Arizona COVID-19 cases: 7 days
Cases 791,106 | Deaths 14,662
On Thursday, Feb. 11, Arizona reported 1,861 new cases of COVID-19 and 200 additional deaths.
UA vaccine site to be expanded
AZPM
The COVID-19 vaccination clinic on the University of Arizona campus will be converted into a state-run mass vaccination site late next week, with the potential to vaccinate six times as many people as it does now.
But it's unclear whether the change will mean more vaccinations for Pima County residents, or just a more efficient system to administer them.
The university, the state, and Pima County announced the change this Wednesday morning. UA president Robert Robbins says the site currently sees about 1,000 people over six hours every day.
If the UA site reaches 6,000 vaccinations per day, it would match the state vaccination site at State Farm Stadium in Glendale.
New lawsuit revisits near-fatal Border Patrol shooting in Nogales
AZPM
A Tucson man who was shot by a Customs and Border Protection officer in 2019 is filing suit against the Department of Homeland Security.
Angel Mendivil Perez, 23, almost died at a Nogales port of entry in February of that year when an unidentified CBP officer fired a bullet into his vehicle that struck him in the head. Two years later, Mendivil Perez’s attorney Bill Risner said the agency is still withholding the officer's name and other vital information about the case.
"They've not given any information on this shooting at all," he said.
A CBP spokesperson said the agency cannot comment on pending litigation.
A conversation with law expert about Oak Flat and treaties
AZPM
In the last month, groups have taken several legal actions, including filing lawsuits, to try to stop a congressionally approved land swap of Tonto National Forest land with private land owned by Resolution Copper. The copper company wants to develop Oak Flat, a site sacred to the Apache peoples, into a huge copper mine. A lawsuit filed by nonprofit group Apache Stronghold argues the Western Apaches legally own the area, under the 1852 Treaty of Santa Fe with the U.S.
Emma Gibson spoke with Stacy Leeds, a professor with Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law, about the treaty's bearing on the case. Leeds is also a part of the university's Indian Legal Program.
Listen to the interview here.
New District 7 state representative named
AZPM
Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren will be replacing former Arizona State Representative Arlando Teller of District 7.
The Apache County Board of Supervisors named Blackwater-Nygren Teller's replacement Tuesday. Teller resigned Jan. 31 and joined the U.S. Department of Transportation as the deputy assistant secretary for tribal affairs.
Blackwater-Nygren, a member of the Navajo Nation, recently passed Arizona's bar exam and she's worked within the Navajo Nation's legislative and judicial branches.
Arizona virus hospitalizations below half of pandemic peak
AP
PHOENIX — Arizona on Thursday reported 200 additional coronavirus deaths as the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients fell below half of the pandemic high from a month ago during the height of the fall and winter surge.
There were 2,507 COVID-19 patients occupying inpatient beds in Arizona as of Wednesday, down from the pandemic high of 5,082 on Jan. 11.
The state reported 1,861 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases Thursday as the pandemic totals rose to 791,106 cases and 14,662 deaths.
Maricopa County says it is expanding vaccination eligibility at county sites to adults 65 and older, lowering the age range from 75 and older.
Navajo Nation reports 38 more COVID-19 cases, 11 more deaths
AP
WINDOW ROCK — Navajo Nation health officials on Wednesday reported 38 new COVID-19 cases and 11 more deaths. The latest figures raised the totals to 29,041 cases and 1,086 known deaths since the pandemic began.
Tribal officials said additional federal personnel are beginning to arrive to support vaccination efforts on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.
The Navajo Department of Health has identified 44 communities with uncontrolled spread of COVID-19 from Jan. 22 to Feb. 4, down from 75 communities in recent weeks.
The tribe has extended its stay-at-home order with a revised nightly curfew to limit the virus’ spread on the reservation. The Navajo Nation also is lifting weekend lockdowns to allow more vaccination events.
Arizona Senate OKs measure targeting governor's power
AP
PHOENIX — The Arizona Senate has voted to ask voters to curtail the governor's authority to assert emergency powers during future pandemics or other crises.
Republicans approved the measure in a 16-14 party-line vote on Wednesday, sending it to the House. If approved by voters, the measure would make a governor's emergency declaration expire after 30 days unless state lawmakers vote to extend it.
Some Republicans have been furious with Gov. Doug Ducey for closing or restricting businesses to contain the spread of the coronavirus. They say that's too much power for one man to wield indefinitely.
Democrats say it's risky to take away the governor's power to respond to an emergency.
Deadline For Immigrants To Apply For College Scholarship Nears
Fronteras Desk
The deadline for so-called "DREAMers" and certain other immigrants to apply for a college scholarship to study at a local university is just two weeks away. The head of the organization that reviews applications says there is still enough time to get one done.
Feb. 25 is the deadline to apply for a scholarship that can be used this fall to study at Arizona State, Grand Canyon or Benedictine universities. The application has been made as simple as possible, says Candy Marshall, president of TheDream.US, the group that provides the scholarship.
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