Nearly 40% of early ballots in the state have been returned ahead of the primary election on Tuesday, but Richer says Maricopa County is on track to see its lowest early return rate in at least two cycles. In a post on X, Richer said early ballot returns are “lagging 2022 and 2020 primary returns by a good bit.” He said those two elections saw more than 800,000 early ballots cast, while the county has only seen more than 500,000 cast by Sunday. Jennifer Liewer, the spokesperson for the Maricopa County Elections Department, said it’s difficult to tell whether this low turnout in early ballots will indicate a higher turnout on election day. The county estimates 94,000 voters will cast their votes in-person on Tuesday and about 30% of registered voters will vote in the primary this year. Pima County is also reporting lower return numbers, with more than 140,000 ballots returned so far compared to more than 220,000 in 2020. Other county recorder offices did not immediately respond to questions about their early ballot returns. The low turnout could be attributed to the earlier primary date this year because the 2022 and 2020 primary dates in August gave voters a bit more time to return early ballots. Final data on how voters cast their ballots will likely not be available until counties complete the official canvass of results.

A recently implemented program to help transition foster kids to adulthood is falling short in developing federally required plans that could help young adults secure employment, housing, education and family connections, according to the Auditor General. On Thursday, its office published a report examining the Dept. of Child Safety’s extended foster care success coaching program, which was enacted as part of the 2023 legislative budget. Auditor General Lindsey Perry’s report states DCS didn’t develop federally required transition plans for 11 of 15 youths reviewed. Federal law requires DCS to develop transition plans for youth in out-of-home care beginning at age 14. The four transition plans the department developed from the random sample lacked specific short-term steps and didn’t identify relevant resources to help youths achieve their long-term goals. One individual’s goal was to get their driver’s license, but the transition plan didn’t have short-term steps such as attending driver’s education classes. “Because the Department is not consistently developing and finalizing transition plans, the Department may not have sufficient information to assess the performance of its young adult programming, including whether its programming is working as designed,” Perry’s report states. The extended foster care program was pushed by Gress during the 2023 legislative session, and he said the program is intended to give young adults transitioning out of foster care stability that their peers may receive from family care after becoming an adult. Gress, who is also chairman of JLAC, said he was pleased to see that coaches are in place at the department that are working toward this goal for hundreds of young adults participating in the program. “The challenges cannot be dismissed,” Gress said. “This is a program that is less than a year old. I’m glad that we’re getting these details right now as opposed to five years from now.” The report also states that the department needs to improve contractor monitoring to ensure all eligible youth are referred to the success coaching program. DCS cabinet executive officer David Lujan agreed to all the auditor general’s recommendations for the program in a response letter to the report. “The Department recognizes the transition to adulthood is a critical period of a youth’s development and is committed to implement additional strategies and improvements in response to the audit recommendations,” Lujan wrote. Gress said he is working to schedule a meeting with DCS officials to learn more about the monitoring process. “Overall, I think the program is doing quite well and I think it will do even better with these auditor general recommendations,” Gress said.

PHOENIX, AZ – Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee invites the public to attend the State Board of Investment (BOI) meeting on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 1:00 P.M. in the Arizona State Treasurer’s Office. The public may also stream the meeting audio and presentation slides online. The monthly meeting reports on Arizona’s investment activity, cash flow, future market conditions, and Arizona’s Education Savings Plan (AZ529). Tuesday’s meeting will provide a detailed presentation on the June 2024 investment performance, earnings distributions, and operating balances for the Permanent Land Endowment Trust Fund (PLETF), the money invested for state agencies, local governments, and AZ529 Plan savers. Details:

• Monthly Arizona State Board of Investment Meeting
• Review of June 2024 investment activities and future strategy
• Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at 1:00 P.M.
• Office of the State Treasurer Arizona, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix, AZ, 85007, #102 (Large Conference Room)
• Click HERE after 12:50 P.M. to stream the BOI meeting. (Enter a name, an email address, and the password: asto2024, or use the phone number and access code provided)

 

