Arizona

Abortion rights will be on the AZ ballot after Supreme Court rejects challenge from foes

Published

1 year ago

August 20, 2024

Abortion rights will be on the AZ ballot after Supreme Court rejects challenge from foes

Arizona voters will have the final say on whether abortion should be a right in the Grand Canyon State in November after the Arizona Supreme Court shot down a last-chance attempt from abortion foes to prevent the question from appearing on the ballot.

Dawn Penich, a spokeswoman for the campaign behind the abortion rights initiative, celebrated the court’s action as a victory for the ability of Arizona voters to make their voices heard.

“This win means that Arizona voters will get to have our say and enshrine the right to access abortion in our state constitution, putting personal medical decisions where they belong: in the hands of patients and doctors once and for all,” she said in a written statement.

Arizona Right to Life sought to invalidate all of the signature petitions gathered by the Arizona Abortion Access Act, arguing that it illegally deceived voters into signing their names. The anti-abortion organization, along with other prominent anti-abortion groups, formed part of a Decline to Sign campaign that unsuccessfully attempted to convince voters not to support the initiative’s bid to appear on the ballot.

The campaign behind Proposition 139 collected a record-breaking number of signatures to qualify for the November ballot, and just under 578,000 were confirmed to be valid last week — far exceeding the 383,923 requirement for a proposal that amends the Arizona Constitution.

In court, Arizona Right to Life argued that a 200-word summary of the ballot measure shown to voters by petition circulators asking for their signatures was so unlawfully misleading that the only recourse left was to throw out all of the signature sheets. A key complaint from the group was that the summary didn’t explain that the initiative has the potential to invalidate several existing abortion laws, including the 15-week gestational ban currently in place.

The act guarantees access to an abortion up to the point of fetal viability, generally regarded as being around 24 weeks, and includes exceptions beyond that timeframe if a health care provider deems the procedure is necessary to preserve a woman’s life, physical or mental health. It also prohibits any state law from denying, interfering or restricting a woman’s right to obtain an abortion unless the state has a compelling interest in doing so that is rooted in evidence-based decision-making and doesn’t infringe on a woman’s autonomy.

Arizona Right to Life’s argument failed to convince a Maricopa County Superior Court Judge, who ruled earlier this month that the summary is perfectly accurate and the group’s criticisms of how the campaign has described the act should be aired in the political arena. On Tuesday, the Arizona Supreme Court sided with the lower court, saying that the summary complies with state law. All seven justices unanimously ordered that the initiative be included in the November ballot.

In a five-page ruling, Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer wrote that the initiative’s 200-word summary adequately outlined its “principal provisions,” as required by Arizona law. Those provisions, according to the justices, are that the Arizona Abortion Access Act establishes a fundamental right to abortion; it guarantees the right to obtain an abortion up to and after fetal viability; and it prevents the state from punishing someone who assists a woman in receiving an abortion.

The complaint from Arizona Right to Life that the summary made no mention of how the initiative interacts with existing state law is irrelevant, Timmer wrote, because state law doesn’t require that the summary include such an explanation. And, she added, it’s unnecessary, because most Arizonans would understand the initiative’s effects without having to be told about them.

“The description is not required to explain the Initiative’s impact on existing abortion laws or regulations,” Timmer wrote. “Moreover, a reasonable person would necessarily understand that existing laws that fail the prescribed tests would be invalid rather than continue in effect.”

Another argument advanced by Arizona Right to Life was that the summary left out the fact that the health care provider mentioned in the initiative who has the ability to authorize an abortion even after fetal viability can include an abortion provider. Attorneys for the group said that could open the door to bad faith judgements, because abortion providers directly benefit from providing abortions, and argued that including that detail in the 200-word summary could have convinced some voters not to add their names to signature petition sheets.

But the high court dismissed that argument, too, with Timmer writing that most Arizonans assume that “health care provider” includes whichever “treating physician” a woman is consulting. And, she added, most voters recognize that health care providers are guided by ethical codes and act in good faith to safeguard their patient’s health.

