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Valley & State || AZ365 R E A C H U S || K E R I H E G R E , A Z 3 6 5 E D I T O R , K E R I . H E G R E @ A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C . C O M
Above: The International Space Station flies over the Verde Valley, as seen from Cottonwood in this photo by Marcy Starnes of Livingston, Texas. Starnes, who spends the winters in Arizona, writes that she heard on the news that the ISS would be visible, so she set up her camera.
Breathtaking skies This week’s pictures show beauty in the heavens
AZ365 is a photo project that aims to show 365 days of Arizona through our readers’ eyes. The Arizona Republic solicits photos via social media and shares them daily online, on 12 News and here with you in print each week. Want to join in the fun? Tag your photos #az365 on these social media sites: Twitter — @azcentral; Instagram — @azcentral; Facebook.com/azcentral.
Above: Fluffy monsoon clouds and a rainbow arch over cliffs at Marble Canyon, south of Page near Lees Ferry. Gregg Jones of Scottsdale was on hand to capture the scene. See more of his photos at http://instagram.com/hangtown77. Below: “The pause in the day when everyone stops to watch the day end,” writes Michelle Tarin of El Mirage. This was her view from Hole in the Rock at Papago Park in Phoenix.
Above: “Such a cold and windy day, but so worth it!” So writes Sean Connolly of Tucson about this photo he took near Flagstaff in the San Francisco Peaks’ Lockett Meadow. See more of his photos at instagram.com/ spconnolly0187. At left: Justin Theodore of Naperville, Ill., braved the snowy Devil’s Bridge Trail in Sedona and asked a fellow hiker to take his photo. See more of his photos at instagram.com/jtheo72.
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Valley&State | AZ Health
Read more Health in Monday’s Best Life
R E A C H U S || D E B V A N T A S S E L , B E S T L I F E E D I T O R , D E B . V A N T A S S E L @ A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C . C O M
HEALTHYLIVING.AZCENTRAL.COM
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BY KEN ALLTUCKER
Millions are exempt from insurance mandate Question: How do you k now whether you are exempt from the Affordable Care Act’s requirement to buy insurancehttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/ icon1.png?
Stephanie Dugger gets a flu shot from nurse Bhagwati Bhakta at a Mollen Immunization Clinic in Scottsdale. CHERYL EVANS/THE REPUBLIC
Flu, allergy or cold? Best treatment depends on which bug you have By Ken Alltucker The Republic · azcentral.com
Flu season is making many Valley residents miserable right now, but your coughs, sneezes, aches and pains may be nothing more than allergies or the common cold. “A lot of people are coughing out there and feeling generally (sick)” this time of year, said Dr. Lisa Villarroel, who oversees the Arizona Department of Health Services unit that tracks flu trends. The best step is prevention, Villarroel said. She recommends everyone older than 6 months get a flu shot to lessen the risk of seasonal influenza. This year’s flu vaccine protects against H1N1, the virus that is infecting most people this season. The vaccine does not offer complete protection against the flu and is less effective in children younger than 2 and the elderly. Flu shots are widely available at doctors offices and pharmacies, and insurance plans are required to cover them as a free preventive service under the Affordable Care Act. But the flu vaccine offers no protection from non-flu viruses such as the common cold. That’s why people should make sure they get adequate rest, drink plenty of fluids and wash their hands frequently, particularly after handling food or germ-infested items such as door knobs or remote controls. “The biggest thing people can do is wash their hands religiously — elbow to elbow,” said Jim Dearing, medical director for John C. Lincoln Health Net-
ON THE BEAT Ken Alltucker has covered health care for the Republic for five years, from the business, policy and consumer angles.
How to reach him
ken.alltucker@arizonarepublic. com Twitter @kalltucker
work. Dearing said that most people can recover from the flu or common cold with rest and over-the-counter medications. Infants, the elderly, pregnant women or those with other health risks may need medical care. The flu gets the most attention this time of year because it can be sudden and fatal for the most frail. The Arizona Department of Health Services said Wednesday that influenza is “widespread” in this state with 2,424 lab-confirmed cases. That represents only a fraction of cases statewide, so doctors say people should be vigilant. “It hits like a rock,” said Andrew Carroll, a Chandler family doctor. “One moment you’re fine and the next you’re sick with a high fever and body aches.” Doctors say it’s important to stay home from work or school to avoid spreading the virus to others. Most people can recover on their own with adequate rest and fluids, but some need medical help if they show more severe symptoms such as trouble breathing or chest pain. Also, pregnant women, infants, the elderly or those with an under-
lying health risk such as diabetes or heart disease should get medical care when flu symptoms surface, Villarroel said. Doctors may prescribe two types of antiviral medications, Tamiflu and Relenza, to treat the flu. Both medications can have side effects, and Relenza is not recommended for people with respiratory disease such as asthma. “Those people should not wait,” Villarroel said of higher-risk patients. “Their risk of having secondary complications are high enough that they need to see their provider within 48 hours.” The common cold may have similar symptoms to the flu such as sneezing, stuffiness or a running nose, but people with a cold typically don’t run a fever. The common cold describes the seasonal sickness that is triggered by any of 200 viruses, most commonly the rhinovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms may include sneezing, stuffy or runny nose, sore throat, coughing, watery eyes or mild aches. Carroll said most people can manage cold symptoms with over-the-counter medications. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics if they determine an adult or child has a bacterial infection, but antibiotics will not help combat the cold virus. Seek medical attention if your temperature exceeds 100.4 degrees or your symptoms last more than 10 days. Do you have a question about the Affordable Care Act? Call 602-444-8424 or e-mail your question to ken.alltucker@arizonarepublic.com.
ONLINE Watch video at healthyliving.azcentral.com to learn what to do if you have the flu, cold or allergies.
