Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • A3

LAURIE ROBERTS EMAIL US OR CALL US AT 602-444-NEWS (6397) WWW.AZCENTRAL.COM 8,2017 3A Memo to Gov. Doug Duceyand all of our esteemed leaders who worked so diligently this year to undermine one of our basic constitutional rights: Not so fast. This week begins the citizen drive to overturn your efforts to make it more difficult, if not impossible, for Arizonans to exercise their right to make laws via initiative. Voters of political-action committee headed by former Attorney General Grant Woodsand former Phoenix Mayor Paul paperwork last week to block all three new laws from taking effect until voters can decide their fate in November 2018.The group also plans to file a lawsuit challenging two of the three laws. is part of what Arizona is supposed to be about, what we always have been Woods told me.

people serve as a check on the government and in particular, the Legislature. pretty clear to me that this Legislature is doing what it can to try to take that power away from the public so we not going to let them get by with The three new laws were No. 1 on this legislative wish list of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and members are still steaming over the fact that voters in November raised the minimum wage. Rather than mounting a serious campaign last year to explain why it was a bad idea, the chamber instead asked its pals over the Capitol to curtail our rights to make laws in the future. Naturally, they jumped to do the bidding.

They passed laws making it vastly more expensive to mount an initiative and vastly easier to get an initiative tossed off the ballot. Then they threw in a little something extra to put a chill into any groups that might be tempted to go against the powers that be: $1,000 fines imposed on campaign organizers for every violation committed by petition carriers. Ducey and the Legislature and their handlers over at the chamber say all about to the system, that powerful out-of-state interests have hijacked the initiative process to enact laws the citizen-elected Legislature never would. Left unexplained: how the hijack happens when hundreds of thousands of voters must sign petitions to put an initiative on the ballot and a million or more must agree on Election Day. Also left unexplained: why our leaders worry about the powerful out- of-state interests who bankroll dark- money campaigns to get them elected.

because these three new laws about restoring integrity. about restoring control and to heck with what a majority of the people who live here may want. So now comes the hard part. Referendum organizers will need on each of the three petitions within 90 daysof the adjournment in order to put the new laws on hold until voters can decide their fate. aiming to collect 30 percent extra as a cushion.

Thus far, they have a source of Drive to block initiative laws begins this week Nearly a year after Mesa Public Schools denied a leukemia request to walk with his graduating class because he was 2.5 credits short, the district has changed its policy to accommodate sick students. Stephen Dwyer had missed classes because he went through radiation, chemotherapy, and eight months of isolation for a bone-marrow transplant that saved his life. He took extra classes his senior year and earned a 4.2 GPA his first semester back, but district policy had no flexibility for students like him. District officials denied senior request to wear a cap and gown and sit with students at their graduation, citing district policy. Instead, he led the graduating class to their seats and then left to watch the ceremony from the stands.

Last week, the MPS governing board voted to change that policy, allowing students experiencing the chance to participate in commencement even if they graduating. who have not successfully completed all requirements for graduation due to a serious hardship beyond their control may submit a request to the principal to participate in a commencement The principal will then forward the request with his or her recommendation to the superintendent, who will have final say. do it for Stephen; we did it for other kids that really have an father, Rick Mesa schools change graduation policy Leukemia survivor denied chance to walk with class KAILA WHITE THE REPUBLIC AZCENTRAL.COM discounts.ExpiresLicensed,bonded&insured.ROC#267942,#270235 ScheduleyourFREEconsultation orvisit AR-0008682994-01 (480)296-0240 RebathandKitchensPhx.com laurie.roberts Tel: 602-444-8635 After record-breaking heat last week hit 108 degrees in Phoenix, temperatures plummeted to a relatively chilly high of 74 Sunday. The 34-degree swing was the biggest three-day cool down in May the city has ever seen, according to the National Weather Service. In Phoenix, three-day temperature drops higher than 20 degrees come few- and-far-between in May.

Since 1896, only happened 24 times. The last time the Valley saw a similar drop was in 2008 when temperatures dropped 30 degrees, from 108 to 78 between May 20 and May 22, according to NWS. Temperatures themselves were chilly for early May. The 74 degree high approached the record low for a high, which was set on May 7, 1965 when temps only reached 70 degrees. While temperatures break any records in the next few days, according to NWS meteorologist Matthew Hirsch, they will be unnaturally cool.

Lows in the Phoenix area hit 64 degrees Sunday accompanied by 23 mph winds. That cool trend should continue throughout the week, with cooler weather and rainy days ahead. Isolated showers were reported throughout the region leading into Sunday. much of Arizona, there was not much rain Hirsch said. But chances of rain and storms should pick up Monday, Hirsch said, with a 30 percent chance of rain Monday evening and a 40 percent chance Tuesday.

Temperatures will stay below average for a bit, according to Hirsch. Highs Monday and Tuesday will range in the high and low while lows will be in the mid-to-high The forecast for Monday calls for highs between 77 to 81 degrees. Lows are expected to be between 52 to 58 degrees, with chances for thunderstorms throughout the night. The high Tuesday will be around 73 degrees, with a low that morning around 57 degrees. Things will start to heat up Wednesday afternoon with an expected high of 78 degrees and lows around 58 degrees.

The rest of the week will follow a warming trend, Hirsch said. Adramatic cooldown PATRICK REPUBLIC Thousands of people mill around downtown at the Cinco de Mayo Phoenix Festival on Sunday. The cooler temperatures lured many outside, with a relatively chilly high of 74 on Sunday. Temperatures in Phoenix last week broke a heat record, hitting 108 degrees. Temperatures plunged 34 degrees in 3 days MEGAN JANETSKY THE REPUBLIC AZCENTRAL.COM.