Arizona stories ready to republish | September 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.

Maricopa County recorder fears felons will vote in election
Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap is worried that felons will be allowed to vote in Arizona’s elections. The recorder said he has this concern because Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes has not provided his office and other county recorders with the latest federal conviction data, which is used to remove felons from voter rolls. By Zachery Schmidt.

Consumer advocates: Supreme Court climate case could 'rewrite' American economy
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case on Monday that could "rewrite" the future of American energy production, legal analysts said. Justices on the nation’s highest court will hear arguments in Suncor v. Boulder, a case to determine whether state and local governments can use nuisance laws to seek billions of dollars in damages from energy companies.

Rising yields add to $1T taxpayer interest bill
The 10-year Treasury note closed at 5.26% Tuesday, more than a point above the 4.1% the Congressional Budget Office projected it would average this year, a gap that could raise taxpayers' borrowing costs as federal debt rolls over. The government spent $1.05 trillion on net interest in the first 11 months of fiscal 2026, more than it spent on Medicare or the military, according to the Congressional Budget Office's monthly budget review for August.

22 state AGs alert SEC of rating agencies’ ESG promotion
Attorneys general from 22 states sent a letter to the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission detailing how multiple ratings agencies such as Moody’s Corporation, Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings still push an ESG agenda, months after a group of state attorneys general called on them to explain ESG-driven downgrades.

Smith defends Trump prosecutions, phone call logs
Jack Smith, the formal special counsel who organized criminal prosecutions of President Donald Trump, defended his record and leadership on Tuesday.  

Supreme Court allows third-country deportations, will hear arguments
The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 ruling on Tuesday, temporarily allowed the Trump administration to deport people to countries other than their own until oral arguments can be heard later this year.  

CBO: Full cost per troop $86,000 above what's budgeted
The full government cost of an active-duty service member is about $86,000 a year higher than what's reflected in the Department of War's budget. That's a cost that will ultimately be paid by taxpayers through VA's budget decades from now, according to a Congressional Budget Office estimate of future veterans' benefits that aren't captured in the military's personnel-cost accounting.

Report: American consumers would foot the bill if climate cases succeed
If plaintiffs win major monetary awards against the oil and gas industry in a series of climate change lawsuits filed by state and local governments across the U.S., energy prices would rise including gas prices increasing by about 41 cents a gallon, according to a new report.

Parents urge Supreme Court to protect religious education
Three California families are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review whether parents have the right to use state education funds for religious-based curriculum. By Esther Wickham.

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DATA CENTER BAN: Pima County passed a 120-day moratorium on new data center developments. The Goldwater Institute in Phoenix sent the Arizona county a letter saying its ban is illegal. By Zachery Schmidt.

ELECTIONS BRIEFING: The Partnership for Large Election Jurisdictions will host an event in Washington, D.C., discussing challenges and emerging threats to election administration before the 2026 midterms. (Andrew Rice) 

CLIMATE CASE: The Washington Times will host a preview event on Wednesday discussing the Supreme Court’s upcoming case in Suncor v. Boulder. (Andrew Rice)

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