Arizona
Arizona Republican unveils bill to cut college presidents’ salaries amid waning state support
Trump wants Education secretary to ‘put herself out of a job’
President Donald Trump told reporters that Linda McMahon, his nominee to lead the Education Dept., should eventually “put herself out of a job.”
- An Arizona lawmaker introduced a bill that would cap university presidents’ base salaries at $500,000. The bill would also limit bonuses to 15% of the base salary.
- All three of Arizona’s public university presidents currently earn more than $500,000 in base salary alone.
- The bill comes as the universities grapple with budget constraints and students face rising tuition costs.
The leaders of Arizona’s public universities each receive more than a million dollars a year in salary, bonuses and other benefits combined. A bill introduced this week looks to change that.
Senate Bill 1453 from Sen. David Farnsworth, R-Mesa, proposes capping the base salary of university presidents at $500,000 and limiting all bonuses at 15% of that base salary. Those bonuses would only be for performance exceeding their “assigned duties” and must directly benefit the school’s students, staff or faculty.
All three presidents currently make more than that in their base salaries. Arizona State University’s Michael Crow earns $892,500 annually, while that figure stands at nearly $713,000 for Northern Arizona University’s José Cruz Rivera and $810,000 for the University of Arizona’s President Suresh Garimella. Each receives additional benefits and bonuses.
According to a 2023 analysis from The Chronicle of Higher Education of public universities, each of the leaders of Arizona’s three major universities is among the top 30 presidents nationwide based on pay.
Some of the schools are facing difficult choices in the face of financial pressures. The University of Arizona currently faces a more than $60 million budget deficit, compared to an overall budget of $1.3 billion. University officials said they have worked to keep the scope of cuts focused on administrative costs.
This semester, in-person students at Arizona State University received a $350 tuition surcharge on their bill. University leadership said the decision was made after careful consideration of how $24 million in state funding cuts would impact the school.
Conservative leaders at the state Legislature have discussed targeting university presidents in the past. Senate President Warren Petersen argued last fall the presidents could be “doing better for less.”
“Would you support a reduction/cap on their pay?,” Petersen wrote on X. “Sounds like a good bill to hear in our #DOGE committees.”
University presidents are often not the highest-paid employees at a school — with salaries for top coaches continuing to rise. Both of the head basketball coaches at ASU and UA make more than $2 million with opportunities for other bonuses. Sen. T.J. Shope, R-Coolidge, expressed interest late last year in making it easier for the Arizona Board of Regents to reach contract deals with coaches. His bill has yet to gain traction in the Legislature.
The bill is being introduced after several years of falling support from the Legislature. Arizona currently invests less than half of the national average per capita, according to the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.
The issue is often a point of contention for higher education leaders. The Arizona Board of Regents, the body overseeing the state’s public university system, is calling for a considerable funding jump this year. They asked for $732 million more in funding to support its mission in providing higher education opportunities to Arizonans.
Students express frustration at increasing costs
Miranda Lopez of the Arizona Students’ Association, an advocacy group supporting the bill, said her peers have become increasingly frustrated over how money is spent at the schools.
She noted that pushing for legislation that would change the higher education landscape in the way they want has been difficult, noting the Republican majorities in Arizona’s House and Senate which have previously opted for conserving spend on higher education.
But this was something they agreed on.
“One thing that we can all agree on is that we think that these people who are in executive administrative positions, especially the president, are making too much money when they don’t need to be,” Lopez said.
She said the bill has received mixed feedback from lawmakers so far, with Democrats hesitant to support it. Lopez said Democrats have indicated that limiting presidents’ salaries feels too similar to a spending cut.
Lopez said their goal is not to cut support to higher education but to redirect money to issues they believe are more important.
“We’re not trying to cut the total amount, but rather, we’re trying to limit the amount that’s being given to one particular position,” she said.
Helen Rummel covers higher education for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at hrummel@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @helenrummel.
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
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.
Mega Millions
10-11-14-38-45, Mega Ball: 24
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Pick 3
2-5-8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Fantasy 5
02-08-20-30-40
Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Triple Twist
01-20-22-23-27-42
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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The Republic
- Three Arizona spas were listed in Oprah Daily’s 2025 Hotel O-Wards.
- The list includes spas with exceptional treatments, services and practitioners.
Three of Arizona’s most luxurious destination spa resorts received praise from Oprah Winfrey.
