In her first State of the State address since voters expanded Republicans' legislative majorities, Gov. Katie Hobbs pledged to provide more assistance to people struggling with the costs of housing and child care.

The big picture: Hobbs' speech covered a variety of areas she hopes to find common ground with Republicans who control the House and Senate, and was mixed with a handful of partisan proposals and jabs at the majority party.

• The governor emphasized her past struggles, talking about her family's reliance on food stamps when she was young, losing her home during the Great Recession and taking a second job as an Uber driver to buy Christmas presents for her kids.

She lamented that "the Arizona promise has slipped away" for too many and outlined proposals she said would alleviate the problem.

On housing: The governor called for the extension of the state's Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and the Arizona Is Home program, which provides aid to first-time homebuyers, and for the restriction of short-term rental "party houses," which she said are removed from the housing supply by out-of-state speculators.

On child care: The average Arizona family pays nearly $15,000 a year for child care, Hobbs said, and one in four who needs care can't access it.

• The governor said she wants to cut costs for struggling families by two-thirds through employer partnerships.
• Reality check: We have yet to see details about the Working Families Child Care Act.

On public safety: Hobbs proposed a 5% pay raise for frontline law enforcement officers, as well as higher salaries for state firefighters.

Zoom in: Hobbs called on the Legislature to repeal the law requiring annual state reports of abortion data, calling it "government surveillance of pregnant women."

More on the Hobbs agenda

Republican lawmakers who control the Arizona House and Senate expressed a willingness to work with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs but were largely skeptical about the signature policy proposals in her State of the State address.

Catch up quick: Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, said the solution to Arizona's housing shortage is to establish more supply, "not some program that (Hobbs) creates where government takes money from somebody and gives it to somebody else."

• House Speaker Steve Montenegro, R-Goodyear, seemed doubtful about the governor's proposal to restrict short-term rental "party houses," telling reporters the state must respect people's property rights.
• Petersen added he hasn't heard any details of Hobbs' child care plan, but said the industry is overregulated, driving up costs. Some Republicans questioned how the governor's program would be funded, including Rep. Jeff Weninger, R-Chandler, who told Axios: "Everybody wants to have affordable child care. But who pays for it?"

Yes, but: Republicans were supportive of Hobbs' call for pay raises for state police and firefighters.

• Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, told Axios she'd like to make that happen, while Rep. Walt Blackman, R-Snowflake, said he wants a bigger salary hike.

Republicans react to Hobbs

Dry January is in full swing and there are new nonalcoholic beers available to make sobriety a little easier.

The big picture: The quality of NA beers has improved as brewers refine their process and capture the essence of the beverage without the alcohol.

• Here's a few new favorites:

Kernza Golden Brew: Made by Oregon's Deschutes Brewery, in partnership with outdoor company Patagonia's food division, this beer features climate-friendly ingredients and offers a classic and clean-flavored sip that perfectly mimics the real thing.

Designated Dale's NA Pils: From Colorado's Oskar Blues Brewery, this crisp pilsner offers a light hop touch that lends a lemon-like kiss.

Black Butte Non-Alcoholic: This award-winning rich porter from Deschutes Brewery is smooth without being filling and packed with chocolate malt flavor. It's arguably the best NA beer on the market in terms of being a clone of the original.

Three more

🏛 AG Kris Mayes requested access to special counsel Jack Smith's case file for her case against Arizona's 2020 fake electors. (Arizona Mirror)

🏫 Mesa Public Schools, the largest district in Arizona, announced plans to lay off staff for the 2025-26 academic year due to a funding deficit caused by decreased enrollment. (Arizona's Family)

🚗 The WeRide microtransit service is expanding to Peoria, joining Avondale, Goodyear and Surprise. (KTAR)

👋 Pastor Warren Stewart Sr., a major figure in the movement for a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday in Arizona, is retiring after five decades leading First Institutional Baptist Church in Phoenix. (AZcentral)

Scottsdale Quarter Italian restaurant etta has reopened with a fancier menu and a capital "S" Scottsdale vibe.

Zoom in: The ambiance now screams Scottsdale.

• The bar is covered in TVs for a snazzy sports-watching experience and the main dining room now has its own cocktail bar, an immersive audio system to highlight nightly DJ performances and a moodier feel.
• The pizza portion of the menu has been replaced with more expensive plates — think caviar service and oysters.

Best bites: There are several new protein options — like Wagyu flat iron steak and Ora King salmon — but when given a pasta option, I'm going to take it every time.

• Flaming burrata: It arrived at the table looking like a plate of soap suds but revealed its heavenly goodness after the waiter lit it on fire.
• Spicy rigatoni: Pancetta, roasted tomatoes and Calabrian chili come together to bring heat and sweetness to this dish.
• Potato puree: These mashed potatoes have an incredible cheese-to-potato ratio.

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