Arizona was the third-hardest hit state when it came to drops in Affordable Care Act coverage after beefed-up federal subsidies expired this year, according to state-by-state federal data.

Why it matters: In February 2025, Arizona had about 363,000 people enrolled. A year later, that figure had dropped by 107,000.

By the numbers: The state experienced a 29.5% enrollment decrease during the 12-month period that ended in February 2026, per the Associated Press.

Zoom in: Only Ohio (32.4%) and Oklahoma (32.3%) had larger decreases than Arizona, according to the state breakdown, first reported by the AP.

• Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi and Louisiana also had deep coverage losses.
• Nationally, Obamacare enrollment fell by about 3 million since last year, or about 13%, according to a separate federal report from the Department of Health and Human Services last month.
• That report attributed the drop-off to improper or fraudulent sign-ups by "phantom enrollees." But health policy experts have pointed to large numbers of people not paying their first ACA premium following the expiration of subsidies.

The big picture: The coverage losses are hitting deep-red states as well as blue ones.

What we're watching: How Republican candidates in the midterms talk about Obamacare subsidies and the coverage losses — if they talk about them at all. (We know what Democrats are going to say.)

More here

LeBron James is on the move again, and suddenly every NBA city thinks it has a shot — so why not Phoenix?

Why it matters: Even at 41, James remains one of basketball's defining figures. He is the league's all-time leading scorer, a four-time champion and one of the only active players whose arrival could instantly alter the trajectory, relevance and national profile of a franchise.

• Naturally, Phoenix has to make its case.

The intrigue: LeBron likely wants a team that will contend for a title with him on the roster, and we're not sure the Suns quite fit the bill.

• We don't have the star power that teams like Cleveland, Miami, Minnesota and Philadelphia can flex for King James.
• Still, we've got our upsides.

The King has heard enough from front-office executives. Now it's our turn.

The pitch: It would be a twist to the LeBron James-Dillon Brooks rivalry. Wouldn't it be fun to be on the same side as Brooks' trash-talking rather than on the receiving end?

• And after so many years in Los Angeles and Miami, would you rather spend your winters in Phoenix or a place like Cleveland or Minnesota?
• Phoenix probably isn't a championship contender even with James, but the scrappy Suns were one of the biggest surprises of last season, defying expectations to reach the playoffs.

Other Axios Local pitches

🗳️ The Arizona Supreme Court sided with Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap in his ongoing legal battle with the Board of Supervisors over the division of election duties. (KJZZ)

🥕 Phoenix residents who lost SNAP benefits in the past nine months can apply for a one-time assistance payment of $700 from the city. (KTAR)

🛍️ Clearance store Last Chance is not closing in Phoenix, despite viral rumors. The Nordstrom Rack-offshoot is closing its Illinois location later this year, which will make the Camelback Colonnade store the last in the U.S. (AZcentral)

⚖️ A judge ruled that the Arizona Constitution doesn't bar former state Rep. David Marshall from serving as Navajo County recorder. (White Mountain Independent)

The CEOs lost this one: New government data shows that 35% of U.S. workers did some or all of their work at home last year — significantly higher than in the previous decade.

Why it matters: Despite the best efforts of many prominent executives and leaders, we live in a hybrid work world, with more people doing their jobs remotely, and that's led to big societal change.

Flashback: The workplace was permanently altered in the pandemic. In 2019, only 24% of workers did some or all of their work from home. By 2022, that number had risen to 34% and has stayed relatively steady since.

Where it stands: Working from home is mostly for workers with more education.

• 57% of those with an advanced degree did some work at home in 2025, per the data from the American Time Use Survey.
• That's compared with 30% for those with some college or an associate degree.

Between the lines: This helps partly explain the gender divide. Women, who earn a bigger share of college degrees, are more likely than men to work remotely.

Tell your boss