School Voucher Battle Shifts

The battle over Arizona’s school voucher program took another turn Tuesday, as Fortify AZ dropped its campaign to place proposed changes on the November statewide ballot.

A separate ballot petition drive continues by the Arizona Education Association and others. Meanwhile, state lawmakers last week referred a measure that could void the teachers’ union proposal. Fortify AZ also opposes the teachers’ union measure. 

The back-and-forth comes as the state’s K-12 voucher program continues to surge in popularity, with more than 100,000 students participating in the most recent school year, up from 12,000 when the program launched in 2022.

Under the program, families typically can get between $7,000 and $8,000 per student to use for private and charter school tuition and homeschooling.

U of A Dean Eyed to Lead Boise State

The Idaho State Board of Education named University of Arizona engineering dean David W. Hahn the sole finalist to become Boise State University’s eighth president.

“His impressive record in engineering, research, and workforce development aligns well with Idaho’s continued growth and opportunity,” Idaho Gov. Brad Little said in a statement.

A mechanical engineer, Hahn holds 12 U.S. patents. Before becoming dean at U of A in 2019, he worked for about 20 years at the University of Florida.

U of A officials praised Hahn’s selection, calling him a “remarkable leader and champion for the entire university.” The school plans to appoint an interim dean and conduct a national search for the permanent position.

  Top Public Golf Courses Ranked

Golfweek ranked Arizona’s 30 best public-access courses, with We-Ko-Pa’s Saguaro layout in Fort McDowell claiming the top spot.

Quintero Golf Club in Peoria landed the No. 2 spot and Scottsdale’s famous TPC Stadium course, host of the annual WM Phoenix Open, placed third. Maricopa’s Ak-Chin Southern Dunes and Scottsdale’s Grayhawk Talon rounded out the top five.

Of the ranked courses, 26 sit within an hour of downtown Phoenix, with discounted summer rates ranging from $49 to $139, down from $200 to $500 for some courses.

You can find Golfweek’s state-by-state rankings here.

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➤ Prescott: Arizona’s monsoon season opened with severe weather, dropping hail in the Thumb Butte area and knocking down power lines in Casa Grande as a dust devil formed near northwest Phoenix. (More)

➤ Apache Junction: A two-day East Valley sting operation targeting online predators led to the arrest of 10 out-of-town suspects who traveled to the city. (More)

➤ Maricopa County: The county reported its first West Nile virus death of the season, an older adult with underlying health conditions. Officials offered tips to protect from the mosquito-borne virus. (More)

➤ Flagstaff: Arizona Public Service and state officials hosted a demonstration of the state’s network of AI wildfire-detection cameras. (More)

➤ Phoenix: The operator of Arizona’s 211 community resources helpline will end the service on Aug. 13, citing a lack of state funding. (More)

➤ Marana: A 40-year-old airport worker died Saturday after walking into the spinning propeller of a parked Cessna, according to the FAA. (More)

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➤ Arizona Cardinals left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. said new left guard Isaac Seumalo is a man of few words on the field. “If I hear the grunt, I know we’re on the same page,” he said. (More)

➤ Arizona State football landed a commitment from 6-foot-5, 270-pound Magic Haynes, the team’s first defensive lineman of the 2027 recruiting class. (More)

➤ Arizona Cardinals rookie running back Jeremiyah Love threw out the ceremonial first pitch this week at the Arizona Diamondbacks’ baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels at Chase Field. (More)

➤ ESPN’s latest mock draft projects the Phoenix Suns to select Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley with the 47th pick in the second round of the upcoming NBA Draft. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | College World Series | WNBA

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➤ Arizona’s growing semiconductor output will meet only a fraction of U.S. and global demand, an Arizona State economist said. (More)

➤ NFIB Arizona PAC endorsed 48 legislative candidates ahead of the July 21 primary, citing their focus on easing taxes and regulatory burdens on the state’s small businesses. (More)

➤ Healthcare, technology, and advanced manufacturing rank among Arizona’s fastest-growing career fields, according to a state report. (More)

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➤ A Northern Arizona University exhibit spotlights the hidden history of black lumberjacks who migrated west. (More)

➤ The family of the late Darrell Sheets plans to reopen the Storage Wars star’s Havasu Show Me Your Junk store in Lake Havasu City. (More)

➤ The weekly Southwest Monsoon Fantasy Forecasts tournament returns for a sixth year, with players competing to predict rainfall across five cities. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Student behavior is getting worse, and teachers are pointing the finger at parents, a new survey says. (Hear Details)

➤ Cuba’s power grid collapsed for the third time this month, leaving millions in the dark again. (Hear Episode)

➤ Gen Z is ditching the bar for the gym, and the numbers are striking. (Listen Now)

Have you ever called the 211 helpline?

1. Yes
2. Know someone who has
3. No

Previous Results:

Do you watch mixed martial arts fighting?

1. No/not a fan: 55%
2. Seldom watch: 19%
3. Average fan: 14%
4. Big fan: 12%

When did Arizona’s first golf course open?

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