by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 24, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Sedona City Council recently voted to indefinitely shut down the city’s automated license plate reader (ALPR) program after weeks of debate over privacy, surveillance, and public safety.
At a recent special session, council members Melissa Dunn, Kathy Kinsella, Brian Fultz, Pete Furman, and Derek J. Pfaff directed city staff and police to deactivate the 11 Flock Safety cameras already installed, with one additional device awaiting installation. Mayor Scott Jablow opposed the move, while Vice Mayor Holli Ploog was absent. Roughly 50 residents attended the meeting, at times voicing strong objections to the technology.
The decision halts Sedona’s partnership with Flock Group, Inc., which had equipped the city with ALPRs to scan and log vehicle license plates as part of law enforcement investigations. Until the shutdown, only Sedona Police Department Patrol Cmdr. Chris Dowell had access to the system.
Supporters of the technology argue that ALPRs provide a valuable investigative tool, helping law enforcement identify stolen vehicles, track suspects, and improve public safety. Dowell emphasized that the cameras were not designed for broad surveillance.
“ALPR is not a mass surveillance tool; it is a focused, objective investigative asset governed by strict data retention policies and transparency protocols,” Dowell said. He noted that data collected in Sedona was stored for 30 days and that “hot list” entries—license plates flagged for criminal investigation—required supervisory approval.
But critics say the cameras still sweep up information on every passing car, raising concerns that the technology could erode civil liberties. Flock representatives acknowledged that the system can capture more than just plates—such as bumper stickers or other vehicle features—details that, while seemingly minor, could reveal political beliefs or personal affiliations.
Groups like Privacy International define “mass surveillance” as any system that collects and stores data on individuals without suspicion of wrongdoing. Civil liberties advocates warn that such technology risks normalizing constant monitoring.
The debate in Sedona echoes national concerns. In Arkansas, one homeowner recently protested a Flock camera he said photographed his property and family members, sparking a legal debate over Fourth Amendment protections. Similarly, in Scarsdale, N.Y., local officials terminated their Flock contract after residents objected to what they described as an invasive surveillance system.
Following the decision, Sedona city staff were instructed to compile a timeline of how the program was approved, establish a citizen work group, and return with recommendations for a possible pilot program that balances safety with privacy protections.
For now, the cameras will remain in place but powered off, as the community considers whether their benefits outweigh the costs to civil liberties.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 24, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona Senate will host the concluding session of the Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Family Court Orders on Wednesday, August 27, at 9 a.m., with parents and families invited to share personal testimony about their experiences in the state’s family court system.
Committee Chairman Mark Finchem announced that the hearing, to be held in Hearing Room 1 at the State Senate, will feature testimony from the public alongside a presentation from the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS). The department is expected to outline its role in custody cases, child welfare matters, and its interactions with court orders.
Finchem emphasized that the hearing marks the culmination of a series of statewide meetings aimed at collecting information and input from Arizonans affected by family court proceedings. He said the committee intends to use the findings to guide potential legislative reforms during the next session.
“The final hearing is one you won’t want to miss,” Finchem said in a statement. “If you have been impacted by the family court system or a judge has threatened you with a gag order, I strongly encourage you to come forward and share your story. This is your opportunity to provide fact-based testimony directly to lawmakers before the committee concludes its work.”
In addition to public and agency testimony, the hearing will feature a guest speaker involved in federal family court reform initiatives. Organizers say this perspective will provide broader context on efforts to increase accountability and transparency in courts handling child custody and welfare cases.
Lawmakers on the committee have framed the series of hearings as an opportunity to define the oversight responsibilities of state agencies and ensure that the family court system is responsive to the needs of Arizona families. The session will run from 9 a.m. to noon.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 21, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Fredonia Fire Department has been awarded a $10,000 grant through the Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program, a national initiative from State Farm and the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC).
The program, now in its second year, distributed a total of $1.5 million to 150 volunteer fire departments in 44 states. The announcement came on August 18, which is recognized as Volunteer Firefighters Recognition Day.
Volunteer firefighters make up about 65 percent of the U.S. fire service and often serve in rural or small-town communities with limited budgets. The grants are designed to help departments purchase equipment that enhances safety and emergency response capabilities, including protective gear, medical and rescue tools, and communication devices.
“Firefighting and rescue equipment is expensive, and many departments struggle to find the funding they need,” said NVFC Chair Steve Hirsch. “These grants from State Farm enable small departments to secure equipment they need to be better prepared to serve their communities and protect their responders.”
