The Phoenix City Council has officially approved a balanced and community‑focused budget for Fiscal Year 2026–27, marking a major milestone in strengthening city services, expanding opportunities for families, and investing in long‑term quality of life across the City. The newly adopted plan reflects months of resident engagement, thoughtful financial planning, and leadership … [More]
Pentagon Selects Arizona University for New War, Strategy Master’s Program
Arizona State University has been selected by the Department of War to offer a new master’s degree in war and strategy, using intensive seminars, wargames and rigorous coursework to train our nation’s greatest minds in military and defense strategy. Beginning this fall in Washington, D.C., the program will offer up to 24 degrees annually and will prepare active-duty military … [More]
Federal Reclassification Reshapes Risks for Medical Marijuana Businesses
Through June 22, 2026, state-licensed medical marijuana licensees have a short window to register with the DEA to handle medical marijuana under the new federal Schedule III framework. To register or not to register? That is the question. Following the April 23, 2026, federal rescheduling order, DEA is calling on state-licensed medical marijuana cultivators, producers, … [More]
Recent Aircraft Incidents Put Focus on FAA’s Phoenix Airspace Update
The Federal Aviation Administration will host four virtual public workshops in May as part of the Phoenix Area FAA Modernization Project. The project is led by the FAA and proposes new and updated satellite‑based flight procedures to enhance safety and improve the efficiency of airspace serving Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and surrounding airports. The virtual … [More]
Arizona Small Businesses Gain Permanent 20% Tax Deduction
The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, released a new report outlining the economic benefits and massive tax savings the 20% Small Business Tax Deduction will bring to the 706,640 small businesses in Arizona now that it has been made permanent. The report also details several other federal tax relief … [More]
Phoenix Police Open Largest Headquarters in City History
As the City of Phoenix continues to grow and evolve, the Phoenix Police Department is stepping into a new era with a headquarters built to support the city’s future. Police Chief Matthew Giordano joined Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and other city leaders to cut the ribbon at 100 W Washington Street and officially open the building to the public, marking an exciting new chapter … [More]
APS Seeks License Renewal to Keep Palo Verde Nuclear Plant Online
Arizona Public Service has officially notified the Nuclear Regulatory Commission of its intent to renew the operating licenses for all three units at Palo Verde Generating Station, which could extend operations from the mid-2040s through the mid-2060s. Located west of Phoenix, Palo Verde is the heart of APS’s diverse energy mix, playing a vital role in supporting Arizona’s … [More]
Goodyear’s City Manager Retires, Interim Named
Wynette Reed announced her retirement in October, capping a public service career that has spanned more than 39 years. During her tenure with The City of Goodyear, she has helped guide the city through transformative growth, strengthened organizational excellence, and remained steadfastly focused on delivering high-quality services to residents. As she prepares to step away … [More]
Prop 479 Transportation Plan Kicks Off with Loop 303–I-17 Interchange
Proposition 479, the future of transportation in the region, was celebrated by state and local officials, the business community, and transportation infrastructure partners. Prop 479 is the continuation of an existing, dedicated half-cent sales tax in Maricopa County to fund transportation. The half-cent sales tax was first established by voters in 1985, with the approval of … [More]
100-Year Water Supply Clears Path for Growth in Pinal County
Arizona Water Company announced it has officially received its Designation of Assured Water Supply in a signing ceremony with Governor Katie Hobbs, marking an historic milestone in providing water security for the communities of Coolidge, Casa Grande and the surrounding Pinal County areas. AWC's Designation affirms the utility has met rigorous state standards for providing … [More]
Regulatory Tech Firm Establishes U.S. Headquarters in Phoenix
GovCore Inc., a regulatory technology company serving government licensing boards and regulatory agencies across North America, announced the official establishment of its U.S. headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. The company is now based at 101 E Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004, located within One Arizona Center in the heart of downtown Phoenix. At the heart of GovCore's … [More]
Phoenix to Advance Public Safety Projects with $9.5M Federal Allocation
The City of Phoenix will advance a wide range of public‑safety and infrastructure improvements after securing more than $9.5 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for fiscal year 2026. The funding, part of a broader federal appropriations package, supports airport modernization, emergency response enhancements, and wellness resources for first responders. A portion of … [More]
State Invests $3 Million to Grow Construction Workforce Ahead of 2030 Demand Projections
Governor Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity announced that the BuildItAZ Apprenticeship Initiative is awarding an additional $3 million to ten Arizona registered apprenticeship programs as it works to fill more than 20,000 construction jobs the state projects will be needed by 2030. These grants, which follow other rounds of funding, connect Arizonans to … [More]
What Federal Marijuana Rescheduling Could Mean for Healthcare, Banking, and Cannabis
Last month, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order directing U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to take “all necessary steps” to reschedule marijuana intended for medical use to Schedule III from Schedule I, making medical marijuana more readily available for research, testing, and personal treatment programs. For healthcare providers and legal marijuana businesses, … [More]
Business Travel Gets a Boost Under IRS’s 2026 Mileage Rates
The Internal Revenue Service announced that the optional standard mileage rate for business use of automobiles will increase by 2.5 cents in 2026, while the mileage rate for vehicles used for medical purposes will decrease by half a cent, reflecting updated cost data and annual inflation adjustments. Optional standard mileage rates are used to calculate the deductible costs … [More]
Arizona Issues Employer-Focused Heat Safety Guidelines Ahead of Summer
Governor Katie Hobbs announced that the Workplace Heat Safety Task Force has issued its final recommendations to protect Arizona workers from heat-related risks. These recommendations, published by the Industrial Commission of Arizona, follow the Governor’s Executive Order earlier this year to establish the Task Force. The task force, composed of leaders from the private … [More]
Arizona Expands Medical Debt Relief, Eliminating $642M in Bills Statewide
Governor Katie Hobbs announced that 141,000 more Arizonans have had their medical debt erased through her historic initiative to improve economic stability and health outcomes for working class Arizonans. To date this effort, which is a partnership between the Hobbs administration and the national nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, has eliminated $642 million in medical debt for … [More]
Arizona Puts $27M toward Grid Upgrades to Boost Reliability and Stabilize Costs
Governor Katie Hobbs awarded $15.6 million for four grid resiliency projects that will strengthen and modernize Arizona’s power grid against wildfires, extreme weather, and other disasters. Awarded through the Governor’s Office of Resiliency’s Arizona Grid Resilience Grant Program, the four grid improvement projects will help reduce the number of outages and outage durations … [More]