In the end, the complaints brought by Arizona Right to Life don’t meet the threshold to bar the abortion rights proposal from the ballot. In fact, most of the group’s criticisms, Timmer wrote, are best dealt with in the political sphere, through advocacy and public opposition.

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Arizona

Rural Arizona couple learns the hard way property has no fire protection

Published

11 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Rural Arizona couple learns the hard way property has no fire protection

CLARKDALE, AZ (AZFamily) — A couple moving to Arizona from North Dakota learned they had no fire protection coverage when a shed fire broke out on their Mingus Mountain property, which is northeast of Prescott, this week.

Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded using fire extinguishers from their patrol cars and shoveling dirt to put out hot spots around the burning shed.

Monday’s fire was how Kevin and Sue Hoerner learned their property sits outside the jurisdiction of any city or formal fire district.

“We’re aware of that now,” Kevin Hoerner said, laughing.

The Hoerners’ property is one of thousands of so-called “no man’s land” properties across Arizona that fall outside fire district boundaries, according to state forestry officials.

“We are looking into this right now. There’s about 13,000 properties just in Yavapai County,” said Tiffany Davila with the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.

The couple said they had no idea their property lacked fire protection when they purchased it.

“Either someone didn’t tell me or I didn’t even think to ask such a question,” Kevin Hoerner said. “I’ll tell you, in North Dakota, there is no such thing.”

Property owners in these areas may be eligible to annex into a nearby fire district or purchase a fire protection agreement with another provider.

The Hoerners said exploring those options is next on their list. They don’t blame anyone but themselves for the situation.

“It’s just something that now we know,” Sue Hoerner said.

The shed fire resulted in a $30,000-50,000 loss, destroying propane tanks, lithium batteries for solar power and a generator. The couple said they are thankful the fire didn’t spread to the forest or neighboring properties.

They set up a GoFundMe page to help Kevin rebuild his workshop.

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Arizona

Know Your Foe: Arizona Cardinals | Week 15

Published

23 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Know Your Foe: Arizona Cardinals | Week 15

Two years ago, the Arizona Cardinals arrived in Houston ready to spoil what had been a magical run to that point for the Houston Texans. QB Kyler Murray had the ball in his hands, down by five, driving for the potentially game winning touchdown. But, the Texans defense, as it has done many times before and since, held tight and kept Cardinals at bay for a hard fought 21-16 win

But, in that game, the Cardinals had Pro Bowl RB James Conner, WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Murray in the lineup. They will have neither of those three in this contest, but they will have QB Jacoby Brissett slinging the rock all over NRG Stadium.

Brissett is 5-1 against the Texans in his career and he’s beaten the Texans, as the starter, with three different teams. With a Cardinals win, he’d match Sam Darnold, who beat the Texans earlier this year as the starter for Seattle, his fourth team to beat the Texans. But, that one in the left hand column for Brissett was a Texans win over the Colts on Thursday Night Football six years ago and here’s hoping it turns into a two late Sunday afternoon.

Coming up with win number nine won’t be easy facing one of the Texans’ biggest villains, who has one of the best pass catchers in the entire NFL – TE Trey McBride – on his side.

So, before Sunday arrives, let’s get to Know the Texans’ Week 15 Foe – The Arizona Cardinals.

2025 Arizona Cardinals Schedule (3-10)

Week 1 – W @ New Orleans Saints 20-13
Week 2 – W Carolina Panthers 27-22
Week 3 – L @ San Francisco 49ers 16-15
Week 4 – L Seattle Seahawks 23-20
Week 5 – L Tennessee Titans 22-21
Week 6 – L @ Indianapolis Colts 31-27
Week 7 – L Green Bay Packers 27-23
Week 8 – BYE WEEK
Week 9 – W @ Dallas Cowboys 27-17
Week 10 – L @ Seattle Seahawks 44-22
Week 11 – L San Francisco 49ers 41-22
Week 12 – L Jacksonville Jaguars 27-24
Week 13 – L @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 20-17
Week 14 – L Los Angeles Rams 45-17
Week 15 – @ Houston Texans
Week 16 – Atlanta Falcons
Week 17 – @ Cincinnati Bengals
Week 18 – @ Los Angeles Rams

