If Peoria Unified residents were skeptical about students being brainwashed with diversity, equity, and inclusion ideologies, rewatching the August 28, 2025, school board meeting should remove all remaining doubts. Current students delivered a majority of the 63 public comments against the cancellation of DEI-infused performing arts programs. The only problem is that these programs were never slated to be eliminated. Listen to PUSD school board members’ comments here.
A passionately misinformed parent created a Change.org petition claiming that the PUSD school board planned to cut ties with the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO). Unfortunately, this parent took no initiative in contacting the board before circulating the petition. The parent also failed to direct activism efforts toward those organizations that practice discrimination against white students. It would have been great for the kids to bombard them with calls, emails, and demands to remove the racist policies from their websites.
Oh, well. Maybe next time…
Those who have actually followed the 2025 PUSD school board meetings understand that a majority of the board is working to eradicate DEI from school programs in compliance with President Trump’s Executive Order. Since the Department of Education prioritized the order, why wouldn’t school districts follow suit to protect federal resources? PUSD board members did their due diligence in contacting the Arizona Department of Education and consulting their lawyer in a closed session to ensure they weren’t jeopardizing Title II funding by renewing the agreements.
Not surprisingly, AZ State Superintendent Tom Horne and PUSD Superintendent K.C. Somers were in favor of keeping the programs despite these organizations’ defiance of federal mandates. The following screenshots are sourced directly from their websites. It only takes one or two clicks to find this information.
NDEO’s racial equity statements are currently parked behind information walls. Internet archives from 2020 reveal that the Advisory Board Director and CEO both met with equity consultants and agreed that NDEO should undergo a diversity audit to “help provide a roadmap for organizational and programmatic changes over the next few years, as NDEO embodies its commitment to becoming an anti-racist organization.” Their statement on social justice can be viewed below.
One leftist who instigated the PUSD protest was Washington Elementary School District (WESD) Board President Kyle Clayton. In 2023, Clayton was one of five board members who voted to terminate an 11-year relationship with Arizona Christian University due to the college’s stance on traditional marriage. At that time, Clayton—who identifies as an LGBT community member—said he was worried that Christian student-teachers would proselytize his children and make them feel bad about having two dads. It didn’t matter that ACU had never received a single complaint like this in 11 years.
Past board members in Clayton’s district signed anti-racism and LGBTQ+ affirming resolutions. The youngest WESD students are barely potty-trained. Let that sink in. Clayton willingly discriminates against people who believe in God and disagree with his lifestyle choices. This is the definition of bigotry. Clayton is not the kind of person who should be leading an elementary school district. WESD residents should be asking how and why radical, anti-Christian activists are sitting on their school board.
Ultimately, the PUSD school board protest made the adult activists look a bit foolish. Board Member Becky Proudfit—who historically supported DEI for students—clarified that the programs were “not in danger of being cut” but that the district endeavored to operate “in the bounds of legality.” She also reiterated that Title II funding is not a permanent solution and encouraged every speaker to contact the noncompliant organizations (as the petition starter should have done). Board Member Janelle Bowles—who is strongly against DEI— wholeheartedly agreed with Proudfit’s sentiments.
Although the students performed well during public comments, it was sad and exhausting to see so much misguided passion and wasted energy coming against leaders who are all working in their favor. Even conservative board members voted to keep programs with DEI components—albeit Board President Heather Rooks vehemently denounced EdTA’s racist ideologies, and another board member motioned to approve the programs with an attestation as part of their agreement with PUSD.
It’s a shame that the adults who gaslighted the children and influenced this demonstration lacked the foresight to protest the culprits causing the federal funding dilemma. If you’re going to encourage students to engage in activism, at least point them in the right direction. Of course, theatre, dance, music, and other artistic expressions provide students with an enriching experience and some lucrative post-secondary school opportunities.
Nevertheless, K-12 students don’t need to learn how to be “anti-racist” while playing a wind instrument. Gender identity is not a prerequisite for memorizing and delivering well-executed lines. And although the good Lord graced His black and brown people with more rhythm, white students shouldn’t be cut from recitals just because they’re born with melanin deficiency. Why any board member, superintendent, parent, or educator would advocate for DEI is beyond the comprehension of those who love all children the same, regardless of their ethnic background.
A final word to DEI champions: You would do best to listen to conservative black people instead of emotionally inserting yourselves into historical civil rights conflicts that don’t concern you. No one asked white liberals to fight battles or take on identity-based issues that didn’t affect their community 250 years ago. If leftists want to protest something, there is plenty of hatred directed at white, heterosexual, Christian conservatives today. People like me are doing just fine. We don’t need any handouts. The world would be a better, safer, more sane place if the adults on the self-righteous left took some time to study the true definition of diversity.
Arizona State University’s online component, ASU Online, has partnered with several California community colleges to launch a new pilot program. The initiative allows California online undergraduates and alumni to save 22% on tuition—about $130 less per credit hour than Arizona residents pay.
According to a press release issued by ASU Online, the special rate for California students comes “with no income requirements or special applications needed to receive the special tuition.”