TUCSON, Ariz. — Tech Launch Arizona , the University of Arizona office that commercializes inventions stemming from university research and innovation, saw a record number of inventions during the 2024 fiscal year.  Between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, TLA received 307 new inventions, up from 298 in fiscal year 2023 and 303 in fiscal year 2022. The office also launched nine startups; executed 72 licenses and options for U of A inventions; filed 367 patents; and had 78 patents issued.  “We’re most excited about the number of invention disclosures we received this year,” said Doug Hockstad , associate vice president of Tech Launch Arizona. “This represents a new record for the university, shows continued growth and means that our pipeline is strong.”  One of the centerpieces of the TLA plan to increase commercialization activity is its Faculty Innovation Ambassadors program. In eight U of A colleges that have active research pipelines that regularly yield large numbers of inventions, TLA engaged a leading faculty member with experience in commercialization. These faculty members serve as sources of information about inventions, licensing and startups for their colleagues and students. TLA has planned a series of events in the fall to introduce the innovation ambassadors to their college communities.  Fiscal year 2024 also saw continued success in the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps, or NSF I-Corps , which helps increase the impact of federally funded research by preparing academic inventors to move their innovations from the lab to the marketplace. Twenty-seven U of A teams went through the program, which is administered through the Desert and Pacific Region I-Corps Hub, and TLA leaders hope to surpass that number in 2025.  “This year also saw our first-ever I-Corps cohort dedicated to social innovation,” Hockstad said. “We had 10 teams from three institutions in two states participate, and it was verification that impactful innovation can come from even the most unexpected work; it’s not just the traditional fields like physical and life sciences anymore.” The term social innovation refers to research and projects directed at solving significant social challenges, such as poverty or issues related to health care, education and sustainability.  To further increase opportunities for U of A startups, TLA also launched its Wildcat Philanthropic Seed Fund in the 2024 fiscal year. With $1.5 million already raised and another $500,000 in matching funds available, the early-stage seed fund will help U of A startups get through the so-called “valley of death” – the period of time in which startups face the greatest risk of failure due to lack of early-stage financial resources. Fundraising is ongoing, and while the ultimate goal is to grow the fund to $5 million, it will be able to begin making investments when it reaches $2 million.  Students will be involved in the fund’s operations, giving them the opportunity to engage with startups and participate in funding decisions. Student startups will also be eligible for funding, in addition to faculty and staff startups.  “The timing couldn’t be better,” said Hockstad. “As we expand our scope of services for students, the fund will be yet one more way we can provide students with first-hand experience of entrepreneurship and investment.”

Flood plains, frailty and fish diseases

In fiscal year 2024, TLA helped launch nine startups to commercialize U of A inventions, up from seven the previous year. 

• Ancerix is commercializing medical devices for orthopedic surgical procedures, invented by Dr. Daniel Latt, associate professor in the College of Medicine – Tucson and the College of Engineering, and a multidisciplinary team of inventors who are pursuing degrees or graduated from the U of A, including: Emilio Araiza, an aerospace and mechanical engineering major; biomedical engineering alumni Carlos Urea-De La Puerta and Erick De Leon; and systems engineering alumni Carolina Gomez Llanos and Eva Richter.
• Rivixl is developing low-cost green hydrogen production technology, invented by professor Dennis Lichtenberger, professor emeritus Richard Glass, professor Jeffrey Pyun and researcher Addison Coen, all of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; chemistry alumni William Brezinski, Kayla Clary and Metin Karayilan; Arthur Gibson, chemistry graduate student researcher and Ph.D. candidate; and Mary Salyards, instructional laboratories manager in the Department of Organic Chemistry.
• iSeniCare is producing a frailty assessment tool for non-ambulatory patients, invented by faculty in the College of Medicine – Tucson and the College of Engineering, including professor of surgery Bijan Najafi, professor of medicine Martha Jane Mohler, and Nima Toosizadeh, a former U of A assistant professor of medicine who is now an associate professor a Rutgers University.
• Vanport Technologies Inc. is commercializing a flood plain mapping technology to help communities predict and respond to flooding more effectively. The technology was invented by College of Engineering professor Jennifer Duan. 
• CulturaSTEM Learning is developing culturally responsive and relevant teaching tools for educators, created by College of Education assistant dean of research Sara Chavarria, deputy director of the Arizona Astrobiology Center Corey Knox, and Alba Proras Hoyos, project coordinator with the College of Education. 
• OD Infinite is developing mixed-reality safety eyewear for high-powered laser environments, invented by postdoctoral scholar Hyeonwoo Lee, research assistant Mohamed Sennary, and postdoctoral scholar Jalil Shah, all with the Wyant College of Optical Sciences and the College of Science.
• AQVac is commercializing an orally-delivered viral vector platform to address finfish and crustacean diseases, invented by Arun Dhar, an associate professor in  the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences, and Thomas Allnutt, chief science officer at the biotechnology company NuLode. 
• Hypknowledge is developing applications for sleep assessment and tracking, invented by assistant professor Michael Grandner of the College of Medicine – Tucson.
• Agenevo Pharma Inc. is developing small molecules to inhibit the formation of proteins linked to various neurodegenerative diseases, a technology invented by professor Xinlong Wang of the College of Pharmacy. 

