Ray Stern
@raystern
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State Politics and Issues reporter for the Arizona Republic, covering AZ Legislature. Married 💕to @amysilvermanaz. Formerly @PhoenixNewTimes & EV Trib.
Joined November 2008
Last month, Mayes gave people in similar businesses until April 24, 2025, to stop selling intoxicating hemp products. "I think it's extremely unfair," Damato said. "I wish I would have had 30 days." -- See my story here:
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AZ Sen. Wendy Rogers allowed unvetted accusations of "bribery" into the 2/23 joint special elections committee she chaired. She put out a notice late Sunday downplaying the accusations after I sent her an email showing that the source of the accusations also accused her.
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Sen. @WendyRogersAZ has beaten back a defamation lawsuit arising from the 2018 election in a 4-3 opinion by the state Supreme Court. The case will be remanded back to trial court for summary judgment in favor of Rogers.
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Elections attorney Marc Elias: "Arizona will be sued" over its new congressional district map.
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A Maricopa County Court has confirmed the election of Katie Hobbs as Arizona Governor-Elect and found no clear and convincing evidence of Kari Lake's claims.
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On Aug. 23 I’ll be joining @azcentral as a state politics and issues reporter. I can’t wait! Got a tip? Let’s talk. DM me.
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A different image than many you’ll see today: A white Maricopa County Sheriff’s Deputy helps a young black person change a tire in the roadway as they talk about the young person’s upcoming internship. Peace, folks!
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Arizona Senator Brian Fernandez has filed an ethics complaint seeking the removal of Sens. Anthony Kern and Jake Hoffman from their committee assignments due to their indictments on felony allegations of trying to overturn the 2020 election in AZ.
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""They raided my condo and vehicle . with 25 heavily armed SWAT officers, and pointed a silenced assault rifle in my face." -- Tempe police announce arrest in "Penis Man" graffiti taggings:
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Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer announces he's suing former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and gives an exclusive interview to the Washington Post:.
I'm suing Kari Lake. I'd hoped the defamation would stop after the election. I waited. I'd hoped it would stop after the first election trial. I waited. I'd hoped it would stop after the appeal. I waited. I'd hoped it would stop after the second trial. I waited. I'd.
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Personal/professional news: After 15 years at Phoenix New Times, I'm leaving for a new journalistic challenge. It's a very exciting time for me -- I'll share details as soon as I can.
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The allegations, (made by a local lawyer as part of his ongoing dispute with his wife and mother-in-law), should not have been brought before the Legislature, Rogers said in the statement. But the other Elections committee presentations had problems, too. See my story here:.
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I'm hearing that @KariLake lawyers just withdrew their subpoena to have @katiehobbs testify in the upcoming trial, which begins tomorrow.
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Arizona Freedom Caucus member and Turning Point employee Rep. Austin Smith, R-Wittman, is featured in a viral meme in which he apparently forgot about the purchase of fancy water in his complaint about a high grocery bill:.
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The Arizona Senate has passed a bill 16-12 that would transfer $700,000 from the general fund to the state's Border Security Fund for construction and maintenance of a physical border fence on the state's border with Mexico. @TylerPaceAZ was a reluctant yes based on the amount.
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Flagstaff Justice Court Magistrate Judge Amy Criddle signed the restraining order requested by Sen. Wendy Rogers, but the petition from Rogers doesn't show Sanchez doing anything out of the ordinary in her job as a reporter. -- See my story here:
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Former Az Sen. Tony Navarrete was taken into custody by a court bailiff this morning after a judge sentenced him to one year in prison following his Feb conviction for sexual conduct with a minor, a class 6 felony.
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Sophie’s officially a graduate. She enters the adult world with more challenges than most, but also more optimism and deeply felt appreciation for other people than just about anybody. She has a lot to look forward to - not the least of which, she starts at GCC this fall.
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Mesa police say they just solved the two-decade-old case of the East Valley Rapist -- and the culprit is a recently retired Border Patrol agent.
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“Every Arizonan should have the freedom to make decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures," said Chris Love, senior adviser for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, one of six groups backing the effort. - Story by @sbarchenger:
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Education advocates erupted with loud cries of “shame! Shame!” and at least one F bomb from the House gallery after the House passed an amended private school voucher expansion bill, HB 2853 on party lines. The bill now moves to the senate.
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Richer also penned an op-ed published in the Arizona Republic about his reasons for the defamation case:. "Her defamatory allegations have unleashed violent vitriol and other dire consequences. " .
