by Matthew Holloway | Jun 25, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Pima Regional Bomb Squad (PRBS) was summoned by officers of the Sahuarita Police Department after officers were dispatched to a residential area with reports of possible explosive devices at three separate locations northeast of Interstate 19 and Sahuarita Road on Friday, June 20.
The incidents followed a prior call on Friday, June 13th, which saw a man report an object he found in the street and moved to the sidewalk. The PRBS later confirmed that the device was likely an explosive device after securing it, marking three such incidents in the space of a week.
According to AZ Central, the Pima Regional Bomb Squad is conducting a forensic investigation into all three devices. The town of Sahuarita, located approximately 30 minutes south of Tucson, lies along the I-19, a key corridor for human trafficking and drug and weapon smuggling.
A Sheriff’s Department spokesman told the outlet, “We want to remind the public to stay alert and report any suspicious items or activity to local law enforcement.” A suspect has not been identified as of this report by Pima County Sheriff’s Department or the Sahuarita Police Department.
The department added that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has joined the investigation. The spokesman described the June 13th device as cylindrical, wrapped in tape with what officers believed to be a fuse protruding from it, resembling a pipe bomb. Officers determined it was “likely an explosive device.”
In a statement, the Sahuarita police said, “When the person or persons responsible for these crimes are identified, they will be arrested and prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.”
Per KGUN, one of the devices located on Friday, June 20th, described as four to six inches long and two inches wide, was found at a Sahuarita park: Parque del Sol. The device located on Friday, June 13th was reportedly located at the same park.
In a press release following the June 20th incidents, The Sahuarita Police Department said:
“On June 20, 2025, at approximately 7:00 p.m., Sahuarita police officers were dispatched to the area of E. Mountain Alder and S. Camino Larga Vista regarding the report of a possible explosive device. A Sahuarita resident called 911 after discovering the device in a public area. Officers arrived and immediately secured the area. Visual inspection of the device resulted in SPD contacting the Pima Regional Bomb Squad (PRBS) to assist in dealing with the device…
“At approximately 9:30 p.m., the PRBS rendered the device safe and collected it as evidence. The PRBS will coordinate an evidentiary forensic examination of the device…
“…In the early morning hours of June 20th, the SPD dealt with a different suspected explosive device at 14600 S. Camino Larga Vista (Parque del Sol). That device was rendered safe by PRBS.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact the SPD by calling 520-351-4900, 9-1-1, or 520-344-7000 during business hours Monday through Friday or by contacting the Sheriff’s TIP Line at 520-445-7847.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 25, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Earlier this month, Goodyear’s City Council passed a massive $1.2 billion budget for 2026, unchanged from the tentative budget presented to the city in May. The budget is a shocking increase of over $304 million year-over-year or approximately 25.3%, without increasing its combined property tax rate or sales tax.
Goodyear Mayor Joe Pizzillo told reporters that the city was impacted by the loss of the city transaction privilege tax (TPT), eliminated as of Jan. 1st, 2025, through Republican tax reforms passed in the state legislature over the objections of Arizona Cities and Towns.
“A lot of cities here in the valley unfortunately had to raise their taxes to make up those $234 million…more than likely (which will) be doubling over the next five to 10 years,” Pizzillo said. “The city of Goodyear did not raise its sales tax or its combined property tax rate.”
Similar to property tax changes in Maricopa County, the city’s Truth in Taxation notice recorded an increase of $303,271. However, the overall property tax rate will not see an increase. This was accomplished by increasing the primary property tax rate, which is statutorily limited to an increase of 2%, while decreasing the secondary property tax keeping the rate effectively the same at $1.74 per $100 assessed property valuation.
In December 2024, Lee Grafstrom, a tax policy expert with Arizona Cities and Towns, told Fox10 that municipalities aren’t “cutting any of the services that citizens are requesting and requiring, so, we still have to do all the same amount of work. We just have this much less money to do it.”
“We have to find a way to either cut services or make up that shortfall,” he added. “This is a minor piece of a solution to a much larger problem, in terms of housing affordability.”
Finance Manager Ryan Bittle asked rhetorically, “‘Why is my property tax bill going up if the rate isn’t changed?’ (It) is one of the typical questions you might hear, and that’s simply because the value of your property is likely more this year than it was last year.”
The changes, according to Bittle, will bring more consistent revenues to Goodyear’s general fund. He explained that the secondary tax rate can only be used for servicing the city’s debts, while the primary property tax provides revenue for approximately 8% of the general fund on an ongoing basis.
In addition, Bittle explained that most of the property taxes paid by Goodyear property owners goes toward education, by a wide margin. “Most of the property taxes paid by citizens here in Goodyear falls outside of council’s decision-making authority,” Bittle said, noting that a full 66% of the collected taxes fund schools with just 15 cents on the dollar going to the city’s coffers.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Abraham Hamadeh | Jun 24, 2025 | Opinion
By Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) |
Our Republic depends on the integrity of every ballot and the trust the American people place in the electoral system. That trust is on the line, and I am here to continue sounding the alarm.
After reviewing credible, disturbing reports regarding Runbeck Election Services and Maricopa County’s handling of ballots during the 2024 General Election, I have formally called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to launch a federal investigation into whether basic election protocols were violated.
This is not partisan theater. The allegations are signs of possible systemic failures or a complete disregard for the chain of custody that protects every legal vote.
As a former prosecutor and Army Reserve intelligence officer, I do not jump to conclusions. I review the facts at hand, and I believe in due process and evidence.
But I also believe that when red flags are waving this high and wide, public servants have a duty to act.
During my time representing the people of Arizona, I have seen firsthand how trust in our elections has declined. In 2022, polling showed that more than half of Arizona voters doubted whether the official vote count reflected all legal votes. That level of public distrust is toxic to a functioning democracy, and it cannot be ignored.