Widening the scope of commercialization, entrepreneurship

In addition to continuing to serve university faculty, researchers and staff, TLA is expanding its scope to include a Student Ventures group. This new team will focus on student entrepreneurship by integrating into TLA student-focused services, programs and staff that were formerly part of Arizona FORGE, a university program designed to cultivate entrepreneurship among students.  “We are also rebooting our Commercialization Network and Venture Mentoring Services programs this fall,” said Hockstad, “so it’s going to be an exciting time for people to engage with our teams and explore the pathways that might be open to expand the impact of their work, no matter what their innovations are or where they come from in the U of A academic pantheon.” More results from FY2024 and plans for FY2025 will be available in the TLA annual report, to be released in the fall.

On Monday, July 29, at 2:15 pm, join LUCHA for a GOTV event to elect our LUCHA Blue CD3 endorsed candidate, Raquel Teran.  In a historic effort, Victory PAC has spent over $600K dollars on canvassing efforts and over $450K in ad buys to elect Raquel Teran in Congressional District 3. Our Canvassers have knocked on over 80,000 doors since March in support of Raquel’s campaign. In total LUCHA’s Victory PAC has spent north of 1 million dollars.  From grassroots organizer to state senator, Raquel has championed higher wages, led the fight against Arizona’s abortion ban and defended our democracy against extremists.  “Since March, our team of canvassers have worked tirelessly knocking on doors in CD3 for Raquel,” said LUCHA Field Director Liz Luna. “We spoke to voters every day of the week about the issues that matter most to them, and campaigned for the candidate we know is a champion for her community and progressive values. We can proudly say over 90,000 homes across the district will have been visited by LUCHA canvassers with the historic contribution made to support these efforts. “The work doesn’t stop here, it will continue through November, when we defeat Trump, and elect Raquel Teran to Congress.” Join us for this event as we send our canvassers off to knock on doors for Teran, on the eve of election day!  Who: LUCHA staff & canvassers What: Rally for Raquel Teran Where: Taqueria El Vaporcito, 2775 W Thomas Rd, Phoenix AZ 85017 When: Monday, July 29 from 2:15-3:15 p.m. Please RSVP to Cesar Fierros via email [email protected] or phone 602-921-4923 if you plan to attend.

PHOENIX (July 29, 2024) – For the fourth consecutive year, the Juvenile Probation Department, part of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County, has collaborated with the Maricopa County Public Libraries to bring the Summer Reading Program to kids in detention.   The initiative aims to motivate these young individuals to read during the summer to prevent the “summer slide,” advance early literacy skills and emphasize the enjoyment of reading.   “The Summer Reading Program is completely voluntary for our youth in Detention and for them it’s something to look forward to, something to accomplish,” said Juvenile Probation Department Project Lead Senior Christina Badilla. “We’ve been able to develop some great Detention-appropriate prizes. One thing that we know is that sometimes our kids haven’t earned certificates in the past. So, to be able to say they’ve accomplished something is big for them.”   The Summer Reading Program, which will continue until Aug. 1, allows participants to earn prizes for every minute spent reading. Prizes include bookmarks, certificates and books from a youth-appropriate book selection. Additionally, the department is organizing a facility-wide competition to reward the participant who reads the most minutes, further promoting involvement in the program.   Dedicating only 20 minutes of reading a day can have a major impact on youth, helping them develop a lifelong habit of reading. Tracking reading points can make reading fun for participating youth and allow them to enhance early literacy skills. Currently, there are 88 youth in Detention participating in the Summer Reading Program.   ­“The Summer Reading Program is a neat program that we offer in Detention and it’s great to see the partnership that we’ve made with Maricopa County Public Libraries,” Badilla said. “Additionally, it also provides our youth with some more knowledge about libraries. And when they are back in the community, they have the option to continue participating in this program and we encourage that.”

