Rule change opens new path for ‘constitutional sheriff’ group to train Arizona law enforcement
A rule change by Arizona’s top law enforcement-certifying agency removes a safeguard against ‘extremist’ training for peace officers by allowing sheriffs and police chiefs more autonomy in determining what qualifies as mandatory continuing education credit.
Pandemic accelerated Arizona’s years-long decline in childhood vaccination rates
The impact of missed preventative medical care during the pandemic is beginning to emerge in the form of drastic declines in childhood vaccination rates among Arizona youth, now at lower levels than at any point in the past decade. The plummeting rates follow a years-long decline in immunizations among Arizona students overall—one that has put…
Experts warn of extremist push to expand sheriffs’ role in elections
Election and domestic extremism experts warn that so-called “constitutional sheriff” groups are compounding problems created by disinformation campaigns and undermining public confidence in elections and law enforcement, setting the stage for situations that can lead to voter intimidation and ultimately subvert free and fair elections.
Arizona ‘ground zero’ for extremist, anti-government sheriff movement
More than half of Arizona’s county sheriffs are at least partially aligned with a growing movement of so-called “constitutional sheriffs,” with an ideology that threatens to radicalize law enforcement by indoctrinating them with false legal theories about a sheriff’s authority over state and federal government, and a duty to nullify laws they interpret as unconstitutional.…
How AZCIR identified Arizona’s ‘constitutional sheriffs’
Whether or not sheriffs adopt the core ideologies of the movement is more telling when it comes to how they approach their jobs—including how they interact with constituents and other government agencies—than whether they use the “constitutional sheriff” moniker.
Youth access to mental health care improved under Jake’s Law, but persistent barriers hamper its reach
Jake’s Law has covered behavioral health services for students who otherwise may not have received treatment. But provider shortages and other challenges have made it difficult for some children and their families to access care.
Permanent funding solution elusive as mental health provider shortage plagues Arizona schools—and students
Temporary grants have let Arizona schools make incremental gains to address inadequate ratios of campus mental health professionals to students. But as youth mental health issues persist, the state lacks a permanent solution.
CDC report finds barriers to cooling center access for vulnerable residents during extreme heat
With record-breaking heat and an increasing number of days exceeding triple digit temperatures, a CDC report reveals that Arizona residents seeking refuge from extreme heat may face barriers to indoor, air-conditioned centers designed to shield them from dangerous heat.
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.
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.
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.
Patient deaths at Arizona State Hospital raise questions about staffing levels, lack of oversight
The state agency that oversees Arizona’s psychiatric hospital says patient safety is a top priority. But, in October, two patients fatally injured themselves in as many weeks.
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