Former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is blasting the anti-ESA ballot measure, which is currently facing a legal challenge from the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and the Goldwater Institute. Under Ducey’s leadership, Arizona became the nation’s leader in school choice.
The Goldwater Institute filed a lawsuit earlier this week, challenging the validity of signatures submitted for the proposed “Protection Education, Accountability Now Act,” a ballot initiative that would place new restrictions on Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship (ESA) program.
According to the lawsuit, the initiative required 255,949 valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot but allegedly submitted enough invalid signatures to fall below that threshold. It contends that tens of thousands of petition signatures are subject to disqualification and raises concerns about the campaign’s signature-gathering process.
Goldwater claimed that more than 75% of the signatures were collected by paid circulators rather than volunteers and questioned whether some petition circulators met legal standards.
Out-of-state special interests are spending millions to buy their way onto Arizona's ballot. Today, Goldwater filed suit challenging the invalid signatures submitted for this anti-school choice measure. We will keep fighting to defend the rights of Arizona families and protect…
— Goldwater Institute (@GoldwaterInst) July 20, 2026
Ducey criticized the proposed initiative, arguing that it would eliminate educational options for families participating in the ESA program.
“Once again, we are reminded how little these out-of-state unions care about Arizona students and their parents,” stated Ducey. “This measure would strip tens of thousands of Arizona families of educational choices they have made for their children, forcing students out of the schools that are serving them well and back into schools they chose to leave. That is unacceptable, and we will vigorously challenge this measure at every possible step.”
Arizona’s ESA program currently serves more than 100,000 students, allowing eligible families to use state education funds for private school tuition, homeschooling expenses, and other approved educational costs.
Supporters of the program argue it expands educational opportunities and parental choice, while opponents have raised concerns about its cost and oversight.
The Goldwater Institute alleged that the ballot initiative is backed by out-of-state special interest groups seeking to limit Arizona’s school choice program.
“This is a shameless attack on Arizona’s parents, funded by an out-of-state union,” said Victor Riches, President and CEO of the Goldwater Institute. “They’re trying to game the system by turning in tens of thousands of invalid signatures in an effort to destroy the most successful school choice program in the country. This won’t happen on our watch.”
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club announced that it joined the legal challenge in support of the Goldwater Institute’s lawsuit. Greg Blackie of the organization will serve as a plaintiff in the case.
They Claim to Protect Children. Look Who They Hired!!
Arizona Free Enterprise Club @azfec Joins Legal Challenge to Union-Backed Anti-ESA Initiative. Save Our Schools and the teachers unions claim their anti-ESA campaign is about protecting children.
— Arizona Free Enterprise Club (@azfec) July 21, 2026
According to the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, it worked alongside the Goldwater Institute and other school choice advocates to review petition signatures and identify what they describe as “serious irregularities”.
The organization said the complaint also raises concerns about individuals hired to circulate petitions, including allegations involving circulators with criminal histories.
Arizona Free Enterprise Club President Scot Mussi released a statement, saying election laws should be enforced equally for all ballot initiatives.
“Save Our Schools and the teachers unions have spent years accusing ESA families of fraud and demanding greater scrutiny of parents, said Mussi. “Now, their own campaign is facing serious questions about the people they hired to gather signatures. Arizona’s election laws must be fully enforced. If this campaign failed to collect enough lawful and valid signatures, it must not qualify for the ballot.”
The challenged initiative is backed by Save Our Schools Arizona, the Arizona Education Association, and other organizations that have, for years, supported additional limits on ESA eligibility.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
U.S Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) has officially launched his general election campaign with the release of his first television and digital advertisement of the 2026 election cycle. The ad emphasizes Crane’s military background and positions him as a fighter for rural Arizona.
The advertisement titled “Fight,” debuted July 17, 2026. It centers on Crane’s service of five wartime deployments as a U.S. Navy SEAL sniper, focusing on his combat experience and leadership qualities that he says continue to guide his work in Congress.
According to the campaign, the ad will run across digital advertising platforms as Crane prepares to invest seven figures in paid media to defend Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District against Democratic challenger Jonathan Nez.
The campaign rollout follows Crane’s latest Federal Election Commission fundraising report, which shows the congressman has raised $9.4 million during the current election cycle.
The campaign says that total is more than two-and-a-half times the amount raised by Nez’s total receipts.
The filing also reports Crane entered the general election with approximately $2.8 million in cash on hand, compared to roughly $1.4 million at the same point during the 2024 election cycle.
In a statement accompanying the ad release, Crane contrasted his leadership style with what he described as Washington’s political establishment.
“The career politicians in Washington are really good at one thing – ducking a fight,” said Crane. “They retreat at the first hint of political blowback. They may talk tough on TV, but when the battle begins they are AWOL. Their battle cry is surrender. Real warriors know you are never out of the fight.”
Crane also argued that his willingness to challenge entrenched interests has made him a target of political opponents.
“The political establishment cannot control me and that is why they want me gone,” added Crane. “I do not back down. I take on the tough fights, and I deliver results. We don’t have to choose between principle and effectiveness. The real choice is between complacency and courage, between protecting the status quo and defeating it. I will fight for rural Arizona, and I will win. If the D.C. elites are firing back, that tells me I am directly over the target.”
The ad marks the beginning of what is expected to be a competitive general election campaign in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District, with Crane seeking another term representing the largely rural district against former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating a shooting that targeted a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in central Phoenix after individuals fired multiple rounds at the building’s exterior.
