Fire Season Looms Large

Arizona is facing critical fire conditions this season. Red Flag Warnings have been issued for northwest Arizona, including the Lake Mead region, due to low humidity levels, high temperatures, strong winds up to 35 mph in Mohave County, and extremely dry heat.

The western United States is experiencing warmer and drier conditions than normal, causing snowmelt to happen faster than usual. Many areas will be snow-free two to three weeks earlier than normal, extending the fire danger period.

Arizona is dealing with a serious groundwater depletion problem that's worse than other Colorado River Basin states. The main causes include unregulated agricultural water use, rapid depletion of underground water sources called aquifers, and inadequate water management policies.

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Governor Katie Hobbs: Expanding Medicaid wasn’t just the right thing to do, it was one of my proudest and most meaningful votes as a state senator. It lowered costs, shored up rural hospitals, and provided healthcare coverage to nearly 300,000 working Arizonans.

AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes: As Arizona’s Attorney General, I have a duty to protect consumers from corporate greed. I will not stand by as APS and Pinnacle West attempt to fleece Arizonans with yet another unjustified rate hike.

State Senator Janae Shamp: Why did Arizona check only 23% of Medicaid enrollees for assets? Over a third of Medicaid enrollees were too rich to qualify. Arizona, how did this happen? #MedicaidMillionaires

State Representative Sarah Liguori: Democrats believe in an America that keeps its promises. We will continue to fight against this lawless administration to protect: Your rights Your freedoms Your dignity Your safety #immigrantrights

State Representative Nick Kupper: Luke AFB was established in 1941, so unless you bought your house before then stop your whining & thank them for your freedoms.

State Representative Selina Bliss: Still busy at the Capitol in the middle of budget negotiations. Meanwhile, we are missing spending time in the district, so we wanted to send an update from the AZ LD1 House Team, @QuangNguyenAZ, and me

Maricopa County Supervisor Mark Stewart: Excited to share a new video explaining why I voted yes to seek a court ruling on the statutory duties of our County Recorder and Board of Supervisors. Although it's unfortunate we couldn’t come to an agreement through our subcommittee, this step will ensure that we understand our statutory responsibilities and help us move forward. Creating trust means being transparent, and I’ll continue to advocate for openness about our negotiations and this overall process. This positive step will help us resolve the issues quickly and get back to focusing on running great elections that the public deserves.

Arizona Faces Critical Fire Season Amid Water Crisis— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon

Carbone Slams Hobbs for Vetoing Medicaid Reform Bill— By Cactus Politics' Grayson Bakich— State Representative Michael Carbone (R-25) slammed Governor Katie Hobbs's (D-AZ) veto of House Bill 2449, which would tighten Medicaid eligibility standards, in a recent press conference.

One Big Beautiful Bill Underway in Senate— By Cactus Politics' Mateo Guillamont— President Donald Trump’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ (BBB) is progressing through the Senate as the Finance Committee recently released a revised version.

Heap Sues Maricopa County Over Election Dispute— By Cactus Politics' Grayson Bakich— Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap is suing the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (MCBOS), claiming they are interfering with his efforts to establish more transparent elections.

How Young Native Artists Are Reclaiming Their Economic Future— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— In Arizona, young Indigenous artists are using their traditional craft of beading as a means of achieving economic independence as well as cultural preservation. A new generation is revitalizing ancient beadwork methods from Hopi communities to Navajo Nation while creating sustainable microbusinesses through local markets and media outlets.

US Underscores Trump's anti-Nuclear Iran Policy as US Strikes Loom— By Cactus Politics' Mateo Guillamont— The White House recently reminded the public of President Donald Trump’s consistent anti-nuclear Iran stance as speculation festers anticipating US involvement in the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict.

Gallego Celebrates Phoenix NLRB Office Staying Open— By Cactus Politics' Grayson Bakich— Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) celebrated a recent announcement that the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) Phoenix office will remain open, saying, "The NLRB plays a vital role in protecting workers' rights across the country."

Schweikert Reintroduces Bill Rescinding Unused Federal Funds— By Cactus Politics' Grayson Bakich— Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ) has reintroduced legislation requiring the rescission of unused federal funds back to the Treasury.

Thousands Gather at Arizona Capitol for 'No Kings' Protest— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— More than 15,000 people gathered at the Arizona State Capitol on Saturday to participate in a nationwide protest movement called "No Kings," which targeted President Donald Trump's administration.

Arizona Faces Water Cuts as Colorado River Crisis Deepens— By Cactus Politics' Ericka Pinon— The Colorado River provides essential water to Arizona, supplying the Phoenix metropolitan area and supporting agriculture, electricity generation, and municipal drinking water systems across the state.

The Snakebite is written by Grayson Bakich and Javier Manjarres