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CLUB ROCKS FOR WOMEN
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APARTMENTS COMING
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FALL SPORTS PREVIEW
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
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Mask mandate could cost TU, Kyrene over $8M BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor and HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services
W
ith nearly $8 million at stake, Tempe Union and Kyrene school officials have until Friday to drop their mask mandate or face Gov. Doug Ducey’s wrath. And whether the districts can rely on help from the Biden Administration remains to be seen as the year-long local debate over mask mandates put the White House and Ducey on a collision course. Both Tempe Union and Kyrene governing boards scheduled closed-door meetings for
Course owners want to enter Club West lawsuit
Aug. 23 but it was unclear if they had anything to do with Ducey’s threat to withhold millions in pandemic relief grant monies from districts that impose mask bans. The Kyrene Governing Board’s agenda said its session involved “discussion or consideration of matters relating to school safety operations or school safety plans or programs” and “discussion or consideration of records exempt by law from public inspection.” Tempe Union’s agenda for its closed-door session only cited a discussion of exempted records. The threats and counter-threats between Ducey and the White House directly involves nearly $5.2 million for Kyrene and $2.8 million for Tempe Union in Education Plus Up
Grant money. Ducey is using $163 million of $350 million in federal pandemic relief funds for grants to ensure that school districts that did not receive other supplemental funds get up to $1,800 per pupil to make up for a loss of revenue caused by disruptions that impacted other revenue. Those funds became an issue in the wake of Maricopa County Judge Randall Warner’s Aug. 16 ruling that the state law banning mask mandates by schools or other governmental entities does not take effect until Sept. 29. Within hours of that ruling, Kyrene and Tempe Union administration reimposed mask
Lakes surprise
see MASKS page 18
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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VAN GOGH REIMAGINED
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s a judge neared a final ruling in the Club West Conservancy’s lawsuit against the Foothills Club West Association Board of Directors last Thursday, the owners of the beleaguered golf course asked to intervene in the case and charged the two parties of “colluding” to interfere with its property rights. Meanwhile, at its monthly meeting Aug. 19, HOA board members indicated they’ve pretty much surrendered to the Conservancy but indicated they have not even discussed what they would do if Shea Homes buys the course
see WEST page 12
Just as a hearing was to begin on a contempt action sought by the lawyer for two homeowners suing to have the Ahwatukee Lakes Golf Course restored, the judge had a surprise announcement that delayed the proceedings. For details, see page 9. (Tom Sanfilippo/InsideOut Aerial)
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