The AZ Corp Commission & Public Health (Part III): Southwest Gas
At first glance, the Arizona Corporation Commission might seem like it has pretty much nothing to do with public health. But when you scratch the surface just a little, you’ll discover that the Commission does in fact influence public health. In our first piece we discussed how the Commissioners’ rubber stamping of APS rate increases over the last couple of years is harming the social determinants of health. Last week we
Maricopa County Launches 2024 Heat Relief Efforts
Maricopa County Public Health investing in community support to prevent another record-breaking year of heat deaths In response to the largest number of heat-related deaths since tracking began, Maricopa County Department of Public Health is ramping up its heat response efforts for 2024 to expand the Maricopa County Heat Relief Network. The Network was initiated in 2005 by the Maricopa Association of Governments and is comprised of public, private and
Oral Arguments in the Petersen v. Hobbs ‘Director Nominations’ Case Delayed Until May 20
After the shenanigans in early 2023 at the “Director’s Nominations” Committee it became clear that Governor Hobbs nominees to lead state agencies wouldn’t be getting a fair shake from the Committee or the Senate. We posted a blog back then arguing that the Governor should use loopholes in the statute to get her nominees onto more stable ground: Time to Play Hardball with Agency Director Nominations? Here’s a Playbook Hobbs ended
Governor Signs Repeal of the Near Total Ban on Abortion Care: AzPHA’s Draft Voter Initiative Argument
You undoubtedly know that both the legislature narrowly passed and the governor signed a bill repealing the near total abortion ban that was originally passed during the first territorial legislature in 1864. It’s unclear when the repeal will actually take effect – most likely around October 1 (90 days after the end of the legislative session). Meanwhile, as a result of the state Supreme Court’s decision awhile back, that very
USDA Improves Nutrition Standards for Free & Reduced Lunch Program
USDA finished changes to the nutrition standards they expect participating schools to follow who take part in the USDA’s free and reduced breakfast/lunch programs. Schools across our country are serving breakfasts and lunches to nearly 30 million children every day. Healthy school meals are the main source of nutrition for more than half of these students and are an essential part of the educational landscape. USDA says their new standards
Biden Administration to Reschedule Cannabis Under the Controlled Substances Act
What Are the Implications? In a surprise move, Biden Administration insiders have signaled that a few executive branch agencies will be moving in unison to reschedule marijuana from what’s called a “Schedule I” drug to a Schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act. What is the Controlled Substances Act? The Controlled Substances Act is the main federal law that regulates many aspects of controlled substances. Drugs or substances are