Arizona

Arizona is poised for further momentum after TSMC, Intel and other semiconductor victories

Published

2 years ago

May 6, 2024

Arizona is poised for further momentum after TSMC, Intel and other semiconductor victories

Arizona, over the past three years, has scored some huge victories in luring major semiconductor investments to the state, including a major Intel Corp. expansion in Chandler and the construction of three new factories in north Phoenix by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.

Could all this be the prelude to an even bigger second act?

“There is critical mass — that’s the opportunity we have now in Arizona,” said Brian Harrison, president of TSMC Arizona. “We have a great opportunity to do even more in the next 10 years.”

Harrison described how the company’s factories or fabs in Taiwan have become hubs around which chemical suppliers, tool-equipment makers and other businesses have clustered. His comments came during a “Silicon Desert” forum hosted by EMD Electronics, which supplies equipment and provides testing services to semiconductor customers in Arizona and elsewhere.

The demand for semiconductors remains on a growth track, fueled by consumer products such as cellphones and computers, automobiles, data centers, and pretty much every other modern electrical device or industry. Artificial intelligence has provided new impetus.

A rising percentage of chips now are manufactured abroad, mainly in Taiwan, and reversing that trend has been the thrust of the CHIPS & Science Act of 2022. Under that legislation, the U.S. Commerce Department so far this year has awarded up to $8.5 billion in grants to Intel and $6.5 billion to TSMC, along with $162 million to Chandler-based Microchip Technology and other recipients.

Semiconductor manufacturers are using that money, combined with pledges for billions of dollars more in low-rate federal loans, to leverage their own investments.

TSMC’s planned Arizona investments have risen to $65 billion, along with $20 billion in recent new commitments by Intel. Those have helped to boost total semiconductor investments in Arizona to more than $100 million over the past four years, said Sandra Watson, president and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority and another speaker at the forum hosted by EMD Electronics, a business of German science and technology giant Merck KGaA.

Planning began before passage of key federal legislation

Arizona has fared well lately in this regard partly because of advance planning, Watson said. In 2021, a year before the CHIPS Act was enacted, the Commerce Authority brought together more than 50 industry leaders from various states, along with educational institutions such as Arizona State University and others, to develop a strategy. “We were able to establish a very strong plan,” Watson said, with collaboration the key.

Harrison echoed that sentiment and noted that TSMC considered many other locations in various states for its factories or fabs. Many of these other places had “different factions with their own vague agendas,” he said, rather than a unified gameplan like Arizona. “Everyone has water and roads,” he quipped.

More Arizona-focused technology announcements will be forthcoming, said Watson and Sean Fogarty, vice president of international business development at the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

“We have a healthy pipeline of prospects” that are considering expansion here, with foreign businesses representing about one-third of those companies, Fogarty said.

Arizona already features a deep supplier base, a pro-business environment, favorable tax policies and an expanding workforce, Fogarty said. All that complements an educational system that is ramping up to funnel workers into the industry, from engineers at Arizona State University and the University of Arizona to technicians receiving training through the Maricopa Community College system and other programs. In addition, Arizona continues to add population, with many of the newcomers in the prime 18-to-44 working-age group, Fogarty said.

The power to make chip-expansion happen

Another critical consideration is the electricity to power these new industrial complexes, as well as related industries such as data centers, of which metro Phoenix now has one of the highest concentrations in the Western Hemisphere.

The EMD Electronics conference included assurances from both of the major electric utilities operating around metro Phoenix that power will be available when expansions get up and running.

“We are aggressively (adding) new resources over the next five years,” said Karla Moran, manager of economic development at Salt River Project. That includes more solar generation, mobile-home-sized batteries to store power early in the morning for release later in the day, and additional hydro capacity.

Kelly Patton, economic development manager at Arizona Public Service, said much the same. “We have prepared for this growth,” she said.

Both utility executives made the case for continuing to keep natural gas-fired plants in the mix for a while longer, despite emissions that make them targets for criticism from environmental groups and others. “If a monsoon hits and the solar field goes down, we can ramp up that natural gas,” Patton said.

Actually, the availability of renewable energy is another factor that gives Arizona an edge, as some companies expanding here, including Apple with its new data center in Mesa, have asked for it, Watson said.

A key factor in the Phoenix area’s success in attracting semiconductor manufacturers and other industries, she added, was ongoing efforts to keep the major utilities in the loop.

Some 54 megaprojects are in the works now across all industries, Watson said, and the Commerce Authority shares that information with local utilities. “We map out what sites they are considering so that our utilities can plan,” she said. “So the utilities know, in the next five years, where they need to be.”

While water is another critical need for the semiconductor industry, conference participants didn’t assess it as a key obstacle for Arizona, especially as manufacturers, including Intel, are striving to improve their recycling efforts. SRP, which supplies about half of the Valley’s water needs, said its reservoirs by later this spring are expected to be near full capacity.

For Arizona’s semiconductor industry, many of the “i’s” still need to be dotted and the “t’s” crossed. The giant fabs and expansion projects still need to be built, equipped and staffed with trained workers, many of whom haven’t completed or even started their educations. Suppliers need to be ready and waiting, with fewer of the supply-chain disruptions that have plagued the industry in recent years. Labor relations need to be maintained if not improved. The power and water for these complexes need to keep flowing, and partnerships strengthened.

But the infrastructure and other foundations have been laid and Arizona is in a good position for expansion, said Cori Masters, a senior semiconductor research analyst based in the Valley for Gartner.

“Now’s the time for ramping,” she said.

Reach the writer at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com.

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Arizona

Arizona NAACP responds to ‘Simon Says’ case, calls for police accountability

Published

12 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Arizona NAACP responds to ‘Simon Says’ case, calls for police accountability

PHOENIX — The Arizona NAACP is responding to the violent arrest of Israel Devoe, a Phoenix man who was acquitted of all charges stemming from a 2024 traffic stop in which officers punched, kneed, and elbowed him.