Answer: The big stick for the Affordable Care Act is the requirement that most people get health insurance in 2014 or pay a penalty. Those who are uninsured can purchase coverage through the federal government’s new online marketplace at healthcare.gov. Subsidies are available for individuals who earn up to $45,960 or a family of four that earns up to $94,200. People who already have health insurance — either through an employer or a government program such as Medicare or Medicaid — don’t have to worry about the coverage requirement. Despite the individual mandate, millions of U.S. residents will be exempt from the requirement to purchase insurance. The Internal Reve-
nue Service says the following groups are exempt: » Members of a federally recognized Native American tribe who can get health care through the Indian Health Service. » Members of a religious sect that objects to health-insurance benefitshttp://images.intellitxt. com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png. » Participants in a healthcare-sharing ministry, whose members agree to share the cost of medical care. » Those who don’t earn enough to file a federal incometax return. » People who do not have health insurance for three months or less. » Any consumer who the health-insurance marketplace certifies has a legitimate hardship. One example: low-income earners who live in a state that rejected Medicaid expansion. » Those for whom the lowestcost health insurance exceeds 8 percent of household income. » People who are incarcerated. » Those who are not legal U.S. residents. Do you have a question about the Affordable Care Act? Call 602-444-8424 or e-mail your question to ken.alltucker@arizonarepublic.com. Answers will be published in The Republic on Sundays and Wednesdays..
HEALTH EVENTS TOP HEALTH EVENTS GRAND OPENING: CHANDLER HEALTH CENTER Get information on programs and services at this new 10,000-squarefoot facility. Screenings for glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI, vision and hearing loss will be offered. Details: 811 S. Hamilton Road, Chandler. 10 a.m.-1p.m. Free. mihs.org. DIABETIC SEXUAL HEALTH SEMINAR Dr. Christopher Wolter, a urologist at the Mayo Clinic, will discuss autonomic neuropathy, which is common with diabetics and can affect the nerves of the sexual organs and urinary tracts. The session is open to Mayo and nonMayo patients and their family. Details: Mayo Clinic Hospital, 5777 E Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. 10 a.m.-noon. Free. azdiabetessupportgroup.mayo.com. SCOLIOSIS SCREENING Find out how common scoliosis is in children and have your child examined by Dr. Michael Chang of the Sonoran Spine Center. The
screenings are free. Details: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday April 12. Scottsdale Healthcare Shea, 9300 E Shea Blvd., Scottsdale. Free. 480-882-4636. FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS Dental checks and health screenings are conducted by doctors and nurse practitioners from Maricopa Integrated Health Systems. Screenings will be offered for diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, vision and BMI. Details: 10 a.m.-6 pm. April 18-19. Food City Tamala Festival, Cesar Chavez Plaza, 200 W Washington St., Phoenix. Free. mihs.org; bashas.com. GRANDFAMILIES POTLUCK PARTY At this annual event, grandparents and the grandchildren they care for can relax and enjoy fun activities. There will also be sessions on the challenges of raising grandchildren and medical professionals will be on hand for any concerns. Details: Noon-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16. Free. 555 W Glendale Ave, Phoenix.
ONLINE MORE HEALTH RESOURCES FOR YOU
Slideshow: Easy tips for before, during and after workouts to keep skin pampered as your body strains. healthyliving. azcentral.com
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Valley&State | AZ History
Read more about Arizona history in Explore Arizona, every Saturday.
R E A C H U S || J I L L C A S S I D Y , E X P L O R E A R I Z O N A E D I T O R , J I L L . C A S S I D Y @ A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C . C O M
ARIZONA HIGHWAYS
THIS WEEK IN ARIZONA HISTORY
FROM OUR ARCHIVES
Sunday, March 30 » In 1861, the kidnapping of the stepson of John Ward, a Sonoita Valley rancher, took place. The incident led to the “Bascom Affair” in Apache Pass when Lt. Bascom and a detail of 54 men attempted to arrest Cochise, Chiricahua Apache chief, for the kidnapping.
This run down the slopes of Snowbowl in November 1969 included a faithful companion. REPUBLIC ARCHIVES
Despite a sometimes stormy history, Arizona Snowbowl has been attracting winter enthusiasts for 76 years By Kayla White Arizona Highways
Throughout its 76-year history, Arizona’s most accessible ski resort has weathered many storms – and not just blizzards. Arizona Snowbowl has repeatedly been the center of controversy, primarily because of its battle with Native American tribes. Nevertheless, it has persevered as one of the oldest continually run ski resorts in the country. When Snowbowl first opened
in 1938 on national forest land, it was a little more than a twoperson rope tow powered by a car engine and accessible only via a dirt road cleared by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Although its setup was primitive, its location on the flanks of Agassiz Peak, a 12,300 –foot mountain 15 miles from Flagstaff, was dazzling. Alpine festivities, such as the 20-30 Club’s Snow and Ice Fiesta helped Snowbowl grow in popularity. But the resort’s history is full of ups and downs. In 1941, the CCC built
a lodge, but it burned down. In 1945, Snowbowl didn’t open at all because of the war. Opposition from Native Americans, particularly Navajos and Hopis, has been the biggest obstacle to Snowbowl’s expansion. Tribes believe the mountain is holy. Nevertheless, in 2009, Snowbowl won a long legal battle and began using treated water for snow. Details: 928-779-1951, arizonasnowbowl.com.
Arizona Highways magazine is published monthly. Visit the website at arizonahighways.com. You can also follow their blog at arizonahighways.wordpress.com, on Facebook (/azhighways) and Instagram (@arizonahighways).
Subway Dedication Is Staged City, Southside Bound More Closely MARCH 30, 1940
Marking an important development in public safety, Phoneix’ new $225,000 Central avenue underpass, which binds together more closely the city proper and the fertile and populous farm-home area south of the Salt river, was opened formally at the conclusion of an informal but impressive dedicatory program last night. Ceremonies took place at the end of the north ramp of the underpass, where from a special platform, the congratulatory remarks of a list of 17 speakers—nearly all in some way or another instrumental in the realization of this long needed improvement—were broadcast via sound amplifiers to thousands who thronged the immediate area. The program was preceded by a parade through the downtown district to the underpass, headed by the Phoenix Union High School band and consisting of a caravan of automobiles carrying speakers, platform guests, public officials and other dignitaries.
