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What Phoenix is talking about
public safety
Phoenix fired and arrested former officers Antonio Felix and Luis Vasquez Jr. after an Aug. 5, 2026 traffic stop that investigators allege was violent, unreported and conducted without body-worn-camera activation. On Sept. 2, the city released their personnel and disciplinary files and said its Organizational Integrity and Professional Standards bureaus were auditing the officers’ work histories while reviewing their squad and the South Mountain Precinct for possible systemic issues. The released files document prior policy and performance issues, but local reporting and a retired commander’s review said they did not show an established pattern predicting the alleged violence.
via azfamily.com·12h agoDetails →
public safety
A destructive flash flood struck Bright Angel Canyon in Grand Canyon National Park on August 29, during the Southwest monsoon season. The flood killed two Texas hikers and prompted an ongoing search for a third member of their group. It also heavily damaged inner-canyon infrastructure, including the Transcanyon Waterline that supplies the South Rim, leading to major conservation measures and limits on overnight stays.
via home.nps.gov·12h agoDetails →
careers
Banner Medical Group primary care clinicians in the Phoenix area sought representation from the Union of American Physicians and Dentists (UAPD), which is affiliated with AFSCME and the AFL-CIO. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) case identifies Banner Medical Group as the employer and UAPD as the petitioner. The Sept. 2 vote count is not the same as final NLRB certification; Banner said it would consider its obligations if the result is certified.
via azcentral.com·12h agoDetails →
education
Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program provides state funds for eligible students’ private-school tuition and other approved education expenses. The Legislature expanded eligibility to all Arizona students in 2022, accelerating enrollment and program costs. A 12News records analysis reports that ESA payments to 190 private schools totaled at least $719 million since that expansion.
via 12news.com·12h agoDetails →
careers
Arizona employers generally report qualifying mass layoffs through WARN notices submitted to the state, although federal WARN requirements do not necessarily cover every job loss. In August 2026, six employers announced layoffs affecting about 1,639 Arizona workers, with the abrupt closure of Salad and Go accounting for roughly 1,300 employees. Several of the reported reductions were scheduled to take effect after August, so the announcements should not all be characterized as jobs already eliminated that month.
via azcentral.com·12h agoDetails →
infrastructure
Yuma County’s farming economy relies on Colorado River water and supplies a major share of North America’s winter leafy greens. Colorado River supplies are under pressure from drought, overuse and reduced snowpack, prompting a federal plan for Arizona, California and Nevada to reduce use over the next two years. Water-right priority is central to how reductions fall on different users.
via apnews.com·12h agoDetails →
education
Arizona law requires an annual A-through-F achievement profile for every public school, with the Arizona Department of Education developing the system subject to final State Board of Education adoption. The system has measured items including academic growth, proficiency, English-learner performance, readiness indicators and graduation rates. A July 2026 Auditor General report found the existing grades did not accurately reflect individual-school performance, helping prompt a broader review.