In a Phoenix courtroom, two men faced justice on the same day, one paying a $463 fine for careless driving, the other fighting to dismiss a DUI case tied to a passenger’s death. Judge Lenore Driggs’s courtroom revealed how Arizona’s justice system balances fairness and efficiency, where one man’s case ends swiftly, and another’s hinges on constitutional rights and time.

As Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program surpasses $1 billion, critics warn the state’s school voucher expansion is draining resources from struggling public schools. Despite record spending, Arizona ranks near the bottom in education performance and funding. Advocates say the state’s priorities favor choice over equity, leaving teachers and students to make up the difference.

Arizona’s new Healthy Schools Act bans artificial dyes and additives like Red 40 and brominated oils from school meals, aiming to fight rising childhood obesity and diabetes. As districts race to adjust menus, nutrition directors say the biggest challenge isn’t cost, it’s education and implementation.

When President Trump’s new decree slapped a $100,000 fee on H-1B visa petitions, shockwaves hit Arizona’s tech and university communities. At ASU, international students fear job offers will vanish, while local employers brace for stalled innovation. As confusion spreads from Silicon Valley to Tempe, Arizona finds itself caught between protecting workers and preserving its global talent pipeline.