Laurie Roberts
@laurieroberts.bsky.social
Columnist for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Wife, mom, desert dweller. [email protected].
One last column to say thank you, Arizona www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
One last column to say thank you, Arizona | Opinion
These are some of the things I'm thinking during my final few hours as a journalist.
www.azcentral.com
September 5, 2025 at 1:40 PM
One last column to say thank you, Arizona www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Key grassroots leaders in the Republican Party are spurning Sen. Jake Hoffman's call to oust state GOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda. That's potentially bad news for Democrats. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Finally, Republicans are standing up to the biggest bully in Arizona | Opinion
Key grassroots leaders in the Republican Party are spurning Sen. Jake Hoffman's call to oust state GOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda. Smart move.
www.azcentral.com
September 4, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Key grassroots leaders in the Republican Party are spurning Sen. Jake Hoffman's call to oust state GOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda. That's potentially bad news for Democrats. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Three months after her son’s drowning, social media influencer Emilie Kiser has broken her silence and said what might be the most important thing she will ever say. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Emilie Kiser just said the most important thing she will ever say | Opinion
Emilie Kiser has broken her silence on the drowning of her son, Trigg. Her words may be the most important ones she will ever say.
www.azcentral.com
August 29, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Three months after her son’s drowning, social media influencer Emilie Kiser has broken her silence and said what might be the most important thing she will ever say. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
I am frequently astonished by the lengths to which some of our elected leaders will go in order to showcase their, um, smarts. But rarely have I seen a more boneheaded move than this. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Arizona lawmaker pulls a boneheaded stunt at a school reeling from violence | Opinion
A Democratic state legislator and her daughter are accused of staging a stunt at Maryvale High School, while it reels from the murder of a student.
www.azcentral.com
August 28, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I am frequently astonished by the lengths to which some of our elected leaders will go in order to showcase their, um, smarts. But rarely have I seen a more boneheaded move than this. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
She's sane. She helps Republicans win. Why isn't she running for office? | Opinion www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
She's sane. She helps Republicans win. Why isn't she running for office? | Opinion
Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Gina Swoboda would make a great candidate for Arizona Secretary of State, if she chose to run.
www.azcentral.com
August 28, 2025 at 1:56 PM
She's sane. She helps Republicans win. Why isn't she running for office? | Opinion www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Karrin Taylor Robson is campaigning for Arizona governor in 2026 the same way she campaigned in 2022. Look how that turned out. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Karrin Taylor Robson is campaigning hard on a road to nowhere | Opinion
Karrin Taylor Robson is campaigning for Arizona governor in 2026 the same way she campaigned in 2022. Look how that turned out.
www.azcentral.com
August 26, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Karrin Taylor Robson is campaigning for Arizona governor in 2026 the same way she campaigned in 2022. Look how that turned out. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Key Arizona Republicans want to oust state GOP chairwoman Gina Swoboda because she objects to spending school voucher funds on diamonds and lingerie and other educational essentials. h/t to @CraigHarrisNews www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
AZGOP leader mentions 'guardrails' for school vouchers. Now, MAGA wants her head | Opinion
State education funds were spent on diamond rings and corsets. But Arizona GOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda is learning you don't question such things.
www.azcentral.com
August 21, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Key Arizona Republicans want to oust state GOP chairwoman Gina Swoboda because she objects to spending school voucher funds on diamonds and lingerie and other educational essentials. h/t to @CraigHarrisNews www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Arizona DCS had an open investigation into suspicions that 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste was being abused. Tragically, she died before the agency could finish. I have so many questions. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Rebekah Baptiste was taken from her dad. Then, tragically, a judge sent her home | Opinion
Arizona DCS was investigating reports that Rebekah Baptiste was being abused, but she died before the agency could finish. That raises questions.
www.azcentral.com
August 21, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Arizona DCS had an open investigation into suspicions that 10-year-old Rebekah Baptiste was being abused. Tragically, she died before the agency could finish. I have so many questions. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
President Donald Trump lives in a curious and confusing world, a place where down is up and black is white and his devoted posse plays to the fantasy that a giant conspiracy robbed him of the presidency in 2020. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
End early voting? Trump must be panicked about the midterm elections | Opinion
Donald Trump is clearly having nightmares about the 2026 midterms, when voters will weigh in on his policies. No wonder he wants to end early voting.
