A famous burger restaurant chain is closing operations in one California city.
Last week, In-N-Out Burger announced it would soon be closing its Oakland location. In a statement released by Denny Warnick, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, the decision was made “due to ongoing issues with crime.” Warnick explained that “despite taking repeated steps to create safer conditions, our Customers and Associates are regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies.”
#Confirmed: In-N-Out Burger is closing its Oakland location “due to ongoing issues with crime…our customers and associates are regularly victimized.”
According to Warnick’s statement, the In-N-Out’s Oakland location was “busy and profitable,” but the company highlighted its “top priority” of ensuring the safety and well-being of our Customers and Associates,” adding that “we cannot ask them to visit or work in an unsafe environment.”
When asked by AZ Free News about the development out of Oakland, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen replied, “Arizona Republicans believe in the rule of law, and as a result, the policies we’ve implemented over the past decade have kept our state safe. Democrats have a track record of being soft on crime, and if they gain control of Arizona, it’s likely we will endure the same sad fate as Oakland, where criminals and lawlessness reign over our communities.”
The National Fraternal Order of Police addressed the Oakland news in a post on its “X” account, writing, “The closure of In-N-Out’s Oakland restaurant not only emphasizes the impact of persistent crime on our communities but also brings sadness for the employees losing their jobs. As we reflect on this, questions arise about leadership and community safety. Shouldn’t leaders actively combat lawlessness to protect businesses, jobs, and the well-being of individuals?”
🍔 Addressing Safety Concerns and Employee Loss 🍔
The closure of In-N-Out's Oakland restaurant not only emphasizes the impact of persistent crime on our communities but also brings sadness for the employees losing their jobs. As we reflect on this, questions arise about… pic.twitter.com/7UvKwtbK2Y
— National Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) (@GLFOP) January 22, 2024
As of January 24, there are 401 In-N-Out locations across 287 cities in the United States, according to the data company ScrapeHero. Out of those total locations, 275 are in California. Arizona has 34 restaurants – the third-most of the 8 states and territories that currently host the In-N-Out chain.
The Oakland In-N-Out location will continue operations until Sunday, March 24, 2024.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona Senate Republicans have a plan to mitigate the effects of the crisis at the southern border.
On Wednesday, Senate Republicans held a press conference to announce their proposals to “provide law enforcement the support they need to defend our citizens against these threats.”
One of the bills Republicans will seek to pass through the legislature, the Arizona Border Invasion Act, is sponsored by Senator Janae Shamp. According to the Senate Republicans’ news release, this legislation would grant local, county, or state law enforcement officers the statutory authority to make arrests of three categories of individuals:
any non-US citizens who enter [Arizona] from anywhere but a lawful entrance point
any non-US citizens who have been denied entry, or have already been removed from [the United States]
any non-US citizens who have been ordered to leave because of one of the above crimes but are refusing to comply with the order.
The other bill highlighted by Republicans was Senator David Gowan’s Aggravated Unlawful Flight Act, which would “create tougher penalties for drivers who endanger the life of another person while attempting to flee law enforcement, prompting a high-speed chase.” Additionally, Senator Gowan’s bill would “create greater penalties against drivers who cause harm to another person during a high-speed chase, or those who are transporting a child under the age of 15.”
“Joe Biden and his administration have made it unequivocally clear that they have abandoned their duties to enforce immigration policy at the federal level,” said Senator Shamp. “As a result, our communities and our citizens are suffering the dire consequences of the lawlessness associated with tens of thousands of people, many of whom are criminals, illegally entering our state each month with no repercussions. It is our duty as state legislators to ensure the safety of our citizens and our law enforcement, which is why I’m calling on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this commonsense legislation.”
“This is the worst border crisis in U.S. history. Our local sheriffs are overwhelmed, outnumbered, and their lives are in danger,” said Senator Gowan. “Our communities are suffering from the deadly fentanyl, rapes, murders, high-speed chases, kidnappings, human smuggling, child sex trafficking, and other heinous crimes carried out by those who are entering our state illegally. We can’t just sit idly by and watch Biden’s border invasion destroy Arizona. I’m urging members of the Legislature to pass our bills and for the Governor to sign them. Lives are on the line, and the hands of our local law enforcement are currently tied.”
