Pima County will host job fair on July 18

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
PIMA COUNTY, July 11, 2024 – Pima County is partnering with employers in education and the public sector on a job fair on Thursday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Kino Event Center, 2805 E. Ajo Way. Pima County will have the following departments represented:  Parks & Recreation, Juvenile Court, Clerk of the Courts, Health, Public Defense Services, Office of Digital Inclusion, Assessor, and Community Resources & Workforce Development, among others. Other employers expected to attend include: SunTran, Pima Community College, Sahuarita Unified School District, Tucson Police Department, Tucson Unified School District, Oro Valley Police Department, Vail School District and Customs and Border Protection. Hugh Giblin said he’d been looking for another position for a while before deciding to attend a County job fair. Now employed as a business systems analyst with Pima County’s Information Technology Department, Giblin is glad he didn’t pass on the job fair. “I thought, ‘Well, OK, let’s go and talk to real humans. And in the end, I feel like I landed in the right company and the right department doing the right job.” Many of the departments that are hiring will have staff members on hand to answer questions. The County will have computers available for job seekers to apply on-site. Applicants can explore all Pima County job openings online or call 520-724-8028 and ask for recruitment. Giblin calls Pima County “the right fit” for him. “It was kind of the Goldilocks solution. Neither too big nor too small.”

*MEDIA ADVISORY: CHISPA AZ POLLING PRESS BRIEFING ON JULY 11, 2024*

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
Phoenix, Ariz. — On Thursday, July 11, 2024, Chispa AZ will host a press briefing to share findings from a recent poll of over 500 Latiné voters from across Arizona.  Experts predict that nearly a quarter of voters in Arizona this November will be Latiné. These same voters are disproportionately impacted by rising heat, the high cost of electricity, and polluted air, which is why the poll uniquely examines their perceptions of clean energy and the current makeup of the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). This poll, conducted by Embold Research, is the first of its kind this election cycle in Arizona.  On the call, Chispa AZ will also announce plans for a six-figure bilingual investment in advertising to raise awareness about the ACC and the harmful actions they have taken this year.  Chispa AZ will host two webinars: the first will be in Spanish at 10 a.m. MST and the second will be in English at 11 a.m. MST. Press and partners are invited to attend either webinar by RSVPing through the links below. An RSVP is required to attend.  Registered attendees will receive an embargoed copy of the key takeaways from the poll before the webinar.  WHAT: English- and Spanish-language briefings on the findings of a new poll examining the views of Latiné voters in Arizona on energy, utilities, and the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) WHEN: Thursday, July 11, 2024 WHERE: Zoom webinar (link provided upon registration) WHO: English-language: Vianey Olivarria, Executive Director, Chispa AZ Nuvia Enriquez, Communications Director, Chispa AZ Trenton Marlar, Analyst, Embold Research Spanish-language: Vianey Olivarria, Executive Director, Chispa AZ

Ultrasound technology can be used to boost mindfulness, study finds

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
TUCSON, Ariz. — One of the intriguing abilities of the human mind is daydreaming, where the mind wanders off into spontaneous thoughts, fantasies and scenarios, often without conscious effort, allowing creativity and reflection to flow freely.  In a new study published in Frontiers of Human Neuroscience, University of Arizona researchers used low-intensity ultrasound technology to noninvasively alter a brain region associated with activities such as daydreaming, recalling memories and envisioning the future. They found that the technique can ultimately enhance mindfulness, marking a major advancement in the field of neuroscience.  The researchers used low-intensity ultrasound technology called transcranial-focused ultrasound or, TFUS, to alter the default mode network of the brain, a system of connected brain areas that are especially active during activities like daydreaming.  “We are the first to show that the default mode network can be directly targeted and noninvasively modulated,” said lead study author Brian Lord , a postdoctoral researcher in the U of A Department of Psychology .  One area of the default mode network, the posterior cingulate cortex, has been implicated as a major player in how the mind grasps onto experiences, said Lord, who is part of the Science Enhanced Mindfulness Lab, or SEMA Lab , at the university’s Center for Consciousness Studies . The default mode network is active when people engage in introspection or let their minds wander, perhaps embedding themselves in a story, recalling past memories or planning future scenarios. “This is how we form narratives about ourselves,” Lord said.  While this narrative making is natural and important to get a coherent sense of oneself, it can also impede people from being present in the moment, Lord said. For instance, when someone is trying to meditate, it could lead to rumination and negative thinking. To enhance mindfulness and help people engage more with the current moment, Lord’s team used TFUS, a tool that can stimulate specific areas of the brain noninvasively with millimeter precision.  Unlike other noninvasive brain stimulation methods, such as transcranial electrical stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation, TFUS can penetrate below the cortex, the outermost layer of the brain. Just five minutes of stimulation can induce meaningful effects. The experiment involved 30 participants who received TFUS to the posterior cingulate cortex of the default mode network of the brain. Researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, to observe changes in brain activity. Participants were asked to report their feelings and experiences before and after the TFUS treatment.  The study found that TFUS reduced the brain’s connectivity within the default mode network and affected participants’ mindfulness and subjective experiences, such as their sense of self and perception of time. “The best part is you are using a minimal amount of energy to alter brain activity. You are just giving a gentle push to the brain with low-intensity ultrasound,” Lord said.  The ability to target and alter brain networks opens the possibility of using TFUS for precision therapeutics, which are medical treatments tailored specifically to an individual’s unique characteristics, such as their genetic makeup, lifestyle and environment. TFUS could also potentially be used to treat mood disorders like depression and anxiety, a possibility other research groups are now exploring, Lord said.  “Unlike neuroimaging techniques where you can only make correlations with brain activity, noninvasive stimulation tools like TFUS allow you to probe the brain and develop causal models,” Lord said. “That’s a really powerful thing for the whole field of neuroscience.”

