Action Suspended In Arizona State House Until Old-Guard Red Repubs Restore Full Strength For A Majority of One

House suspends floor votes until Republicans at full strength

By: Katie Campbell | AZ Capitol Times 01 April 2019

"The House worked through a record-setting agenda on the floor today – not. . . "

And it looks like the old Red Repubs want to bring back some of the old Red Repubs that got voted out of office last year!

Instead, the chamber adjourned until 1 p.m. on Wednesday, meaning members will not return to the floor Tuesday even for points of personal privilege or other business not requiring a vote.
There was no floor action today or on Thursday either.
Multiple voice and roll-call votes were canceled the day after former Rep. David Stringer resigned.

His resignation leaves the partisan split in the House at 30-29. That’s still in Republicans’ favor but leaves them one vote shy of the 31 votes bills need to pass out of the chamber.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . pause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The Yavapai County Board of Supervisors is meeting Wednesday morning to appoint someone to Stringer’s now vacant House seat.
The Yavapai County Republican Committee selected former Senate President Steve Pierce, former Secretary of State Ken Bennett and potential Capitol newcomer Steven Sensmeier for the board’s consideration.
Pierce is favored to win.

House Speaker Rusty Bowers, R-Mesa, and Majority Leader Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, did not immediately return calls for comment.
House spokesman Matt Specht said the decision was made to delay floor activity until the body is back to full membership.
But Senate President Karen Fann said members were afraid Democrats would take the opportunity to kill any bills that came up for a vote while the Republican margin was weakened. . .

Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, launched a silent protest in February in response to at least one of her bills being held in the House Rules Committee. She voted “no” on every bill that came to the floor on February 27, giving Democrats an advantage over anything they opposed.
The House recessed in the middle of floor action, presumably to put a stop to the demonstration, but Townsend had disappeared when members returned to continue their work.
That allowed Democrats to strike down several Republican bills. House Bills 2469, 2495 and 2453 were later revived, though, and passed out of the House unanimously.
In any case, Fernandez said her members would have come together with Republicans to vote on the merits of any bills brought to the floor while Stringer’s seat was vacant.
She said it was Bowers’ choice not to trust them. . .
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kk
 

Say What? NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES

Now really, how could your MesaZona blogger not disseminate this good organic news:

(You can say you never saw it here or this is where you found it)
The Cannabis industry is growing here in Arizona, here in the United States and world-wide and up there in Canada. It means investments in real estate and job creation.
Within a few years, more states have approved both recreational and medicinal use, as well as extracts from carefully-grown and crafted Cannabis species under cultivation for scientific applications in the treatment of PTSD, epilepsy and manic-depressive mood disorders.
This is just one more post in a number where Cannabis is the featured
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AgraFlora Organics Makes Strategic Investment and Empower Announces Closing of Debenture and Private Placement Unit Offerings

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News provided by

Empower Clinics Inc.

Apr 02, 2019, 05:30 ET

AgraFlora Organics International Inc. CSE: AGRA makes a $1,000,000.00 investment to support the Empower growth plan, as Empower closes over $2,900,000.00 in debenture and equity financing.
VANCOUVER, April 2, 2019 /CNW/ - EMPOWER CLINICS INC. (CSE: EPW) (Frankfurt 8EC) ("Empower" or the "Company"), a growth oriented and diversified medical cannabis company, is pleased to announce the closing of its non-brokered private placement of unsecured convertible debentures (the "Debentures") in the aggregate principal amount of $799,500.00 and its non-brokered private placement of an aggregate of 21,115,000 units of the Company (each, a Unit") at a price of $0.10 per Unit for gross proceeds of $2,115,000.00 for a total of $2,914,500.00 (together, the "Offerings").
The proceeds of the Offerings are expected to be used by the Company for the completion of strategic acquisitions and for general working capital and corporate purposes.
"The strong support in our financing round demonstrates that shareholders and investors have faith in our ability to execute on initiatives, as we establish vertical integration, connecting patient efficacy in our clinics with a diverse CBD product strategy and the backing of the science of extraction, all driven by data and analysis." stated Steven McAuley, Empower Chairman and CEO.
Derek Ivany, President and CEO of AgraFlora commented, "As interest in cannabidiol (CBD) continues to expand both amongst the medical community and with retail consumers alike, we are excited to be making this strategic investment into Empower as they embark on this next phase of their growth plan.  With the prospect of multiple near term revenue streams and a robust clinic and patient network the Company presents a compelling platform from which to build upon.  We have been further assessing corporate synergy with Empower and look forward to collaborating on new initiatives in short order." 
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS

