Arizona

Arizona is reneging on a promise to fund our water future. Big mistake

Published

9 months ago

June 14, 2024

Press Room

Arizona is reneging on a promise to fund our water future. Big mistake

Opinion: If the governor and lawmakers aren’t careful, they could turn a short-term budget fix into a long-term mistake for Arizona’s water future.

It’s disappointing — but not at all surprising — that lawmakers and the governor want to completely sweep money that had previously been earmarked for the Water Infrastructure Financing Authority.

State leaders radically expanded the authority in 2022 and promised to seed it with $1 billion, mostly to bring Arizona water from elsewhere.

But they insisted on breaking the investment over three fiscal years. I said then that the likelihood of seeing the full billion was slim.

Sure enough, lawmakers failed to fully fund a second $333 million installment in 2023, even though they had the cash, preferring to fund pet water projects instead.

And this year, staring down a $1.4 billion shortfall, the idea is to give WIFA no cash at all.

WIFA has been fighting an uphill battle

I get it.

If the choice is between paying someone or building something right now, versus putting money in a fund for a later benefit — even a big one that could radically change the state’s water future — lawmakers are going to choose the here and now.

And — try as WIFA might to dispel the distrust — some lawmakers just don’t want to give the agency any more cash after former Gov. Doug Ducey brazenly, but unsuccessfully, tried to fund his favored Mexico desalination project just before leaving office.

Granted, the board has completely backed away from that effort and is working instead to create a fair evaluation process for all projects that could bring Arizona more water.

But all of this points to the uphill battle WIFA has been fighting for two years to meet lawmakers’ expectations.

It made tough choices to award $200 million

This isn’t necessarily the agency’s fault, considering how lofty and somewhat conflicting those expectations are.

WIFA exists to speed water projects while maximizing the state’s return on investment — something that also requires transparency and due diligence, both of which take time.

The board has set strategic plans and surveyed potential water users on their needs. It is finalizing a process to assess potential water importation projects, in hopes of compressing the lengthy federal environmental review process that will likely be necessary to get them built.

How much water will TSMC use? Less than you think

At the same time, it pored through more water-saving proposals than it had money to fund, and in roughly a year awarded $200 million in federal pandemic cash toward turf removal, more efficient irrigation for farmers and other conservation projects.

Those projects are estimated to save as much as 5.5 million acre-feet of water over their lifespans — a decent chunk of water with savings in every county (the agency is now working on a system to track actual water saved each year).

Ambitious water goals deserve more cash

But even if WIFA has a lot to show for its efforts, it still lacks completed projects to prove how those 2022 investments stopped persistent leaks, for example, or took stress off limited supplies.

The agency needs those stories — of the projects it accelerated by years and those that without the funding, would have never been possible — to make its case for more cash.

WIFA, to its credit, has set ambitious goals for how much water it will save (5 million acre-feet in five years) and the new supplies it will find (between 100,000 and 500,000 acre-feet in five to 15 years).

But those goals are predicated on WIFA finding another $200 million for conservation projects and getting the full $1 billion for additional water supplies.

Receive less than that, and it will severely hamstring efforts to save and find more water — both of which are critical for Arizona’s long-term water security.

Don’t make this a long-term mistake

It’s frustrating, particularly given all the lip service about water this session, that everyone seems resigned to short WIFA this year.

But we don’t need to make this a long-term mistake.

Whether it’s lawmakers or the governor, someone needs to make a commitment that when there is more cash, more of it will flow to the agency.

Ideally, that commitment would come without the stipulation that most of it fund only the projects that can import water from elsewhere.

If we want water, there also are opportunities to find it in state, and those ideas should have an equal shake at the cash.

If the goal is to provide the most water for a price that providers are willing to pay, it shouldn’t matter where it comes from. Just that it’s wet and that it flows to taps when we need it.

Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com. On X, formerly Twitter: @joannaallhands.

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Arizona

Arizona Congress members want Native American war hero stories restored on DOD website

Published

11 hours ago

March 25, 2025

Press Room

Arizona Congress members want Native American war hero stories restored on DOD website

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Members of Arizona’s Congressional delegation are calling on the Department of Defense to bring back website articles describing two Native American heroes from Arizona.

