by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 16, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona House of Representatives passed a structurally balanced, conservative budget on Thursday, advancing a financial plan that focuses on strengthening public safety, reducing costs for families, and increasing government accountability.
Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) called the budget a reflection of voter priorities. “This budget delivers safe communities, strong families, and a government that works for the people — not the other way around,” he said. “It cuts tuition, raises pay for law enforcement, fixes critical roads, and reins in waste — all without raising taxes.”
Key components of the budget include a 5% pay raise for Department of Public Safety and corrections officers, $94 million for repairs to major highway infrastructure, and a 2.5% in-state university tuition reduction alongside a freeze for the subsequent two years. The budget also fully funds school choice programs and clears a backlog of Empowerment Scholarship Account applications.
Additional funding is designated to keep voter rolls accurate and up to date, fully fund payments for parents acting as caregivers, and provide developmental disability services. An expanded adoption tax deduction is also included.
“The House-passed budget puts the House Majority Plan into action,” Majority Leader Michael Carbone said. “We’re protecting opportunity by lowering costs for students and parents. We’re backing public safety with strong support for our law enforcement officers. And we’re holding government accountable by cutting waste and demanding better results — this is the kind of leadership Arizona voters asked for.”
Speaker Pro Tempore Neal Carter stressed the budget’s potential for boosting small business. “The House-passed budget gives long-overdue relief to Arizona’s small businesses by eliminating the administratively burdensome business personal property tax under the $500,000 threshold,” Carter said. “This helps local job creators grow, hire, and invest in their communities — and makes Arizona a more competitive place to do business.”
The budget package — HB2945 through HB2961 — now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 14, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
An event hosted this week by Arizona State University is drawing fire from critics who say the public institution is promoting radical ideologies under the guise of social justice. The event, titled “Social Justice in Action: Conversing with the Contributors” centered around a book that explores themes of dismantling oppressive systems to create more inclusive communities.
The book—whose cover features flames and a chapter titled “Burning It Down Means Building Community”—has stirred controversy online and among some faculty and taxpayers. Chapters in the book also include titles such as “The Cost of the System of White Supremacy,” “Starting with the Children,” and “Incorporating Antispeciesism in Social Justice Praxis.”
Critics argue the event’s messaging is especially ill-timed, coinciding with scenes of unrest in Los Angeles where demonstrators have torched police vehicles, vandalized property, and waved international flags amid protests. While the book’s authors frame their arguments in metaphorical terms—advocating for a “radical unmaking” of existing social systems—detractors say the rhetoric is irresponsible and could be interpreted as condoning violence.
Dr. Owen Anderson, a professor and public commentator who wrote a critical piece about the event, called it “academic nonsense” and accused the university of pushing divisive and destructive ideas under the umbrella of taxpayer-supported education.
“This is not fringe. This is not some flyer left in the faculty lounge by a confused grad student who read Foucault one too many times,” Anderson wrote. “No, this is an official ASU event advertised on their my.asu page. Celebrated. Promoted. Funded (spoiler alert) by you. Which raises a burning question (no pun intended): how long have professors been preparing students for just such a moment?”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 14, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Governor Katie Hobbs has named Brigadier General John Conley as the new Adjutant General of Arizona and Director of the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA).
In his new position, Brig. Gen. Conley will oversee the full scope of DEMA operations, including Arizona’s Army and Air National Guard units, Joint Task Force, Administrative Services, and the state’s Division of Emergency Management. The appointment comes as Arizona continues to contend with challenges related to border security, emergency preparedness, and the flow of illicit drugs into the state.
“Brigadier General Conley is a distinguished leader, accomplished lawyer, and dedicated public servant,” said Governor Hobbs in a statement. “As The Adjutant General and Director of DEMA, Conley will build on our efforts to secure the border and protect Arizona communities.”
Brig. Gen. Conley has more than 30 years of commissioned service in both the Army and Air National Guard. For the past 14 years, he has held key roles within the Arizona National Guard, including his most recent position as Director of Administrative Services for DEMA. There, he managed critical support functions such as personnel, finance, and mission planning for the Guard and Emergency Management Division.
