Tag: Arizona

Sunken Garden Beds: Water-Wise Gardening in the Desert
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Article and photos by Kara Adams

I’ve spent the last year building new sunken garden beds in Southern Arizona. I live in the Sonoran Desert, about 25 miles from the Mexico border. This region is very hot from May through October. We do get monsoon rains from July through September, but it is very dry otherwise.

The heat, intense sun, and dry conditions create challenging conditions for gardening. However, it is possible to create a productive garden in the desert. I want to share how I’ve been able to do just that.

To begin, I had a few requirements:
- Water Efficiency: I needed to find a way to use as little water as possible. I didn’t want to spend several hours and hundreds of dollars every month watering this new space.
- Time Efficiency: I needed to find a time-efficient way to maintain my new garden. I work, so a high-maintenance garden was not for me.
- Productivity – I wanted to maximize the space to grow as much as possible. This would allow me to eat fresh, organic produce in season.
That’s a tall order for a little desert garden. I began experimenting to find a way to meet all 3 of those requirements.

History of Basin Beds in the Sonoran Desert

I am fascinated by the relationship between people, plants, and places in the Southwest region. The Sonoran Desert is the most biodiverse desert on earth, and I love living here. Isn’t it amazing that 3500 species of plants, 500 species of birds, and 1,000 species of bees call this beautiful region home? I’m learning all I can about the history of this place and the people who thrived in such a beautiful yet challenging environment.

The U.S. Forest Service defines ethnobotany as “the study of how people of a particular culture and region use indigenous (native) plants.”

Through Gary Nabhan’s book, I began learning about many different gardening methods in arid climates. One of them stood out as a possibility for my garden: basin beds, also known as sunken beds.

What is a sunken garden bed or basin bed?

Basin or sunken garden beds were used by the indigenous peoples in this part of the Southwest. Basin beds function just as any traditional garden bed or raised bed, but are recessed or sunken.

Sunken beds are dug down several inches, allowing irrigation water to slowly sink in rather than run off and keep soil and roots cooler during hot seasons.

Since I didn’t have to construct a raised bed, the start-up costs were low. Using a basin-style sunken bed would help me with the water and heat challenges, but what about the time efficiency and productivity piece?

I’m sure many of you have heard of the square foot gardening method, introduced in 1981 on a wide scale when Mel Bartholomew published his book, “Square Foot Gardening.” In this book, Bartholomew introduced a straightforward method to save time, effort, and space in gardening.

Instead of long rows and wide paths between, he focused on using a 4ft by 4 ft square to grow intensively in a small space. Along with the 4×4 design, Bartholomew increased productivity through intercropping, succession planting, and amending the soil. If you haven’t read this book and want to garden in a small space, on a small budget, or with a busy life, I highly recommend it.

I combined the two methods, sunken basin beds and square foot gardening, into one hybrid method. Maybe then I could get all the benefits of each.

Sunken Garden Beds Step One: Test Your Soil

An in-ground garden bed will only be as good as its soil, so the first thing I did was take some soil samples. A local lab tested the soil to give me an idea of the soil makeup and which amendments I needed to add. I chose the “Complete Soil Test with Soil Amendment Recommendations” for $85, which included a nutrient analysis of my soil profile and amendment suggestions.

I started with a very bleak space; not much of anything was growing here, except for wild amaranth and Bermuda grass, so I was surprised when the test results came in a few days later, showing I didn’t need to amend much.

Sunken Garden Beds Step Two: Remove Unwanted Vegetation and Weeds

My chosen garden area had Bermuda grass that needed removal before installing the new beds. The simplest way to remove vegetation is to use solar energy to do the hard work, something we have plenty of in the Southwest.

Two methods create a greenhouse effect and work well for this task: solarization and occultation.

Solarization controls unwanted vegetation by covering the area with clear plastic. The 2 – 6 mil thickness plastic allows solar energy to penetrate, heating up the soil and creating a greenhouse effect that smothers the vegetation in as little as 3 weeks.

Occultation is similar to solarization but uses a black plastic tarp instead of a clear one. This process takes longer as the black material absorbs solar energy and reduces the heat passed to the vegetation. A heavy opaque plastic, called a silage tarp, is used and the process takes 4-6 weeks.

An additional benefit of both solarization and occultation is the reduction of pathogen and nematode populations in the soil below.

I used occultation and laid a thick silage tarp to cook the weeds and seeds underneath for 6 weeks. When I removed the tarp, just like magic, there was nothing but bare earth and some decomposing plant material.

Sunken Garden Beds Step Three: Make a Plan for the Space

I planned just four beds in the beginning. Every gardener knows that plans tend to grow exponentially, and I ended up with twelve beds. For now, let’s focus on those first four beds!

Sunken Garden Beds Step Four: Dig Out Beds and Add Compost

I measured out and marked an exact 4ft x 4ft square. After digging down 6 inches, I removed that soil. I mixed the native soil with compost in a 50/50 mix and then filled the beds with a little of that mixture. I ended up with a bed recessed by about 4 inches.

Now, you may be thinking…“wouldn’t doing that remove all the good soil you had tested?” The answer is…not at all! When doing a soil test, you dig down about 6 inches to the root zone, where the plant will be accessing all that goodness. That is still there once I dig out the top, so what I’m doing is adding some amendment in the form of compost to the top while leaving the soil in the root zone intact.

Sunken Garden Beds Step Five: Create Pathways Between Beds

My backyard is covered in Bermuda grass, and if you’ve ever dealt with it, you know it’s tough to eliminate. I decided to cover the ground with landscape fabric around the garden beds and then layer wood chips to smother and suppress the Bermuda grass. This was after using a silage tarp for occultation before beginning the garden project. That’s how tough it is to get rid of the stuff!

Generally, I don’t like to use landscape fabric. I think it’s best for soil health to cover the ground with a thick layer of untreated wood chips. This keeps weeds in check and adds organic matter to the soil as the wood breaks down. When planning this garden area, I made an exception.

Once the beds were dug and amended, I needed to make a square-foot garden grid. To save time in measuring, I made a template grid that I could use each time I plant a new bed. I used 4ft. green plastic garden stakes, measured and marked 1 ft sections, and fastened them with outdoor-rated zip ties that will withstand the high UV here better. Using a grid template allowed me to plant each square quickly.

I used the tons of rock around my property as a border for all of my garden beds. It’s rustic, but I’m happy with the results. Best of all, it was free!

Sunken Garden Beds Step Seven: Plant Desert-Adapted Varieties

The next step was to select varieties of plants that are well-suited to this region of southern Arizona. I start nearly all my plants from seed, but if you don’t want to sow seeds, many great organizations in the area sell arid-adapted seedlings at seasonal plant sales.

After moving from the Midwest nearly 20 years ago, one of the first gardening lessons I learned was that what grew there probably won’t grow here. Varieties matter, so choose wisely! There are so many varieties that perform well here. Don’t be afraid to explore!

I planted herbs and flowers amongst my vegetables (polyculture style), hoping this would give a habitat to many different pollinators and beneficial insects.

Sunken Garden Beds Step Eight: Add Mulch and Shade

Next, I added mulch to the top to prevent moisture loss and shade cloth in certain areas.

I use shade cloth when planting new seedlings. The sun here is very intense, and it takes those little seedlings a while to toughen up. Shade cloth is also important to use in certain seasons for established plants.

Adding Long Basin Beds

Late this summer, I dug a new bed – the garden is never done, remember? This time I wanted to experiment with a long basin bed, rather than a 4×4 square. The new garden bed was 3 feet wide and 28 feet long.

