The Conduit

Record-Breaking — In a Bad Way

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 22:11:58 GMT

Arizona has once again set a new record for number single-day reporting of residents testing positive for COVID-19, the number of people who have died from the virus, and the number of ICU beds available. Medical workers are now being trained on how to dole out treatment for patients based on their likelihood of survival.

Pre-COVID Problems

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 21:16:14 GMT

School districts have begin releasing their reopening plans for the fall, but some educational leaders are concerned that inequities in the school system that were around before the pandemic aren’t being addressed. Balsz School Board President Channel Powe talks about what she thinks school can do to create a more suitable learning environment.

Six Weeks Til Schools Open

Thu, 25 Jun 2020 21:41:07 GMT

Guidelines for how Arizona school districts can safely reopen for the fall have been released, but at least some parents – and teachers – are questioning how safe it will be. Administrators also wonder how to pay for implementing the changes.

Looking for More

Wed, 24 Jun 2020 22:25:52 GMT

People are starting to look beyond the state’s weekly coronavirus update in search of more information. For thousands of Arizonans, that information is now coming from their county health officials.

Campaigning at Church

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 20:02:43 GMT

President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Arizona as the state health department reports another record-breaking number of cases of the coronavirus. Even though the city of Phoenix has made it a requirement to wear masks at large public gatherings, Rep. Andy Biggs hasn’t decided whether or not he’ll wear one at the rally.

Mask Up, Maricopa

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 21:49:25 GMT

After at least 14 different cities declared their own face covering regulations, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted on a county-wide rule on wearing protective masks while in public.

Where DACA is Headed

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 23:30:51 GMT

The Supreme Court’s decision today on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program means that hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients will not be deported - yet. Immigration attorney Ray Maldanado Ybarra answers some questions about what today’s ruling really means, and what the future of DACA looks like.

Masking, Unmasked

Wed, 17 Jun 2020 21:29:52 GMT

Hundreds of doctors, business owners, elected officials, artists, and public health experts have urged Governor Doug Ducey to institute a mask mandate. Copper Courier Reporter Alicia Barron speaks with Nogales Mayor Arturo Garino about alternative actions the governor could take to help his community.

Navigating Pandemic Unemployment

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 21:12:29 GMT

The Department of Economic Security announced last week that the Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation fund provides a 13-week extension of benefits. Copper Courier’s Jessica Swarner spoke with Starcia Harris about her experience trying to get through the department’s complex system.

South in the Southwest

Mon, 15 Jun 2020 21:15:02 GMT

Phoenix Raceway is hosting the 2020 NASCAR Championship Weekend again this November, and following NASCAR’s lead in banning the Confederate flag at the event. Tucson-based driver Alex Bowman was quick to come out in support of the organization’s decision to ban the flag, and joined a handful of other drivers in condemning racial inequality.

No Beds, No Problem

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 21:17:42 GMT

Arizona has received national attention for having one of the states with the highest surges of COVID-19 cases after lifting after reopening. But even though the virus is more widespread than ever, and hospitals warn they’re running out of room, Governor Doug Ducey says Arizona is open for business.

Running Low on Beds

Wed, 10 Jun 2020 22:37:37 GMT

Hospitals are running low on bed space after a surge in coronavirus patients hit Arizona. Some health experts say lifting the state’s stay-at-home order prematurely is to blame.

Fires, Everywhere

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 22:26:31 GMT

Arizonans are trying to put out fires all over the state - both literal and figurative. Wildfire season is hitting harder and earlier than usual, and hospitals are being told to activate emergency plans to handle an influx of coronavirus patients.

Phoenix Increases Police Budget

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:16:01 GMT

The Phoenix City Council approved spending $3 million to fund the Community Review Board and Office of Accountability and Transparency, but stopped short of using money from the police budget to fun the new office. Instead, the police department’s budget has been increased by $24 million. *Warning: Quotes from today’s episode include sensitive language that may not be appropriate for younger listeners.

Six Hours Later

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 19:47:06 GMT

After nearly six hours of public comments on Wednesday about the police department’s budget, the Phoenix City Council ended the meeting. Here’s what some Phoenix residents had to say about defunding the police.

Tabling the Discussion

Fri, 05 Jun 2020 01:20:07 GMT

More than 150 people signed up to speak in favor of diverting funding for the Phoenix Police Department into other community programs. But after six hours of debate and three failed votes, the council voted to adjourn until Monday.

Fuel to the Fire

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 21:47:18 GMT

Hundreds of additional soldiers - including military police - have been brought in to enforce Arizona's curfew order. But some worry that bringing more law enforcement to protests for police reform will do more harm than good.

Ready for Change

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 21:19:07 GMT

Four Arizonans share their perspective on the ongoing protests for justice, sparked by the police killings of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Back at Home

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 23:17:24 GMT

Governor Doug Ducey announced a weeklong curfew Sunday afternoon in response to a series of mostly peaceful demonstrations held to protest police brutality. But some local leaders say the order has allowed local law enforcement to use excessive force against the protestors.