THROWBACK PHOTO
A TRUE WEST MOMENT BY BOB BOZE BELL
» In 1927, 300 Navajo Indian scouts set out on the trail of two men who shot Sheriff A.A. Maxwell of Apache County. » In 1947, Crown Prince Amir Saud of Saudi Arabia toured the Salt River Valley to obtain ideas for the agricultural development of his own country. » In 1874, the town site of Safford was located by C.M. Ritter.
The men from Music Mountain In 1857 Lt. Joseph Christmas Ives commanded an expedition to explore the Colorado River. After wrecking their 54-foot paddlewheel steamboat, Explorer, on a rock in Black Canyon (where Hoover Dam is today), Ives and his men set out overland. While camped in the mountains east of the Colorado, Ives allegedly noticed the “regularity of the strata” on a nearby ridge that gave a “distinct appearance of a huge sheet of music.” So he named the range The Music Mountains. In 1936, with the opening of Hoover Dam, Gene Autry filmed a movie called, “The Man From Music Mountain.”
REPUBLIC ARCHIVES
On June 27, 1961, Miss Arizona — Georgia Ann Garbarino — posed for photographers while on a tour of Scottsdale. See more Throwback Photos at azflashback.azcentral.com SEE MORE TRUE WEST MOMENTS AT BOBBOZEBELL.NET
» In 1879, the railroad car known as Terminus, which housed a post office and Wells Fargo Station, rolled into Arizona for the first time and followed the construction of the tracks across Arizona for two years from Yuma to New Mexico.
» In 1887, the first train robbery in Arizona history took place when two masked men took $20,000 from the Southern Pacific passenger train 17 miles east of Tucson. » In 1889, a bill which moved the territorial capitol from Prescott to Phoenix was signed.
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YOUR WEATHER PHOTO
Submitted by Morris Jørgenson, Mesa
Valley&State Weather |
Brought to you by the 12 News Weather Team
R E A C H U S || N A M E _ H E R E , S E C T I O N _ E D I T O R , E M A I L _ H E R E @ A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C . C O M
WEATHER HISTORY
MEET THE TEAM
WEATHER BLOG
Winter storm echoes of the not-so-quiet past While there has been very little in the way of rain or snow around the state so far in 2014, that was not the case two years ago. On this day in 2012, a strong area of low pressure moved through the state resulting in heavy snowfall across the Northern and Eastern portions of the region. Some of the largest totals were 14 inches at Mormon Lake, 12 inches at Flagstaff and 11 inches at Munds Park and Bellemont.
James Quiñones is the weekday evening weather anchor for 12 News and chief weather forecaster for 12 News Today.
More weather history: Learn more at weather.azcentral.com.
DESTINATION FORECAST
The Echo Canyon Trail on Camelback Planning to hike the Echo Canyon Trail on Camelback Mountain which reopened a couple weeks ago? If so, the weather will be fantastic this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, morning lows will start in the low 40’s with afternoon highs rising into the upper 60’s, making for perfect hiking weather. Skies will be partly to mostly sunny, so be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen. Enjoying the weather? We’d love to see them! Email your weather photos to xxxxxxx@azcentral.com.
January really was hotter than in the past 12 News Weather Team
If you think 2014 has been a warm and dry one, you’re right. In fact, the average high temperature for the month of January this year was a remarkable 73.1 degrees, which makes it the third-warmest January since record-keeping began in 1895. There was also no precipitation recorded at Phoenix Sky Harbor for the entire month, which tied the record for the driest January. The responsibility for the warm, dry weather rests on
the shoulders of high pressure, which is sinking air in the atmosphere. As that air sinks through the atmosphere, it compresses, resulting in a warming effect at the surface. This large high pressure system was centered just off the coast of California for much of the month with a trough of low pressure across the Midwest and East Coast of the United State. The pattern was stationary throughout the month, resulting in the warm and dry weather in the West compared to the extremely cold and wet weather across the eastern two
ONLINE
LEARN MORE ABOUT WEATHER The 12 News Weather Team has a comprehensive learning center. Learn more at weather. azcentral.com.
thirds of the country. Luckily for the drought-stricken regions of the Southwest, this pattern began to break down during the first few days of February as the large area of high pressure shifted westward into the Pacific Ocean. This shift allowed several storm systems to move down the coast of California, which brought some moisture and cooler temperatures to the region. Over the next week this pattern should continue to bring storms systems, albeit weak ones into the western United States.
Caribe Devine is a weeknight Meteorologist for EVB Live, 12 News at 5pm, Arizona Nightly News, and 12 News at 10pm.
Matt Pace is a weather anchor for 12 News Today Weekend, and 12 News at 5:30, 6 and 10pm on the weekends.