I am a little (okay, a lot) obsessed with the beauty and variety of dried beans and wanted to grow them. So, I added a new long bed with a cattle panel down the middle. This would allow me to grow pole beans down the center and other crops along the bottom.

I made the most of that space, growing beans, okra, squash, roselle, and zinnias. This bed became a superhighway of butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. It was a great success; I’m putting in a second long bed this fall. Because, you guessed it, the garden is never done!

The Result: A Thriving Garden in the Desert

Overall, I’m so pleased with the results of this gardening season. I’ve happily watched this dusty, bare backyard transform into a space alive with color and the hum of pollinators. I’ve learned a few lessons, of course, that I’ll change next season, but that’s true of any garden. I don’t think a garden is ever truly finished – there is always something new to learn and just one more plant to add.

Most importantly, I’ve done almost no weeding and only had to water the beds twice a week during the hottest part of the year. As the temperatures cool, I will change the watering schedule to once a week. This winter, I’ll install rainwater harvesting tanks to water the garden, reducing the water I must pay for.

Sunken garden beds are an effective, water-wise, efficient, and affordable option for any space
- Even if you have a small space, one of these sunken square-foot garden beds will allow you to grow a surprising amount of food.
- If you have little money to start a garden, this method can fit any budget.
- If you’re short on time, gardening this way can be done in just a few minutes a day.
I hope this encourages you that any space, no matter the size, the climate, or the time constraints, can be a place for you to sow your dreams.

Kara Adams is a gardener and writer from the Southwest who is passionate about the interconnection between plants, people, and places. Her love for all things growing has blossomed into a lifelong commitment to the art and science of gardening.

Kara is an advocate for sustainable gardening practices and environmental stewardship. She creates written content and educational videos on Sonoran Desert plants, gardening practices, and soil health. Her topics include organic gardening, pollinator-friendly landscapes, and water-efficient gardening practices.
Follow Kara on her journey through the garden, where her love for it continues to bloom, one word and video at a time. You can follow along with her journey on YouTube and Instagram.

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Angela Judd

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October 28, 2023
Arizona Garden in November
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Low Desert Arizona Garden in November

“Welcome sweet November, the season of senses and my favorite month of all.”

Gregory F. Lenz

The Arizona garden in November is a beautiful place to be. In the low desert, the cooler temperatures of November bring a less frantic pace to the garden. Much of the fall planting was done in September and October, with some harvests beginning this month. Favorites like sweet potatoes and pomegranates are finally ready for harvesting in November as well. Spending time in your Arizona garden in November is one of the reasons we love to live in Arizona!

Keep reading for garden inspiration, a low desert November garden checklist, and a list of which vegetables, herbs and flowers to plant in your low desert Arizona garden in November.

Low desert includes elevations below 3500 ft in the Southwest, such as the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas.

Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more information.

Vegetables growing in the low desert Arizona garden in November

Tomatillos are often ready for harvest this month. Read this article for more information about how to grow tomatillos.

Eggplant harvests continue during November. Read this article for more information about how to grow eggplant.

Beans planted in July – September are producing. Pick beans often to encourage production.

Cucumbers planted in mid-August through September are producing. Pick cucumbers young and often to encourage production.

Brassicas (which include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and kale) are all growing well in the garden this month. Look to harvest when young and tender for best taste. Continue to succession plant through the end of the year.

Luffa is growing well in the garden this month. Harvest luffa when less than 6 inches long if you want to eat it. When growing luffa in the garden for the sponge, leave it on the vine until it is yellow and feels lightweight and hollow. For more information on growing luffa, read this post.

Radishes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow. Radishes that were planted back in September are ready to harvest. Continue to plant radishes through April for a continual harvest.

Flowers growing in the low desert Arizona garden in November

Check the end of this post for a list of cool-season flowers that do well in Arizona. Many of them can be planted in November. Petunias planted now will thrive until it gets hot in April or May.

Coral Vine (Queen’s Wreath) continues to put on a show this month. Enjoy the bees and beautiful blossoms of this frost-sensitive, vigorous vine. Cut back to the ground in February, and it will return quickly each year.

This article talks about how to grow Coral Vine.

Consider adding cool-season edible flowers to your vegetable garden. Nasturtiums (pictured here), borage, calendula, and pansies are all edible, attract pollinators, and add beauty to the garden. This article teaches how to grow nasturtiums.

Sunset cosmos

Purple hyacinth bean

Orange Tecoma in bloom

Russian sage and guara in bloom

Desert milkweed attracting wildlife

Fall rose in bloom

Fruit trees in the low desert Arizona garden in November

Pomegranates are ready to harvest this month. Check for a deep red skin color and splitting of skins. Most varieties are sweetest when the arils (seeds) are deep red.

Lemons, calamondin, and limes are beginning to ripen this month, with more citrus to come in December, January, and into spring.

For more information about growing citrus read this article.

Many varieties of figs are ready to harvest in your Arizona garden in November. Figs do not continue to ripen once picked. For ripe fruit check for soft fruit and the aroma of nectar.

Herbs in the low desert Arizona garden in November

Lemon Grass

Low desert Arizona garden in November to-do list:
- If you put smaller containers away for the summer, November is an excellent time to bring them back out. Fill containers with soil and plant bulbs and other annuals.
- Water trees and shrubs deeply but less often than in warmer temperatures. Water no more than every 10-14 days. Wateruseitwisely.com is a helpful resource for landscape watering guidelines.
- Prune dead branches out of frost-hardy trees and shrubs.
- Plant cold-tolerant trees, bushes, and perennials. For a list of over 200 landscape plants that do well in Arizona, visit amwua.org. A few ideas include penstemon, globe mallow, Chaparral sage, and Mexican honeysuckle.
- Plant strawberries now for spring berries.
- Wait until late February to plant frost-sensitive plants such as lantana and hibiscus.
- Do not prune frost-tender plants this month.
- Continue to prune spent roses.
- Prepare to protect citrus from early frosts by having burlap or frost cloth on hand.
- Identify and manage pest and insect problems early to prevent damage.
- Onion plants may be available this month to order from Dixondale Farms.
- Thin carrots, turnips, and other vegetables.
- Practice good garden sanitation. Identify, manage, and treat insect problems early to prevent major damage.
- If queen palms did not survive summer weather, consider replacing them with something different. Queen palms are not adapted to growing in the low desert of Arizona.
Visual planting guides for vegetables, herbs, fruits, flowers & vines.

What to plant in the Arizona garden in November:

Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit to plant in the low desert in November

(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)

SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant
PLANTING GUIDE: Each month lists vegetables, fruit & herbs to plant outside & seeds to start indoors.

HARVEST GUIDE: Photos show what may be ready to harvest that month.

Planting dates are for the low desert of Arizona (zone 9b).
Vegetable, herb, and fruit seeds to start indoors during November

(Click the link for seed sources.)