Rasheed Merritt, State Farm’s corporate responsibility assistant vice president, emphasized the company’s commitment to public safety. “We are proud to support volunteer firefighters – the ultimate good neighbors who risk their lives daily,” Merritt said.
In addition to the financial awards, State Farm provided free NVFC memberships to the first 2,000 eligible applicants, offering volunteer responders access to training, resources, and support services.
Since launching in 2024, the Good Neighbor Firefighter Safety Program has distributed $2.5 million to 250 departments nationwide. This fall, State Farm and the NVFC will participate in community engagement events with 10 of the grant recipients, which could include fire prevention activities, parades, or open houses.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 20, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Lawmakers on the Arizona Senate Health and Human Services Committee held a tense hearing Monday as state officials faced questions over one of the largest Medicaid fraud scandals in state history, a scheme that exploited the American Indian Health Program and cost taxpayers an estimated $2.8 billion.
Committee Chair Sen. Carine Werner (R-LD4) opened the hearing by describing the fraud as “staggering” and said it exposed major lapses in licensing, monitoring, and fiscal safeguards. She noted that while corrective actions have been taken, the state’s response has sometimes harmed legitimate providers through delayed payments and abrupt regulatory shifts.
Officials from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), the state’s Medicaid agency, outlined how fraudulent providers recruited vulnerable Native Americans into unlicensed sober living homes. Investigators reported that some individuals were lured with alcohol or drugs, their Medicaid identification numbers used to bill the state for services never provided. In many cases, patients were moved repeatedly between facilities, deprived of food and basic necessities, and in some instances locked inside rooms. The schemes often involved “ghost billing,” duplicate charges, and shell companies.
Marcus Johnson, a deputy director at AHCCCS, told senators the abuse centered on the American Indian Health Program, a fee-for-service system that was exploited between 2020 and 2023. Spending through the program jumped from $84 million to $372 million in just three years, with average monthly costs per patient tripling. Johnson said the agency has since suspended payments to 327 providers and instituted stricter verification of tribal status to prevent non-eligible individuals from being enrolled.
Inspector General Vanessa Templeman detailed the human toll of the fraud. Her teams encountered patients living out of trash bags, denied medical choice, and stripped of personal belongings by facility operators. “Most disturbingly,” she said, “we have seen patients denied informed consent and locked in unsafe conditions.” Templeman emphasized her office has referred multiple cases to law enforcement and continues to work seven days a week investigating suspected abuse.
In response, AHCCCS described reforms that include pre-payment claim reviews, new documentation requirements, temporary provider enrollment moratoriums, and technology upgrades designed to detect suspicious billing patterns more quickly. Officials said the agency has fielded more than 36,000 calls through a dedicated victim hotline and provided emergency lodging to thousands displaced by fraudulent operators.
Despite these efforts, lawmakers pressed for answers on accountability. Chair Werner repeatedly asked who signed off on payments, including $650 million allegedly funneled to an individual in Pakistan. Johnson declined to provide specifics, citing ongoing litigation. Senators voiced frustration, with Werner warning that unanswered questions were unacceptable to taxpayers, providers, and patients still suffering the consequences.
Some members also raised concerns about the impact of heightened scrutiny on legitimate behavioral health providers. Senator Shope noted that reimbursement rates have not been updated in a decade, even as costs have risen, and questioned whether the appeals process for suspended providers is fair. AHCCCS officials maintained that due process is in place, pointing to 104 suspensions that were later rescinded after providers demonstrated compliance.
As the hearing closed, Werner pledged continued oversight, stressing that Arizona must both restore public trust and ensure that fraud prevention measures do not destabilize access to care. “We owe it to the people of Arizona,” she said, “to break the cycle of harm and build a behavioral health system that is transparent and resilient.”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 20, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
On National Nonprofit Day, August 17, the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) urged nonprofit organizations across the state to check whether they had unclaimed property waiting to be recovered.
ADOR officials noted that many nonprofits may not have realized they were entitled to unclaimed assets such as forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, or insurance proceeds. Recovering those funds, the department emphasized, could provide a valuable boost to organizations that serve Arizona communities.
“Every dollar returned to a nonprofit is a dollar that can support the essential work they perform,” the agency stated.
The search process is free, simple, and takes only a few minutes. Nonprofits are encouraged to visit ADOR’s unclaimed property website at azdor.gov/unclaimed-property to see if funds are available. Organizations can search by their nonprofit name and any states in which they operated. Claim forms and filing instructions were also available online. Nonprofits were also encouraged to use the nationwide database missingmoney.com for a broader search.
ADOR says the effort aims to help nonprofits reconnect with resources that belong to them, strengthening their ability to continue providing services across Arizona.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