• Intention to Launch CBD Extraction Facility The Company intends to open a fully functioning hemp-based CBD extraction facility in greater Portland, Oregon in Q2 2019, with the first extraction system expected to have the capacity to produce 6,000 kilograms of extracted product per year. Empower has entered into a non-binding term sheet with Aibeida LifeTech Ltd. ("Aibeida"), whereby Aibeida has agreed to: sell and license specialized extraction equipment to Empower; provide facility build-out and set-up services; complete licensing and permitting requirements; perform equipment set-up, testing and activation; and provide ongoing facility management and maintenance for the first Empower CBD extraction facility. Aibeida's director and Chief Scientist, Dr. Shuang Xie, PhD, will oversee and manage the Empower CBD extraction facility, which is expected to provide Empower with vertical integration into the CBD supply chain, producing isolates, distillates and crude oil that have shown successful third party test results in Aibeida's initial test facility.
• Proposed Acquisition of Sun Valley Clinics Empower has entered into a non-binding term sheet to acquire the business of Sun Valley Certification Clinics Holdings LLC ("Sun Valley"), including its interests in certain affiliates, by way of a share or asset acquisition, subject to due diligence and customary closing conditions. Sun Valley operates a network of professional medical cannabis and pain management practices, with five clinics in Arizona, one clinic in Las Vegas, a tele-medicine platform serving California, and a fully developed franchise business model for the domestic cannabis industry. The current Sun Valley clinic locations are as follows:

4218 W Dunlap Ave, Phoenix, AZ
12801 W Bell Rd #145, Surprise, AZ
4015 E Bell Rd #130, Phoenix, AZ
2011 E University Dr, Mesa, AZ
7074 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ
2550 S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV

• Focus on CBD Product Sales Empower has commenced selling its proprietary line of CBD-based products called SOLLIEVO, through its network of company-owned clinics in the United States. Empower's patient base and customers are expected to benefit from access to high margin derivative products, including CBD lotion, tinctures, spectrum oils, capsules, lozenges, patches, e-drinks, topical lotions, gel caps, hemp extract drops and pet elixir hemp extract drops. Patients and customers will be able to access Empower's home delivery and e-commerce platform.
• CBD Market Demand The passing in the United States of the US$867 billion Agriculture Improvement Act (the "Farm Bill") has legalized hemp and hemp-based products. This has created an opportunity for the production and sale of a variety of CBD-based products that can provide genuine help and effective relief to millions of people suffering from a variety of qualifying conditions. Recent reports and studies indicate the approval of the Farm Bill could create a US$20 billion industry by 2022.
• Increased Patient Access With a rapidly expanding company-owned clinic network and significant expansion opportunity assuming the successful acquisition of the Sun Valley franchise model, Empower anticipates it will grow its total patient list substantially in the years ahead. This is expected to provide greater opportunity for treatment analysis using artificial intelligence (AI).
• Market Leading Technology Empower utilizes a market-leading patient electronic management and POS system that is HIPAA compliant and provides insight to patient care. The Company supports remote patients using its tele-medicine portal, enabling patients who are unable to come to a location to benefit from a doctor consultation.

