Category: The West

Alleged Abuse of Arizona School Choice Program First Flagged by State Superintendent, Given to Attorney General

Tom Pappert
Classroom

Tom Horne, the Arizona State Superintendent of Education, reportedly stated Monday that the alleged abuse of the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) system by two Colorado residents was first flagged by his office, which reported it to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes for possible criminal prosecution.

Mayes announced on Monday that a grand jury indicted Johnny Bowers and Ashley Hewitt with filing fraudulent applications for 50 students to receive scholarships that help families send students to a school of their choice.

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Leftist Group Provided Legal Blueprint for Attorney General Kris Mayes to Prosecute Arizona’s 2020 Alternate Electors for Trump

Rachel Alexander
Kris Mayes

The far-left States United Democracy Center (SUDC) provided a 47-page legal memo to Attorney General Kris Mayes on July 25, 2023, the Daily Signal reported last week, outlining a plan for her to prosecute the alternate electors for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election and a few others associated with the effort.

Mayes is currently prosecuting most of those listed in the memo. Despite President-elect Donald Trump winning the 2024 election earlier this month, Mayes said she will not stop the prosecutions, unlike some other prosecutors who are backing off on their Trump-related prosecutions.

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Arizona Man Arrested for Profanity-Laden Death Threats to Donald Trump and His Family

Rachel Alexander
Police with ATF

An Arizona man was arrested by federal authorities Monday for posting threats online against Donald Trump and his family. Prosecutors charged Manuel Tamayo-Torres on Tuesday with one count of Threats Against President and Successors to the Presidency and four counts of False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm. Tamayo-Torres attempted to purchase a firearm as a convicted felon with a restraining order. 

According to the charging documents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Tamayo-Torres said in a profanity-laden video posted on Facebook a few days ago that the “the former president and current president-elect,” his son and family are “gonna die … I’m going to put a hole in your face.” He also threatened to torture Trump. “I’m going to f****** kill you motherf*****,” he said. “I’m going to tear your motherf****** face out, your whole motherf****** face.” 

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Arizona Lawmakers Accuse Scottsdale of Adding Red Tape in New Housing Laws

The Center Square
Scottsdale

A Scottsdale city ordinance on housing is raising red flags among some Republicans in the state legislature.

Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci and Majority Leader-Elect Michael Carbone are asking for the city to revise Ordinance No. 4651, which explains how the city would go along with two housing bills recently signed by the governor, according to State Affairs.

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TPUSA Founder Charlie Kirk Floated to Challenge Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2026

Tom Pappert
Charlie Kirk

Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk is reportedly being floated as a possible Republican candidate to challenge Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs in 2026.

News that Kirk may be considering a gubernatorial campaign for 2026 was revealed by 12 News reporter Brahm Resnik during the television station’s Sunday “Square Off” program, when he claimed there is a “rumor” that Kirk is considering a run for governor after emerging as “a significant player” in the Republican Party during the 2024 elections.

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Arizona Freedom Caucus Calls Out Democrats for Choosing Communist-Endorsed Legislative Leadership

Rachel Alexander
Arizona State Senate Democrat Leader, Priya Sundareshan, and House Democrat Leader, Oscar De Los Santos

The Arizona Freedom Caucus (AFC) issued a statement earlier this month congratulating Democrats in the Arizona Legislature for choosing communist-supported leadership. The four top Democratic leadership positions were filled by progressives who were endorsed by the Working Families Party (WFP), which is closely tied to the Communist Party USA (CPUSA).

AFC said in its statement, “In the aftermath of a historic electoral repudiation of Democrats’ ever-increasing radicalism, the Arizona Freedom Caucus was both shocked and pleased by the absolute tone-deafness of Senate and House Democrats choosing 50% of their legislative leaders who are irrefutably endorsed by Communists.” 

