The Veridus Weekly

Thursday marked Day One of the #RedForEd walkout, bringing to the State Capitol a red wave of an estimated 50,000 educators and supporters for the largest teacher strike in state history. Friday’s sequel was smaller and more subdued, and organizers announced the strike would continue through Monday. And after that?

In the span of a few hours, two things happened that signal where this debate is headed.

First, on Friday afternoon, a group calling itself the Invest in Education committee filed a November ballot initiative that would increase to 8 percent the income tax rate for individuals earning more than $250,000, or households earning above $500,000. Individuals earning $500,000, or households more than $1 million, would see their rates double to 9 percent. If passed, 60 percent of the estimated $680 million generated annually would go toward teacher salaries, and 40 percent would be added for all-day kindergarten and other K-12 needs.

Also on Friday, Governor Doug Ducey took to Twitter to announce that a deal had been struck with legislators for his #20x2020 plan, which would amount to a 20 percent pay raise for teachers by 2020, along with $371 million in additional dollars for support staff over five years. Unlike the ballot measure, the Governor’s proposal does not include a tax increase.

The Governor said he expects to see the education plan incorporated into the budget, which may be voted on early next week. Assuming the #20X2020 plan is adopted,the two questions looming largest are whether it will be deemed sufficient by rank-and-file teachers and help diffuse a movement that brought tens of thousands to the Capitol this week, and how it will impact how voters view a possible tax increase at the ballot.

Bear in mind: 2012 was the last time an education tax hike went to the ballot without the blessing of the Governor. It failed by nearly 30 points. Coal won't face Arizona sales taxes after Gov. Ducey signs bill
Arizona Republic

Gov. Doug Ducey signed a bill Wednesday that will exempt coal from sales taxes in Arizona.

Supporters of the action hope it will help attract a buyer for the embattled Navajo Generating Station and keep the state's only coal mine open.

The coal-fired power plant near Page buys coal from Peabody Energy's Kayenta Mine, but the plant is scheduled to close next year, which will also force the closure of the mine.

"This bill is essential to the economic success of the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and surrounding communities," Ducey's signing letter said.

[...] Read more HERE.

Lesko wins CD8
Arizona Capitol Times

Early ballot results in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District show Democrat Hiral Tipirneni put up more of a fight against Republican Debbie Lesko than expected in a district that has been reliably conservative for years.

Lesko lead Tipirneni by 6 percentage points after a count of early ballots Tuesday evening.

Although the lead may be insurmountable, the race is closer than expected when contrasted against President Trump’s 21 percentage points victory in the 2016 presidential election. The Associated Press declared Lesko the winner immediately after the initial returns.

[...] Republicans cast about 48 percent of early ballots, but Tipirneni claimed about 47 percent of the total early vote, indicating some in the GOP party may have swung in the Democrat’s favor.

[...] Lesko will still have to defend her seat in the regularly scheduled elections this August and November where some of her dozen challengers could reemerge – and so will Tipirneni.

[...] Read more HERE.
 
CVS Health Underscores Commitment to Safe Medication Disposal Ahead of National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on April 28

Company announces success of disposal program with nearly 350,000 pounds of unwanted medication collected across more than 1,400 disposal kiosks

WOONSOCKET, R.I., April 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today underscored the company's commitment to helping communities safely dispose of unwanted medications, particularly as an important step in helping to address and prevent opioid abuse and misuse.  The company announced its safe medication disposal efforts have collected nearly 350,000 pounds, or 158 metric tons, of unwanted medication. This Saturday, April 28, is the DEA's National Prescription Take-Back Day, during which more than 100 CVS Pharmacy locations will join other community sites around the country to host law enforcement take-back events, allowing the public to safely dispose of unwanted medication.

[...] Last September, as part of a major expansion of its efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, CVS Health announced it would extend its safe medication disposal program to 750 CVS Pharmacy locations this year.  The company now has more than 500 of those units installed and expects to complete installation of all units this summer. The CVS Pharmacy disposal locations add to the nearly 900 units CVS Health has donated to local law enforcement to facilitate community drug take-back efforts.