Flowers to plant in the low desert in November

(Click the link to read “How to Grow” articles on my website.)
African Daisy (S)

Ageratum (T)

Allium (bulb)

Alyssum (ST)

Amaryllis (bulb)

Anemone (corm)

Aster (T)

Baby’s Breath (ST)

Begonia (T)

Bells of Ireland (S)

Bigelow’s Purple Aster (S)

Calendula (ST)

Calla Lily (rhizome)

Carnation (T)

Chamomile (T)

Chrysanthemum (T)

Clarkia (T)

Coreopsis (ST)

Cornflower (S)

Crocus (bulb)

Daffodil (bulb)

Dara (ST)

Delphinium (S)

Dianthus (T)

Echinacea (T)

English Daisy (T)

Evening Primrose (T)

Flax (S)

Forget-Me-Not (S)

Freesia (bulb)

Gaillardia (ST)

Gazania (T)

Geranium (T)

Gladiolus (corm)

Hollyhock (ST)

Iris (rhizome)

Larkspur (S)

Linaria (S)

Lobelia (T)

Lupine (S)

Nasturtium (S)

Orn. Cabbage/Kale (T)
SEED, TRANSPLANT, OR BOTH? S = Seed T= Transplant

Flowers to Plant Outside & Seeds to Start Indoors Each Month in the Low Desert of Arizona.
• PLANTING GUIDE: Each month lists annual flowers and bulbs to plant outside & seeds to start indoors.
• BLOOMING GUIDE: Photos show what may be in bloom that month.

Flower seeds to start indoors during November

(Click the link for seed sources.)

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October 27, 2023
Greenhouse Tips for Hot Summer Climates
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If you live in a hot summer climate, you may have wondered if a greenhouse would be beneficial. Questions like:

Would a greenhouse get too hot in Arizona?

How many months of the year could I use the greenhouse?

This article discusses the benefits of having a greenhouse (even in a hot summer climate), the challenges to consider, and the best ways to make the greenhouse a productive space during the year’s hottest months.

Benefits of having a greenhouse
- Extends the growing season, whether in cold or warmer weather.
- The ability to control the environment, including sunlight, temperature, humidity, and ventilation.
- Protection from the elements.
- Little or no damage from insects, birds, and other animals.
- Increased water efficiency.
- Central location for seed starting and gardening supplies.
- Place to implement hydroponics or other methods.
Challenges with having a greenhouse in Arizona and other hot summer climates

Historically, the function of a greenhouse is to trap heat. However, during the summer heat, greenhouse temperatures can surpass 150°F (65.6°C), which is too hot for plants. High winds during the monsoon/windy seasons also present a challenge.

Choosing the best location for your greenhouse

Typically, a greenhouse is placed in an area with the most sunlight. However, in a hot summer climate, taking advantage of locations that offer natural shade is crucial.

Here are a few considerations about where to position your greenhouse:
- Look for locations in your yard that receive shade during the summer naturally. Consider how the sun exposure or shadows will change throughout the year.
- Level ground for the greenhouse foundation. Consider installing a cement pad.
- Protection from the elements. Placement near a house or fence can help. It is also essential to secure or bolt the greenhouse to the foundation.
- Proper drainage. Ideally, the land surrounding the greenhouse is sloped so that water will drain away from your foundation.
- Access to electricity and water. Plumb or put these in place before you add a foundation or cement pad.
- Convenience. Someplace you can access easily.
What to consider before purchasing a greenhouse

Greenhouses come in various shapes, sizes, and use of materials. Available types include traditional, hoop houses, lean-to’s, cold frames, polytunnels, and attached solariums.

Considerations for greenhouses in hot summer climates:
- Available space. Most people with greenhouses wish they had made them larger. Choose the largest size your space and budget will allow.
- Design. Do you like the look of it?
- Cost. What’s your budget?
- Durability. Arizona has severe winds during the monsoon season.
- Material type. A galvanized steel or aluminum frame (for durability) with thick polycarbonate panels (for good light diffusion and insulation) could be an effective solution for a hot summer climate.
- Height. Adding vertical space can increase the available space for storage and ventilation.
- Ventilation. Roof vents with (automatic) openers.
- Misting systems and accessory availability.
- Quality of construction. Insulation of greenhouse with rubber seals, types of windows, etc.
How to keep a greenhouse cool in hot summer climates

Each method will only partially bring down the heat, but combining techniques will bring the temperature down and make the greenhouse usable throughout the year.
- Ceiling fan and circulating fans for air movement.
- Louver (manual and automatic) windows that can be opened or closed depending on temperatures.
- Interior and exterior shade cloth.
- Tint the windows, just like you would a car. While these other strategies reduce the temperatures by 5-10°F, this method can reduce it by more than 30°F.
- Use a swamp cooler.
Greenhouse management tips for a hot summer climate

Once you have a greenhouse, a few essential practices will help ensure your greenhouse is a place where plants thrive.
- Like a garden, plan on spending time in your greenhouse daily to monitor the temperature and plant health. Problems will be easier to manage if you catch them when they are small.
- Measure the indoor temperature and humidity. Learn which methods for cooling (or heating) the space are most effective. The goal is to maintain the inside temperature between 65-85°F (18-29°C). Try to avoid wide temperature fluctuations.
- Keep a greenhouse journal: record germination times and temperatures to help you learn from your experiences.
- Keep it clean. Sweep up or vacuum messes and debris.
- Don’t overload your greenhouse. Good airflow is crucial for plants.
- Don’t bring pest-damaged or diseased plants into the greenhouse; they may spread those issues to other plants.
- During the hottest months, you may need to provide additional lighting for plants if the light is blocked by shade cloth.
- Avoid standing water. Use layers of gym-style pads and rubber mats to drain the moisture out of the building. Water seedlings from the bottom and drain off extra water.
- Keep the door closed. This helps maintain the temperature and humidity levels and keeps insects out.
Thank you to Larry Burnett for contributing to this post.

Larry Burnett is a retired Administrator from Banner Health and a Partner from KPMG. Larry has lived in Arizona since 1984 and gardened here extensively.

He is a Master Gardener through the University of Arizona and a mentor for Master Gardener students. His favorite time of the day is when he is outside in his greenhouse, garden, and flower beds. Here’s a link to Larry’s Jansen Greenhouse, featured in this article.

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Angela Judd

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October 27, 2023
Unmasking the

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Unmasking the “Zombie Hunter” – CBS News

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October 21, 2023
Former San Diego detective, 3 women sentenced to prison for operating sex parlors

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A former San Diego police detective was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for operating illicit massage parlors that offered commercial sex services, the U.S. Department of Justice announced on Tuesday.

Peter Griffin, a retired officer employed for 27 years by the San Diego Police Department who spent part of his career working as a vice detective, attorney and private investigator, was sentenced Friday to 33 months imprisonment followed by one year of supervised release. Now 79 years old, Griffin operated a network of illicit massage businesses based in California and Arizona, which sold commercial sex for profit and used therapeutic massage services as a front, the Justice Department said in a news release.

Griffin was sentenced along with three co-defendants, identified as 59-year-old Kyung Sook Hernandez, 57-year-old Yu Hong Tan and 46-year-old Yoo Jin Ott, who managed the illicit businesses. They were each sentenced to six months in prison followed by one year of supervised release.

The former detective and the three co-defendants pleaded guilty in April to federal charges related to the case, with Griffin pleading guilty to conspiracy to money laundering, wire fraud conspiracy, conspiracy to facilitate interstate commerce for business involving prostitution and other crimes in San Diego federal court. Citing court documents, authorities said at the time that Griffin had exploited his insider knowledge of illicit massage parlors to run them himself after investigating and making arrests associated with illegal massage parlors during his time as a vice detective.

