KJZZ's Stories You Don't Want to Miss

In the wake of Wednesday’s fatal ICE shooting in Minnesota, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is concerned about reports that the Trump Administration plans to ramp up immigration enforcement activities in Phoenix. Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly are some of more than two dozen Democrats asking Trump administration officials about its diversion of federal agents to immigration work. The labor union for Arizona public school educators says voters want accountability and transparency for the state’s voucher system. Plus the latest business, metro Phoenix, tribal natural resources, and politics news.

The Phoenix City Council has green lit an expansion of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company in North Phoenix. After months of discussion and public hearings, the Kyrene School District governing board has voted to close four elementary schools and two middle schools. A new women’s health hub will be among the first projects developed in Mesa’s new Palo District. Plus the latest tribal natural resources, health, politics, and metro Phoenix news.

Arizona has reported more than 900 cases of whooping cough in 2025 – that’s the highest case count in more than a decade. President Trump says he will put an additional tariff on Mexico if it doesn’t send over water it owes the U.S. The Scottsdale Unified School District will close and repurpose two schools due to declining enrollment and a several-million-dollar budget shortfall. Plus the latest business, politics, and metro Phoenix news.

Food banks may face an increased demand in the coming years due to changes made to SNAP by the Republican tax cut and spending package passed earlier this year. The superintendent of the Paradise Valley Unified School District could soon be terminated. How will Arizona Senator Kelly's viral video and investigation affect his political future? Plus the latest Fronteras Desk and business news.

An Arizona water agency took a historic vote Wednesday to pursue multiple water augmentation projects to boost the state's water supply —including desalination. Maricopa County could be at risk of losing nearly 1400 housing units for disabled, formerly homeless people. A Tolleson school board voted Tuesday against building a widely criticized $80 million domed football stadium. Plus the latest tribal natural resources, metro Phoenix, and science news.

With the government shutdown ended, Gov. Katie Hobbs says most Arizonans who rely on food assistance already have their benefits restored. Residents in Hermosillo are demanding answers — and accountability — after an explosion in the state capital’s busy city center killed at least 24 people. The Phoenix Union High School District will cut $20 million from its budget next school year. Plus the latest business, metro Phoenix, tribal natural resources, and politics news.

As the U.S. government shutdown ended its first month Saturday and SNAP food benefits are mired in uncertainty, folks across the country have reached out to step up and help. After President Trump shut the door to asylum seekers on his first day in office, many who once hoped to cross into the United States are now looking to Mexico for protection. The Arizona Department of Education has released a new round of letter grades for Arizona’s public schools. Plus the latest politics, metro Phoenix, and business news.

Gov. Katie Hobbs Wednesday announced she'd direct $1.5 million dollars in federal pandemic relief funds to support food banks in the state. A new report shows Arizona military bases will host a large part of a new National Guard force designed to quell civil unrest. Dozens of Flagstaff residents weighed in on the city’s contract with Flock Safety, a rapidly expanding company whose cameras are now operating in communities across the country. Plus the latest tribal natural resources, science, education, and metro Phoenix news.

A new study has found that groundwater pumping is having a greater effect in changing levels in the Tucson Basin Aquifer than climate change. This year, the number of cattle that have crossed that border have plummeted, as the U.S. tries to stop the northward spread of a flesh-eating parasite. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a lawsuit Tuesday against House Speaker Mike Johnson over his refusal to swear Democratic Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva into office. Plus the latest tribal natural resources, education, business, and metro Phoenix news.

Nondescript data centers are popping up in cities, towns and even cattle ranches. An investigation into whether the city of Sedona’s police chief and its former mayor harassed each other has come to a close. The Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the Secretary of State does not have to follow a law governing how state agencies make rules when he creates a biennial rule book for local election officials. Plus the latest business, education, and metro Phoenix news.

Glendale’s city manager says he’s still “absolutely and unquestionably” confident that VAI Resort will be finished despite the scrapped plans. Ballots went in the mail on Wednesday in Maricopa County and voters are being asked to consider a property tax increase to support the county’s publicly funded hospital system. The Kyrene School District has altered its plan for proposed school closures after getting feedback from parents. Plus the latest sports, metro Phoenix, Fronteras Desk, and business news.

President Donald Trump’s sprawling tax cut and immigration bill will reduce government spending on Medicaid. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson says he’ll soon swear in Arizona’s newest Congresswoman, Adelita Grijalva. It’s been one week since a catastrophic flood hit the city of Globe in Gila County, but the tight-knit community is coming together to clean up and support those who need it most. Plus the latest Fronteras Desk, science, health and metro Phoenix news.

Arizona’s congressional delegation promised to make changes in Washington D.C. that would be felt here at home but in practice, they’re not getting much done, at least legislatively. COVID-19 vaccines should be more widely available in Arizona now. The Arizona Dept. of Education says Native American students are seeing remarkable improvement in reading and math proficiency statewide. Plus the latest tribal natural resources, business, and Fronteras Desk news.

The cost to hold a Charlie Kirk memorial at a state-owned stadium while keeping safe mourners, the president and other top officials is unknown. Community members continue to push back on potential school closures in the Kyrene School District. Pima County health officials will now offer COVID vaccines at county clinics. Plus the latest business, metro Phoenix, and Fronteras Desk news.

Water officials in Tucson say the city has started receiving settlement funds from a class action lawsuit against major manufacturers of a firefighting foam that contains PFAS. The Arizona Supreme Court has rejected a bid by state schools chief Tom Horne to keep one of its justices from deciding whether he can sue schools over English instruction. Plus, the latest Tiny Desert Concert.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne are in a dispute over the management of school voucher funds. Federal tax credits for electric vehicles or home energy efficiency upgrades are set to expire soon and state officials are urging Arizonans to take advantage while they still can. Plus from KJZZ's The Show, much like certain songs and movies come to define the zeitgeist every summer, so too do colors.

An ongoing controversy swirling around the state’s school voucher program has reignited an internal feud in the Arizona Republican Party, leading two GOP officials to call on party Chairwoman Gina Swoboda to resign. One Native American tribe is trying to give the Colorado River the same legal rights as a person. Plus, the latest Soapbox from KJZZ's The Show.

Local leaders have voted to block a massive data center proposed for a 290-acre stretch of land southeast of downtown Tucson. Law enforcement is investigating the parent teacher network at a charter school in Queen Creek. Plus, the latest Tiny Desert Concert.

Local leaders in Tucson have voted not to allow a proposed data center with ties to Amazon known as Project Blue to move forward. The Arizona Department of Water Resources was slapped with a lawsuit this week by an environmental group, the Center for Biological Diversity. Plus, Americans are desperate to get more sleep. But are they taking it too seriously?