The release added that “the pilot program helps break financial barriers and creates an accessible, seamless transfer pathway for California residents to complete a degree.”
“Our university is committed to enhancing access to high-quality education for all students capable of college-level work,” ASU President Michael Crow said in a statement. “Providing top online learning opportunities and making ASU’s world-class faculty available to the enthusiastic learners in our neighboring state will prepare more skilled graduates, strengthen our shared region and support a better future.”
In a post to X, ASU Online posted enthusiastically, “Big news! Students & alumni of our California Community College partners can now transfer to @ASUOnline and save 22% on tuition through the California Community College Achievement Plan! Who’s ready to finish their degree?”
Big news! Students & alumni of our California Community College partners can now transfer to @ASUOnline and save 22% on tuition through the California Community College Achievement Plan! Who's ready to finish their degree?@mypath2asu#TransferSuccesshttps://t.co/Os55dhgULU
The emphasis on the educational outcome of California students and the substantial discount being offered under the pilot program is striking given that the Arizona Board of Regents 2021 Financial Aid Report (the most recent available) found that 55 percent of undergraduates from ASU, 55 percent from NAU, and 47 percent from UArizona graduated in debt. The report explained that “the average debt load at graduation was $24,447 at ASU; $21,461 at NAU; and $25,343 at UArizona.” According to the Board, approximately 4.5% of ASU students are defaulting on their loans.
ASU reported in the release that it currently has approximately 15,000 California students enrolled online. Anecdotally, citing one alum’s story, they claim that these students are “making meaningful contributions to the state’s economy,” specifically California’s economy, not Arizona’s.
AZ Free News has reached out to Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives Steve Montenegro, who sits ex officio on the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee (JLAC), which has legislative oversight over ASU, the Arizona Board of Regents, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Horne. No comments were received before filing this story.
Financial fraud is emerging as one of Arizona’s most costly economic threats, with residents projected to lose more than $4 billion in 2025, according to a new analysis from the Common Sense Institute (CSI). The report, The Impact of Financial Fraud in Arizona, outlines how scams, identity theft, and other fraudulent activity are draining household finances and hampering economic growth. In 2024, Arizonans reported nearly 55,000 fraud cases, leading to $521 million in losses—an increase of 384 percent since 2020.
CSI economists estimate that only about 14 percent of fraud is ever reported, meaning the true cost is far higher. By next year, the institute projects that reported losses could reach $558 million, with an additional $3.4 billion in unreported incidents.
“Arizona is projected to lose over $4 billion to financial fraud in 2025. That’s nearly 1% of the state’s total GDP,” said Zachary Milne, senior economist and research analyst at CSI. “Fraud is a systemic drain on Arizona’s families and the economy. Eliminating these losses would mean billions in growth, tens of thousands more job opportunities, and lower prices for Arizonans.”
Key Findings from the Report
The average loss per incident in Arizona was $6,270—nearly 30 percent higher than the national average.
Arizona ranked 11th nationally for fraud cases, with 1,459 reports per 100,000 residents.
Older residents face the greatest impact. Adults 60 and older account for two-thirds of internet-based fraud losses, with those 70 and older suffering the highest average dollar losses.
For every dollar lost to fraud, Arizonans lose $1.06 in personal income due to broader economic effects. Families also face slightly higher prices on everyday goods and services.
Fraud contributes to reduced economic activity, costing Arizona more than 45,000 jobs.
Fraud schemes cited in the report range from identity theft and phishing to romance scams, wire transfer fraud, and elder financial abuse. As more commerce moves online, CSI researchers warn that the risks will only grow.
The study also highlights how financial crime affects more than direct victims. Lost spending power, higher security costs, and reduced consumer confidence create ripple effects across the state’s economy. CSI estimates fraud-related losses shrink Arizona’s GDP by $5.2 billion annually. Nationally, the FBI and Federal Trade Commission tracked tens of billions of dollars in fraud losses in 2024, part of a steady upward trend over the past five years. Arizona, with its above-average loss rate and older population, is particularly vulnerable.
The report concludes that combating fraud is not only a matter of protecting individuals but also of preserving Arizona’s long-term economic health.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne weighed in on the scandal involving Cartwright Elementary School District board members Lydia and Cassandra Hernandez. The mother-daughter duo allegedly tried to smuggle a box-cutter style knife into Maryvale High School just days after a fatal stabbing there claimed the life of a 16-year-old student. Horne called for both women to resign their public offices immediately.
As reported by Fox10, Officials with the Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) told the outlet that on August 25th, Arizona State Rep. Lydia Hernandez (D-LD24) and her daughter, Cassandra Hernandez, created a disturbance at Maryvale High School by “knowingly bringing an unauthorized weapon onto campus.” Lydia Hernandez denied the school district’s accusation in response to an inquiry from Fox10 but declined to comment further.
PXU confirmed in a statement that the two women were “attempting to circumvent our safety systems and knowingly bringing an unauthorized weapon onto campus.”
