Gallego, flanked by two former state directors for the late Senator McCain, a Republican Mesa city council member and a Republican business owner, announced the launch of the Republicans and Independents for Ruben, a collection of endorsements from 40 Republican and Independents , at a press conference this morning. Gallego, a la Sinema, made a call to cross the aisle, seeking to secure a highly sought after and potentially determinative voting bloc in the upcoming general election. “Arizona is at a crossroads,“ Gallego said. “We need to lower the cost of living, protect our water resources, and defend our democracy. All of which are much more important than the political party strife that you see in Washington D.C.” Gallego said Lake represents the “extreme fringes of politics that threaten all of our core values, Democrat, Independent and Republican.” Paul Hickman, president and CEO of the Arizona Bankers Association and former state director for Sen. John McCain, called the Republican party the “shell of its former self” and said Lake lacked the “temperament and aptitude for public service.” Former state director for McCain Bettina Nava similarly said she no longer “recognized the Republican party. In offering her endorsement of Gallego, she said, “We haven’t always agreed, and I don’t think that we will, necessarily, going forward. Who cares?” She continued, “But I tell you what, he has always been collegial, welcome to dialogue, and quite frankly, it’s always been illuminating and helped us grow to better public policy that serves others.” Republican Mesa City Councilmember Julie Spilsbury, in her remarks, said, “We cannot just vote a straight party ticket.” Beyond the four Republicans that spoke in support of Gallego today, the campaign released a list of 40 Republicans and Independent supporters, including Mesa Mayor John Giles, Parker Mayor Randy Hartless, and former state representatives Pete Hershberger, Chris Herstam, Steve May, Robin Shaw and Roberta Voss. Gallego’s coalition launch comes as Lake, in an interview with Andrew Desiderio of Punchbowl News , said she would be sticking to Trump-aligned policies instead of aiming for moderation. “I honestly believe that the America First agenda is the greatest way for people in the middle,” Lake said. “Unfortunately, we have to push back against a very corrupt media that’s trying to paint this movement as extremist. Frankly, I don’t see anything extremist.”

In competitive districts, Democrat and Republican campaigns are encouraging voters to reject the opposing candidate in the general election for being too “extreme” for the area they want to represent. Since its foundation, the Arizona Democratic Party’s ADLCC has utilized the strategy in an attempt to gain control of either chamber, by urging voters to reject the “extremist” GOP candidate in close districts. On Tuesday, the Republican Arizona Senate Victory Fund PAC announced their own version of that campaign strategy, which targets LD4 Democrat incumbent Marsh, who they dubbed “Extreme Christine.” ADLCC has funneled money and campaign efforts into eight competitive districts, while aiming to not only flip two seats in each chamber but also hold the ones that have Democratic incumbents. The “Extreme Christine” campaign website took a similar strategy by telling voters to “send extreme Christine home” and lists her voting record on issues like immigration, school choice and taxes.

Unofficial election results indicate LD16 GOP House candidate Rob Hudelson will fall just short of triggering an automatic recount if results stand. Hudelson is behind Chris Lopez for the second Republican House nomination in the district by 0.58%, just over the half-percent threshold needed to trigger a recount. No other legislative races remain contested, and with only a few competitive districts in the state, most legislative seats next session have unofficially been decided. Excluding swing districts, 18 seats will likely be filled by first-term lawmakers next session. Former state Rep. Mark Finchem is set to return to the Capitol in LD1 after beating Bennett in the Senate primary race. In LD5, Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board member Aaron Marquez will likely make his first appearance in the legislature after beating Lucking in the Democratic primary race in that district. Former state Rep. Walt Blackman will return to the House after winning the primary race in LD7. Mendez is likely out of the legislature as he trails Brian Garcia and Janeen Connolly in LD8’s Democratic primary race. Democrat Lauren Kuby will likely win the district’s Senate seat. Two new Republicans are the LD10 House favorites, former Arizona Corporation Commissioner Justin Olson and Ralph Heap, Justin Heap’s father. With Grantham termed out, Hendrix and Petersen’s running mate Khyl Powell will likely serve in the House for LD14. Michael Way, the southeast division president for the education management organization, Charter One, will likely replace J. Parker in the House in LD15. LD24 is also set for a fresh face with Cartwright Elementary School Board President Anna Abeytia replacing Ortiz as a Democratic nominee in the district. Ortiz is moving to the Senate in a blue district, while Dunn is also moving to the Senate in the red LD25. Dunn’s House replacement will likely be Nick Kupper, an Air Force veteran who was a contestant on “American Ninja Warrior.” In LD29, Republican James Taylor is also advancing to the general election to replace Smith after Smith withdrew his candidacy for re-election. Finally, LD30 will feature a fresh face in the Senate with Borrelli departing. His replacement will likely be Republican Mohave County Supervisor Hildy Angius. 

