Gov. Doug Ducey and Sen. Martha McSally want to be sure voters know who deserves thanks, praise and credit for sending 蜜柚直播 100 ventilators: Donald Trump.
In online and in-person statements, the GOP senator and governor have praised the president for doling out ventilators to the state. They also, of course, credited each other, and themselves.
In a written statement issued Saturday, Ducey said:
鈥淚 want to thank President Trump for his leadership and responsiveness during this pandemic. As 蜜柚直播 prepares for an anticipated peak of COVID-19 cases, these ventilators will add to our surge capacity and help us prepare in our tribal communities and elsewhere. President Trump and I spoke about this Wednesday night. I鈥檓 grateful that he was able to deliver on this request immediately. That鈥檚 urgent action and real leadership.鈥�
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McSally said via Twitter: 鈥淗uge news for 蜜柚直播! I spoke with @realDonaldTrump on Wednesday afternoon to request additional ventilators from the Strategic National Stockpile. Today, POTUS delivers with 100 ventilators headed to AZ. Thank you to President Trump and @VP for hearing our call.鈥�
Was it good news for 蜜柚直播? Sure. But the state had originally asked for 5,000 ventilators. Then the state winnowed that request down to 500, before ending up with 100.
More to the point is a criticism that became widespread last week: Trump appeared to be using ventilators and other medical equipment as a sort of political patronage, specifically as a boost for troubled Republican candidates.
The situation was most evident in Colorado, where Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, he had made a deal to purchase 500 ventilators, only to have them taken away, apparently by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Days later, Trump awarded Colorado 100 ventilators, but he did so in a tweet crediting the state鈥檚 Republican senator, Cory Gardner.
鈥淲ill be immediately sending 100 Ventilators to Colorado at the request of Senator Gardner!鈥� Trump tweeted.
Gardner, like McSally, is a Republican U.S. senator in a tough election battle this year.
The Denver Post : 鈥淧resident Donald Trump is treating life-saving medical equipment as emoluments he can dole out as favors to loyalists. It鈥檚 the worst imaginable form of corruption 鈥� playing political games with lives. For the good of this nation during what should be a time of unity, he must stop.鈥�
Inscrutable PACs flood campaign
A flood of outside money is expected to pour into the Senate race between Republican incumbent Martha McSally and Democratic challenger Mark Kelly.
So who is supplying all this cash, and what do they want?
Based on the inscrutable names of some of these political action committees, your guess is as good as ours. Together We Thrive? Winning for Women? Indivisible Action? These are just a few of the groups that have donated so far.
鈥淪ometimes (the group鈥檚 name) is created to be purposely confusing,鈥� said Brendan Quinn, outreach manager for the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics.
Other times, what seems like a random string of political buzzwords is really an acronym in disguise.
Why else would someone name an anti-McSally super PAC something ridiculous like Middle Class Fighting to Restore 蜜柚直播鈥檚 Unity and Decency?
Don鈥檛 make us spell it out for you.
Senators to aid White House on coronavirus re-openings
Both of 蜜柚直播鈥檚 senators announced Thursday they will be part of President Trump鈥檚 bipartisan task force to provide counsel on the re-opening of the country as a result of the coronavirus.
鈥淚 will work with anyone to support 蜜柚直播鈥檚 state and local leaders, ensure our communities adhere to scientific best practices to address our current health emergency, and provide employers the resources to quickly recover and get Americans back to work once the immediate crisis has passed,鈥� Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat, said in a statement.
McSally, a Republican, said she鈥檚 鈥渃onfident America and 蜜柚直播 will recover from this extraordinary time stronger than ever.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e been in constant communication with 蜜柚直播 small business owners, industry leaders, and elected officials to understand the challenges they are facing and develop solutions that will put us in the best possible position to harness economic growth once we have turned the corner on this crisis,鈥� McSally said.
Corp Comm candidates mix of old, new
Six Republicans and three Democrats have filed to run for three open seats on the five-member 蜜柚直播 Corporation Commission, which regulates utilities, securities, corporations and pipeline and railroad safety in the state.
Whomever wins the election will be faced with mounting public concern over rising utility rates and thorny issues surrounding the ongoing move away from fossil fuels to renewable sources like solar and wind energy.
The candidates for the seats, which carry four-year terms, include Republican commissioner Lea Marquez Peterson of 蜜柚直播, a local business owner and former CEO of the 蜜柚直播 Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, who was appointed to the ACC by Gov. Doug Ducey last May to replace Andy Tobin after Tobin was named director of the 蜜柚直播 Department of Administration. It also includes Boyd Dunn of Chandler, a retired Superior Court judge and former mayor of Chandler, in the last year of his first term on the commission.
Among the non-incumbents, both Bill Mundell, a Paradise Valley Democrat attorney and former legislator and commission member; and Eric Sloan, a Scottsdale Republican and partner in a public-affairs firm and political activist; ran for the ACC in 2018 and lost in the primary.