Reps. Greg Stanton and Yassamin Nasari, both Democrats, sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to reinstate stories surrounding Pima/Akimel O’odham Marine Pfc. Ira Hayes and Hopi Army Specialist Lori Piestewa. The pair say references to Native American veterans, like the Navajo Code Talkers, have been restored but information on the two military members is still missing.

“We must never forget the sacrifices made by Native American veterans and service members throughout our nation’s history,” said Stanton and Nasari in the letter. They say the stories of Hayes and Piesetwa were removed because of the Trump administration’s ban of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. “Efforts by the DOD to recognize any veteran’s selfless service to our nation have nothing to do with any type of DEI Initiative,” said Stanton and Nasari.

Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, also Democrats, sent a similar letter on Monday to Hegseth about the webpages. “To erase Pfc. Hayes’s and Specialist Piestewa’s contributions to our history is to erase American history,” they said. “DoD appears to be taking a slash and burn approach, removing web pages and only restoring them when the public holds the Department accountable. This approach is wasteful and creates unnecessary distractions from the Department’s important missions.”

Hayes was one of six Marines who raised the flag at Iwo Jima in 1945 during WWII. The event was immortalized in one of the most recognized photos in history that won a Pulitzer Prize. A simple search of his name returns zero results on the Defense Department website. However, he’s the focus of this article on the Iowa Jima victory.

Piestewa was the first female Native American soldier to be killed in action on foreign soil when her convoy was ambushed on March 23, 2003. Former Gov. Janet Napolitano renamed the mountain formerly known as Squaw Peak, near 24th Street and Glendale, as Piestewa Peak a month after she died.

Her name is only mentioned in one article about Native American women serving in the military. There was a Piestewa painting photo on the Defense Department website but the link now gives a 404 error. A photo is still up of Piestewa’s mother.

The controversy comes during the same month at least 10 articles mentioning the Navajo Code Talkers were pulled from U.S. Army and Department of Defense websites. They were reportedly replaced with several broken URLs labeled “DEI.” The Code Talkers were an indigenous group that helped the United States during World War II.

Some of the webpages were restored hours later. Defense Department officials say the Navajo Code Talker material was mistakenly erased.

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Arizona

Previewing the Arizona Diamondbacks Rotation

Published

22 hours ago

March 25, 2025

Press Room

Previewing the Arizona Diamondbacks Rotation

Spring training has come to a close, and while fans prepare for opening day, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ front office is still in the midst of some chalenging roster decisions.

In previous installments of our depth previews, we have already tackled the infield, outfield, and catcher groups, all of which will be linked at the bottom of the story. Next in line is the D-backs’ myriad of starting pitching which may just be the best in baseball.

Corbin Burnes – RHP

After inking a $210 million contract this winter it shouldn’t be a shock that Burnes is viewed as the clubs new ace starter. The right-hander is not only a former Cy Young winner, back in 2021, but has made four consecutive All-Star games, and has garnered Cy Young votes in each of the last five seasons.

There are few pitchers worth handing out such a large contract to, but he certainly fits the bill, even giving out a minor hometown discount. He has finished with an ERA below three in five of his seven major league campaigns, including 2024, and has only posted an ERA+ below 127 once.

Likely a top five starter in all of baseball entering 2025, he will headline the Diamondbacks’ rotation this season, and for years to come. Burnes will be making the fifth start of the season for the Diamondbacks due to needing to stay on regular rest.

Related Content: Corbin Burnes Tells All in Q&A on Rotation Order Situation

Zac Gallen – RHP

The Diamondbacks’ ace for years, Gallen is entering his final season before free agency. In a sentimental decision, Torey Lovullo tabbed Gallen to be the opening day starter. The right-hander is coming off a somewhat injury riddled 2024 season where he battled hamstring issues that relegated him to 148 innings pitched.

Still, he is only a season sepearated from a strong 2023 campaign where he started for the National League in the All-Star game. He has received Cy Young votes in three of the last five seasons and even received down-ballot MVP votes in 2023.

While he has been the D-backs’ most dominant arm during his tenure, he has also experienced his share of struggles. 2024 saw Gallen have issues with fastball command, something which had been a strength for him as a pitcher throughout his career. He will need to see a rebound in command in 2025 if he hopes to return to his Cy Young caliber form.

Merrill Kelly – RHP

Kelly missed substantial time in 2024 due to a right-shoulder strain. While his numbers last year look pedestrian, with a 104 ERA+ in a 73.2 inning sample, he is coming off incredible seasons in 2022 and 2023.