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Arizona State Sen. Jake Hoffman Responds After Tourism Director Resigns Following Demand to Probe $700,000 Logo Redesign

Tom Pappert
Jake Hoffman

Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek) told The Arizona Sun Times that any cabinet member unwilling to undergo an “in-depth, thorough, accurate, and honest” vetting process by the Arizona Senate should resign.

The state lawmaker made the comments to The Sun Times after Arizona Tourism Director Lisa Urias resigned her position effective December 4, announcing the decision shortly after Hoffman led Republicans questioning the Arizona Office of Tourism’s $700,000 campaign to refresh its public image, which included a $15,225 logo redesign from the brother of the person running a marketing company Urias owns, as was first reported by Arizona Agenda.

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Two State Legislators Challenge Sedona’s Ordinance Banning Firearms on ‘Any Trail or Open Space Area’

Rachel Alexander

State Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-Prescott) and State Rep. Selina Bliss (R-Prescott) are challenging an ordinance in Sedona which bans firearms on “any trail or open space area.” The legislators believe the law infringes on the right to keep and bear arms, since Arizona has some of the most Second Amendment-friendly laws in the country. They submitted a request to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to investigate, known as an SB 1487 request for investigation, which prompted Sedona city officials to put it on the agenda for the December 10 city council meeting. 

Nguyen, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee and has held positions with the Arizona State Rifle & Pistol Club, said in a joint statement with Bliss after submitting the 1487 request, “I urge the City of Sedona to review Ordinance 12.30.090 to ensure it complies with Arizona law. It’s important that local ordinances do not infringe upon the constitutional rights of Arizonans or conflict with state statutes.”

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Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen Considers Run Against A.G. Kris Mayes, Who Doubled Down on Trump Electors Case

Tom Pappert
Warren Petersen, Kris Mayes

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) confirmed on Monday he is considering a campaign to unseat Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes in 2026, and later said he is being urged to challenge the attorney general by multiple Arizona attorneys.

Mayes was declared the winner of her 2022 election against Abe Hamadeh, who is now the U.S. Congressman-elect for Arizona’s eighth district, by just 280 votes, making it the narrowest statewide election in the history of Arizona.

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Arizona Inflation Reaches Lowest Rate in Two Years, Driven by ‘Housing Market Paralysis’

The Center Square
Sale Pending Home

October brought Arizona’s lowest inflation rate in years with the Phoenix metro area inflation rate being 1.56% year-over-year – a decrease from 2.27% in August – according to the Common Sense Institute.

“This latest reading ends the over 2-year streak of inflation above the standard target of 2.0% annually,” reads the CSI report. “Historically, the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area has experienced significant inflationary pressures, notably in June 2022, when inflation in Phoenix peaked at a record high of 13%, well above the national rate of 9.1%. This trend made Phoenix one of the fastest-inflating areas in the U.S.”

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MAGA, America First Steve Montenegro Elected as First Latino Speaker of the House

Rachel Alexander

The incoming 2025 Arizona Legislature is choosing leadership and committee positions, and selected State Rep. Steve Montenegro (R-Goodyear) as speaker of the house on Tuesday. The longtime legislator, who was born in El Salvador and describes himself as MAGA and America First, will be Arizona’s first Latino speaker of the house. 

The Arizona Sun Times spoke to Montenegro shortly after he won the three-way race with 18 votes from 33 Republican voting members. He defeated Rep. Joseph Chaplike (R-Scottsdale), a member of the Freedom Caucus, and current House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci (R-Lake Havasu). 

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Judicial Panel Recommends Suspending Law License of Montana Attorney General over Support for Appointments of Conservative Judges

Rachel Alexander
Attorney General Austin Knudsen

A Montana state judicial panel recommended suspending Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen’s license to practice law for 90 days over his actions related to the appointment of conservative judges. Knudsen defended a law allowing Montana’s Republican Governor Greg Gianforte to fill judicial vacancies without the input of the state’s judicial commission, which had been passed due to concerns about the commission’s bias. 

The charges arose out of Knudsen’s tangling with the Montana Supreme Court over the matter; Knudsen believed that the state supreme court was overstepping its constitutional power and usurping the authority of his client, the state legislature. 

