Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting

07/22/2025

High levels of naturally occurring arsenic have long plagued the Hopi reservation, forcing families to haul clean water from distant fill stations or buy it in town. The Arsenic Mitigation Project has increased community access to clean water, but the treatment system is difficult to maintain in this remote stretch of high desert. Tribal leaders say long-term solutions will depend on a $5 billion water rights settlement now pending in Congress.

The Hopi Arsenic Mitigation Project has increased access to clean water, but the system is difficult to maintain in this remote stretch of high desert.

07/22/2025

On the Hopi Reservation, farming is a sacred tradition rooted in prayer, community and resilience. But drought and contamination have left many without safe, reliable water.
Now, a $5B congressional water settlement could change that, delivering Colorado River water to the Hopi, Navajo and San Juan Southern Paiute tribes after decades of exclusion.Tribal leaders say it’s about more than infrastructure — it’s about justice, sovereignty and survival.

The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act would repair decades of legal disputes and devote $5 billion to delivering Colorado River water to tribes in northeastern Arizona.

07/15/2025

We’re thrilled to welcome Molly Bohannon, Ally Markovich and Adriana Navarro to the AZCIR investigative team! 🎉 Their hiring marks a significant step in AZCIR’s growth and our commitment to rigorous journalism.
Also, huge congrats to Maria Polletta, who has stepped into the role of managing editor.
👉 Stay tuned, follow their work and support our nonprofit newsroom as we grow!

These positions are made possible through generous support from Arizona Media Association + Arizona Local News Foundation, Report for America and the Scripps Howard Foundation.

I’m beyond thrilled to announce the addition of three new investigative reporters to our nonprofit newsroom. The expansion represents a significant step forward in AZCIR’s ambitious growth plans and reinforces our commitment to the rigorous journalism our communities need most.

05/06/2025

Two years after Arizona officials uncovered a $2.5 billion Medicaid fraud scheme that targeted Native Americans seeking treatment for addictions, the state has recouped just a fraction of the taxpayer funds lost to fraud.

With ProPublica.

The state has so far indicted more than 100 individuals and recouped $125 million. But despite state and federal efforts, it’s likely that most of the stolen taxpayer money won’t be recovered, officials say.

05/02/2025

The director of Arizona’s embattled Medicaid agency resigned this week, just as she was expected to face questions from lawmakers about her handling of a massive fraud scheme that largely targeted Native Americans.

Under Carmen Heredia’s leadership, the agency withheld payment to more than 300 businesses as it investigated fraud allegations. The state’s swift response left patients homeless, AZCIR and ProPublica found.

04/22/2025

The Arizona governor has signed legislation increasing oversight of sober living homes.

It comes two years after state officials announced that a Medicaid fraud scheme had targeted Native Americans seeking drug and alcohol treatment.

The legislation follows an AZCIR and ProPublica investigation on a $2 billion Medicaid fraud scheme that targeted Native Americans seeking drug and alcohol treatment.

02/17/2025

NEW: More than 2,000 Arizona children have been waitlisted for state child care assistance, according to the Department of Economic Security, and that number is likely to climb as the agency reviews pending applications.

The waitlist counts, quietly added to the DES website after weeks of inquiries from AZCIR's Maria Polletta, quantify for the first time the impact of state lawmakers’ failure to fill a gaping budget hole left by expiring federal pandemic funds last year. DES had warned state leaders that declining to address the shortfall would likely force the agency to reinstate its waitlist, which had taken a decade to eliminate.

More than 2,000 Arizona children have been waitlisted for state child care assistance, according to the Department of Economic Security, and that number is likely to climb as the agency reviews pending applications.

01/27/2025

Dozens of Native American residents of sober living homes and addiction recovery facilities in Arizona died as state Medicaid officials struggled to respond to a massive fraud scheme that targeted Indigenous people. The agency has acknowledged that the scheme targeted Indigenous people with addictions, and that it has cost taxpayers as much as $2.5 billion.

But the state hasn’t accounted publicly for the number of deaths caused by the crisis. Our latest, a collaboration with ProPublica:

Arizona officials acknowledged that a fraud scheme targeting Indigenous people with addictions cost taxpayers $2.5 billion, but haven't accounted publicly for the deaths tied to the scheme.

12/20/2024

Despite a flurry of recommendations from maternal health advocates & policymakers, a lack of strategic oversight & coordination—exacerbated by budget & staffing constraints—has hindered comprehensive reforms aimed at combating Arizona’s maternal mortality crisis:

Despite a flurry of recommendations from maternal health advocates and policymakers, a lack of strategic oversight and coordination—exacerbated by budget and staffing constraints—has hindered comprehensive reforms aimed at combating Arizona’s maternal mortality crisis.

12/19/2024

NEW: Perinatal mental health conditions are among the leading causes of maternal deaths in Arizona. A lack of specialized training among maternal health care providers, compounded by pervasive barriers to care in rural areas, is preventing many women from getting help in time:

Perinatal mental health conditions are among the leading causes of maternal deaths in Arizona. Experts say a lack of specialized training among maternal health care providers, compounded by pervasive barriers to care in rural areas, is preventing many women from getting help in time.

11/01/2024

Democracy can’t survive without high-quality, independent journalism. From today through 12/31, all donations made to our nonprofit newsroom are double-matched by local and national donors

Democracy needs news. News needs you. Donate today!

https://azcir.fundjournalism.org/newsmatch-2024/

10/22/2024

NEW: Dark money and charity orgs led by former intelligence officers and ex-feds have been spreading propaganda and laying the groundwork for presidential election challenges. A new Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting collaboration with Lighthouse Reports, Texas Observer, NAHJ: palabra. & News Collaborative:

Dark money and charity organizations led by former intelligence officers and ex-feds have been spreading propaganda and laying the groundwork for presidential election challenges.