www.azcentral.com
August 19, 2025 at 5:04 PM
President Donald Trump lives in a curious and confusing world, a place where down is up and black is white and his devoted posse plays to the fantasy that a giant conspiracy robbed him of the presidency in 2020. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
The horrific death of 11-year-old Chaskah Davis is another damned outrage. Another case of the state agency charged with protecting children instead protecting itself. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Chaskah Davis was tortured. How could Arizona DCS say there's nothing to see? | Opinion
Chaskah Davis was tortured and killed. Yet the Arizona Department of Child Safety found multiple reports of abuse to be 'unsubstantiated.'
www.azcentral.com
August 18, 2025 at 9:12 PM
The horrific death of 11-year-old Chaskah Davis is another damned outrage. Another case of the state agency charged with protecting children instead protecting itself. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Before Emily, Zariah and Rebekah, there were Anndreah, Liana and Za'Naya. Please, God, let's not go there again.https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2025/08/15/child-abuse-arizona-dcs-deaths/85666162007/ via @azcentral
August 15, 2025 at 1:21 PM
Before Emily, Zariah and Rebekah, there were Anndreah, Liana and Za'Naya. Please, God, let's not go there again.https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2025/08/15/child-abuse-arizona-dcs-deaths/85666162007/ via @azcentral
If Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego succeeds in helping Democrats win in 2026, there's one person he really should thank. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Sen. Ruben Gallego has this person to thank for making him a national figure | Opinion
Sen. Ruben Gallego is growing his national profile, talking about issues that voters care about. Kari Lake must hate that.
www.azcentral.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:33 PM
If Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego succeeds in helping Democrats win in 2026, there's one person he really should thank. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Andy Biggs' daughter is right. She really shouldn't run for the Legislature | Opinion www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Andy Biggs' daughter is right. She really shouldn't run for the Legislature | Opinion
Andy Biggs' daughter, Mylie, believes women belong in the home, not in public office. Yet she is running to represent others in the Arizona Senate.
www.azcentral.com
August 7, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Andy Biggs' daughter is right. She really shouldn't run for the Legislature | Opinion www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
ASU shattered the rules and tradition and gave Katie Hobbs the stage after she refused to debate Kari Lake in 2022. Now we know why, and the reason should make us all gag. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio...
ASU's reason for helping Katie Hobbs is enough to make Cookie Monster gag | Opinion
Who cares about objectivity? ASU officials didn't like Kari Lake, so they put their thumb on the scale for Katie Hobbs in the 2022 election.
www.azcentral.com
August 7, 2025 at 2:21 PM
ASU shattered the rules and tradition and gave Katie Hobbs the stage after she refused to debate Kari Lake in 2022. Now we know why, and the reason should make us all gag. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio...
Is an Arizona state senator's ICE alert really a federal crime? www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
RIP, First Amendment, if an Arizona senator's ICE alerts are illegal | Opinion
Arizona's GOP Senate president wants an investigation of Democratic Sen. Analise Ortiz for posting where ICE agents have been seen in public.
www.azcentral.com
August 6, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Is an Arizona state senator's ICE alert really a federal crime? www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Twelve times, the school called the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Twelve times over the last year, school staffers raised the alarm about what was happening to one of their students. Now, she's dead. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
It's an outrage that this 10-year-old girl died on DCS' watch | Opinion
An uncle and her school repeatedly reported suspected child abuse to the Arizona Department of Child Safety. And now, a 10-year-old girl is dead.
www.azcentral.com
August 5, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Twelve times, the school called the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Twelve times over the last year, school staffers raised the alarm about what was happening to one of their students. Now, she's dead. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Trump says vicious criminal immigrants are everywhere. Yet his administration appears to be having a hard time finding people in Arizona to prosecute, even for the crime of being in the country illegally. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Expect payback from Trump over Arizona's immigrants in 5, 4, 3 ... | Opinion
Federal prosecutions for immigration-related crimes have sharply dropped in Arizona this summer. Trump cannot be happy about that.
