Arizona
Arizona to Empower Students’ Appeals of Politically Biased Bad Grades
Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore
Arizona State Senator Anthony Kern (R-Glendale) last week proposed Senate Bill 1477, aiming to create a “Grade Challenge Department” under the Arizona Board of Regents, staffed with âvolunteers selected by the Arizona Board of Regents,â overseeing the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University.
The legislation harkens to the February 9, 2023 event on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, when more than 30 faculty as well as students objected to the appearance of conservatives Charlie Kirk, Dennis Prager, and Robert Kiyosaki. Ann Atkinson, executive director of the T.W. Lewis Center for Personal Development at ASUâs Barrett Honors College, who organized the event, wrote in the Wall Street Journal on June 19, 2023, that she had been fired as a result (I Paid for Free Speech at Arizona State).
KJZZ, a National Public Radio member station in Phoenix, Arizona, reported in November 2023 that state Republican lawmakers, led by Sen. Kern, formed a committee âon Freedom of Expression at Arizonaâs Public Universities,â in response to Atkinsonâs allegations. According to KJZZ, the state Republicans wanted to cut ASUâs funding for discouraging conservative speech on campus.
Kernâs bill states that âIf the Grade Challenge Department determines that a student’s grade was awarded because of political bias, the department may require any faculty member of a public university to regrade the student’s assignment or reevaluate the student’s overall class grade consistent with the department’s guidance.
âIf a student believes the Grade Challenge Department wrongly dismissed the student’s challenge or did not adequately consider the facts of the challenge, the student may appeal the decision of the department to the Arizona Board of Regents. The Board may order any faculty member of a public university to regrade a student’s assignment or reevaluate a student’s overall class grade consistent with the board’s guidance.â
Michael Nietzel, president emeritus of Missouri State University, warned in a Forbes report of âthe mischief such a bill, were it to become law, could introduce into college courses.â
Nietzel wondered, could a student who is enrolled in a World History course contest her grade alleging that her essays were graded unfairly due to political differences with the instructor that were expressed during class? Would a student have grounds for an appeal if he contended that a Sociology term paper was marked down because of a prior political disagreement with the professor? Can the leader of the local College Republicans argue that her Social Work grade was unfairly lowered by a professor known for advocating liberal causes? Could a vocal communist student claim that a conservative professor unfairly decreased his Economics grade, thus necessitating intervention from the Grade Challenge Department for a reassessment?
The bill was approved by the Arizona Senate on February 22 in a vote of 16 to 12 along party lines, with two Democratic members abstaining. Recently, the Arizona House Education Committee passed it by a vote of 4 to 3, also along party lines, with a few Republicans and a Democrat abstaining.
Should the bill pass the full Arizona legislator, it will proceed for a signing to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. In the event of her veto, the state constitution requires at least two-thirds of lawmakers in each chamber to vote in favor of overriding the veto to enact the bill into law.
Mark Criley, a senior program officer for the American Association of University Professorsâ Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Governance, told Inside Higher Ed that the bill âseems to be deeply problematic; it assigns to the Board of Regents powers that it really should have delegated to faculty.â
ASU claimed Atkinson’s position was terminated because the funding for it was stopped by the donor, Tom Lewis, a Phoenix real estate mogul. Atkinson claimed that she had secured a new donor who wanted to promote teaching traditional American values such as hard work, personal responsibility, civic duty, faith, family, and community service, but ASU declined to accept the new funding.
Arizona
Arizona Lottery Pick 3, Fantasy 5 results for Dec. 11, 2025
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers
5-2-5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Fantasy 5 numbers
08-10-23-28-33
Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Triple Twist numbers
04-14-19-36-37-38
Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news and results
What time is the Powerball drawing?
Powerball drawings are at 7:59 p.m. Arizona time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
How much is a Powerball lottery ticket today?
In Arizona, Powerball tickets cost $2 per game, according to the Arizona Lottery.
How to play the Powerball
To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball.
You can choose your lucky numbers on a play slip or let the lottery terminal randomly pick your numbers.
To win, match one of the 9 Ways to Win:
- 5 white balls + 1 red Powerball = Grand prize.