In addition to promoting safe medication disposal, the company is also working to combat the opioid epidemic by increasing access to the opioid overdose drug naloxone.  CVS Pharmacy locations in 46 states have standing orders, or similar protocol, which allow patients to obtain this medication without an individual prescription. CVS Health has also focused on opioid abuse prevention through the company's Pharmacists Teach program.  This program connects CVS pharmacists to local schools to talk with students and parents about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs, using a curriculum CVS Health developed with the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. More than 350,000 students and parents nationwide have participated in the program.

Read more HERE.

Walmart and Phoenix Children's Hospital Celebrate $10 Million Fundraising Milestone 

Over the last three decades, associates and customers at Walmart and Sam's Club stores throughout Arizona have helped to raise over $10 million to benefit Phoenix Children's Hospital. This week, kids, families and representatives from PCH joined Walmart associates and executives to celebrate this fundraising milestone. 

Diageo Gives Consumers A First-Person Perspective Of Binge Drinking Tragedies In Groundbreaking Virtual Reality Series

Latest Development from Beverage Alcohol Leader is the Second Installment in its Responsible Drinking Virtual Reality Film Series: Decisions

NORWALK, Conn., April 24, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, today introduced a new virtual reality (VR) experience that will immerse consumers in a first-person, interactive story about the dangers of binge drinking. Diageo is committed to encourage consumers to drink better, not more, and to reduce harmful drinking. "Decisions: Party's Over" seeks to reduce binge drinking through innovative technology.

The launch follows Diageo's successful 2016 launch of "Decisions," a first-of-its-kind 360° experience that placed consumers in the front seat of a fatal drunk driving crash and accumulated almost 14 million views. The experience had a significant impact on consumer perceptions with 73 percent of viewers surveyed after watching the film saying they were more likely to stop other people from drinking and driving, and 75 percent of viewers saying they would prevent drinking and driving by planning ahead with a designated driver.

"Decisions: Party's Over" continues the series with an innovative take on virtual reality, allowing consumers to interact with the story – toggling between four different points of view – as they experience each of the characters' perspectives. This latest initiative has once again been spearheaded by Diageo's Digital and Technology Partnerships teams. Joining Diageo in the effort is Jaunt, the immersive cinematic experience company, who helped with the creative vision, production, development and distribution of the experience.

[...] Diageo continues to look for new and inventive ways to reach consumers via emerging platforms and technologies like the latest installment in its ongoing virtual reality series. Diageo also created DRINKiQ, a website specifically created to cover all aspects of alcohol and give consumers the tools to make more informed choices about drinking, including the decision not to drink. In addition to releasing the virtual reality film, Diageo put together a discussion guide, which will be available on the DRINKiQ site for educators, parents and consumers.

Consumers can access the interactive VR version of "Decisions: Party's Over" through the Jaunt App in the Oculus Store, both on Oculus Rift and GearVR or view in VR through the Jaunt App supported on iOs, Android, Playstation VR, Google Daydream, Windows Mixed Reality, HTC Vive and all desktop browsers. Consumers can also visit bingedrinkingvr.com and watch the non-interactive version in 360 on their mobile phone.

Read more HERE.

TEP Ranks Among Nation's Top Utilities for Expanding Energy Storage

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Tucson Electric Power (TEP) has developed energy storage systems at a scale that ranks among the utility industry’s leaders, according to a report released today by the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA).

TEP was ranked second in the nation for per-capita additions to its energy storage resources in 2017 with 50 watts per customer. SEPA also ranked TEP third in the nation for new energy storage capacity for adding 21 megawatts (MW) of battery storage systems to its local electric grid.

“Energy storage systems are among the technologies we’re using to build a stronger, cleaner and more reliable electric system for our customers,” said David G. Hutchens, TEP’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “We will need both storage and advanced, flexible generating systems to maintain reliable service as we expand our use of renewable resources.”

Energy storage systems can boost power output levels quickly to help maintain the required balance between energy demand and supply. They also can be used to store the output of wind and solar power systems for use during periods of high demand, adding versatility but also cost to renewable resources.

[...] Read more HERE.