Arizona stories ready to republish | October 30, 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.

Arizona’s Central Arizona Project joins Colorado River lawsuit
The canal system that provides 36% of all water in Arizona is officially joining the state’s litigation against the Trump administration over Colorado River water cuts. Officials representing the 336-mile-long Central Arizona Project, which runs south toward Phoenix and Tucson from its headwaters in Lake Havasu, this week joined the litigation against the federal government that was initially brought forth by Nevada in August. Earlier this month, Arizona announced it was joining the lawsuit. The Colorado River serves seven states. The U.S. Department of Interior’s plan requires water cuts by Arizona, Nevada and California, but not by Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming. By Christopher Boan.

Flagstaff voters to decide sales tax hike for public safety
For the third time since 2015, voters in Flagstaff will decide whether to raise the city’s sales tax. Proposition 404 aims to raise the Northern Arizona city’s rate by 0.5% to 2.986%. The goal of the Nov. 3 measure is to generate an additional $18.2 million per year in tax revenue over the next decade-and-a-half, with proceeds going toward fire and police operations. By Christopher Boan.

Arizona to receive $5.9M From $220M GM privacy settlement
Arizona GM owners may soon reap the benefits of a $220 million settlement over the illegal sale of their private driving behavior data. The settlement, which was hashed out by the car conglomerate and attorney generals from Oregon and Washington, who were co-joined by others in 31 states (including Arizona) and the District of Columbia, stemmed from an investigation that found GM illegally sold drivers’ behavior data and location information to third parties from 2016 to 2024. By Christopher Boan.

Taxpayer Philanthropy: State awards $18 million to daycare with 39 nonexistent locations
A nonprofit daycare that claims to have “over 40 locations” across California and received an $18.2 million award “for more [than] 1,048 children in at-risk" communities” actually has just one facility providing care for no more than six children, an investigation by The Center Square found. The William Law Foundation did not open its first daycare until October 2026, according to Executive Director William Edwards — more than three years after the nonprofit was awarded $18,216,131 through the California Department of Social Services’ 2022-23 General Child Care and Development Program grants. CDSS records show the William Law Foundation received the largest proposed award of any applicant during its 2022-2023 grant cycle, but the department has not answered how or why the organization qualified for such a large award despite having no experience running childcare programs. The William Law Foundation's latest tax returns from 2024 show Edwards was the only employee of the nonprofit and that he paid himself at least $540,000 with $180,000 in deferred compensation. The salary was apparently funded entirely by taxpayers. The nonprofit's only revenue stream that year was $1,051,434 in government grants.

Ahead of second China trip, Trump administration cracks down on Chinese influence
Weeks before President Donald Trump is expected to make his second trip to China within the year, his administration is taking further steps to reel in Chinese influence and abuses.

The Department of War has designated Confucius Institutes as national security threats, with Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, in a video message, describing them as “Chinese government-backed propaganda.”

National popular vote indirectly on the midterm ballot
The 2026 midterm elections could allow states across the country to form a coalition that alters future presidential elections. The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, first introduced in 2006, has picked up momentum as Democrats across the country see the potential for big wins down the ballot. The compact aims to include states across the country where legislatures choose to award presidential electors to the winner of the national popular vote, regardless of whether that result contradicts a state’s outcome.

VA to hire 2,000 new employees in 2027 to process record number of claims
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs plans to hire an additional 2,000 employees in fiscal year 2027 to help process an expected surge in benefits claims during the next several years.

40 additional briefs filed in SCOTUS case challenging state and local gun bans
New amicus briefs are in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in the case challenging gun and magazine bans in Illinois and Connecticut. The consolidated case Viramontes v. Cook County, Illinois and Grant v. Connecticut is set to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court Dec. 2. The question is whether state and local governments can ban semi-automatic firearms that gun rights proponents say are in common use for lawful purposes.

Economist: Strong GDP growth, inflation complicate Fed’s decisions
(The Center Square) – The U.S. economy's strongest quarterly growth of 2026, coupled with stubborn inflation, could make interest rate decisions more difficult for the Federal Reserve in the months ahead, an economist told The Center Square.

CBO: Most of E15 provision's cost is farm support payments
A year-round E15 provision in the U.S. Senate farm bill would increase direct spending by $6.6 billion over a decade, more than the $4.8 billion for the entire bill, the Congressional Budget Office says. E15 is gasoline blended with up to 15% ethanol, mostly from corn. Summer sales are generally restricted under the Clean Air Act because the fuel evaporates faster in hot weather. The bill would allow year-round sales nationwide. The bill's total is lower than that one provision because other parts score as savings. The largest is a nearly $4 billion reduction in discretionary spending by the Commodity Credit Corporation, which funds many farm programs and can borrow no more than $30 billion at a time. CBO expects the bill's costs would consume much of that room, leaving less for the agriculture secretary to spend at his discretion.

Justice Department updates Alaska election integrity lawsuit after report
The U.S. Department of Justice amended its lawsuit on Thursday over spoiler candidates in Alaska’s U.S. Senate race following public reports. Lawyers for the U.S. Justice Department filed an amended complaint that included updated allegations from an investigation published by the New York Times on Wednesday. The investigation detailed efforts by individuals associated with Democratic candidate Mary Peltola’s campaign to recruit a spoiler candidate with the same name as incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan.

Alaska governor orders investigation into U.S. Senate race
Alaska's Republican governor ordered for an investigation into Mary Peltola's U.S. Senate campaign, following allegations of its role in recruiting candidates to dilute votes from the Republican incumbent.   

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ARIZONA GUBERNATORIAL RACE: With less than a week to go until Election Day, Cook Political Report and others are upping Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs’ chances against U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert. The Center Square speaks with pollsters to see where the state’s highest office is headed next. By Christopher Boan.

NUCLEAR ENERGY: The Trump administration has set a goal of quadrupling U.S. nuclear generating capacity by 2050. Analysts are generally optimistic about the prospects of reaching that goal and its potential impact on electricity prices. (Morgan Sweeney, weekender)

DEI PRACTICES: The Center Square looks at diversity, equity and inclusion practices at universities across the U.S. and the Trump administration’s efforts to crack down on DEI. (Esther Wickham)

SENATE CONTROL: Seven U.S. Senate races across the country could determine control of the upper chamber in Congress. The Center Square takes a look at the races and how the body could end up following the Nov. 3 elections. (Andrew Rice, weekend) 

IOWA DATA CENTERS: A new report out of Iowa shows data centers contributed millions of dollars in property tax relief, but local homeowners are seeing little of these funds. As controversy around data center development grows, the Iowa legislature passed a bill making it harder to build new properties. (Andrew Rice, weekend)

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Dave Mason
Regional Editor
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