Latest news with #LaurieRobertsaz
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Many people to blame for Layla Ramos' death, but the shooter isn't one
Contrary to what you may have read, there were two victims this week when a 5-year-old Phoenix girl was shot and killed in her south Phoenix home. Layla Ramos is dead, but she is not the only victim here. Her 9-year-old brother, who Phoenix police say fired the bullet that killed her, also is a victim — one who will have to live with this week's tragedy for the rest of his life. Of course, it wasn't his fault. It was the fault of his father, Irvin Ramos-Jimenez, 33, who shouldn't have even had a rifle, much less stored it in his son's bedroom. It was the fault — though not legally — of whomever sold him the AR-15-style rifle. In Arizona, you can sell your gun privately to any Tom, Dick or dirty Harry, no questions asked. And it's the fault of the Arizona Legislature, which refuses to pass a bill requiring universal background checks. Had the previous gun owner been required to check, he presumably would have learned that he was selling his rifle to a man who can't legally possess one. According to court records, Ramos-Jimenez, 33, told police he has a prior felony drug conviction for narcotics and can't legally possess a firearm. So, he bought one anyway through a private sale, for 'personal protection.' Then he stored it in his 9-year-old son's bedroom closet. Court records say he also had a handgun in his truck. Ramos-Jiminez was arrested after the June 3 death of his daughter, on suspicion of possession of a weapon by a prohibited person. Let me count the ways our leaders could at least attempt to avoid such tragedy in the future. They could pass a bill requiring that every gun sale in Arizona be preceded by a background check, to determine whether the purchaser is legally allowed to own a firearm. They could pass a bill holding a seller liable if he or she doesn't do that background check and a little girl dies. They could pass a bill requiring gun owners to store their weapons responsibly, so that 9-year-old boys can't gain easy access and kill their sisters. So, what will the Arizona Legislature do to try to avoid the tragedy of another 5-year-old being put into a far-too-early grave? Or a 9-year-old put into what likely will be a self-imposed lifelong purgatory? Absolutely nothing. Reach Roberts at Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @ Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix shooting is no fault of the boy with the gun | Opinion
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers take a 2-week break. Arizona does a happy dance
So, after four months of arduous work, the Arizona Legislature is taking a break. It seems the beach is calling, and they must answer. The House is taking two weeks off, returning on May 20. The Senate will return on May 27. This is, of course, an outrage. An affront to every hardworking Arizonan — the people who work five, six or even seven days a week just to get by. People who, I'm confident that when told their leaders taking a few weeks off, will rise up with one voice and ask: What will it take to get them to stay away? It's not like this Legislature has accomplished much, other than beating up on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs virtually every day and patting themselves on the back for passing bills that will go nowhere. And, oh yeah, scheming to cut care for disabled children and trampling the constitutional rights of Scottsdale voters. Protecting the state's water supply? Nope. Passing a plan to boost the supply of houses people can afford to buy without selling all their internal organs? Uh-uh. Demanding better oversight of the state's runaway Empowerment Scholarship Account program? Be serious. Proposing a workable plan to ask voters for an extension of the Proposition 123 education funding that runs dry on June 30? They've hinted about holding hostage that $300 million in public school funding unless voters agree to a constitutional guarantee for ESAs. Yeah, no. After all that statesmanship, it seems our leaders are just too exhausted to stick around and do the one thing they actually are required to do. To pass a balanced budget, that is. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs proposed her 2025-2026 budget on Jan. 17. Republican legislators? Nope. Opinion: What does Hobbs have against transparency? Once upon a time, the Legislature proposed a budget then held detailed hearings, allowing the public a voice in how our money is spent. Sure, was a time suck, but it was also good governance. These days, a few legislative leaders knock out a plan in private, then present it to the governor. By the time it gets to rank-and-file legislators, it's basically take it or leave it, and you have three minutes to decide. The public, meanwhile, has no role. So, now our exhausted leaders are headed off to vacay and other than the Governor's Office, which called the late-session vacation 'shameful,' I'm wondering … Will anybody even notice that they're gone? Reach Roberts at Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @ Like this column? Get more opinions in your email inbox by signing up for our free opinions newsletter, which publishes Monday through Friday. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Legislature goes on vacation? That's ... fantastic! | Opinion
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
DHS director dons her Ballistic Barbie costume in Phoenix. Don't you feel safe?
