingly taking up space in the historically male-dominated field of environmental conservation. Corporate leaders of Amtrak, Arizona business representatives and politicians participated in a roundtable discussion Tuesday. Plus, the latest in science, tribal natural resources and metro Phoenix news.

COVID-19 cases continue to climb in Arizona — and, unfortunately, so do hospitalizations. Wednesday was the first day of school for the Chandler Unified School District. The East Valley district is among the first to start the new school year after lawmakers passed legislation that bans mask mandates at schools. The city of Glendale is working with community organizations to distribute grant funding to people experiencing homelessness. Plus the latest in Fronteras Desk, tribal natural resources, science and metro Phoenix news.

Senate President Karen Fann and the vendors she hired to conduct a controversial review of the 2020 vote in Maricopa County often deride the county’s own efforts to verify the accuracy of the election. Teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful for many teachers.  Historic preservationists in Phoenix are fighting to save Arizona’s oldest American Legion Post. Plus the latest in science, Fronteras Desk, and Valley news.

President Biden set a goal that 70% of American adults would have at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by the Fourth of July, but Arizona fell short. Arizona lawmakers are banning most of the state’s K-12 schools from requiring students or staff to wear masks. We spend a lot of time on the road as we make our way across the Valley.  But a new concept could have a big impact on that. Plus the latest science, Fronteras Desk and Valley news.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued it’s ruling in an Arizona voting rights case. From the White House to Phoenix City Hall, labor unions arguably are finding their strongest advocates in years. The highly infectious form of COVID-19 known as the Delta variant is quickly becoming more dominant in Arizona. Plus the latest metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk and education news.

Arizona senators worked through the night to pass a series of budget bills early Wednesday after weeks of negotiations. The U.S. Supreme Court has weighed in on college athletes and pay. Coronavirus cases have been steadily increasing in neighboring Sonora, Mexico, for more than a month now. Plus the latest in tribal natural resources, science and metro Phoenix news.

June 19 is now a federal holiday, as President Joe Biden signed legislation Thursday recognizing Juneteenth as the end of slavery in America. Arizona State University and the other state universities have vaccination policy in place to the coming school year, but now the governor has weighed in. This week has been hot! And it’s been dry despite the official start of monsoon season this week. Plus the latest business, Fronteras Desk and Phoenix area news.

The threat of a state government shutdown on July 1st looms large over negotiations, which may now be sidetracked by another session, called by Governor Doug Ducey, to deal with wildfires east of the Valley. As the number of people received the COVID-19 vaccine slows down, the conversation is turning to incentives. Virtual art classes can help people with dementia — and new research shows such classes may help rewire the brains of people suffering from the disease. Plus the latest in business, education and Fronteras Desk news.