Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Oct. 30-Nov. 1
Nov 1, 2020, 6:00 PM
PHOENIX – Coronavirus cases continue to rise in Arizona, state education and health leaders clarified school guidelines and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is being investigated over illegal electioneering claims.
Here are some of the biggest stories that headlined the Arizona news cycle over the weekend.
Arizona reports 1,527 new coronavirus cases, two additional deaths
Arizona health authorities reported 1,527 new coronavirus cases and two additional deaths on Sunday morning.
That put the state’s documented totals at 247,473 COVID-19 infections and 5,981 fatalities, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services.
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It was the seventh time this week with more than 1,000 cases in a daily report. Before this week, that level had been reached only two times in the prior five weeks.
Arizona’s weekly percent positivity for COVID-19 diagnostic testing, an indicator of how much the virus is spreading in the community, is on pace for its highest level in more than two months.
It was 9.7% for 66,103 tests recorded this week, which would be the highest since it was 8% for the week starting Aug. 2.
Arizona’s health and education leaders clarify school benchmark confusion
Arizona’s top schools official and health official cleared the air in a joint statement Friday.
Arizona Department of Health Services Director Dr. Cara Christ and Gov. Doug Ducey in a press conference Thursday said they’d worked closely with Arizona education leaders to determine the new school benchmark guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic, a statement Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman denied.
Christ and Hoffman said in the statement they have enjoyed a “strong partnership” in sharing a commitment to keep Arizona kids healthy and safe during COVID-19, but a communication breakdown occurred when benchmark guidelines were quietly updated last week.
AG Brnovich investigates Gov. Ducey over illegal electioneering claims
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has opened an investigation into whether Gov. Doug Ducey violated state law while on a call with business leaders.
Lawyers for the Invest in Education group filed a complaint with the Attorney General claiming the governor used public resources to advocate against Proposition 208 while on a conference call with small business leaders.
Invest in Education alleges that because Ducey made the call from his office, he used public resources funded by Arizona taxpayers to engage in electioneering and violated the law.
Brnovich’s office confirmed that the Attorney General is actively investigating the governor but could not provide comment on the investigation.
Mesa High School lowers in-person learning days amid COVID-19 cases
Starting Monday, Mesa High School is transitioning from a five-day modified in-person learning model to only two days due to active coronavirus cases in the school community.
In a letter posted on the school’s website, Principal Kirk Thomas and Associate Superintendent Holly Williams said the decision was made in an attempt to avoid moving to a fully remote model.
Mesa High is part of Mesa Public Schools, which is Arizona’s largest school district.
Mesa High School will be in the updated learning model through at least Nov. 13, according to the message, with the school’s active case count and area metrics being used to determine when it is safe to return to a five-day modified in-person learning model.
Phoenix ranks as 6th most financially distressed US city during COVID-19
Research group WalletHub.com has determined in a recent study that ranks Phoenix sixth in people with the most financial distress during COVID-19.
Phoenix comes in behind Las Vegas, Chicago, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas.
Concern by people in Phoenix caused high search interest for loans and debt consolidation as the website ranked the city eighth and fifth in both categories, respectively.