Sarah Tyree, president of the Arizona NAACP State Conference, said the case is part of a broader and familiar pattern.

“What happened here reflects a pattern our communities know all too well. Time and again, we see policing tactics that are dangerous and deeply harmful to civilians, yet are later justified as ‘within policy’ through carefully crafted reports and the broad protections afforded under Graham v. Connor,” Tyree wrote in an emailed statement following an ABC15 investigation.

RELATED: Phoenix man to file lawsuit after dangerous game of ‘Simon Says’ with police

Phoenix police officials found all four officers involved in Devoe’s arrest to have acted within policy, records show.

After a two-day trial, jurors unanimously found Devoe not guilty on all four of the felony charges against him — including aggravated assault on officers and resisting arrest.

In her statement, Tyree said true accountability is not possible without changing state law.

“Accountability remains out of reach in Arizona because the Peace Officers’ Bill of Rights continues to insulate misconduct from meaningful oversight, too often shifting blame onto the very communities most impacted by these encounters,” she wrote. “We also encourage Arizona voters to engage their state legislators and advocate for the repeal or amendment of the Peace Officers’ Bill of Rights to ensure systems of public safety are truly accountable to the public they serve.”

Devoe’s case again highlights problems with policing in Phoenix, which has been under scrutiny following a Department of Justice investigation that found the city had a pattern and practice of using excessive force, discrimination, and weak oversight.

ABC15 is committed to finding the answers you need and holding those accountable.

Submit your news tip to Investigators@abc15.com

The push for federal oversight ended in 2025 after the Trump administration ended such efforts across the country.

Devoe’s civil attorney, Jesse Showalter, also represents Tyron McAlpin, a deaf Black man with cerebral palsy who was violently arrested by Phoenix officers in July 2024. Showalter has said both cases reflect what he described as an accepted norm of extreme violence within the Phoenix Police Department.

A Phoenix police spokesperson said the department declines to comment because Devoe is set to file a lawsuit against the city.

This digital article was produced with the assistance of AI and converted to this platform based on the broadcast story written and reported by ABC15 Chief Investigator Dave Biscobing (Dave@abc15.com). Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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Arizona

Arizona Lottery Pick 3, Fantasy 5 results for March 1, 2026

Published

24 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Arizona Lottery Pick 3, Fantasy 5 results for March 1, 2026

The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Sunday, March 1, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers

6-4-2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers

01-07-11-18-28

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Triple Twist numbers

12-17-23-31-37-42

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/.

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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Arizona

Here’s how to give public comment on future Colorado River plans

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Here’s how to give public comment on future Colorado River plans

PHOENIX — After years of negotiations, Arizona still doesn’t know what its long-term water future will look like, and now the federal government is preparing to step in.

States across the Colorado River Basin have failed to reach a deal on how to share the shrinking river after current operating rules expire in 2026. With no state-led agreement in place, federal officials are moving forward with their own plan, one that could bring steep cuts to Arizona’s water supply.

And for Arizonans, the clock is ticking to weigh in. Public comment remains open until March 2. To submit your comment on what the government should do, send your comments in email to crbpost2026@usbr.gov.

Additional information is available online. The project website can be accessed here, along with links to YouTube videos published by the government, recorded in January and February which walk through of the options available.

Many Arizona leaders have already offered their public comments, which are overwhelmingly negative.

“We were very disappointed with that document,” said Brenda Burman, the Central Arizona Project General Manager “If any of those alternatives were implemented, it would be very difficult, and perhaps devastating for Arizona.”

Arizona’s top Colorado River negotiator, Tom Buschatzke, echoed those concerns.

“None of those alternatives are very good for the state of Arizona,” Buschatzke said. “I’m not seeing how we’re going to break that stalemate.”

Congressman Juan Ciscomani also criticized the proposals, saying the impacts of Colorado River cuts extends into Pinal, and Pima counties.

“That’s not an acceptable solution for us,” Ciscomani said. “We want to play ball, but we want to make sure everyone across the board uses less and becomes more efficient.”

Some of the federal alternatives would reduce Arizona’s Colorado River supply by 40%, 50%, or in the most extreme case up to 70%.

Experts at ASU Kyl Center for Water Policy say part of the problem lies upstream.

“The reason for this current impasse is because the upper basin states have refused to take cuts in their Colorado River use,” said Sarah Porter, the center’s director.

Upper Basin states like Colorado and Utah rely on different water rules than Arizona and other Lower Basin states, complicating negotiations that have dragged on for years.

Arizona has already been living with cuts for several years. Since 2021, the state has faced an 18% reduction in Colorado River water deliveries due to a Tier 1 shortage declaration. Most of those cuts have fallen on Central Arizona Project users, including agriculture and some tribal communities.

Buschatzke argues that pushing Arizona into deeper reductions would violate long-standing Western water law.

“We will be protecting the state of Arizona,” he said. “And if that has to be litigation, it will be litigation.”

That means a lawsuit against the federal government, or upper basin states is now a real possibility if the final plan moves forward unchanged. The state legislature has put $3 million in a state fund for potential litigation on the Colorado River.

After the comment period closes, the federal government is required to review public feedback and issue a formal ‘Record of Decision’, likely sometime this summer. Advocacy groups say public feedback matters.

“I just encourage Arizonans to look at this document, understand what that means for your family, your businesses, and what it means for the future,” said Kyle Roerink of the Great Basin Water Network. “Then figure out if you want to advocate for one scenario over another.”

A new operating plan must be in place by October 1, setting the rules for how the Colorado River will be managed for years to come, and shaping Arizona’s water future in the process.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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