The Texas Tribune •

Colin Allred is the first known member of Congress to take paid paternity leave. Now he's pushing for it nationally.

Amanda Baez is a surgical technologist, her husband is a teacher and their second child was born in June. In the middle of the pandemic, being able to stay home with the baby as long as possible is critical to their child’s health. It’s also a critical financial question for the young family. Because of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, Baez’ employer must grant her up to 12 weeks off. But the hospital doesn’t have to pay her for any of that time.
The Texas Tribune •

Texas Democrats in Washington, D.C., to meet with Stacey Abrams and the Clintons

Texas House Democrats will meet virtually Thursday morning with voting rights activist Stacey Abrams, former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton in their latest series of bids with the nation’s most powerful Democratic leaders. More than two weeks into their stay in Washington, Texas Democrats have met with a handful of top Democrats — including Vice Pres
The Texas Tribune •

What it means to break quorum and what you need to know about the Texas House Democrats’ dramatic departure

On July 12, Texas House Democrats packed their bags and headed for the nation’s capital in a high-profile effort to block passage of GOP-backed voting restrictions. Democrats hoped their exodus would break what’s called a quorum — the minimum number of lawmakers needed to conduct business — so Republicans couldn’t pass legislation that could ban drive-thru and 24-hour voting
The Texas Tribune •

Texas voters split over Gov. Greg Abbott’s job performance, but he remains popular among Republicans, UT/TT Poll finds

Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Texas voters are split over whether they approve of Gov. Greg Abbott’s job performance, though he remains popular with Republicans and more popular among Texans than President Joe Biden, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. The June 2021 poll shows that 44% of Texans approve of Abbott’s job as governor, while 44% disapprove. That leaves him with an overall app
The Texas Tribune •

Kamala Harris to visit El Paso on Friday in first trip to U.S.-Mexico border as vice president

Sign up for The Brief, our daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to visit El Paso on June 25, her chief spokesperson confirmed Wednesday in a statement. There are still no exact details or agenda for the visit, but according to the statement, the goal is to “address the root causes of migration from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.” The vice president was just in Guatemala and Mexico earlier this month in her
The Arizona Republic •

For many Muslims in Arizona, 2020 marked the start of a new era of civic engagement

As progressive organizing groups across Arizona celebrated the state's historic wins for Democrats in marquee races in the November election, one community also saw strides in civic engagement — Muslims. Historically, Muslims have scarce to no representation in Arizona politics. One Muslim woman, Deedra Abboud, ran in 2018 and 2020 for seats in U.S. Congress and on the Maricopa Board of Supervisors but did not prevail. However, younger Muslims have started organizing and getting politically ac
USA TODAY •

'Give me a break': Sen. Martha McSally brushes off Trump's treatment at Arizona rally

PHOENIX, Ariz. – For years, Sen. Martha McSally has done nearly everything expected of her by President Donald Trump. From her vote to acquit Trump on impeachment charges to confirming every judicial nominee in her two years in the Senate, McSally, R-Ariz., has voted in line with Trump’s legislative agenda nearly 95%of the time in the Senate. If the president is grateful, it's been overshadowed by his other actions during his recent campaign stops in Arizona, including a much-scrutinized excha
The Arizona Republic •

Arizona state Senate candidate's campaign sign vandalized with swastika

A campaign sign for an Arizona legislative candidate in Scottsdale was vandalized with an image of a swastika and other anti-Semitic markings. Seth Blattman, who is Jewish, is running as a Democrat to represent Legislative District 23 in the state Senate. Blattman, a small business owner who grew up in Scottsdale, is campaigning on issues such as fully funding education and promoting job growth. The vandalism on the sign, located near the intersection of Frank Lloyd Wright Boulevard and Loop 1
The Arizona Republic •

Dead contributor among questions raised over Phoenix mayor candidate's campaign filings

Among the dozens of donors listed as contributing to Tim Seay's campaign for Phoenix mayor is Marvin Cox, a former fire chief in Maywood, Illinois. Cox is listed as contributing $5,000 on July 3. But he died more than a year earlier, in May 2019. His is one of several contributions on Seay's campaign finance reports that raise questions, including others that came from people who told The Arizona Republic they had not contributed to his campaign. Seay and another candidate, Merissa Hamilton,
The Arizona Republic •

Backers, opponents of Proposition 207 marijuana measure to meet in debate Wednesday on azcentral

The leaders of the campaigns for and against the legalization of recreational marijuana in Arizona will meet Wednesday night for a debate hosted by The Arizona Republic. Chad Campbell, the chair of Smart and Safe Arizona campaign, will speak in support of Proposition 207, while the chair of Arizonans for Health and Public Safety, Lisa James, will speak against. Proposition 207, the "Smart and Safe Arizona Act," would legalize the recreational use and possession of up to an ounce of marijuana f
Cronkite News - Arizona PBS •

Talking 'the talk': Black leaders in Arizona recall sobering rite of passage

PHOENIX – For any teen, getting a driver’s license is a rite of passage – a small taste of freedom in their adolescent lives. But for Black teens in America the little bit of freedom that comes with car keys also comes with “the talk”: The time when Black parents sit their children down and explain to them what to do if stopped by a police officer. It’s been happening for generations. Sometimes the talk comes earlier in life. Sometimes it’s in response to a headline-grabbing death of a Black p
Cronkite News - Arizona PBS •

Trump in Yuma to mark 216 miles of border wall, still a work in progress

PHOENIX – President Donald Trump is set to visit Yuma Tuesday to celebrate the completion of 216 miles of border wall, well shy of the 450 miles he has pledged to have built by the end of this year. But experts note that the pace of construction has picked up in recent years and that, with elections looming this fall, the administration has a powerful incentive to keep pressing ahead. “The Trump administration is spending money on the wall at an unprecedented level,” said Jessica Bolter, an as
Cronkite News - Arizona PBS •

Sanders reaches for inclusivity, slams Biden at Phoenix rally

PHOENIX – Sen. Bernie Sanders rallied exuberant supporters Thursday night in his first visit to Arizona for his 2020 presidential campaign, speaking to a growing progressive movement in Arizona some community activists say is spurred by years of anti-immigration policy. “Let us do everything we can to make sure Arizona has the highest voter turnout in the history of the Arizona primary,” said Sanders, an independent from Vermont who’s seeking the Democratic nomination. The crowd of thousands ro
Cronkite News - Arizona PBS •

Maricopa County approves Second Amendment sanctuary measure

PHOENIX – The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, in a tense public meeting Wednesday morning, voted 4-1 to declare Maricopa a “Second Amendment Preservation County.” The resolution follows a growing movement of “Second Amendment sanctuaries” across the United States. Although there is no set definition of the term, it refers to states, counties and municipalities that adopt resolutions rejecting gun laws
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