Regional

The city of Page has declared a public health emergency and issued a new ordinance requiring face masks be worn in public.

WASHINGTON – There’s often not much agreement on news out of Washington, but Arizona business leaders were hard-pressed this week to come up with negatives about the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement that took effect Wednesday.

Gov. Doug Ducey ordered flags at all state buildings be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Thursday, July 2, 2020, in honor of Peoria Police Officer Jason Judd who died in the line of duty after a motorcycle crash.

PHOENIX — A two-week delay in the start of in-classroom learning ordered by Gov. Doug Ducey may give schools more time to prepare to teach in the middle of the pandemic.

PHOENIX - Drivers heading north to Payson, Mogollon Rim and White Mountains for the holiday weekend should budget extra time and consider alternate routes with 13 miles of State Route 87 still limited to one lane while crews repair guardrail and fencing damaged by the Bush Fire.

The Walmart stores on Gail Gardner Way in Prescott and on Glassford Hill Road in Prescott Valley is requiring customers to wear face coverings as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across Arizona.

The Mangum Fire has burned 71,450 acres and is 63 percent contained as of June 30.

Ongoing extreme fire danger have led forest officials to close the state’s largest national forest beginning at 6 a.m. July 2.

ARIZONA — New York, Connecticut and New Jersey asked June 24 for travelers from states with high coronavirus infection rates to go into quarantine for 14 days in a bid to preserve hard-fought gains as caseloads rise elsewhere in the country.

COTTONWOOD, Ariz. — Five employees and 21 residents of an assisted living facility in Cottonwood have tested positive for COVID-19 according to Yavapai County Community Health Services (YCCHS).

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — About 60 percent of employees at Northern Arizona University will take a pay reduction starting July 1 to meet a $100 million budget shortfall, a couple weeks after some faculty and staff were laid off, university officials said.

The proclamation goes into effect at 1 a.m. July 1, and will last until Aug. 1.

PHOENIX, Ariz. —Governor Doug Ducey and Superintendent Kathy Hoffman announced a $270 million plan to help Arizona public schools safely open at the start of the school year, while allowing for remote learning June 24.

PRESCOTT, Ariz. - Two events — one virtual and one on the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza — will occur today to remember the 19 Granite Mountain Hotshots who died seven years ago fighting the Yarnell Hill Wildfire.

Ducey called it one of the most tragic days in state history.

PHOENIX (AP) — Some Arizona hospitals have begun activating surge plans to increase their capacity to treat coronavirus patients as confirmed cases rise and more people seek treatment.

CHINO VALLEY — Four Town of Chino Valley employees have tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19) and all are currently resting at home, monitoring their health, and receiving appropriate medical treatment, town staff said June 24.

PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey is defending indoor political rallies with thousands of people without masks even as he admitted the only way Arizona will stop the upward trend of infections is if people mask up and stay home.

PRESCOTT - Prescott Frontier Days continues to adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic and has made the decision to cancel the rodeo dances and July 4 parade for this year.

PRESCOTT - The rise in COVID-19 cases across the state is starting to impact Yavapai County hospitals with higher numbers of hospitalizations leading to restrictions and evaluations on any elective procedures.

“We have an obligation, we have a duty, we have a responsibility, to protect those sites of our ancestors, sacred sites of our ancestors, and do what we can do to protect those areas,” said Tohono O’odham Nation Chairman Ned Norris Jr.

PHOENIX — One home burned and numerous secondary structures have been lost in a fast-moving brush fire north of Phoenix July 23. The 897 acre fire is now 5 percent contained.

PRESCOTT - Just 5 years ago, the number of sober living homes in Prescott stood at 200 or more.

ARIZONA - Staffing limitations due to the ongoing public health emergency are resulting in delays to some Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division customer service operations.

The Mangum Fire, located on the North Kaibab Plateau reached 71,043 acres June 23 and was 33 percent contained.