The righty pitched to a 4.70 ERA in 15.1 innings this spring but saw a return to form in his strikeouts with 9.4 K/9. Now guaranteed extra protection in the rotation and hopeful for a healthy season, Kelly will need a big rebound in his contract year.

Eduardo Rodriguez – LHP

The lone lefty in the Diamondbacks’ rotation, Rodriguez is in a similar boat to Kelly and Gallen. His 2024 season was stunted by a left shoulder strain, leaving him only available to pitch in 50 innings during his inaugural D-backs season.

Still, he is only one season removed from being one of the most dominant southpaws in the American League. Rodriguez posted a 3.30 ERA across 152.2 innings with Detroit in 2023, totaling a 131 ERA+.

Concern does lie in the fact that the lefty has now gone three consecutive seasons averaging less than one strikeout per inning spanning a seasons length. This is something that he seems to have rebounded on to some extent, with 10.8 K/9 across 10 spring training innings, but it will still be an important issue to monitor.

Brandon Pfaadt – RHP

The lone young starter in the rotation is Brandon Pfaadt. In 2024 he was easily the most durable Diamondbacks pitcher, posting more innings than any other starter with 181.2.

He also happened to be one of the most unlucky pitchers in all of baseball, with a 3.61 FIP compared to his inflated 4.71 ERA, a pattern that was similarily shared in his 2023 rookie season. While his surface numbers might not do him justice, he did see improvement in other aspects of his game.

The righty managed to limit walks to an incredible extent, allowing only 2.1 BB/9, an improvement from his 2.4 the year prior. He did so while also raising his strikeout rate over the much larger sample, now averaging 9.2 K/9 in 2024.

Pfaadt will need to limit location mistakes on his trademark sweeper. Batters hit just .215 against the pitch, and the WHIFF rates was 36%. But he tended to leave it in the middle of the zone at times, resulting in 13 of the 24 homers he allowed coming off the Sweeper.

Other rotation arms that will work as current MLB depth are Ryne Nelson and Jordan Montgomery.

Nelson was arguably Arizona’s best starter in 2024’s second half, but left something to be desired this spring, and lost out on a rotation spot due to the incredible roster crunch. According to Diamondbacks ON SI’s Jack Sommers, he will likely work out of the bullpen to start the year.

Montgomery was the D-backs’ prize acquisition entering 2024, but struggled massively throughout the entire season. Things havent gotten better this spring, with a 15.00 ERA in 3 innings thrown. While this is skewed by a particularily bad first outing, he was left out of the rotation for a reason.

There are still plenty of trade rumors regarding Montgomery, and these could very well still come to fruition. Arizona has a strong incentive to seek these out because of the lefty’s crippling $22.5 million salary.

Other names currently on the Diamondbacks’ 40 man roster who could see MLB time in case of injuries include Yilber Diaz, Tommy Henry, and Cristian Mena. All three are in the Triple-A Reno rotation and have MLB experience. Joe Elbis. is also on the 40-man, but will pitch in Double-A Amarillo to start the year, and is likely more than a year away from his MLB Debut.

Diaz, a top pitching prospect in Arizona’s system made his debut last season and looked promising. While 2025 might not open the door for him quite yet, 2026 and beyond could give him the room to burst into the club’s rotation.

Yu-Min Lin and Dylan Ray are two very promising young arms in the D-backs’ farm system. Both are likely at least a year away as well and will start the year in Double-A Amarillo with the Sod Poodles.

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Arizona

Arizona Lottery Powerball, The Pick results for March 24, 2025

Published

1 day ago

March 25, 2025

Press Room

Arizona Lottery Powerball, The Pick results for March 24, 2025

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

Arizona offers Powerball, Mega Millions, The Pick, Triple Twist, Fantasy 5 and Pick 3 as well as Scratchers, Quick Draw and Fast Play.

Lottery players have seen enormous jackpots recently, with previous winners of both the Powerball and Mega Millions breaking into the top 10 largest jackpots in U.S. lottery history. Money raised from Arizona lottery games goes toward funding higher education, health and human services, environmental conservation and economic and business development in the state.

Powerball

06-23-35-36-47, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

The Pick

01-07-19-28-31-41

Check The Pick payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

6-4-2

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Fantasy 5

10-21-30-38-39

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Triple Twist

03-09-10-15-34-38

Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news and results

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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