Court documents show Griffin, Hernandez, Tan and Ott owned and operated five illegal businesses, “Genie Oriental Spa,” “Felicita Spa,” “Blue Green Spa,” “Maple Spa” and “Massage W Spa,” between 2013 and August 2022. They were located in the greater San Diego area and in Tempe, Arizona, the Justice Department said, adding that the scheme involved “incorporating their businesses with state agencies, managing the businesses’ illicit proceeds, advertising commercial sexual services online, recruiting and employing women to perform commercial sex services and benefiting financially from the illegal enterprises.”

The former detective and three parlor managers allegedly exploited their employees, pressured them to perform commercial sex services and then profited financially from those illegal services. Griffin used his record as a former law enforcement officer to convince authorities that his businesses were being operated legitimately and once showed his badge to a local officer who was responding to a complaint about one of the businesses, according to the Justice Department. He also allegedly told an employee that he previously worked as a police officer while instructing her to keep quiet about the true nature of the massage parlor.

“Defendant Griffin – a former vice detective who once took an oath to uphold our laws – is being held accountable for abusing his position of authority and, with his co-defendants, operating illicit massage businesses and profiting by exploiting women for commercial sex,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, in a statement.

Chad Plantz, special agent in charge of the Homeland Security Investigations field office in San Diego, said in a separate statement, “Peter Griffin abused and exploited vulnerable women by pressuring them into commercial sex for profit while taking advantage of his status in the community.”

“This sentence sends a clear message to those who mistakenly believe they can get away with such repugnant crimes,” Plantz’s statement continued. “HSI, in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, will continue to work vigorously and bring to justice those who exploit and victimize vulnerable members of our community.”

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October 17, 2023
Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick ‘arrested in LA after police find a gun and marijuana in his car when pulling him over for a traffic violation’ just … – Medical Marijuana Program Connection
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- Derion Kendrick was reportedly pulled over by police for a traffic violation
- During the stop, police supposedly found a gun and marijuana in his vehicle
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
By Daniel Matthews For Dailymail.Com

Published: 18:41 EDT, 16 October 2023 | Updated: 19:06 EDT, 16 October 2023

Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick was reportedly arrested in Los Angeles on Monday – just hours after he helped the team beat the Arizona Cardinals.

According to TMZ Sports, the 23-year-old was pulled over by law enforcement in the early hours of Monday morning for a traffic violation. It’s claimed that during the stop, police found a gun and marijuana in his vehicle.

Jail records reportedly show Kendrick was booked at 2:14am on a felony charge of carrying a concealed weapon. TMZ claim that Kendrick remained in custody well into the afternoon.

Kendrick played college football at Clemson and Georgia before being drafted by the Ramds in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft.

He has played in 21 games for Los Angeles, including all six this season, in which Sean McVay’s team have gone 3-3.

Rams cornerback Derion Kendrick was reportedly arrested in Los Angeles on Monday

It’s claimed that after Kendrick was pulled over, police found a gun and marijuana in his vehicle

Kendrick was part of the Rams defense which shut down the…
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October 17, 2023
Kari Lake announces Arizona Senate run

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Kari Lake launched a U.S. Senate campaign for an Arizona seat in a splashy Scottsdale rally on Tuesday, having never conceded that she lost last year’s race for Arizona governor.

She is trying out new messages and courting the support of national Republicans she’s insulted in the past. But the former television news host isn’t backing down on the things that made her a star on the far right — her combativeness with perceived enemies, her fealty to Donald Trump and her willingness to defend his election lies.

National Republican leaders think a GOP candidate could take advantage of what could be a three-way race if Sen. Kyrsten Sinema seeks reelection. Sinema, a former Democrat who became an independent last year, is preparing for a campaign but has not said whether she will seek a second term. U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego is likely to have the Democratic nomination locked up.

At her rally Tuesday, Lake didn’t concede she lost the last election to now-Gov. Katie Hobbs, but didn’t say it was stolen and made only a brief mention of it during a nearly 50-minute-long speech. She said she’s “never going to walk away from the fight to restore honest elections.”

Former Arizona Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake announces her bid for the seat of independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema at JetSet Magazine on Oct. 10, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

REBECCA NOBLE / Getty Images

“We did everything right, and we saw the disaster of election day in Arizona,” Lake said. “Sometimes when things don’t go the way we expect, we find ourselves questioning and asking why … I think God has bigger plans for us.”

She heaped praise on former President Donald Trump, who recorded a video endorsement that was played at the rally, and repeatedly attacked the media, calling journalists covering her event “fake news fools.”

“When I’m back in the White House, I need strong fighters like Kari in the Senate,” Trump said.

A change in tone

Lake also offered conciliatory words for voters who disagree with her, a sharp contrast with her last campaign, when she didn’t want support from establishment Republicans, even after she defeated them in the GOP primary.

“I may disagree with Arizonans who voted for Joe Biden,” Lake said. “But I don’t think you’re a threat to democracy. You are a citizen just like me.”

After once calling Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky an “old bat” and saying he needed to be replaced as Republican leader, Lake now says she would support him if she’s elected. Last year, she called abortion “the ultimate sin” and supported a near-total ban on abortion in Arizona. Now, she says she wouldn’t endorse a federal abortion ban.

Lake met recently with Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, who leads the GOP’s Senate campaign work as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and saw several other GOP senators during a trip to Washington. Daines has publicly urged Lake to focus on the future instead of relitigating past elections.

A former television news anchor for nearly three decades in the Phoenix market, Lake was already known locally but had no national profile when she walked away from her career in 2021, declared “journalism is dead,” and took a sledgehammer to televisions showing cable newscasts.

Right up to Election Day, she embraced Trump, appeared with right-wing figures like Steve Bannon and blasted establishment Republicans, including the late Sen. John McCain.

She lost the governor’s race by less than 1 point. About four in 10 Arizona voters in the 2022 election said they were “very concerned” that Lake’s views were too extreme, according to AP VoteCast, a survey of U.S. voters. She lost 11% of Republicans. About 63% of independents and 96% of Democrats backed the winner, Democrat Katie Hobbs.

But Lake became a national figure on the far right with her television appearances and her defense of Trump’s election falsehoods.

Lake’s legal battles over her fraudulent election claims

In the months since, Lake has traveled extensively to speak to Republican groups around the country, her remarks focused largely on her fraudulent election claims. Her frequent trips to Iowa, the state where she was born but also the host of the leadoff presidential caucuses, have raised eyebrows in political circles. Some have floated her as a running mate for Trump, the front-runner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

She sued Maricopa County, claiming election officials deliberately created printer malfunctions to cause her to lose. She lost, and her unsuccessful appeals have bounced through the court system, all the way up to the Arizona Supreme Court.

She also was sued for defamation by Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, a Republican official who says he has faced death threats because she lied about how he conducted the election.

Last month she was back in court for her third election-related case, where she watched as her lawyer argued that Arizona’s public records law entitles her to see copies of signed vote-by-mail envelopes. She claims reviewing the signatures would allow her to prove that ballots were counted that should not have been, drawing parallels to an unprecedented partisan recount of ballots conducted by Trump supporters on behalf of state Senate Republicans following the 2020 election.

Her fights over the 2020 and 2022 elections have only further endeared her to Arizona Republicans, who nominated a slate of Trump-backed candidates who spread election lies and went on to lose in the midterms. She enters the Senate race as an immediate front-runner in the GOP primary, where she’ll face Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb.

The NRSC has not ruled out endorsing Lake in the primary, according to a person familiar with the organization’s strategy who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations. Support from the NRSC would potentially open up a lucrative funding stream and signal to donors that Lake has the support of key GOP senators.

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October 10, 2023
What are the threats facing American democracy?

