Author

Jim Small is a native Arizonan and has covered state government, policy and politics since 2004, with a focus on investigative and in-depth policy reporting, first as a reporter for the Arizona Capitol Times, then as editor of the paper and its prestigious sister publications, the Yellow Sheet Report and Arizona Legislative Report. Under his guidance, the Capitol Times won numerous state, regional and national awards for its accountability journalism and probing investigations into state government operations.
Study: AZ among the worst in vaccination rates
By: Jim Small - August 20, 2019
An analysis of public health data finds that Arizona has been acutely affected by the rise of the anti-vaccination movement, and ranks No. 4 in the nation in granting the most exemptions to school children.
‘Trump Unity Bridge’ float comes to AZ Capitol
By: Jim Small - August 19, 2019
Workers near the Arizona Capitol were jarred Monday when a pro-Trump float blasting Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" briefly posted up outside the Executive Tower, where Gov. Doug Ducey's office is located.
Flake: Racist language doesn’t make Trump racist
By: Jim Small - August 16, 2019
Former U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake says President Donald Trump is guilty of making racist statements, but critics “go too far” when they use those statements to castigate Trump as a racist.
In wake of El Paso shooting, Fann missed her chance to condemn Allen’s toxic ‘great replacement’ beliefs
By: Jim Small - August 6, 2019
Make no mistake: The beliefs that animate Sylvia Allen's proclamation that the United States of America is on the verge of destruction are virtually indistinguishable from those that animate racist mass killers.
Response to weekend mass shootings from Arizona’s congressional delegation
By: Jim Small - August 4, 2019
Here are the social media responses to the shootings from Arizona’s congressional delegation, along with how much money they have received from gun-rights and gun-control groups during their congressional campaigns.
GOP appetite to decry its racists evaporates in the face of political consequences
By: Jim Small - August 1, 2019
What a difference a year – and a competitive seat – makes when it comes to the willingness of Arizona Republicans to put up with racism in their ranks.
Brandt will testify, asks for delay. But why?
By: Jim Small - July 30, 2019
I wonder if the corporation commissioners are aware that delaying bad publicity before shareholders might be a motivating factor for Brandt seeking that delay.
Record high revenues for AZ in FY2019 lead to early surplus
By: Jim Small - July 19, 2019
State government in Arizona has never in its 107-year history collected more money than it did in fiscal year 2019, which ended June 30, according to preliminary tabulations by legislative budget analysts. That means the state is starting the new fiscal year with a large surplus of cash.
U.S. House rejects impeachment articles for now, AZ Dem delegation split
By: Jim Small - July 17, 2019
The U.S. House on Wednesday refused to consider impeachment articles against President Trump, with three of Arizona's five Democrats siding with Republicans to kill the effort.
Rep. Kirkpatrick joins call for Trump impeachment inquiry
By: Jim Small - July 16, 2019
In a speech on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday morning, Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick said there is "no choice" but for the House to formally open an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump following the revelations made by Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the administration's repeated refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas.
Ducey, now an attention-seeking culture warrior, goes full Trump by torching Nike deal
By: Jim Small - July 2, 2019
Ducey, who rode to the governor’s office as a champion of economic-growth-at-all-costs and had never seen a corporate tax break he didn’t like, suddenly is throwing in with the own-the-libs crowd who set their shoes ablaze and smashed their Keurig coffee machines to make a political point.
U.S. Supreme Court delays Census citizenship question
By: Robin Bravender and Jim Small - June 27, 2019
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday delayed the addition of a citizenship to the 2020 Census, calling the justification the Trump administration offered for including the question “contrived.” In a complicated decision regarding the Trump administration’s plans to add a citizenship question to the upcoming census, the high court agreed with a lower […]