PIMA COUNTY, Aug. 2, 2024 – Pima County will open a west-side Cooling Center at the Mission Annex facility at 1801 S. Mission Road starting Monday, August 5. The Cooling Center will be open for the community from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Water and chairs will be available in the air-conditioned building. “Based on the geography and demographics of the area, the opening of this facility broadens the network of Cooling Centers across Pima County,” said Jen Darland, the director of the Office of Housing Opportunities and Homeless Solutions. “This is an area in which there is more-limited access to resources and a higher frequency of mobile home units, where residents have a higher-risk of indoor heat-related illness or death.” Multiple County departments will provide staffing, allowing the Cooling Center to be open seven days a week, offering key cooling services on the weekends. The Mission Annex facility, on the northeast corner of South Mission and West Silverlake roads, is also easily accessible for area residents as it is on a direct SunTran bus line. Visit the Beat the Heat website to learn about how to stay safe in the heat, descriptions of heat illnesses, how to stay safe during power outages, and much more, including a County-wide map of Cooling Centers .

WILLCOX – The Arizona Department of Transportation has opened a reconstructed bridge that carries US 191 over Interstate 10 in southeast Arizona following a crash that severely damaged the structure in 2023. 

 

The $5.3 million project is now complete after work began early this year to demolish the US 191 bridge and then rebuild the superstructure, which includes the girders and deck. 

 

The bridge is about 9 miles west of Willcox at milepost 331. After the crash forced the bridge to close, ADOT worked quickly to build a temporary support structure to allow I-10 traffic to flow freely under it. ADOT has also worked closely since then with stakeholders who were eager to restore access. 

 

While major work is complete, motorists should expect minor asphalt work and lane striping in September.  For more information on this project, please visit azdot.gov/US191BridgeRepair .

In case you missed it, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL-6) joined the podcast “War on the Rocks” with host Ryan Evans to discuss the state of America’s shipbuilding industry and their joint strategy to urgently rebuild the maritime sector and fortify the U.S.-flag fleet. In May, both Kelly and Waltz released a report entitled “Congressional Guidance for a National Maritime Strategy ,” which details the threat of China over the oceans and offers a comprehensive vision for planning guidance, strategic objectives, and actionable steps to revitalize the nation’s maritime sector.    “For me, this has been an issue I’ve been thinking about all the way back to 1982 when I showed up at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and over time learned the sorry state of our maritime shipbuilding capacity and being able to move cargo—just the state of the merchant marine.” said Kelly . “The congressman and I realized that we both had this interest in trying to revitalize the merchant marine. You know, to have something that’s bipartisan and bicameral is usually the best path to success.”     Kelly and Waltz have been pushing the administration to prioritize the U.S. maritime industry, writing an op-ed on the Wall Street Journal and discussing their report on Fox News , they also led a bipartisan, bicameral letter to President Biden calling on him to establish an interagency maritime policy director, designate maritime infrastructure as “critical infrastructure,” invoke the Defense Production Act for shipbuilding, and develop a whole-of-government maritime “de-risking” strategy to reduce dependency on Chinese maritime infrastructure and industry.     Sen. Kelly earned his B.S. degree in marine engineering and nautical science from the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) and later an M.S. degree in aeronautical engineering from the United States Naval Postgraduate School. Sen. Kelly spent 25 years in the United States Navy as a pilot and is the first ever USMMA alumnus to serve in Congress. Last year, Sen. Kelly was elected chair of the USMMA Board of Visitors for the 118th Congress.      You can listen to the full “War on the Rocks” episode here .  

MARICOPA – The Arizona Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting Thursday, Aug. 15, to discuss and gather input on improvements proposed for State Route 347 between the city of Maricopa and Interstate 10. 

 

The meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Maricopa Library and Cultural Center, Redwood Rooms A/B, 18160 N. Maya Angelou Drive, in Maricopa. The program will begin with a 30-minute open house, have a 30-minute presentation on preliminary recommendations and offer time for questions and comments.

 

The proposed improvements include: 

 

• Widening SR 347 by one lane in each direction between I-10 and Maricopa and widening bridges at Santa Rosa Wash, Santa Cruz Wash and the Gila River: This project would also make intersection improvements at Borgia Road (Sacate Road) and Maricopa Road. Design began in 2023 and is expected to take two years. No funding is currently programmed for construction.
• Building a Riggs Road interchange with a bridge separating SR 347 traffic from cross-street traffic: A study is expected to be completed in 2025. Construction is expected to begin in late 2027 and take approximately 12-18 months.

 

• Improving intersections at Casa Blanca Road and Mammoth Way (cement plant access): Project design began in 2023. The project is expected to be advertised for construction in mid-2025 and take approximately 12 months to complete.

 

Meeting materials will be posted to the State Route 347 Corridor Projects website at azdot.gov/347 before Aug. 15. The public is invited to provide comments at the public meeting or through one of the following ways through Thursday, Aug. 29.