Her website Oprah Daily recently honored 53 destination spas worldwide in the 2025 Hotel O-Wards. Now in its second year, Oprah’s Hotel O-Wards recognize spa resorts whose treatments, services and practitioners are “best-in-class.”
The 17 honorees in the U.S. and Canada include three from Arizona: Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, Mii amo and Castle Hot Springs.
The three resorts are no stranger to recognition among Arizona’s most celebrated travel experiences, with Oprah Daily praising each of them for high quality and distinctive services.
Here’s a look at each of the Arizona honorees and why they were selected.
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, Scottsdale
Scottsdale has more than 50 resort and day spas, according to Experience Scottsdale, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. Sanctuary Camelback Mountain stood out among them in the Hotel O-Wards survey because of the size of its spa − 12,000 square feet − and the diversity of its treatment menu.
Standout offerings include a restorative meditation experience called Nidra sound voyage, which is claimed to equal three hours of sleep, and a form of underwater shiatsu massage known as watsu therapy.
Mii amo, Sedona
The accolades for this wellness spa within Enchantment Resort in Sedona’s Boynton Canyon − a vortex believed to have healing energy − have piled up since a $40 million renovation was finished in 2023, including from USA TODAY readers who named it the nation’s best spa in 2024.
Oprah Daily cited the renovation for elevating its offerings, including 23 casitas, 26 treatment rooms, a two-story fitness studio and a new restaurant, Hummingbird.
All-inclusive getaways at Mii amo can last from three to 10 nights, with treatments including past-life regression with a hypnotherapist and aura photography, both cited by Oprah Daily as highlights.
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Castle Hot Springs, Bradshaw Mountains
One of Arizona’s oldest resorts, the 1,100-acre Castle Hot Springs in the Bradshaw Mountains north of Phoenix offers wellness retreats that include bathing in the resort’s mineral-rich hot springs.
A multimillion-dollar renovation brought the resort back to life in 2019 after a fire shuttered it in the mid-1970s; its second life has seen widespread critical acclaim, including Travel + Leisure declaring it Arizona’s best resort in three of the last four years.
Oprah Daily praised the water-centric programming, including watsu therapy in the hot springs, paddleboard yoga and − in contrast with the average 106-degree temperatures of the springs − a newly introduced cold plunge pool with temperatures ranging from 43 to 46 degrees.
Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Michael.Salerno@gannett.com.
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The Arizona Cardinals have done a lot to bolster one of their weakest groups in the offseason so far. GM Monti Ossenfort has begun to instill obvious confidence from fans and media alike in the team’s ability to turn their story around and compete in the 2025 season.
Of course, that was mostly centered around a struggling defense, for understandable reasons. The offense was left somewhat neglected, though mainly due to an obvious amount of faith that the Cardinals’ passing attack can find its rhythm in year three.
That rough passing attack, however, could be the crutch that derails Arizona’s playoff hopes. Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon noted each NFL team’s “nightmare” scenario, and the Cardinals’ was centered around their offense.
So what was Gagnon’s nightmare scenario?
“Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. don’t put it together and the Cards regress, but there’s not much they can do about it because they are married to this core.”
That would certainly put a damper on a season with a great deal of expectations already upon it. Granted, there are many factors at play here. One is the health of all players involved, of course.
But consistency has been the issue with Murray, and Harrison’s rookie season was clearly moving a bit fast for the standout Ohio State Product.
There is little belief, both nationally and locally, that Harrison is a true “bust.” The second-year wideout has bulked up and added muscle, and appears to be in a better headspace heading into his sophomore season.
Murray, on the other hand, is well aware of the deficiencies present in his game. It wasn’t necessarily all on him, especially when his weapons outside of Trey McBride were at best spotty.
But Murray also made game-breaking mistakes down the stretch, in some of the most critical matchups. If Harrison does his part, Murray will need to follow with a more consistent baseline of production.
It’s not to say that a run-first offense needs 300-plus passing yards and three-plus touchdowns per game, especially with an upgraded defense, but the Cardinals will absolutely be in trouble if they can’t find some level of production from their franchise QB and the receiver they spent the No. 4 overall pick on.
Regardless, Arizona is entering a pivotal season. Murray and Harrison are more than capable of performing from a talent perspective, it’s simply a matter of whether they can build that chemistry and stave off whatever mental blocks may have been in place in 2024.
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