#SundaySquareOff 🔽Reporting team of Katie Wilcox & EvanWyloge from new TheBeam.Org on impact of planned changes to state's letter grade system for Arizona schools. ▶️3 questions for Sen. Analise Ortiz ▶️Why John Giles for Lt. Gov.? 📺8am 12News/12 Streaming

#SquareOff Coming up at 230pm today: Katie Wilcox & Evan Wyloge of TheBeam.org on Arizona high schools' Graduation Gap' & coming changes to schools' letter grades. ▶️3 Questions for Sen. Analise Ortiz 📺12News & 12 streaming app Also airing 730pm Fri on app/8am Sun TV/streaming

JUST IN Harry Mitchell, a former Arizona Congressman and longtime Tempe mayor, has died, according to his son, former Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell.

#SquareOff: 🔽No Labels' nominee for governor pushes back on Republican label. #AZGOV ▶️Wave election washes out Gilbert incumbents ▶️Dems' walkback in #AZ01, TPUSA dumps GOP corpcomm chair, what sticks w voters. 👁️8am 12News 📺& streaming

For the first time in decades, a major piece of Maricopa County's elections machinery will be run by overtly political actors. What could that mean in November in our swing county? Sasha Hupka of VoteBeat joins me. www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXHt...

NOW Supporters of Arizona 'Protect Education' citizens initiative that would put guardrails on school vouchers cheer as first boxes w 421,451 signatures delivered to Secretary of State's office.

JUST IN U.S. Senate Ethics Committee dismisses complaint vs Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego filed by GOP Rep. Anna Paulina Luna. Letter: www.gallego.senate.gov/wp-content/u...

#SundaySquareOff 🔽Can Gov. Hobbs take credit for $1.4B tax cut? Also: look back at 4 yrs in office & ahead to campaign, is Biggs a 'horror movie' & has AG investigators interviewed Gov? ▶️Dan Scarpinato & Roy Herrera on Hobbs' term & is Gallego's spending Sinema-esque? 📺8am 12News & 12 streaming app

BREAKING Committee behind November ballot initiative that would put guardrails on Arizona school vouchers wants court to toss out GOP lawmakers' "poison pill" ballot referral that would kill citizens' ballot initiative. #HCR2048

#SquareOff: 🔽'I'm confident in his staff. I'm not confident in him': Maricopa County Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee on Recorder Justin Heap as early voting starts Wed 6/24. ▶️'Bipartisan' Andy Biggs? Double trouble for teachers union. Petersen v DACA. 📺8am Sun 12News & streaming

DAYBOOK Kari Lake's nomination to serve as U.S. ambassador to Jamaica goes before Senate Foreign Relations Committee at 7:30am AZ time Thursday. Senators might want to ask about Lake's "two Billboard music awards" in bio. Another claim without evidence. www.state.gov/lakekarijama...

While you were sleeping: AZ Leg's 2026 session ended at 4:45 am Saturday, after near fistfight at midnight. GOP teed up Nov votes at ballot box on: ⚪️Elections overhaul ⚪️Trans rights ⚪️Traffic cameras ⚪️DEI ⚪️Poison-pill ESA measure that would kill initiative curbing ESAs. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...

#SquareOff 🔽Scottsdale faces greatest risk from Colorado River cuts. Is city ready? w @solange4az.bsky.social & ASU Kyl Center's Sarah Porter ▶️Ambush video got ASU in hot water w DOJ ▶️Politics panel: Is GOP cooked w Lamb? Why Mayes wants do-over. 1 bill to watch. 📺8am 12News on-air & streaming

'It's worth it': In late '25, as 'fake electors' case was under appeal, I asked AZ AG Kris Mayes why she was pressing forward on a 2020 elections case that might not be heard until '27 or beyond. Today, she's starting over with plan to seek new indictments. www.12news.com/article/news...

BREAKING Arizona Supreme Court denies @AZAGMayes' petition to review lower court rulings that crippled "fake electors" case. This likely brings 2-year-old case to a close.

BREAKING Tempe voters oust 2 City Council incumbents, elect newcomers Brooke St. George & Bernie Sanders-backed Democratic Socialist Bobby Nichols. Only 260 balllots left to count, per Maricopa County elex.

UPSET ALERT Will Tempe voters oust 2 incumbents in runoff elections? ▶️'Shake things up' candidates St. George & Nichols (Democratic Socialist endorsed by @sanders.senate.gov) leading Hodge & Adams for 2 seats on council. Next ballot drop is Wednesday, per county elex.

#SundaySquareOff 🔽Jay Feely says GOP rival in AZ01 primary made racist comment re Haitian men he's resettled. What about Trump attacks on Haitians? ▶️Precarious times for DACA ▶️Politics Panel: Lake's 1-way tkt to Jamaica/Trump undermining GOP/Why does AZ let a politician run ESA program? 📺8am 12News

It's legacy time for 84-year-old Sen. Bernie Sanders. He's endorsing 61 downballot progressive candidates in '26. Six are in AZ. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/15/u...

#SundaySquareOff 🔽Dem consultant Stacy Pearson wasn't buying what former Ducey CoS Daniel Scarpinato was selling re spending ESA $$ on college tuition. Also: their takes on Leg's May siesta & DCCC meddling in AZ01. ▶️Joe Dana on proposed data center within eyesight of Grand Canyon. 📺8am 12News

#SundaySquareOff 🔽So this interview w Dr. Amish Shah did not get off to a great start. We did talk about why the DCCC gave its blessing to his Dem primary opponent, Marlene Galan Woods, in Arizona's 1st Congressional District, a key swing district for House control. 📺8am Sun 12News

NOW Packed house at Maricopa County Board for crucial vote on controversial data center 1 mile from Luke Air Force Base. Issue: Is data center compatible w LAFB? Luke has several issues. Comments opposed: 553. In favor: 5

JUST IN Arizona Supreme Court clears way for independent candidate for governor Hugh Lytle to appear on November ballot. #AZGOV

SundaySquareOff: 🔽Secretary of State Adrian Fontes on GOP Senate leader's claim that congressional maps are 'racist.' ▶️GOP LIsa Everett & Dem Jeanne Casteen on tough GOP polling, Prop 123 & VRA ruling ▶️Why ASU faculty is questioning AI 📺8am Sun 12News

Arizona State University professors have been concerned that students are cutting corners on coursework with AI. Now professors are accusing university leadership of doing the same thing with faculty's work. www.12news.com/article/news...

Turning Point USA bringing President Trump back to Phoenix 4/17 at Turning Point-aligned megachurch.

NOTED Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales of Tucson urges Gov. Hobbs to veto repeal of Chavez holiday (Hobbs' spox says she'll sign it). Per KJZZ: "Gonzales, a former farmworker, wore her mother’s old cotton-picking gloves on Senate floor when she tried & failed to convince Republicans to rename the holiday."

TODAY Mayor of Surprise AZ, Kevin Sortor, holds 3:30pm newser at City Hall to discuss results of this meeting 3/19 on ICE detention facility in the city. Meeting came 2 wks after Noem fired, 5 days before Mullin confirmed.

SundaySquareOff" 🔽Danny Seiden, leader of AZ's largest business trade group, on why Trump could take AZ's side in battle over Colorado River water. ▶️Fallout over Fontes OK'ing "Arizona Independent Party" name, unprecedented politicking in SRP elex w Stacy Pearson & Tyler Montague. 📺8am 12News

BREAKING Arizona's Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoes "Charlie Kirk Loop 202 Freeway." She has now vetoed both Charlie Kirk-related bills passed by GOP this session.