Latest news with #MarkKelly
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
From my kiln to Capitol Hill: Small businesses need clear policy, not performative praise
Photo courtesy Milkweed Arts Earlier this month, I joined a group of Arizona small business owners on a trip to Washington, D.C., to speak directly with our U.S. senators about what small business support actually looks like in 2025. I didn't go as part of a lobbying firm or large trade association — I went as a working artist and entrepreneur from Phoenix who knows firsthand what happens when policy and practice don't align. I own Milkweed Arts, a fused glass education center and gallery in central Phoenix, and Unique Glass Colors, a small U.S.-based manufacturer of enamels for glass artists. We're part of a creative economy that blends education, local manufacturing, and arts-based entrepreneurship — and, like many Arizona businesses, we're deeply affected by federal decisions around wages, tariffs, and technology access. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In D.C., I met with staffers for Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego to talk about three major issues facing businesses like mine: access to AI tools, the importance of raising the federal minimum wage and the increasingly harmful impact of international tariffs on small domestic producers. Let's start with AI. While big tech often dominates that conversation, artificial intelligence tools are now essential for smaller operations like mine. We use AI to transcribe and caption educational videos for accessibility, to generate art marketing materials and to help with customer support when I'm teaching, traveling or fulfilling orders myself. It's not replacing jobs; it allows us to function without burning out. Without equitable access to AI, businesses like mine lose one of the few tools we must have in order to compete with bigger, better-funded entities. Federal policy must support responsible and affordable AI access for small businesses, not just billion-dollar platforms. Then there's wages. I support raising the federal minimum wage — not because it's trendy, but because it works. My employees are better workers when they can afford to live. Customers spend more when they aren't living paycheck to paycheck. Local economies grow when small businesses and workers thrive together. A business model that only survives by suppressing wages is not sustainable, or ethical. We need a federal wage floor that reflects the realities of today's cost of living, not outdated assumptions from decades ago. And, finally, tariffs. While proponents portray them as tools to level the playing field, they're currently punishing the wrong players. As a small manufacturer who occasionally sources materials overseas — materials that simply aren't produced in the United States — I've seen my costs spike. Unlike large corporations, I don't have the power to absorb the cost or renegotiate with suppliers. Every price hike chips away at already thin margins. These policies, when poorly targeted, don't protect American small businesses. They strain them. We need smarter trade strategies that acknowledge scale and intent. Both senators' offices were highly engaged in the discussion, asking questions, listening carefully and taking notes throughout. I'm hopeful that even brief meetings plant seeds for further conversation. In each meeting, I emphasized that creative small businesses aren't just hobbies or side hustles. We're employers, community anchors and vital parts of Arizona's economy. We host classes that enrich lives. We keep our supply chains local when we can. We offer dignified jobs. And we represent the very kind of innovation and resilience that Arizona should be proud to support. I also extended invitations for each office to visit Milkweed Arts. Our kiln rooms, classrooms and local partnerships offer a clear picture of how cultural and economic development go hand in hand. Small businesses don't need performative praise. We need clear, thoughtful policy. That means AI legislation that doesn't disproportionately impact small operators. It means fair wages. And it means tariff strategies that consider business size and capacity, not just product category. It's easy to hold press conferences about supporting small businesses. It's harder, but more important, to listen to us, ask the hard questions and shape policy that meets us where we are. I'm grateful for the opportunity to represent Arizona's creative economy on Capitol Hill. But one trip isn't enough. Real support starts when policymakers treat small business not as a photo op, but as an equal partner in shaping Arizona's future. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Poll of the week: Should cannabis possession be legal?
