Economy
Fast federal response to pandemic key to US economic recovery, economists say
The public health emergency declaration ended on Thursday, and with it some of the policies that helped the U.S. recover from the many of the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Although COVID-19 is still a public health threat, the national economic crisis it created has subsided with the U.S. economy back to its pre-pandemic […]
Senate passes bill to cut unemployment benefits
Senate Republicans want to slash the number of weeks an individual can receive unemployment payments and tie the length of benefit availability to the unemployment rate, but critics say that even if jobs are plentiful, it can still be a long process to find a good one. Currently, Arizonans who qualify for unemployment can receive […]
Families are taking a hit as pandemic aid ends, inflation continues
Forty million people in the U.S. are having difficulty affording household expenses, and a little more than 25 million people say they sometimes or often do not have enough to eat, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent Household Pulse survey data. The survey is designed to collect data on household experiences during the […]
Student loan repayment pause extended by White House amid legal battles over relief plan
WASHINGTON — The Department of Education announced on Tuesday it is extending the pandemic-era pause on federal student loan repayments until June 30 while legal challenges to the administration’s student debt relief program are fought over in the courts. The agency said if the student debt relief program has not been put in place by […]
Community members, advocates ask for help with housing crisis
Sam stood up from her folding chair, and took the microphone. Roughly 50 pairs of eyes, from organizers and community members alike, turned toward her. “Finding my apartment was like a full-time job,” she said. Sam, who didn’t give her last name, shared how she sifted through rental websites for months, trying to find an […]
As rural homelessness increases, HUD aims money at helping people without access to shelters
The Department of Housing and Urban Development has opened up millions of dollars in funding for groups serving unhoused people in rural areas — an unprecedented move by the agency, say housing advocates. People living in cars, parks, and on the street at night, which the agency labels unsheltered homelessness, has increased across the nation, […]
Flagstaff needs 7,000 more homes, no easy solution in sight
Flagstaff has a shortage of more than 7,000 homes and local developers blame complicated zoning codes — but city officials refute that, saying the issue is much less clear cut. The city’s challenges were the focus of the fifth meeting of a housing supply study committee held by state legislators in Flagstaff on Wednesday afternoon. […]
Corporations that pay little in taxes want Kyrsten Sinema to kill the corporate minimum tax
Corporations aiming to persuade U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema to push for major changes to tax increase provisions in the $740 billion domestic spending bill would see a hit to their bottom lines if the measure’s corporate minimum tax remains unchanged. The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry this week launched a six-figure ad blitz opposing […]
Marijuana dispensary workers are unionizing, while Big Cannabis throws up roadblocks
Unionization for workers in the cannabis industry is gathering steam in Arizona, as budtenders at the Curaleaf Dispensary in midtown Phoenix recently voted to unionize, while workers at several other dispensaries are poised to vote on the issue within the next few weeks. “[This] election marks an important milestone for cannabis workers in Arizona and […]
Rent hikes, downtown boom spur gentrification of older Tucson neighborhoods
Tucson, once considered sleepy and affordable, has seen a particularly painful rent spike in recent years.
Passing on gas: Biden’s gas-tax holiday gets cool reception in Arizona
President Joe Biden’s latest attempt to combat rising gas prices might be running on empty, with even Democrats cool to the idea.
Indian Affairs accepting applications for Native American Business Development Institute grants
The Indian Affairs Office of Indian Economic Development is accepting applications for Native American Business Development Institute grants, which help Tribes determine if a project will create jobs and stimulate economic activity. Results from studies can often help tribes persuade lenders and investors to provide financial backing to help turn their idea into a reality,” the […]