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wide organization places wide organization that wide organization that places Dog Walking Rescue isthat a Valleywide organization that places dogs they dogs infoster fosterhomes homes until dogs in homes until they wide organization thatuntil places dogs in foster until they can adopted. can beadopted. adopted. Sometimes, can Sometimes, dogs inbe foster homesSometimes, until they can be adopted. Sometimes, there’s aaawait aaafoster there’s waitfor for fosterhome home there’s wait for foster home can be adopted. Sometimes, there’s a wait foster home and the dogs be andthe the dogs must beboarded. boarded. and the dogs be boarded. there’s a wait formust a foster home and dogs must boarded. The dogs for their The dogs waiting for theirforforThe dogs waiting for their forand thedogs dogswaiting must be boarded. The waiting their forever families to out ever families need toget get out ever families to get out The dogs waitingneed for their forever families need to get out twice day twice dayfor forexercise exercise andaaa a twice day for exercise and ever families need to get and out twice aaaaday for exercise and mental break from the kennel mental break from the kennel mental break from the kennel twice a day for exercise and a mental break from the kennel environment. Dog Walking Resenvironment. Dogthe Walking Resenvironment. Dog Walking Resmental break from kennel environment. Dog Walking Rescue particularly needs help in cue particularly needs help in cue particularly needs help environment. Dog Walking cue particularly needs Reshelp in in the mornings, happy the mornings,but butare arehelp happy to the mornings, but are happy to cue particularly needs into the mornings, but are happy to have volunteers any time behave volunteers any time behave volunteers any time bethehave mornings, but are happy to volunteers any time tween 6:30 a.m. or to tween 6:30and and10 10 a.m. or333beto tween 6:30 and 10 a.m. or to have volunteers any time between 6:30 and 10 a.m. or 6:00 6:00p.m. p.m.They’re They’reflexible. flexible. 3 to 6:00 p.m. They’re flexible. tween 6:30 and 10 a.m. orstudies 3 to 6:00 p.m. They’re flexible. Did we mention that Did we mention that studies Did we mention that studies 6:00 p.m. They’re flexible. Did we mention that studies have haveproved provedthat thatpetting pettinganianihave proved that petting aniDid we mention that studies have proved that petting animals helps lower blood pressure mals helps lower blood pressure mals helps lower blood pressure have proved that petting animals helps lower blood pressure and improve health? Win-win. and improve health? Win-win. and improve health? Win-win. mals lowerhealth? blood pressure andhelps improve Win-win. andDetails: improve health? Win-win. volunteermatch.org. Details: volunteermatch.org. Details: volunteermatch.org.
Whensuperstar superstarathletes athletes When superstar When athletes arealso alsogood goodsports sports are also good sports are Onaaaavisit visitearlier earlier this month the ValOn this month to the ValOn visit earlier this month toto the ValOn visit earlier this month to the ValOn a visit earlier this month to the Valley, the Miami Heat defeated the Phoenix ley, the Miami Heat defeated the Phoenix ley, the Miami Heat defeated the Phoenix ley, the Miami Heat defeated the Phoenix ley, the103-97. Miami Heat defeated the Phoenix Suns 103-97.That That left Miami fans happy, Suns left Miami fans happy, Suns 103-97. That left Miami fans happy, Suns 103-97. That left Miami fans happy, Suns 103-97. That left Miami fans happy, but fan, that game was unforgettabut for one fan, that game was unforgettabutfor forone one fan, that game was unforgettabut for one fan, that game was unforgettabut for one fan, that game was unforgettable before the clock even started. ble before the clock even started. ble before the clock even started. ble before the clock even started. ble before the clock Jose even started. Until Muraz had been Until recently, Jose Muraz had been Untilrecently, recently, Jose Muraz had been Until recently, Jose Muraz had been Until recently, Jose Muraz had been the team manager for the Deer Valley the team manager for the Deer Valley the Deer Valley theteam teammanager managerfor forthe the Deer Valley the team manager for team the Deer Valley High School basketball but had nevHigh School basketball team but had nevHigh School basketball team but had nevHigh School basketball team but had nevHigh School basketball team but had never scored a point. That changed on Jan. 6, er scored a point. That changed on Jan. 6, 6, er scored a point. That changed on Jan. 6, er scored a point. That changed on Jan. the special-needs student nailed a erwhen scored a point. That changed on Jan. 6, when the special-needs student nailed when student nailed aa a whenthe thespecial-needs special-needs student nailed last-second three-pointer in a 77-37 win, last-second three-pointer inin win, when the special-needs student nailed a last-second three-pointer in aa 77-37 win, last-second three-pointer a77-37 77-37 win, setting off an explosive celebration by the setting off an explosive celebration by the last-second three-pointer in a 77-37 win, setting off an explosive celebration by the setting off an explosive celebration by the students stands. students in the stands. setting offin an explosive celebration by the students in the stands. students inthe the stands. Someone posted a YouTube video Someone posted a YouTube videoof ofthe the students in theposted stands. Someone a YouTube video of the Someone posted a YouTube video of the basket, and the Deer Valley student govbasket, and the Deer Deer Valley student student govbasket, and the Valley Someone posted a YouTube video ofgovthe basket, and the Deer Valley student government whose of in ernment — whose excellence ofspirit spirit in ernment — whose excellence of spirit in basket, and— the Deerexcellence Valley student government — whose excellence of spirit in this tale must not be overlooked — startthis tale must not be overlooked — startthis tale must not be overlooked — starternment — whose excellence of spirit in this tale must not be overlooked — started that Muraz’s edatale Twitter tsunami thatlanded landed— Muraz’s ed aaTwitter Twitter tsunami that landed Muraz’s this musttsunami not be overlooked started a Twitter tsunami that landed Muraz’s three-pointer video first on the local news three-pointer videofirst first on thelocal local news video on the news edthree-pointer a Twitter tsunami that landed Muraz’s three-pointer video first on the local news three-pointer video first on the local news