Sir Sadiq Khan has called for cannabis possession to be decriminalised. The Mayor of London backed calls for decriminalisation this week because of concerns that drug laws were having a negative impact on relationships between the police and ethnic communities. We asked Telegraph readers: Should cannabis possession be legal? A staggering 71 per cent of over 79,000 respondents voted it should remain illegal. Your reasons ranged from health concerns to its adverse effect on the community and anti-social behaviour. Sir Sadiq, who oversees the Metropolitan Police, Britain's biggest force, came out in favour of decriminalisation following an independent commission led by Lord Falconer, the former Labour justice secretary, which found current cannabis laws were 'disproportionate to the harms it can pose'. One reader, a retired police officer, has seen the impact of cannabis abuse first hand. Mark Kelly said: 'It should never be legalised. The paranoia and schizophrenic episodes caused by it are devastating to families.' Malcolm Fannon, a fellow retired officer, said: 'If I had a pound for every minute I spent rolling around on the ground with people supposedly mellow on cannabis, I'd be a very rich man. 'There is no such thing as a soft drug – the laws around all illegal substances should be strengthened, not diluted.' Many of you agreed, highlighting the adverse health impacts. Sue Procter noted: 'It is highly addictive and can cause depression, anxiety and in some cases extreme psychosis. These effects are permanent, and our liberal attitude to this drug is why our younger generation are all out of work because of their mental health.' A number of readers also pointed out that cannabis can be seen as a gateway drug leading to other substances. Janet McHugh said: 'Drug addiction often starts with this drug in young people who think it's safe.' Robert le Gaillard added: 'Having worked with drug addicts for 20 years, I can confirm that Khan is a fool. Cannabis is the gateway drug to hard drugs.' Others drew attention to the smell associated with the drug. Edward Thomas said: 'I'm sick of the smell of cannabis wafting from benches occupied by derelicts in my local park when I grab a moment in a very busy week to walk the dogs with the kids in the evening.' Some readers, who have tried cannabis themselves, agree that it should remain illegal. Sean Seekins shared an experience of having a 'space cake' in Amsterdam. Seekins said: 'Any substance that affects the brain in such a way will do damage in the long run.' One of our readers recently visited Portland, Oregon, where drug possession had been decriminalised. Peter Cumpson said: 'On the airport train, a couple got on and started snorting cocaine. Everywhere in the centre of town, you'd see dishevelled broken people looking a bit dangerous. I vowed never to go back.' Amid the uproar surrounding Sir Sadiq's proposal to decriminalise the drug, several Telegraph readers voiced support for his position. Some highlighted the potential for regulated sales to deliver a significant economic boost, while others emphasised the drug's medicinal benefits. Reader Donald Morris said: 'There is a simple solution here. Cannabis production should be regulated, and only consumption of regulated cannabis allowed.' In agreement, Cassandra Blackley commented: 'We should legalise natural cannabis. A well-regulated and well-taxed market for pre-rolled spliffs would mean that users could lawfully enjoy the recreational and relaxation benefits of cannabis in the privacy of their own homes. 'This would raise millions of pounds for the Exchequer, reducing the millions spent on pointless enforcement and gutting the black market for criminal gangs.' While Adrian Rainer said: 'I personally don't think anything natural should be illegal in the first place. But I do disagree with Sadiq Khan turning this into a race thing.' Reader John Crawley lives in Canada, where recreational cannabis use has been legal since 2018. He said there have been 'no problems with anti-social behaviour'. He continued: 'We can buy it in all forms and use it to help with sleeping, instead of using prescribed sleeping tablets. Cannabis has so many therapeutic benefits, including controlling epilepsy, insomnia and other medical issues.' Angela Smith, a UK citizen, has lived in California for the last 16 years. She said: 'There is overwhelming evidence demonstrating the incredible medicinal benefits of cannabis. Forcing people underground who benefit from it for various medical conditions serves no one but drug dealers. 'I believe it saved the life of my son, who had cancer at the age of 11 and was able to be given cannabis oil with the blessing of his oncologist. 'It dismays me that attitudes in my home country are so far behind the US when it comes to cannabis. We need to stop framing this as a dangerous recreational drug and start integrating it into medical treatment modalities. It's shameful that the UK is so slow to respond to science. 'Please wake up people — we have a very valuable medicine here that is being overlooked.'
