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An Independent examination of the Arizona COVID-19 antibody test

As of Friday, July 10 the state of Arizona remains ground zero due to continued reports of COVID-19 now widespread from corner to corner of the Grand Canyon State. The Arizona Department of Health …

Arizona tops 116,000 cases of COVID-19

The Arizona Department of Health Services is reporting over 116,000 cases of COVID-19 as of Friday morning. In Arizona, there are 116,892 cases and 2,082 deaths of the novel coronavirus, up 4,221 …

Officials: Arizona hospitals still have capacity

Ten days after state officials enacted a crisis plan for Arizona hospitals to deal with the ongoing COVID-19 public health crisis, local health care officials say they have not yet resorted to …

Arizona governor puts capacity limit on restaurants

PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey refused Thursday to reimpose his stay-at-home order even after conceding that hia own data shows how effective that was in curbing the spread of COVID-19. Instead, …

COVID-19

Verma: Taking action to protect America’s nursing home residents against COVID-19

COVID-19

Verma: Taking action to protect America’s nursing home residents against COVID-19

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NEWS ACROSS THE VALLEY

Valley and State

Bar owners contend Arizona governor can't shut them down

PHOENIX — Bar owners from around the state are asking the Arizona Supreme Court to rule that Gov. Doug Ducey does not have the constitutional authority to shut them — or any other business — down.

Foreign students weigh studying in person vs. losing visas

PHOENIX (AP) — International students worried about a new immigration policy that could potentially cost them their visas say they feel stuck between being unnecessarily exposed during the …

The Latest: India reports nearly 25,000 new virus infections

NEW DELHI — India has reported nearly 25,000 new coronavirus infections and 487 new deaths. The new infections announced by the Health Ministry on Thursday bring the nationwide total to 767,296, …

Tucson police reveal suspect died in March arrest attempt

PHOENIX (AP) — Authorities have concluded that Tucson police officers used an appropriate amount of force in a violent struggle three months ago with a man who died while resisting arrest and told …

Latino group launches $10M campaign to boost voter turnout

PHOENIX (AP) — A national organization is announcing a $10 million campaign to turn out Hispanic voters in several of this year's battleground states. Mi Familia Vota, based in Phoenix, said it …

Arizona tops 112,000 cases of COVID-19

The Arizona Department of Health Services is reporting over 112,000 cases of COVID-19 as of Thursday morning.

Brnovich wants closer look at Ducey’s authority over businesses

PHOENIX — The state’s top lawyer is telling a federal judge that there may be legitimate claims that Gov. Doug Ducey has exceeded his legal authority in closing certain businesses.

The Latest: Pakistan's daily infections drop as testing cut

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s daily infection rate dropped below 3,000 for the second straight day, though medical experts caution it may be due to less testing. Barely 21,000 tests for the …

Australia isolates virus-prone state, Serbs oppose lockdown

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia isolated the state of Victoria on Wednesday in a bid to contain the worsening spread of the coronavirus as the city of Melbourne prepared for its second …

Early voting is underway in Arizona

July 8 marks the start of Early Voting for the August Primary Election.

First responders

NASCAR team sports racecar with name of Peoria officer

A piece of Peoria was in Kentucky Thursday when the NASCAR Xfinity Series took to the racetrack. Mike Harmon Racing sported the name of Peoria police Officer Jason W. Judd on the No. 47 vehicle …

El Mirage taps Richardson as interim fire chief

The city of El Mirage named Assistant Fire Chief Chris Richardson as Interim Fire Chief following the departure of Chris DeChant.

Peoria police arrest child sex crimes suspect

Peoria police say a man advertising as a tutor throughout the Valley was arrested on suspicion of child sex crimes.

Most recent

Indiana attorney general accused of groping facing GOP test

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Votes are being tallied Friday to decide whether Republicans will nominate Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill for a new term despite that resulted in a State Republican …

Reports: Amazon bars video app TikTok on workers' phones

Trump's reelection campaign gets a reboot as virus persists

Retail bankruptcy filings keep coming, coffee habits change

Border authorities use pandemic powers to expel immigrants

Homeland Security gets new role under Trump monument order

France, Germany lead effort to fire up Serbia-Kosovo talks

With new name and album, The Chicks' voices ring loud again

Top sports story

Giants star catcher Posey out this year over virus concerns

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Giants star catcher Buster Posey became the latest big-name player to skip this season because of concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, announcing his decision Friday. The …

Jimmie Johnson has no clear answers about coronavirus scare

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Jimmie Johnson is just as confused as everyone else about his plight with the coronavirus. A positive test caused the seven-time NASCAR champion to miss the first race of his …

