by Ethan Faverino | May 15, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
On behalf of the Pima County Republican Party and Chairwoman Kathleen Winn, the Oversight Project, filed suit over the 2025 Arizona Elections Procedures Manual (EPM) that grants election officials broad, vague authority to remove voters and involve law enforcement.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, with the approval of Attorney General Kris Mayes and Governor Katie Hobbs, issued the 2025 EPM through 2027. The document carries the force of law, with violations punishable by up to four months in prison.
The challenged provisions allow election officials to remove voters or summon law enforcement for actions such as wearing clothing, uniforms or official-looking apparel “intended to deter, intimidate, or harass voters”; “aggressive behavior”; “raising repeated frivolous voter challenges”; and electioneering that is “audible” inside a voting location.
Critics argue these standards lack clarity and invite arbitrary or discriminatory enforcement under the pretext of preserving order at polling places.
“The Arizona EPM encourages arbitrary enforcement that results in politically motivated disenfranchisement, stated Oversight Project Director of State Litigation Neal Cornett. “The Oversight Project is always ready to help conservative leaders like Chairwoman Winn challenge government weaponization, especially when it involves such fundamental rights as freedom of speech and voting. The Secretary of State and Attorney General should disavow the challenged provisions and work with Arizona leaders to draft a fair manual that follows Arizona law.”
This is not the first time Arizona officials have faced legal pushback. The Secretary of State and Attorney General were previously enjoined from enforcing similar provisions in the 2023 Manual.
Pima County Republican Party Chairwoman Kathleen Winn emphasized the importance of clear rules for all voters: “Every Arizona voter deserves clear, consistent rules at the polling place that protect their right to vote free from arbitrary enforcement. Vague standards invite abuse, and when election workers are given unchecked discretion to remove voters or call law enforcement based on unclear or unspecified conduct, no voter or vote is truly safe. This lawsuit is about ensuring that the rules governing our elections are written plainly, applied fairly, and consistent with Arizona law, regardless of party.”
The lawsuit contends that the EPM’s vague language unconstitutionally threatens voting rights and free speech by empowering subjective decision-making that could disenfranchise eligible voters.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | May 12, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) has secured a significant new mission for Fort Huachuca, marking a major victory for national security, economic growth, and Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District.
The U.S. Department of War has selected Fort Huachuca as the primary site for the new mission and squadron, recognizing the installation’s unique strategic capabilities, advanced infrastructure, and strong regional support.
Local leaders and stakeholders across Cochise County and Southern Arizona are applauding Rep. Ciscomani’s determined advocacy and successful collaboration with the Trump administration and the Department of Defense.
“This new mission is a win for Sierra Vista and Cochise County, a win for Arizona and a win for our national security,” stated Ciscomani. “Most importantly, this a testament to Fort Huachuca and its nationally recognized role as an unequalled strategic asset, not just today, but for the future of our national defense.”
Fort Huachuca, located approximately 15 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, is the largest employer in Cochise County. It features 946 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected electronic ranges. Its selection was strengthened by a robust regional ecosystem that includes the University of Arizona, along with major defense contractors such as Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and Honeywell.
Local leaders emphasized the mission’s broad benefits, including high-quality job creation and substantial economic impact.
Dr. Randy Groth, Fort Huachuca 50 said, “The selection of Fort Huachuca as the primary site for the new mission and squadron is a significant achievement for Sierra Vista and Cochise County, solidifying our community’s leadership in homeland defense and national security. I value Congressman Ciscomani’s dedicated advocacy and ongoing collaboration with the Department of War in securing this vital mission, which will create new opportunities and strengthen our region’s commitment to supporting our active duty service members.”
Clea McCaa, Mayor of Sierra Vista, stated, “Bringing this new mission to Fort Huachuca is a game-changer for Sierra Vista and our surrounding region. Not only will it further support American interests by strengthening our national defense posture, but it will also create high-quality jobs, bringing in approximately $3 billion in economic impact and reinforcing our city’s strong partnership with the Department of Defense. I appreciate Congressman Ciscomani’s continued advocacy over the past year in securing Fort Huachuca for this important investment in our future.”