Conley also previously served as the senior legal advisor for the Arizona National Guard, overseeing Judge Advocates and legal personnel across all service components. His work included the development of military cyber operations, where he played a pivotal role in establishing interagency cybersecurity partnerships with the FBI and the Arizona Department of Administration.
“I’m honored that Governor Hobbs has selected me to lead the Arizona National Guard and DEMA,” said Conley. “Throughout my career, I have been driven by a desire to defend our country and to keep people safe. I look forward to continuing to serve Arizonans alongside the exceptional men and women of DEMA.”
Conley’s appointment comes at a time when Arizona faces heightened scrutiny over border security and public safety.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 13, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
With increasing public concern surrounding Arizona’s family court system, state lawmakers will continue their deep dive into the issue Monday, June 16, when the Joint Legislative Ad Hoc Committee on Family Court Orders reconvenes for its third hearing.
Committee Chairman Mark Finchem is inviting parents and community members who say they’ve been harmed or ignored by the family court system to testify before the panel at the Arizona State Senate. The hearing is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Senate Hearing Room 2.
“While we cannot resolve current individual cases, we must learn from them,” Finchem said in a statement. “Every story shared contributes to a clearer picture of where the system is falling short and how we can build something better for Arizona families.”
The committee is not empowered to provide legal advice, intervene in active litigation, or weigh in on ongoing cases. Instead, it is tasked with collecting public testimony to identify weaknesses and inform potential legislation for the 2026 session.
Finchem emphasized that all testimony will become part of the public record and may be subject to future public records requests. Despite these limitations, he says the hearings have already brought to light “horrific stories” that underscore the need for reform.
“Too many parents and children feel they have been silenced or dismissed by a system that’s supposed to protect them,” he said. “This is an opportunity for those voices to finally be heard and to drive real, lasting change.”
The committee will recess at noon on Monday and is tentatively scheduled to reconvene at 2 p.m., depending on the adjournment of the Senate and House floor sessions.
This session marks the third in a five-part series of public hearings focused on Arizona’s family court system. Lawmakers are expected to introduce reform proposals based on the testimony and findings from this ad hoc committee during the next legislative cycle.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 13, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen recently led a delegation of nearly a dozen state attorneys general and local law enforcement officials to the U.S.-Mexico border, aiming to assess conditions on the ground and observe changes in federal immigration enforcement.
The bipartisan delegation, which included state attorneys general from as far away as Indiana, Mississippi, and South Dakota, met with local police, government leaders, medical professionals, and nonprofit organizations to get a clearer picture of the current border environment.
According to Petersen, the group found dramatically reduced migrant crossings, fewer than five per day in some areas, a stark contrast to the thousands reported daily in previous years. Officials attributed the drop to a return to stricter immigration enforcement policies, including the end of the “catch and release” practice and increased prosecutions under the U.S. Department of Justice.
“For the first time in recent history, most Americans say the country is on the right track,” Petersen said in a statement. “We didn’t need a new law. We just needed a new president to enforce the laws already on the books.”
Petersen framed the visit as a testament to the Arizona Legislature’s support for enhanced federal enforcement at the border. He emphasized the state’s continued commitment to addressing cross-border crime and public safety.
Other officials echoed Petersen’s message, citing improvements in morale among border agents and the impact of reduced immigration on state-level services.
Utah Attorney General Derek Brown linked the border situation to fentanyl trafficking, which he said has contributed to thousands of overdose deaths in his state. Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch also referenced her office’s work with ICE through the 287(g) program, calling President Trump’s policies essential for restoring border integrity.
South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley and South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson both emphasized the criminal aspect of illegal immigration. Wilson, calling the previous administration’s approach “reckless,” said, “Every state is now a border state, and South Carolina is no exception.”
Local law enforcement also played a key role in the visit. Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes described the tour as a valuable educational tool for law enforcement across the country, citing the challenges posed by human and drug smugglers.
Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot and County Supervisor Jonathan Lines, who hosted the delegation, expressed gratitude for national support. “We are grateful to again have officials in the White House who understand our plight,” said Lines. “Together, we are making a difference for residents of the border communities.”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
