This is the year to vote education.

It's been the number one issue in the state for years. It's on everyone's minds and most candidates' lips. The decision voters make, whether to continue with the Republican-majority status quo or shift more power to Democrats, will be a major factor in deciding our children's present and future.

If you have patience enough and time, by all means look beyond education when you choose who to vote for. The more you know when you cast your ballot, the better. But after you take a deep dive into the candidates' positions, you're likely to find their approach to education is a reliable a indicator of where they stand on other important issues. Vote their positions on education, and you won't go far wrong.

Candidates who support a robust, fully funded system of public education are making a statement of principle which goes beyond schooling. "Public" is the key word. They want to provide a quality education for all the state's children, the whole K-through-college public, and probably pre-K as well, to give them the best shot at a bright future.

"Public" is also the key word when it comes to the same candidates' approach to the rest of government. They want state government to contribute to the well being of the general public, in the present and into the future. That means, among other things, supporting a well funded social services system, building and maintaining infrastructure and tending to the environment.

Candidates who are OK with education funding at levels low enough that the courts say they're unconstitutional aren't so keen on public education. Lots of them like to use the term "government schools" (FYI, that's supposed to be a bad thing) along with "failing schools" and "failing teachers" to describe our public education system. They heap praise on charter and private schools which educate 20 percent of the school-aged population and treat the schools educating 80 percent of children as an afterthought.

Candidates who disparage "government schools" think of the rest of government the same way, as a public irritant, not a public good. They want government to get out of the way so the free market can do what as it pleases. The less taxes, the less spending, the less meddling by the government in Arizona's affairs, the better.

Paint your very own Fall Harvest Water Color painting with Creative Tribe, a community of creative women that gather to be creative!

Creative Tribe will be hosting the watercolor workshop at Reforma Modern Mexican restaurant on Friday, Oct. 12 from 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Local artist, Alyssa Robinson, will be instructing the workshop and will teach beginners the basic fundamentals, styles and techniques of water color painting. Participants will also be able to take their water color art home. 


The Reforma Mexican restaurant venue is located on 4340 N. Campbell Ave., and will be serving up chips and salsa and alcoholic beverages including $6 margaritas, $6 sangrias, $6 house wine, and $5 cocktails!

Tickets for the workshops are $35. 

"The Democrats are playing politics." "The Republicans are playing politics." "Mitch McConnell is playing politics." "Chuck Schumer is playing politics."

And your point is?

Of course they're playing politics. It's what politicians do. Politician: practitioner of politics. It's in the name. It's in the job description. Politicians pick their causes, they pick their moments, they plot, they strategize, they use tricks of the trade to get what they want. Meanwhile, politicians on the other side of the aisle do the same. Politicians who don't play politics either aren't very good at their jobs or they're back benchers who sit quietly, vote aye or nay, then sit quietly again.

Politicians who accuse other politicians of "playing politics" are playing politics.

It's the word "play" that makes "playing politics" sound like it's something politicians shouldn't do, like they're playing games with something that should be taken seriously. If you say "practicing politics," or "strategizing," it doesn't sound nearly as petty. It's like when people talk about "throwing money at education." The word "throwing" makes funding education sound like it's foolish and wasteful.

Politicians should be called out when they practice dirty politics. Lying. Cheating. Ducking legitimate questions. Selling their souls and their votes to special interests. Call the political sins by their names. Saying politicians are "playing politics" is accusing them of plying their trade. 

Music artists Dave and Kara have released their debut album entitled The Sun is Out. This music duo crosses genres such as alt-country, contemporary folk and indie-rock.
     
Dave and Kara Stricker are a couple splitting their time between Portland, Oregon and Tucson. Their songs are inspired by the intimacy and playfulness of the Dave and Kara’s relationship.

Dave, an inductee of the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, has a long history of musical performance with the Dave Sticker Band, the artists behind The Westin Song.

Kara found her voice jamming with Dave for the first time on their honeymoon.
     
