Arizona

Arizona prepares for legal clash over Colorado River with $1 million bill

Published

10 months ago

January 29, 2025

Arizona prepares for legal clash over Colorado River with million bill

Arizona is ramping up its efforts to protect its share of the Colorado River’s dwindling water supply, as the state faces an uncertain future over the fate of one of the West’s most crucial resources.

A bill advanced Tuesday by the Arizona House Committee on Natural Resources, Energy and Water aims to allocate $1 million to defend the Grand Canyon State’s water rights as part of the ongoing battle over the Colorado River.

The bill, known as House Bill 2103, seeks to set aside the funds to support litigation in the event that negotiations among the seven states dependent on the river break down.

Arizona is preparing for the possibility of legal action if the ongoing discussions fail to resolve water allocation disputes.

Colorado river at Horseshoe Bend, Page, Arizona.

kojihirano/Getty

The bill passed with unanimous support from the committee, though Democrats indicated they will propose an amendment to increase the allocation to $3 million, in line with Governor Katie Hobbs’ proposed budget.

State Representative Gail Griffin, a Republican from Tucson and the bill’s sponsor, told the committee, “It just shows we are ready to take action,” the Courthouse News Service reported.

The Colorado River, which feeds both Lake Mead and Lake Powell—critical water reservoirs for the Southwest—has been a vital source of water for more than 40 million people across the U.S. and Mexico.

But after years of drought and climate change, the river’s once-mighty flow is at its lowest levels in recorded history, prompting urgent discussions about how to share its shrinking resources before current agreements expire in 2026.

At the center of the debate are two factions: the Upper Basin states—Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming—and the Lower Basin states, which include Arizona, California and Nevada.

The Upper Basin states argue that their smaller reservoirs and more severe drought conditions justify keeping their water consumption levels higher, while the Lower Basin states, already committed to significant cuts, push for more aggressive reductions.

But as the clock ticks down toward 2026, when potential cuts could be enforced by the federal government, tensions are mounting over the distribution of the river’s limited water supply.

Arizona’s position is clear: it wants to be able to fight its corner if necessary and needs funds to do it.

The request for funds to potentially fight a legal battle was first proposed in September 2024 by Tom Buschatzke, the director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Buschatzke has warned of a growing divide between the Upper and Lower Basin states, referring to the rift as a “Grand Canyon-sized chasm” that could lead to a standoff if compromise proves elusive.

“It doesn’t seem like the Upper Basin feels like they have any risk that any additional cuts to their use can be imposed upon them,” Buschatzke said in a previous interview with Newsweek.

“We think we have a strong case if we have to go to court.”

Despite the potential for litigation, Buschatzke stressed that legal action would be a last resort.

He said: “If we end up in court, which we don’t want, it would be begrudgingly because it’s kind of a last-gasp effort.”

Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about the Colorado River? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.

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Arizona

Arizona Cardinals vs Jacksonville Jaguars live updates, score for NFL Week 12 game Sunday

Published

37 minutes ago

November 23, 2025

Press Room

Arizona Cardinals vs Jacksonville Jaguars live updates, score for NFL Week 12 game Sunday

The Arizona Cardinals continue their 2025 NFL regular season schedule with an NFL Week 12 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars today.

The Cardinals are coming off a 41-22 loss against the San Francisco 49ers in their NFL Week 11 game.

The Jaguars beat the Los Angeles Chargers in the 11th week of the season, 35-6.

This is the first game between Arizona and Jacksonville Jaguars since 2021, when the Cardinals defeated the Jaguars in Jacksonville, 31-19.

Follow our live updates of the game, which is being played at the Cardinals’ State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, for the latest score, news, notes and analysis of the Week 12 NFL game on Sunday, Nov. 23.

Watch Jaguars at Cardinals with FUBO (free trial)

Cardinals vs Jaguars schedule: What time is NFL Week 12 game?

The NFL Week 12 game between the Cardinals and Jaguars is on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2:05 p.m. MST, 4:05 p.m. ET.

Jaguars vs Cardinals TV: What channel is NFL Week 12 game on?

