Former Assistant Attorney General Questions Missing Nashville Shooter’s Video

Former Assistant Attorney General Questions Missing Nashville Shooter’s Video

By Corinne Murdock |

Former assistant attorney general Jen Wright questioned the location of videos made by the Nashville, Tennessee school shooter, as identified in the manifesto leaked Monday.

Wright drew attention to a detail in one of the manifesto pages, obtained exclusively by conservative pundit Steven Crowder through “Louder With Crowder.” That page detailed shooter Aiden (nee Audrey) Hale’s proposed “Death Day” schedule — the day where she would take the lives of three children and three faculty members at The Covenant School.

“11:20 am – Final Video Tape (10 min),” read the schedule.

However, Hale deviated from the leaked manifesto schedule. She entered The Covenant School shortly after 10 am. The other two leaked manifesto pages were dated Feb. 3, 2023 and March 27, 2023, the latter dated for the day of the shooting.

The reasons for Hale’s massacre have largely been up for speculation, due to law enforcement’s refusal to release Hale’s writings.

The former page from February, titled “Kill Those Kids,” appeared to be a poem of sorts expressing her hatred for white, well-off children. Hale had attended The Covenant School herself.

“Kill those kids!!! Those crackers going to private fancy schools with those fancy khakis [and] sports backpacks [with] thier [sic] daddies mustangs [and] convertables [sic]. F**k you little s***s[;] I wish to shoot you weaka** d***s [with] your mop yellow hair[.] Wanna [sic] kill all you little crackers!!! Bunch of little f*****s [with] your white privlages [sic] [;] f**k you f*****s[.]”

In the latter page from the day of the shooting, titled “Dark Abyss: Death Day,” Hale expressed the hope that she would kill many people, and issued a prayer of sorts to God to help her kill. Hale referenced a time in 2021 when she was nearly “caught” planning a mass shooting. More information on that detail has not surfaced. 

“Today is the day. The day has finally come! I can’t believe it’s here. Don’t know how I was able to get this far, but here I am. I’m a little nervous, but excited too. Been excited for the past 2 weeks. There were several times I could have been caught, especially back in the summer of 2021. None of that matters now. I’m almost an hour [and] 7 minutes away. Can’t believe I’m doing this, but I’m ready… I hope my victims aren’t. My only fear is if anything goes wrong. I’ll do my best to prevent any of the sort. (God let my wrath take over my anxiety). It might be 10 minutes tops. It might be 3-7. It’s gunna [sic] go quick. I hope I have a high death count. Ready to Die. Haha. Aiden.”

The leaked manifesto pages represent just three of many others that have yet to be released by law enforcement. As journalists have pointed out, law enforcement seized up to 20 journals, a suicide note, other miscellaneous notes, a psychiatric/medical folder, three home videos, several cell phones, multiple computers and hard drives. None of these other materials have been released.

Hale was a woman who identified as a transgender man. 

Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell has ordered an investigation into the origin of the leak.

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.

Paradise Valley Board Member: District Withheld Truth About Allegedly Predatory Teacher

Paradise Valley Board Member: District Withheld Truth About Allegedly Predatory Teacher

By Corinne Murdock |

A Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) board member is criticizing district leadership for withholding the truth about an allegedly predatory teacher from parents and the community.

The Phoenix Police Department is investigating the late Keiko Yoshimine, a Paradise Valley High School chemistry teacher and Horizon High School basketball coach, on allegations of inappropriate conduct with a female high school student. Yoshimine allegedly committed suicide last month, a day after she had admitted to inappropriate behavior during police questioning; no arrest was made. 

In a press release, PVUSD Governing Board Member Sandra Christensen pointed out that PVUSD has implemented other mental and behavioral health supports — such as the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), Whole Child initiatives, and partnerships with behavioral health clinics — yet declined to bring attention to an immediate alleged danger to children. 

“It is ironic how the district seems so concerned with mental health that we focus more on emotional well-being than academics; however, when an actual crisis occurs, it gets swept under the rug. […] I have to question the motives of district leadership and whether expressions of concern for the safety and well-being of all our students are more than just lip service,” said Christensen. “At what point did the district start caring more about the image of the administration rather than the safety of our children? […] Hiding egregious violations or allegations of crimes, including child endangerment, should never be tolerated.”

Christensen revealed that she had urged PVUSD leadership, including Superintendent Troy Bales and Governing Board President Nancy Case, to advise the district community about the investigation into Yoshimine, since the district’s letter advising the community of Yoshimine’s death omitted the allegations of sexual misconduct against her. Christensen also recommended that district leadership notify parents of students in Yoshimine’s class and on Yoshimine’s sports teams of the allegations against their teacher and coach.

