Arizona

Senate bill promises to save Arizona’s water future. It does the opposite

Published

2 years ago

February 15, 2024

Press Room

Senate bill promises to save Arizona’s water future. It does the opposite

Opinion: Arizona’s Senate Bill 1221 is the wrong way to fix rural groundwater problems. Lawmakers should dispense with it and work with us instead.

Donna Michaels, Travis Lingenfelter, Holly Irwin and Patrice Horstman
| opinion contributors

Like our constituents of every political persuasion, we four supervisors from four medium-sized Arizona counties are concerned about the future of water in our communities — which is nonpartisan.

For a long time, we have been advocating for a more adaptable, locally driven set of tools to manage and conserve our groundwater.

We were therefore concerned to see Senate Bill 1221 be given a hearing in the Senate Natural Resources & Water committee last week.

Rather than empowering rural communities to manage our groundwater and preserve our water future, SB 1221 would do the opposite:

It creates layers and layers of new government bureaucracy, shuts rural constituents out of the process and deprives us of the tools we need to manage and conserve our groundwater in a way that makes sense.

AMA is not ideal, but it’s better than nothing

It’s the wrong bill for Arizona and does not address or adequately minimize the precise reason we are in these situations in rural Arizona — industrial overpumping combined with inadequate conservation.

Nonetheless, as the recent uproar over the potential creation of a Gila Bend Active Management Area (AMA) shows, it is past time for the state Legislature to take action.

No one believes that a Phoenix or Tucson-style AMA is the best solution to our rural water concerns, and yet, without leadership and policymaking from our state lawmakers, AMAs are the only tool available to manage the crisis in the Gila Bend basin and the crises facing other basins throughout rural Arizona.

Even though imperfect, AMAs provide far more balanced protection of “at risk” water supplies for all residents. And, although not preferred, they are better than doing nothing.

For that reason, we invite those who were surprised or distressed to hear about a possible Gila Bend AMA to join in our advocating for rural solutions and new, balanced ways to create locally directed water management tools for rural Arizona:

You are in this position because pleas from rural communities like ours have been ignored for so long by the Legislature. Years of government inaction have brought us to this moment.

Stop pursuing SB 1221 and engage with us

Proposals brought by us and other rural local leaders that would have given us the tools and local control to address our unique needs have been blocked or ignored altogether, year after year.

Rural Arizona deserves better from its elected leaders at the Capitol.

We need real solutions that provide certainty in long-term rural groundwater planning, and empower effective management of our rural groundwater basins determined to be at-risk by the best objective data and hydrological studies from U.S. Geological Survey and the Arizona Department of Water Services.

We need new ways to protect our water supplies from drought, speculation, irresponsible development and out-of-state industrial megausers out to drain our aquifers before packing up and moving elsewhere.

Waer regulation: Has become a game of chicken

We urge our legislators at the Capitol to dispense with SB 1221 as quickly as possible. And to engage in good-faith dialogue with rural leaders and stakeholders to give us tools to effectively manage our water supply.

We who have been waging this advocacy and education battle for years recognize that this is a moment that requires bravery from our legislators. It will involve overcoming the usual political partisanship and perhaps even upsetting some big donors.

But it is also an opportunity for Arizona to lead as a state that cares about citizen consumer protection, water conservation and economic freedom.

We love our farms, our towns and our rural way of life, and we want to secure the future of water in Arizona. Water security is too important an issue to be handled with something as ineffective and bureaucratic as SB 1221.

Donna Michaels, Travis Lingenfelter, Holly Irwin and Patrice Horstman are county supervisors in Yavapai, Mohave, La Paz and Coconino counties, respectively. Reach them at web.bos.district3@yavapaiaz.gov,

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Arizona

No. 1 Arizona wraps up Bethune Cookman 107-71

Published

9 hours ago

December 23, 2025

Press Room

No. 1 Arizona wraps up Bethune Cookman 107-71

Arizona wrapped up their pre-Christmas schedule with a nice bow in the form of a 36 point victory over Bethune Cookman. Seven players scored double figures as Brayden Burries lead the game with 20 points. Partway through the first half Mabil Mawut was ejected from the game while on the bench, a rare occurrence under the Tommy Lloyd led team. Arizona will take Christmas off with practice resuming on the 26th and their next game at home on the 29th.

