DAILY BRIEFING

AZ briefing: What GOP COVID-19 'experts' missed at hearing; Finchem ordered to pay sanctions; updates on student-debt relief

Arizona Republic
Dr. Richard Urso, MD stands to make a point during day two of the Novel Coronavirus Southwestern Intergovernmental Committee hearings at the state capitol senate building on May 26, 2023, in Phoenix.

Good morning, Arizona. Here's what our reporters are working on and what you should know before you start your day.

A COVID-19 hearing hosted by Arizona GOP lawmakers at the state Capitol this week, aimed at investigating the state's pandemic response, repeated misinformation about treatments and prevention.

While taking a second look at how Arizona responded to the pandemic is an idea with value, the Republicans' Novel Coronavirus Southwestern Intergovernmental Committee missed key facts and re-circulated conspiracy theories.

No Arizona public health officials or any of the local hospital or health system leaders with firsthand experience responding to the COVID-19 pandemic were among the speakers.

The event had been labeled as a callout to people who believe in QAnon conspiracy theories because of its name and it was partially funded by The America Project, which has promoted a host of unfounded conspiracies about elections.

More on the two-day event in this story.

Other big stories

➤ A judge has ordered Mark Finchem and his attorney to pay more than $48,000 in sanctions for bringing what the judge had called a "groundless" challenge to the results of last fall's race for Arizona secretary of state.

➤ A Phoenix woman and her service dog have been reunited following six months of separation after the pooch was dognappedduring a park visit.

➤ Crunch time is drawing near for millions of Americans who applied for or were otherwise eligible for COVID-19 student-loan debt relief, including a half-million or more borrowers in Arizona.

➤ Today, you can expect it to be sunny, with a high near 99 degrees. Clear at night, with a low near 71 degrees. Get the full forecast here.

Kicker

Matchbox Twenty members (from left) Brian Yale, Paul Doucette, Rob Thomas and Kyle Cook, are touring behind their first new release in a decade, "Where the Light Goes."

Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas talked with The Republic's Ed Masley ahead of their upcoming show at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheater May 31, discussing the pandemic, his solo career and the band's first album in 11 years.

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Today in history

  • On this day in 1918, American troops fought their first major battle during World War I as they launched an offensive against the German-held French village of Cantigny (kahn-tee-NYEE’); the Americans succeeded in capturing the village.
  • In 1940, during World War II, the Belgian army surrendered to invading German forces.
  • In 2013, calling it perhaps the biggest money-laundering scheme in U.S. history, federal prosecutors charged seven people with running what amounted to an online, underworld bank, saying that Liberty Reserve handled $6 billion for drug dealers, child pornographers, identity thieves and other criminals around the globe. Sen. John McCain, quietly slipped into Syria for a meeting with anti-government fighters, whom he supported the U.S. arming. McCain was a fierce critic of Obama administration policy there while stopping short of backing U.S. ground troops in Syria, but he supported aggressive military steps against the Assad regime.
  • In 2018, speaking before an audience of Cabinet members, military leaders, veterans and families, President Donald Trump paid a Memorial Day tribute at Arlington National Cemetery, saying he came to honor “America’s greatest heroes.” The Golden State Warriors reached the NBA Finals with a win over the Houston Rockets; it was the fourth straight year the Warriors would meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the finals.
  • In 2020, people torched a Minneapolis police station that the department was forced to abandon amid spreading protests over the death of George Floyd. Protesters in New York defied a coronavirus prohibition on public gatherings, clashing with police; demonstrators blocked traffic and smashed vehicles in downtown Denver before police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. At least seven people were shot as gunfire erupted during a protest in Louisville, Kentucky, to demand justice for Breonna Taylor, a Black woman who was fatally shot by police in her home in March.

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