Arizona COVID-19 cases: 7 days
Cases 867,443 | Deaths 17,391
On Friday, May 7, Arizona reported 820 new cases of COVID-19 and 24 additional deaths. Over 3 millions Arizonans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, the Associated Press reports.
State infrastructure, migrants march, vaccine hesitancy
Arizona 360
Tony Paniagua reports on a recent cross-border demonstration in Nogales, Arizona and Nogales, Sonora where asylum seekers sought to raise awareness about U.S. immigration policies.
Arizona 360 revisits some major road projects in southern Arizona to check in on their progress and explore their impacts. Lorraine Rivera also speaks to Ted Maxwell, the newest member appointed to the Arizona State Transportation Board, about its role in improving infrastructure across the state.
As more people become vaccinated against COVID-19, there’s a greater push to get supplies to hard-to-reach communities – that includes rolling out more mobile units across Pima County. Plus, Arizona 360 hears from University of Arizona immunologist Michael Johnson about why some people remain skeptical about vaccine effectiveness.
Tribal police academy honors Tohono O'odham officer, Bryan Brown
AZPM
A Tohono O'odham Nation officer who died in the line of duty last August was honored at the Tribal Law Enforcement Memorial in Artesia, New Mexico, Thursday.
Eight tribal law enforcement officers were virtually honored in the ceremony this year broadcast by KSVP-TV. Among those memorialized at the Bureau of Indian Affairs U.S Indian Police Academy was Tohono O'odham Nation Officer Bryan Brown who died August 27, 2020.
Brown served the Tohono O'odham Nation for 19 years. During a report of an armed and erratic driver, a man ran Brown over with a vehicle near the Desert Diamond Why Casino.
Navajo Nation remembers missing or murdered loved ones May 5
AZPM
Indigenous people from across the country took time Wednesday to remember their loved ones who have been murdered or gone missing. One remembrance was virtually hosted by the Navajo Nation's Missing and Murdered Dine Relatives group.
Parents, siblings, cousins, daughters joined the non-recorded Zoom call and shared their stories with each other — most celebrating the connections they've made with each other after their loved one was murdered or went missing.
According to a recent report from the Missing and Murdered Dine Relatives group and Sovereign Bodies Institute, there have been 164 missing Navajo people between 1951 and 2019.
Over 3 million in Arizona have at least one vaccine dose
AP
PHOENIX — The state is reporting that over 3 million people in Arizona, representing nearly 42% of the state’s population, have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Of those, over 2.4 million people, 36.2% of the state’s population, are fully vaccinated.
Also Friday, the state reported 820 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases and 24 deaths, increasing the pandemic totals to 867,44 cases and 17,391 deaths.
The state’s seven-day rolling average of daily new cases rose over the past two weeks, going from 675.1 on April 21 to 710 on Wednesday. The rolling average of daily deaths dropped from 16.7 to 8.9 during the same period.
Navajo Nation reports no COVID deaths for 4th time in 5 days
AP
WINDOW ROCK — The Navajo Nation on Thursday reported 13 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, but no deaths for the fourth time in the last five days.
Tribal health officials say the total number of cases since the pandemic began more than a year ago now is 30,565 on the vast reservation that covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The known death toll remained at 1,282.
Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said more than half of the reservation’s adult population has been vaccinated, but people still need to stay home as much as possible, wear masks and avoid large gatherings.
Arizona utility regulators reject 100% clean energy rules
AP
PHOENIX — Arizona’s utility regulators have rejected new rules that would have required most of the state’s electricity providers to get 100% of their power from clean energy sources by 2050.
The 3-2 vote by the Arizona Corporation Commission was a surprise. The plan was backed by the state’s major regulated utilities and was given initial approval by the commission on a 4-1 vote in November after three years of work.
Last-minute changes before Wednesday night's vote made the rules voluntary and cost the support of the commission's two Democrats. Republican Commissioner Justin Olson never backed the proposal.
ASU professors say Arizona economy poised to recover jobs
AP
PHOENIX — Arizona State University forecasters say the state’s economy is rebounding and poised in coming months to recover all the jobs lost in 2020 due to the pandemic recession.
In the words of ASU economics professor Dennis Hoffman, “the forecasts are clear — it’s really onward and upward from here.”
The Arizona Republic reports that Hoffman was among professors who spoke Thursday during a webinar for the Economic Club of Phoenix.
Lee McPheters, another economic professor, said continuing population gains and improving business conditions mean Arizona could gain about 117,000 net jobs this year and 89,000 next year. That would put the state's employment back at pre-pandemic levels.
Ducey signs legislation to impose new limits on forfeitures
AP
PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey has signed legislation to tighten Arizona laws on civil forfeitures of private property.
The legislation says property would only be forfeited if the owner has been convicted of an offense related to the forfeiture. The state also has to show that the property is subject to forfeiture by clear and convincing evidence.
Ducey's office said in a statement that the lack of a requirement that the government prove that seized property is related to a crime “has resulted in property being taken from innocent people."
The legislation signed Wednesday by Ducey will take effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session.
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