Exec: Surge in COVID-19 cases rapidly filling Banner ICUs
AZPM
An executive of Arizona's largest health care provider says their intensive care units are rapidly filling up because of the surge in COVID-19 cases. Banner Health chief clinical officer Dr. Marjorie Bessel spoke to media Friday in Phoenix.
Arizona had 1,234 people hospitalized with the coronavirus disease on Friday. Bessel told media Banner is treating roughly half of those patients. She says the company has been moving patients between facilities to make sure no hospital is overloaded with cases.
Bessel declined to criticize Gov. Doug Ducey for lifting his stay-at-home order three weeks ago. She says the surge in cases points to the continued need to maintain social distancing, hand washing, and the use of face masks to slow the spread of the disease.
Arizona hits grim milestone as virus deaths top 1,000
AP
GLENDALE — Arizona has hit a grim milestone in its battle with the new coronavirus as deaths topped 1,000 and the number of new infections hit a new high.
The state Department of Health Services on Friday reported 16 new deaths, bringing the total to 1,012. The department said 1,578 new cases were tallied — by far the highest daily count since the outbreak began. The number of people confirmed infected with COVID-19 in Arizona is now at 24,332.
The surge in cases began about 10 days after Gov. Doug Ducey ended his stay-at-home order May 15.
Black Lives Matter, policing protests, civil discourse
Arizona 360
This week's episode of Arizona 360 explores the protests in Tucson and around the country in reaction to the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, demonstrations that are shining a light on systemic racism in the county and the nature of policing. Arizona 360 spoke with community organizers, law enforcement and others in this week's exploration of the issue.
Death of Phoenix man during arrest similar to Floyd’s death
AP
PHOENIX — A woman whose brother was killed as Phoenix police were trying to arrest him three years ago is drawing parallels between his death and George Floyd’s death while in police custody in Minneapolis.
Mussallina Muhaymin says Floyd’s death brought back the pain from her brother Muhammad’s death while handcuffed and held down by Phoenix officers. Video shows an officer pressing his knee on Muhaymin’s head during his arrest. Earlier, Muhaymin complained he couldn’t breathe as four officers tried to hold him down.
None of the officers were charged or faced discipline for their actions during the arrest. Phoenix police declined to comment on Muhaymin’s death.
The Buzz: How schools and camps are adapting to COVID-19
This week, The Buzz looked at plans around Southern Arizona to educate and entertain students this summer and fall. We spoke to school administrators who are working to adapt to their education pans to COVID-19 after guidance was released by the state.
DACA recipients in limbo as Supreme Court decision draws near
The Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program gave temporary protection and work permits to some 800,000 young immigrants brought to the country as children. Now the Supreme Court could rule on the future of the policy any day, leaving 7,000 Arizona DACA recipients, or "Dreamers," in limbo.
Courts lean on technology as they transition back to in-person proceedings
AZPM
These days the majority of cases coming through Pima County courts are being heard via technology, but June marks the first phase of resuming more in-person proceedings.
Arizona courts, including the Court of Appeals, are following administrative order 2020-79, which outlines how and when the court can transition back to pre-pandemic operations. Ron Overholt, a superior court administrator in Pima County, said right now the courts are prioritizing family and in-custody criminal cases, many of which are being conducted telephonically or via Microsoft Teams video conferencing software.
The bulk of Pima County cases have been postponed, and one administrator expects a "tsunami of cases" when courts fully resume.
Two killed after Border Patrol pursuit in Arizona
AP
DOUGLAS — An American citizen and an immigrant are dead after a chase with the Border Patrol ended in their car rolling over.
It happened on Tuesday near Douglas, Arizona, when agents stopped a vehicle they suspected was carrying immigrants. While that car was pulled over, they noticed another car that they believed was also involved. That second car fled, and agents deployed a tire deflation device to try to stop it, causing it to rollover.
Of the four immigrants in the car, one died on scene, while two are in critical condition and fourth has been released to Border Patrol custody. The suspected driver, a U.S. citizen, was critically injured and died later at a hospital.
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