Cardinals OFFENSE (in 2025 regular season)

Rushing Yards Per game – 96.8 ypg (26th in the NFL)
Passing Yards Per game – 238.7 ypg (7th)
Total offense per game – 335.5 ypg (18th)
Turnovers lost – 16 (8 INT, 8 Fumbles lost)

Expected Cardinals starting offense for Week 15

QB – JACOBY BRISSETT
RB – BAM KNIGHT
WR – Michael Wilson
WR – Andre Baccellia
WR – Greg Dortch
TE – Elijah Higgins
TE – Trey McBride
LT – JOSH FRYAR or DEMONTREY JACOBS
LG – Evan Brown (injured) or Jon Gaines
C – Hjalte Froholdt
RG – Isaiah Adams
RT – Kelvin Beachum

Other Key Offensive pieces

QB – KEDON SLOVIS
RB – Michael Carter
WR – TRENT SHERFIELD (PS elevation last week)
TE – PHARAOH BROWN

ALL CAPS – New to team in 2025

Keys to winning v. the Cardinals Offense

The Nemesis – During a Sunday game in Foxboro, MA on week two in 2016, yes, nine years ago, starting Patriots QB Jimmy Garoppolo left the game injured against the Miami Dolphins. Up next on the horizon for the Patriots, sans Tom Brady, was a visit from the 2-0 hot Houston Texans. However, Brady was suspended and Garoppolo was injured. I was convinced that was the night that the Texans would finally win in Foxboro. I mean, what…is rookie Jacoby Brissett going to beat us? YEP! Beating the Texans is exactly what he did that night and he’s done it four other times with two other teams over his long and illustrious career. In Arizona, earlier this year, he gave the Cardinals life when Kyler Murray was injured and the grizzled veteran is probably throwing the ball as well as he has at any point in his career. The Texans aren’t, more than likely, going to give up a designed run for a TD as they did in that 2016 game, but they also COULD get shredded through the air because of Brissett’s big arm and high football IQ.

The Emergence Continues – When Cardinals TE Trey McBride entered the draft in 2022, he was my highest rated TE in that group. But, after 16 games, 13 games as a starter, as a rookie, he was only targeted 39 times. Fast forward to his second season and his targets climbed to 106. Last year, he was targeted a whopping 147 times and is averaging even more targets per game than last year in 2025. But, what McBride is doing this year that he didn’t last year? Scoring TDs. He found his way into the end zone EIGHT times this year. He’s so good after the catch and he has vice grips for hands. He’s such a difficult cover because of his strength and ability to get into open areas. Last week at Kansas City, the Texans held future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce to one catch and did so with a litany of coverage options on him throughout the game. McBride demands a similar coverage scheme this week if the Texans defense wants to have success. IF the Texans hold McBride to one catch, they’ll win this one going away. I don’t expect that, but the Texans must limit his impact greatly.

Mike Willie! – Cardinals WR Michael Wilson was one of the more intriguing draft prospects that I studied a few years ago out of Stanford. He only played 14 games over his final three years in college, including just six games in his senior campaign. But, when I saw him in person at that year’s Senior Bowl, I was highly impressed. Strong hands. Physical. Excellent route runner. I remember thinking that he was going to make a really solid #3 or even a low level #2. But, he’s become a stud #1 wide receiver option in the passing game in Arizona, whether Marvin Harrison Jr is on the field or not. He has a great rapport with Brissett, so backshoulder fades, timing throws and deep shots are in play when Wilson is on the field. Harrison Jr. has been banged up, but even before he missed games, Wilson was the guy that Brissett targeted in the passing game. This Texans secondary will get tested by one heck of a competitor.

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Arizona Lottery Pick 3, Fantasy 5 results for Dec. 11, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Arizona Lottery Pick 3, Fantasy 5 results for Dec. 11, 2025

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.

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