Election security is national security.
In both 2020 and 2022, Arizona faced scrutiny from all sides. We endured hand counts, audits, lawsuits, and national attention. The public was told repeatedly that every vote was counted, every procedure followed. However, if the most basic rules surrounding ballot security were violated, then those assurances are meaningless.
The American people deserve to know the truth.
That is why I am asking the Justice Department to determine whether Runbeck provided a secure environment for ballot printing, transportation, and storage.
If all procedures were followed correctly, then all involved should welcome a federal investigation and seek to reaffirm public confidence. If those procedures were ignored or manipulated, then we need immediate corrective action and full accountability. A transparent process benefits everyone, regardless of political party.
Reports have indicated that there was no meaningful safeguards or oversight in place at all times. That is not just bad optics. That is a recipe for disaster. Even the appearance of impropriety damages voter confidence and invites division across the country.
As a representative for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, I take my oath to protect our Constitution seriously. That includes the right of every American to participate in a fair election. When systems break down or appear compromised, it is not enough to hope for the best. We must act to investigate, fix them, and restore faith in the system.
Some critics will try to paint this investigation as just another political stunt. They will try to lump it in with previous election disputes to dismiss it out of hand. But that misses the point entirely. This request is not being driven by partisanship. It is being driven by facts, by public concern, and by a genuine desire to strengthen our democratic institutions.
We are not repeating past fights. We are demanding answers in the present. We are relying on the lawful, nonpartisan authority of the Justice Department to get to the bottom of this. We are asking for transparency, not a political advantage.
So, what does this mean for the people of Arizona? It means you are not being ignored. Your concerns about the integrity of our elections are being taken seriously. Your right to have your voice heard is being defended.
To the American people watching this unfold, know this: we are not looking to undermine democracy. We are looking to restore and strengthen it.
We are not interested in sowing chaos. We are committed to restoring order and confidence. Because when trust in elections breaks down, the entire system begins to fracture.
I will keep pushing for this investigation until the necessary action is taken. I will not back down from the responsibility to represent the people of Arizona with clarity, courage, and conviction. Our elections are too important to be left in doubt. Let’s fix this now before it is too late.
Congressman Abe Hamadeh represents Arizona’s 8th Congressional District.
by Ethan Faverino | Jun 24, 2025 | Education, News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Arizona State Board of Education has adopted the Arizona Department of Education’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Parent Handbook for the upcoming school year.
This updated handbook was approved on June 23, 2025, by an 8-1 vote after more than a year of gathering feedback from parents and lawmakers.
“I am very pleased that the board has endorsed the updated handbook. The changes reflect the needs of parents to have clarity in how ESA expenses are reviewed, allow the department to continue its efforts to ensure the program is well-managed and that taxpayer dollars are used for appropriate educational purposes. Anything less would potentially damage the ESA program. I am committed to its long-term sustainability because it is a vital way for parents to have the freedom to choose the best education for their children,” said Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne.
The ESA program allows Arizona parents to use state funds for educational expenses like tutoring, homeschooling materials, and private school tuition. The handbook serves as a guide for parents on how to comply with the program rules and ultimately make sure all funds are used for appropriate educational purposes. It also covers eligibility, application process, and allowed and prohibited expenses.
The 2024-2025 handbook outlined basic ESA rules, eligibility, and allowed expenses, but lacked specificity in certain areas, particularly Special Education students. It provided general guidance on expenses like educational therapies, but did not include a structured approach to evaluate expenses for students with diverse needs, making it difficult for parents to navigate approvals for Special Education requirements.
The updated 2025-2026 handbook addressed these issues with a broader, more flexible framework for evaluating expenses for Special Education students. There are more explicit guidelines for how expenses are approved and evaluating expenses for students with unique needs, such as specialized therapies, adaptive equipment, and individualized educational materials.
However, some parents believe that the language is still too vague, indicating the ongoing challenges in fully meeting Special Education requirements.
During the Arizona State Board of Education board meeting, ESA Director John Ward defended the broad language that was used in the ESA Parent Handbook and said that it provides flexibility to address varied students’ needs.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 24, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A new law is opening the door for expanded career opportunities in dental care, and the Arizona School of Dental Assisting (ASDA) is welcoming the change.
Senate Bill 1124, signed into law on March 31, 2025, officially establishes the position of Oral Preventive Assistant (OPA), a new role that broadens the scope of practice for dental assistants in Arizona. The law aims to enhance preventive care services while addressing workforce shortages in the dental field.
Under the legislation, dental assistants can qualify to become OPAs by completing a board-approved training program totaling at least 120 hours of clinical and classroom instruction. Applicants must also hold certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), coronal polishing, and radiography, along with either a national certification in dental assisting or a diploma from an accredited dental assisting program.
Once certified, OPAs will be allowed to perform certain preventive services on patients evaluated by a licensed dentist or dental hygienist. The law limits such procedures to individuals who are periodontally healthy or exhibit mild, localized gingivitis.
The Arizona School of Dental Assisting says it is ready to help students meet the new requirements and seize the opportunity to grow within the profession.
“Our curriculum is designed to build a strong foundation of skills and knowledge,” the school said in a statement. “By equipping future dental professionals with the tools and education they need to pursue certification and the 120-hour course advancement, ASDA continues to play a vital role in supporting Arizona’s dental workforce.”
Lisa Stevenson, ASDA’s CEO and founder, urged students to take full advantage of the new pathway. “Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great,” she said, encouraging future OPAs to invest in their education and embrace the potential of this expanded role.
The new law is expected to not only provide professional growth for dental assistants, but also improve access to preventive dental care across the state—especially in underserved areas.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