With Kara’s pure tone and wide range, and Dave’s skill with multiple instruments and production, the couple is a match made in heaven.
     
For more information visit daveandkaramusic.com or check them out on instagram at @daveandkaramusic.

Incumbent Gov. Doug Ducey and Democratic rival David Garcia clashed Monday night over education and border security during a live, televised debate on Arizona PBS.

The debate, sponsored by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission and moderated by “Horizon” host Ted Simons, featured frequent back and forth and the two candidates talking over one another. Green Party candidate Angel Torres also was part of the debate but often was overshadowed by the main-party candidates.

Garcia opened by saying Arizona’s education system is in crisis. The Arizona State University educator brought up the Red for Ed movement, blaming Ducey for the walkout of thousands of teachers last spring, highlighted by a large protest at the state Capitol in April. Garcia noted Arizona ranks near the last among states in education and said teachers still are not receiving what they demand.

“The key area that we need to develop is education, specifically,” Garcia said. “A change in education is Arizona’s number one issue. It is my strength, it is Ducey’s weakness, and it’s going to be the difference.”

Ducey was quick to respond, speaking before Simons finished his question.

“I will be held accountable for the last three plus years for Arizona education, not for the past 20 years,” Ducey said.

Following the six-day #RedForEd walkout, Ducey announced he would provide a 20 percent teacher pay increase by 2020 and $371 million in additional funding over the next five years.

Ducey mentioned his 20 by 20 plan but agreed there’s more to do. Ducey said Arizona teachers are already receiving a portion of the promised 20 percent.

Across the state, however, the pay raises have varied greatly by school district, according to azcentral.com.

Torres said K-12 teachers and staff members need raises and improved infrastructure and technology.

Ducey criticized Garcia, saying the Democrat didn’t want to talk about his plan to fund education, which he said would double income taxes.

In response, Garcia said that was his plan but it’s no longer on the ballot; the Invest in Education initiative was removed by the Arizona Supreme Court. Garcia said he intends to present a new plan to the Legislature. He accused Ducey of being a follower, not a leader.

Ducey responded by asking viewers to go to FactcheckGarcia.com because Garcia “is deceiving.”

Immigration and border control were other hot topics.

Garcia said we need an immigration system that works, one that includes border security, lawful entry for those eligible to enter the United States and provides a place of refuge. He also said Arizona highways need to be patrolled 24/7.

Ducey responded by saying that Garcia’s team has attacked efforts to control the border, and that the Democrat wants to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He also touted the Arizona Border Strike Force, which he said is keeping drugs out of Arizona.

Garcia said he wants ICE to be reformed.

Torres said it’s important that Mexican and Central American economies are strengthened and free of poverty to prevent illegal immigrants from entering Arizona.

In their finishing statements, Ducey and Garcia once again brought up education. Ducey said he hoped viewers could see the dramatic differences between him and his opponent. Garcia concluded saying there would never be another governor more devoted to public schools.

Ducey, Garcia and Torres will debate again Tuesday night in Tucson. The general election is Nov. 6.

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.

Maroon 5 will be performing at the 2019 Super Bowl LIII Pepsi halftime show on Feb. 3 at the new Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Guest appearances for the performance have not been chosen, but there are speculations of potential artists.

Maroon 5’s recent single “Girls Like You” features Cardi B and is currently No. 2 on The Hot 100 list on Billboard, leaving us to wonder if the Bodak Yellow superstar and new mom will be at the Super Bowl.

The NFL faced a challenge this year in choosing a performer due to the controversy involving Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback whose decision to take a knee during the National Anthem for protest caused controversy and outrage throughout the United States, recently highlighted by the Nike campaign.

Last year, there were reports that Jay-Z turned down an offer to perform at the Super Bowl to show support for Kaepernick. So this year, the Super Bowl had speculations for who the halftime performer should be.

