Cases 352,101 | Deaths 6,885
On Friday, Dec. 4, Arizona reported 5,680 new cases of COVID-19 and 64 additional deaths. That makes Friday the second day in a row the state reported over 5,000 new cases. Tuesday saw over 10,000 cases reported, which officials attributed to a delay in reports over the holidays.
Digging into campaign spending in the 2020 election
The Buzz
This year election spending at the federal and state levels broke records. This week, The Buzz explores how some of that money was spent on Arizona races and the role of our statewide Clean Election Commission in limiting corruption in political spending. We also speak to a political scientist about how much of a difference big budget campaign spending actually makes when it comes to swaying voters.
Listen to the full episode here
COVID-19 surge, economic recovery, holiday shopping
Arizona 360
UA researcher and associate professor Dr. Joe Gerald discusses current COVID-19 trends based on the university’s forecast models. UA modelers recently sent a letter to the Arizona Department of Health Services requesting a statewide, stay-at-home order to curb the spread of the virus.
After Tucson Mayor Regina Romero delivers her State of the City address this week, Tucson Metro Chamber President Amber Smith discusses takeaways from the address and critical issues facing the city.
Arizona 360 visits the popup market CULTIVATE to see how organizers and retailers have adapted to the pandemic during what is typically a busy time for in-person, holiday shopping.
Also, UA economist George Hammond discusses the state of Southern Arizona’s economy nine months into the pandemic. And Arizona Capitol Times editor Luige del Puerto on this week’s political headlines.
Watch the full episode here.
White Mountain Apache Tribe locks down due to increase in COVID-19 cases
AZPM
The Fort Apache Indian Reservation will be shutting down for the weekend.
The White Mountain Apache Tribe instated a 72-hour lockdown to last from 8 p.m. Friday till 8 p.m. Monday.
Thursday the approximately 16,000-member tribe, which has about 13,500 residents in the reservation, reported 126 active COVID-19 cases.
It's had 2,931 positive cases since April 1, and 42 people are known to have died from COVID-19 complications.
How long does it take to spread COVID-19? Health experts say it depends
AZPM
COVID-19 cases are rapidly on the rise again in Arizona. The state reported 5,680 new cases on Friday, one of the highest daily counts since the pandemic began. Health experts say staying home is more important than ever.
We already know that limiting social gatherings and wearing a mask are good ways to protect yourself against COVID-19. But staying home as much as possible also limits your chances of spreading the virus to others.
University of Arizona virologist Felicia Goodrum said it can take days for exposure to make you contagious.
But Goodrum said it’s safe to assume you could be contagious in just over 24 hours. That’s because some people may get exposed to higher loads of the virus and then be contagious more quickly.
Unemployment claims for self-employed decrease 4 weeks in a row
AZPM
The number of Arizona residents receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) dropped last week for the fourth week in a row. PUA is a federal program that allows the self-employed to receive unemployment benefits.
According to the state Department of Economic Security, 10,411 people received PUA for the week ending Nov. 28.
PUA numbers have been on a roller coaster through much of the year. In October, more than 100,000 received benefits in a single week.
Regular unemployment has stayed steady through since September with about 2,000 people a week receiving benefits, according to DES.
See an interactive graph of unemployment claims here.
Mask use spotty at Tumamoc, officials weigh need for closure
AZPM
Those who love to walk on Tumamoc Hill should consider themselves warned: Start wearing a mask or the hill may close to visitors.
Officials at Tumamoc Hill are asking walkers in the evenings to wear their masks. Ben Wilder, the director of the Tumamoc Hill Desert Laboratory, said about 40% of people wear masks in the evening, while around 70% of those in the morning mask up. If this trend continues, he said the hill may have to close again.
Wilder said with 50 to more than 100 people walking the hill during peak hours, it's necessary to wear masks because staying six feet away from someone isn't always possible.
Groups win bid to see evidence of suspected political influence in Benson housing development
AZPM
Environmentalists opposed to a massive housing development planned near Benson had a victory last week when an Arizona judge ordered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service to produce documents to uncover whether political influence changed the agency's stance on a critical permit.