NEW: An Arizona lawmaker was escorted off Maryvale HS's campus for "testing" the school's weapon detectors with her daughter.
The school said Rep Lydia Hernandez & her daughter Cassandra (both Cartwright school board members) tried bringing a boxcutter onto campus, but it was… pic.twitter.com/vaWSonxwcz
The district stated in its announcement, “We will pursue all legal options, including pressing charges and trespassing the individuals from coming back to our campuses.”
Both women were recording the incident on their phones. At that point, “Lydia told the staff that she was video recording the interaction and that she was testing the weapon detection systems,” PXU said in a news release. Both women were then escorted from the premises.
Arizona SPI Horne released a statement condemning the women for the incident, saying, “This was an outrageous and indefensible stunt. For two school board members, one who is also a state legislator, to deliberately provoke a security disruption at a school is unconscionable. To do it at Maryvale High School where a student was tragically murdered in a classroom just a week earlier is unbelievably insensitive to the trauma that was inflicted on the students, teachers and staff of that school. These two board members should resign immediately.”
Horne continued, “The safety of our campuses is an absolute priority. Security personnel and safety officers need to do their jobs, and they cannot be diverted from protecting the campus by a juvenile and unnecessary act such as this. The actions of these board members show they do not appreciate the seriousness of ensuring campuses are safe places and the Cartwright Board must include members who are committed to school safety.”
Phoenix City Councilmembers Betty Guardado and Anna Hernandez released a joint statement similarly calling for both women to resign, according to KTAR.
“Their actions disrupted the fragile environment at Maryvale High School, were a blatant disregard for safety and school protocol, and were gravely insensitive to the students, families, and school staff still mourning the Maryvale student who died last week,” Guardado and Hernandez said. “The choice to target a school still reeling from trauma speaks volumes about their judgment and priorities as leaders. Such actions jeopardize the safety of students and staff alike, showing an alarming lack of responsibility and failure as public officials.”
From House Democratic Leadership: “Our hearts are with the family of the young man who was killed, Michael Montoya II, and with the Maryvale community that is hurting and mourning right now. Regarding the allegation involving Representative Lydia Hernandez, the incident spelled… pic.twitter.com/Rf13Pc1mAQ
Arizona House Democrat Leaders reacted with a statement saying, “The incident spelled out in the School District’s statement is serious and shocking.” The Democrat leaders noted that while they have “not yet had an opportunity to speak with Rep. Hernandez to get an explanation from her perspective…it should go without saying that nobody — elected official or otherwise — should engage in such reckless and potentially criminal behavior on a school campus.”
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen announced on Monday several senior staff promotions and new hires within the Senate Majority office, moves he said will strengthen support for the chamber’s 17 Republican members as they pursue their legislative agenda.
Fletcher Montzingo has been elevated to Deputy Chief of Staff after more than a decade in state government, including six years staffing the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees. In his new role, Montzingo will help oversee daily staff operations, advise on tax policy, and provide support for the newly formed Senate Committee on Appropriations & Transportation.
Brooke Huppenthal will join the staff on Sept. 15 as Deputy General Counsel. She will advise the Senate Committees on Judiciary & Elections and Military Affairs & Border Security, while also assisting the Senate Rules Committee. Huppenthal previously served as an Assistant Attorney General in Tennessee and clerked for Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick.
Simone Westbrook Hall has been named Senior Policy Advisor for the Senate Committees on Natural Resources, Energy & Water and Public Safety. She most recently served as Arizona’s Deputy Land Commissioner and has experience in both public and private sector land use and natural resource policy.
Abigail McLain will begin on Sept. 8 as Policy Advisor for the Senate Committees on Finance and Health & Human Services. A graduate of Grand Canyon University, McLain previously worked on the government relations team at Alliance Defending Freedom, focusing on First Amendment policy.
“These new additions and promotions ensure that the Arizona Senate Majority Caucus has one of the most experienced and capable legislative staff teams in the country,” Petersen said in a statement. “They will play an important role in helping us deliver results for Arizona families.”
The updated Majority Staff roster includes:
Josh Kredit, Chief of Staff
Fletcher Montzingo, Deputy Chief of Staff; Policy Advisor for Appropriations & Transportation, Finance
Rusty Crandall, General Counsel; Policy Advisor for Director Nominations, Ethics, Judiciary & Elections, Rules
Brooke Huppenthal, Deputy General Counsel; Policy Advisor for Judiciary & Elections, Military Affairs & Border Security
Kim Quintero, Director of Communications
Alayna Kowaleski, Deputy Director of Communications; Policy Advisor for Federalism, Joint Legislative Audit
Blaze Baggs, Senior Policy Advisor for Health & Human Services, Government
Simone Westbrook Hall, Senior Policy Advisor for Natural Resources, Energy & Water, Public Safety
Emma Blair, Policy Advisor for Education, Appropriations & Transportation, Regulatory Affairs & Government Efficiency
Abigail McLain, Policy Advisor for Health & Human Services, Finance, Government
Gina Jenkins, Senior Executive Assistant
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