America First Legal, on behalf of Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona Inc., filed a lawsuit against Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer for alleged failure to verify citizenship and remove noncitizens from federal-only voting lists. The complaint , filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, alleges Richer failed to use all available resources for the federal-only vote list maintenance, consult all databases, conduct regular list maintenance and send information about federal-only voters to the AG. The legal action follows demand letters sent to all 15 county recorders asking each to submit a request to DHS for citizenship confirmation of all federal-only voters registered in their respective counties, submit the list of the county’s federal-only voters to the AG and post the number of federal-only voters registered as of January, February, April and July 2024 on the their websites. The first suit against Maricopa County comes as Richer maintains he already complies with state and federal voter registration laws in correspondence with America First Legal. “We haven’t been served yet. We are very zealous in doing lawful list maintenance – over 400,000 since taking office. And we’ve never lost a lawsuit,” Richer said in a text. “But sure.”

Several of Arizona’s competitive races this November pit familiar faces against each other. In LD2, Schwiebert will face Bolick for the district’s Senate seat. Democrats are firing a single shot at the district with the House by running Deer Valley Unified School District board member Stephanie Simacek against Wilmeth and Ari Bradshaw, who served as president of North Valley Young Republicans. LD4 will see Marsh take on Republican Scottsdale Unified School District board member Carine Werner for the Senate seat, while both parties are running two candidates for the district’s House seats. Gress and Pamela Carter are running against Democrats Kelli Butler and Karen Gresham. Butler or Gresham will likely soon be appointed to the district’s vacant House seat, formerly represented by Laura Terech. LD9 features a near rematch of the 2022 election. Robert Scantlebury is challenging Burch, while Austin and Blattman are facing Republicans Mary Ann Mendoza and Kylie Barber in the general election. Barber is the newcomer and Mendoza took criticism when 2022 photos allegedly showing her in blackface emerged. Democrats are running retired teacher Sharon Winters against Mesnard in LD13. Pawlik is not running for re-election so Democrats Brandy Reese and Nicholas Gonzales will face Willoughby and former state Rep. Jeff Weninger in the general election. In LD16, Stacy Seaman is hoping to join her father, Keith Seaman, in the legislature, but she faces Shope in the general election. Keith Seaman is the single-shot Democrat for the House seats and is likely running against Martinez and Chris Lopez, who ran as Martinez and Shope’s running mate in the primary election. Democrats are also targeting LD17. Former Sen. Vince Leach will face John McLean in the general election after beating Wadsack in the primary. McGarr and Jones have a single-shot challenger in housing developer Kevin Volk. LD23 also falls into a competitive district now with Pena being a single-shot Republican in the district. Pena faces Sandoval and San Luis City Councilman Matias Rosales. Fernandez is being challenged by Michelle Altherr, who helped organize Latinos for Trump. Democrats are also trying to get a seat in LD27, which has no incumbent House candidates, although Payne is running in the Senate unopposed. Deborah Howard is the single-shot candidate against Republicans Lisa Fink and former state Rep. Tony Rivero.