• Online Comment Form: azdot.gov/SR347comment 
• Phone: 855.712.8530
• Email: Kimberly Larson at [email protected]
• Mail: ADOT Community Relations, 1655 W. Jackson St., MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007

 

To learn more about proposed and planned SR 347 corridor improvements, please visit azdot.gov/SR347 .

PIMA COUNTY, August 5, 2024 – The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ) is issuing a ground-level Ozone Action Day for the Tucson metropolitan area today. Individuals who are especially sensitive to ozone air pollution may experience shortness of breath, coughing, throat irritation, wheezing, and breathing discomfort.  If you are especially sensitive to ozone, you may want to limit your level of exertion outside between noon and sunset when elevated levels of ozone pollution are more likely to occur. Intense physical outdoor activity causes heavier breathing, which allows ozone to penetrate deeper in the lungs. Those who are most likely to be sensitive to ozone include children, adults who are active outdoors, people with respiratory diseases, and certain individuals who have an unusual sensitivity to this particular pollutant. Those people who are feeling symptoms should seek medical attention, if necessary. There are many types of emissions that generate ground-level ozone. Motor vehicle exhaust, industrial and power plant emissions, gasoline vapors, chemical solvents, as well as natural sources, emit oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) that form ozone in the presence of intense sunlight and heat.  Actions to reduce the production of ground level ozone:

• Reduce driving – combine errands into one trip.
• Ride the bus, walk, bike, or share a ride with friends and family.
• Avoid idling your vehicle’s engine.
• Re-fuel your car after dark or during cooler evening hours when vapors are less likely to form ozone.
• While re-fueling, always stop at the click.
• Make sure your gas cap is tightly sealed after re-fueling.
• Avoid using gas-powered lawn and gardening equipment.
• Check your tire pressure monthly and keep tires properly inflated for peak performance.
• Conserve electricity to reduce emissions from power plants.
• Use low-VOC or water-based paints, stains, finishes, and paint strippers and ensure that they are sealed properly.

PDEQ’s Clean Air Program educates Pima County residents about the potential health effects associated with elevated levels of air pollution and promotes actions to reduce air pollution. PDEQ monitors air pollution in our region at 16 air quality monitoring sites. Real-time air pollution levels are available online at the PDEQ website . To receive Air Pollution Action Day advisories, sign up here .

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation will host a virtual meeting the evening of Thursday, Aug. 8, to provide an update and gather public input about planned improvements at the Interstate 10 traffic interchange with Baseline Road.

ADOT is evaluating potential design alternatives designed to improve traffic flow for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists ahead of recommending a preferred alternative.

The virtual meeting, which will include a presentation by ADOT’s study team, will start at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8. You can register to attend the meeting by visiting tinyurl.com/i10baseline. The meeting also will allow ADOT study team members to answer questions and accept public comments. 

Due to heavy traffic and congestion near I-10 and Baseline Road, ADOT is studying improvements to the interchange to meet the future needs of travelers. One alternative is a modified diamond interchange and another is a diverging diamond interchange. A no build alternative also is being evaluated.

More information about the potential options for the interchange is available at azdot.gov/i10baseline. 

If you can’t attend the online meeting, ADOT also will accept comments through Aug. 22 via an online survey at tinyurl.com/i10baselinecomment. Comments may also be emailed to [email protected]; by phone at 855.712.8530; or by mail to ADOT Community Relations, 1655 W. Jackson Street, MD 126F, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

ADOT is working with several agencies on the I-10/Baseline Road interchange study, including the Federal Highway Administration, the cities of Phoenix and Tempe and the Maricopa Association of Governments, which serves as the freeway planning agency for the greater Phoenix region. 

Today, Arizona for Abortion Access filed a motion requesting that Justice William Montgomery recuse himself from considering the appeal of the trial court’s ruling that the phrase “unborn human being” in the publicity pamphlet summary for the Arizona Abortion Access Act wasn’t impartial as required by law. Based on his previous (and recent) recusal on an abortion rights case, his previous use of terminology like “unborn human being,” and various other inflammatory public statements regarding abortion providers and their supporters, it’s obvious that a reasonable, objective person would doubt his ability to make fair and impartial rulings in this case.  Our motion has three separate components:  First, Justice Montgomery ultimately recused himself in Planned Parenthood v. Mayes with a cryptic statement that new information came to light which led him to recuse, but he didn’t share what that information was. We have no reason to believe those factors aren’t still at play today. Second, Justice Montgomery’s previous statements about abortion rights advocates “kill[ing] children” — made outside of a Phoenix abortion provider’s office — show that the phrasing at issue in this case matches very closely with his own chosen phrasing in ways that raise serious doubts that his review would be impartial. Third, other previous statements admonishing all abortion-rights supporters and promising they will be tormented until they “reconcile with the truth” make it clear that Arizonans will have serious questions about his impartiality.   Like anyone going before any Arizona court, we are entitled to a fair and impartial hearing. The only way to ensure that can happen is for Justice Montgomery to recuse himself. By doing so, he will protect the integrity of the court in public opinion and allow Arizona voters to feel confident that their right to direct democracy is intact. At a time when many are questioning the legitimacy  of our courts, recusal is the only option.  Ultimately, Arizona voters — not judges with a history on the issue like Justice Montgomery’s — should be the ones deciding at the ballot box whether to restore and protect the right to access abortion.