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Arizona

Will Arizona see a white Christmas? What the holiday forecast says

Published

21 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Will Arizona see a white Christmas? What the holiday forecast says

After a week of persistent warm weather, a storm system is expected to bring rain, not snow, to Arizona for Christmas.
Flagstaff and other high-country areas are also too warm for Christmas snow, with precipitation expected to be mostly rain.
The same weather pattern is bringing heavy rain and potential flooding to Southern California and parts of the Northwest.

Arizonans dreaming of a white Christmas will likely have to settle for rain this year as warm temperatures persist.

A storm system off the West Coast is expected to funnel moisture into the state later this week, giving much of Arizona chances for rain around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The unsettled pattern could bring measurable rainfall, but temperatures are expected to stay too warm for snow, even in the high country. Arizona won’t get the soaking Southern California is expecting from incoming atmospheric rivers slamming the coast, but that same system will push moisture into the Southwest.

“Unfortunately, no white Christmas. I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news,” said Ted Whittock, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix.

In Phoenix, rain chances as temperatures cool from record highs

In Phoenix and the lower deserts, Christmas week will start off unusually warm before gradually cooling as rain chances increase.

Phoenix could break a daily temperature record for the second day in a row on Monday, Dec. 22. The current record is 79 degrees, with a forecast high of 82. A high of 81 degrees on Sunday, Dec. 21, broke the daily record for the third time this month.

But the weather should shift as a low-pressure system moves in from the Pacific.

“We’ll see a strong low-pressure system move in just off the West Coast and bring plenty of moisture into the region starting tomorrow,” Whittock said. “As a result, we’re going to see periodic rain chances this week.”

Forecasters say there will be two main windows for rain: late Tuesday into early Wednesday and again from Christmas Eve into Christmas Day.

Temperatures will start to trend downward midweek, with highs potentially dropping into the 60s and low 70s by the weekend.

Rainfall totals in the Valley could add up to around a half-inch or more in spots.

In Flagstaff, mostly rain early with uncertain snow chances later

Up north, Flagstaff will also see an unsettled and warmer-than-normal Christmas week. But snow lovers may be disappointed.

“It’s very warm for this time of year compared to what it usually is in December, so we’re expecting this week’s events to mainly be rain instead of snow,” said Jacob Lewandowski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Flagstaff.

The first chance of rain in the forecast is Tuesday, Dec. 23 in the evening. Snow levels are expected to stay high through midweek, generally between 9,000 and 10,000 feet. That puts Flagstaff below the snow line during the initial rounds of precipitation.

Chances for snow could increase later in the week as cooler air moves in, but confidence drops significantly after Wednesday.

“The chances for snow start increasing by Thursday and Friday, but it’s still a lot of uncertainty with it,” said Lewandowski. “It’s just how warm it is through the week and whether it’s going to be all rain or a little bit of snow mixed in. Most likely not a white Christmas, though. It’s too warm.”

Atmospheric rivers hit the West Coast as much of the U.S. stays warm

The storm system affecting Arizona is part of a broader pattern impacting much of the western United States. Atmospheric rivers, or long plumes of moisture from the Pacific, are expected to bring heavy rain to parts of coastal California this week.

“The atmospheric rivers are going to impact Southern Calfironia, particularly on Wednesday,” Whittock said. “This is an especially impactful system for people that are traveling to and from Southern California, especially coastal areas.”

Forecasts from the National Weather Service in Los Angeles show an extended period of heavy rain expected from Tuesday through Saturday, with 4 to 8 inches of rain likely across coastal and valley areas. Prolonged rainfall could lead to flooding and debris flow concerns, especially in burn scar areas.

Unusual weather isn’t limited to just the West. Much of the United States will have a warmer than normal holiday, with some areas experiencing their warmest Christmases on record.

A northward shift in the jet stream over the middle of the country is allowing warmer air to spread east, causing above-normal temperatures. From the Rockies to parts of the Appalachians, temperatures could reach 15 to 30 degrees above average for Christmas Day.

So whether it’s rainy or warm, much of the country will miss out on a snow globe Christmas this year. In Arizona, that likely means a damp holiday instead of a snowy one.

Hayleigh Evans writes about extreme weather and related topics for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email her with story tips at hayleigh.evans@arizonarepublic.com.

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Arizona

Arizona Lottery Pick 3, Fantasy 5 results for Dec. 21, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

Arizona Lottery Pick 3, Fantasy 5 results for Dec. 21, 2025

The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025 results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers

9-1-0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers

09-18-19-32-35

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Triple Twist numbers

10-25-28-31-34-41

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/.

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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