One of the toughest challenges for choosing a halftime performer isn’t just the appeal to the audience, but finding an artist who hasn’t already performed. Maroon 5 is more similar to recent performers like Justin Timberlake than to the more polarizing choices such as Lady Gaga and Katy Perry, we love you Left Shark.

Halftime Show Performers at the Super Bowl since 2008:

2008: Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
2009: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
2010: The Who
2011: The Black Eyed Peas, Usher, Slash
2012: Madonna, LMFAO, Cirque de Soleil, Nicki Minaj, M.I.A., Cee Lo Green, Andy Lewis
2013: Beyoncé, Destiny's Child
2014: Bruno Mars, Red Hot Chili Peppers
2015: Katy Perry, Lenny Kravitz, Missy Elliott
2016: Coldplay, Beyoncé, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson, Gustavo Dudamel
2017: Lady Gaga
2018: Justin Timberlake

American rapper, singer and songwriter Hoodie Allan is set to perform at Club Congress on Sept. 25. His fall tour titled “Hanging with Hoodie” consists of playing 35 dates at small, intimate venues.

This tour will only sell 400 tickets to every show and every ticket comes with a free meet and greet. Allen constantly interacts with fans on social media and at first found fame as an internet hip-hop star introducing the world to his melodic pop-rap by releasing mixtapes.

Top 4 Rap Albums:

1. Happy Camper peaked on Feb. 13, 2016
2. People Keep Talking peaked on Nov. 1, 2014
3. All American (EP) peaked on April 28, 2012
4. Americoustic (EP) peaked on Aug. 31, 2013

For the show: Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event takes place from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. All ages are welcome. Tickets are $30. Details here.

Nancy MacLean will make two appearances at the University of Arizona Monday, Sept. 24. From 1:30-2:45 p.m., she will be at the UA Bookstore and will be available for an author signing after the event. From 6:30-8 p.m., she will give a book talk at the UA Student Union Memorial Center, Catalina and Tucson Rooms.

The full title of MacLean's recent book is Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right’s Stealth Plan for the United States. The book, which was a 2017 National Book Award finalist, puts well known right wing, libertarian figures like the Koch brothers into the context of a larger, sustained effort by billionaires, academics and political operatives to make fundamental changes to our economic and governmental systems.

It's among the best, most revelatory books I've read in recent years, deeply researched and well written. Though I didn't attend MacLean's appearance at Tucson Festival of Books in March, people who attended have said MacLean is an excellent speaker.

Stealth. That has been the watchword of the Koch brothers and their allies since they laid out their plan of attack on the country's political system some 40 years ago. Do all our work under cover of darkness, they decided. The other side won't know what hit them until it's too late.

True to its roots, the University of Arizona's Freedom Center, whose funders include the Kochs and members of the Koch network, prefers to avoid publicity whenever possible. It succeeded admirably when it managed to sneak the high school course, Phil 101: Ethics, Economy, and Entrepreneurship, into the TUSD curriculum. The school board had no idea the course was being taught at four of its district's high schools.

The course remained well below the TUSD board's radar throughout its first year, 2016-17, and into the second. That's when I got a tip about its existence and did some digging. In October I wrote about the course and its connections to the Freedom Center. Others in the media followed suit. The Freedom Center folks were not happy.

At a December meeting, the TUSD board decided to cancel the course at the end of the school year, though the members left the door open for putting it back into the curriculum at a later date. In July, the board took up the topic once again but tabled a vote on whether to reinstate the course. One reason was, the textbook, which was written by the same people who created the course, had not been properly authorized by the board.

Skip forward to the present. The district planned to have a 60 day public review of the textbook, which is standard operating procedure prior to authorization. The review was set to begin September 4, but the book's authors said they wouldn't allow the district to put a digital copy online, even though that's what most publishers do these days. That meant anyone wanting to take a look at the book had to go to a district office and sit there reading a hard copy.

TUSD responded by postponing the review until it can form a committee to evaluate the textbook.