Both Republicans and Democrats realize the importance of dealing with the historic crisis at the border, though members of both parties generally have vastly different opinions about the solutions. At the start of this new legislative session, the border was a central theme in Governor Katie Hobbs’ State of the State address. Hobbs asserted that she “delivered on multiple fronts to help mitigate the crisis, including the launch of Operation SECURE and the creation of a Border Coordination Office within the Arizona Department of Homeland Security.
Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma immediately released a video in the aftermath of the governor’s address, responding to the issues she raised to onlooking legislators. Toma argued that despite Hobbs’ attempt to make Arizonans “believe she’s all about securing our border and ending the lawlessness caused by Joe Biden’s immigration system…her record is one of open borders…and she’s continued that approach as governor.” Petersen talked about “major mistakes” from Hobbs by vetoing three bills in particular “that would have kept families safe from drugs and crime.”
During 2023, the first year of a rare, divided government in the Grand Canyon State, legislative Republicans consistently pointed out that the reality with the border crisis could have been more daunting for Arizonans if not for their check on Democrats. When Hobbs signed the state budget compromise in May, Petersen noted his members “prevented the Governor and Democrat Legislators from advancing their extremist agenda,” and promised “we’re not getting rid of state-funded border security resources to keep our communities safe.” Despite Hobbs’ efforts to be perceived as taking the border crisis seriously in the new year, she is unlikely to work with legislative Republicans on much – if any – fixes to help mitigate the lawlessness and consequences for affected communities, likely spelling doom for the two recently introduced border bills should the legislature send the proposals to the Governor’s Office.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
One of Arizona’s State Representatives is working to increase transparency from certain foreign agents.
Republican State Representative Matt Gress, entering his second year in office, sponsored HB 2506, the State Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci is a co-sponsor of the legislation.
“As foreign nations increasingly attempt to exert influence on American soil, it is important that we take proactive measures to ensure we protect Arizonans from efforts… pic.twitter.com/KzLlSLUpLW
According to Gress’ press release, the bill would “require transparency from foreign agents acting on behalf of adversarial countries within Arizona,” forcing these individuals to “register with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.” Under the federal FARA, there are exceptions for “commerce, religious activities, research, or education;” those would be removed under this new proposal. There would be penalties for any foreign agents who failed to comply with the requirements.
In a statement released in conjunction with his announcement, Gress said, “I am proud to sponsor the State Foreign Agents Registration Act as a crucial step towards safeguarding our democracy. While the federal FARA has its merits, our state legislation aims to close existing loopholes that have allowed foreign agents to operate unnoticed. As foreign nations increasingly attempt to exert influence on American soil, it is important that we take proactive measures to ensure we protect Arizonans from efforts to compromise our freedom and security.”
The press release added that HB 2506 “would help protect U.S. citizens and foreign nationals residing in Arizona from foreign agents acting on behalf of countries such as China, Russia, and Iran who seek to impose their authoritarian rule domestically.”
There are no individuals or organizations that have yet indicated support or opposition for the bill on the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
An Arizona Republican legislator is looking to present voters with an upcoming opportunity to help protect their state’s sovereignty.
Earlier this week, freshman State Representative Austin Smith announced that he had introduced HCR 2040, which is a concurrent resolution to enact and order “the submission to the people of a measure relating to public monies.”
🚨IMPORTANT BILL DROP 🚨
Should this state or political subdivisions be able to use public monies for becoming a member of an association or organization that, promotes, advocates, or plans for:
– REDUCING THE CONSUMPTION OR PRODUCTION OF MEAT OR DAIRY PRODUCTS OR REPLACING… pic.twitter.com/C3znoBLJZg
In a comment to AZ Free News, Smith said, “The public policy of this state, political subdivisions, and universities should be – public monies are not spent to join organizations that promote anti-freedom agendas listed in HCR2040. This HCR aims at the heart of what the World Economic Forum and the UN Climate Council are working to implement globally. HCR2040 is about protecting freedom. Period.”
The definition of the prohibited expenditures of public monies was laid out in the bill, as follows:
1. REDUCING THE CONSUMPTION OR PRODUCTION OF MEAT OR DAIRY PRODUCTS OR REPLACING ANIMAL-BASED PROTEIN WITH INSECT OR SYNTHETIC PROTEIN.