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"One cannot play politics with the instruments of the law. One cannot play politics with prosecutorial power," the supervisors wrote. Given the oaths you took as both a lawyer and elected official, we were shocked" by the report. Story by @maryjpitzl:
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A judge has ordered Cyber Ninjas to preserve records following a lawsuit filed by the Arizona Republic. Story by @utilityreporter:
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This is my first article in the Arizona Republic! Please check it out today if you have a chance. Much extra thanks to @laceylatch, @JenAFifield & @thewyatt
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Introducing the newest member of the Arizona Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, Sophie Stern! Sophie is one of the strongest advocates Arizona could have to help disabled people. Technically, she’s disabled, but she’s also one the most able people I’ve ever met.
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Three days before former Arizona lawmaker Noel Campbell said he was quitting his campaign for state Senate to protect his wife, police were investigating him for running her over with his car and driving away. -- See my story here:
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Amy & I were proud to see our daughter Sophie introduced on the state House floor yesterday as the newest member of the Developmental Disabilities Advisory Council. Thank you, Rep. @JenLongdon, for inviting her! Sophie is a terrific advocate for herself and others w/disabilities.
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John Thaler’s (@Thaleresq) sentencing on 13 counts of violating orders of protection was delayed after he failed to appear, and a Mesa judge imposed a $300k bond if he’s captured. Some conservatives still believe Thaler’s fictional tale of cartel “bribery” of AZ officials.
"Licensed to practice in Arizona and California, John Thaler has defied the law for two years, suing and filing false liens against perceived enemies and avoiding capture on warrants. Still, he maintains the backing of some on the far-right in Arizona."
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"Arizona is one of a handful of states that have been resistant to employ strict measures to control the virus. It does not have a mask mandate and remains largely devoid of restrictions on indoor dining, bars and nightclub activities. "
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It’s Easter, and Az DHS is reporting -1 covid death today. Makes sense.
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"I think she's proven herself to be a grifter and a sore loser, and I'm not going to be able to support her in the primary," Townsend said. -- See my story here:
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“Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed: everything else is public relations.”. ― George Orwell.
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"About 290,000 mail-in ballots were dropped off at Maricopa County vote centers on Election Day, surpassing the record for drop-off ballots by 70% percent." By @robertanglen:
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Former Az State Rep Otoniel Navarrete faces a minimum of 49 years if he’s convicted at trial, prosecutors just said at a settlement conference in Maricopa County Superior court.
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Congratulations to my talented wife @amysilvermanaz!! 😍🥰 Three-peat! Whoo-hoo! Love you!.
🏆 Please help us congratulate the 2020 Virg Hill Arizona Journalist of the Year — Amy Silverman @amysilvermanaz for @TucsonStar. Judges said Amy did "fantastic work highlighting issues within the state for those with disabilities."
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(For subscribers:) "Hamadeh made clear he would enforce the state's 158-year-old anti-abortion ban (and) would not have helped certify the 2020 election. Mayes used his positions to paint him as dangerous to democracy and to women." See my story here:
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Looks like @WendyRogersAZ's committee seat in the Senate's HHS Committee remains intact a day after the state Senator was censured by the Senate for comments she made at a conference led by white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Rogers joined the committee as scheduled at 9 a.m.
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"Video footage from different dates and different locations was spliced together to make it falsely appear that an election worker was wrongfully photographing ballots. " Story by @AliSwenson & @Josh_Kelety:
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The Arizona Republic has requested records from the diversion agreement between @GeneralBrnovich and the @AZStateBar. Now, another Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, @GeneralMcGuire, has made the records a political issue. By @yvonnewingett:
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Arizona Senate votes 16-10-4 to repeal the state’s abortion ban from 1864. The bill now heads to Gov. Katie Hobbs’ desk. The vote was accomplished after two GOP senators, Shawnna Bolick and TJ Shope, voted with Democrats. Three GOP House members voted for it in the House.
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Az House moving forward on a motion to expel Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton now. Republicans, with a one-vote majority, don’t have the votes necessary to do this without Democrat votes.
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"Comments by state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-Scottsdale, in the House Judiciary Committee and on Twitter on March 29 drew immediate comparisons to the March 28 tweet by Hobbs' former spokesperson, Josselyn Berry, which resulted in her resignation."
