School DEI Standards Scrapped

State School Superintendent Tom Horne praised the state Board of Education’s vote on Monday to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) language from statewide teaching standards.

Horne said the decision reflected the belief that people should be judged by character and not race, and that DEI programs “have no place in the classroom.”

The decision, which followed a postponed October vote by the board, aligns Arizona’s public schools with the Trump administration’s push to eliminate DEI programs or risk $866 million in federal funding.

The Arizona Education Association supported keeping the standards.

Prisons Shift to Digitized Mail

Arizona prisons will digitize paper mail for delivery to inmates starting Monday, aiming to reduce contraband and improve security.

All general mail must be addressed to a Dallas processing center, where it will be scanned and digitized for delivery via inmates’ tablet computers and prison kiosks. For inmates without digital access, prisons will print copies.

During the transition, improperly sent mail will still be processed through Jan. 15, after which it will be returned to the sender.

Other prison mail changes are set to begin Jan. 7, with packages and official government mail sent to a Phoenix address for security screening before delivery.

Armless Pilot Shares Story

Sierra Vista native Jessica Cox, the world’s first licensed pilot born without arms, shared her inspiring story as a keynote speaker at the monthly meeting of the Sedona 99s women pilots group.

Cox, 42, used prosthetic limbs before deciding at age 14 to rely on her feet for everyday tasks. 

Cox’s achievements include flying an Ercoupe airplane with her feet, practicing taekwondo, traveling internationally, and authoring the book Disarm Your Limits.

She is currently building a custom airplane—the first designed to be flown entirely with feet.

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➤ Mesa: State Rep. Seth Blattman, D-Mesa, will not seek re-election, citing a desire for a job with long-term stability. (Watch)

➤ Phoenix: A federal jury will decide if a former Arizona State athletic director fired an assistant for poor performance or for reporting alleged cases of sexual harassment by a major donor. (Watch)

➤ Tucson: Catalina United Methodist Church began distributing whistles to alert the community when immigration enforcement operations are taking place. (Watch)

➤ Cottonwood: The town’s recreation center will install new cardio and weight machines on Dec. 17, temporarily closing those areas while the rest of the center remains open. (More)

➤ Payson: The holiday ice rink opens Sunday at Green Valley Park, offering skating sessions, rentals, and a season pass through Jan. 11. (Details)

➤ Huachuca City: The town began accepting applications for its Christmas assistance program that helps low-income families with meals and gifts. (Watch)

➤ Arizona men’s basketball moved up one place to No. 1 in this week’s AP poll, the team’s first time in the top spot since Dec. 11, 2023. (More)

➤ Three college football bowl games will take place in Arizona: New Mexico-Minnesota in the Rate Bowl on Dec. 26 in Phoenix, Fresno State-Miami (OH) in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl on Dec. 27 in Tucson, and the Fiesta Bowl college football playoff semifinal game on Jan. 8 in Glendale. (More)

➤ The Basha Bears defeated Chandler 34-7 to win the Open Division state high school football championship, the team’s second state title. (More)

➤ The Red Sox, Rays, and Tigers have contacted the Arizona Diamondbacks about acquiring All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte, with Arizona eyeing pitching talent in return. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ Jobs in healthcare and retail dominate Arizona’s workforce, with Banner Health, HonorHealth, Walmart, and Amazon among the state’s 20 biggest employers. (List)

➤ Lincoln Property Company and Goldman Sachs sold Glendale’s 1.27 million‑square-foot Building C at Luke Field to Walmart for $152 million, marking Arizona’s largest industrial sale of 2025. (More)

➤ Quad Cities Business News—covering Dewey-Humboldt, Prescott Valley, and nearby towns—closed after 13 years, citing financial and operational challenges. (More)

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➤ Military veteran Charles Reeves, once homeless, refurbishes and donates bikes to help fellow vets gain independence through a Phoenix transitional housing program. (Watch)

➤ The drive-through nativity at Green Valley Baptist Church will take place from Friday through Sunday for the next two weekends, celebrating the season while supporting families in need. (Watch)

➤ Yavapai County named the winners of its annual student artwork contest. The Prescott Sunrise Lions Club donated prizes for the winners’ classrooms. (Drawings)

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