Stay ConnectedHelping you keep up with what matters in Arizona’s political news. Each week we interview politicians, public figures or journalists to break down one local issue and how it affects your life in Arizona.
Coming to you every Wednesday morning, The Gaggle is hosted by The Arizona Republic’s national political reporters Ron Hansen and Stephanie Murray, and is produced by Amanda Luberto.
Props 105 and 106 could greatly limit services and transportation in Phoenix, but so far, they've gotten little attention. Phoenix voters will see the two propositions on their ballots in August.
What are they? Prop 105 would halt all light-rail expansions in Phoenix. Prop 106 would cap Phoenix government spending until the city pays down its pension debt — potentially limiting city services.
The Gaggle's hosts Yvonne Wingett-Sanchez and Ronald Hansen talk with The Arizona Republic's reporter Jessica Boehm to break down how these two ballot initiatives could affect the future of Phoenix and the Valley.
In this episode you'll hear: How light-rail expansion and pension budget funding affect you.Who is behind these propositions.Why Phoenix is having an August election.
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Gaggle podcast hosts Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Ronald J. Hansen interview former Phoenix Mayor and now Democratic Congressional Rep. Greg Stanton about what he learned touring the Customs and Border Patrol facility in Clint, Texas, and how he'd apply those lessons to a potential Phoenix facility.
Plus, hear from one of the reporters following migrant facilities in Arizona, Jeanette Hinkle, about the first-of-its-kind, non-governmental housing facility for migrants opening in a shuttered Phoenix school building.
Episode article link here.
Related reading:
-- Reports of misconduct and sexual assault of migrant kids surface at Yuma border facility
-- Phoenix approves migrant shelter for asylum-seekers at closed school
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Arizona's 10 largest wildfires have all happened in the last 17 years.
Most recently the Woodbury Fire, which started June 8 in the Superstition Wilderness, became the state's fifth largest fire. It has burned nearly 124,000 acres and by Tuesday it was 90 percent contained.
But that's part of a newer firefighting strategy. Firefighters have let it continue to burn because they are using it to their advantage. To find out why listen to this week's episode.
The Gaggle host Yvonne Wingett-Sanchez talks with The Arizona Republic reporters Bree Burkitt and Shaun McKinnon on the history of wildfires in Arizona and how they have changed over the years.
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In 2018, police shootings hit record levels in Phoenix.
Reporters with The Arizona Republic investigated the state's police shootings for 19 months and found that the deadly trend extends across Arizona.
There were 117 police shootings statewide — a 75% increase from the previous year.
After compiling data from all 15 counties in Arizona, reporters Uriel J. Garcia and Bree Burkitt identified some key factors: guns, aggressive behavior, mental illness, training, and police culture.
This week's episode of The Gaggle podcast breaks down what you need to know from Garcia and Burkitt's investigation.
To read the report mentioned in this episode visit policeshootings.azcentral.com
Follow Yvonne Wingett Sanchez on Twitter @yvonnewingett
Follow Ronald J. Hansen on Twitter @ronaldjhansen
Follow Bree Burkett on Twitter @breeburkitt
Follow Uriel J Garcia on Twitter @ujohnnyg
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First, Arizona legalized medical marijuana in 2010. Then came a failed attempt to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016. So why are those in the marijuana industry giddy at the thought of the future?
Political insiders don't think Gov. Doug Ducey will fundraise or campaign against recreational marijuana legalization in 2020 like he did in 2016. Plus, he recently signed a bill cutting the cost of a medical-marijuana card in half, greatly benefitting medical marijuana users.
The political shifts, combined with softening public sentiment toward marijuana usage, points to a 2020 political season ripe for legalizing recreational marijuana in Arizona.
Follow along on Twitter:
Yvonne Wingett Sanchez: @yvonnewingett
Ronald J. Hansen: @ronaldjhansen
Ryan Randazzo: @utilityreporter
All things politics from azcentral: @azcpolitics
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First Amendment rights for constituents and lawmakers alike can get fuzzy in the evolving age of social media. Is online communication the new town hall? When can and can't lawmakers block constituents on social media?
The Gaggle podcast hosts Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Ron Hansen break it down with a constituent who was blocked by his representative and says he knows many people who have been blocked by multiple Arizona lawmakers.
They also talk with a First Amendment lawyer, who says this is part of a controversial national trend that includes President Donald Trump.
If you ever use social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter to watch or interact with lawmakers and politicians, this one's for you.
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Phoenix City Council's two newest members, Betty Guardado and Carlos Garcia, were sworn in June 6. The two represent districts 5 and 8 respectively, some of the lowest-income neighborhoods in parts of west, south and downtown Phoenix.
Guardado and Garcia come from nontraditional backgrounds; Guardado has a background in union organizing, and Garcia led an immigrants rights activist group called Puente Arizona. Both also defeated their more traditional, experienced opponents.
What does this surprising election say about how Phoenix is changing? And how will residents feel the effects? The Gaggle podcast hosts Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Ron Hansen break it down with Phoenix City Hall reporter Jessica Boehm.
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Here's how the 2019 state budget affects Arizona teachers, drivers, taxpayers, teachers and more. Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Ron Hansen host.
Related reading:
How Arizona lawmakers did — and didn't — use your tax dollars in the new state budget
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As the former secretary of Housing and Urban Development under former President Barack Obama, Julian Castro is a rising star in the Democratic party. And he's one of 23 serious Democratic candidates running for President in 2020.
But are his policies on health care and the economy too liberal for Arizona? What would he do about immigration and the U.S.-Mexico border?
This week on The Gaggle podcast, hosts Yvonne Wingett-Sanchez and Ron Hansen talk face-to-face with presidential candidate Julian Castro.
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California billionaire Tom Steyer will spend big money in Arizona to advertise against utility company APS's rate hike. What does it mean for you, and what's in it for him? The Gaggle podcast discusses.
Follow host Yvonne Wingett Sanchez on Twitter @yvonnewingett and Ron Hansen @ronaldjhansen.
Today's guest is business and energy reporter Ryan Randazzo, who's on Twitter @utilityreporter.
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