- 5 white balls = $1 million.
- 4 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $50,000.
- 4 white balls = $100.
- 3 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $100.
- 3 white balls = $7.
- 2 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $7.
- 1 white ball + 1 red Powerball = $4.
- 1 red Powerball = $4.
There’s a chance to have your winnings increased two, three, four, five and 10 times through the Power Play for an additional $1 per play. Players can multiply non-jackpot wins up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Arizona Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $100 and may redeem winnings up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Arizona Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket and a copy of a government-issued ID to P.O. Box 2913, Phoenix, AZ 85062.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID to any of these locations:
Phoenix Arizona Lottery Office: 4740 E. University Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4400. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Tucson Arizona Lottery Office: 2955 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85716, 520-628-5107. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Lottery Office: Terminal 4 Baggage Claim, 3400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4424. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.
Kingman Arizona Lottery Office: Inside Walmart, 3396 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ 86409, 928-753-8808. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://www.arizonalottery.com/.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy Arizona lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arizona Republic editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Arizona
Fruit-flavored cocaine being sold to young people, Arizona official warns
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Arizona’s attorney general is sounding the alarm over a new illegal drug being marketed toward kids and young women.
The Attorney General’s Office says law enforcement agencies in Arizona are seeing an increase of fruit-flavored cocaine in the illegal drug market.
Attorney General Kris Mayes says dealers are marketing the flavored drug toward younger people and women, attempting to lure new users to using cocaine.
Mayes said the drug is being sold in flavors like piña colada, strawberry, coconut and banana, which may appeal to children. She added that illegal drugs like cocaine often contain the deadly drug fentanyl.
“We want everyone to stay safe and avoid the harms that come from using illegal drugs,” Mayes said.
The warning from the AG’s office comes after a man was sentenced in Pima County last month for selling fruit-flavored cocaine.
A release from Mayes’ office says that on July 17, Jaden Alfredo Covarrubias sold about 1.55 pounds of cocaine to another person after advertising his access to coconut, strawberry and banana flavored forms. Mayes said Covarrubias offered to sell the drugs on social media platforms like WhatsApp.
Covarrubias was sentenced on Nov. 24 to 1.75 years in prison. He was ordered to pay $4,500 to the State Anti-Racketeering Revolving Fund and $300 for investigative costs to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
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Arizona
Volunteer pilots bring Santa, gifts to Title I schools on Utah-Arizona border
COLORADO CITY, Ariz. — Santa Claus traded his sleigh for small planes Wednesday as 20 volunteer pilots from Angel Flight West’s Utah wing flew hundreds of miles to deliver Christmas gifts and school supplies to two Title I schools on the Utah-Arizona border.
The annual “Santa Flight” brought toys, winter coats, backpacks and more than 500 books donated by PBS Utah to about 500 students from Water Canyon Elementary in Hildale, Utah, and Cottonwood Elementary in Colorado City, Arizona. The schools gathered at the Colorado City airport to greet Santa, Mrs. Claus, some elves and the pilots.
“Well, this is just excitement,” said Brad Jolley, principal at Water Canyon Elementary in Hildale. “I mean, you look at the faces of the kids, you see smiles, and just a great opportunity, great atmosphere.”
“This is the first time that our two schools in our valley have come together and done an activity,” said Natalie Hammon, principal at Cottonwood Elementary in Colorado City. “So Santa Flight has really helped us unite our valley and let our two schools work together for a great cause.”
The donations were made possible by community groups and sponsors, including the John C. Kish Foundation, Bank of Utah and the Leavitt Group. Lou Rossi, Utah Wing leader for Angel Flight West, said the effort reflects the generosity of pilots and donors during a tough economic time.
Angel Flight West is best known for providing free air transportation for patients traveling long distances for medical care. Volunteer pilot Steve Booth said the holiday mission is just one way to give back.
“For somebody that might need a four- or five-hour car ride after a cancer treatment, a 45 (-minute) or one-hour flight just makes a huge, huge difference in their life,” Booth said.
The Santa Flight tradition began in 2000 and rotates among rural schools each year.
The Key Takeaways for this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article, itself, is solely human-written.
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