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The diversion agreements mean Brnovich will not face formal discipline on his record if he completes certain terms. Those terms are confidential. Brnovich announced the resolution on Friday, without mentioning the strings attached. @sbarchenger/@raystern
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Nine write-in candidates are now running for the state Senate seat abandoned by @espinozadiego19. The field incls 3 Republicans, 5 Democrats, and 1 independent. The new LD-22, which incls Tolleson and parts of Phoenix & Avondale, is designed to be a Democratic stronghold.
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fyi: "STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – House Speaker Rusty Bowers has invited Dmytro Kushneruk, Consul General of Ukraine, to address the war and needed assistance to help the people of Ukraine during a special joint session that will be hosted in the chamber of the Arizona House. .
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The Arizona Senate has passed HB 2237, a ban on same-day voter registration, which AZ doesn't now have. It's already passed the House, also on party lines, and now awaits the Gov's vote. @MichelleUgenti says the law is needed b/c of people who "exploit" laws, like @Adrian_Fontes.
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Sen. Wendy Rogers told me “no comment” when asked if she would attend the May 10 hearing in Flagstaff in which reporter Camryn Sanchez and Az Capitol Times intend to challenge the restraining order against Sanchez for asking questions and ringing Rogers’ doorbell for a story.
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". the report failed to include any way to verify its dubious findings, and the only two specific examples it provided of alleged ballot problems were swiftly debunked." See my story here:
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I’m so proud of Sophie for helping with this. It’s a great opportunity for people to learn to advocate for the policies they want.
We are excited to have Arizona Sen. Ken Bennett, former Rep. Jennifer Longdon, and Sophie Stern, AZ DD Planning Council Member at NDSC Advocacy Training Boot Camp. Learn how to effectively engage with elected officials for positive change. Learn more:
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Why, yes, my wife is a complete journalism badass… Congratulations for winning this important case for AZ reporters!.
Huge thanks to @gregg_leslie and his team @ASULawFAC for representing me in this public records case against @AHCCCSgov -- we won!
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Just received a phone call from someone telling me to "keep it up, you keep it up, motherfucker." I'm fairly sure that these were not intended as words of encouragement.
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Any politician who worries about being ambushed must not be diligent about returning reporters’ calls or emails. Reporters don’t ambush politicians that don’t require ambushing.
Aren’t you the guy who hides behind trees to try and get an interview by ambushing elected officials? If that is not you, then I am happy to tweet who it was. I honestly can’t keep track of all these reporters who shill for Soros.
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Some days, there is too much change. Arizona without Bashas' is hard to imagine.
Basha family sells company, an Arizona institution, to California-based grocer via @azcentral by @MrJoshuaBowling.
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"Electors from Arizona included Jim Lamon, currently a U.S. Senate candidate; Jake Hoffman, a state representative; Anthony Kern, a former state lawmaker running for a state Senate seat; and Kelli Ward, the state Republican Party chair." By @sbarchenger:
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Quite a squabble going on in House Judicial Committee between Sen. Justine Wadsack and Rep. Analise Ortiz over evidence (and lack of it) that State Bar told attorneys not to take cases. Wadsack started it by saying she doesn’t owe Ortiz anything in the way of proof.
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This week marks my one-year anniversary at The Arizona Republic, and what a 12 months it’s been! The best part of my new gig: the inspiration and learning I get from my many talented colleagues.
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A bill that would ban sales tax for firearms passed the House 31-28. As Rep. @JenLongdon noted, other things that Arizonans need, like tampons and child car seats, are still taxable. The bill now moves to the Senate.
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Arizona banned illiterate people from voting until the mid-'60s, but random voters in line weren't supposed to be hassled. Witnesses say Republicans incl late Chief Justice Rehnquist did just that in majority Black Phoenix neighborhoods. See my story here:
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Take a lesson, journalism friends: Watch quintessential professional @sbarchenger patiently wait for @KariLake to finish her anti-media speech during an interview:.
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SB1343, which requires that all ballots received for a precinct gets counted at that precinct, passes the senate gov’t committee along partisan lines 4-3. “This isn’t governing, this is stoking fear,” said @SenQuezada29.
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"I don't want to be bullied out of service," Bowers said in an interview on Friday. "That bully caucus that surrounds me at times wears on you, but then you start thinking . what's the physics of getting stronger? It's . contrary force."
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Whoo-hoo! This kicks butt. It’s wonderful to see Amy’s important and always highly readable work honored. Nice job.