> The Debentures bear interest at the rate of 6.0% per annum and mature on April 2nd, 2020, being 12 months from the closing of the Offerings (the "Closing").
> The Debentures are convertible, at the option of the Company or the holder, into units of the Company (each, a "Debenture Unit") at a conversion price of $0.11 per Debenture Unit, with each Debenture Unit consisting of one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Share") and one share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"), with each Warrant exercisable into one Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of $0.16 per Warrant Share for a period of two years following the Closing, provided that the Company will have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants in the event that the closing sale price of the Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") (or such other stock exchange as the Shares are then principally traded) is greater than $0.40 per Share for a period of 10 consecutive trading days at any time after the issuance of the Warrants.
Each Unit is comprised of one Share and one Warrant, with each Warrant exercisable into one Warrant Share at an exercise price of $0.16 per Warrant Share for a period of two years following the Closing, provided that the Company will have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants in the event that the closing sale price of the Shares on the CSE (or such other stock exchange as the Shares are then principally traded) is greater than $0.40 per Share for a period of 10 consecutive trading days at any time after the issuance of the Warrants.
> The Debentures and the Units, and the underlying Shares, Warrants and Warrant Shares (collectively, the "Securities"), are subject to restrictions on resale under applicable Canadian securities laws for a period of four months and one day from the closing of the Offerings.
> None of the Securities have been or will be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements.
> This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would require registration or otherwise be unlawful.
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ABOUT EMPOWER
Empower is a leading owner/operator of a network of physician-staffed clinics focused on helping patients improve and protect their health through innovative uses of medical cannabis. It is expected that Empower's proprietary product line "Sollievo" will offer patients a variety of delivery methods of doctor recommended cannabidiol (CBD) based product options in its clinics, online and at major retailers. With over 120,000 patients, an expanding clinic footprint, a focus on new technologies, including tele-medicine, and an expanded product development strategy, Empower is undertaking new growth initiatives to be positioned as a vertically integrated, diverse, market-leading service provider for complex patient requirements in 2019 and beyond.
ABOUT AGRAFLORA
AgraFlora Organics International Inc. is a growth oriented and diversified company focused on the international cannabis industry. It owns an indoor cultivation operation in London, ON and is a joint venture partner in Propagation Service Canada and its large-scale 2,200,000 sq. ft. greenhouse complex in Delta, BC. The Company has a successful record of creating shareholder value and is actively pursuing other opportunities within the cannabis industry. For more information please visit: www.agraflora.com
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SEE > DISCLAIMER FOR FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases
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Related Links
www.adiraenergy.com

2-For-1 SPECIAL > Mesa City Council Meetings April Fools Day Mon 01 April 2019

These are both late afternoon sessions, starting after 5 o'clock. In a 24/7/365 world we are reminded that the City of Mesa Government works 4/10 - they work only four 10-hour days in a week that has seven days. . . at least that's the excuse given by Mayor John Giles when one councilmember remarks that data/information is not provided in a timely manner. With all the millions currently spent of IT [Internet Technology] investments, that excuse is lame.

Two councilmembers -  Heredia and Luna - are not present and not on the phone, but nonetheless were "excused" by Mayor John Giles for being absent.
All the other five councilmembers join in what is active discussion on some of the agenda items except for one: District 4 Councilmember Jennifer Duff and her lack of participation and speaking-up is noticeable time-and-time again. In the end she does make a motion to approve Item 6-f

If readers of this blog take the time to watch, you can sense and apprehend a certain urgency for both elected and salaried City Hall employees over the Bond Issues, but in the end of the regular meeting that lasts 23:19 minutes everyone caves in and approves Items 6d, 6f and 6g to side-step any delay that might affect or impact the city's credit rating or delay the process of the proposed FY2019/20 Budget closure by the end of May.
The pressure was put on for approval across-the-table, with two councilmember absent and not voting.