According to the FBI’s Phoenix Field Office, the shooting occurred on July 14, 2026, at the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations building located at 2035 N. Central Ave., near Central Avenue and Monte Vista Road.
FBI Phoenix Investigates Shooting Incident at Federal ERO Building
Anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area of North Central Avenue on Tuesday, July 14, in the afternoon, or who has information regarding this shooting, is urged to contact the FBI: •Call the FBI… pic.twitter.com/NBLoy0hHxF
Authorities said several rounds struck the exterior of the federal immigration facility.
No injuries were reported as a result of the gunfire, and the damage appears to have been limited to the outside of the building.
The FBI has confirmed that one or more unidentified individuals fired the shots. The agency has not announced any arrests or identified any suspects, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Later that same day, protestors gathered outside the ICE facility. However, federal investigators said there is currently no indication that the demonstration was connected to the shooting.
The FBI is asking anyone with information about the incident to come forward as investigators continue working to determine who was responsible.
Federal authorities have not released additional details regarding a possible motive. The FBI said it will continue investigating the incident and provide updates as more information becomes available.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) announced they will be implementing a new identity verification requirement for users of its Arizona Business Center (ABC) online filing portal beginning July 20, 2026, as part of an ongoing effort to strengthen security and reduce fraudulent business filings.
Under the new policy account, users will be required to submit a government-issued form of identification during the registration process.
Existing account holders will also be prompted to verify their identity the first time they log into their account on or after July 20.
The Commission said the additional verification step is designed to better protect Arizona businesses from unauthorized filings and identity fraud by ensuring only verified users can file or modify business records through the online system.
Accepted forms of identification include state-issued driver’s licenses, state-issued photo identification cards, permanent residents cards or visas, passports, and passport cards.
According to the ACC, the verification process was designed to be both efficient and user-friendly, with most users expected to complete the process in just a few minutes.
Once the account has been successfully verified, users will not be required to repeat the process for that account.
The new security requirement builds on improvements made since the Arizona Business Center launched in January 2026. Commission officials said the online portal has already contributed to a decline in unauthorized business filings and identity fraud complaints, and the added verification requirement is intended to further strengthen those protections.
The Commission also announced that additional security measures are scheduled to roll out in the coming months.
Among them is the LLC Attestation of Existence, which is intended to help identify dormant or inactive LLCs while providing business owners with an opportunity to either secure their business or properly close it.
The ACC also plans to introduce an LLC Signing Authority Form, allowing business owners to formally designate individuals authorized to file documents on behalf of their LLC. Commission officials said the new form will reduce confusion surrounding filing authority and help prevent unauthorized submissions.
The Arizona Corporation Commission said the series of security enhancements reflects its continued commitment to protecting Arizona businesses while maintaining an efficient and accessible online filing system.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
As military families navigate permanent change of station (PCS) moves and renters search for new housing, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning consumers to remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated scams that can result in the loss of thousands of dollars and sensitive personal information.
The agency says scammers often target people facing tight deadlines or major life transitions, including military members relocating on short notice.
Fraudsters commonly use fake rental listings, gift card payment schemes, cryptocurrency scams, and wire transfer requests to steal money before victims realize they have been deceived.
According to the FTC, rental scams remain one of the most common fraud schemes. Some scammers create listings for properties that do not exist or are not actually available for rent, while others copy legitimate listings, steal photos and descriptions, and report them with altered contact information. Many fraudulent listings advertise rent well below market value to attract prospective tenants.
One common warning sign is when a supposed landlord refuses to allow an in-person viewing, often claiming they are out of town or otherwise unavailable.
The FTC advises consumers to be cautious of anyone who pressures them to make a quick decision or demands payments before they have an opportunity to verify the property.
The agency recommends renters search the property’s address online to see whether it appears elsewhere under a different owner, management company, or rental price. Consumers who are unable to visit a property should have somebody who they trust tour it and verify it exists.
Military members can also seek assistance from relocation or housing referral offices at their new installation to identify legitimate housing options and avoid known scams.
The FTC also warns renters to protect their personal information during the application process. Fraudsters may request Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, pay stubs, or screenshots of credit card reports under the guise of processing an application.
Payment methods are another major red flag.
The FTC says legitimate landlords and businesses will not require tenants to pay using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. These payment methods function similarly to cash, making it extremely difficult or impossible to recover funds after they are sent.
Fraudsters often direct victims to purchase gift cards from major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Amazon, Apple, or CVS and may even remain on the phone while the victim buys and loads the cards. Once the victim provides the card number and PIN, the scammer can quickly drain the balance.
The agency is also warning consumers about cryptocurrency-related scams, which have become increasingly common as digital currencies gain popularity.
Unlike credit card purchases, cryptocurrency transactions generally do not include legal consumer protections or chargeback rights. Once crypto is transferred, it usually cannot be removed unless the recipient voluntarily returns it.
The FTC also warns that wiring money through services such as Western Union, MoneyGram, or Ria is essentially the same as sending cash. Once the funds are collected, recovering the money is typically impossible, and identifying the individual who received the transfer is often extremely difficult.
Consumers should never wire money to someone they have not met in person, anyone claiming to represent a government agency, or anyone demanding immediate payment.
To reduce the risk of becoming a victim, the FTC encourages consumers to research landlords and property management companies by searching online for reviews, complaints, or reports of scams.
Renters should compare prices with similar properties in the area, verify ownership records when possible, and obtain copies of rental contracts before sending deposits.
Anyone who discovers fraudulent rental listings should report it to the website where it was posted, the FTC, and their state’s attorney general’s office.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