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What are the threats facing American democracy? – CBS News

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President Biden issued several stark warnings about threats to American democracy Thursday in Arizona. CBS News election law expert and political contributor David Becker discusses what stood out from the president’s speech.

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September 28, 2023
Biden to honor John McCain at library dedication and speak about
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President Biden will honor the late Republican Sen. John McCain, his longtime Senate colleague, in Tempe, Arizona, on Thursday at the dedication of a new library named for the senator and war hero.

Mr. Biden will be giving a speech on what the White House has characterized as “protecting” democracy, which a White House official said Wednesday night is a “central cause of Joe Biden’s presidency.”

Cindy McCain, other members of the McCain family and Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, are expected to be there. The McCain Library will be developed by the McCain Institute and Arizona State University, with funds from the American Rescue Plan going toward construction.

Mr. Biden and McCain served together in the Senate for decades and were close friends. In 2008, they found themselves on opposite sides of the bitter 2008 presidential election, when McCain was the Republican nominee and Mr. Biden was running to become vice president.

Sen. John McCain receives the the 2017 Liberty Medal from former Vice President Joe Biden at the National Constitution Center on Oct. 16, 2017, in Philadelphia.

William Thomas Cain / Getty Images

Mr. Biden delivered an emotional eulogy at McCain’s funeral after his death from brain cancer in 2018, saying he “always thought of John as a brother, with a hell of a lot of family fights.” He awarded him a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022.

While in Vietnam earlier this month, Mr. Biden visited the John McCain Memorial in Hanoi, near the spot where McCain’s Skyhawk dive bomber was shot down by North Vietnamese fighters in 1967. He was captured and served more than five years in a POW camp.

“I miss him. He was a good friend,” Mr. Biden said after visiting the memorial.

McCain represented Arizona in the Senate for over three decades, and the state is one of the key battleground states that Mr. Biden must defend in 2024. McCain had been one of the most vocal critics of former President Donald Trump, and Trump disparaged McCain frequently, even after his brain cancer diagnosis.

Cindy McCain, his widow, endorsed Mr. Biden for president in 2020. The president appointed her to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in 2021, and she became the executive director of the World Food Programme earlier this year.

Until 2020, Arizona had been a Republican stronghold for years, with two Republican senators and a streak of supporting GOP presidential candidates that stretched back to 1996. But following former Sen. Jeff Flake’s retirement and McCain’s death in 2018, both Senate seats flipped to Democrats and Mr. Biden narrowly won the state in 2020.

In 2020, Democrat Mark Kelly defeated Republican Sen. Martha McSally, who had been appointed to fill McCain’s seat, in a special election. He successfully defended the seat against Blake Masters in 2022, when Hobbs defeated Republican Kari Lake to take the governor’s mansion as well.

How to watch Biden speak in Tempe, Arizona
- What: President Biden honors the late Sen. John McCain
- Date: Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023
- Time: 2:45 p.m. ET
- Location: Tempe, Arizona
- Online stream: Live on CBS News in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device.
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September 28, 2023
Injured hiker rescued in Grand Canyon was left behind by friends, rescuers say

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An injured 63-year-old hiker was rescued from the Grand Canyon last week after being left alone by a group of friends, officials said.

Search and rescue crews responded to a call for help — sent out by an Apple device using its emergency satellite feature — at around 6 p.m. on Friday, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue said in a Facebook post. A rescue specialist and a medic flew in a Department of Public Safety air rescue helicopter from Kingman, Arizona, to the location given by the satellite, which was along a portion of Kanab Creek in the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Landing the helicopter there was difficult, according to the sheriff’s office, because it “was very dark” and surrounded by tall canyon walls, “providing a tight and limited landing area.”

The crew was able to land about 1/4 mile from the satellite location and proceeded to traverse boulders and the creek itself to reach the injured hiker, who had fallen and suffered a traumatic shoulder injury that required “emergency medical attention and evacuation,” the sheriff’s office said. They stabilized the hiker and transported him in the helicopter to a hospital in Flagstaff for medical evaluation.

INJURED HIKER / KANAB CREEK, GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK – NORTH RIM

About 6pm Friday (9/15) evening, the Mohave County…

Posted by Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue on Saturday, September 16, 2023

The injured hiker’s name was not released publicly. He told search and rescue officials that he was traveling through the Grand Canyon with a group of four other friends, who had already been backpacking for three or four days when the man fell and hurt his shoulder at around 2 p.m. on Friday afternoon. They had another three or four days of hiking planned before the end of their trip.

After confirming that the Apple device had sent out the emergency call, the hiker’s friends took the device and left him in the spot given by the satellite, according to the Mohave County sheriff. It was unclear exactly what time the original call for help was made.

“It was fortunate that the helicopter was able to rescue this injured hiker, as it would have taken an extended period of time for ground crews to reach his location,” the sheriff’s office wrote on Facebook. “Search and Rescue encourages everyone to never leave someone behind alone and whenever possible, to stay with them and ensure they are rescued before continuing on their journey.”

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September 19, 2023
Blake Masters Might Be Getting Cold Feet About A Second Run for Senate in Arizona: Report

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Blake Masters, the far-right venture capitalist who ran and lost in a 2022 Senate election in Arizona, is having second thoughts about trying and potentially failing for a second time, The Daily Beast reported Sunday.

Toward the end of August, multiple outlets reported that Masters was virtually guaranteed to enter the race. An Arizona-based GOP strategist who’d spoken to Masters told Politico that he was “pretty decisively in.” Now—not so much.

“Sources close to Masters are doubting whether he will go through with a campaign,” especially if it pits him against former Arizona gubernatorial candidate and election fabulist Kari Lake, who is also close to throwing her hat into the ring, according to the Daily Beast. “The consensus within Arizona GOP circles was that Masters is a lot further from jumping in than it may have seemed,” according to the report.

Lake and Masters ran on far-right “Make America Great Again” platforms in 2022, often appearing together at events. Though both lost their elections, Lake significantly outperformed Masters, garnering nearly 100,000 more votes.

Masters’ reluctance may have something to do with the tepid response news of a possible run has gotten in GOP circles. On Friday, The New York Times reported on a phone call between Masters and former President Donald Trump on September 1, just days after The Wall Street Journal reported that Masters was planning on entering the race. The MAGA leader reportedly told Masters he didn’t think he could win a primary matchup against Lake.

Masters campaigned hard to get Trump’s endorsement in 2022, but Trump lashed out when Masters failed to embrace the former president’s election lies during an October 2022 debate. Trump called him and told him he needed “to go stronger on that one thing” before comparing him unfavorably with Lake. “And if they say, ‘How is your family?’ [Lake] says, ‘The election was rigged and stolen,’” Trump said.

Trump, who is currently leading in the GOP race for the White House, isn’t the only prominent GOP figure who’s appeared lukewarm about a second Masters Senate bid.

Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, whom Masters has described as the senator he most agrees with, told Business Insider last week that he would be “really surprised” if the MAGA defender jumped into the race. Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, a fellow beneficiary of campaign funding from far-right billionaire Peter Thiel in 2022, also declined to say whether he’d endorse Masters, as did Senators Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz, who both campaigned for Masters during the 2022 election cycle.

“Seems like a nice guy” was about as much as Graham could muster.

Whether Lake and Masters enter the race will have significant implications for the swing-state election to unseat current Senator Kyrsten Sinema, the formerly-Democratic-turned-independent politician who is deeply unpopular in her home state.