and then on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top and then on SportsCenter Top and then onESPN’s ESPN’s SportsCenter Top10. 10. 10. and then on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10. andMuraz’s then on ESPN’s SportsCenter Top 10. Muraz’s brother then asked 12 News brother then asked 12 News for Muraz’s brother then asked 12 News for for Muraz’s brother then asked 12 News for Muraz’s brother then asked 12 News for his help in getting Muraz a chance to meet help in getting Muraz a chance to meet his helpin ingetting gettingMuraz Murazaachance chanceto tomeet meethis his help help in getting Muraz a chance to meet his NBA idol, LeBron James, when the NBA idol, LeBron James, when theMiami Miami NBA idol, LeBron James, when the Miami NBA idol, LeBron James, when the Miami NBA idol, LeBron when the Miami Heat visited in With some maHeat visited inFebruary. February. With some ma-maHeat visited inJames, February. With some Heat visited in February. With some maHeat visited in from February. With some major assistance the Suns organizajorjor assistance from thethe Suns organizaassistance from Suns organizajor assistance from the Suns organizajor assistance from the Suns organization, Muraz and his family were treated to tion, Muraz andand hishis family were treated to to tion, Muraz and his family were treated to tion, Muraz family were treated tion, Muraz and his family were treated to to front-row seats at game … then to front-row seats atthe the game …and and thenthen to front-row seats at the game … and then to front-row seats at the game … and front-row seats at the game … and then to Muraz’s surprise, an on-court introduction Muraz’s surprise, an on-court introduction Muraz’s surprise, an on-court introduction Muraz’s surprise, an on-court introduction to LeBron himself. Muraz’s surprise, an on-court introduction to LeBron himself. to LeBron himself. to LeBron himself. The Heat forward gave the ValThe Heat forward gave theDeer Deer Val-Valto LeBron himself. The Heat forward gave the Deer ValThe Heat forward gave the Deer ley senior a fist bump, a big smile and a few ley senior a fist bump, a big smile and a few The Heat forward gave the Deer Valley senior a fist bump, a big smile and a few ley senior a fist bump, a big smile and a few moments of his time — he could’ve grummoments of his time — he could’ve grumley senior a fist bump, a big smile and a moments of his time — he could’ve grummoments of his time — he could’vefew grumbled losing his focus for bledabout aboutof losing hispregame pregame focusjust just for moments his time —pregame he could’ve grumbled about losing his pregame focus just for bled about losing his focus just for some public-relations thing with some kid some public-relations thingwith with some kid some public-relations thing some kid bled about losing his pregame focus just for kid some public-relations thing with some in town care about, but inaaadusty dusty townhe hedidn’t didn’t care about, buthe he in dusty town he didn’t care about, but he some public-relations thing with some kid in a dusty town he didn’t care about, but he didn’t. He knew that sometimes the most didn’t. He knew that sometimes the most didn’t. He knew that sometimes the most in adidn’t. dusty town he didn’t about, but He knew that care sometimes thehe most important scores don’t involve basket. important scoresthat don’t involvethe thethe basket. important scores don’t involve the basket. didn’t. He knew sometimes most important scores don’t—involve the basket. Walker —Penny Amy B. Wang — Amy B. Wang important scores don’t involve basket. —the Amy B. Wang — Amy B. Wang
Details: volunteermatch.org. Details: volunteermatch.org.
“There “There are are no no extra extra pieces pieces in in the the universe. universe. “There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone isis here or has Everyone here because hethe or she she has aa place place “There are no extrabecause pieces he in universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to piece into big to fill, fill, and and everybecause piece must must fit itself itselfhas into the big Everyone is every here he fit or she a the place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big puzzle.” jigsaw puzzle.” tojigsaw fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.” DEEPAK DEEPAKCHOPA CHOPA DEEPAK CHOPA jigsaw puzzle.” DEEPAK CHOPA DEEPAK CHOPA
The Themind-body mind-bodyauthor authorand anddoctor doctorisisisin inthe theValley Valleythis this The mind-body author and doctor in the Valley this weekend to research weekend toshare sharethe the research ofhis hislatest latest collaboraThe mind-body author andof doctor is incollaborathe Valley this weekend to share the research of his latest collaboraThe mind-body andresearch doctor isofinhis thelatest Valley this tion with neurology professor Rudolph Tanzi tion withHarvard Harvard neurology professor Rudolph Tanzi weekend toauthor share the collaboration with Harvard neurology professor Rudolph Tanzi weekend to share the research of his latest collaboraat Celebrate Your Life conference. atthe the Celebrate Your Life conference. at the Celebrate Your Life conference. tion with Harvard neurology professor Rudolph Tanzi tionatwith neurology Rudolph Tanzi theHarvard Celebrate Your Lifeprofessor conference. Details: Friday-Monday. Doubletree Paradise Details: Friday-Monday. Doubletree ParadiseValley Valley at the Celebrate Your Life conference. Details: Friday-Monday. Doubletree Paradise Valley Resort, 5401 Admission isisis$225Resort, 5401N. N.Scottsdale ScottsdaleRoad. Road. Admission $225-Valley Resort, 5401 N. Scottsdale Road. Admission $225Details: Friday-Monday. Doubletree Paradise $815. 480-970-8542, celebrateyourlife.org. $815. 480-970-8542, celebrateyourlife.org. Details: Friday-Monday. Doubletree Paradise Valley $815. 480-970-8542, celebrateyourlife.org. Resort, 5401 N. Scottsdale Road. Admission is $225Resort, 5401 N. Scottsdale Road. Admission is $225$815. 480-970-8542, celebrateyourlife.org. $815. 480-970-8542, celebrateyourlife.org.
