Arizona Investigative Reporting

Would removing ‘snowbirds’ solve Arizona’s housing crisis? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

No. Getting rid of so-called snowbirds—including seasonal homeowners from Canada—would not solve Arizona’s housing crisis. Though seasonal residents do add to demand in some communities, they make up only a fraction of the state’s overall housing market.

Would removing ‘snowbirds’ solve Arizona’s housing crisis? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Could a new Tucson ordinance allow police to arrest people for being unhoused? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

No. Tucson’s new drug-loitering ordinance does not authorize police to arrest someone based on housing status. It targets specific behaviors, such as loitering while possessing or using drugs. The ordinance is broad, however, allowing officers to justify arrests based on vague criteria like presence in certain public spaces, prior drug history or “physical characteristics” associated with drug use.

Could a new Tucson ordinance allow police to arrest people for being unhoused? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Does Arizona have one of the highest rates of children without health insurance in the United States? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Yes. Arizona had the second-highest rate of uninsured children in the nation in 2024, with 9.3% of those 18 and under lacking coverage, according to a U.S. Census Bureau report. That’s up from 8.6% in 2023 and above the national average of 6%.

Does Arizona have one of the highest rates of children without health insurance in the United States? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Did the Page City Council approve the sale of 500 acres for a data center? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Yes. In October 2025, Page’s mayor and Council members voted to sell 500 acres of recreational land for a proposed data center near Horseshoe Bend.

Did the Page City Council approve the sale of 500 acres for a data center? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Did the University of Arizona spend over $800,000 on surveillance cameras accessible by federal law enforcement? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Yes. In February 2025, the University of Arizona approved an $870,000, five-year contract with Flock Safety to install 62 automated license plate reader cameras across campus, according to records obtained by Tucson Spotlight.

Did the University of Arizona spend over $800,000 on surveillance cameras accessible by federal law enforcement? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Would a federal repeal of the Public Lands Rule reduce protections for Arizona’s outdoor recreation areas? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Yes. Arizona’s outdoor recreation areas could be at risk if the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule is repealed. Established in 2024, the rule requires that conservation and outdoor recreation be given equal priority alongside mining, grazing and energy development—a shift that aims to protect ecosystems and maintain public access to climbing, hiking and biking areas.

Would a federal repeal of the Public Lands Rule reduce protections for Arizona’s outdoor recreation areas? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Arizona’s Hualapai Valley now a ‘de facto transfer basin’ for out-of-state investors and corporate farms is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Out-of-state investors and industrial-scale agriculture businesses have poured millions into deep wells and water-intensive nut orchards in Arizona’s Mohave County, betting on the state’s unregulated aquifers to keep profits flowing. Now, more than 99% of the cropland in the Hualapai Valley basin is owned or controlled by out-of-state farming operations or investment funds.

Arizona’s Hualapai Valley now a ‘de facto transfer basin’ for out-of-state investors and corporate farms is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Our methods: Arizona’s Hualapai Valley now a ‘de facto transfer basin’ for out-of-state interests is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

To better understand the scope and scale of foreign ownership, and the role these entities have played in the area’s recent surge of industrial-scale agriculture, AZCIR spent several months analyzing various public records and datasets. Our investigation traced strings of LLCs and private investment firms operating in the northwestern part of the state.

Our methods: Arizona’s Hualapai Valley now a ‘de facto transfer basin’ for out-of-state interests is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Are refugees eligible for SNAP assistance? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

No. Refugees are no longer eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits following the Nov. 1 implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Are refugees eligible for SNAP assistance? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Is the number of registered Republicans in Arizona at an all-time high? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Yes. As of October 2025, Arizona had more than 1.6 million registered Republicans on its voter rolls, a record high for the state.

Is the number of registered Republicans in Arizona at an all-time high? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Is the number of registered Republicans in Arizona at an all-time high? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Yes. As of October 2025, Arizona had more than 1.6 million registered Republicans on its voter rolls, a record high for the state.

Is the number of registered Republicans in Arizona at an all-time high? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Could more than 900,000 Arizonans lose food assistance on Nov. 1? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Yes. Starting Nov. 1, the Arizona Department of Economic Security is set to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance, affecting more than 900,000 Arizonans. Most of the state’s SNAP recipients are families with children, and the majority have incomes below the poverty line.

Could more than 900,000 Arizonans lose food assistance on Nov. 1? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Could more than 900,000 Arizonans lose food assistance on Nov. 1? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Yes. Starting Nov. 1, the Arizona Department of Economic Security is set to suspend Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance, affecting more than 900,000 Arizonans. Most of the state’s SNAP recipients are families with children, and the majority have incomes below the poverty line.

Could more than 900,000 Arizonans lose food assistance on Nov. 1? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

Are all magistrate judges required to have a law degree to be appointed in Arizona? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.

No. A law degree is not required for all magistrate—or municipal—judge appointments in Arizona. City and town magistrates are appointed under local ordinances, meaning qualifications vary by municipality. In addition to handling matters such as misdemeanors, traffic tickets and city code violations, they can issue warrants or protection orders.

Are all magistrate judges required to have a law degree to be appointed in Arizona? is reporting published by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Arizona's only nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide investigative reporting.