THE LATEST
A national epicenter for Valley fever infections, Arizona gets first major state funding boost in 15 years
Top researchers from the state’s public universities will get $3.1 million to pinpoint hotspots and infection patterns for Valley fever, a fungal disease that each year sickens thousands and kills dozens in Arizona. The funding marks the first significant state investment targeting the respiratory condition in at least 15 years.
Health
Repeat safety violations, critical resource shortages put Arizona dialysis patients at heightened risk
Since 2019, nearly three-quarters of Arizona’s 130 outpatient dialysis clinics were cited for health and safety violations that could put patients at an increased risk for life threatening infections. COVID-19 has further compounded those risks as clinics face nationwide medical staffing and supply shortages.
A Place That Should Know Better
Arnold v. Sarn, a class action lawsuit that called for services for people with serious mental illness regardless of cost, celebrates its fortieth birthday in 2021. The litigation ended in 2014 with a settlement agreement that largely replaced “shall” with “may,” encouraging the system to try its best while softening requirements, and permanently doing away with a court monitor—the last remnant of robust accountability that had been in place for decades. Now Charles “Chick” Arnold, the lead plaintiff, says the agreement should have been more aggressive. An AZCIR series by Amy Silverman
EDUCATION
Report: Child care woes cost Arizona economy $1.8 billion a year
Arizona parents representing various geographic areas, income levels, and racial and ethnic backgrounds reported changing jobs, turning down jobs, decreasing their hours, forgoing promotions or leaving the workforce entirely as a result of inconsistent or unaffordable care.
Support AZCIR
Help AZCIR do more to keep you informed.
Elections
State, county policies impact rejected ballot rates in November election
Election officials didn’t count 27,327 ballots cast by Arizona voters in the November election, rejecting more than twice the 10,457 votes that flipped the state for President-elect Joe Biden in what was the closest raw vote margin of any state in the nation. The uncounted votes, which are legally rejected by officials for reasons such…
Coronavirus
Arizona doctors wary of controversial ivermectin treatment for COVID-19
Experts say absent credible studies, ivermectin is an unproven treatment for COVID-19 and can cause dangerous side effects. The drug is approved by the FDA as an antiparasitic for humans and animals. Now one group is urging Gov. Doug Ducey to make ivermectin immediately available to populations at high risk for COVID-19.
Sign up. Get engaged.
Get AZCIR’s latest investigations and updates delivered straight into your inbox.
Law enforcement
Few Joe Arpaio immigrant victims claim unlawful detention compensation
Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio defied a federal court order by allowing his deputies to nab scores of immigrants. President Donald Trump pardoned him. Now the immigrant victims are eligible for compensation. But where are they?