Bales turned down Christensen’s advice. Bales informed Christensen that the district’s legal counsel had advised them to not inform the public about the Yoshimine investigation until given direction to do so by law enforcement. 

“At this time and advised by legal counsel, the District will continue to take direction from Phoenix PD regarding expanding inquiry to other students,” stated Bales. 

According to Christensen, Bales had informed her on the day police questioned Yoshimine that Yoshimine’s fingerprint clearance card would be suspended should she be arrested.

Christensen reported that it was only after social media publicization of the investigation into Yoshimine preempting her untimely death that PVUSD leadership offered the parents and community members more information about the police investigation. 

“In the case of Ms. Yoshimine, I am deeply saddened that our students and families were not told the truth in a timely manner,” said Christensen. 

As AZ Free News reported previously, there have been over 50 Arizona educators (along with over 20 certified in Arizona) accused of sexual misconduct with minors this year. Yoshimine was not named among those educators, nor are there any mentions of her in past Arizona State Board of Education meeting files. 

The public is urged to come forward with any information of sexual misconduct or harm to a PVUSD student in the Yoshimine case, or in any other case. Please file a report with the Phoenix or Scottsdale police and PVUSD. 

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.

Arizona’s Foster Children Need You: Court Advocacy Groups Call For More Volunteers

Arizona’s Foster Children Need You: Court Advocacy Groups Call For More Volunteers

By Corinne Murdock |

The state’s two main foster care court advocacy groups are requesting more volunteers to assist and advocate for children in the foster care system.

In a press release issued on Wednesday — also recognized as National Adoption Day — the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) expressed a need for volunteers in all 15 counties to serve with them or the Foster Care Review Board (FCRB). 

CASA and the FCRB provide aid to the approximately 10,000 children in the state’s foster care system. CASA Program Manager Charlie Gray stressed in a press release that expertise isn’t necessary for volunteering — just compassion.

“You do not need to be steeped in child welfare experience or knowledge,” said Gray. “You only need to have a compassion to help guide a child through one of the most emotionally difficult experiences they will have in their life.”

Children in the state’s foster system need the support and care of their community more than ever: as we reported in August, a recent audit of the Arizona Department of Child Services found that caseworkers were failing the children in their charge by neglecting to provide all necessary documents for their cases and skipping case review meetings. 

The auditor general found that these shortcomings by DCS caseworkers not only hindered children’s cases but compromised the foster care system by diminishing trust from the Administrative Office of the Courts and the local foster care review boards tasked with completing foster children’s cases.

Arizona community members may make up for DCS shortcomings by providing advocacy, support, and attentive care to the children and their cases.

CASA volunteers visit and build a relationship with a child as well as the people involved in their case. These volunteers also serve as advocates for the child’s best interests in court by issuing recommendations, while working alongside others involved with that child. That may include the child’s teachers, foster family, parents, and service providers. These volunteers serve as a stable, consistent presence for the child. 

“A CASA volunteer stays with the child throughout the entire case and is often the one consistent adult throughout the court process,” stated CASA.

Comparatively, FCRB volunteers serve on a five-member panel that meets virtually once a month to review children’s foster care cases. The goal of the volunteers is to become acquainted with the same cases, recognize the needs of a child and their family, and achieve permanency.

Those interested in volunteering must be at least 21 years of age, able to pass a fingerprint background check, and able to participate in an introductory program training. Those desiring to be CASA volunteers may apply here; those interested in applying to be FCRB volunteers may apply here.

There are plenty of other volunteer opportunities to assist the court system, and thereby make it easier for those going through it. CASA shared that the Arizona Supreme Court also needs volunteers for its 30 standing committees and commissions. 

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.

ASU Professor Urges Phoenix Pastors To Warn Congregations Against Universities

ASU Professor Urges Phoenix Pastors To Warn Congregations Against Universities

By Corinne Murdock |

An Arizona State University (ASU) professor is urging Phoenix pastors to warn their congregations against universities.

ASU professor Owen Anderson wrote on his Substack and in an opinion piece for the Arizona Daily Independent that the standard at universities, including ASU, is to oppose Christianity:

Pastors, the radical philosophies that are normalized in many ASU classes are direct attacks on Christian belief. They teach that Christianity is merely a system of social control. Christian missionaries are called bigots who used force to impose Christian beliefs on otherwise peaceful societies. And Jesus, if he was anything, is merely a moral teacher who taught people to be nice to their neighbors by paying taxes to a centralized government for welfare safety nets. These things are taught as the truth of the matter under radical gender, race, and class philosophies. This is the lens through which all the rest of the course material is viewed.

Anderson, who teaches philosophy and religious studies, has been outspoken on a number of other issues in recent months, namely concerning the alleged free speech issues at ASU.

