August 7, 2020 / Modified aug 7, 2020 4:08 p.m.

News roundup: SB 1070 retrospective, pandemic and public transit, pop-up COVID-19 testing

Recent coverage impacting Southern Arizona, Aug. 7.

Cases: 185,053 | Deaths: 4,081 | Diagnostic tests: 1,003,583

On Aug. 7, Arizona reported 1,406 new cases and 79 deaths. This week, Gov. Doug Ducey did not deliver his typical, weekly COVID-19 update. He did go to Washington, D.C., where Arizona's response to the coronavirus pandemic was praised by President Trump and called a model for the nation, despite the fact that state's recent decline in cases followed one of the world's worst outbreaks.


Looking back at SB 1070 a decade later

The Buzz

Ten years ago the Arizona Legislature passed a bill that gave local police the responsibility to check the immigration status of residents during routine stops. Known by its legislative name, Senate Bill 1070, it quickly gained notoriety and widespread opposition from the Latino community and others around the country.

This week, The Buzz discussed who was for and against the measure when it passed, and explores what the effects of the policy have been on Southern Arizona today.

Listen to the show here.


Arizona 360: Primary election, learning remotely, COVID-19 and civil liberties

This week's episode of Arizona 360 explored analysis of some of the results of this week's primary, including a discussion on some of the surprises. We also look at the ways the state and school districts are trying to prepare to return to school amid the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. We also hear a discussion of the ways the U.S. Constitution might inform our approach to this unprecedented time.

Find the full episode here

Pima County to open free pop-up testing sites

AZPM

Pima County announced it is opening nine pop-up, drive-thru sites for COVID-19 testing in areas that have limited testing capability.

The sites are spread from Ajo, to Green Valley, to Picture Rocks and are each open for one day, starting Aug 12. County officials hope to administer a total of 20,000 tests at the pop-up sites.

Appointments are not required, but the county is strongly encouraging people to sign up in advance in order to ensure they get a spot. You can use the map below to find a location and pre-register. Find a map of the sites here.


AZ AG: Private lab lied about COVID-19 test waits

Capitol Media Services

Arizona's attorney general says one of the principal private laboratories testing for COVID-19 lied to consumers about how long it would take to see the results of their tests.

The office says consumers were promised shorter wait times by Sonora Quest Laboratories than they received, frequently waiting nine days, and sometimes more. That's a violation of the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act, an assistant attorney general said.

Learn more at Tucson.com


Last-ditch virus aid talks collapse; no help for jobless now

AP

WASHINGTON — A last-ditch effort by Democrats to revive collapsing Capitol Hill talks on vital COVID-19 rescue money have ended in disappointment.

That makes it increasingly likely that Washington gridlock will mean more hardship for millions of people who are losing enhanced jobless benefits and further damage for an economy pummeled by the still-raging coronavirus. Deadlocks on aid to states and local governments and renewing supplemental unemployment benefits are blocking the way to agreement.

Republicans say President Donald Trump will now at least issue executive orders on home evictions as many jobless Americans have difficulty making rent or mortgage payments.

Read more here.


Sun Tran regains riders, but faces an uncertain future

AZPM

Fewer people were choosing to take the bus before the pandemic arrived. Then, coronavirus fears led to plummeting ridership in March. Though riders are returning to the service, it's unclear what public transit in Tucson will look like next year.

A Sun Tran bus ride is already a massively different experience from just a few months ago. Riders board in the back of the bus and haven't had to pay a fare since March. A plexiglass shield separates the driver from the cab. Riders are required to wear masks.

It's a challenging time for public transportation. Many agencies were just beginning to recover from budget cuts imposed during the last recession. But the Great Recession saw people flock to transit as gas prices rose. This time around, things couldn't be more different.

Learn more here.


Tucson music venues calling on Congress to help

AZPM

For music venues, there is no option to socially distance or move the show outside.

Most of Tucson's venues have been shuttered since March, and are looking at staying closed through the end of the year. As Congress debates a fourth pandemic stimulus bill, local venues say they need help or the show will be over.

"We were all the first businesses to close, and then we're looking at potentially being the last businesses to be able to reopen," said Lara Ruggles, a coordinator at the Rialto Theatre.

The Rialto along with hundreds of other concert halls across the country are urging Congress to pass relief specifically aimed at independent music venues.

Learn more here


CBP head defends accelerated border expulsions, blames migrants for increasing COVID-19 risk

AZPM

In a press call addressing Customs and Border Protection's response to the coronavirus pandemic, agency commissioner Mark Morgan on Thursday blamed migrants for spreading the virus by traveling along the border during the pandemic.

Since March, the agency has used a federal health code called Title 42 to expel migrants arrested along the border within a matter of hours. Along the southwest border, agency data shows 30,721 people were removed under this protocol in July.

Morgan said the measure protects agents from the coronavirus by cutting down on the amount of time they spend with people who are detained.

Learn more here.


Navajo Nation implements 32-hour weekend lockdowns for August

Fronteras Desk

The Navajo Department of Health is implementing four partial 32-hour weekend curfews for the rest of August.

The new partial lockdown will go into effect this weekend.

Essential workers and essential businesses are exempt from the curfew and farm work can also continue. But any vendors that farmers may buy supplies from are not exempt so officials say plan ahead.

COVID-19 cases are on a downward trajectory in both the Navajo Nation and the states that surround it. Heath experts continue to advise Navajo residents to follow all public health orders to avoid possible future spikes in cases.

The weekend curfews go through Aug. 31.


Asylum seekers, advocates protest at border wall in Nogales

Fronteras Desk

Standing at the base of the border wall’s towering steel bollards in Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora, on Thursday, nearly 100 people chanted in support of the right to asylum, wearing masks and holding signs. Many others sent messages of support to a live video stream on Facebook.

The event, called #SaveAsylum, was coordinated by a coalition of migrant advocacy groups in Arizona, which initially formed after the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as MPP or the "Remain in Mexico" program, was announced in January 2019.

Learn more here.


4 US deaths tied to methanol-based hand sanitizers

AP

NEW YORK — Alcohol-based hand sanitizers can help stop the coronavirus from spreading, but drinking the products turned out to be deadly for four people in two states.

Health officials reported this week that 15 adults were poisoned in Arizona and New Mexico in May and June after drinking hand sanitizer. Besides the four who died, three had ongoing vision problems. All had consumed hand sanitizers containing methanol, or wood alcohol.

The active ingredient that kills germs in legitimate sanitizers is ethyl alcohol, which is consumable. But some companies have been replacing it with poisonous methanol, which is used in antifreeze.

Read more here.


Postal Service loses $2.2B in 3 months as virus woes persist

WASHINGTON — Financial losses are mounting at the U.S. Postal Service during the coronavirus pandemic.

The agency said Friday it lost $2.2 billion in the three months ending in June. Officials warn the losses could top $20 billion over two years. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy calls the agency's financial position “dire.″ But he disputes reports his agency is slowing down mail and says it has “ample capacity to deliver all election mail securely and on time."

The Postal Service is seeking at least $10 billion to cover operating losses as well as changes to how it funds retiree health benefits. Lawmakers want the Postal Service to reverse operational changes that are causing delivery delays.

Learn more here.

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