Author

Jim Small

Jim Small

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. He has also served as the editor and executive director of the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting.

COMMENTARY

Propaganda as polling

By: - January 7, 2020

When an organization that defines itself as fighting the expansion of rights for LGBTQ Arizonans announces the results of a poll it commissioned and declares that Arizona voters “are not close” to support for LGBTQ rights – and are dramatically different than previous opinion polls – one should take note.

Following deadly flood, lawmakers seek Tonto Creek bridge funding

By: - December 17, 2019

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is trying to get the state to pay for a bridge over Tonto Creek in eastern Arizona, where three young children drowned last month after their car was submerged trying to cross the creek in a flood.

Owner of border wall construction firm gave to McSally, other AZ Republicans in 2018

By: - December 13, 2019

The Office of Inspector General for the Department of Defense will investigate a $400 million contract to construct a border wall in Arizona that was given to a North Dakota company whose owner gave Arizona Sen. Martha McSally’s 2018 campaign the maximum allowed under the law.

Tax credit review panel will meet, but after legal deadline to do so

By: - December 12, 2019

Earlier today, I wrote about the possibility – nay, the likelihood – that a dormant panel charged with reviewing tax credits might actually meet in 2019 and fulfill its statutory duties. It turns out I was partially correct.

Will the legislative tax credit review committee actually meet in 2019?

By: - December 12, 2019

A legislative panel meant to annually scrutinize income tax credits and determine whether they are working as intended might meet this week for the first time since 2015.

Trump’s SNAP rule changes could end food stamps for 72K in Arizona

By: and - December 5, 2019

The Trump administration this week finalized a regulation that could knock almost 7,000 poor Arizonans off food stamp benefits – but that figure could grow to more than 72,000 if two other proposed regulations go into effect.

School district official indicted for stealing public money

By: - December 5, 2019

An audit prompted after school district officials in a small central Arizona town learned that the district’s business manager was embezzling led to Amanda Holcomb’s indictment by state prosecutors last month on 21 counts.

A closer look at hunger and the need to support Arizona’s food banks

By: - November 29, 2019

Family and friends gathered yesterday to celebrate Thanksgiving, which reminds many of us of those who are less fortunate. Thanksgiving may be over, but the problem isn’t: Arizona  has the dubious distinction of being the eleventh hungriest state in the nation. 

4 AZ Dems back plan for 100% clean energy by 2050

By: and - November 22, 2019

Four Arizona Democrats have signed on as co-sponsors of ambitious legislation that would commit the United States to achieve a 100% clean energy economy by 2050.

Gosar skipped all 15 closed-door impeachment interviews, transcripts show

By: - November 19, 2019

U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar has railed for weeks against the impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, accusing Democrats of conducting a “secret kangaroo court” in order to oust Trump.

education funding

Delayed ESA money prompts ‘baseless’ legal claim, education officials say

By: - November 14, 2019

Libertarian legal advocacy groups say they’ve filed a formal intent to sue the Arizona Department of Education because it has failed to make timely payments to dozens of parents whose children use the state’s school voucher program.

Gosar hides Twitter message: ‘Epstein didn’t kill himself’

By: - November 13, 2019

A Repbulican congressman from Arizona sent out a series of nearly two dozen tweets today that included a coded message declaring that deceased financier and sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein didn’t commit suicide, as officials in New York have concluded.