WASHINGTON – Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and 19 other Western governors are prodding Congress to move more urgently to address a wildfire crisis that has grown worse in recent years. In Arizona last year, 1,837 fires burned 188,483 acres, according to the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management. This year’s total is already worse:. The post Governors prod Congress for more help on growing threat of wildfires in West appeared first on Cronkite News ..read more

PHOENIX – A major update to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services’ (USCIS) T visa application regulations, meant for survivors of human trafficking, went into effect late last month. Those who work in the field of human trafficking say they are already seeing positive effects, yet experts believe that some parts of the rule change. The post T visa rule changes could help survivors of human trafficking seeking immigration status appeared first on Cronkite News ..read more

WASHINGTON – Fear for his undocumented parents haunted Mario Montoya throughout his childhood in Mesa. Sometimes it turned to outright terror, like the time his mom got into a car crash. “One of my first thoughts was … what if the police asked for her immigration status?” said Montoya, 26, who now studies law in. The post Half-million mixed-status families in Arizona will face vastly different realities under Trump or Harris immigration policies appeared first on Cronkite News ..read more

The post “We need to speak out and speak loud”: People of color battle targeted disinformation appeared first on Cronkite News ..read more

From cross-partisan groups working in battleground states to off-the-record meetings of conservatives in Republican strongholds, new initiatives nationwide aim to restore trust in elections, combat ‘The Big Lie’ and shore up democracy. The post In private meetings and public town halls, Republicans and Democrats work to restore voter trust and faith in democracy appeared first on Cronkite News ..read more

WASHINGTON – In November, Arizona voters will decide on a state constitutional amendment, Proposition 139, that would guarantee access to abortion up to the point of fetal viability. That would mark a major shift. The state currently bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy – roughly nine weeks before the point at which a fetus. The post Proposition 139: What the Arizona ballot initiative would mean for abortion access appeared first on Cronkite News ..read more

The post ‘Our No. 1 job is to make sure that they’re safe’: America confronts election intimidation appeared first on Cronkite News ..read more

WASHINGTON – U.S. Customs and Border Protection has directed agents to stop discarding migrants’ personal belongings, after a scathing report detailing how medicine, clothes, cell phones, cash and identity documents have been taken by authorities at holding facilities and never returned. The new rules classify legal documents, contact information and religious items as “essential personal. The post After scathing GAO report, Border Patrol agents ordered to stop tossing out migrants’ belongings appeared first on Cronkite News ..read more

CHICAGO – Arizona delegates left the Democratic National Convention electrified and eager to help Vice President Kamala Harris win the presidency. “We are returning to Arizona with a lot of energy, excitement and enthusiasm,” said Yolanda Bejarano, chair of the Arizona Democratic Party. “Our country is on the line, our democracy is on the line. The post Arizona Democrats excited as Kamala Harris accepts presidential nomination, vow to help her win battleground state appeared first on Cronkite News ..read more

CHICAGO – Democrats put a bright spotlight on Phoenix Rep. Ruben Gallego at their national convention, underscoring the importance of his race with Republican Kari Lake for an open U.S. Senate seat. Both hope to succeed Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, an independent who announced in March that she would not seek reelection. Democrats would struggle to. The post Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego, in tight Senate race with Kari Lake, showcased on final night of Democratic National Convention appeared first on Cronkite News ..read more