PHOENIX – AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid agency, has been selected as one of seven states to participate in the Building State Capacity for Community-Informed Policymaking Learning and Action Series , organized by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS). This multi-state initiative will help Medicaid programs like AHCCCS establish or strengthen a Beneficiary Advisory Council (BAC), in line with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) vision for centering lived experience in Medicaid decision-making. Medicaid programs are increasingly recognizing the importance of partnering with individuals who have firsthand experience with Medicaid. This collaboration helps shape program and policy development to better meet the needs of a community. With the new CMS rules requiring states to create member advisory groups, there’s a greater push to enhance member engagement. “This approach ensures that diverse voices, especially those from marginalized communities, are heard and considered as policies are developed,” said Carmen Heredia, cabinet executive officer of AHCCCS. “We are thrilled that Arizona is included. Policies informed by our members will address real-world challenges, leading to better health results for Arizona’s Medicaid members.” As part of the 14-month learning and action series, AHCCCS will receive guidance in developing and implementing a successful Medicaid member engagement strategy that aligns with CMS’ new requirements. The initiative will promote collaborative, peer-to-peer learning and provide technical assistance to improve Medicaid member engagement strategies. It will also involve partnering with a community-based organization to create and implement a BAC action plan.  “Incorporating the voices of people with experience receiving services through Medicaid into program and policy decisions ensures their needs are better understood and addressed,” said Allison Hamblin, CHCS President and CEO. “We are excited to support these seven state Medicaid agencies in responding to CMS’ call to more effectively engage Medicaid members, toward the goal of better health outcomes.”  CHCS will share lessons from the participating states with stakeholders across the country. For information, visit https://www.chcs.org/bac-series .

PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced a lawsuit against Buenas Communities LLC, the corporate landlord operating the apartment complex known as “Buenas on 32 nd ,” for willfully neglecting to provide habitable living conditions for its residents.

 

“All Arizona residents who enter into rental agreements deserve living conditions that meet minimal standards of habitability,” said Attorney General Mayes. “The ongoing neglect and deplorable conditions at Buenas Communities’ properties have put residents’ lives at serious risk, especially during the record-breaking heat this summer.”

 

The complaint alleges a pattern of neglect and deception by Buenas Communities LLC. Since June 2024, any residents have been without proper air conditioning despite Phoenix experiencing the hottest June on record, with temperatures often exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

After media reports regarding the air conditioning aired, Attorney General Mayes issued a demand letter requiring the landlord to fix the issue by Friday, July 26, 2024. Buenas Communities LLC subsequently installed a portable chiller. However, temporary fixes, such as previously installed window units and the portable chiller, have not proven adequate for all tenants.  

 

The complaint also alleges that the complex has pervasive issues including broken windows, faulty plumbing, bed bug infestations, and crumbling infrastructure. These conditions are not disclosed to potential tenants, potentially violating the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act and the Arizona Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. Additionally, residents who voiced complaints faced threats of eviction and other forms of retaliation from the complex management.

 

“My office is committed to protecting Arizonans from unscrupulous landlords who neglect their legal responsibilities and put lives at risk,” continued Attorney General Mayes. “Every Arizona renter, no matter their income level, deserves fairness and honesty from their landlord. I will not stand by while vulnerable residents are subjected to such deplorable conditions.” 

 

Attorney General Mayes is seeking a permanent injunction requiring Buenas Communities LLC to make necessary repairs and comply with Arizona laws, as well as a permanent injunction barring the defendant from renting to Arizona consumers in the future. The complaint also asks for restitution and civil penalties for the harm caused to residents.

 

If you believe you have been the victim of consumer fraud, you can file a consumer complaint by visiting the Attorney General’s website . If you need a complaint form sent to you, contact the Attorney General’s Office in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at (800) 352-8431.

 

A copy of the complaint will be made available here shortly. 

PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes today announced a cooperation agreement with a defendant in the fake electors’ case. Jenna Ellis signed the agreement earlier this morning. The State has agreed to drop the charges against Ms. Ellis in exchange for her cooperation with the prosecution.

 

“This agreement represents a significant step forward in our case,” said Attorney General Mayes. “I am grateful to Ms. Ellis for her cooperation with our investigation and prosecution. Her insights are invaluable and will greatly aid the State in proving its case in court. As I stated when the initial charges were announced, I will not allow American democracy to be undermined – it is far too important. Today’s announcement is a win for the rule of law.”

 

Ms. Ellis had previously been charged with nine felonies including fraud, forgery and conspiracy. The case against the other 17 defendants remains ongoing. Copies of the motion to dismiss the charges and the cooperation agreement are available here.