Likewise very noticeable is the lack of public attention and attendance at all these public meetings of elected government here in Mesa. Especially for all these proposed Budget Proposals by City Manager Chris Brady that have been Power-Point presented by Michael Kennington.
You will notice that this year Candace Cannistraro - looking a little worse-for-wear - is not doing any presentations alone.

Please note that all the Power Point presentations made in these Proposed FY2019/20 Budgets are used to justify future spending.
Also note that all the Sales Pitches used last year to sell Mesa taxpayers to approve millions for Public Safety and Police/FireMedical have to have "deliverables" on the promises made during the protracted public relations campaigns made to the public.
Both D1 Councilmember Freeman and Mayor Giles, and D6 Councilmember Thompson raise and discuss issues about the hiring of 'sworn' and 'civilian' hires in the Mesa PD/FM and other city departments.

It was an unusually active meeting in both the Lower and Upper Chambers.
What were the tactics and strategies used are cued in by the inserted image at left.
See how many times they get used and by whom: Mayor John  Giles, City Manager Chris Brady, and OMB Director Michael Kennington in vocal exchanges with Councilmember Whittaker.

At one time in the 44-minute Study Session Giles tries to assert that Whittaker intends to vote NO on three Item 10 Items that were asked to be removed from the Consent Agenda for individual discussions.
What's with that? Some kind of a snare-and-scare tactic that does not go un-noticed.

At another time City Manager Chris Brady says he doesn't understand a request made to Michael Kennington to provide some data to Councilmember Whittaker on Friday of last week to prepare for Monday's meeting City Council meetings . . . As it turns out, Kennington admits he only sent the requested information one hour before!
THESE GUYS ARE NOT USED TO BEING 'ON-THEIR-TOES' and responsive to information requests.

There were also SERIOUS QUESTIONS ABOUT POLICE OFFICER POSITIONS - issues were raised in response to the findings in a recent audit.
Hiring practices for 'sworn' and 'civilian' employees
Police overtime and off-duty assignments
Mesa Fire/Medical transport
Expenses paid to Valley Metro for security
Note the involvement of Giles, Brady, Freeman, Candace Cannastraro and City Attorney Jim Smith.
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Here for readers of this blog are the two City Council Meetings - very few members of the public take the time to care-and-watch what our elected government is doing: a total of 37 views in a city of over 475,000 people.
STUDY SESSION only 18 views
Note the new 'split screen' images that are now a feature of these streaming video uploads to YouTube. Why the specific images have been made might say something about how the City of Mesa wants to focus - and what it might not include on purpose.

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REGULAR SESSION only 19 views 
NOTE how many empty seats there are in the Upper Chambers.
City employees are clustered at lower right. About 12 members of the public at upper left.
Starts off with a Proclamation + a Photo Opp 
Kevin Christopher reads what's on the Consent Agenda . . . and then Giles puts the pressure on for voting without any further delays.

 

General Thesis Is Trump Will Cave in Trade Dispute, Says MUFG’s Tan

Getting to a baseball analogy - Let's see "Who blinks first" > How far does that go?

Published on Apr 1, 2019

Views: 808 [at time of upload to this blog]

Apr.01 -- Cliff Tan, global markets research head of East Asia at MUFG Bank, discusses the U.S.-China trade negotiations and their impact on markets. He speaks on “Bloomberg Markets: China Open

Mesa Temple Update March 28th, 2019

Accompanied by a soaring musical score, the drone does in a fly-over from the south over the large expanse of the Temple grounds where the excavations for the 450-car parking garage can no longer be seen . . .There appear to be rows of palm trees already planted on the Main Street. The drone pans in-and-out for some closer details as well as some panoramic views in the cityscape from different directions

Published on Apr 1, 2019

Views: 15 [at time of upload to this blog]

March 28th, 2019 video update of progress on the exterior grounds of the Mesa Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Stay tuned for regular updates as work on the Temple grounds accelerates.
Also drone footage from March 5th available

ARMY TO REPLACE HALF OF ITS APACHE GUNSHIPS WITH FUTURE HIGH-SPEED ARMED...

Made here in Mesa/Boeing

Published on Apr 1, 2019

Views: 11,107 [at time of upload to this blog]Before now, the service had only said that the new rotorcraft would serve as a successor to the now-retired OH-58D Kiowa Warrior.
BY JOSEPH TREVITHICKhttps://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone...

This video is made under fair use policy, also this material is made from public published domain for people with hearing and seeing disability
Warthog Defense members are sharing stories, insider tips, news from the front lines, and unique slices of military life including the tough stuff of war.
Warthog Defense provides headline news and technology updates since our community answers the call and makes news. We also cover the rest of the military experience —and in our military equipment guide we present what makes the military unique (and fun).
We also wan't to revolutionize the way for Americans with military affinity stay connected and informed

Captain Boycott & The Building of Community

Where do you think your MesaZona blogger might be going with story . . . adding that oftentimes too-frequently-over-used current buzz phrase "Building Community" in the post headline you see.
An explanation of the word boycott in its current acceptable usage is shown in the opening image to the left, noting the name of a person from 19th Century Ireland - whence the name of the action: BOYCOTT.
An effective way to use your purchasing power to create change.  It didn't just happen overnight - we know the usage of the word in more actions across the political spectrum over the entire world now. Here in America, think Rosa Parks or Cesar Chavez.

Where Does The Word "Boycott" Come From? 

It All Started With A 19th Century Englishman — VIDEO

By Megan Grant 14 Dec 2016

Many things come to mind when we hear the word "boycott," among them Rosa Parks and the Montgomery bus boycott. But what about the word itself? It's no accident: The origins of the word "boycott" reveal that it all began with one man who greatly displeased a group of tenant workers.
In a recent video on the YouTube channel Today I Found Out, host Daven Hiskey explains the etymology of the word and how it was given its meaning.
Use this link from the source to watch the video > https://www.bustle.com

The name comes from a 19th century Englishman, Captain Charles C. Boycott. But first, we have to start in Ireland. At the time, just 0.2 precent of the population owned the majority of the land in the country; but the owners didn't live there. Instead, they rented the land out to tenant farmers. In the middle of the 19th century, these farmers started demanding fair rent, free sale, and fixity of tenure. The Irish National Land League was particularly passionate about it.

In September of 1880, the Land League's leader, Charles Stewart Parnell, said that instead of killing a farmer who bid on an evicted neighbor's land (like the crowd suggested), that person should simply be shunned in every way possible — or boycotted, although they didn't have the word yet.
They wouldn't have to wait long, though, because the first documented use of the term was just two weeks later. This, of course, brings us back to Captain Boycott.
Boycott was a land manager for the third Earl of Erne, John Crichton. Because the harvest that year wasn't spectacular, Boycott offered the farmers on his land a rent reduction of 10 percent; but they demanded 25 percent. The Earl of Erne refused, and 11 of the tenants ended up never paying their rent. Thus, Boycott sent out the Constabulary to serve eviction notices to the homes. When the tenants of the land realized what was happening, the women started throwing rocks and manure at the Constabulary until they were unable to serve the notices to the heads of the households — something required by law for the eviction notices to be official. Since some of the notices went undelivered, these people didn't have to leave their homes.
The fired up masses took Parnell's earlier advice, and completely shunned Boycott and people who worked for him, who eventually left and were often threatened until they too joined in the ostracizing. . . Charles Boycott's story was widely publicized; and within 10 years, any business who somehow disappointed the Irish National Land League was quickly boycotted.
Eight years later, in 1888, the word found its way into the New English Dictionary on Historical Principles, which we more commonly refer to as the Oxford English Dictionary . It spread throughout other European languages and made its way to America, when Boycott tried and failed to visit friends in Virginia using the name Charles Cunningham. The newspapers exposed him and published his whole story, and the word "boycott" became part of our American English language.