BLS Data: Phoenix area consumer prices up 0.4% over the past two months, up 2.7% over the year

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
News release: Items of note:
  • Prices in the Phoenix area advanced 0.4% over the past 2 months, and are 2.7% higher than last year.
  • The latest two-month increase was influenced by higher prices for electricity and shelter.
  • Food prices decreased 0.3% over the past two months, while up 2.0% over the year.
  • The energy index decreased 1.7% over the past two months, while down 5.6 % over the year.
  • The index for all items less food and energy increased 0.6% over the past two months, while up 3.4% since last year.
  • Nationally, prices rose 3.0% over the past year.

July Workshops offered by the Law Library Resource Center

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
PHOENIX (July 11, 2024) – The Law Library Resource Center, part of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County, is offering online workshops to provide members of the public with important information about establishing paternity and legal decision-making, changing and modifying child support and the divorce and legal separation process in Maricopa County.   Prior registration is required to attend these free online workshops by visiting the Law Library events calendar: https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/ Upcoming online workshops include:
  • July 12 at 12 p.m.: The Divorce and Legal Separation Process
  • July 16 at 3 p.m.: Changing/Modifying Child Support
  • July 25 at 3 p.m.: El trámite de divorcio en Arizona
  • July 26 at 3 p.m.: Establishing Paternity & Legal Decision-Making
  • July 29 at 3 p.m.: The Divorce and Legal Separation Process
  • July 30 at 3 p.m.: The Sealing of Criminal Case Records
For more information, contact the Law Library Resource Center at https://superiorcourt.maricopa.gov/llrc/ , by phone at 602-506-7353 or via email at [email protected] .

CANCELED: Westbound I-10 closure between SR 143 and I-17 (July 12-15)

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
PHOENIX –  The Arizona Department of Transportation has canceled an Interstate 10 closure between State Route 143 and Interstate 17 that had been scheduled for Friday evening to early Monday, July 12-15. Motorists can visit i10broadwaycurve.com for the latest information and to subscribe for updates on the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project .   Please note:  The Arizona Department of The Arizona Department of Transportation advises drivers to use designated detours when there are closures on state highways. Schedules can quickly change because of weather and other unforeseen situations. For the most up-to-date information, we encourage you to download the Interstate 10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project’s free mobile app, TheCurve or visit the Alerts section of the project website before you travel.

Gallego Statement on Opposition to H.R. 8281

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff
WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03) released a statement following his vote against H.R. 8281 . “Of course only U.S. citizens should vote,” said Rep. Gallego. “But this bill isn’t about that, it’s about making it harder for Arizonans to vote, including married women, servicemembers, Native Arizonans, seniors, and people with disabilities. This extreme bill’s only purpose is to disenfranchise tens of thousands of Arizonans, and I will not vote to take away the rights of Arizonans to stop something that is already illegal.” If allowed to become law, H.R. 8281 would require anyone registering to vote in federal elections to provide, in person , an approved form of photo ID. This bill would make it harder to vote for:
  • Servicemembers stationed overseas or in another state who would be forced to take leave and travel home to register.
  • Married women if the last name on their driver’s license or ID does not match the last name on their birth certificate.
  • College students, recent graduates, or anyone who recently moved who would have to go to an election office in person with all the correct paperwork to register.
  • Native Arizonans who only have a tribal ID or driver’s license that would not qualify as an approved ID under this legislation. Additionally, many tribal members live on tribal land hours away from the nearest election office.
  • Elderly Arizonans or Arizonans with disabilities who can’t get to an election office in person or can’t gather all the required documentation.
  • Many others.