Phoenix, Ariz. (July 25, 2024) — At 5:00 a.m. MST on July 30, 2024, Our Voice, Our Vote Arizona (OVOV AZ), a member-led voter engagement group focused on mobilizing Arizona’s Black voters, will host a lit drop kickoff to coincide with the Democratic and Republican state primaries. The event will take place at the organization’s main office in Phoenix.  More than 100 canvassers will gather at the 5:00 a.m. event to pick up materials before heading out on their lit drop routes. A limited number of reporters will have an opportunity to shadow canvassers on their routes (more information below). “Our votes give us power. Each election is a chance to shape the future we want for our state and our country,” said Sena Mohammed, executive director for OVOV AZ. “Black and brown people, young voters, women—we can be the deciding factor in every election in Arizona. And that’s especially true in a primary election. This primary is a chance to ensure that the leaders on the ballot in November will represent our communities and fight for the issues that matter to us. It’s a chance to show politicians if they stand with us on the issues, they can earn our votes. Let’s show them the power of us.” With just 100 days to go until the 2024 general election, Our Voice, Our Vote Arizona is coordinating broad get-out-the-vote efforts in Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties. Earlier this month, OVOV AZ launched “The Power of Us,” is campaign to boost voter turnout among Black voters and other underrepresented communities in the 2024 election. The organization is on track to knock on one million doors and register at least 10,000 new voters before November, in addition to hosting community listening sessions, and making a strategic ad buy to mobilize Black and Brown voters throughout the state.  OVOV AZ is the largest Black-led voter engagement organization in the state, and one the largest overall community organizing groups in Arizona. Its members are committed to advocating for progressive public policies in Arizona, building sustainable political power, and changing the face of the political landscape in the state. OVOV AZ has endorsed Kamala Harris for President and Ruben Gallego for U.S. Senate. A full list of OVOV AZ’s endorsements by race can be found here . WHO:  Sena Mohammed, executive director for Our Voice, Our Vote Arizona;  Karen Hernandez, director of electoral engagement for Our Voice, Our Vote Arizona;  100+ Canvassers and Volunteers WHAT: Our Voice, Our Vote Arizona’s Primary Day Lit Drop Kickoff WHEN: July 30, 2024 at 5:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. MST WHERE: 1241 E Washington St Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85034  MEDIA RSVP: Please reply to this email by 4 p.m. MST on July 29, 2024 if you plan to attend. If you are interested in following canvassers for a portion of their lit drop routes, please let us know when you RSVP.

$11,385,600 will be invested in bus facility enhancements throughout the City of Tucson’s public transit system from the bipartisan infrastructure law led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly.     The funding was awarded to the City of Tucson through the Buses and Bus Facilities Program . Kelly and Sinema’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests up to $108 billion to support federal public transportation programs, including nearly $2 billion over five years for the Buses and Bus Facilities Program.    “The impact of our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continues to be seen across Arizona,” said Kelly . “This investment in Tucson’s city bus facility will upgrade aging lifts and create heat resilient bus stops—allowing for the citizens of Tucson to travel safely and comfortably.”      “Today’s investments will support Tucson’s city bus facility — expanding access and ease to public transportation for Tucsonans. I’m proud my bipartisan infrastructure law continues to deliver real results to everyday Arizonans,” said Sinema, co-author and lead negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure law.    “I am grateful for Senator Mark Kelly and Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s ongoing advocacy for the City of Tucson’s climate adaptation program,” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. “This $11.3 million grant award from the Federal Transit Administration will allow us to install trees and green infrastructure to make stops cooler, safer, and more accessible. We will also replace aging bus lifts and update signs at more than 500 bus stops throughout the community. The dedication of our Senators to making Tucson transit a more sustainable and inclusive system is so appreciated.”    In May, Kelly and Sinema sent a letter urging the Department of Transportation to support the City of Tucson’s application for the Buses and Bus Facilities Program. In their letter, the senators noted that the investment would be a significant milestone in the City of Tucson’s efforts to combat the effects of climate change and rising temperatures on the public transit system and its riders.      With much of Arizona experiencing temperatures at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the $11,385,600 will ensure bus stops are more heat resilient, provide better shelter and added relief for public transit users, and greatly improve the safety and comfort of riders who rely on public transportation.     Kelly and Sinema’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes the strongest investment ever in American public transit with $39.2 billion to expand transit systems, increase accessibility, and fund the nation’s transit system repair backlog, estimated at more than 24,000 buses; 5,000 rail cars; 200 stations; and thousands of miles of track, signals, and power systems—and the biggest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak. Last year, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law delivered $176 million for Arizona public transportation.     Kelly and Sinema led bipartisan Senate negotiations with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio that included senators from both parties.     The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was supported by groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, The National Association of Manufacturers, The AFL-CIO, The National Retail Federation, The Bipartisan Policy Center, North America’s Building Trades Unions, the Outdoor Industry Association, The American Hotel and Lodging Association, The National Education Association, as well as hundreds of mayors across all 50 states. 

