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Arizona Diamondbacks surging as they battle for a wild card spot

The D-Backs have surging after losing 9 in a row to start August

Sports

5 must-try local Phoenix ice cream shops

Here are the tastiest spots to grab a frozen treat, according to Axios Phoenix readers.

Food and Drink

Arizona History: Why tubers throw marshmallows in the Salt River and why they must stop

The marshmallow fight tradition dates back at least two decades.

Things to Do

How "golden handcuffs" locked up Phoenix's housing market

Roughly 67% of Arizona homeowners with mortgages have a rate below 4%.

Real Estate

Hobbs withdraws agency director nominees in move to sidestep Senate confirmation

"Legal and traditional vetting processes don't function this way."

News

Gov. Katie Hobbs is withdrawing 13 unconfirmed cabinet nominees from Senate consideration while leaving them in place as &quot;executive deputy directors&quot; who will continue leading their agencies.Why it matters: It&#x27;s a response to what she called a &quot;political circus&quot; created by Senate President Warren Petersen and the committee he created to vet her nominees, which has dragged out the confirmation process and subjected some nominees to intense scrutiny.

A woman stands at a lectern in front of a microphone with two men sitting behind her. 

Proposal would overhaul Arizona elections with nonpartisan open primaries

Between two and five candidates would advance to the general election, regardless of party.

A campaign to overhaul Arizona&#x27;s election system by eliminating partisan primaries and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="opening the door to ranked-choice voting" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/07/19/arizona-open-primaries-ranked-choice-voting" data-vars-content-id="8899e719-d05d-4c0d-961a-a6bd2eb9ed49" data-vars-headline="Proposal would overhaul Arizona elections with nonpartisan open primaries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/07/19/arizona-open-primaries-ranked-choice-voting" target="_self">opening the door to ranked-choice voting</a> kicked off Tuesday when advocates filed their <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="long-awaited citizen initiative" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/09/13/elections-reforms-ballot-ranked-choice-voting-arizona" data-vars-content-id="8899e719-d05d-4c0d-961a-a6bd2eb9ed49" data-vars-headline="Proposal would overhaul Arizona elections with nonpartisan open primaries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/09/13/elections-reforms-ballot-ranked-choice-voting-arizona" target="_self">long-awaited citizen initiative</a> with the secretary of state&#x27;s office.Details: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Make Elections Fair Act" data-vars-click-url="https://apps.arizona.vote/electioninfo/assets/47/0/BallotMeasures/I-07-2024%20Make%20Elections%20Fair%20Arizona.pdf" data-vars-content-id="8899e719-d05d-4c0d-961a-a6bd2eb9ed49" data-vars-headline="Proposal would overhaul Arizona elections with nonpartisan open primaries" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apps.arizona.vote/electioninfo/assets/47/0/BallotMeasures/I-07-2024%20Make%20Elections%20Fair%20Arizona.pdf" target="_blank">Make Elections Fair Act</a> is a proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution that would abolish taxpayer-funded partisan primaries and instead create an open primary in which all candidates for partisan offices appear on the same ballot.

Illustration of gold, silver and bronze check marks.

What the latest DACA ruling means for Arizona Dreamers

A federal judge struck down the  program that protects undocumented immigrants.

Another federal court ruling against the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/15/daca-anniversary-court-dreamers" data-vars-content-id="d6ca72d3-9726-4ca8-91d3-b266a207c173" data-vars-headline="What the latest DACA ruling means for Arizona Dreamers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/06/15/daca-anniversary-court-dreamers" target="_self">Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals</a> (DACA) program has left Arizona Dreamers in a continued state of unease.Driving the news: A federal judge <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="last week" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/13/daca-judge-strikes-down" data-vars-content-id="d6ca72d3-9726-4ca8-91d3-b266a207c173" data-vars-headline="What the latest DACA ruling means for Arizona Dreamers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/13/daca-judge-strikes-down" target="_self">last week</a> again struck down the program that protects undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

Swing state Arizona projected to lead U.S. in 2024 campaign spending

Arizona is 1 of 7 states expected to see 76% of spending in next year's presidential race.

The 2024 election cycle is expected to be the most expensive in U.S. history, and more of that money is projected to be spent in Arizona than any other state, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios&#x27; Erin Doherty reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/13/2024-election-ads-spend-most-expensive-swing-states?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiossneakpeek&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="636f61ba-4504-4e3c-9beb-aa2089f4f403" data-vars-headline="Swing state Arizona projected to lead U.S. in 2024 campaign spending" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/13/2024-election-ads-spend-most-expensive-swing-states?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiossneakpeek&amp;stream=top" target="_self">Axios&#x27; Erin Doherty reports</a>.By the numbers: The advertising tracking company AdImpact estimated that $821 million will be spent in Arizona for the current election cycle.

Inflation spikes Scottsdale dog park price tag to $6 million

When cities approve projects pre-pandemic, they didn't account for the unwieldy inflation.

Doggone it! <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Inflation" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/02/02/top-cities-inflation" data-vars-content-id="44e1c947-f26a-4865-8a68-8d21f0c9b858" data-vars-headline="Inflation spikes Scottsdale dog park price tag to $6 million" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/02/02/top-cities-inflation" target="_self">Inflation</a> is spiking the price of planned city projects, including a hotly anticipated <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="dog park in north Scottsdale" data-vars-click-url="https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/construction/project-list/thompson-peak-park-dog-park" data-vars-content-id="44e1c947-f26a-4865-8a68-8d21f0c9b858" data-vars-headline="Inflation spikes Scottsdale dog park price tag to $6 million" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/construction/project-list/thompson-peak-park-dog-park" target="_blank">dog park in north Scottsdale</a>.State of play: The 3.5-acre off-leash space is expected to open next year at Thompson Peak Park near Hayden Road and Thompson Peak Parkway.

Short-term rental critics want more regulatory power for cities

Short-term rental critics are gearing up to push new proposals in the 2024 legislative session.

Politics

Advocates of new restrictions on short-term rentals (STRs) are gearing up for the 2024 legislative session when they hope Arizona lawmakers will give cities more power to regulate companies like Airbnb and VRBO.Driving the news: Scottsdale is pushing <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="proposals" data-vars-click-url="https://kjzz.org/content/1855848/scottsdale-pushes-3-proposals-put-control-short-term-rentals-back-city-hands" data-vars-content-id="1ff9f145-4e0f-46d7-950a-4be493dd2f7f" data-vars-headline="Short-term rental critics want more regulatory power for cities" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://kjzz.org/content/1855848/scottsdale-pushes-3-proposals-put-control-short-term-rentals-back-city-hands" target="_blank">proposals</a> that would permit cities to cap the total number of STRs like Airbnb and VRBO, limit the density of STRs in certain areas, and mandate distance requirements.

Illustration of a key suspended in mid-air by pieces of taught red tape. 

Pastor influenced the drawing of the congressional district where she's no longer running

Pastor suspended her campaign and is no longer running in the district she helped shape.

When Phoenix City Council member Laura Pastor recently <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="suspended her campaign for Arizona&#x27;s 3rd Congressional District" data-vars-click-url="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/08/18/laura-pastor-suspends-campaign-for-u-s-house-will-stay-on-phoenix-city-council/70623655007/" data-vars-content-id="7aea2495-75c8-4f09-8cac-a0b7b64186a3" data-vars-headline="Pastor influenced the drawing of the congressional district where she&#x27;s no longer running" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/08/18/laura-pastor-suspends-campaign-for-u-s-house-will-stay-on-phoenix-city-council/70623655007/" target="_blank">suspended her campaign for Arizona&#x27;s 3rd Congressional District</a> over health concerns, she walked away from a district that she helped craft to the consternation of many of her fellow Democrats.What happened: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Pastor lobbied the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission" data-vars-click-url="https://www.azmirror.com/2021/12/10/redistricting-panel-takes-steps-to-bolster-gop-chances-in-latest-changes/" data-vars-content-id="7aea2495-75c8-4f09-8cac-a0b7b64186a3" data-vars-headline="Pastor influenced the drawing of the congressional district where she&#x27;s no longer running" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.azmirror.com/2021/12/10/redistricting-panel-takes-steps-to-bolster-gop-chances-in-latest-changes/" target="_blank">Pastor lobbied the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission</a> (AIRC) in 2021 to make changes that moved about half of her City Council district — split by two congressional districts — into CD3.

A green shaded area over a map of Phoenix Arizona with other areas shaded in different colors. 

Ansari and Terán likely to dominate CD3 race following Pastor's departure

Laura Pastor's withdrawal from the race changed the dynamics of the Democratic primary.

A once-crowded field for the south and west Phoenix-based 3rd Congressional District has winnowed down and is largely viewed as a two-way race between Yassamin Ansari and Raquel Terán.The big picture: The CD3 seat is open for the first time since 2014 — previously it was open during a 1991 special election — due to incumbent <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Ruben Gallego&#x27;s decision to run for the U.S. Senate seat" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/20/gallego-sinema-arizona-senate-2024" data-vars-content-id="d326ac86-d199-4253-a313-fb1af9d8b5ec" data-vars-headline="Ansari and Terán likely to dominate CD3 race following Pastor&#x27;s departure" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/20/gallego-sinema-arizona-senate-2024" target="_self">Ruben Gallego&#x27;s decision to run for the U.S. Senate seat</a> now held by Kyrsten Sinema.

Side by side photos of a woman in a blue-green blazer and a woman in a red blazer. 

23 years and $20 million later, the Capitol light rail plan is dead

It was an idea $20 million and 20-plus years in the making.

Transit

Winning the Republican <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state Legislature&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/08/01/arizona-legislative-session-end-prop-400-ballot" data-vars-content-id="70b24254-3759-4b7a-ad97-323cb2d3562f" data-vars-headline="23 years and $20 million later, the Capitol light rail plan is dead" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/08/01/arizona-legislative-session-end-prop-400-ballot" target="_self">state Legislature&#x27;s</a> permission to ask metro Phoenix voters to continue funding transportation came at the cost of a planned light rail extension that would have connected downtown to the state Capitol.<ul><li>It was an idea $20 million and 20-plus years in the making.</li></ul>

The last time abortion was on the ballot, Arizona voters protected it

In 1992, voters overwhelmingly rejected the Preborn Child Protection Amendment.

Next November, abortion rights advocates plan to ask Arizona voters to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="expand and protect the right to abortion in the state constitution" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/08/08/arizona-campaign-abortion-rights-ballot-constitution" data-vars-content-id="172e23e2-c22f-4359-8e61-10b08328c916" data-vars-headline="The last time abortion was on the ballot, Arizona voters protected it" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/08/08/arizona-campaign-abortion-rights-ballot-constitution" target="_self">expand and protect the right to abortion in the state constitution</a>.<ul><li>And it won&#x27;t be the first time Arizona voters have been asked to weigh in on the issue.</li></ul>

Illustration of a caduceus over a divided red and blue background with elements of ballots.

Politics 🇺🇸