Arizona
Arizona’s abortion ban is the biggest story in US. How media covered the ‘alarming news’
Arizona leaders react to Abortion ban ruling
Arizona leaders react to Abortion ban ruling
If there was any doubt that Arizona will play a major role in the 2024 election — and that what goes on in the state will be covered as big stories by national media — breaking news on Tuesday, April 9 dispelled it.
The Arizona Supreme Court upheld a 160-year-old law banning nearly all abortions in the state. News alerts went out immediately from all sorts of media sites. The decision was the lead story on the home pages of the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the Hill and more. The Arizona Republic’s website, azcentral, used huge headlines of the sort reserved only for the biggest stories.
Which it is. And local and national coverage reflected that.
News coverage of Arizona’s abortion ban focused on politics
“It’s huge,” Brianna Keilar, co-host of “CNN News Central,” put it.
The coverage, whether on cable TV news shows or on newspaper and magazine websites, focused largely on two things.
First, 1864 was a long time ago — several commentators noted that slavery was still legal when the law went into effect, that women were not allowed to vote and that Arizona was not yet a state. Jake Tapper began his show saying, “Arizona going back to the Civil War-era for their abortion laws,” using a description heard a lot Tuesday, along with “19th Century” and, again in Tapper’s case, “kind of ancient.”
Second, and this is how the bulk of the coverage was framed, the decision has enormous political repercussions. Certainly, the practical application of the law and how it will (or won’t) be enforced, was covered, as well, but often in a political context. What will it mean in November?
For instance, this is how the Wall Street Journal began its story: “Arizona’s highest court on Tuesday revived a 160-year-old ban on abortion, a decision that ratchets up the political stakes in a state that could decide the 2024 presidential race.”
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary, opened her daily briefing with the decision: “I want to start by addressing some devastating and alarming news from the Arizona Supreme Court.”
And Joyce Vance, a law professor and MSNBC contributor, posted on X, “Terrible news for Arizona women. Probably good news for Democratic candidates in the state including a vulnerable Senate seat.”
That race got plenty of mention, as well. Both Ruben Gallego, the presumptive Democratic candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in Arizona, and Kari Lake, the presumptive Republican candidate, quickly issued statements opposing the ruling.
Lake’s opposition stands in contrast to an earlier comment in which she called the 1864 ban “a great law that is already on the books.”
Tuesday was a big news day, but Arizona was the story
Of course, that was then, this is now; Donald Trump and other Republican candidates have seen the political fallout from the U.S. Supreme Court striking down Roe v. Wade, and have tried to adjust their stances accordingly.
Or, as Keilar said on CNN of Lake’s statement, “It seems like she’s looking at this, saying, ‘Wow, this may have just cost me this election if this stands.”
It actually took TV news a little time to get to the Arizona story. The parents of a Michigan teenager who killed four students in a 2021 school shooting were sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison shortly before the Arizona Supreme Court announced its decision. Tuesday was a busy news day all around, with an appeals court judge denying a request from Trump to delay his criminal hush money trial, scheduled to begin Monday, April 15, in which the former president faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Fox News didn’t devote a lot of time to the story, but most other outlets eventually did, even though so much else was going on. All roads lead to November eventually, it seems.
And through Arizona.
Star power: How national media turned Kari Lake into Trumpism’s ‘leading lady’
Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. X: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.
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Arizona
Drowning happens in seconds, Arizona safety experts warn as triple-digit temperatures arrive this week
GILBERT, AZ — As temperatures climb across Arizona, safety experts and parents say so does the risk around water.
“You brought them here for a reason, and you want them to keep safe at all times, and it’s the most precious things you have. Why, why would you not pay attention to them?” Ernesto Agüero said.
Agüero’s warning comes as families across the Valley head to pools and splash pads to beat the heat.
Experts say drowning can happen silently and within seconds.
“Drowning is silent. A lot of times it goes unnoticed, but it just takes seconds,” Jay Arthur, president of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona, said.
The Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona says while child drowning deaths are down compared to recent years, the danger is far from over as summer begins. It comes as the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona (DPCA) hosted its annual “Tapping Into Water Safety” event. The event brought together organizations like the Salt River Project (SRP) and the Phoenix Fire Department.
“You have to watch the kids with your eyes. Eye-to-eye contact is critical. You can’t be on your phone. You can’t be talking to your friend,” Arthur said.
Advocates say one of the biggest misconceptions is thinking you’ll hear someone struggling in the water. Instead, they say prevention starts before a child even gets near the pool.
“Always appoint a water watcher when you have a group of people around water, and that would be an adult that’s responsible for watching the water and they’re not on their phone,” Tanya Hughes, SRP Community Activation Strategist, said.
Families say the reminders are especially important heading into another Arizona summer.
“You want them to be safe. You want them to know how to behave when they’re in the water,” Agüero said.
Experts say designated water watchers, pool barriers and swim lessons can make the difference. They also warn that distractions like phones or conversations can quickly become dangerous.
“Seconds matter; it is really important because a child can drown in just a matter of seconds,” Arthur said.
With more families potentially spending time in the water this weekend, advocates say now is the time to prepare.
“We’re telling you, we’re trying to stop this from happening,” Arthur said.
Arizona
Where to watch New York Mets vs Arizona Diamondbacks: TV channel, start time, streaming for May 9
What to know about MLB’s ABS robot umpire strike zone system
MLB launches ABS challenge system as players test robot umpire calls in a groundbreaking season.
Baseball is back and finding what channel your favorite team is playing on has become a little bit more confusing since MLB announced plans to produce and distribute broadcasts for nearly a third of the league.
We’re here to help. Here’s everything you need to know Saturday as the New York Mets visit the Arizona Diamondbacks.
See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.
What time is New York Mets vs Arizona Diamondbacks?
First pitch between the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, May 9.
How to watch New York Mets vs Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday
All times Eastern and accurate as of Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 6:32 a.m.
- Matchup: NYM at ARI
- Date: Saturday, May 9
- Time: 7:15 p.m. (ET)
- Venue: Chase Field
- Location: Phoenix, Arizona
- TV: FOX
- Streaming: MLB.TV on Fubo
Watch MLB all season long with Fubo
MLB regional blackout restrictions apply
MLB scores, results
MLB scores for May 9 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:
See scores, results for all of today’s games.
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