The others are David Farnsworth, a Mesa Republican state senator since 2013; Nick Myers, a Queen Creek Republican small-business owner, Kim Owens, an Avondale Republican public-relations executive and GOP activist; Shea Stanfield, a Cave Creek Democrat, retired teacher and former Cave Creek town council member; and Tolleson Mayor Anna Tovar, a Democratic former legislator.聽
Democratic former commissioner Sandra Kennedy topped the 2018 primary and returned to office to became the first Democrat to sit on the panel since 2013 and one of only two Democrats to serve since 1999.
Grijalva to Address Navajo nation outbreak at roundtable Friday
As confirmed cases and deaths of COVID-19 continue to climb on the Navajo Nation, Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-蜜柚直播, will host a roundtable Friday, April 17, including nation President Jonathan Nez to discuss the federal government鈥檚 response in Indian country.
The Navajo nation, which includes portions in northeastern 蜜柚直播, that it鈥檚 extending its 57-hour weekend curfews over the next three weeks after reporting 838 known COVID-19 cases and 33 deaths.
Grijalva, who has pushed for more aid on Indian land, including sending a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, will host the roundtable with Nez; Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, Michael Chavarria, governor of the Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico; Jerilyn Church, chief executive officer of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen鈥檚 Health Board; and Diana Zirul, vice chairwoman of the Alaska Native Health Board.
It begins at 10 a.m. local time and will be broadcast on YouTube at and Facebook at .
Photos for April 11: 蜜柚直播 gets by during Coronavirus Pandemic
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Susan Hillman chats with her mother Betty Hillman via telephone, April 9, 2020, 蜜柚直播, Ariz. Eighty-five year old Betty Hillman is in long term skilled care and Susan is unable to visit due to COVID-19 restrictions on nursing home facilities.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Susan Hillman chats with her mother Betty Hillman near a photo of Betty and her husband, Susan's dad, Bill, circa 2105, April 9, 2020, 蜜柚直播, Ariz. Eighty-five year old Betty Hillman is in long term skilled care and Susan is unable to visit due to COVID-19 restrictions on nursing home facilities.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Ben Forbes, left, owner of Forbes Meat Company, helps Jeronimo "Mo" Madril, right owner and executive chef of Geronimo's Revenge, wrap up tortilla's for to-go carnitas for Forbes Meat Company and Geronimo's Revenge's "Carnitas for the community" at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., in 蜜柚直播, Ariz., on April 6, 2020. Forbes Meat Company and Geronimo's Revenge partnered to help the restaurant community by offering free carnitas to those affected by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). They will be making to go carnitas every Monday in April starting at 2pm until all the to go packs, roughly 60, are all gone. Forbes wanted to find a way to help out the restaurant community. "They are struggling and my business is exploding," said Forbes.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
David Clark, left, out of work bartender, and Jeronimo "Mo" Madril, owner and executive chef of Geronimo's Revenge, practice social distancing while waiting to give out carnitas for Forbes Meat Company and Geronimo's Revenge's "Carnitas for the community" at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., in 蜜柚直播, Ariz., on April 6, 2020. Forbes Meat Company and Geronimo's Revenge partnered to help the restaurant community by offering free carnitas to those affected by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). They will be making to go carnitas every Monday in April starting at 2pm until all the to go packs, roughly 60, are all gone.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Steve Tracy, Thunder Canyon Brewery co-owner and brewer, fills up 16oz bottles of locally made hand sanitizer at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., in 蜜柚直播, Ariz., on April 6, 2020. Thunder Canyon Brewery, along with a few other local distilleries, are making United States Food and Drug Administration approved hand sanitizer for hospitals, first responders and the public in response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). "Whatever I have, I am turning into hand sanitizer," said Tracy. "We are going to keep making it as much as we can."
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Steve Tracy, Thunder Canyon Brewery co-owner and brewer, fills up 16oz bottles of locally made hand sanitizer at Thunder Canyon Brewery, 220 E. Broadway Blvd., in 蜜柚直播, Ariz., on April 6, 2020. Thunder Canyon Brewery, along with a few other local distilleries, are making United States Food and Drug Administration approved hand sanitizer for hospitals, first responders and the public in response to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). "Whatever I have, I am turning into hand sanitizer," said Tracy. "We are going to keep making it as much as we can."