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge rebuffed a challenge to the Tipped Workers Protection Act, a measure that allows businesses to pay 25% less than minimum wage to workers whose compensation with tips exceeds hourly minimum wage by $2. Judge Peter Thompson found the title and act are not deceptive or misleading, contrary to claims from Raise the Wage Arizona. That group filed suit against the Tipped Workers Protection Act, alleging its title misleads and confuses voters, especially as the group planned to run its own initiative to eventually phase out the tipped minimum wage. Judge Thompson found the language of neither the short title, “Tipped Workers Protection” nor the official title is deceptive or misleading. “Because the language of the Official Title of SCR 1040 as indicated to appear on the ballot as Proposition 138 is clear about changing the calculation for minimum wages of tipped workers there is no confusion concerning the effect of the proposed Constitutional Amendment,” Thompson wrote. “The question is only whether the Short Title ‘Tipped Workers Protection Act’ puts people on notice as to the contents of the proposed Constitutional Amendment. The Short Title, “Tipped Workers Protection Act” does not imply or promise a raise to the minimum wage.” Thompson then turned to the claim of confusion given rival ballot measures and ruled the plaintiffs have “failed to cite to specific authority which would permit this Court, or any court, to remove an Initiative or proposed Legislative Constitutional Amendment because it interferes with or makes passage of a competing ballot measure more or less likely.” He further found placing the Tipped Workers Protection Act “will not undermine the sanctity of the election process. In fact, it is part of the democratic process enshrined in the Arizona Constitution with choice being left to the voters.” James Barton, an attorney for Raise the Wage Arizona, said the group planned to appeal. In a statement, Steve Chucri, president and CEO of the Arizona Restaurant Association, the group championing the Tipped Workers Protection Act, said, “ This was a bogus lawsuit from the start, and the Arizona Restaurant Association thanks the court for granting our request to have the complaint promptly denied.”

Hobbs announced Tuesday that the state is reactivating the Greater Arizona Development Authority after a 10-year hiatus for private funding to tribal and rural entities for public infrastructure projects. GADA was originally created by the Legislature in 1997 to assist with financing costs for public projects, but stopped issuing funds in 2014 due to bond agreements that restricted the entity’s assets, according to its website. In 2021, GADA was absorbed into the Arizona Finance Authority, whose board is pledging from $50 million to $100 million in bonds through GADA in the next year. “By reinvigorating this tool, we are providing an opportunity to leverage existing funds to invest in essential infrastructure all across Arizona,” Hobbs said in a statement. “This will support our focus on priority projects such as transportation, clean energy, water supply, and workforce training facilities.”

TUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), a member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, recently joined several efforts by the Arizona congressional delegation to urge action from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) regarding concerns raised in a recent report by the VA Office of Inspector General. The report was conducted in response to the death of a veteran patient under the Phoenix VA Health Care System in March 2023.   In July, Ciscomani joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of his colleagues, led by Congressman Greg Stanton (AZ-04), on a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, urging the agency to address the concerns laid out by the VA OIG’s report. The group also requested a briefing on how the Phoenix VA will implement the OIG’s recommended changes outlined in the report.   “This incident is a part of a troubling pattern of inappropriate response by the Phoenix VA, whose procedures have contradicted and failed to meet Veterans Health Administration standards,” wrote the lawmakers . “Our veterans put their lives on the line to protect our freedom, security, and future. They deserve our enduring gratitude—both during and after their service. It is our responsibility to ensure that they return home to a nation that cares for them and their loved ones—and that includes receiving quality, timely health care.”   Later that month, the Congressman joined fellow Arizona Republican lawmakers on a letter to Bryan Matthews, Director of the Phoenix VA, demanding further details on the incident and again pressing them on how the facility would incorporate the OIG’s recommendations.   Last week, Congressman Ciscomani joined VA Secretary McDonough in a visit to the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. During the Secretary’s visit, they received a briefing with local VA leadership and toured the VA Medical Center.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Man’s best friend is the subject of a new Netflix documentary featuring the expertise of a University of Arizona researcher. Narrated by Emmy-nominated actor and longtime friend of dogs Rob Lowe, “Inside the Mind of a Dog” follows many dogs, including a group of puppies as they begin their service dog training. The film, which will be available Friday on the streaming platform, explores the relationship between humans and dogs, examines new research in the field of veterinary medicine, and helps pet owners improve their relationships with their furry friends. Among the experts featured in the documentary is Emily Bray , assistant professor of human-animal interaction and director of the Behavioral Research Across Years Lab in the U of A College of Veterinary Medicine .  She wants to better understand how dogs think, behave and solve problems. “I study canine cognition and the factors that influence it, including aspects of a dog’s early environment, like maternal style. I want to understand how dogs view the world and their interactions with us,” Bray said. “A lot of my current research is conducted in collaboration with the service dog organization Canine Companions, and in the past, I have also worked with guide dogs and detection dogs. The more we can find out about how dogs in these various working roles think, the better we can set them – and us – up for success.” Bray joined the team of animal experts on “Inside the Mind of a Dog” thanks to the film’s director, Andy Mitchell, who contacted Bray directly. A four-time Emmy Award winner who previously directed the documentary “Inside the Mind of a Cat,” Mitchell has also developed animal documentaries for National Geographic, Nat Geo Wild, Disney+, Discovery and Animal Planet. Bray filmed with the production company, Red Rock Films, last summer at Canine Companions’ national headquarters in Santa Rosa, California. Canine Companions is a nonprofit organization that provides service dogs to children, adults and veterans with disabilities and provides facility dogs to work in health care, criminal justice and educational settings. Over the course of two days of filming, Bray discussed her research, answered questions and demonstrated some of the behavioral exercises that bring her research to life. The crux of her work involves engaging dogs of all ages, from 8-week-old puppies to geriatric dogs, in cognitive games so that she can better understand how their brains work.            “One of the quintessential tasks in canine cognition research is point-following,” Bray said. “Our previous research has shown that even at just 8 weeks of age, puppies can reliably follow a human point to find a hidden treat.” Because Bray and her colleagues included hundreds of puppies of known ancestry in their previous research, they could compile their data into a statistical model to determine how much of the variation in the puppies’ performance was due to genetics, as opposed to the environment.  “We found a large role of genetics,” Bray said. “Paired with the fact that this skill emerges at such a young age, we concluded that dogs seem to be biologically prepared to communicate with us.” Bray is also one of the U of A researchers behind the Service Dog and Veteran Experiences Study , a national clinical trial examining the potential medical benefits of service dogs on veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Alongside other faculty in the College of Veterinary Medicine, Bray studies the impact service dogs have on veterans with PTSD and hopes the team’s work may one day lead to more efficient medical interventions for patients. Peeling back the layers of canine cognition So, how does a researcher study the behavior and emotions of a nonverbal subject? That challenge is at the heart of Bray’s research. To peel back the layers of canine cognition, she uses standardized cognitive tasks that engage dogs in different ways so that researchers can objectively observe and draw inferences from the animals’ actions and dispositions. Combining those observations with information about the dog’s hormones and other biological markers can provide a little clearer picture of what is going on. “Some traits that we measure in our games are impulse control, memory and reactivity – as well as a dog’s temperament,” Bray said. “We have other tools as well: we can put an accelerometer on dogs to track their physical activity, take their blood to look at their DNA and check their hormone levels to get a sense of their stress. You can also ask the owners what they think. It is really exciting, because you can explore all sorts of things.” While Bray did not get to meet narrator Lowe while on the set of “Inside the Mind of a Dog,” she did work with Mitchell and the rest of the production team and said she found the whole experience exciting. She hopes her contribution to the documentary inspires viewers to spend more time observing their own pet’s behavior and thinking about the relationship they share with their dogs.  “The really big takeaway for me, as I do this science and pull out the variables that we’re interested in, is that dogs can be really astute observers of humans – but we don’t always do a great job of returning the favor,” Bray said. “There are a lot of behavioral cues that dogs exhibit that the average person just doesn’t catch, and that can impact our dogs’ experiences and sometimes lead to misunderstandings.” “Inside the Mind of a Dog” premieres Friday on Netflix and is an hour and 15 minutes long. Following the premiere, the documentary team will attempt a Guinness World Record for “most dogs to attend a film screening” at a showing of the movie on Aug. 10 in Middlebury, Vermont. The goal is for at least 220 dogs to attend, alongside their owners.

PHOENIX (August 7, 2024) – The Law Library Resource Center, part of the Judicial Branch of Arizona 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:

• Aug. 9 at 3 p.m.: Changing/Modifying Child Support
• Aug. 13 at 12 p.m.: The Divorce and Legal Separation Process
• Aug. 15 at 3 p.m.: Establishing Paternity & Legal Decision-Making
• Aug. 20 at 12 p.m.: The Sealing of Criminal Case Records
• Aug. 23 at 3 p.m.: The Divorce and Legal Separation Process
• Aug. 27 at 12 p.m.: The Divorce and Legal Separation Process
• Aug. 29 at 12 p.m.: El trámite de divorcio en Arizona

  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] .