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Three GOP-Backed Candidates Sweep Open Seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission

The Center Square
Arizona Corporation Commission

Eight candidates competed for the three open seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission – three were registered Republicans in the race, three were Democrats and two were affiliated with the Green Party.

All three of those candidates endorsed by Arizona’s Republican party claimed the available seats with Rachel Walden receiving 17.89% of the votes, Rene Lopez receiving 17.37% and Incumbent Lea Marquez Peterson receiving 16.89% at 99% of precincts reporting.

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Pinal County Attorney Exonerates Former Maricopa County Prosecutor of Criminal Charges Who Prosecuted Antifa, Along with Police Officers

Rachel Alexander
April Sponsel

The Pinal County Attorney’s Office (PCAO) declined to prosecute former Maricopa County prosecutor April Sponsel, whose license was suspended by the State Bar of Arizona for bringing charges against Antifa. PCAO also rejected charges against several Phoenix Police officers involved in quelling a riot by the gang in 2020. The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) had recommended to PCAO to charge the six after the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) suggested there was wrongdoing.

Initially, MCAO fully supported prosecuting Antifa, but after ABC-15 issued a series of videos critical of how law enforcement handled the incident, the office reversed its position. In February 2021, then-Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel made a decision to dismiss all the charges against Antifa. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell testified against Sponsel at her bar disciplinary trial. 

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Taiwanese Company Given $6.6 Billion by Biden for Arizona Factories Sued for Alleged Discrimination Against U.S. Citizens

Tom Pappert
TMSC workers

The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) was sued last week by a group of Arizona workers who claim the foreign company discriminated against United States citizens after the President Joe Biden successfully convinced the company to build multiple facilities near Phoenix with $6.6 billion in taxpayer funding and $5 billion in federal loans through the CHIPS Act of 2021.

According to the lawsuit filed last Friday by 13 Arizonans, which was made public Thursday, TMSC failed to address the effects of a “hostile work environment” that affects “employees who are not of East Asian race or Taiwanese or Chinese national origin.”

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Arizona to Give Property Tax Refunds for Homeless-Related Nuisance Costs

The Center Square
Homeless

Arizonans have passed a law that would allow both commercial and residential property owners to be eligible for a tax refund if they can provide proof that the city failed to enforce public nuisance laws affecting their property.

At 90% of precincts participating, 58.6% of voters approved Prop. 312. This proposition has received a national audience as one of the laws encouraging law enforcement to criminalize homelessness put forth following the 2023 ruling by SCOTUS striking down protections for homeless individuals.

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Montenegro to Serve as Arizona State House Speaker, Petersen Holds onto State Senate Presidency

The Center Square
Arizona State President Warren Petersen

The Arizona state Legislature is seeing some new leadership in its upcoming session.

In private meetings in and around the capitol on Tuesday, members voted on their picks to run the show. State Rep. Steve Montenegro will succeed outgoing Speaker Ben Toma. Montenegro won with 18 votes and ran against State Rep. Joseph Chaplik and current Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci.

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Arizona Senate President Promises Bill to Speed Up Election Results After State Becomes 50th to Declare Presidential Winner

Tom Pappert
Arizona State Senate President Warren Petersen

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) promised to submit legislation to increase the speed of the state’s election reporting after it was the last state in the union to declare the the winner of its presidential election on Saturday, when it confirmed President-elect Donald Trump will receive Arizona’s 11 electoral votes.

Petersen made the pledge in a post to the social media platform X, where he wrote that Senators Wendy Rogers (R-Flagstaff), JD Mesnard (R-Chandler), and Shawnna Bolick (R-San Miguel) will receive help from Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd to craft “the best legislation possible for introduction in January.”