The professor went on to ask why Christian students should have to “suffer through classes” without speaking against criticisms of their faith for fear of reprisal by their professors. Anderson encouraged Christian families to actively counter what’s being taught at institutions like ASU and to attend other higher education institutions instead.

“We can let professors and administrators know that we will not send students into classes or universities where their Christian faith is attacked and belittled,” said Anderson. “We can let them know that we will no longer hold our noses and put up with radical philosophies controlling the curriculum.”

Later, Anderson posted on X (formerly Twitter) that neither faculty members or university administrators care about Christians.

“The faculty care so little about Evangelicals that one of them can insult Evangelicals and not one faculty member will say anything and no administrator will understand why it matters,” said Anderson.

Anderson appeared on “The Seth Leibsohn Show” on Wednesday to discuss his claims. He said that he began his Substack to document the allegedly radical state of ASU.

“In your day to day classroom — in the kind of classroom that teaches decolonizing, anti-racism, infinite genders — that’s the philosophy that I think pastors will be interested to know about and need to know about,” said Anderson. 

Earlier this month, Anderson reported on an ASU employee training course that requires employees to accept progressive ideologies on sexual orientation and gender. The training course informs employees that there are more than two genders, and that opposition to certain sexual orientations was impermissible. 

Anderson said that the employee training directly countered Christian beliefs, and questioned whether Christians would face repercussions for opposing those stances made by ASU.

“Can Christians work at ASU without facing discrimination? Will Christian employees be forced to agree that there are infinite genders?” asked Anderson.

Students have reported incidents of the Christian faith being mocked by professors at the institution over the years. An incident of a professor mocking creationism in an introductory biology class went viral in 2014. 

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.

University Of Arizona Giving Illegal Immigrants Scholarships Via Leftist Dark Money Program

University Of Arizona Giving Illegal Immigrants Scholarships Via Leftist Dark Money Program

By Corinne Murdock |

The University of Arizona (UArizona) is now offering scholarships to illegal immigrants using the nonprofit arm of a leftist dark money network.

The university partnered with TheDream.US to provide the scholarships: an initiative of the New Venture Fund, an initiative by one of the biggest leftist dark money organizations in the nation, Arabella Advisors. That organization recently came under investigation for tax law aversion and illegal profiteering. UArizona President Robert Robbins said that the scholarships would provide opportunities for all Arizona youth regardless of their citizenship status. 

“This new partnership with TheDream.US is a crucial step in our effort to make sure that all of Arizona’s youth have the opportunity to attend college and achieve their higher education goals,” said Robbins. “I am proud that the university, as Arizona’s land-grant institution, has entered this partnership, which allows us to serve more incoming students, including Arizona’s Dreamers.”

These scholarships — running up to $33,000 for tuition and fees — don’t require an illegal immigrant to have protections from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), so long as they came to the U.S. before the age of 16 and before Nov. 1, 2018, and have graduated from high school. 

A full scholarship would cover all but $200 of in-state, on-campus costs of attendance. Should the illegal immigrant live off campus, the scholarship would completely cover costs of attendance with around $10,000 left over.

Some applicants may also receive an additional stipend of up to $6,000 for books, supplies, and transportation.

Illegal immigrants became eligible for in-state tuition last year with the passage of Proposition 308, backed by at least $1.2 million from out-of-state dark money networks. 

Last year, TheDream.US partnered with Northern Arizona University (NAU) to offer the same scholarship opportunity to illegal immigrants. Arizona State University (ASU), Phoenix College, and Grand Canyon University (GCU) also partner with TheDream.US. 

TheDream.US founders are: Don Graham, chairman of Graham Holdings Company (formerly The Washington Post), former director of Facebook, and former member of the Pulitzer Prize Board; Carlos Guitierrez, chairman and CEO of Empath, former chairman and CEO of Kellogg’s, and former Secretary of Commerce for the Bush administration; and Henry R. Muñoz III, former finance chairman for the Democratic National Committee.

Several among the senior staff at TheDream.US were illegal immigrants themselves. Leading them is president and CEO Gaby Pacheco, an illegal immigrant who didn’t obtain her citizenship until June. As an activist, Pacheco helped inspire the DACA program as enacted via executive order by former President Barack Obama.

Last year, TheDream.US president was Candy Marshall, the former chief human resources officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Marshall now serves as the senior advisor to the organization. 

Advisory board members include Lupe De La Cruz, Pepsi vice president of government affairs and corporate citizenship; Mei-Yen Ireland, senior program officer at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Georgia Levenson Keohane, CEO of the Soros Economic Development Fund; and Andrew Rosen, chairman and CEO of Kaplan.

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.