Sinema has not yet announced whether she’ll be running for reelection, though she has filed paperwork to do so and has been fundraising aggressively. Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego announced his bid in January, while Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb announced in April that he was running for the Republican nomination.

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September 10, 2023
Phoenix Has Set Another Heat Record By Hitting 110 Degrees On 54 Days This Year

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PHOENIX (AP) — How hot is it in Phoenix? In what has been the hottest summer ever measured, the sizzling city in the Sonoran Desert broke yet another record Saturday when temperatures topped 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 Celsius).

It was the 54th day this year that the official reading at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport made the mark, eclipsing the previous record of 53 days set in 2020.

Matt Salerno, a National Weather Service meteorologist, said the hot streak could reach 55 days.

“We do have one more day,” he said.

An extreme heat warning remained in effect, with temperatures forecast at 111 F (43.9 C) on Sunday and 106 F (41.1 C) on Monday.

Salerno said Phoenix experienced the hottest three months since record-keeping began in 1895, including the hottest July and the second-hottest August.

The daily average temperature of 97 F (36.1 C) in June, July and August passed the previous record of 96.7 F (35.9 C) set three years ago.

The average daily temperature was 102.7 F (39.3 C) in July, Salerno said, and the daily average in August was 98.8 F (37.1 C).

In July, Phoenix also set a record with a 31-day streak of highs at or above 110 F (43.3 C). The previous record of 18 straight days was set in 1974.

The sweltering summer of 2023 has seen a historic heat wave stretching from Texas across New Mexico and Arizona and into California’s desert.

Worldwide, last month was the hottest August ever recorded, according to the World Meteorological Organization. It was also the second hottest month measured, behind only July 2023. Scientists blame human-caused climate change with an extra push from a natural El Nino, which is a temporary warming of parts of the Pacific Ocean that changes weather around the globe.

As of Saturday, Phoenix has tallied 104 days this year with temperatures over 100 F (37.7 C), Salerno said. That’s in line with the average of 111 triple-digit days every year between 1991 and 2020.

Maricopa County, home to Phoenix and the most populous county in Arizona, also appears headed toward an annual record for heat-associated deaths.

County public health officials have confirmed 194 heat-associated deaths this year as of Sept. 2. An additional 351 cases are under investigation.

Maricopa County confirmed 425 heat-related deaths in 2022.

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September 10, 2023
Retire to Arizona? Seriously?

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The traditional Sunbelt retirement has lost its appeal: Brett Arends

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September 8, 2023
How do abortion rights impact voter turnout?

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How do abortion rights impact voter turnout? – CBS News

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Ohio voters on Tuesday rejected a proposal that would’ve made it more difficult to change the state’s constitution. Abortion rights supporters are celebrating the outcome of the vote because of a November ballot question on enshrining reproductive rights in the Ohio constitution. CBS News political director Fin Gómez shares takeaways from the result.

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August 9, 2023
Az dispensaries recalling marijuana gummies over salmonella – Medical Marijuana Program Connection
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Arizona dispensaries are voluntarily recalling marijuana gummies due to possible contamination of salmonella, a bacterium that, in the event of infection, can cause diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, officials said.

The product being voluntarily recalled is grape-flavored Cloud 9 gummies from Nirvana Center, with the batch number C9G04102023.

To date, no illnesses have been reported, Arizona Department of Health Services officials said.

Symptoms from ingesting salmonella usually start within six hours to six days after infection and last four to seven days. Ingestion can happen inadvertently after handling salmonella-contaminated products.

Symptoms from ingesting salmonella include:
- Diarrhea (that can be bloody)
- Fever
- Stomach cramps
- Some people may also have nausea, vomiting, or a headache
Anyone who has already consumed the product and has any of these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider or seek care in the event of an emergency.

Consumers should contact the dispensary or establishment where they purchased the product if they have any questions.

Patients who have purchased potentially contaminated products should not ingest, inhale, or otherwise consume them, and the Arizona Department of Health Services is advising purchasers to dispose of the products described.

An ADHS marijuana licensing inspector discovered the potential contamination during a routine inspection after reviewing testing documentation kept at the establishment.

Once ADHS discovered the potential…
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August 7, 2023
US Customs and Border Protection sends resources to remote Arizona area after increase in migrant crossings | CNN

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CNN
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US border officials are increasing personnel and transportation resources at Ajo, Arizona, one of the most isolated and dangerous areas on the Southwest border, to deal with a recent increase in migrants and an ongoing heat wave.

“Border Patrol has prioritized the quick transporting of noncitizens encountered in this desert environment, which is particularly dangerous during current weather conditions, to Border Patrol facilities where individuals can receive medical care, food and water,” a spokesperson for US Customs and Border Protection said in a statement.

An excessive heat warning is in effect for Ajo until Sunday evening. “Dangerously hot conditions” and high temperatures of 106 to 112 degrees are expected, according to the National Weather Service.

The spike in migration at Ajo is driven by human smuggling organizations shifting the flow of migrants to some of the most dangerous terrain, including the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument near Ajo, according to the Border Patrol.

Currently, the average time in custody at the Ajo station is 15 hours, with some migrants spending a portion of those hours outside waiting to be transported, according to the Border Patrol. The agency said the fenced-in outdoor space is covered by a large canopy and migrants have access to large fans, meals, water, and bathroom facilities. The outdoor area is only used for adult men, while women, children, and members of vulnerable populations are held inside the station.

“USBP has utilized outdoor shaded areas only when necessary and for very short times while they await onward transportation to larger facilities,” said the agency’s spokesperson. “The Ajo Border Patrol Station is not equipped to hold large number of migrants due to historic trends in this area.”

After arriving at Ajo Station, migrants are screened and then transported to other locations for immigration processing, with the closest large Border Patrol facility or shelter 2.5 hours away, according to the Border Patrol.

The agency would not disclose the Ajo facility’s capacity to CNN, citing security concerns.

The Tucson Border Patrol sector encountered more than 24,000 migrants in June, making it the second-busiest sector on the southern border during the month, according to Border Patrol data.

Border Patrol officials report no deaths have occurred at Ajo station or the surrounding areas since the beginning of the heat wave and since the increase in migrant encounters.

Across the state, Arizonans have experienced extreme heat over the past weeks, with Phoenix recording 31 consecutive days with a high temperature of 110 degrees or above. The streak of high temperatures made July the hottest month on record for the city.

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August 5, 2023
Arizona reexamining deals to lease land to Saudi-owned farms

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With the Southwest in the middle of a decadeslong megadrought, states like Arizona are facing the biggest water crisis in a generation. And there is growing outrage over scarce water being used by foreign-owned mega farms.

Arizona cattle rancher Brad Mead says his well has run dry because of his neighbor’s farm down the road.

It’s run by Fondomonte, owned by one of the largest dairy companies in Saudi Arabia. It grows alfalfa in the U.S. to feed cattle back in the Middle East. The crop is illegal to grow in Saudi Arabia because it uses too much water.

Mead told CBS News when he looks out on the field of alfalfa, “I see money leaving America. I see water getting depleted.”

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, said Fondomonte bought vast tracts of land in the western part of the state. There are no regulations on how much water can be pumped up out of the ground in that area, so the state doesn’t monitor it.

Fondomonte also leases thousands of acres from the state, thanks to deals approved by state officials who are no longer in office. The company pays nothing for the water itself.

“We cannot afford to give our water away frankly to anyone, let alone the Saudis,” Mayes said, noting that they are using “millions upon millions of gallons of precious groundwater.”

