by Ethan Faverino | Dec 6, 2025 | Must Read, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) led a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, joined by seven Republican colleagues, demanding the immediate denial of federal security clearance to New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani.
The lawmakers cite a documented, years-long pattern of extremist affiliations, anti-American rhetoric, and hostility toward law enforcement that they argue renders Mamdani unfit to access classified national security information.
“Mamdani has a well-established pattern of siding with extremists, undermining U.S. counterterrorism efforts, demonizing law enforcement, and legitimizing violent movements,” said Congressman Biggs. “He has spent years defending extremists, attacking American law enforcement, and aligning himself with individuals who praise terrorists. Putting classified material in his hands would be a direct threat to NYPD officers, federal agents, and the security of this country.”
The letter highlights a series of alarming actions and statements by Mamdani, including:
- Co-founding Students for Justice in Palestine, an organization that celebrated the October 7 Hamas massacre as a “historic win” and called for “armed confrontation.”
- Endorsing violent unrest, attending rallies promoting “resistance by any means necessary,” and defending the slogan “Globalize the Intifada,” widely interpreted as a call for global violent uprisings.
- Undermining counterterrorism efforts by blaming the FBI for radicalizing al Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki—a narrative often used by anti-American propagandists.
- Appearing alongside clerics who prayed for the annihilation of Israel’s supporters and praised Hamas fighters.
- Demonizing the NYPD, repeatedly labeling the department “racist, anti-queer, and a major threat to public safety,” while being arrested for disorderly conduct during a 2021 protest.
- Advocating to defund the NYPD, despite the mayoral role requiring close coordination with the department and federal law enforcement partners.
The lawmakers warn that granting clearance to Mamdani would jeopardize sensitive operations, expose classified information, and endanger frontline personnel. They noted an 8,000 percent surge in violence against ICE agents, arguing that Mamdani’s hostility toward immigration enforcement would further empower agitators and escalate risks to federal personnel.
“Security clearances are reserved for individuals who can be trusted with the nation’s most sensitive materials—a standard Mamdani doesn’t come close to meeting,” added Biggs. “His record is a bold red warning flag. DHS must reject his request without hesitation.”
The cosigners of the letter include Representatives Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Mary Miller (R-IL), Keith Self (R-TX), and Marlin Stutzman (R-IN).
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Dec 5, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) has teamed up with Representative Susie Lee (D-NV-03) to introduce the bipartisan Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act, legislation that would extend a vital federal grant program supporting large-scale water recycling projects across the Colorado River Basin and the Western United States.
The bill seeks to reauthorize the Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects Competitive Grants Program for an additional five years, building on the success of the program originally established through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
“Water is the lifeblood of Arizona,” said Congressman Juan Ciscomani. “As we face worsening drought in Arizona, I am proud to co-lead this critical legislation, which will help Western communities, like Southern Arizona, bolster their conservation efforts through water recycling efforts.”
Arizona has solidified its position as a national leader in water recycling, reusing approximately 52% of its treated municipal wastewater—a rate that significantly outpaces most other states in the Colorado River Basin.
This achievement highlights the state’s proactive commitment to long-term water resilience amid persistent drought challenges. However, sustaining and expanding these efforts requires ongoing federal support.
The Large-Scale Water Recycling Reauthorization Act will strengthen Arizona’s innovative approach, reinforcing its role as a model for sustainable water management across the West.
Rep. Lee emphasized the urgency of the measure amid persistent drought conditions. “We need to save every drop of water we can to combat the ongoing, drought-driven water crisis in Nevada and throughout the West. Large-scale water recycling works. That’s exactly why we need to reauthorize the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program as soon as possible. This critical program was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I helped get across the finish line. I look forward to seeing it reauthorized for another five years to continue delivering the water resources our communities need for our shared future.”
The program has proven to be essential for developing resilient water supplies that support population growth, economic expansion, and environmental protection.
“The Large-Scale Water Recycling Projects Competitive Grants Program helps communities, states, and whole regions build long-term, reliable water supplies to enable population growth, support economic expansion, and protect the environment and public health,” said Bruno Pigott, Executive Director of the WateReuse Association. “WateReuse applauds Representatives Lee and Ciscomani for their leadership in ensuring that this critical program continues into the future.”
John Entsminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, highlighted the program’s impact on regional water security. “This federal funding remains critical to helping accelerate the development of recycled water systems on a scale that would not otherwise be possible,” Entsminger said. “This is a smart investment that improves water supply reliability for millions of Americans, while helping communities build resiliency and respond to drought conditions.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Dec 4, 2025 | Education, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Eight Arizona state lawmakers have joined Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne in demanding immediate action to revise the Structured English Immersion (SEI) framework, warning that the current language, loaded with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) ideology, violates state law, undermines classroom neutrality, and jeopardizes $866 million in federal education funds.
In a November 25 letter to the State Board of Education, Representatives Michele Peña (LD-23), David Marshall (LD-7), Michael Carbone (LD-25, Majority Leader), James Taylor (LD-29), Leo Biasiucci (LD-30), Lisa Fink (LD-27), and Senators Hildy Angius (LD-30) and Tim Dunn (LD-25), threw their full support behind the Arizona Department of Education’s (ADE) proposed revision.
The legislators accused universities and institutions of exploiting “vague and permissive language” to inject “ideological, divisive, and race-based content” into mandatory SEI coursework—material that has no place in research-based English language instruction.