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Concerns Increase of Election Fraud in Kari Lake’s Race, Massive Ballot Curing Effort Ongoing as Lake Warns Pima County

Rachel Alexander
Sorting Ballots

While the mainstream media has called every other state in the country for Donald Trump and almost all other candidates, Maricopa County and some other Arizona counties are still tabulating ballots several days after the election, leaving the results of the U.S. Senate race between Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego up in the air. In response, Turning Point USA and Lake supporters launched a massive ballot curing effort, and Lake sent a stern letter to Pima County about anomalies. 

Arizona has not announced its presidential results even though Trump is leading by 6 points over Kamala Harris with 99 percent of precincts reporting. When Joe Biden ostensibly won the state in 2020 by 10,457 votes, or 49.4 percent to 49.1 percent, Fox News called the election for Biden on election night. 

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Arizona’s Election Results Mostly Favor Republicans, Trump Wins with over 100,000-Vote Lead

Rachel Alexander
Donald Trump and Kari Lake

With 95 percent of precincts in Arizona reporting results the day after the election, Donald Trump appeared headed to a decisive victory over Kamala Harris. As more ballots came in, from Tuesday evening through Wednesday afternoon, his lead increased to 108,521 votes, about 5 points. At the same time, in the other high-profile race in the state, Kari Lake appeared to be losing her bid to replace outgoing U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema to Democrat U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego.  As of press time, Gallego’s lead stood at 59,656 – less than 3 points ahead.

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Trump Leading on Election Night in Arizona, Kari Lake Lagging Behind Ruben Gallego in First 10 Percent of Results

Rachel Alexander
Donald Trump

The results from Arizona’s election began trickling in Tuesday at 8 p.m., and within a couple of hours it became clear Trump was leading by a few thousand votes, with his lead steadily increasing to 9,316 votes. Kari Lake lagged behind Ruben Gallego in the U.S. Senate race by a little over 100,000 votes. However, the preliminary results were based on early ballots, and ABC-15’s “Data Guru” Garrett Archer acknowledged on X that Election Day ballots had not been counted yet, but when they did they would favor Republicans. 

By late evening, 10 percent of precincts across the state had reported their numbers. Archer observed that independents surged in Election Day voting. While they trailed Republicans in early voting, by late afternoon 83,000 independents had voted on Tuesday, compared to 79,100 Republicans and 43,800 Democrats.

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Court Forces Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to Turn Over Voter Registration Information on 218,000 Voters Lacking Proof of Citizenship

Rachel Alexander
AZ Sec State Adrian Fontes

Secretary of State Adrian Fontes was ordered on Thursday to turn over by Monday the voter registration information on 218,000 voters in Arizona who are registered to vote but who failed to provide proof of citizenship. He appealed the decision immediately afterwards, with two organizations submitting amicus curiae briefs supporting him, but the Arizona Court of Appeals issued an order Monday morning affirming the lower court’s decision to require the list in response to a public records request from America First Legal (AFL). 

James Rogers, America First Legal Senior Counsel, said in a statement regarding the case, “When Secretary Fontes discovered the glitch that allowed 218,000 individuals to register without providing proof of citizenship, he should have immediately shared the list of affected individuals with Arizona’s county recorders, who are in charge of verifying the citizenship of voters. Instead, he has jealously guarded the list, refusing to share it with anyone.”

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Arizona Early Voting Declines: Republicans Gain, Democrats Lag Behind

The Center Square
Arizona Ballot

Arizona has seen a decline in early voting compared to recent years, with only 51.7% of registered voters voting early – about 300,000 less voters than in the 2020 general election, according to data compiled by Uplift from Arizona county recorder offices.

Most notable is the drop in registered Democrats voting early. In 2020, 36.5% of early voters were Democrats.

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Ruben Gallego Raising Money for Senate Race Against Kari Lake from Far-Left Sources, Questionable ‘Smurfing’ Donors

Rachel Alexander
Ruben Gallego

Ruben Gallego has been able to outraise Kari Lake by about three to one, but some are questioning the sources. In addition to large amounts of money from out-of-state donors, a significant amount of his contributions come from “Smurfing,” donations from elderly unemployed Democrats who are unaware their names are being used to donate to Democratic candidates.