known earlier. should have IIIIshould have should have I’d been living in should have known earlier. known earlier. known earlier. Phoenix for over known earlier. I’d been living I’d I’dbeen been livingin ininchil15 living years. My I’d been living in Phoenix for over Phoenix for over Phoenix forwere over born dren Phoenix for over 15 years. My chil15 years. My chil15 years. My chilhere. I had a house. Friends. A 15 years. My childrenwere were born dren born dren were born dren were born good job. here.IIIhad Ihad had ahouse. house. Friends. here. aaa house. Friends. A here. had house. Friends. AAwho here. Friends. A But like a lot of people goodjob. job. good good job. good job. livelike in Arizona, “home”who was the But lot people But like lot of people who But likeaI’d lot ofof people who But like aaa lot of people who place come from, the place livein in Arizona, “home” was the live Arizona, “home” was the live in Arizona, “home” was the live in Arizona, “home” was the where I was born, where placeI’d I’dcome come from, the place the place from, the place place I’d come from, the place place I’d come from, the place local steel mill had employed whereIIIIwas wasborn, born, where the where where the where was born, where the where was born, where the my grandfathers, my father, local steel mill had employed local steel mill had employed local steel mill had employed local steel mill had employed my uncles, my brother and mygrandfathers, grandfathers,my my father, me, my father, my grandfathers, my father, my grandfathers, my father, the place where I first went to my uncles, my brother and me, my myuncles, uncles,my mybrother brotherand andme, me, my uncles, my brother and me, school, first played sports, theplace placewhere where Ifirst first went the IIIfirst went to the place where went totofirst the place where first went to kissed a girl. school, played sports, first school, first played sports, first school,first first played sports, first school, first played sports, first place where my mother kissed aaaThe girl. kissed girl. kissed agirl. girl. kissed died. The where my mother The place where my mother Theplace place where my mother The place where my mother died. died. died. Home, I thought, was a small died. town outside ofaaaPittsburgh Home, IIIthought, was small Home, was Home, Ithought, thought, was asmall small Home, thought, was small called Aliquippa. I’d spent the town outside of town outside of Pittsburgh town outside ofPittsburgh Pittsburgh town outside of Pittsburgh last few weeks of mythe mother’s called Aliquippa. I’d spent called Aliquippa. I’d spent the called Aliquippa. I’d spent the called Aliquippa. I’d spent the life in her hospital room there, last few weeks of my mother’s last few weeks of my mother’s last few weeks of my mother’s last few weeks of my mother’s along with myroom father and brothlife there, life in her hospital room there, life in her hospital room there, lifein inher herhospital hospital room there, er. It was just before Christmas along with my father and brothalong with my father and brothalong with my father and brothalong with my father and brother. was just before Christmas er. ItIt was just before Christmas of 1997. er. It was just before Christmas er.It was just before Christmas of of 1997. After my mother’s funeral, of 1997. of1997. 1997. After funeral, After my mother’s funeral, mymy father came to stay with us After my mother’s funeral, After mymother’s mother’s funeral, my came to stay with us my father came toto stay with usus in Arizona. my father came to stay with us myfather father came stay with in Arizona. in Arizona. When I returned to work I in Arizona. in Arizona. When IIIIreturned work When returned toto work When returned to work wrote a columnto about myIIImothWhen returned work I wrote aaacolumn about mothwrote column about my mothwrote about my mother. Her life. Hermy death. I talked wrote acolumn column about my mother. life. Her IIIwant talked er.Her Her life.how HerIdeath. death. talked er. life. Her talked about didn’t to go to er.Her Her life. Herdeath. death. Igo talked about how IIIdidn’t want to aboutfirst howgrade, didn’t want toeach goto tomornabout how didn’t want to go to and how about how I didn’t want to go to first and mornfirstgrade, grade, andhow howeach each mornfirst grade, and how each morning she’d walk from our house first grade, and how each morning walk from our ingshe’d she’d walk from ourhouse house ing she’d walk from our house to the steps leading to my grade ing she’d from our house to the steps leading to my grade to theschool stepswalk leading toon my grade to the steps leading to my grade and sit a step about to the steps leading to my grade school schooland andsit siton onaaastep stepabout about school and sit on step halfway down so Iabout could look school and sit on a step about halfway halfwaydown downso soIIIcould couldlook look halfway down so could look up at recess and see her, and halfway down so I could look up upat atrecess recessand andsee seeher, her,and and up at recess and see her, and feel better. up at recess and see her, and feel feelbetter. better. feel better. My office voice mailup. filled up. feel My office voice Mybetter. office voicemail mailfilled filled up. My office voice mail filled up. And there were e-mails. And My office voice mail filled And there were e-mails. And And there were e-mails. And And there were e-mails. Andup. cards. And letters. All from And there were e-mails. And cards. cards.And Andletters. letters.All Allfrom fromArAr- Arcards. And letters. All from Arizona. I collected them in cards. And letters. All from Ar-bindizona. I collected them in bindizona. I collected them in bindizona. I collected them in binders and showed them to izona. I collected them in binders ersand andshowed showedthem themto tomy myfafa-my faers and showed them to my father. ers and showed them to my father. ther. ther. Heevery read one. Hundreds ther. He one. Heread read everyevery one.Hundreds Hundreds He read every one. Hundreds ofread them. They lifted him, He every one. Hundreds of They lifted him, if only ofthem. them. They lifted him, onlyif only of them. They lifted him, ifif only partially, from his dark deep partially, from his of them. They him, if onlydark partially, fromlifted hisdeep deep dark partially, from his deep dark well of sorrow. A few of them well of sorrow. A few of them well of sorrow. A few of them partially, from his deep dark well of sorrow. A few of them even him even made himsmile. smile. even made him smile. wellmade of sorrow. A few of them even made him smile. That’s when Iwhen It That’s when knew. doesn’t That’s I knew. It doesn’t even made him smile. That’s when IIknew. knew. ItItdoesn’t doesn’t matter where you’re from. The matter where you’re from. The The matter where you’re from. That’s when I knew. It doesn’t matter where you’re from. The place where you and your famplace where you and your famplace where you and your matter where you’re from. Thefamplace where you and your family find comfort, ily find comfort, support, ilywhere find comfort, and famsupport, place youand andsupport, your ily find comfort, and support, and home. and love, that’sthat’s home. and love, that’s home. ilylove, find comfort, and support, andthat’s love, home. and love, that’s home.