The lawmakers cited constituent complaints that SEI courses, intended solely for neutral English acquisition methods under A.R.S. § 15-756.01, have instead become vessels for racialized theories that divide classrooms, distract educators, and shift instructional time away from statutory requirements.
The letter also highlighted a direct threat to federal funding. President Trump’s recent Executive Order explicitly prohibits the use of federal dollars for DEI programming. The existing SEI Endorsement Course Framework is not compliant, and keeping it as-is exposes Arizona to unnecessary and avoidable risk, the legislators warned, urging the Board to authorize ADE to open the rulemaking process immediately.
Superintendent Horne echoed the urgency in a statement released December 2, praising the legislative coalition. “I am very thankful to the eight lawmakers who sent a letter calling on the Board to start the process to revise Arizona’s teaching standards and remove DEI language,” Horne said. “This is essential not just because DEI language improperly emphasizes race over individual merit, but it threatens $866 million in federal education funds under the President’s recent Executive Order.”
He added, “Removing DEI terms from state teaching standards is the right thing to do. We must rid race-based ideology from the classroom and ensure teachers spend their time teaching math, science, language, history, and the arts. The support of these legislators is especially helpful to convey the importance and urgency of this task, and I urge my fellow board members not to further delay this process.”
The lawmakers criticized the Board’s decision to table the issue at its October 27 meeting and form a study committee, calling the move a delay tactic designed to slow or obstruct needed reforms. They insisted that the question before the Board was never about voting on specific changes but simply whether to begin the public stakeholder process to restore instructional neutrality and legal compliance.
ADE has prepared to launch the month-long rulemaking process covering teacher standards at Arizona’s three public universities. The State Board of Education is scheduled to revisit the proposal at its December 8, 2025, meeting.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Nov 30, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
As the 2025-26 NBA season heats up, a new study from iGaming hub eSportstars.io has revealed the true cost of catching an NBA game live, with the Phoenix Suns landing at No. 8 on the list of the league’s most expensive teams to see in person.
According to data analyzed from Seat Geek, the average ticket price to watch the Suns play at Footprint Center this season is $172.00 – well above the league-wide average of $148.42.
The Suns sit comfortably in the top 10, trailing only a handful of major franchises while ranking ahead of the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder ($137.00).
The top five most expensive teams to watch live start with the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers at an average of $365.75 per ticket, followed by the Golden State Warriors with $279.47, the Boston Celtics with $247.96, the New York Knicks with $238.49, and the Dallas Mavericks with $215.00.
The Lakers remain in a class of their own, with average tickets costing 146% more than the league average and 31% higher than the second-place Warriors. Even though Warriors tickets are $90 cheaper than Lakers tickets, they are still 88% above the NBA average ticket price.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Charlotte Hornets rank last with the cheapest average ticket price of $82.00 – 45% below the league average. Closely following the Hornets is the Atlanta Hawks with $82.16. Rounding out the bottom five are the Detroit Pistons with $85.15, the New Orleans Pelicans with $85.24, and the Portland Trailblazers with $89.50.
“The huge variation in average ticket prices across teams shows how much fans are willing to pay for a live game, and how strong the fanbases are for the league’s biggest teams,” said eSportstars.io content manager, Hana Suzuki. “Teams with such huge fanbases and iconic players will naturally have higher ticket prices as they are in higher demand, whereas the teams with more affordable tickets give fans the opportunity to have the live NBA experience without the cost.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Nov 29, 2025 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
As families across the nation prepared for Thanksgiving travel, gas prices provided relief at the pump, holding steady around $3 per gallon and marking the lowest levels in years.
According to data from fuel savings tracker GasBuddy and the American Automobile Association (AAA), the national average for regular unleaded gasoline has fallen significantly in 2025, with some stations even offering prices under $2 per gallon for the first time since 2021.
This year’s average price stands at $3.12 per gallon so far, down from $3.31 in 2024 and $3.52 in 2023. The decline follows a peak above $5 per gallon in June 2022, reflecting a steady downward trend that has eased the financial burdens on drivers around the country.
One year ago, the average was $3.06, matching the price of October 2025, with only minor fluctuations of a few cents this pre-Thanksgiving week.
The Trump administration has highlighted these reductions as a direct result of its energy policies since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
In October, the White House issued a statement celebrating GasBuddy’s report that national averages had slipped below $3 per gallon – the lowest in four years.
Head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, Patrick De Haan, said, “It’s pretty compelling to see gas prices this low, falling ahead of Thanksgiving, and it signals what more Americans could experience in the coming months. Lower seasonal demand, falling oil prices, and rising OPEC output are all pushing prices down. While a few stations have recently dipped below $2 through temporary offers and promotions, this marks the first time we’ve seen a regular sub-$2 price.”
The lowest gas price in the country is now $1.99, available at four stations in Midwest City, Oklahoma, part of the Oklahoma City metro area. Reported on Monday, November 24, these are the first prices below $2 nationwide without discounts or promotions, marking the lowest U.S. prices since 2021.
In Arizona, gas prices have remained remarkably stable in recent weeks, with the current average for regular unleaded at $3.336 per gallon – just 4 cents below what it was a week ago ($3.380). Compared to October ($3.339), regular prices have essentially held flat, while showing a modest year-over-year increase of 12.2 cents from $3.214.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
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