A bill introduced by Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani of Arizona would expand military authority at Fort Huachuca and other installations to include surrounding land.
The legislation would amend the Sikes Act — a 1960s law that allows collaboration between the military and other agencies to protect wildlife and other natural resources on military land.
Ciscomani’s bill would expand that law to allow for inter-agency partnerships in broader military and National Guard operations near places like Fort Huachuca. The bill is supported by Mayor Clea McCaa in nearby Sierra Vista, who says it will protect his city’s economic plans against legal actions over potential environmental harm.
Since April, the Trump administration has been expanding military authority across hundreds of miles of public land along the border in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
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A state lawmaker wants to ban fluoride in drinking water, but several cities use it. Sen. Janae Shamp (R-Surprise) introduced legislation this week to ban fluoride in public drinking water.
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Tucson-based conservationists are suing the federal government for putting President Donald Trump’s face on a yearly pass to enter national parks, including the Grand Canyon.
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A lawyer for Maricopa County Attorney Rachell Mitchell told a judge that the Trump-aligned law firm representing Recorder Justin Heap in an ongoing lawsuit against the Board of Supervisors shouldn’t be allowed to stay on the case.
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A Republican state lawmaker is calling for Arizona to roll back guidance for hepatitis B vaccines, following controversial changes at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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Other local governments, such as Phoenix, have updated zoning for data centers as the facilities have come under greater public scrutiny for energy and water use.