by Ethan Faverino | Apr 16, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Earlier this week, the Joint Economic Committee released its Monthly Fiscal Update, revealing that the federal government recorded a deficit of $164.10 billion in March 2026.
For the first half of FY26, cumulative deficits reached $1.169 trillion, meaning 32.01% of outlays were unfunded by revenues, with the government spending $1.47 for every dollar received in revenue.
The year-to-date deficit for FY26 is 10.60% lower than the $1.307 trillion recorded in the same period of FY25. Full-year deficits in FY25 totaled $1.776 trillion.
According to the most recent 10-year budget projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), federal deficits are expected to total $1.853 trillion in FY26, $1.887 trillion in FY27, and $2.080 trillion in FY28.
In March, total federal net outlays amounted to $548.96 billion. Cumulative net outlays from the start of the fiscal year through March stood at $3.651 trillion.
This represents a 2.35% increase compared to the $3.567 trillion in net outlays for the same period in FY25. Full-year net outlays in FY2025 totaled $7.010 trillion. The CBO projects net outlays will reach $7.772 trillion in FY27 and $8.151 trillion in FY28.
Total federal net receipts in March were $384.86 billion, bringing year-to-date net receipts to $2.483 trillion. This marks a 9.84% increase from the $2.260 trillion in net receipts recorded in the comparable period of FY25. Full-year net receipts in FY25 were $5.235 trillion. The CBO forecasts net receipts of $5.596 trillion in FY2026, $5.885 trillion in FY27, and $6.071 trillion in FY28.
Key figures for March 2026 show net outlays of $548.96 billion, net receipts of $384.86 billion, and a deficit of $164.10 billion. For FY26 year-to-date through March, net outlays totaled $3.651 trillion, net receipts totaled $2.483 trillion, making the deficit $1.169 trillion.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Apr 15, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen has filed a new legal brief in the case of Doe v. Sheridan, urging the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold Arizona’s sex offender registration and monitoring laws, which are designed to protect children and families across the state.
The filing comes after a significant victory at the trial court level, where a federal judge rejected constitutional challenges and upheld Arizona’s lifetime registration and reporting requirements for convicted sex offenders.
The plaintiff, a convicted sex offender who pleaded guilty to crimes involving a minor and accepted lifetime probation and registration as part of the plea agreement, is now appealing the decision in an effort to weaken the state’s ability to track and monitor potential threats.
At issue is Arizona’s requirement that convicted sex offenders provide law enforcement with updated information, including online identifiers used on social media and other internet platforms. These provisions enable authorities to investigate crimes more effectively, deter repeat offenses, and safeguard communities from future harm.
“We already prevailed in federal court because Arizona’s law is constitutional and serves a clear public safety purpose,” stated Petersen. “These requirements give law enforcement the ability to track convicted offenders, investigate crimes, and prevent future harm. Weakening those safeguards does not make anyone safer; it only makes it easier for offenders to operate without oversight.”
When Attorney General Kris Mayes declined to defend the law in court, the Arizona Legislature intervened to protect these critical public safety measures. The trial court ultimately ruled in favor of the state, affirming that the registration requirements are constitutional and serve a vital public safety purpose.
“It is deeply concerning that Arizona’s Attorney General has chosen not to defend this law,” added Petersen. “When the state refuses to stand behind its own laws, especially those designed to protect children, the Legislature has a duty to act. We will continue defending these protections to ensure Arizona families are not left exposed.”
The Ninth Circuit will now review the case and decide whether to affirm the lower court’s ruling, preserving Arizona’s sex offender monitoring laws.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Apr 14, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona Senator Janae Shamp (R-LD29) has successfully advanced protections for Arizona’s children and victims of crime after Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1092 into law.
The new legislation eliminates a significant gap in Arizona statutes that previously permitted individuals convicted of dangerous crimes against children to petition the court for early termination of their probation. Under SB 1092, offenders convicted of these serious offenses will now be required to serve the full term of probation originally imposed by the court, with no possibility of early release.
The bill ensures that sentences handed down for crimes such as child abuse, sexual conduct with a minor, and child sex trafficking are carried out as intended, without the possibility of early termination of probation.
“Victims and families should never have to worry about whether someone who harmed a child will get a break or be released early,” stated Senator Shamp. “This law shuts down a loophole that allowed convicted child predators to ask for early termination of probation, and that is simply wrong. If you commit a dangerous crime against a child, you should serve every day of your sentence, no exceptions, no excuses, and no second chances to cut it short.”
The provisions of SB 1092 specifically state that the court may not terminate the period of probation—or intensive probation—earlier than originally imposed if the defendant was convicted of a dangerous crime against children as defined in ARS Section 13-705. This probation applies to both standard probation and intensive probation terms.