Perez fastest in 1st practice for F1 Styrian GP in Austria

SPIELBERG, Austria (AP) — Racing Point driver Sergio Perez posted the fastest time in the first practice session for the Styrian Grand Prix on Friday. He was .096 seconds quicker than Red Bull …

More sports

The Latest: Red Sox, Jays set for exhibition games at Fenway

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: The Red Sox and Blue Jays will play two exhibition games at Fenway Park before baseball’s delayed regular-season …

Wimbledon to allocate prize money despite cancellation

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Wimbledon will pay out $12.5 million in prize money to 620 players despite the tournament's cancellation because of the coronavirus pandemic, the All England Club said …

All 5 former winners in same half of Champions League draw

NYON, Switzerland (AP) — All five former Champions League winners were put into the same half of the draw on Friday, setting up a possible semifinal pairing between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel …

First F1 race in Tuscany; Russian GP could be 1st with fans

SPIELBERG, Austria (AP) — The first Tuscan Grand Prix in Mugello will be held on Sept. 13, and the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi two weeks later could be the first Formula One race this season with …

Daily Independent

Nation

Mississippi seeing big virus outbreak in state legislature

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Packed elevators and crowded committee rooms. Legislators sitting shoulder-to-shoulder on the House and Senate floor. People standing close to each other and talking, …

Indiana Republicans reject Attorney General Curtis Hill for reelection after allegations of groping 4 women

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Republicans reject Attorney General Curtis Hill for reelection after allegations of groping 4 women.

Michigan woman says fear led her to pull gun on Black family

A white woman who was charged after she was captured on video pulling a handgun on an unarmed Black woman and her daughters outside of a Michigan restaurant says she feared for her life. Jillian …

Pro-police group seeks to oust Oklahoma mayor, council

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — A group of citizens in Norman, Oklahoma, launched a recall petition drive on Friday in an attempt to oust the city’s mayor and half of its City Council. The group, …

Ghislaine Maxwell seeks jail release in Epstein abuse case

NEW YORK (AP) — A close associate of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein who is jailed on charges she helped him sexually abuse young women and girls should be released to home arrest while she …

Thomas spoke, Roberts ruled in unusual Supreme Court term

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Clarence Thomas spoke and Chief Justice John Roberts ruled. The Supreme Court's most unusual term featured victories for undocumented immigrants, abortion rights, LGBTQ …

World

Hospitals in Syria's rebel area reduce services amid virus

BEIRUT (AP) — Hospitals in Syria's overcrowded opposition-held enclave are suspending non-emergency procedures and outpatient services following the detection of the first case of coronavirus, a …

Libyan oil company resumes exports after months of blockade

CAIRO (AP) — Libya’s national oil company announced Friday it has resumed crude exports, ending a months-long blockade that eastern tribes had called to protest revenue distribution in the …

Russia's foreign minister mocks intel on bounties to Taliban

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s top diplomat on Friday dismissed U.S. intelligence information alleging that Moscow offered bounties to the Taliban for killing American soldiers as a product of election …

Turkish court rules to let Hagia Sophia return as mosque

Turkey’s highest administrative court issued a ruling Friday that paves the way for the government to convert Istanbul’s iconic Hagia Sophia - a former cathedral-turned-mosque that now serves as …

AP Explains: Why India cases are rising to multiple peaks

NEW DELHI (AP) — In just three weeks, India went from the world’s sixth to the third-worst hit country by the coronavirus pandemic, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. India's …

Lebanese hold raucous rally outside US Embassy in Beirut

BEIRUT (AP) — Dozens of Lebanese protesters held a raucous anti-U.S. rally outside the fortified American Embassy in Beirut on Friday, denouncing what they said was Washington's interference in …

Entertainment

FILE - In this May 21, 2015 file photo, Bob Geldof appears at the 60th Ivor Novello Awards in London. Geldof's Live Aid concerts have raised millions. Those shows included performances by Queen, U2, Led Zeppelin and Madonna. He has hosted Live 8 concerts and convinced industrialized nations to pledge an increase in aid to Africa by $25 billion. (Photo by Mark Allan /Invision/AP, File)

35 years after Live Aid, Bob Geldof assesses personal toll

NEW YORK (AP) — The legendary Live Aid concerts 35 years ago did a lot of good — helping reduce African famine and putting a …

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2007 file photo, the Dixie Chicks, Emily Robison, left, Natalie Maines, center, and Martie Maguire arrive for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. The Grammy-winning country group, who recently changed their name to The Chicks, have a new album "Gaslighter" out July 17, 2020. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

