Arizona stories ready to republish | October 16, 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.

Gallego’s $20 federal minimum wage plan draws criticism
It’s been 17 years since the federal minimum wage was raised, though that could soon change if U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, has his way. The junior senator from the Grand Canyon State rolled out his plan to boost the wage by 2030 to $20 from the current $7.25. But critics warn that could result in major losses of jobs, pointing to what happened in California when the minimum wage rose there to $20 for fast food workers. By Christopher Boan.

Democrat seeks to unseat Republican in red Arizona district
A former long-haul truck driver, who's a Democrat, is trying to win a congressional seat in a deep red part of Arizona. Bernadette Greene-Placentia, who drove trucks for 27 years and logged more than 4 million miles across America, is attempting to unseat U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Surprise, in the Nov. 3 midterm election. Hamadeh has advocated for tax cuts, while Greene-Placentia has opposed reductions to spending for Medicare and food assistance. By Zachery Schmidt.

Poll: Vance widens lead in 2028 Republican presidential primary field
With the 2028 presidential election just over two years away, Vice President JD Vance is gaining steam, reaching a high of 44% support in the latest of five Republican presidential primary polls conducted by The Center Square over the past year.

Taxpayer Philanthropy: Wealth building nonprofit is building founder's family wealth
A Minneapolis nonprofit that has received millions of dollars of state funding also paid the founder and his family members nearly $1 million — a big chunk of its budget — in its most-recent year that is disclosed in the nonprofit's tax returns, an investigation by The Center Square found. 

Trump, Netanyahu hold off on Iran strikes as elections loom in U.S., Israel
As President Donald Trump continues to weigh options regarding the next moves with Iran, elections in the U.S. and Israel loom large.

Democrats probe EPA excusing data center power plants from pollution rules
A group of Democratic lawmakers is demanding answers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency about its recent guidance exempting data center power generation facilities from certain Clean Air Act rules.

FBI disrupts North Korean corporate espionage ring in north Texas
FBI agents in north Texas have disrupted a North Korean espionage ring targeting U.S. companies. The scheme involves illegally obtaining information from U.S. companies to facilitate the country’s sanctioned weapons program, federal authorities allege.

Financial officers warn rating agencies about using ESG in state credit ratings
Twenty-two financial officers from across the U.S. wrote to the nation’s top rating agencies – Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P – asking them to explain the influence ESG policies have had on states’ credit ratings, with the officers detailing what they consider the harm using such “political assumptions” causes to states and taxpayers alike. The officers also said the agencies have a double standard when it comes to ESG downgrades for American oil and gas companies and not for China.

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MORE ON ELECTION CONTROVERSY: It appears that the gloves have come off, again, for two of the highest-ranking elected officials in Arizona’s most populous county. That’s because a pair of first-term Republicans - Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Kate Brophy McGee and the County Recorder Justin Heap - are still at loggerheads about election security. By Christopher Boan.

SPENDING IN ARIZONA’S PIMA COUNTY: Residents in Pima County, located along Arizona’s southern border, will consider Proposition 425, which would raise the county's spending cap by 75%. The Center Square spoke with supporters and opponents of the Nov. 3 ballot measure. By Zachery Schmidt.  

SUPERINTENDENT RACES: The Center Square will look at the superintendent of public instruction races in California and Arizona and discuss candidates’ views on the biggest issues in K-12 education. The Center Square is also looking at the appointed positions in Nevada and Colorado for the state leaders of K-12 education. By Esther Wickham.

VVP HOME FINANCES: Seven in 10 American voters say their household financial situation is worse off than a year ago, a new national poll found. Just one in 10 said their income outpaced their expenses.

ALASKA SENATE: Candidates for U.S. Senate in Alaska will hold a final debate before voters head to the polls on Nov. 3. (Andrew Rice) 

FL-14 DEBATE: Candidates for U.S. House in Florida’s 14th congressional district will debate policy issues and priorities in the race for a redrawn congressional district. (Andrew Rice)

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Dave Mason
Regional Editor
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