Arizona stories ready to republish | October 7, 2026

Below are today’s Arizona and national stories, available for immediate republication. You can access them via The Center Square RSS feed or BLOX Content Exchange.

Congressional candidate opposes data centers despite previous vote for tax break
An Arizona candidate in a key congressional race has expressed opposition to data centers being built in his district, even though as a state legislator, he voted for giving the centers a tax break that cost millions of dollars of taxpayers' money.  By Zachery Schmidt.

Skydance completes merger of Paramount, Warner Bros.
Paramount Skydance has officially closed its takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, bringing two of America’s oldest movie studios together under one company now known as Skydance. The states that sued to stop the merger included Arizona. The suit was settled, and the merger was greenlighted by a federal judge. By Chris Woodward.

Republicans tout tax cuts ahead of midterm elections 
With early voting having already started for the upcoming midterm elections, congressional Republicans are touting the tax policies in their so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act that became law last year.

Report: Taxpayers lose $500B annually to fraud as states resist oversight
Fraud could cost federal taxpayers as much as $521 billion annually, according to a Foundation for Government Accountability report citing a federal estimate. The report estimates that improper payments by the federal government have totaled about $3 trillion since 2003. Liesel Crocker, the report’s author and senior research fellow at FGA, spoke with The Center Square in an exclusive interview regarding the findings.

Vance touts energy investments in battleground Alaska
Vice President JD Vance called on Alaskans to vote for U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan in one of the closest races in the country, which could determine control of the upper chamber in Congress.

Trump rips French riots as possible troop shifts in Western Europe looms
With the arrest of a seventh suspect in the alleged plot to attack a U.K. base hosting U.S. bombers to riots in France, the Trump administration appears weary of Western Europe as it considers shifting American troops. President Donald Trump confirmed that American bombers were relocated to another base following an alleged foiled attack on Fairford Royal Air Force Base over a week ago. The president has questioned the decision by British authorities to release the suspects on bail. Trump took to social media Tuesday afternoon to comment on the ongoing riots in France, attributing the uprising to mass migration.

Pentagon misses deadline on drone lasers, cost undisclosed
Congress gave the Pentagon six months to pick and buy laser and microwave weapons to shoot down drones over American military bases. The Department of War announced its selections Monday, more than three months past that deadline, and has not said what the systems cost.

Economic forum: Despite challenges, 'solid' growth, more rate hikes ahead
Despite global challenges including ongoing wars and trade tensions putting upward pressure on prices, the U.S. economy is expected to remain fairly resilient in the year ahead, according to Harvard University economics professor Karen Dynan. Dynan spoke Tuesday at the Peterson Institute for International Economics’ semiannual Global Economic Prospects event, alongside scholars who discussed how current trade and immigration policies factor into the U.S. economic outlook. 

Trump order temporarily expands use of dyed diesel nationwide
U.S. President Donald Trump ordered expanded access to the tax-exempt, dyed diesel fuel typically used to power heavy agricultural and construction equipment operated off public roads.

🛠️ Having trouble locating The Center Square RSS feed in your CMS? Contact John Derr at [email protected].

VOTER ID: Arizona Proposition 144 is a constitutional amendment that would require government-issued ID to vote. It’s also designed to prevent foreign nationals from making campaign donations that affect Arizona elections. The Center Square spoke to proponents and opponents of the Nov. 3 ballot measure. By Zachery Schmidt

DO NOT PAY: Treasury said its Do Not Pay fraud screen now reaches about 99% of federal programs, up from roughly 4% a year ago, and that new verification tools stopped $175 million in payments headed to deceased people. The fiscal 2026 announcement includes no figure for total improper payments prevented, though Treasury's website still touts $11.7 billion for fiscal 2025. GAO reported in April that agencies estimated $186 billion in improper payments last fiscal year. The Center Square asks the Treasury for the missing number. (Brett Rowland)

TRUMP DIVIDEND: President Donald Trump, asked Tuesday how he would get Congress to authorize $5,000 "Trump Dividend" checks for every American adult, said it would "work out very easily" but offered no funding mechanism, according to a White House pool report. A single round would cost about $1.2 trillion against $195 billion in net customs revenue in fiscal 2025. Speaker Mike Johnson has said Congress must act; the president says he doesn't think he needs Congress. No bill has moved and both chambers are out until Nov. 9. The Center Square has asked the four congressional leaders and the tax-writing committees what authority the administration claims to pay without an appropriation. (Brett Rowland)

FEDERAL GAS TAX HOLIDAY: In light of multiple states suspending their gas taxes, and with President Donald Trump waiving fees for trucks’ usage of dyed diesel fuel on public highways, some members of Congress – most recently Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D. – are proposing a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax. Yet while doing so might provide Americans some savings at the pump, it would also cost billions each month and potentially hasten insolvency of the Highway Trust Fund. (Therese Boudreaux)

SCHOOL CHOICE SERIES: School choice programs are expanding across the country, giving families more options for educating their children, which prompts a debate over whether student outcomes will improve and how much the programs will cost taxpayers. This is the first in a three-part series. (Esther Wickham) 

THIRD ANNIVERSARY: Wednesday marks the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel, the world is marking it with messages of never forgetting. (Sarah Roderick-Fitch)

TRANSMISSION LINES: Energy experts will outline policy levers Congress and regulators could use to accelerate transmission between U.S. regional power grids, as rising electricity demand strains the nation’s electric grid. (Morgan Sweeney)

To view more videos, visit The Center Square YouTube channel here.

Want to embed or republish video? Just reply to this email and we’ll get you set up.

Thank you for reading today’s edition of the Arizona Daily Planner from The Center Square. As always, our reporting is available for you to republish in print or online at no cost. Information about content usage can be found in our republishing guidelines.

If you have questions, need additional context, or would like to discuss specific coverage needs, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

We appreciate your continued partnership in delivering impactful news to your readers.

Dave Mason
Regional Editor
[email protected]