Suresh Garimella, President of University of Arizona added, “The establishment of this mission at Fort Huachuca is a historic win for Arizona and a testament to the tireless advocacy of Congressman Juan Ciscomani. The University of Arizona has a long and storied legacy, and we are eager to bring our world-class research and technical prowess to this vital national security priority. We look forward to supporting the Air Force in Southern Arizona to safeguard our nation’s interests.”
Melany Edwards-Barton, Sky Islands Regional Partnership said, “The fact of the matter is, missions don’t come to an area that is not supported by its community. We have a supportive community down here that is willing to support it. Bringing in another mission adds jobs, adds another level of financial security to our region; the economic impact is going to be fabulous.”
This announcement underscores Fort Huachuca’s continued importance to America’s defense posture and delivers tangible economic benefits to Southern Arizona.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | May 10, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Joint Economic Committee released its Monthly Employment Update for April 2026, showing the U.S. economy added 115,000 nonfarm payroll jobs, exceeding expectations. The gain was driven entirely by the private sector which added 123,000 jobs, while government employment declined 8,000.
Nonfarm payroll employment now stands at 158.74 million, with private sector payrolls at 135.43 million and government payrolls at 23.31 million. The headline unemployment rate (U-3) held steady at 4.3%, while the broader U-6 measure, which includes underemployment, rose 0.2 percentage points to 8.2%. The labor force participation rate declined 0.1 percentage points to 61.8%.
March’s job gain was revised upward by 8,000 to a total of 185,000, while February’s figure was revised downward by 64,000, resulting in a net loss of 156,000 jobs for that month.
In April, the strongest job gains occurred in trade, transportation, and utilities, which added 60,000 positions, and private education and health services, which added 46,000. Losses were recorded in information (-13,000) and financial activities (-11,000).
Over the past year, from April 2025 to April 2026, private education and health services led with 618,000 new jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality with 142,000. The largest declines came in federal government (-311,00) and information (-92,000).
Wage growth remained moderate over the year. Average nominal weekly and hourly earnings for all employees on private nonfarm payrolls both increased by 3.57%. For production and nonsupervisory employees, average nominal weekly earnings rose 3.97%, while average nominal hourly earnings increased 3.67%.
The Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey for March 2026 showed job openings declining by 56,000 to 6.87 million, with the rate falling to 4.1%. Private education and health services and financial activities posted gains in openings, while professional and business services experienced the largest drop. Hires increased sharply by 655,000 to 5.55 million, and total separations rose by 356,000 to 5.38 million, with both quits and layoffs and discharges seeing notable increases.
In Arizona, the labor market softened in March as the state lost 2,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate edged up 0.1 percentage points to 4.7%, following a gain of 10,100 jobs the previous month.
Over the past 12 months, Arizona has lost 8,600 net payroll jobs while its unemployment rate has risen 0.5 percentage points from 4.2%. The state’s private sector lost 2,400 jobs in March, and employment overall fell by 19,093 during the month. Arizona’s labor force participation rate declined to 61.4% ranking 34th in the nation.
From February to March 2026, Arizona saw gains in private education and health services and professional and business services, offset by losses in leisure and hospitality and trade, transportation, and utilities. Over the full year, private education and health services rained the strongest performer in the spare, while trade, transportation, and utilizes and financial activities posted the largest declines.
Nationally, the labor force participation rate stood at 61.9% in March.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | May 8, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) participated in a Federal Partners Forum focused on addressing the distinct needs of Arizona’s rural communities, joining representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development and other federal agencies.
The event, held on May 5 at Yavapai College’s Center for Learning and Innovation in Prescott, convened more than 120 local and regional leaders alongside state and federal officials.
Senior Representatives from multiple federal agencies attended, including the National Park Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).