Mayes said Arizona’s cities, including Phoenix, will need that water as they face potentially drastic cuts from the drought-ravaged Colorado River.

Fondomonte, which declined CBS News’ request for an interview, is not doing anything illegal. However, since CBS News first began covering its use of Arizona groundwater, the state has revoked approval for two additional wells and is considering canceling some of the company’s leases on state-owned land when they expire next year.

“It is a scandal that the state of Arizona allowed this to happen, and it needs to come to an end,” Mayes said.

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Ben Tracy

Ben Tracy is a CBS News senior national and environmental correspondent based in Los Angeles.

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August 3, 2023
Biden previews 2024 message by warning that Trump’s movement is a threat to American democracy | CNN Politics

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President Joe Biden issued blunt new warnings about ongoing existential threats to US democracy in a major address Thursday, sharpening the central argument in his potential rematch with Donald Trump and asking voters to prioritize the health of American institutions.

“There’s something dangerous happening in America now,” Biden said during his speech in Arizona, where he was also honoring his friend, the late Republican Sen. John McCain. “There’s an extremist movement that does not share the basic beliefs of our democracy: The MAGA movement.”

“There’s no question that today’s Republican Party is driven and intimidated by MAGA Republican extremists,” he said, using the acronym for Trump’s political movement. “Their extreme agenda, if carried out, would fundamentally alter the institutions of American democracy as we know it.”

The stark message was Biden’s most forceful attempt at calling out Trump’s antidemocratic behavior since the former president was criminally charged for his attempts to subvert the 2020 election results. It offered a taste of Biden’s forthcoming reelection message, one centered on Trump’s own words and actions as threats to democracy. Biden said his predecessor was guided not by the Constitution or decency, but by “vengeance and vindictiveness.”

As indictments and arrests of the former president piled up over the summer, Biden remained mostly silent on his predecessor, wary of appearing to intervene in Justice Department business. His most substantive comment on Trump’s myriad legal issues was a sarcastic remark about his mugshot in the Fulton County, Georgia, case.

But as Trump’s prohibitive lead in the Republican primary remains unchanged – and as Biden’s own standing remains mired in low approval – the president is sharpening his attacks on his most likely 2024 rival as a danger to democracy. Thursday’s speech served as yet another sign that the days of trying to keep Trump at an arm’s length are long gone.

“Trump says the Constitution gave him the right to do whatever he wants as president,” Biden said, referencing his most likely GOP challenger by name. “I’ve never heard presidents say that in jest.”

He alluded to Trump’s recent suggestion that Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, could be executed, and said Republican silence on the comment was “deafening.”

Stopping the erosion of democratic institutions and values was central to Biden’s decision to run for president in 2020, it will again be core to his reelection campaign, officials said, as he looks to energize voters and donors who have otherwise appeared lukewarm about a rematch between the two men.

“We should all remember: Democracies don’t have to die at the end of a rifle. They can die when people are silent, when they fail to stand up,” Biden said.

Senior Biden advisers had mulled over the timing and location of Thursday’s speech for weeks. Previously, Biden has sought to harness the symbolic settings of Independence Hall and Gettysburg to issue warnings about the state of American democracy.

Advisers eyed similar sites pegged to American history on the East Coast before settling on Tempe, Arizona, in part as a way to honor the late Republican Sen. John McCain, whom Biden was friends with for decades and referred to as a “brother.” Biden announced funding to construct the McCain Library, honoring his longtime friend.

Arizona was also a center of Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, and a state where voters rejected candidates who denied the results two years later. That effort loomed large in the president’s message.

“I believe in free and fair elections and peaceful transfer of power. I believe there’s no place in America – none, none, none – for political violence,” Biden said.

Biden’s advisers also selected the day after the second Republican primary debate, hoping to insert Biden into a news cycle otherwise dominated by the GOP contest. Trump skipped the debate, delivering a speech in Michigan instead as he looks to cut into Biden’s support among union workers.

The speech came at a moment of political uncertainty for Biden, as he faces persistent questions about his age, disapproval of his handling of the job and an indictment of his son, Hunter. House Republicans held their first hearing in an impeachment inquiry into Biden on Thursday.

Many senior Democrats believe once voters come to see the 2024 election as a contest between Biden and Trump, the stakes will be clearer and the current president’s standing will improve.

At one point in his speech, Biden was interrupted by climate activists as he urged the audience to “put partisanship aside, put country first.” Kai Newkirk, one of the protesters, had stood up and called on Biden to take further action to address fossil fuels.

“I tell you what, if you shush up, I’ll meet with you immediately after this,” Biden said, before resuming remarks.

“Democracy is never easy – as we just demonstrated,” he joked.

Newkirk added in a statement later Thursday that he did not hear the president’s offer to meet with him but that he would have “gladly” accepted.

“I worked hard to elect President Biden, and conscience compelled me to interrupt his speech today to ask why he has yet to declare a climate emergency,” he said in a post on X.

Top Biden donors, many of whom have agitated for more forceful attacks on Trump at this early stage in the campaign, were informed of the plans for Thursday’s speech by senior Biden advisers during a fundraising retreat in Chicago earlier this month. Biden began previewing his address to donors behind closed doors last week.

In those remarks, Biden debuted new warnings about his predecessor’s potential return to the White House, testing the material off-camera as he and his team were preparing for Thursday’s address.

“Let there be no question: Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy American democracy. And I will always defend, protect, and fight for our democracy. That’s why I running,” he said at a Broadway theater last week.

Two days later, he amplified his warnings to a group of lawyers – and said he was confident he could defeat Trump for a second time.

“I’m now running again. Because guess what? I think that it’s likely to be the same fellow, and it’s likely that I think I can beat him again,” he said.

Defending democracy is an issue Biden allies believe remains deeply resonant with voters, almost three years after the 2020 contest. The video announcing his reelection opened with footage of the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

In the lead-up to the 2022 midterm elections, Biden delivered a resounding message in front of Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, warning of “MAGA forces” that “tried everything last time to nullify the votes of 81 million people.” Ahead of the speech, Biden convened his communications staff with a group of academics and historians – including Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham, who has helped draft his highest-profile addresses – to reflect on the fragile state of the union and compile ideas.

The White House remains in touch with several of those historians to continue generating ideas, according to officials.

Democrats say the message worked. The administration and national Democrats have touted the results of the 2022 midterm elections, and the fact that a so-called red wave never materialized as many had predicted, as proof the president’s focus on themes like defending democracy struck a chord.

Thursday’s remarks were billed by the White House as the president’s fourth major speech on the theme of democracy – Biden spoke to the issue last year to mark the one-year anniversary of the January 6 insurrection, as well as days before the midterm elections.

By also honoring McCain during his speech Thursday, Biden hoped to harken to an era of bipartisanship in Washington that has disappeared in recent years. The comparison is amplified given the current battle over government funding, which appears destined to result in a government shutdown by the end of the week.

He was joined at the speech by McCain’s widow Cindy, other members of the McCain family and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.

However, one of the state’s senators, Kyrsten Sinema – who was a Democrat until she left the party last year to become an independent – said Biden should use his visit to Arizona to observe the situation at the southern border.

“It’s well past time for President Biden to see the border crisis first hand and for the administration to do its job, secure the border, and keep Arizona safe. While he’s in Arizona, I’m calling on him to visit the border to actually understand how our communities shoulder the burden of his administration’s failure to address this crisis,” she said in a statement.