SEND USON YOUR JOIN US ON JOIN US JOIN US ON SPECIAL MOMENTS THE SUNNY SIDESIDE JOIN USSUNNY ONSIDE THE SUNNY THE THEMany SIDEfrom Many of us Many ofSUNNY usare aretransplants transplants from Many of us are transplants from of us are transplants from
other places. We other places. Wemight mightlive livehere, here, other places. We might live here, Many of usplaces. are transplants from other We might live here, but butsomeplace someplaceelse elseisisishome. home. but someplace else home. other places. We might here, but someplace else live is home. That is, until that moment Thatis, is,until untilthat thatmoment moment That but someplace home. That is, else untilisthat moment when whenour ourcopper-colored copper-coloredstate statebebewhen our copper-colored state beThat is, until that moment when our copper-colored state becomes part of our identity. comespart partof ofour ouridentity. identity. comes when our copper-colored state becomes part offeatures our identity. The AZ Moments features stoThe Sunny Side stories The Sunny Side features stories comes part of our identity. The Sunny Side features ries uplifting, local, inspir- stories thatthat areare uplifting, local, inspiring that are uplifting, local, inspiring The Sunny Side features stories that are uplifting, local, inspiring ing empowering, and we’re andand empowering, and we’re askand empowering, and we’re askthat are uplifting, local, inspiring and empowering, and we’re asking readers to send us their esingreaders readersto tosend sendus ustheir theiressays essays asking and empowering, and we’re ask-essays readers send us their says oning the topic “Itoknew Arizona on the topic “Iknew knew Arizona was on the topic “I Arizona was ing readers to send us their essays on the topic “I knew Arizona was was home when …” homewhen when…” …” home onItItthe topic “I knew Arizona home when …” been when your might’ve been when your was It might’ve might’ve been when your home when …” It might’ve beenyou when your first child was born. first child was born.When When youvotvotfirst child was born. When you votItfirst might’ve beenborn. when your child was When ed local elections for the first edfor for local elections for the first you voted for local elections for the first firstWhen child born. When youthe vottime. aalocal sunset time. When aspectacular spectacular sunset ed forwas elections for first time. When spectacular sunset ed for local elections for theItItIt first made you stop in tracks. will made you stop inyour your tracks. will time. When a spectacular sunset made you stop in your tracks. will time. When a everyone, spectacular sunset be different for but we be different for everyone, but we It will made you stop in your tracks. be different for everyone, but we made stop infor your tracks. Itbut willwe want to know what itititwas for want toyou know what was foryou. you. be different everyone, want to know what was for you. be different everyone, want to for know what itbut waswe for you. wantyour to know what itand was you. E-mail 300 E-mail your 300words words andaafor aphophoE-mail your 300 words and photo ifififyou’d like, toof ofyourself, yourself, you’d like,to toand a photo of yourself, you’d like, to E-mail your 300 words penny.walker@arizonarepublic. penny.walker@arizonarepublic. E-mail 300 words and a phopenny.walker@arizonarepublic. to your of yourself, if you’d like, to com. We’ll feature some com. We’ll feature someof ofthe the to of yourself, if you’d like, to com. We’ll feature some of the penny.walker@arizonarepublic. best essays best essays righthere. here. some of the penny.walker@arizonarepublic. best essays right here. com. right We’ll feature com.best We’ll feature some of the essays right here. best essays right here.
P A G E B 4 || S U N D A Y , M A R C H 3 0 , 2 0 1 4 || T H E A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C
Valley&State | Investigations R E A C H U S || M I C H A E L S Q U I R E S , P O L I T I C S E D I T O R , M I C H A E L . S Q U I R E S @ A R I Z O N A R E P U B L I C . C O M
WATCHDOG Q&A
AZ FACT CHECK GOV. BREWER’S STATE OF THE STATE
Common questions about Arizona’s public records By Pat Flannery The Republic · azcentral.com
Q: Is there a difference between state and local records and federal records? A: Yes. The Arizona Public Records Law and certain case law established by state courts govern the records of state and local governments in Arizona. Records maintained by federal agencies and federal public officials fall under the federal Freedom of Information Act. Depending on which type of records you seek, their release will be guided by one of the laws.
Gov. Jan Brewer says she has improved the Arizona economy dramatically in the five years since she took office. How dramatically depends on how bad things actually were in 2009. ROSS D. FRANLIN/AP
THE ISSUE
Whether the state 2009 budget deficit was the worst in nation By Isiah Kurz The Republic · azcentral.com
WHAT WE’RE LOOKING AT
Whether Arizona had the worst budget deficit in the nation during 2009. THE COMMENT
“In 2009, Arizona’s budget was irresponsibly drained. After years of unsustainable spending, we had the worst budget deficit of any state.” WHO SAID IT
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer on Jan. 23. THE FORUM
State of the State address. ANALYSIS
In her State of the State address on Jan. 13, Gov. Jan Brewer described the economic climate she confronted after she ascended to the chief executive post in 2009. Brewer has repeatedly cited the state’s budget deficit as a way to drive home her assertion that she’s steered Arizona’s “comeback” during her years in office. Since Brewer did not specify if she was speaking about spending in fiscal 2009 or fiscal 2010, AZ Fact Check looked at both. The state’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30, meaning that calendar year spending in 2009 would cross both budget cycles. When Brewer took office, the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee projected Arizona’s fiscal 2009 budget shortfall at $2.56 billion, according to a September 2009 appropriations report. That figure was based on a combination of ongoing revenue loss, supplemental spending and administrative adjustments. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Arizona faced a $2.4 billion deficit for fiscal 2009 and a $3.1 billion shortfall for 2010. That equates to a 24.2 percent and 29.7 percent deficit, re-
AZ FACT CHECK AZ Fact Check examines the statements of politicians, partisan groups and government agencies. Submit claims you think we should check by using our form at azfactcheck. azcentral. com. (Note that not every submission will be examined and some submissions have already been checked.) Ratings fall between zero and four stars. The stars provide a snapshot of our analysis of the statement’s accuracy. For a full report, and to understand why we assigned a specific rating, please read the accompanying analysis.
