COVID-19 Vaccination On Tap For Children Ages 12-15 In AZ
The Arizona Department of Health Services says it’s ready to offer Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to children between the ages of 12 and 15. The announcement comes after the Food and Drug Administration authorized the vaccine for the youngest age group yet.
ADHS announced Tuesday it's now waiting for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support the vaccine for the age demographic. Depending on the CDC’s response, Arizona’s state-run sites in metro-Phoenix, Tucson, Yuma and Flagstaff could begin administering the vaccine to children as early as Thursday.
The Navajo Area Indian Health Service also announced it’s preparing to administer Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to the younger age group, pending the CDC review. Tuba City Regional Health Care is slated to administer doses of the vaccine at a Mobile Health Unit in Cameron this morning.
Golden Valley Residents Still Without Water After Well Failure
Mohave County officials say about 500 residents in the Golden Valley area still lack water access after a supply well failed on Sunday. A new motor must be constructed to fully repair the well and pump groundwater, county officials say. A contracted company is now hauling water to the site to keep the pumping system from grinding to a halt.
The county designated a limited supply of bottled water for the residents, available at the Golden Valley Fire Training Center. County officials recommend people boil any water they access for at least three minutes to avoid contamination.
This is a developing story.
AZ Legislators Propose Cross-Country Pipeline Study To Mitigate Drought
Arizona lawmakers are urging the U.S. Congress to consider a study on harvesting floodwater in the Mississippi River to bolster water supply in the Colorado River. A House Concurrent Memorial in the State Legislature asks Congress to fund research on diversion dams that could funnel the water into the drought-stricken Colorado River basin. Republican State Rep. Tim Dunn introduced the proposal, which has received co-sponsorship from nearly a dozen lawmakers. Dunn says the diversion dams could potentially mitigate flood damage in the south, while assisting water supply in the west.
President-Designate Town Hall Slated For Thursday
Northern Arizona University will host a town hall Thursday with president-designate Dr. José Luis Cruz. The virtual meeting will allow pre-submitted questions from university staff. It comes as Cruz prepares to begin his term at NAU in about one month. Representatives from the University Union of Northern Arizona penned an open letter to Cruz earlier this year, asking for transparency, and cited a round of more than 100 job cuts in 2020.
Crown King Fire Expands; Containment Reaches 15%
A fire burning south of Crown King has grown to more than 5,500 acres and is 15% contained, according to a Prescott National Forest spokesperson Wednesday morning.
Evacuations remain effective for Horse Thief Basin, Minnehaha and Fort Misery. Crown King has not received an evacuation order though the town remains closed to non-residents. Nearly 400 personnel are managing the fire, which is expected to reach full containment by May 22, according to the Bureau of Land Management. Forest officials say seven helicopters are surrounding the area.
Zoning Meeting In Flagstaff To Discuss Cannabis Manufacturing Facilities
Flagstaff’s Planning and Zoning commission is set to discuss possible amendments tomorrow related to Proposition 207. The ballot initiative passed in the 2020 election and legalized recreational cannabis sales in Arizona; three dispensaries in Flagstaff were approved for recreational cannabis sales by late January.
Tomorrow’s agenda includes a possible modification to the city’s zoning code that would recognize marijuana testing facilities and off-site manufacturing locations.