During the forum, agency officials presented information on available federal resources and programs designed to support rural Arizona. Discussion topics included expanding access to healthcare, boosting small business growth, modernizing infrastructure, increasing affordable housing options, and enhancing broadband connectivity.
Participants were able to engage directly with federal partners to foster relationships, explore partnership opportunities, and identify practical solutions for long-term community development in rural areas.
“While our state faces many unique challenges, including Washington’s longstanding tendency to prioritize urban and coastal areas, we’re grateful to the Trump administration for putting rural interests at the forefront,” stated Rep. Crane. “Yesterday’s forum served as a catalyst for new opportunities and partnerships across local, state, and federal levels. I appreciate Yavapai College for hosting, and I’m thankful to Lori Urban, Lori Corbin, and everyone who helped make this event a success.”
The Federal Partners Forum is part of ongoing efforts to bridge gaps between rural communities and federal resources, ensuring Arizona’s rural priorities receive targeted attention and support.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | May 7, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
The U.S. trade deficit widened in March, according to analysis released earlier this week by the Joint Economic Committee based on data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S Census Bureau, Treasury Department, and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The total trade deficit reached $60.3 billion in March, an increase of $2.53 billion from February and 3% above the 12-month average. The goods trade deficit stood at $88.71 billion up $4.09 billion from the prior month and also 3% above its 12-month average. This was partially offset by a services trade surplus of $28.41 billion, which rose $1.56 billion from February and was likewise 3% above average.
For the full 12 months through March 2026, the United States recorded a total trade deficit of $700.49 billion. This reflected a goods trade deficit of $1.03 trillion, partially offset by a services trade surplus of $331.39 billion. Total exports over the period reached $3.53 trillion, while total imports totaled $4.23 trillion.
Largest Trade Imbalances by Country
Over the trailing 12 months, the largest goods trade deficits were with Mexico ($194.42 billion, 18.96% of the total goods deficit), Vietnam ($193.35 billion, 18.86%), and Taiwan ($177.28 billion, 17.29%). Additional notable deficits occurred with China, Thailand, Ireland, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and India.
The largest goods trade surpluses were recorded with the Netherlands ($68.49 billion), United Kingdom ($47.42 billion), and Hong Kong ($40.32 billion).
Top Exports and Imports
The leading exported goods by value were civilian aircraft, engines, equipment, and parts; pharmaceutical preparations; and nonmonetary gold. Together these categories accounted for 17.54% of all U.S. goods exports over the 12-month period.
The United States exported the most to Mexico ($347.18 billion), Canada ($327.56 billion), and the United Kingdom ($109.51). These three destinations represented 34.72% of total U.S. exports.
On the import side, the top categories by value were computers; pharmaceutical preparations; and passenger cars, which together made up 19.74% of all imported goods. The largest sources of imports were Mexico ($541.61 billion), Canada ($365.62 billion), and China ($266.59 billion), accounting for 35.74% of total U.S. imports.
Import Duties Decline
In March, the U.S. collected $20.49 billion in import duties—18.40% below the 12-month average—with the average applied duty rate at 6.85%, down 2.45 percentage points from the yearly average. Over the full 12 months, calculated duties totaled $301.30 billion.
The highest duty revenues came from passenger cars, vehicle parts, and electric apparatus, with notably higher average rates applied to certain categories such as iron and steel products. China remained the top source of duty revenue.
Currency Movements and Terms of Trade
From March 2025 to March 2026, the U.S. dollar weakened against several major currencies: by 4.9% against the Chinese yuan, 6.3% against the euro, 2.2% against the British pound, and 11.9% against the Mexican peso. It strengthened 6.1% against the Japanese yen.
A stronger dollar typically improves U.S. terms of trade by reducing the cost of imports, allowing the country to purchase more foreign goods for the same volume of exports.
Export and Import Price Trends
Year-over-year export prices rose 5.57 percent overall, while import prices increased 5.10%. Non-fuel import prices rose 5.85%, with notable variations across categories including industrial supplies and consumer goods.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