According to Arizona Capitol Media, Lake has raised over $19 million throughout the race, while Gallego has raised almost $54 million. Gallego currently has $7.2 million on hand, while Lake has $4.5 million in the bank.

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Arizona U.S. Senate Race Statistically Tied as Dueling Polls Show Lake and Gallego Leading

Tom Pappert
Ruben Gallego, Kari Lake

The Arizona race for U.S. Senate between Kari Lake and Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03) is statistically tied, according to dueling polls that each show the Republican or Democrat leading by less than 1 percent in the race to fill the seat being vacated by Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ).

First, a survey released by Data Orbital on Tuesday found Lake with the support of 45.2 percent of likely voters, leading Gallego by 0.7 percent, with the Democrat at 44.5 percent. The pollsters found an additional 5.8 percent were undecided, while 1.6 percent plan to vote for Green Party candidate Eduardo Quintana.

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Ruben Gallego Sends Panicky Text Message After New Poll Shows Kari Lake Leading Him in U.S. Senate Race

Rachel Alexander
Ruben Gallego, Kari Lake with Rich Grenell

Ruben Gallego sent a panicky text message to supporters this week, after a new poll showed Kari Lake pulling ahead in the U.S. Senate race just days before the election. A survey released on Tuesday from Data Orbital showed Lake ahead by about a point, 45.2 percent to 44.5 percent. Data Orbital is ranked the eighth highest accurate pollster out of hundreds of polling companies by the polling aggregator site 538.

AtlasIntel, which is ranked 22nd for accuracy by 538 and considered very reputable by the left-leaning site MediaBias/FactCheck, released a poll about the same time which showed Gallego just one point ahead of Lake. However, that survey was heavily weighted with women responding, who trend more Democratic than men, surveying about 53 percent women to 46 percent men. It also failed to survey Democrats and Republicans relative to their numbers in the state; oversampling Democrats. 

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Nearly 565,000 Illegal Border Crossers in Arizona in Fiscal 2024

The Center Square
Illegal Immigrants

There were nearly 565,000 illegal border crossers reported in Arizona in fiscal 2024, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

Arizona’s 378 miles of shared border with Mexico is staffed by CBP and Border Patrol agents in the CBP sectors of Tucson and Yuma. Tucson Sector’s 262-mile shared border with Mexico extends from the Yuma County line to the Arizona-New Mexico state line. Yuma Sector’s nearly 182,000 square miles of primarily desert terrain extends from Imperial Sand Dunes in California to the Yuma-Pima County line.

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‘Bring it On:’ Arizona Supreme Court Justice Responds to Progressive Group’s Ethics Complaint

Rachel Alexander
Justice Clint Bolick

The progressive group Save our Schools Arizona (SOSAZ) filed an ethics complaint with the Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct against Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick, alleging some remarks he made during a speech crossed into politics. Bolick and another conservative Arizona Supreme Court Justice, Kathryn King, are up for reelection this election and progressives are heavily targeting them for defeat due to their vote upholding Arizona’s strict old abortion law, which has since been repealed.

SOSAZ cited an article in Politico which quoted Bolick’s remarks to the Sun City West Republican Club in early October. He said their ruling on abortion was only “a convenient excuse to try to get people on the left riled up and replace us with judges who will rubber stamp their ideological agenda.” He said he would continue “fighting for conservative principles,” and brought up his work for the Goldwater Institute and the Reagan Justice Department, and mentioned that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is a mentor and his child’s godfather.

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Mitch McConnell’s Super PAC Reportedly Ignored Kari Lake Campaign Despite NRSC Support

Tom Pappert
Mitch McConnell and Kari Lake

The political action committee associated with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has reportedly ignored the Kari Lake campaign for U.S. Senate, with not one dollar going to the contentious Arizona race, even as high profile senators voiced their early support for the Trump-aligned Republican.

