Maria Polletta

By now, you've no doubt read about #Project2025, the contentious policy blueprint for the next Republican presidency. What you may not have realized: When it comes to privatizing public ed, the sweeping manifesto borrows heavily from Arizona’s playbook. bit.ly/p2025az

‘The renewed push has alarmed legal experts and abortion-rights advocates, who warn that lawmakers are once again testing how far they can go in curbing the constitutional right voters overwhelmingly backed.’ Read the latest from @Adrianaavarro:

#ICYMI: A monthslong review of legislative and campaign finance data shows how Arizona lawmakers are moving to narrow voter-approved abortion rights—and how those efforts mirror a national strategy to challenge ballot measures. Story by @adrianaavarro: azcir.org/news/2026/01/1…

It's out @ArizCIR! When I saw AZ lawmakers had introduced laws that would restrict abortion access, I wondered if their actions reflected how their districts voted on Prop. 139. I found they didn't: Each LD voted in favor of the right to abortion care. azcir.org/news/2026/01/1…

The legislator behind one of the 2025 measures said his bill was intended to protect women’s health and welfare, since voters didn’t grasp the implications of Prop. 139 'quite like we do in the Legislature as lawmakers.'

'Taken together, the gaps suggest Arizona may have missed a narrow chance to make the promise of Prop. 308 real, and advocates say students are paying the price.' ICYMI:

3 yrs after AZ voters approved in-state tuition for undocumented students through Prop 308, it’s unclear how many have actually benefited. The state had no centralized system to oversee the law's rollout or ensure consistent implementation, @molboha found: azcir.org/news/2026/01/0…

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Drones “battle-tested” in Ukraine are now being piloted at the U.S.-Mexico border, where the boundaries between local police and military operations are becoming increasingly blurred. Reported from Ukraine w/ @Appalachia100. Supported by @IWMF. azcir.org/news/2025/12/1…

It’s #GivingNewsDay! If you’ve read, shared or relied on AZCIR’s reporting this year, today’s the day to support it. Help us reach our $5,000 goal! Every donation — big or small — is matched 2X. azcir.fundjournalism.org/newsmatch-2024/

‘The bottom line is, we’re going to run out of water,’ one Kingman geologist said.

Democracy can’t survive without high-quality, independent journalism. From today through 12/31, all donations made to our nonprofit newsroom are double-matched by local and national donors #NewsMatch. Democracy needs news. News needs you. bit.ly/47jUt0c

@PFWAwriters @kfitz134 @DanielOyefusi Yesssssss! So deserved!

Katherine Fitzgerald (@kfitz134) and Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) selected as PFWA 2025 Terez A. Paylor Emerging Writer Award winners profootballwriters.org/2025/06/04/fit…

~3 million U.S. adults live beyond a reasonable commute from the nearest four-year university — a problem getting worse as private colleges in rural places close, public university campuses merge or shut down and rural universities cut majors and programs. hechingerreport.org/to-fill-educat…

We're tracking international student visa revocations across the country, follow our data updates here: insidehighered.com/news/global/in… for @insidehighered

BREAKING: 8 international students at ASU have had their visas revoked. A university official said they are not believed to be related to pro-Palestinian protests. ICE agents have been on ASU's campus at least once. azcentral.com/story/news/loc…

NEW: Under Operation Lone Star, Texas DPS has quietly built out an expansive surveillance apparatus—one that’s increasingly powered by artificial intelligence. Proposed laws provide few guardrails.🧵 w/ @TexasObserver + @pulitzercenter texasobserver.org/texas-dps-surv…

BREAKING The FDA’s top vaccine official has resigned. Dr. Peter Marks wrote this in his resignation letter about HHS Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.: "It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies.” Full Story: bit.ly/4j8GuNG

Trump announces that the Small Business Administration will immediately handle all federal student loans, and RFK Jr is now in charge of "handling special needs and all of the nutrition programs and everything else."

Last night, AZCIR’s @bquester joined @pressfreedom’s @kajtweets, media attorney David Bodney and @AZAGMayes to discuss evolving threats journalists face—and the strategies they need to stay safe while uncovering the truth. Thanks to @Cronkite_ASU for this critical conversation.

BREAKING Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva dies at 77 from complications of cancer, his office annnounces. Grijalva dedicated a half-century of his life to serving southern Arizona. 12news.com/article/news/l…