The Jaguars vs Cardinals NFL Week 12 game can be seen on CBS.

Cardinals vs Jaguars streaming: How do I watch NFL Week 12 game on livestream?

Streaming options for the Cardinals vs Jaguars game include FUBO, which offers a free trial, and other streaming services that carry CBS, like Paramount+.

Jaguars vs Cardinals announcers: Who is calling the NFL Week 12 game?

Spero Dedes (play-by-play) and Adam Archuleta (analyst) are scheduled to be the announcers for the Cardinals-Jaguars Week 12 NFL game.

Cardinals vs Jaguars game odds: Who is favored in NFL Week 12?

The Jaguars are a 2.5-point favorite over the Cardinals in NFL Week 12 odds for the game, courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook.

Jacksonville is -145 on the moneyline, while Arizona is +120.

The over/under (point total) is set at 47.5 points.

Jaguars vs Cardinals picks, predictions: Who will win NFL Week 12 game?

The Arizona Republic’s Jeremy Cluff is predicting a 24-20 win for the Jaguars over the Cardinals in the Week 12 NFL game today.

Other sites lean toward the Jaguars beating the Cardinals in their NFL Week 12 picks and NFL Week 12 predictions for the game, but not everyone is taking Jacksonville to cover the point spread.

Pregame reading for Cardinals vs Jaguars Week 12 NFL game today

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Arizona

Arizona football shuts out Baylor in 2nd half for 4th straight victory

Published

19 hours ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Arizona football shuts out Baylor in 2nd half for 4th straight victory

Arizona’s massive senior class was honored before the final home game of the season, the first at newly named Casino del Sol Stadium. And they went out on top, with many stepping up to keep the win streak going.

The Wildcats outscored Baylor 27-0 in the second half, including 20 points in just over four minutes in the fourth quarter, for a 41-17 win. It was the fourth in a row overall for the UA (8-3, 5-3 Big 12) and improved its home record to 6-1, tying the school record for most home wins in a season.

Kedrick Reescano ran for three touchdowns, including a 19-yarder to turn a 4-point game into a 2-score advantage, while Noah Fifita threw for 183 yards and a TD and Arizona’s defense forced three turnovers and made three stops on fourth down.

Several UA seniors had huge games. Kris Hutson had nine catches for a career-high 133 yards and a TD, Ismail Madhi ran for 93 yards and a score, Dalton Johnson had 18 tackles and Treydan Stukes intercepted a pass in the end zone to preserve what at the time was a 4-point lead.

Baylor (5-6, 3-5) scored on its first two drives then had one field goal the rest of the way, gaining 129 yards after taking a 17-14 lead at halftime. FBS passing leader Sawyer Robertson was limited to 162 yards with a TD and two interceptions, making the Bears the ninth opponent not to reach 200 passing yards.

The UA won for the third straight game despite trailing at the half but went ahead for good just over three minutes into the third quarter on a 1-yardReescanorun. That came after the game’s fourth pass interference penalty thrown in the end zone.

Four consecutive 3-and-outs followed before Baylor put together a sustained drive, getting into the red zone to start the 4^th quarter. The Bears went for it on 4^th and 3 from the UA 12 but Robertson’s pass was picked off in the end zone byStukes.

The UA drove into the red zone after the interception but had to settle for a field goal, with Michael Salgado-Medina missing to the right from 38 yards out. It was his ninth miss of the season.

Yet a play later the Wildcats had the ball back, with Taye Brown forcing a fumble and Michael Dansby recovering it. The next snap saw Ismail Madhi score on a 28-yard run for a 28-17 lead with 10:29 to go.

Reescano’s third TD, from 19 yards out, came with 6:38 remaining, and 11 seconds later Jabari Mann returned a pick 34 yards for a score.

Baylor scored on its opening drive, only the third opponent to do so this season. A 30-yard pass on the first play and a pass interference call on 4^th down set up Robertson’s 9-yard TD pass to Josh Cameron for a 7-0 lead less than three minutes in.

Arizona matched that score on its first possession, also benefitting from a pass interference call, with Reescano scoring on a 2-yard run immediately after.