How The Chicks dropped the word 'Dixie' from their name

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — When The Chicks decided to drop the word “Dixie” from the band's name, it was the culmination of years …

This July 2020 photo taken from video released by Locksmith Animation shows Locksmith Art Director Justin Hutchinson-Chatburn during the filming of a video diary. The London animation studio Locksmith had been in production on "Ron's Gone Wrong" for more than two years before the pandemic hit. Suddenly, animators found themselves on lockdown wrestling with glitchy technology. Hutchinson-Chatburn said it’s remarkable that animation is “thriving and surviving” during the pandemic, but he’s hoping to gather with work colleagues in person soon. (Locksmith Animation via AP)

London animation studio adapts to finish Disney film

LONDON (AP) — Hanging under blankets for audio soundproofing and working around patchy home Wi-Fi, a London animation studio is …

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015 file photo, the Salisbury Cathedral 1215 copy of the Magna Carta is installed in a glass display cabinet marking the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta at Runnymede in 1215, in Salisbury, England. A judge has on Friday, July 10, 2020 sentenced a man to four years for attempting to steal Salisbury Cathedral’s Magna Carta. Salisbury Crown Court Judge Richard Parkes sentenced Mark Royden, describing the failed theft as a “determined attempt on a document of huge historical importance. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, FILE)

Man gets prison for failed theft of Magna Carta in England

LONDON (AP) — A U.K. judge has sentenced a man to four years for attempting to steal one of the original copies of the the Magna …

Johnny Depp arrives at the High Court in London, Friday July 10, 2020. Depp is back in the witness box at the trial of his libel suit against a tabloid newspaper that called him a "wife-beater" in an April 2018 article that said he'd physically abused ex-wife Amber Heard. Depp strongly denies the allegations.(AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Depp due to wrap up evidence at libel trial against tabloid

LONDON (AP) — Johnny Depp is set to wrap up his evidence Friday in his libel case against a British tabloid newspaper that accused …

Business

Amazon's homeless shelter faces Seattle crisis, criticism

SEATTLE (AP) — A homeless shelter built on Amazon’s perfectly manicured urban Seattle campus is a major civic contribution that pushes the company to face the crisis and criticism in the hometown …

AP: After lobbying, Catholic Church won $1.4B in virus aid

NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. Roman Catholic Church used a special and unprecedented exemption from federal rules to amass at least $1.4 billion in taxpayer-backed coronavirus aid, with many millions …

The Latest: India reports more than 26,000 new virus cases

NEW DELHI — India’s is reporting another record one-day spike in coronavirus cases, prompting some states to reimpose lockdowns in high-risk areas. The 26,506 cases reported Friday bring …

Florida's curve no longer flat amid new surge of virus cases

MIAMI (AP) — Fighting a surge in cases in the spring, Florida appeared to be “flattening the curve” as theme parks shuttered, sugar sand beaches closed and residents heeded orders to stay home. …

Travel

Summer getaway can begin: New UK quarantine rules in place

LONDON (AP) — The traditional British summer getaway to the sun-soaked beaches of the Mediterranean Sea is set to pick up steam Friday as U.K. quarantine restrictions are removed from dozens of …

Bed Bath & Beyond closing stores, cruises prepare to sail

The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed. Following are developments Thursday related to the national and global response, the work place and …

Parades, close-ups with Mickey out as Disney World reopens

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Forget about up-close “meet-and-greet" sessions with Mickey Mouse or Donald Duck when Walt Disney World parks reopen. There will be no firework shows or parades — those …

Country rocker Charlie Daniels honored at memorial service

MT. JULIET, Tenn. (AP) — Country Music Hall of Fame musician Charlie Daniels received military honors at a memorial service in Tennessee on Wednesday night. The country music icon, who penned …

Things to do

Gila River casinos reopening after coronavirus death of employee

Gila River Hotels & Casinos is reopening its Wild Horse Pass, Lone Butte, and Vee Quiva locations this week after the implementation of enhanced safety procedures and health protocols. The …

Free Fishing Day in Arizona is June 6

The Arizona Game and Fish Department invites you to fish at the state's waters for free Saturday, June 6, according to a release. Arizona’s Free Fishing Day is celebrated as part of National …

Desert Diamond casinos are reopening June 5

The Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise will resume gaming operations at 1 p.m. Friday, June 5 at all four of its Desert Diamond Casinos near Glendale, Tucson, Sahuarita and Why (Ajo). The TOGE …

Fort McDowell Casino plans to reopen May 15

Fort McDowell Casino and the Wekopa Resort and Conference Center will tentatively have a reopening day of May 15. Casino doors will open at 10 a.m., according to the casino's website.

Opinion

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