McCain’s death was deeply personal and painful for Biden for a number of reasons, including the fact that McCain had been diagnosed with the same cancer that took the life of Biden’s son, Beau. After laying a wreath near the site where McCain’s plane was shot down in Hanoi this month, Biden said he missed his former Senate colleague.

“He was a good friend,” Biden said.

In his eulogy for McCain in the summer of 2018, Biden described his friend as having “lived by a different code – an ancient, antiquated code where honor, courage, integrity, duty were alive.”

This story has been updated with additional information.

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August 2, 2023
Arizona GOP’s rebuff of one-day, in-person, primary highlights party’s rift over election security | CNN Politics

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CNN
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Arizona state Republican chairman Jeff DeWit this week rejected a Maricopa County GOP proposal to hold a one-day state-run presidential primary in 2024, highlighting a continued fracture in the Republican Party in the wake of persistent election denialism stemming from the 2020 presidential election.

DeWit explained why he had not called for a vote on the proposal in a Thursday email to members of the party’s executive committee. He said the GOP doesn’t have the money to conduct its own contest — or the time to implement a plan and clear potential legal hurdles.

The decision by DeWit, who worked on former President Donald Trump’s 2016 and 2020 campaigns, is likely to trigger backlash from conservatives in the state. The Arizona Republican Party has been driven rightward by Trump-aligned conservatives who distrust its elections and refuse to accept the losses of Trump in 2020 and a statewide slate that included gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake, another prominent election denier, in 2022.

The Washington Post reported on the development earlier Saturday.

Arizona has emerged in recent years as one of the nation’s most important swing states – a former Republican bastion that has shifted leftward in recent years, with Democratic victories in 2018, 2020 and 2022 Senate races and President Joe Biden defeating Trump by less than 11,000 votes out of more than 3.3 million cast in the 2020 presidential election.

Most Arizona voters cast their ballots by mail — an option that has soared in popularity since the state legislature approved no-excuse mail-in voting in 1991 and in 2007 green-lit the creation of a permanent early voting list, allowing residents to sign up to have their ballots mailed to them each election cycle.

Those voting norms, once championed by Republicans who controlled the state’s government, are now being targeted by conservatives who have parroted Trump’s false conspiracy theories about widespread election fraud.

The Maricopa County GOP passed a resolution on August 26 asking the state party to back out of the state-run presidential primary and hold its own one-day affair.

“The actions taken by the MCRC are in solidarity with President Donald J. Trump, who has been persecuted, arrested and indicted for taking the very same positions,” Maricopa County Republican Party Chairman Craig Berlin said in a video posted this week on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

DeWit’s rejection of that proposal came just before Friday’s deadline for parties to withdraw from the government-run election. Paul Smith-Leonard, communications director for the Arizona secretary of state’s office, confirmed that no party had opted out of the presidential primary.

DeWit said in his email that the party has “no well-articulated plan” to replace the presidential primary and “no money with which to communicate this change to Arizona Republican voters.”

“As a result, the Party would almost certainly be forced back into the (presidential primary) by court order. There is simply not enough time or resources to make that shift in this presidential election cycle while upholding the requirement of the Bylaws that the Party act fairly to all primary candidates,” he said.

DeWit also cited the state party’s lawyer, saying that the state GOP is “very nearly certain” the state would face federal and state lawsuits alleging that such a shift would amount to “massive voter disenfranchisement.”

Instead, he proposed allowing the Maricopa County GOP to run a parallel primary election — one that would take place solely in Maricopa County, and be funded by the county party.

The rift is the latest evidence that, despite narrow losses in 2018, 2020 and 2022, many Republicans in the state reject a return to the tactics at which the party once excelled — including following up with conservative voters to make sure their mail-in ballots are returned.

There has been no broad reckoning for the party after those losses. Following her 2022 defeat, Lake launched a series of legal challenges seeking to reverse Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ victory.

Following Trump’s loss in 2020, the conservative-led Arizona state Senate hired Cyber Ninjas, an inexperienced Florida-based firm, to conduct a partisan review of the over 2 million votes cast in Maricopa County.

The sham “audit” pointed to inconsistencies that largely resulted from the inexperienced reviewers’ lack of understanding of how elections operate in Arizona. Elections experts debunked virtually all of the claims Cyber Ninjas and its subcontractors made about ballots they characterized as questionable and Maricopa County’s handling of cybersecurity.

Its final report, released by the state Senate, was issued in September 2021, and showed that the results of reviewers’ hand recount were nearly identical to the county’s tally. Still, the report has turned into fodder for Trump-aligned conservatives, including Lake, to sow distrust in Arizona’s election process.

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August 2, 2023
Cool Pavement in Phoenix Adding Some Relief to 110 Degree Days | Entrepreneur

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Phoenix is writhing.

For the past 31 days, temperatures in the desert city have reached or exceeded 110 degrees, sizzling the previous record of 18 days set in June 1974.

The historic heatwave blasted the Southwest in late June, stretching from Texas into California’s desert. But it’s been the city of Phoenix that’s felt it the worse.

The heat is taxing hospitals, the city’s infrastructure, and residents’ patience.

“It’s wearing on people,” Kevin Conboy, a physician assistant with Circle the City told the New York Times. “Everyone’s temperatures are hovering at 100. Everyone is complaining of feeling so fatigued and tired.”

But some parts of the city aren’t getting so hot, thanks partly to a new cool pavement technology designed to reflect the sun’s rays back into the atmosphere rather than absorb the heat as dark asphalt does.

The city has painted over 100 miles of road with this coating material, according to the city’s website. City officials said cool pavements “had an average surface temperature 10.5 to 12 degrees lower than traditional asphalt at noon and during the afternoon hours.”

The website also says that the nighttime air temperatures over cool pavement are half a degree lower than on non-coated surfaces.

Related: No More AC? Scientist Invents the ‘World’s Whitest Paint’ To Cool Down Your House

Infrared tests reveal a difference

The Washington Post recently used infrared technology to examine if the city’s claims about cooling pavement were accurate. On one street, the average surface temperature on asphalt was about 154 degrees Fahrenheit. The road treated with special coating had a cooler average temperature reading of 130 degrees.

“With the deployment of cool surfaces and smart technology, we can at least offset some of the urban heat effect, if not fully offset it, moving forward,” said David Hondula, director of the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation.

Phoenix is the first U.S. city with an office dedicated to managing extreme heat.

The water-based cooling pavement treatment is two to three times more expensive than the standard seal. The city eventually wants to treat 4,000 miles of residential roads.

Cooling technology at a dog park

The city pavement isn’t the only public space Phoenix is treating for heat. Researchers at Arizona State University, adhesives company 3M, and the city of Phoenix are experimenting with a new ramada in a dog park coated with Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling, or PDRC.

The material has higher solar reflectance and thermal emittance than typical roofs, reflecting the heat into the atmosphere.

“What we found from initial studies were some pretty substantial positive results in terms of these coated shelters’ ability to provide a better environment for pedestrians,” Dave Sailor, director of the School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning and the main investigator on the project, told ASU News.

“It reduced what’s known as the mean radiant temperature, but also convected much less heat into the urban airshed, so it’s a winning solution from several perspectives.”

The program has also experimented with PRDC at bus stops in the Phoenix area.

“There’s not a single blanket solution that’s going to work everywhere, but by testing these design strategies, we can put together a portfolio of solutions that work well for providing cooling for the Phoenix metro area,” Sailor said.

He says more research is still needed to understand the full benefit and consequences to cool pavement.

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Jonathan Small

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July 31, 2023