The Bears went up 14-7 in the final minute of the first quarter on a 2-yard Robertson run after another pass interference call on Arizona. The Bears converted a 4^th down earlier in the drive after also catching a break when forward progress was ruled on what looked like a UA fumble recovery.

The first stop of the game came with 4:59 left before halftime when, after Arizona forced a 49-yard field goal attempt, Baylor’s Connor Hawkins was wife left. But the Wildcats didn’t capitalize, with a Fifita pass going off Tre Spivey’s hands to Baylor’s DJ Coleman for an interception.

That snapped a streak of 140 consecutive attempts for Fifita without a pick.

Baylor turned that into points just before the half, getting a 48-yard field goal from Hawkins.

The UA wraps up the regular season Friday at ASU, looking to take back the Territorial Cup and win for the second time in a row in Tempe.

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Freed sex offender allegedly poses as doctor, sexually assaults student at Arizona elementary school: police

Published

2 days ago

November 22, 2025

Press Room

Freed sex offender allegedly poses as doctor, sexually assaults student at Arizona elementary school: police

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Friday – A convicted sex offender freed from prison two weeks ago allegedly posed as a doctor and sexually assaulted a student inside an Arizona elementary school, sparking outrage and calls for answers from parents, according to reports.

Abel Kai Gblah, 25, is accused of sexual assault and kidnapping after he accessed school grounds and posed as a doctor to lure a student into a classroom and assaulted her at Orangewood Elementary School on Nov. 19, according to the Phoenix Police Department (PPD).

PPD officials said in a statement to Fox News Digital that officers were called to the school after administrators reported that an incident had occurred on campus.

“When officers arrived, they learned an unauthorized man had made it onto school grounds and lured a grade-school-aged girl into a classroom where he sexually assaulted her,” police said. “At some point, the student was able to push the man away. He then ran from the scene before officers arrived.”

NEWLY RELEASED VIDEO SHOWS COPS CUFFING TEEN LINKED TO VIOLENT SEX ASSAULT SCANDAL THAT HAS FAMILIES FUMING

Abel Kai Gblah was accused of sexually assaulting and kidnapping a student at a Phoenix elementary school on Nov. 19. (National Sex Offender Registry)

FOX 10 Phoenix reported that court documents show Gblah allegedly drew the attention of a student by impersonating a doctor and expressing that he had to examine her.

After fleeing the school, police located Gblah, who was booked into jail on multiple charges.

Gblah was released from prison two weeks ago on similar charges, according to the outlet, and was also allegedly involved in human smuggling across the U.S. border.

According to FOX 10, a prosecutor at Gblah’s court appearance said he was convicted twice in 2021 for sexual conduct with a minor and a registered sex offender.

FURY ERUPTS AFTER ACCUSED TEEN SEX PREDATOR DODGES PRISON; FAMILIES SWARM COURTHOUSE DEMANDING JUDGE’S HEAD

Abel Kai Gblah was arrested this week after allegedly sexually assaulting a student at a Phoenix elementary school. (iStock)

The news station reported that the Washington Elementary School District said in a statement that school administration immediately called 911 and placed the school on lockdown for over an hour.

“He was on campus for approximately 10 minutes and during that time, he made inappropriate contact with a student,” the district wrote.

The district shared a separate statement with Fox News Digital that it released to parents on Friday, which revealed the results of its internal investigation, including that Gblah was a former student of the school who attended from 2012 to 2015.

Abel Kai Gblah allegedly assaulted a student at Orangewood Elementary School in Phoenix on Nov. 19. (Google Maps)

While initial reports indicated that the Gblah gained access to the campus behind a student who had buzzed in, further investigation revealed that he entered through an unlocked lobby door, and walked in with a tardy student, the district stated.

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Following the investigation, a staff member has been placed on administrative leave, the district added.

“We understand how alarming this situation has been and want you to know that we are reviewing every aspect of our safety procedures and communication to ensure that an event like this does not happen again, wrote Orangewood Elementary Principal Emily Paterson.

According to FOX 10, Gblah is being held on a cash-only bond of $500,000, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Dec. 1.

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