United Kansas files lawsuit to challenge state law banning fusion voting

Posted on by Bryan Richardson

United Kansas is suing the state in a quest to legalize fusion voting on the grounds that invalidating the party’s candidate nominations violates the state Constitution.

The political party filed the lawsuit Wednesday in Saline County District Court against Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Saline County Clerk/Election Officer Jamie Doss.

“Any law invalidating our nominees undermines the fundamental rights of candidates to associate with the parties of their choice, and of parties and voters to choose their preferred nominees,” party Chair Jack Curtis said in a news release. “We’re taking legal action to ensure the rights of our party, our candidates and Kansas voters are respected and the Kansas Constitution is honored.”

The lawsuit specifically states the law violates the rights to free speech, association and equal protection.

The party nominated incumbent Rep. Jason Probst, D-Hutchinson, in the 102nd District; J.C. Moore, a Republican vying for the 26th District seat in the Senate; and Lori Blake, a Democrat running for the 69th District in the House.

United Kansas seeks to use fusion voting for its candidates, who are also running in the Republican and Democratic primaries.

Under fusion voting, more than one political party can list a candidate on the ballot, and the votes for the candidate are combined for a final total.

However, Kansas hasn’t allowed the practice since 1901, according to the Secretary of State’s Office. Only five states — Connecticut, Mississippi, New York, Oregon and Vermont — allow fusion voting.

Moore and Probst showed their support for the lawsuit in the news release.

“Since I got to the state house in 2017, I’ve watched polarization grow worse with each session,” Probst said. “Now is the time for good people from both sides of the aisle to collaborate and get things done for Kansans, which is why I accepted United Kansas’ nomination.”

Moore said the party fits his values.

“As the two major parties drift further apart and extreme voices increasingly drown out common-sense candidates, fusion voting is the best way to ensure every Kansan once again feels represented and heard,” he said.

Blake, who is a Saline County resident, is the only candidate listed as a plaintiff in the lawsuit. The lawsuit says Schwab’s general counsel issued a letter to Blake on June 21 stating she’s required to forfeit one of her nominations because state statute says she can’t maintain both.

United Kansas says in the lawsuit that the “Anti-Fusion Laws” require her to abandon the nomination.

“Any rational candidate in Blake’s position would keep the ballot line of the more established party with a larger current number of registered voters,” the petition says.

Bryan Richardson is the managing editor at State Affairs Pro Kansas/Hawver’s Capitol Report. Reach him at [email protected] or on X @RichInNews.

Black lawmakers to address voter participation at Atlanta conference

Posted on by Tammy Joyner

Black lawmakers from around the country will meet in Atlanta next month to discuss issues pertinent to their communities, including increasing voter participation ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

The Georgia Legislative Black Caucus will host its annual conference Aug. 2-4 at Atlanta Metropolitan State College. This year’s conference theme is “Redeeming the Soul of America, Testing 1, 2, 3.”

“This is a critical conference for Black leaders from across the nation to come together and strategize, not only about the upcoming election, but the upcoming agendas for legislatures across the country,” Caucus Chairman Rep. Carl Gilliard, D-Savannah, told State Affairs.

Continue reading “Black lawmakers to address voter participation at Atlanta conference”

Georgia prisons: Rep. Matt Hatchett explains why you should care about them

Posted on by Tammy Joyner

With nearly 47,000 state inmates, Georgia is among the nation’s top five states with the most prisoners.

In addition to a mushrooming prison population, Georgia’s prison system is rife with aging facilities, understaffing and criminal activities among inmates and staff.

Gov. Brian Kemp last month announced an in-depth, systemwide look at the state’s 34 prisons. The Georgia Department of Corrections then hired Chicago-based correctional facility consultant Guidehouse Inc. It was hired a day after an inmate at Smith State Prison in Glennville fatally shot a food-service worker before killing himself, adding to the deadly string of violence at Smith, which had more homicides last year than any other state prison. Six inmates died there between March and August 2023, according to an Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigation.

This week, House Speaker Jon Burns, R-Newington, announced the creation of the Special Subcommittee of Appropriations on State Prisons.

Continue reading “Georgia prisons: Rep. Matt Hatchett explains why you should care about them”

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