It's time for the Trump administration to make Phoenix safe again. They can do this by dispatching Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem … somewhere, anywhere … else. Noem is America's reigning queen of cosplay. Whether it's rocking a cowboy hat while sitting astride a horse in Del Rio, Texas, (Border Barbie) or posing in front of Venezuelan inmates in an El Salvador supermax prison with her ICE ballcap and her $50,000 gold Rolex (Badass Barbie), Noem's got it going on. On April 8, there was Noem, all dolled up on the streets of Phoenix with flak jacket, full hair and makeup and, of course, that $50K Rolex, looking like she was ready to storm the city (Ballistic Barbie). Noem, leading the convoy of federal agents, was behind the wheel of a BearCat armored SWAT vehicle (Barbie's new Dream Tank?) 'Human traffickers. Drug Smugglers. 18th Street Gang members,' Noem wrote on X, formerly Twitter. 'Spent the morning in Phoenix with our brave @ICEgov and Arizona law enforcement arresting these dirtbags and getting them off our streets.' Attached was a picture of her pointing a rifle seemingly at the head of the federal agent standing to her left. Fortunately, Noem and her 100-agent task force got their man. Or, rather, three of them, all reportedly illegal immigrants suspected of money laundering, drug and weapons crimes, according to the New York Post, whose reporter went along for the raid. And fortunately, none of the agents was injured … by the migrants or by their leader. Who is probably a smart woman. If only she acted like it. Opinion: No, Arizona border is not 'under siege' Maybe she could start by spending less time on pretend play and more time working on ways to ensure her agents aren't rounding up the wrong people and shipping them off to Salvadoran prisons. More time snatching up hardened criminals and less time picking up 'collateral damage.' It was left to Arizona U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, a Marine combat veteran, to school Noem on how to pose for better self-promotional videos. '1. Close your ejection port,' Gallego wrote on social media, referring to the rifle's cartridge ejection area. '2. If you have no rounds in the chamber why do you have a magazine inserted? '3. If you have rounds in the chamber or in the magazine why are you flagging the guy next to you? '4. Stop deporting people without due process.' If these were truly gangbangers and traffickers, then good for law enforcement for getting them off the streets of Phoenix, in accordance with the laws of the land. Even if it did take 100 of them to do it. But Battle-Ready Barbie? Unless she's knocking on doors and saying, 'Trick or Treat,' she just looks silly. I'm guessing nobody's afraid of her. Well, unless they happen to be a dog ... Reach Roberts at Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @ Like this column? Get more opinions straight into your email inbox by signing up for our free opinions newsletter, which publishes Monday through Friday. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kristi Noem goes on Phoenix ICE raid for more cosplay | Opinion
USA Today
08-03-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Republicans racing to name roads after Trump keep crashing and burning
Republicans racing to name roads after Trump keep crashing and burning | Opinion Republicans aren't satisfied with just renaming roads after Trump. Some want an official holiday, too. Show Caption Hide Caption Frustrated Democrats want leaders to do more to stop Trump Congressional limitations hinder Democrats' pushback against the Trump administration, but constituents say more can be done. The drive to name an Arizona state highway after President Donald Trump ran off the road on Thursday. I know. I'm surprised, too. State Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, proposed transforming State Route 260 into the Donald J. Trump Highway, noting that it's the patriotic thing to do. He has, after all, been president for an entire six weeks now. 'All across the nation people have really endorsed this concept, and why?' Rogers told the Senate Public Safety Committee a few weeks ago. 'It's because WE THE PEOPLE should be able to name our roads and our byways, and WE THE PEOPLE need to be represented and to be proud of our United States president.' Alas, WE THE PEOPLE must be crushed because the legislation stalled Thursday on a 15-9 vote of the Republican-run Senate, one shy of passing. Opinion: Canada's Liberal Party looked doomed. Then Trump's tariff war revived it. Trump Highway could be revived from the dead The proposal could make a comeback, however, as state Sen. Shawnna Bolick, R-Phoenix, was absent from Thursday's vote. Arizona is not the only red state looking to up its bootlicking game. In Missouri, Republicans also are working on a bill to name a state highway for Trump, and in Oklahoma, there is talk of declaring Nov. 5 (the day he was elected) a state holiday – President Donald J. Trump Day. I am not making this up. In Arizona, Senate Concurrent Memorial 1001 offers 15 whereases to justify the Donald J. Trump Highway. Among other things, it notes that he won the popular vote, unleashed the Department of Government Efficiency on federal workers and 'built over 400 miles of the world's most robust and advanced border wall' during his first term. Opinion: Georgetown law school dean clobbers Trump-loving US attorney's DEI griping Should the legislation be revived, it ultimately would be up to the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names to decide whether Trump rates the 217.8-mile scenic strip of pavement that runs from Cottonwood to Eager. Me? I'd suggest honoring him with a different route. One filled with harrowing switchbacks and plenty of potholes. Laurie Roberts is a columnist at the Arizona Republic, where this column originally appeared. Reach Roberts at or follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Republicans racing to name roads after Trump keep crashing and burning
The drive to name an Arizona state highway after President Donald Trump ran off the road on Thursday. I know. I'm surprised, too. State Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, proposed transforming State Route 260 into the Donald J. Trump Highway, noting that it's the patriotic thing to do. He has, after all, been president for an entire six weeks now. 'All across the nation people have really endorsed this concept, and why?' Rogers told the Senate Public Safety Committee a few weeks ago. 'It's because WE THE PEOPLE should be able to name our roads and our byways, and WE THE PEOPLE need to be represented and to be proud of our United States president.' Alas, WE THE PEOPLE must be crushed because the legislation stalled Thursday on a 15-9 vote of the Republican-run Senate, one shy of passing. Opinion: Canada's Liberal Party looked doomed. Then Trump's tariff war revived it. The proposal could make a comeback, however, as state Sen. Shawnna Bolick, R-Phoenix, was absent from Thursday's vote. Arizona is not the only red state looking to up its bootlicking game. In Missouri, Republicans also are working on a bill to name a state highway for Trump, and in Oklahoma, there is talk of declaring Nov. 5 (the day he was elected) a state holiday – President Donald J. Trump Day. I am not making this up. In Arizona, Senate Concurrent Memorial 1001 offers 15 whereases to justify the Donald J. Trump Highway. Among other things, it notes that he won the popular vote, unleashed the Department of Government Efficiency on federal workers and 'built over 400 miles of the world's most robust and advanced border wall' during his first term. Opinion: Georgetown law school dean clobbers Trump-loving US attorney's DEI griping Should the legislation be revived, it ultimately would be up to the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names to decide whether Trump rates the 217.8-mile scenic strip of pavement that runs from Cottonwood to Eager. Me? I'd suggest honoring him with a different route. One filled with harrowing switchbacks and plenty of potholes. Laurie Roberts is a columnist at the Arizona Republic, where this column originally appeared. Reach Roberts at or follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @ You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: GOP bid to rename highway for Trump spins out. Good | Opinion
