PHOENIX — The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality announced on Friday the Thatcher Company of Arizona committed multiple violations of state and federal law, resulting in a chemical leak at the Buckeye facility in June.

The nitric acid leak warranted a shelter in place order for the area as crews worked to clean the spill and yellowish-brown clouds were released into the air.

“This incident at Thatcher Company’s facility was unacceptable,” ADEQ Waste Programs Division Director Julie Riemenschneider said. “Releases of hazardous materials can endanger the health and safety of people and families living nearby.

“We deeply appreciate the swift actions of the first responders who quickly stepped in to protect the community. ADEQ is committed to holding this facility accountable and working with them to help prevent future incidents. Our top priority is the safety and well-being of all Arizonans.”

ADEQ personnel visited the facility on June 28, a week after the spill, to inspect its operations.

Following the inspection, ADEQ gave 11 potential issues the company needs to address over 30 days, part of which includes providing photos and documents so the ADEQ can verify the issues had been addressed.

“Hazardous waste facilities must adhere to the stringent safety protocols. It is crucial for these facilities to have emergency planning, including notification to the local emergency authority,” Riemenschneider added. “These requirements are designed to protect our communities and ensure that responses to potential hazards are swift and effective.”

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(The Center Square) – Ahead of Arizona’s primary election on Tuesday, election security has been a hot topic among politicians. So much so that Secretary of State Adrian Fontes released a misinformation alert Friday afternoon.

“The Secretary of State encourages voters to rely only on trusted sources for accurate, election-related news,” reads a press release from the Secretary of State’s Office. “We want to reassure the public that the security and integrity of their vote are our top priorities.”

Election integrity is something that Senate candidate Kari Lake has spoken out about when it came to her election loss to Katie Hobbs in the 2022 race for governor. Lake claimed that Maricopa County didn’t conduct required accuracy testing on its tabulators and believed they were inaccurate, refusing to concede the race.

She has since claimed that her Republican opponent, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, is a “coward” when it comes to election integrity.

“He does not respect our elections,” Lake said. “He has done absolutely zero to make sure we have safe and secure elections.”

Lamb responded with an email to his supporters refuting Lake’s allegations.

“The topic of election integrity is incredibly important to me (and this country), and it’s one that I take very seriously,” the email reads. “My opponent, former newscaster Kari Lake, has resorted to making baseless accusations against me, suggesting that I turned a blind eye to election fraud. This couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Lamb said that in 2020, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office installed cameras on every ballot drop box in the county and monitored the footage. He even opened up the footage for the community to view.

“I’ve always fought for election integrity no matter what people say,” Lamb said.

Lake declined to participate in the GOP primary debate where Lamb did a Q&A, saying that election fraud is something he would address if elected as U.S. senator.

“There’s fraud in every election,” Lamb said. “We’ve got to do a lot better nationally with election security. We owe it to the American people.”

Fontes assured voters in his statement that the state is diligent in ensuring secure elections. The polls will be open for the state primary election at 6 a.m. and they close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. Voters in Maricopa County can find their closest polling location here. Voters in Pima County can find their closest polling location here. All other voters can visit my.arizona.vote to find their polling locations.

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In order to participate, voters must bring valid identification, either a photo ID or two forms of ID if they don’t include a photograph.

Fontes encourages people to be aware of the upcoming heatwave when going to polling locations and many locations will be equipped with cooling centers providing relief from the heat. More information on what to expect on election day can be found at https://azsos.gov/elections/voters.

A last-minute shake-up in a competitive congressional primary to replace outgoing Arizona Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko could have an impact on Tuesday’s results.

Trump endorsed both Blake Masters and Abe Hamadeh in a Truth Social post late Saturday night, even though the Republican originally only endorsed Hamadeh, the Arizona Republic reported.

“We have a very important Republican Primary Election on Tuesday for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, with two spectacular America First Candidates,” the former president posted.
 
“Blake Masters is a very successful businessman, and an incredibly strong supporter of our Movement to Make America Great Again – He is smart and tough! Likewise, Abe Hamadeh, a Veteran, former prosecutor, and fearless fighter for Election Integrity, has been with me all the way!” he continued.

“In Congress, we need a true Warrior who will work tirelessly with us to Grow our Economy, Stop Inflation, Secure our Border, End Migrant Crime, Support our Great Military/Vets, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment . . . THEY WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” Trump added.

Masters was the Senate nominee and Hamadeh was the Attorney General nominee in the 2022 Republican primary, but the two drifted apart over disagreements related to the election outcome.

Masters conceded his race to Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, whereas Hamadeh legally challenged the results, along with gubernatorial turned senatorial candidate Kari Lake. Masters lost by roughly 125,000 votes, but Hamadeh lost by 280 votes.

The endorsement appears to close a gap between Trump and his Vice Presidential pick, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who backed Masters in the race for the safely Republican congressional district.

Arizona House Speaker Ben Toma, former Congressman Trent Franks, state Sen. Anthony Kern and Patrick Briody are also pursuing the seat.