Year-end Axis of Evil update

An Arizona bill that requires students’ to recite the Pledge of Allegiance has continued to make its way toward becoming law, though it doesn't include any penalties, leaving an open question as to what would happen to a student, teacher or school that refuses to participate. Read more»   

The Texas Observer, the storied progressive publication known for its feisty, combative and often humorous investigative journalism, is shutting down and will lay off its 17-person staff, including 13 journalists, several members of its board said Sunday. Read more»   

The United States saw a rise in antisemitism in 2022 and Arizona continued to see more antisemitic vandalism and more incidents of racism than in some previous years. Read more»   

Some victims of sex crimes want their perpetrators to spend more time being closely monitored and receiving treatment before they can petition for release from lifetime probation. Read more»   

U.S. House Republicans on Friday passed a bill designed to empower parents to inspect books and other teaching materials in local public schools, but Democrats sharply criticized the measure, saying it would censor teachers and ban books. Read more»   

The Biden administration will head to the Supreme Court to defend a federal law that criminalizes certain speech - while the law is aimed at those who would encourage people crossing the border to skirt law enforcement, it has been used by the government to surveil journalists. Read more»   

Following in the footsteps of six conservative-led states, Senate Republicans want to pull Arizona’s membership from a multistate coalition that aids in cleaning voter rolls, following false claims that the coalition is part of a liberal conspiracy to rig elections. Read more»   

A U.S. House panel grilled TikTok’s CEO for more than five hours Thursday over the social media giant’s ties to China, and indicated there may be bipartisan consensus for a national ban on the platform. Read more»   

Arizona Game and Fish wants to rid the state of the invasive gastropod pest apple snails - which probably came to Arizona through the aquarium pet trade - and it’s counting on responsible pet owners, outdoor enthusiasts, citizen scientists and volunteers to help. Read more»