www.azcentral.com
August 4, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Trump says vicious criminal immigrants are everywhere. Yet his administration appears to be having a hard time finding people in Arizona to prosecute, even for the crime of being in the country illegally. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
For more than a century, mules have delivered the mail to the Grand Canyon's Supai village. It is not, as one senior Trump official called it, 'stupid.' www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Trump should keep his hands off the Grand Canyon mule train | Opinion
There are good reasons the Postal Service uses mules to deliver food and supplies to the Grand Canyon's Supai village. Nixing them would be stupid.
www.azcentral.com
August 1, 2025 at 6:09 PM
For more than a century, mules have delivered the mail to the Grand Canyon's Supai village. It is not, as one senior Trump official called it, 'stupid.' www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
This wouldn’t be the first time that Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap, the MAGA flag bearer who vowed to “restore honesty, transparency & integrity in our elections”, has played fast and loose with the truth. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Justin Heap should welcome an investigation into whether he has a 'lying mouth' | Opinion
A county election official promised honesty in office. But now a county supervisor is calling for an investigation over statements he has made.
www.azcentral.com
July 31, 2025 at 6:36 PM
This wouldn’t be the first time that Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap, the MAGA flag bearer who vowed to “restore honesty, transparency & integrity in our elections”, has played fast and loose with the truth. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Ex-Sen. Justine Wadsack, having left reality in her rear view window, wants Tucson to pay her $8 million for daring to cite her for speeding. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Former Arizona senator wants Tucson to pay her $8 million. Sure, that'll happen | Opinion
Justine Wadsack is suing Tucson police for writing her a speeding ticket. Even odder than the lawsuit is how much she wants in damages.
www.azcentral.com
July 30, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Ex-Sen. Justine Wadsack, having left reality in her rear view window, wants Tucson to pay her $8 million for daring to cite her for speeding. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Here are eight more reasons why Arizona needs a Stupid Hiker Law. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Hiking Camelback on a triple-digit day is just stupid (You listening, RFK Jr.?) | Opinion
Eight out-of-town hikers were rescued in extreme heat while hiking Camelback Mountain, a week after RFK Jr. posted his ill-advised trek to the summit.
www.azcentral.com
July 29, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Here are eight more reasons why Arizona needs a Stupid Hiker Law. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
This Arizona school district district has money to send several hundred employees on a three-day junket to Vegas but not enough for school bus rides for kids. This is a bad look. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
This district just gave Arizona lawmakers even more fuel to burn public schools | Opinion
Dysart slashed bus service for kids, then sent nearly 200 employees to Las Vegas - and made it harder for other public schools to ask for more money.
www.azcentral.com
July 28, 2025 at 8:53 PM
This Arizona school district district has money to send several hundred employees on a three-day junket to Vegas but not enough for school bus rides for kids. This is a bad look. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account program is exploding. But curiously, the staff to review how our money is being spent isn't. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio...
Who's watching how $1 billion is spent on ESAs? Answer: Hardly anybody | Opinion
Arizona's universal school voucher program has exploded since 2022. Yet the same 12 staffers are reviewing ESA expenses. What gets through the cracks?
www.azcentral.com
July 28, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account program is exploding. But curiously, the staff to review how our money is being spent isn't. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio...
Gov. Katie Hobbs' former appointee has snagged yet another cushy state contract at DES. This, as DES employees are being laid off. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Gov. Katie Hobbs needs a better answer for her pal's job as others lose theirs | Opinion
Why is Dana Allmond still on the payroll for $170,000 when other Arizona employees are losing their jobs? It's a fair question to ask.
www.azcentral.com
July 10, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Gov. Katie Hobbs' former appointee has snagged yet another cushy state contract at DES. This, as DES employees are being laid off. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego is heading to the Iowa State Fair in August. With six whole months in the Senate, he certainly doesn't lack ambition. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral
Is the right message enough to make an unknown Arizona senator president? | Opinion
Ruben Gallego has six months in the Senate. But he's already making the pilgrimage to Iowa, presumably to get a jump on the competition for president.
www.azcentral.com
July 10, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego is heading to the Iowa State Fair in August. With six whole months in the Senate, he certainly doesn't lack ambition. www.azcentral.com/story/opinio... via @azcentral