ARIZONA 360

Episode 103

Minimum wage increase – Discussion – Most Arizonans earning minimum wage got a $.50 raise at the start of 2018. Under the voter-approved Prop 206, Arizona's minimum wage will gradually go up to $12 by 2020. The first raise to $10 came in 2017. Phoenix economist Jim Rounds explains what the data tells us so far about the law's impact in the state. It remains a controversial issue whether it will actually help Arizona's economy. Flagstaff minimum wage – Package – In 2016, the same year voters passed Prop 206, Flagstaff voters agreed to raise minimum wage to $15. 00 by the year 2021. This year employers in the city are paying workers $11 an hour. Vanessa Barchfield reports on how the higher wages have affected the city. NAFTA Negotiations – Discussion - Next week negotiations pick back up between the United States, Mexico and Canada over NAFTA. Leaders will meet in Montreal. For Arizona, more than 200,000 jobs and billions of dollars are potentially at stake. Luis Ramirez oversees a firm that provides advice on cross-border issues. He explains more about the importance of Arizona's connection to NAFTA – and what state leaders hope will come out of talks in Montreal. Congressional Races – Roundtable discussion - Tucson Weekly's Jim Nintzel and KVOI AM radio's Chris DeSimone join Lorraine in studio to talk about the race for Sen. Jeff Flake's soon-to-be open seat, and how it may affect other races this election year like Southern Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District. New UA Coach – Discussion - This week the UA announced it hired former Texas A&M Football Coach Kevin Sumlin to replace Rich Rodriguez. The Arizona Daily Star's Greg Hansen discusses preliminary details about Sumlin’s contract and whether his hiring signals a new direction for the Athletics Department. Campaign Spending Transparency – Package – Christopher Conover reports about two very different approaches happening now to reveal more about donations in Arizona’s campaigns led separately by Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan and former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.