To build the Villages at Vigneto, a 28,000 home development planned near Benson, developers need a permit to allow them to fill washes and drainages in the San Pedro River watershed. For years the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said such a permit required a thorough analysis of the impacts to endangered species and the river under the Endangered Species Act. The development is estimated to increase Benson's current water use by a factor of 10.
But that changed in 2017, said Stu Gillespie, an attorney with Earthjustice representing environmental groups that are suing over the project.
Feds Want To Expand E-Filing For Immigration Court Records
Fronteras Desk
An arm of the Justice Department wants to expand a pilot program and have lawyers file case documents electronically to all immigration courts.
The practice is already happening in at least five cities outside of Arizona.
The rule would require Homeland Security, and people who help those facing deportation, like immigration lawyers, to file case records electronically.
“It has to get totally implemented. It’s long overdue. The immigration court needs to catch up with the evolution of technology,” said Phoenix-based lawyer Ray Ybarra Maldonado.
Restrictions Tighten Somewhat In Sonora As COVID-19 Cases Soar
Fronteras Desk
On Wednesday, Sonoran officials reported 430 new coronavirus cases in the state — the highest daily count since the summer, when cases and deaths were at their peak.
With cases rising and the holidays approaching, authorities are implementing new restrictions and urging people to limit the usual family gatherings and Christmas parties.
"Don't make this time of year one of pain," said State Health Secretary Enrique Clausen on Wednesday, advising people to wear face coverings, wash their hands, social distance and, "Above all, avoid unnecessary outings."
State authorities also started reimplementing restrictions this week in the hardest hit cities, including closing museums and movie theaters and limiting operations at other businesses. Sonora also has a statewide mask mandate.
Arizona expects vaccine doses by end of year if authorized
AP
PHOENIX — Arizona expects to get enough doses of new coronavirus vaccines by the end of the year to inoculate more than 383,000 health care workers and long-term care facility residents.
Health Services Department Director Dr. Cara Christ said the federal government has allocated those doses of the vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gives it emergency use authorization.
The announcement comes as the state sees a surge of virus cases that are threatening to overwhelm hospital capacity. More than 5,600 new cases were reported Friday and more than 6,800 people have died since March.
Judge urged to toss suit seeking to undo Biden’s Arizona win
AP
PHOENIX — Lawyers for election officials urged a judge to dismiss Arizona GOP chief Kelli Ward’s lawsuit seeking to undo Democrat President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the state. They argued there was no evidence of fraud in how ballots were processed in metro Phoenix and that the number of votes President Donald Trump could have lost due to human error wasn’t enough for him to carry the state. The attorneys said it would be an extraordinary move to reverse an election in which 3 million Arizonans voted.
Ward’s attorney cited instances in which Trump lost votes and said his client had good reason to file the challenge.
Medical officials serving Navajo make urgent plea: Stay home
AP
FLAGSTAFF — Medical professionals serving the Navajo Nation made an urgent plea to residents Thursday to stay home as coronavirus cases rise. The numbers are testing the limits of health care on the vast reservation that already is scrambling to find places to transport critically ill patients.
The tribe is seeing more cases daily now than it did in the spring when it was a national hotspot. The difference now is that cases are rising in all the states that border the reservation, and the tribe no longer can draw on the resources it once did.
Indian Health Service officials say the agency is at serious risk of running out of hospital beds, nurses and supplies.
Arizona grassroots effort boosts Black candidates, turnout
AP
PHOENIX — Several Black candidates in Arizona who won or came close in state or local races attribute their success to a get-out-the-vote effort that also sparked record-high turnout by African Americans.
A collective of progressive community and advocacy organizations called Mi AZ Coalition made millions of phone calls, knocked on more than 1 million doors and sent more than 100,000 text messages.
Democratic state Rep. Reginald Bolding says the national reckoning around police brutality and systemic racism also played a role in increasing turnout. The Black lawmaker who won reelection cites early projections from Mi AZ Coalition that 60% of Arizona’s Black registered voters cast ballots this year.
Black candidates also saw historic successes in neighboring New Mexico.
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