McConnell’s lack of interest in Lake’s race was reported first by Axios on Monday, when it reported, “McConnell PAC snubs Lake,” and revealed the influential Senate Leadership Fund “has not reserved a single dollar to help” Lake during “the final weeks of the campaign.”

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Arizona Republicans Registered Nearly 110,000 More Voters Since July, Expanding Lead over Democrats

Tom Pappert
Voting Line

Republicans have expanded their lead in registered voters in Arizona according to data published Friday by Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, gaining nearly 110,000 more registered voters between July 30 and October 1.

The Arizona Republican Party (AZGOP) boasted 1,562,091 registered voters on October 1, according to the Arizona Secretary of State.

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Republicans Warn of Long Election Day Lines as Maricopa County Says Results Will Be Delayed

Just the News
Voting Line

As Republicans warn of long lines on Election Day in Maricopa County, Ariz., local election officials also expect election results to be delayed. Republicans in both Arizona and on the national level are claiming that Maricopa County has not sufficiently prepared for Election Day, which may result in long lines and persuading eligible voters to avoid voting. 

The possible Election Day issues are in addition to the announcement by Maricopa County election officials that it will take 10-13 days to completely tabulate all ballots, meaning that some races may not be called on election night.

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Trump Fills Arizona State University Stadium for Rally, Says the U.S. is a ‘Garbage Can for the World’ Due to Criminal Illegal Immigrants

Rachel Alexander
Donald Trump

Donald Trump was back in Arizona Thursday afternoon for another packed rally, filling up Mullett Arena at Arizona State University, a stadium that seats 5,000. Several speakers gave brief speeches first, including Kari Lake, Vivek Ramaswamy, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), and local congressmen Andy Biggs and Eli Crane. 

Lake said during her talk that she heard Bill Clinton said she was “attractive” while he was in town stumping for her opponent for the U.S. Senate, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03). She said, “I thought I was too old for him, doesn’t he like interns? … Nobody in their right mind wants to cross Hillary Clinton. It’s just dangerous.” 

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Mayes Joins Partisan AG Coalition Pushing Favorable Abortion Verdict in Idaho

The Center Square
Kris Mayes

Attorney General Kris Mayes joined 24 other attorneys general in filing an amicus brief in support of legalizing “emergency abortion care” for Idahoans in the case U.S. v. Idaho. This brief is the most recent event in the two-year long litigation process.

The initial lawsuit stems from the reversal of Roe v. Wade resulting in a near-total abortion ban in Idaho allowing exceptions only for rape and incest, accompanied by a signed report, or the immediate death of the mother. The key difference between Idaho’s ban on abortion and federal statute occurs when a woman is facing a serious threat to her health but not an immediate risk of losing her life.

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Donald Trump Jr. Visits Trump Campaign Volunteers in Arizona, Criticizes Biden and Harris

Rachel Alexander

Donald Trump Jr. gave a speech at the West Valley Trump campaign headquarters on Wednesday in Sun City to a small room of volunteers who make phone calls for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

He began his speech by discussing how hectic the campaign trail was. “I almost feel like Joe Biden where I wake up,” he said. “I don’t even know where I am. It’s just, it’s because I’m traveling a lot, not because of the dementia. So it’s a little different.”

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Legislation Seeks to Expand Tonto Apache Tribal Land Rights

The Center Square
Mark Kelly and Krysten Sinema

Proposed legislation would transfer 3,060 acres of land from the United States Forest Service to the Tonto Apache Tribe in the Payon, Arizona, area in the form of a trust.

Arizona Sens. Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly introduced the “Tonto Apache Land Transfer Act” would fulfill the tribe’s goal to expand its reservation and construct more housing. Roughly 100 people live on the reservation, according to the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona website.