2. REDUCING OR REPLACING MOTOR VEHICLE TRAVEL WITH WALKING, BIKING, OR PUBLIC TRANSIT.
3. REDUCING OR LIMITING TRAVEL BY AIRPLANE.
4. LIMITING THE NUMBER OF ARTICLES OF CLOTHING AN INDIVIDUAL MAY PURCHASE OR OWN.
5. REUSING WATER THAT HAS TOUCHED HUMAN FECES AS A SOURCE OF MUNICIPAL DRINKING WATER.
6. REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS OR TRACKING AND COLLECTING OF ANY INFORMATION OR DATA FOR DETERMINING CONSUMPTION-BASED EMISSIONS.
7. LIMITING THE INCREASE OF THE AVERAGE GLOBAL TEMPERATURE OR PRODUCING OR ADOPTING A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
8. REPLACING PRIVATE OWNERSHIP WITH SHARED OR RENTED GOODS AND SERVICES TO PROMOTE A CIRCULAR ECONOMY.
9. FURTHERING MARXIST IDEOLOGIES, INCLUDING STAKEHOLDER CAPITALISM.
10. IMPLEMENTING MASS SURVEILLANCE SYSTEMS TO MONITOR MOTOR VEHICLE TRAVEL.
The resolution was cosponsored by Representatives Biasiucci, Carbone, Carter, Chaplik, Diaz, Dunn, Gillette, Griffin, Heap, Hendrix, Jones, Marshall, Martinez, McGarr, Montenegro, Parker, Parker, and Payne; as well as by Senators Hoffman and Wadsack.
If the resolution were to pass the Arizona House and Senate, it would be transmitted to the Secretary of State to be offered to the voters in the November General Election.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona Senate Republicans are throwing a challenge flag over the state’s Democrat Governor’s shocking recognition of School Choice Week.
On Tuesday, the National School Choice Awareness Foundation announced that Governor Katie Hobbs had “officially proclaimed January 21-27 as Arizona School Choice Week.”
The Foundation expressed thankfulness to Hobbs for her ceremonial action, writing, “Governors play a key role in raising school choice awareness, so we’re grateful to Gov. Hobbs for helping Arizona families explore high quality education options.”
This praise for Hobbs earned a sharp retort from the Arizona Senate Republicans Caucus “X” account. They stated, “This has got to be a JOKE, right? Governor Hobbs has been dead set on dismantling Arizona’s universal school choice program since she entered office. She currently wants to pull nearly 50,000 students out of the program as reflected in her budget proposal.”
🤔This has got to be a JOKE, right? Governor Hobbs has been dead set on dismantling Arizona’s universal school choice program since she entered office. She currently wants to pull nearly 50,000 students out of the program, as reflected in her budget proposal. ⬇️⬇️⬇️ https://t.co/yPOQhWmRIG
Cathi Herrod, one of Arizona’s top advocates for family and school choice issues, echoed the sentiments from the State Republicans, posting, “When you think you can’t be surprised by anything that happens, you see this…from a governor trying to do all she can to dismantle school choice. Unreal.”
When you think you can’t be surprised by anything that happens, you see this….from a governor trying to do all she can to dismantle school choice. Unreal. https://t.co/UxGxLkfB0E
Hobbs, perhaps in a show of regret for her published commendation, returned to form on her education position on the same day of the Foundation’s social media post. She shared a clip from her recent State of the State address before the Arizona Legislature, renewing her vow to “address the lack of accountability and transparency in Arizona’s ESA program.”
We must also address the long-term health of our K-12 schools – which means we must address the lack of accountability and transparency in Arizona’s ESA program. pic.twitter.com/euXxDSytHO
Arizona Republicans and Democrats enter the second year of a divided state government at odds over the future of the historic Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program. Democrats wanted to reform or end the program in 2023, before Hobbs acquiesced to legislative Republicans in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget compromise, which left these school choice opportunities completely intact. In the aftermath of last year’s budget passage and in her latest State of the State address, Hobbs has redoubled her rhetoric against ESAs as she attempts to rally her base in a pivotal election year for Arizona.
While Democrats have sharpened the political and legislative knives against the ESA program, Arizona Republicans have remained stalwart defenders of all school choice opportunities for families in the Grand Canyon State. Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma have led the charge in the state legislature to counter the governor’s actions and to hold the line for the tens of thousands of boys and girls enrolled in the program.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
