The Buzz

The topic of K-12 education has been a major issue for Arizonans for years. Despite recent increases, the state remains near the bottom for per-pupil funding, and teachers routinely talk about having to have second jobs or side hustles to get by. The state has increased spending on schools since the Red For Ed movement began nearly a decade ago, but test scores have been flat or going down since the COVID-19 pandemic. Add to that concerns about social issues ranging from student pronoun use to school safety. To get an update on many oof these issues, The Buzz spoke with Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne.

This week on The Buzz, show number 300! In this special retrospective, we look back on our journey since we hit the airwaves six years ago, reconnecting with both current and past staffers who've helped make The Buzz what it is today.

As Tucson considers taking over electricity service, we ask what difference public ownership makes.

Trump’s sweeping immigration overhaul ignites legal battles, international tension, and questions of constitutional limits.

A Republican Arizona lawmaker wants ultra-processed foods out of public school meals, and he has introduced a bill that has bipartisan co-sponsors.

Warren Peterson, Arizona's Republican Senate President, and Priya Sundareshan, the Democratic Minority Leader, dive into the pressing issues for the upcoming legislative session. They discuss the challenge of navigating a divided government and the need for bipartisan cooperation. Water rights take center stage, particularly regarding the contentious alfalfa farm and rural groundwater protection. Strategies for childcare affordability and education funding are also on the table, as both leaders emphasize the importance of prioritizing families over corporate interests.

Kris Mayes, Arizona's Attorney General, dives into crucial topics affecting residents. She discusses legal actions against collusion among landlords driving up rental prices and ongoing opioid lawsuits aimed at protecting public health. Mayes sheds light on scams in sober living homes and the complexities surrounding a lawsuit against a Saudi-owned alfalfa farm over groundwater use. With an eye on the future, she shares her commitment to ensuring accountability and protecting the rights of Arizonans.

Each year, the staff of The Buzz talk to more than 100 people for the episodes we bring you. To wrap up 2024, we decided to check in on some of the people we talked with to see how the rest of the year went for them.

We recap the year and take a look ahead with two economists. Will Arizona continue to show below-average inflation?

With the promise of import taxes, will major industries in our area be affected?