Too Rich for Rent

Fri, 29 May 2020 22:04:18 GMT

Arizona’s wealthiest have been impacted the least by the coronavirus pandemic, but they’re also the most annoyed by how it inconveniences them. But if the recent spike in coronavirus cases is any indication, things aren’t going to get easier for anyone anytime soon

Parents, Schools, and Evading Eviction

Thu, 28 May 2020 21:28:59 GMT

More than 10,000 renters have applied for eviction prevention in Arizona, but only a few hundred are getting the help promised by Governor Doug Ducey. We also talk with two parents who shared their concerns about how Arizona’s school system is holding up during the coronavirus pandemic.

Domestic Violence, Race, and Sheltering in Place

Wed, 27 May 2020 22:11:29 GMT

Daniela Munoz-Alvarez from Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse and Emma Fryer from the Women's Foundation of Southern Arizona join The Conduit to discuss how the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted daily routines for many and introduced new patterns of social distance and isolation.

Flipping the Classroom

Tue, 26 May 2020 21:41:24 GMT

The school year is coming to an end, but educators are just beginning to plan for the next school year. Some teachers think that schools reopening classrooms doesn’t mean online learning has to end.

Phoenix’s New Housing Development

Fri, 22 May 2020 19:38:02 GMT

Downtown’s latest living space isn’t high-end condos or luxury apartments - it’s an encampment space for Phoenicians experiencing homelessness. But some of its residents aren’t happy with their new living arrangement.

Detained, But Not Forgotten

Thu, 21 May 2020 21:24:40 GMT

Education, the economy and health care have overtaken immigration as a top policy issue for Arizonans. But detention centers are busier than ever, and immigration rights lawyers are trying to convince the courts to release migrants, whose health is in serious risk while living in the small quarters of ICE detention centers.

Celebration During Tragedy: May 20, 2020

Wed, 20 May 2020 21:21:22 GMT

Indigenous communities have been hit the hardest during the coronavirus pandemic, and community leaders are looking for ways to hold fast to centuries-old tradition. Representative Tom O’Halleran talks about how he uses bipartisanship to bring relief funding to the 12 tribes in his district.

Eviction Bottleneck: May 19, 2020

Tue, 19 May 2020 21:23:54 GMT

The state House of Representatives met today to finish today to vote on a long list of bills, including one that would protect business owners from lawsuits for exposing employees and customers to the coronavirus. One subject that didn’t make it on the schedule was how to handle the backlog of evictions waiting to be filed when the halt on evictions ends in July.

Mexico’s U.S. Border Problem: May 18, 2020

Mon, 18 May 2020 21:58:42 GMT

The relaxation of the governor’s stay-home order means full bars, Salt River Tubing, and concerns that a second wave of coronavirus could be coming. The Mexican government added a series of health checkpoints at the border to reduce the risk of a coronavirus outbreak from U.S. visitors, and Copper Courier contributor Alicia Barrón traveled to Nogales experience the changes firsthand.

Smalltown Struggle: May 15, 2020

Fri, 15 May 2020 21:22:01 GMT

Arizona businesses are reopening, but the cities and towns that have supported them during the shutdown are feeling the financial strain brought on by the coronavirus. Mayors Coral Evans and Anna Tovar talk about where the Trump Administration’s relief efforts have fallen short in the places that need help the most.

Destruction on the Arizona Trail: May 14, 2020

Thu, 14 May 2020 20:47:54 GMT

There's one thing that hasn't been stopped by the coronavirus: construction of President Trump's border wall. But because of the spread of the virus in the US, Mexico has ramped up border protections on their end. Mayor Mark Mitchell also discusses his efforts in reducing health risks as businesses reopen.

45 Days of Shutdown: May 13, 2020

Wed, 13 May 2020 21:11:12 GMT

The statewide shutdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus began on March 31, and after nearly two months, Arizona businesses are now slowly beginning to reopen.

How We Got Here: May 11, 2020

Mon, 11 May 2020 19:16:06 GMT

Doctors have traced the spread of coronavirus on the Navajo Nation to a basketball tournament in March, so we talked with a microbiologist from University of Arizona about how it got to this point, and what the future looks like.

No Money for Small Farms: May 8, 2020

Fri, 08 May 2020 18:33:33 GMT

While Governor Ducey goes back and forth on who he wants accessing coronavirus data, a small farm in Peoria grapples with a surplus of crops and nowhere to sell them.

What We Risk By Reopening: May 7, 2020

Thu, 07 May 2020 16:14:53 GMT

Gov. Doug Ducey’s partial reopening of Arizona businesses began this week, ignoring local health experts who cautioned against easing restrictions before June. We talk with two ICU nurses to find out what an increase in coronavirus cases will do to the state’s healthcare system.

Welcome To The Conduit

Mon, 04 May 2020 16:16:32 GMT

Your connection to Arizona news from the Copper Courier