“Arizona is standing with victims and making it clear that protecting children comes before anything else,” added Shamp. “I have made it my mission to make sex offenders’ lives hell, and I won’t back down.”
The law will take effect on or after January 1, 2027.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Apr 13, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
A 10-year-old girl’s heartfelt plea to restore Pluto’s status as a full planet has gone viral, drawing responses from NASA leadership and highlighting Arizona’s deep connection.
Mike’s Weather Page shared the story on X, saying, “Dear @NASA. From 10-year-old Kaela. She is mailing to you today. Too cute not to post. She and her family are friends of ours. #bringplutoback”
In her handwritten letter, Kaela wrote:
“Dear N.A.S.A… Please make Pluto a planet again. I really want it to be a planet again. Here are some reasons that Pluto should be a planet again:
- It is part of our solar system and used to be a planet.
- It is a dwarf planet and deserves to be an actual planet
- It might make a lot of people happy.”
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman responded directly to the tweet, saying: “Kaela – we are looking into this.”
The office of Congressman Abraham Hamadeh also chimed in, stating: “Kaela – Congressman Hamadeh Agrees! He recently sent a letter to President Trump asking for the same thing. It’s time Arizona’s Planet was rightfully classified.”
Pluto holds special significance in Arizona. It was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh at Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory. The story of that discovery impressed state Rep. Justin Wilmeth (R-LD2) enough that he introduced legislation in 2024 designating Pluto as Arizona’s official state planet.
House Bill 2477, signed into law on March 29, 2024, simply states “Pluto is the official state planet,” making Arizona the only state to claim an official state planet.
Arizona’s designation celebrates the state’s rich astronomy heritage. Flagstaff became the first designated International Dark Sky City in 2001, preserving pristine night skies ideal for observation. The area also boasts a strong lunar legacy: every astronaut who walked on the moon trained in Flagstaff, using sites like Meteor Crater, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, and Grand Canyon National Park.
“It might not be your choice, but if it is, please, please, please make it a planet, added Kaela. “It would make me very, very, very happy. If you can’t make it an actual planet, please consider it a planet.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Apr 12, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
New data from the Common Sense Institute’s Arizona Jobs and Labor Force Update shows Arizona added 5,100 non-farm jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis in January, representing a modest 0.16% increase from December. This gain ranked the state 25th highest among all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Nationally, the U.S. economy added 160,000 jobs in January, with 44 states reporting month-over-month job gains.
However, on a year-over-year basis, Arizona’s labor market weakened significantly. The state lost 15,000 jobs compared to January 2025, marking a stark contrast to the national gain of +0.20%. Arizona ranked 43rd in year-over-year job growth, one of 24 states experiencing annual job losses. This marked the 22nd consecutive month of annual job growth below 2% in Arizona.
Revised data now indicate the state has been experiencing year-over-year job losses since August 2025—the first negative annual reading since September 2024 and the largest percentage decline since March 2021.
Arizona’s manufacturing sector provided a bright spot in January, adding approximately 600 jobs. The state was one of only 20 to add manufacturing jobs that month. However, on an annual basis, manufacturing employment continued to contract, down 0.7% from January 2025, with Arizona among 40 states losing manufacturing jobs over the year.
Unemployment in Arizona edged up slightly to 4.5% in January from a revised 4.4% in December, giving the state the 35th highest unemployment rate nationally. The state’s labor force participation rate held steady at 62%. Nationally, the unemployment rate declined modestly to 4.3% in January and has remained at that level through March 2026.
Sector performance in January varied. The “Other Services” sector led growth, adding 1,300 jobs (+1.3%), though it remains one of Arizona’s smaller supersectors with just 105,000 workers. Construction added 800 jobs month-over-month.
On an annual basis, the Mining and Logging sector continued to outperform, expanding 7.2% since January 2025. Meanwhile, the state’s largest supersector—Trade, Transportation, and Utilities—added only 200 jobs in January. The Information sector posted the weakest annual performance, declining 1.83% year-over-year.
While employment growth has slowed, wage growth in Arizona remained robust at the start of 2026. Average hourly wages rose $0.47 in January, ranking the state 9th nationally for monthly wage growth. Over the past year, Arizona’s average hourly wage increased by $1.10, placing it 29th in the U.S. for annual wage growth. Private Sector workers in Arizona now earn an average of $35.32 per hour, up from $34.22 a year ago.
Nationally, average hourly wages rose 0.35% in January and have continued growing, with the U.S. rate reaching 3.5% year-over-year as of March. Real (inflation-adjusted) wages in Arizona were up 1.2% as of January. Roughly in line with national trends, though they remain down 3.4% since April 2020.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
