Voters, Media & Social Networks presents new research suggesting that even with political polarization, connectivity through social networks – especially via independent voters, who are at ease interacting with both Republicans and Democrats – can provide an indirect moderation, if not expansion, of consumed media sources. The Morrison Institute for Public Policy study shows how social networks provide a conduit for communication shared between various voters regarding elements of news and issues that otherwise might have been omitted or ignored by their individual media of choice. The report, funded by Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, included findings from a pre-election statewide poll of registered voters and post-election focus groups.

Arizona teacher recruitment, retention and pay are at crisis levels with more teachers leaving the profession annually than bachelor of education degrees produced by the three universities, compounded by an exodus of instructors for reasons ranging from retirement to poor salaries. Those are just some of the data points and facts in the Morrison Institute for Public Policy report, Finding & Keeping Educators for Arizona’s Classrooms. The report includes extensive data provided by the Arizona Department of Education, as well as federal data on labor markets and educational statistics and Morrison Institute’s exclusive survey of teachers from throughout Arizona. MI Senior Policy Analyst Dan Hunting was the principal researcher.

The decision about how to vote on Proposition 123 hinges on complex issues of education and state trust land finances. Morrison Institute has assembled a guide to some of the most important points to consider before you complete your ballot. Proposition 124 would amend the Arizona Constitution to create an exception to the current prohibition against diminishing or impairing public retirement systems benefits by allowing adjustments to the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS).