Editor’s note: We’re off on Monday for Presidents’ Day, so we’ll be back in your inbox on Tuesday!

I attended a really cute Valentine’s Day picnic last weekend that totally made my day.

The event, called “Love Letters & Lemonade,” was held at The Square PHX, in the courtyard right next to the Rosson House.

The “Love Letters & Lemonade” picnic next to the Rosson House at The Square PHX on Feb. 8, 2026. (Jessica Swarner/The Copper Courier)

If you’ve never visited the Rosson House, it’s a beautiful sight—it’s a restored Queen Anne Victorian home that was built in 1895. It now operates as a museum.

Since the event was held in partnership with the Phoenix Historical Costuming Society, some people showed up in period dress, which is always fun—and slightly shocking—to see. So many layers!

The Square PHX regularly hosts events, including this weekend’s Phoenix Chinese Week Lunar New Year Festival.

If you want to stop by just to tour the Rosson House, it’s open Thursday through Sunday. Tickets for a 60-minute tour are $15 for adults and $8 for kids ages 6-17—kids under 5 are free.

How are you celebrating Valentine’s Day? Let me know!

Students at Whittier Elementary School work in groups and independently on Oct. 18, 2022, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

By Alyssa Bickle

Arizonans could have the chance to impose greater accountability and transparency requirements on the state’s universal school voucher program, also known as Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), this November.

On Feb. 6, the Arizona Education Association (the state’s largest teachers’ union) and public education advocacy group Save Our Schools Arizona filed a ballot measure that would:

The intention of the ballot initiative is not to eliminate the school voucher program, but instead to eliminate fraud and prioritize fiscal accountability for how taxpayer money is spent, said Marisol Garcia, president of the Arizona Education Association. 

Organizers still need to collect over 255,000 signatures by July 2 to place the initiative on the November ballot.

What do you think of this potential ballot measure? Let me know, and I’ll include some responses in Tuesday’s newsletter!

A weekly roundup of upcoming Arizona political events, protests, advocacy opportunities, and ways to take action statewide.

If you’re deciding whether to buy or rent a home in Phoenix in 2026, you’re not alone—what used to be a simple answer has become more complex.

Here are some fun events to check out in Arizona this weekend, including Lunar New Year festivals and the Arizona Gay Rodeo.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Jessica Swarner with stories from Alyssa Bickle, Sahara Sajjadi, Sam Cohen, and Jessica Swarner. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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