The winner of the 2024 NDSC National Media Award is @amysilvermanaz! Amy is a renowned journalist, writer and teacher whose focus is improving coverage of people with disabilities. You can learn more about Amy, and even read some of her work, at
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Happy anniversary, @amysilvermanaz! I like what a couple-dozen years of marriage does to a man. See you around, sweet thing. Your ever-loving husband.
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I just got a mass email from the White House Regional Communications Director in charge of Arizona, Ike Hajinazarian, just, you know, reaching out and making sure AZ journos had his contact info. This is definitely a different administration.
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"The appearance of deputies performing 'valet' car service for the Renners outraged community members, who said it was an insult to the victim's family." -- Story by @robertanglen & @JimmyJenkins:
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"PHOENIX — Governor @DougDucey today issued an Executive Order halting evictions in the state for small businesses and nonprofits that are unable to pay rent due to financial hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.".
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ICYMI -- The rally with Trump and Trump-endorsed AZ candidates is off due to the death of Trump's former wife, Ivana:
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Can we get through the last night of Hanukkah without the cat catching fire from the menorah again? Stay tuned.
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My grandpa turned 102 today. Family in Queens couldn't celebrate with him -- he's in a nursing home now and they aren't allowing visitors. But my aunt says he's not lonely in there and has friends. Happy birthday, Gramps!.
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"While the council and developers considered alternatives, many neighbors had already decided the former golf course was a preserve. They started — illegally — traversing the 208-acre property by foot, on bikes, with dogs and strollers." By @zaynasyed_ :
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Good news here for Arizona radio listeners -->>> (True, I'm more than a little biased on this one. 🥰) Congrats on the new job, @amysilvermanaz!.
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Read my tale about an epic FBI debacle involving a Phoenix agent who traded sex for information about convicted terrorists with a Scottsdale skinhead fresh out of prison, then quit just before he sent explicit photos of them to her family & co-workers.
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Thomas Van Flein, a lawyer who's worked with Kari Lake and Sarah Palin, is leaving his job as Congressman Paul Gosar’s chief of staff for a new job in AZ government. See my story here:
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@LaikenJordahl And on the other side of the wall separating Organ Pipe National Monument from Mexico is Highway 2, where the saguaros were cleared out long ago.
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SB1308, by Sen. @AZDavidGowan, would legalize bottle rockets and other "aerial devices" that fly up and explode, which are illegal in AZ now (though used frequently by scofflaws). Gowan sells fireworks in his spare time.
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A potential challenger to @kyrstensinema emerges: Newly elected (results subject to recount) State Rep. Liz Harris (@LizHarrisMBA), who has vowed to withhold her vote on any bill until a new state election is held, has filed a statement of interest for the '24 Senate race.
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A hearing has been scheduled in Flagstaff at 1:30 pm, May 10, challenging the injunction against harassment filed by Sen. Wendy Rogers against a reporter.
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Senate audit liaison and former Republican Secretary of State Ken Bennett confirmed yesterday that the audit didn't determine that any ineligible voters voted: Further investigation. is necessary. " he said:
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@FineBreger @Thaleresq As you know, Ms. Fine-Breger, my investigations found that you lied to the Legislature and that Thaler, a fugitive from the law in Mesa, Gilbert and the Maricopa County Superior Court, made false claims about two of his ex-wives. Nothing about his "book" changes those facts.
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A real Dick Weed is running for the Arizona Legislature. No, seriously - this night manager for Skyview Networks in Scottsdale, is the 10th write-in candidate for LD-22's senate race:
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Sen. Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, is using tissue boxes to illustrate local, state and federal funding during a Senate Education Committee hearing. Each box is $1B. Most people here are waiting for the hearing on SB 1001 about proposed restrictions on school use of student pronouns.
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Deniece Platt signed up as a Republican write-in candidate in LD-22, where @espinozadiego19 resigned. But the home address she listed isn't in LD-22, it's in LD-25. I reached out to ask her about this, but her email doesn't seem to be working.
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"An Arizona election denying group continued its losing streak in court on Tuesday when a judge dismissed its public records lawsuit against a private firm that conducts election-related services." -- See my story here:.
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I just got my booster shot. A woman in line with me at CVS told me that her 33-year-old daughter died of covid.
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A judge on Saturday dismissed Republican Kari Lake’s election challenge and affirmed Democrat Katie Hobbs’ election as governor two days after a trial in which he said Lake failed to prove her case. -- See my story here:
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