WASHINGTON – $11,385,600 will be invested in bus facility enhancements throughout the City of Tucson’s public transit system from the bipartisan infrastructure law led by Senator Kyrsten Sinema and shaped by Senator Mark Kelly.   $11,385,600 was awarded to the City of Tucson through the Buses and Bus Facilities Program Sinema and Kelly’s bipartisan infrastructure law up to $108 billion to support federal public transportation programs, including nearly $2 billion over five years for the Buses and Bus Facilities Program.   “Today’s investments will support Tucson’s city bus facility — expanding access and ease to public transportation for Tucsonans. I’m proud my bipartisan infrastructure law continues to deliver real results to everyday Arizonans,” said Sinema, co-author and lead negotiator of the bipartisan infrastructure law. “The impact of our bipartisan infrastructure law continues to be seen across Arizona,” said Kelly. “This investment in Tucson’s city bus facility will upgrade aging lifts and creating heat resilient bus stops—allowing for the citizens of Tucson to travel safely and comfortably.”   “I am grateful for Senator Mark Kelly and Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s ongoing advocacy for the City of Tucson’s climate adaptation program,” said Tucson Mayor Regina Romero. “This $11.3 million grant award from the Federal Transit Administration will allow us to install trees and green infrastructure to make stops cooler, safer, and more accessible. We will also replace aging bus lifts and update signs at more than 500 bus stops throughout the community. The dedication of our Senators to making Tucson transit a more sustainable and inclusive system is so appreciated.” In May, Sinema and Kelly sent a letter urging the Department of Transportation to support the City of Tucson’s application for the Buses and Bus Facilities Program. In their letter, the Senators noted that the investment would be a significant milestone in the City of Tucson’s efforts to combat the effects of climate change and rising temperatures on the public transit system and its riders.    With much of Arizona experiencing temperatures at or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the $11,385,600 will ensure bus stops are more heat resilient, provide better shelter and added relief for public transit users, and greatly improve the safety and comfort of riders who rely on public transportation.   Sinema and Kelly’s bipartisan infrastructure law makes the strongest investment ever in American public transit with $39.2 billion to expand transit systems, increase accessibility, and fund the nation’s transit system repair backlog, estimated at more than 24,000 buses; 5,000 rail cars; 200 stations; and thousands of miles of track, signals, and power systems—and the biggest investment in passenger rail since the creation of Amtrak. Last year, the bipartisan infrastructure law delivered $176 million for Arizona public transportation.   Sinema led bipartisan Senate negotiations with Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio that included Senator Kelly and Senators from both parties.   The bipartisan infrastructure law was supported by groups including The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable, The National Association of Manufacturers, The AFL-CIO, The National Retail Federation, The Bipartisan Policy Center, North America’s Building Trades Unions, the Outdoor Industry Association, The American Hotel and Lodging Association, The National Education Association, as well as hundreds of mayors across all 50 states.

PHOENIX – Yesterday, the people of Venezuela voted in an election that was dubious from the start and was neither free nor fair. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03) joined Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Kennedy (R-LA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Peter Welch (D-VT), Rick Scott (R-FL), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Tim Scott (R-SC) as well as Representatives Carlos Giménez (R-FL-28), Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Chris Smith (R-NJ-04), and Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL-26) in releasing a joint statement after the criminal and illegitimate Maduro narco-regime claimed victory in this sham presidential election: “To no one’s surprise, dictator Nicolás Maduro has once again stolen a presidential election. However, what the narco-regime will never steal is the Venezuelan people’s desire to return to democracy and live in freedom after decades of tyranny. We must prioritize uniting the free world in rejecting these sham election results and securing the release of the more than 300 Venezuelans that remain arbitrarily detained in torture centers as political prisoners. “The Maduro dictatorship is experiencing an internal fracture, and members of the dictatorship know their status quo, which is filled with incompetence, is no longer sustainable. There is massive discontent in the streets of Venezuela, and everyday citizens have stood in support of opposition leaders María Corina Machado and Edmundo Gonzalez. Let there be no doubt: the countries and international organizations backing this fraud of unimaginable proportions must be held accountable, as should members of the narco-regime and its ‘National Electoral Council’.”