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Arizona U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly ‘Frustrated’ Trump Could Win 2024, Admits Former President ‘Resonates with People’

Tom Pappert
Mark kelly

Arizona U.S. Senator Mark Kelly admitted he is “[a]bsolutely frustrated” by the odds former President Donald Trump will regain the White House on Election Day during an appearance on “Outspoken with Bruce and Gaydos” on KTAR News 92.3.

Kelly told the Phoenix radio station he is currently, “Absolutely frustrated that this guy’s back and has a chance,” to be elected to a second term on November 5.

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Arizona Real Estate Authority Files Cease and Desist Against Developer over Concerns of Water Supply

The Center Square
Home Construction

The Arizona Department of Real Estate is asking a housing developer to stop subdividing land in Rio Verde Foothills as they say there is no assured water supply yet for the area they are working in.

The Arizona Department of Real Estate sent a cease and desist to Morning Vista Homes for allegedly not getting the proper “subdivision public support” that prompts a “certificate of assured water supply” or another guarantee that there will be water for the homes, according to a news release from Gov. Katie Hobbs’ office.

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Progressives Threaten Conservative Election Attorneys in Advance of 2024 Election

Rachel Alexander
Kate Shaw, Donald Trump

Progressive activists are warning conservative election attorneys to avoid getting involved in litigation over the 2024 election or they will have their jobs threatened, will be targeted for disbarment, and even prosecuted. Many attorneys who assisted with litigation over the disputed 2020 presidential election, such as Donald Trump’s former attorney and constitutional legal scholar John Eastman, underwent disciplinary proceedings and prosecution.

The New York Times published an op-ed a few days ago by law professor Kate Shaw warning attorneys not to represent Trump in election litigation. She said, “Lawyers cannot, consistent with their ethical obligations, participate in devising litigation that is retrofitted to support the position Mr. Trump seems to hold — that the only ‘real’ Americans are those who cast their ballots for him and that those who vote against him are by definition engaging in fraud.” 

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Republican Appointed by Hobbs to Review Possible Non-Citizen Voter Registrations Exchanged Praise with Stephen Richer

Tom Pappert
Patty Hansen, Stallworth-Pouquette

Governor Katie Hobbs on Friday appointed one Democratic and one Republican official to lead a bipartisan investigation into the Arizona Department of Transportation’s Motor Vehicle Division after her administration confirmed it lacks confirmation of citizenship for more than 200,000 registered voters earlier this month.

Hobbs stated on Friday that she “directed MVD to work swiftly in coordination with election officials” immediately upon learning Arizona lacked citizenship information for approximately 218,000 voters, and on Friday launched what her office called, “an independent, bipartisan audit of MVD policies.”

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Report: Arizona ESA Program to Have Long-Term Benefits for Taxpayers, Public Schools

The Center Square
Early Childhood Education

A recent report from the Fiscal Research and Education Center shows that school choice programs may save taxpayers money despite some Arizona politicians’ concerns about oversight of the statewide ESA program.

The report looked at 25 states plus the District of Columbia, including Arizona. The report looked at school choice programs through 2022, but since Arizona’s universal ESA program was not enacted until 2023, the report includes a separate fiscal analysis looking at the impacts of Arizona’s universal ESA program from 2023 through 2024.

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‘No Significant History’ of Domestic Violence: Insights from Unsealed Gallego Divorce Records

Rachel Alexander
Ruben and Kate Gallego

After a 10-month long legal battle, The Washington Free Beacon finally prevailed this week in its lawsuit to obtain divorce records from Ruben Gallego and his ex-wife, Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. The Gallegos, who had the records sealed when they began the divorce in late 2016, fought the media outlet’s request to open their file, claiming there was personal financial information and information regarding their yet-unborn child in them. However, due to persistent rumors of domestic violence, great interest developed in releasing the file. 

The records revealed that the couple avoided a trial by agreeing to terms of a Consent Decree. It stated, “The parties acknowledge and agree that there was no domestic violence during the marriage or that significant domestic violence did not occur.” The judge added to that portion, “The Parenting Plan shall include ‘A statement that there has been no significant history of domestic violence between the parties.’”

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