Feb. 2, 2021
WASHINGTON – COVID-19 infections in Arizona appeared to be leveling off last week when officials confirmed that a variant of the virus, first found in the United Kingdom, had been found in the state.
Not good news, but experts say things could be worse.
“If this new variant had become dominant in early January, it would have been an utter disaster because we were already headed on the upslope and it would’ve made things even worse,” said Will Humble, the director of the Arizona Public Health Association.
But Humble is cautiously optimistic, and state health officials said that for now, they are keeping a close eye on the situation.
UpdatedSun, Jan 17, 2021 at 7:09 pm ET
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Donald Trump supporters gather around the Michigan State Capitol Building to protest the certification of Joe Biden as the next president of the United States. (Photo by Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images)
ACROSS AMERICA As small groups of armed protesters approached some state capitols across the country on Sunday, the nation remains on high alert in the days ahead of the inauguration and in the wake of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. capitol.
A small group of them gatehered outside the Michigan Capitol early Sunday, but left by the early afternoon. The group was limited to 10-20 demonstrators, who were far outnumbered by police, according to reports.
Olivier Touron/AFP via Getty Images
State capitals across the US are preparing for possible attacks on their legislatures in the coming days similar to the insurrection at the US Capitol last week, hoping a larger law enforcement presence and extra security measures will stave off the worst.
The FBI sent an internal memo on Sunday warning all 50 states that “armed protests” at their capitals are being planned by far-right extremists, potentially leading to a repeat of what happened January 6 in Washington, DC. As a result, state capitol buildings are on “high alert,” with local law enforcement and, in some cases, state National Guard troops mobilizing into action.
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PHOENIX Arizona drivers who have ignored a 2019 law that bans holding a cellphone behind the wheel be warned: Breaking the law is going to cost you starting Friday.
That’s when police statewide can stop drivers and issue tickets that come with fines between $75 and $149 for a first offense, plus other fees. A second or subsequent offense is even more pricey, with fines of $150 to $250.
Arizona was one of the last states in the nation without a cellphone ban until lawmakers passed the law. It came after years of failing to muster a majority vote in the Legislature because of opposition from many Republicans. They opposed what they saw as an unnecessary infringement on personal responsibility despite compelling testimony from families who lost loved ones in crashes caused by distracted drivers.
Law enforcement to hand out tickets for distracted driving in Arizona starting Jan. 1, 2021
Arizona s distracted driving law will be in effect beginning January 1, 2021.
and last updated 2020-12-16 20:10:04-05
PHOENIX â In April of last year, Arizona passed a state-wide ban on using your phone while behind the wheel. For the past 18 months, Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers have been educating drivers about the law. Starting Jan.1, 2021, they will begin giving citations.
DPS Sergeant Kameron Lee says the bottom line is: don t hold your phone while driving. He says you can answer a phone call if it s connected to Bluetooth and you can use your phone s GPS if the phone is cradled in a holder. You can also use your phone if you re calling 911.