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Health
- The Guardian
Change mental health laws so officers can intervene when people pose risk to others, police tell Bondi Junction inquest
One of Queensland's most senior police officers says the state's mental health legislation should be amended to make it easier for police to intervene when a person's mental health makes them a risk to others. Acting deputy commissioner Mark Kelly told the New South Wales coroners court on Wednesday that Queensland's Mental Health Act had caused 'confusion'. Kelly was speaking on the final day of testimony at the five-week inquest into the April 2024 stabbing attack at Westfield Bond Junction. Schizophrenic man Joel Cauchi, 40, killed Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, and Faraz Tahir, 30, and injured 10 others before being shot and killed by police officer Amy Scott. State coroner Teresa O'Sullivan has heard officers who attended Cauchi's Toowoomba home in January 2023, after his father confiscated his knife collection, considered he had a mental disturbance but that it didn't meet the threshold for intervention under the act. Queensland's mental health legislation differs from NSW in that emergency mental health interventions by the police are only covered when people pose a serious risk to themselves. Kelly agreed on Wednesday with expert witnesses who appeared previously when he stated that the Mental Health Act should be changed so police could send people for emergency assessment if they posed a risk to others. 'It should be amended,' Kelly said of the act, which was changed in 2016 and included 'very high' thresholds for emergency intervention. 'The legislation does provide some confusion for our police,' he said. The senior counsel assisting, Dr Peggy Dwyer SC, said the inquest was likely to recommend that the legislation be amended. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Kelly said police were increasingly called to mental health incidents. The growth in cases was related to domestic and family violence, homelessness and increased awareness of the issue. Queensland Police Service call-outs involving a person with a mental illness or disturbance averaged 51,000 a year over the past four to five years, he said. That number had risen this year, with 21,600 calls in the first four months of 2025. 'It is the burden of demand that is putting pressure on police,' Kelly told the court. The inquest continues.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arizona Democratic Party's meltdown continues
The tension between Arizona Democratic Party chairman Robert Branscomb II and his vice chair is now public. Branscomb informed Kim Khoury, the first vice chair of the Arizona Democratic Party of her suspension through an email, obtained by AZ Central. Branscomb alleged Khoury failed to perform her duties. Among the reasons he listed for her suspension, Branscomb wrote that Khoury engaged 'in political activity directed against party leadership while holding an executive officer role.' Khoury's attorney told reporter Mary Jo Pitzl the state party's bylaws don't say anything about a chair being allowed to suspend a party member, although one can be removed through a vote. Branscomb previously alleged Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego interfered with and intimidated the chair over staffing decisions. In response, the two Arizona senators, joined by other state leaders, said they've lost faith in Branscomb's ability to serve as chair. The timing of this internal turmoil is unfortunate news for the vulnerable Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, up for reelection in 2026. 'Rather than bolstering her with vital political muscle and support, the party has been consumed by an acrimonious and seemingly petty feud between the new state Democratic chairman and Arizona's two Democratic senators,' writes The New York Times' Kellen Browning. Hobbs has shied away from national level politics and barely campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 presidential election. The report notes the possibility Hobbs will face a tougher opponent than she did in 2022, when she ran against Kari Lake. And Hobbs is already at a disadvantage in the swing state that has roughly 300,000 more registered GOP voters than Democrats. Meanwhile, on the Republican side, President Donald Trump made a double endorsement for the Republican nomination for governor — Rep. Andy Biggs, who previously chaired the House Freedom Caucus, and businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson. That could give Trump loyalist and founder of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk additional sway. In some ways, Turning Point USA is 'taking over the GOP from within,' Chuck Coughlin, the CEO of High Ground, a political consulting firm in Arizona, previously told the Deseret News. He served on GOP Gov. Jan Brewer's transition team in 2009, and was GOP Gov. Fife Symington's campaign manager. Robson has the support of many in the Arizona Republican Party, and enjoys access to a large war chest thanks to this association. But Turning Point USA's preferred candidate is the anti-establishment option; Biggs, a BYU graduate and part of the Latter-day Saints for Trump coalition ahead of the 2024 election. 'We are going to make our endorsement official for the governor's race,' Kirk said on his radio show last week, as AZ Central reported. 'We have to win back the governor's mansion here in Arizona, and we are fully endorsing my friend, Andy Biggs.' Should Biggs manage to beat Robson in the Republican primary, Hobbs will again face a strong Trump supporter. But Biggs has won both state and federal elections in Arizona, unlike Lake.