ON THE BEAT Isiah Kurz is an AZ Fact Check writer and researcher. How to reach him isiah.kurz@ azcentral.com
spectively, according to the 2009-2010 NCSL report and Arizona Republic coverage of the fiscal 2010 budget negotiations. The percentage is calculated by comparing the shortfall amount with the amount of general-fund spending and is the most accurate way to look at budget deficits across the states, rather than actual dollar amounts. California, for example, had a shortfall of $19.6 billion in 2009, a dollar amount that greatly exceeds that of Arizona. However, as a share of the state’s spending, California’s 18.8 percent deficit fell short of Arizona’s 24.2 percent. Arizona’s deficit percentage in fiscal 2009 was second only to Nevada, which faced a $1.1 billion shortfall for its budget cycle covering fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010. Arizona balances its budget annually; Nevada balances its budget once every two years. Nevada’s shortfall for that cycle equated to 28.1 percent of its budget, according to the 2009 NCSL report. In fiscal 2010, the state began its budget cycle with an estimated 29.7 percent deficit. But a sluggish economy caused the state’s revenue projections to worsen from there. By the time calendar year 2009 ended, state lawmakers had met in special session three times to try to solve the budget crisis, and the budget was still an estimated $1.4 billion out of balance. A retrospective report issued in June 2012 by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal Washington, D.C.-based think tank, found that including unanticipated midyear budget gaps, Arizona’s deficit for fiscal 2010 totaled 65 percent of generalfund spending. That was by far the worst in the nation, and exceeded that of both California (52.8 percent) and Nevada (46.8 percent). Almost every state, including Arizona, has a balanced-budget law on its books. Arizona ulti-
mately accomplished this in fiscal 2009 and 2010 through a combination of borrowing, budget cuts and other gimmicks, including deferring payments and selling off state-owned buildings. Nevada incorporated tax increases, budget cuts and borrowing. BOTTOM LINE
Brewer is correct. Spending during calendar year 2009, which incorporated both the fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010 budgets, vastly exceeded state revenue, leaving Arizona with the largest deficit in the nation in terms of general-fund spending. EDITOR’S NOTE
In a previous Fact Check on a similar statement, AZ Fact Check awarded Brewer a finding of “Two stars: Somewhat True, Somewhat False,” based on the fact that, in that statement, the government said she “inherited” the largest deficit in the nation. Arizona’s budget deficit did not exceed Nevada’s until fiscal 2010. Brewer took office during the latter part of fiscal 2009. That April 2013 Fact Check also found the governor was correct in her assertion that she resolved the state’s budget crisis during her time in office. SOURCES » State of the State remarks by Gov. Jan Brewer, Jan. 13, 2014 » “State faces largest budget deficit in U.S.,” Las Vegas Review Journal, April 16, 2009 » “National Conference of State Legislatures’ State Budget Update: July 2009.” » “National Conference of State Legislatures State Budget Update FY 2009 & FY 2010,” NCSL, October 2009 » “Fiscal 2011 Appropriations Report - General Fund Adjustments,” Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee, May 24, 2010 » “Budget cuts mostly unseen,” Arizona Republic, Page B1, Jan. 10, 2010 » “States continue to feel recession’s impact,” Center on Budget Policy Priorities, June 27, 2012
Q: Who decides what is or is not a public record? A: Title 39 of the Arizona Revised Statutes defines public records at the state and local level. There are several places where you can look up the statute, the easiest being the Arizona Legislature’s website (www.azleg.gov/) or the Arizona Ombudsman’s Office (www.azleg.gov/ombudsman/public_records.asp). The most basic tenet: “Public records and other matters in the custody of any officer shall be open to inspection ON THE by any person at all times durBEAT ing office hours.” Your position at the outset of every conversation about public records should be: If it isn’t explicitly exempt in statute, then the document is by default a public record. There are some exceptions as decided by the courts, but the case Pat Flannery law says clearly: err on the side is the Govof disclosure. The federal Freeernment Acdom of Information Act genercountability ally is more complicated to navEditor in the igate, and document requests Arizona Retake far more time, but docupublic’s News ments are nonetheless widely Watchdog available for those who are paCenter. He is tient. The full text of the law and a former state related updates can be read at government https://ogis.archives.gov/aboutreporter and foia/foia.htm, a site maintained editor, and by the federal Office of Governhas led nument Information Services. The merous invesnon-governmental National Setigative projcurity Archive, an organization ects for the founded more than 25 years ago paper. by journalists and scholars, also maintains a website offering How to FOIA advice (including a 122reach him page manual on using FOIA) at pat.flannery@ www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/nsa/ arizonarepubfoia.html. lic.com
Twitter Q: Do I have to pay to look at @azcflan a record? A: No. The law allows the custodian of the record to charge a reasonable fee for copying, but inspection is free. You may examine and take notes about the documents for as long as you like — even over a period of days if necessary, without charge. A public agency cannot charge you for the time it takes to find the document or to redact it for your inspection. The hitch here is that while the law says public records must be open to inspection at all times during office hours, courts and the attorney general have said that agencies have some latitude in how soon they must produce the records; they don’t need to immediately comply if production would “disrupt public business” — i.e., a large request that would require a small agency to drop everything to comply immediately. Agencies also are allowed time to redact information covered by privacy or confidentiality statutes. But inspection is to be provided within “reasonable time” after the request is made. So it makes sense to work these things out with the custodian of the document. Use common sense and be reasonable: if it is an easily accessible one-page document, you should be able to see it fairly soon. If it is a request is complex, give folks time to find and review them. But remember, if you simply want to read what you’ve requested, there is no charge. If the agency does charge for copying costs, the charge must be “reasonable” and can range from 10 cents to $1 per page.
Q: Is what I seek for a commercial purpose? A: A state agency may ask if the record is sought for a commercial purpose. Case law and attorneygeneral opinions agree that documents sought for journalistic purposes are not considered “for a commercial purpose.” If your request is for a commercial purpose, it could trigger other charges. Send questions to Watchdog Q&A via e-mail to watchdog@arizonarepublic.com.
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