State Glance
Kelly outraises McSally in Arizona Senate race
PHOENIX — Democrat Mark Kelly has again outraised Republican Sen. Martha McSally in the Arizona Senate race.
Figures released by the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday show Kelly raised $4.2 million in the second quarter of 2019.
Kelly, a retired astronaut, had just under $6 million in the bank on June 30 and no debt.
McSally reports raising about $3 million during the fundraising period. She had about $4.4 million in the bank and no debt at the end of the quarter.
In the first quarter, Kelly’s fundraising more than doubled McSally’s.
The 2020 race to finish John McCain’s last term is likely to be one of the closest Senate contests in the country.
2 young children taken from Arizona custody by parents
FLORENCE — Pinal County authorities have issued an Amber Alert after two young children were taken from Arizona Department of Child Safety custody by their parents.
They say the two boys — ages 2 and 4 months — were taken around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Arizona Department of Public Safety officials say 34-year-old Jerry Jay Kirkley and 34-year-old Melissa Joy Gladden may be headed to Mississippi or Louisiana with the children.
The couple reportedly is traveling in a pickup truck with a Louisiana license plate.
Florence police say there is probable cause to arrest Kirkley and Gladden.
Authorities say Kirkley has a history of domestic violence and is known to carry weapons.
Rep. Kirkpatrick calls for impeachment probe
TUCSON — Arizona Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick is calling for an impeachment inquiry for President Donald Trump.
The Democrat representing southeastern Arizona said in a statement Tuesday that “nobody is above the law, especially not the President.”
Kirkpatrick is the fourth Arizona member of Congress to support impeachment hearings. She joins fellow Democrats Ruben Gallego, Raul Grijalva and Greg Stanton.
Kirkpatrick represents one of the most competitive districts in Arizona and is being targeted by Republicans in next year’s election.
Aug. 28 hearing set for nurse charged with raping patient
PHOENIX — An Aug. 28 hearing has been set for a former nurse charged with raping and impregnating an incapacitated patient at a long-term care center in Phoenix.
The purpose of the hearing will be to set a trial date for Nathan Sutherland.
The 30-year-old patient, who had been living at Hacienda Healthcare since 1992, gave birth to a boy at the facility on Dec. 29.
Employees said they had no idea she was pregnant.
Sutherland has pleaded not guilty to charges of sexual abuse and abuse of a vulnerable adult.
He was fired and gave up his nursing license after his arrest.
Sutherland had lost an appeal of an order requiring a test to determine if he has sexually transmitted diseases.
It’s unclear whether Sutherland has taken the test.
‘Sanctuary city’ effort approved for Tucson November ballot
TUCSON — Arizona officials have verified thousands of signatures to place an initiative on the ballot to make Tucson the state’s first “sanctuary city.”
The Pima County Recorder’s office Monday has certified more than 12,400 signatures, about 3,100 more than the minimum requirement needed to qualify for the November election.
The Pima County Republican Party says it plans to challenge the validity of the submitted signatures.