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Health
- USA Today
20 people, including an Arizona pastor, indicted in massive sober living home fraud case
20 people, including an Arizona pastor, indicted in massive sober living home fraud case Show Caption Hide Caption Medicaid cuts: Parents, Sens. Mark Kelly, Ruben Gallego share worries Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego speak during a town hall about Medicaid cuts at the NOAH Cholla Health Center in Scottsdale on March 17, 2025. PHOENIX — The Arizona Attorney General's Office announced the indictment of 20 people, including a church pastor, accused of submitting false medical claims to the state's Medicaid program for more than $60 million in a little less than one year. The indictments were the latest in a string of cases alleging rampant fraud against the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, most of which involved alcohol and drug rehabilitation services that were never rendered. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes held a news conference in May 2023, a few months after taking office, to announce the widespread fraud, which she called a "stunning failure of government." The cost to taxpayers is as much as $2.5 billion. Since then, more than 100 individuals and companies have faced charges in 14 cases, the office told The Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network, in April. The scheme largely involved patients enrolled in the American Indian Health Plan, designed to serve Native Americans who may live in remote areas miles from doctors and clinics. It was intentionally crafted to have little oversight and scrutiny that might delay care. Authorities said fraudsters exploited those loopholes, flooding the system with fraudulent claims for hundreds of hours of rehabilitation services that were never provided. Patients, if they existed at all, were sometimes plied with alcohol and drugs to keep them living in care homes to keep the scheme going, authorities said. This latest case named 17 individuals and two entities, one of which is a church. The grand jury charged three others, but their identities were not released in the indictment. Most of the people named in the indictment had arraignments on May 20. Additional arraignments were scheduled for May 21 and May 27. Indictment: Fraudulent claims submitted were for dead, jailed people The indictment named two men as the ringleaders of the overarching conspiracy: Desire Rusingizwa and Fabrice Mvuyekure, along with a business the two started called Happy House Behavioral Health. The scheme began in August 2022 and lasted through January 2024, the indictment said. As part of that scheme, Rusingizwa and Mvuyekure submitted more than $60 million in fraudulent claims to AHCCCS through Happy House from August 2022 to July 2023, according to the indictment. AHCCCS suspended the business in July 2023, the agency's records show. Some of the fraudulent claims submitted by Happy House were for people who are dead, jailed, or in hospitals, according to the indictment. An attorney for Rusingizwa, Shaheen P. Torgoley, said in an email that Happy House provided legitimate rehabilitation services. "Mr. Rusingizwa is a pious family man with no criminal history," his attorney wrote. "He looks forward to defending against these allegations in court. The indictment also listed Theodore Mucuranyana, pastor of Hope of Life International Church. According to court records, Happy House started on land leased from the church. The indictment accused Mucuranyana, along with the church, of money laundering. According to the indictment, Happy House Behavioral Health transferred more than $5 million to the church after it received a letter from Arizona officials saying it was under investigation for fraud. Mucuranyana did not return a phone message seeking comment. His attorney, Joshua Kolsrud, emailed a statement that blamed the Attorney General's Office for failing to detect $60 million in payouts within a year. "Instead of addressing this regulatory failure, the prosecution pursues baseless charges against uninvolved parties to deflect blame," the statement said. Kolsrud said Macuranyana was a "respected community leader with no criminal history." Julia Kolsrud, an attorney for the church, said that the church merely served as a landlord and had no insight into the inner workings of its tenant. The Republic left phone messages and sent emails to attorneys listed for the defendants in the case. They did not immediately respond. The money fraudulently obtained from AHCCCS was used to pay the operators of so-called 'sober living homes' to house the patients, the indictment said. The other individuals named in the indictment were accused of conspiring with Happy House to get paid for providing the housing. By law, sober living homes were not designed to get paid from AHCCCS funds. The person living there was supposed to work and pay for the housing with that paycheck. $5 million check. Luxury jewelry. Handbags. The indictment listed 11 businesses that prosecutors said took part in the racketeering scheme, along with specific transactions that authorities said constituted money laundering. One was a July 2023 check for $2.8 million issued to Mvueykure, the indictment said. Another woman, who was listed in corporate records as one of the principals of Happy House, received a check for the same amount on that same day, the indictment said. That person was not listed in the indictment. Happy House wrote two checks to Hope of Life Church in summer 2023, one in June for $500,000 and another in July for $5 million, according to the indictment. In August 2023, more than $900,000 was transferred from the church to pay for a property. Hope of Life Church was listed as the buyer, according to documents filed in the Maricopa County Recorder's Office. Online real estate sites show the address listed in the indictment as matching a 5-acre vacant parcel described by a listing agent as the "perfect place to build your dream home." In December 2023, Hope of Life International Church wired $2 million to an unnamed entity in Rwanda, according to the indictment. A filing in a related case seeking to seize assets said investigators searched the homes of Mvuyekure and Rusingizwa, both located in Peoria, in June 2024. Among the items seized, court records show, were luxury jewelry, watches, and handbags. The grand jury charged the individuals and businesses on April 21, according to the indictment.