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
David Sbarra, a psychology professor at the University of 蜜柚直播, points his webcam at his children Margot, 9, and Mateo, 12, as he begins his introduction of his office hours for a class he now conducts over Zoom in his living room while teaching from home, on April 7, 2020.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Ben Elias, manager at Westbound, center, helps Dustin Schaber with his pickup order on April 8, 2020. Due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) only two customers are allowed in the shop, located at the MSA Annex, at the same time and all orders are to-go.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Laura Tanzer, a local fashion designer, posted on Facebook that she will make masks for $5.00 each on April 5. Tanzer thought she would receive a couple of dozen orders, but, within 24 hours she heard from over 200 people. Tanzer is now working out of her shop in downtown 蜜柚直播 making masks that also has a filter sowed into them. Tanzer is wearing one of her masks as she sows on April 8, 2020.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Oro Valley Hospital chief administration officer Erinn Oller talks with Fang, a local organizer with the Chinese-American COVID-19 Relief AZ group, which donated 6,000 masks, on April 9, 2020. Additional mask donations are planned as soon as shipments arrive.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Healthcare workers line up for their 2 free Sonoran hot dogs and a drink from BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs in the parking lot of St. Mary's Hospital on April 10, 2020. The owner, Benny Galaz, is giving free food to healthcare workers at 蜜柚直播 area hospitals for the next several weeks as a way to say thank you for their hard work during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Benny Galaz, owner of BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs, cooks up Sonoran hot dogs in the parking lot of St. Mary's Hospital on April 10, 2020. Galaz is giving free food to healthcare workers at 蜜柚直播 area hospitals for the next several weeks as a way to say thank you for their hard work during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Healthcare workers line up for their 2 free Sonoran hot dogs and a drink from BK Carne Asada & Hot Dogs in the parking lot of St. Mary's Hospital on April 10, 2020. The owner, Benny Galaz, is giving free food to healthcare workers at 蜜柚直播 area hospitals for the next several weeks as a way to say thank you for their hard work during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
A man uses the taped off exercise station in Reid Park as an anchor for his band workout, April 8, 2020, 蜜柚直播, Ariz.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Alicia Roseanna, 9, fourth grader at Esperanza Elementary School, grabs a sheet of paper while listening to her teacher, Rachel Watson, and her classmates inside her home in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. during Watson's online class on April 7, 2020. Due to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) closing down schools and universities, teachers and students have been forced to schedule and participate in classes online for the remainder of the school year.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
COVID-19 survivor, Glen Reed, poses for a photo looking out from the room he's using for isolation from his family in his home, April 10, 2020, 蜜柚直播, Ariz. Reed spent nearly a month in the hospital including weeks in ICU on a ventilator.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
ER and EMS workers run through a drill practicing how to process an incoming patient experiencing a respiratory emergency at the 蜜柚直播 Medical Center's Emergency Room, on April 10, 2020.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
蜜柚直播 Fire Paramedic personnel prepare to run a drill at the 蜜柚直播 Medical Center's Emergency Room, on April 10, 2020.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
The CDC recommends Americans wear a facial covering when out in public, part of an effort to reduce the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Above, shopping for spring blooms at 蜜柚直播鈥檚 Green Things Nursery.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) signs taped onto dorms at the Babcock Dorms. The rooms located at 1717 E Speedway Boulevard may be used to house hospital workers from Banner - University Medical Center if they need to be quarantined due to COVID-19.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Alex Swain, a member of Beloved in the Desert - 蜜柚直播's chapter of the Episcopal Service Corps, packs the trunk of his housemate's SUV in the parking lot of Fry's on 2480 N Swan Road after grocery shopping for an elderly man, on April 3, 2020. Swain and his housemates have volunteered to shop for elderly and at risk populations as people quarantine and stay at home during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Julisa Montano, a bus driver with Sunnyside Unified School District, gathers up the last few meals to hand out to students outside of Gallego Primary School, on April 7, 2020. The school district is distributing meals and has wifi available for students to use for school.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
A table is taped off at Fred Enke Golf Course, 8251 E. Irvington Rd., in 蜜柚直播, Ariz., on April 5, 2020 due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). With a rise in the amount of people participating in golf, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), 蜜柚直播 City Golf is taking extra measures to keep people safe such as sanitizing golf carts after each use and social distancing.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Rich DelVecchio, a Fred Enke Golf Course employee, sanitizes a golf cart. Course revenues at 蜜柚直播鈥檚 city-owned golf properties are up nearly 28% from the same period last year.
蜜柚直播 in photos, coronavirus pandemic
Golfers practice social distancing while on the driving range at Fred Enke Golf Course, 8251 E. Irvington Rd., in 蜜柚直播, Ariz., on April 5, 2020. With a rise in the amount of people participating in golf, due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), 蜜柚直播 City Golf is taking extra measures to keep people safe such as sanitizing golf carts after each use and social distancing.
Tim Steller
Henry Brean
Justin Sayers
Dave Wichner
Justin Sayers
In this Series
April's 蜜柚直播-area coronavirus coverage: 1,200+ Pima County cases, stay-home order extended
Justin Sayers
Reporter
Henry Brean
Reporter
David Wichner
Reporter
Tim Steller
Columnist
