Arizona’s News Roundup: VP Kamala Harris visits metro Phoenix, Rio Verde Foothills water dispute

PHOENIX — It’s been a busy week in Arizona, from weather to political power moves.

If you need a one-stop-shop to catch up on all the biggest news of the week, check out KTAR’s Arizona’s News Roundup Podcast.

This week we get you caught up on:

Vice President Kamala Harris’s first Arizona stop

Vice President Harris was in Tonopah on Thursday with Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm for the groundbreaking of Ten West Link, a power grid infrastructure project.

Harris had no plans to visit the state’s southern border, a move that has draw criticism from some border sheriffs.

Hobbs makes three key appointments this week

This week, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs made three major appointments.

On Tuesday, her office announced that Tempe Police Chief Jeffrey Glover will take over as Department of Public Safety director and Ryan Thornell is joining her administration as director of the Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry.

And, despite being appointed by Ducey in 2021, Rob Woods is staying on as the director for the Department of Revenue.

Rural community outside of Scottsdale battles city for water

This week, a community about 30 miles outside the city of Scottsdale known as Rio Verde Foothills is fighting for a new water supply.

Last year, KTAR told you the story of how Scottsdale was cutting off the Rio Verde Foothills community from city water.

The community was given a Jan. 1 deadline to find a solution before being cut off.

Rio Verde Foothills was unable to find a solution and Scottsdale has since ended its water deliveries.

Now, the community is fighting for a more permanent solution with private business, the city and the county.

Northern Arizona sees major snowfall

Winter returned to Arizona in a big way this week.

Communities in the high country have seen anywhere from 9.5 to more than 60 inches of snow in less than a week.

This development is a big deal for Arizona’s water supply. The storms have also significantly added to many of the state’s water reservoirs.

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