by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 7, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Senate Public Safety Committee Chairman Kevin Payne (R-LD27) is intensifying his investigation into the state’s Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry (ADCRR), citing a string of violent incidents—including inmate murders, suicides, drug overdoses, and assaults on staff—as signs of a deepening crisis within the prison system.
Chairman Payne, who first launched a probe in April after the murder of three inmates at the Arizona State Prison Complex in Tucson, has now sent a second letter to ADCRR Director Ryan Thornell, requesting a broader set of records and data to evaluate the agency’s operational failures and safety protocols.
The investigation was originally prompted by a high-profile case involving Ricky Wassenaar, a convicted murderer serving 16 life sentences. Wassenaar, who previously orchestrated a two-week-long hostage crisis at the Lewis Prison Complex in 2004, is accused of killing three fellow inmates during what prison officials described as an “altercation.”
In response, Payne initially requested timelines, staffing rosters, incident reports, and documentation on policy changes related to the case. After reviewing the initial information provided by the department, Payne—joined by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Quang Nguyen—is now demanding additional public records be delivered by June 25.
“These details will be used in determining the next course of action to ensure the safety and security of both correctional employees and inmates,” Payne said. The senator did not mince words in describing the situation.
“I have grave concerns that a disaster is unfolding right before our eyes at Arizona’s correctional facilities,” Payne said in a statement. “I fear the lives of correctional officers and staff are in jeopardy each day they report for duty, and I’m concerned dangerous inmates within their custody are not secure. It appears we have a ticking time bomb on our hands.”
Payne added that the requested records will help determine why “current policies and procedures are failing both employees and inmates.” He pledged to keep the public informed as more information is gathered and reviewed.
The ADCRR has faced scrutiny in recent years over staffing shortages, aging infrastructure, and ongoing security issues. The outcome of this investigation could carry significant implications for prison policy and oversight in Arizona.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 5, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
State Representative Gail Griffin (R-LD19) has called for the removal of the Mexican gray wolf from the federal Endangered Species List by 2026, citing growing concerns from rural communities in southeastern Arizona about livestock losses, public safety, and property rights.
Griffin, who chairs the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee, argues that the federal Mexican wolf reintroduction program has evolved beyond its original conservation goals, becoming what she describes as a “multi-million-dollar anti-ranching industry” that threatens the livelihoods of Arizona ranchers and the customs of rural communities.
“The Mexican wolf is a vicious predator that threatens our rural industries and way of life,” Griffin writes. “Our children cannot safely play outside, our pets are at risk, and our communities live in fear.”
Her remarks come amid a rise in reported wolf-related livestock losses. According to Griffin, 26 such incidents have occurred in 2025 in southeastern Arizona, including the deaths of cattle and horses. She contends that the Mexican gray wolf population, which reached at least 286 in the wild this year, has surpassed sustainable levels and exceeded the original recovery target of 100 wolves set in the 1990s.
Federal wildlife officials have maintained that the species remains endangered and that reintroduction is essential to its long-term survival. The Mexican gray wolf, a subspecies of the gray wolf, was once nearly extinct in the wild. Recovery efforts began in the late 1990s through captive breeding and reintroduction into Arizona and New Mexico.
But Griffin questions the genetic integrity of the species, describing it as hybridized with domestic dogs and coyotes, and claims that its habituation to humans has led to increased conflict. She also argues that the majority of the wolf’s historical habitat lies in Mexico — not the U.S. — and that Arizona should not bear the primary burden of its recovery.
“The Mexican wolf is no longer in need of the protections afforded by the Endangered Species Act,” Griffin writes. “It is time to de-list the Mexican wolf, defund the reintroduction program, and transfer management to state and local control.”
Her op-ed also criticizes the cost of the federal program, which she says has exceeded $220 million to date, with an estimated cost of $500,000 to $1 million per wolf when including ongoing expenses through 2030. Griffin calls for compensation to ranchers not only for direct livestock losses but also for indirect economic harm.
Arizona lawmakers have already passed resolutions urging Congress to delist the wolf, and Griffin is calling on federal legislators to take further action. The issue is likely to remain contentious as stakeholders debate how to balance species recovery with rural economic concerns.
With pressure mounting on both sides, the future of the Mexican gray wolf in Arizona may ultimately hinge on whether state or federal voices prevail in shaping wildlife policy across the American Southwest.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 4, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed Senate Bill 1300, a Republican-backed measure that would have allowed residents of southeastern Arizona’s San Simon Valley sub-basin to vote on whether to establish an Irrigation Non-expansion Area (INA) — a designation intended to temporarily halt the expansion of agricultural groundwater use.
Supporters of the bill, including Representative Gail Griffin (R-LD19), argued the measure would have empowered local voters in Graham and Cochise counties to take the lead on managing their own groundwater resources in the face of ongoing depletion. The bill passed the Republican-controlled legislature earlier this session.
SB 1300 would have permitted county supervisors to place an INA designation question on the November 2026 ballot. Once that vote was scheduled, a temporary moratorium on new irrigation would have taken effect to prevent last-minute expansion and groundwater pumping ahead of the election. If voters approved the INA, the moratorium would have become permanent.
Griffin called the veto “a missed opportunity,” saying the temporary pause alone would have been a benefit to the aquifer. “Whether voted up or down, either outcome would have resulted in at least a six-month pause on new agricultural expansion,” she said in a statement.
Republican lawmakers have repeatedly pushed back on the AMA designation, arguing that it imposes regulations more appropriate for urban areas like Phoenix and Tucson and fails to account for the economic realities of rural Arizona.
Griffin and other Republicans argue these proposals disregard the will of local communities. “What the Governor wants in rural Arizona is to adopt regulations that are more stringent than urban areas,” Griffin said. “These extreme expectations are simply not achievable for rural Arizona.”
While the Governor’s office has framed her groundwater proposals as necessary responses to decades of overuse and aquifer decline, Republican legislators insist they are advancing more flexible, community-driven solutions. These include efforts to promote stormwater recharge and local decision-making to stabilize groundwater levels without heavy-handed mandates.
No immediate alternative to SB 1300 has been announced, but Republican leaders say they plan to continue engaging with stakeholders on rural water policy. “We stand by our rural communities and the principles of local control, property rights, and strong local economies,” Griffin said.
Water experts and advocacy groups are closely watching the legislative standoff as Arizona grapples with worsening drought conditions, declining aquifers, and in and intensifying debate over how best to balance agriculture, conservation, and rural livelihoods.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 3, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Governor Katie Hobbs has withdrawn her nominee to the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) after the appointee, Jenny Domingo, was revealed to be unavailable to fulfill her duties for several months. The decision came just hours before a scheduled Senate confirmation hearing, prompting criticism from Republican lawmakers.
According to Senate Government Committee Chairman Jake Hoffman, Domingo left the country in April and is not expected to return until September. During that time, GRRC is scheduled to hold 12 meetings to review regulatory actions proposed by various state agencies. Hoffman expressed strong concerns about the nominee’s extended absence and questioned the administration’s vetting process.
“I am completely dumbfounded why the highest elected official in the State of Arizona would nominate an individual who would rather prioritize her vacation schedule… than her important role of service to the citizens of Arizona,” Hoffman said in a press release Wednesday. “Katie Hobbs should find someone dedicated to the post – or at least willing to show up.”
Appointed in October 2024, Domingo was slated to serve on the GRRC, a body tasked with ensuring that new and existing regulations are necessary, legally sound, and do not impose undue burdens on the public. The council is a final checkpoint for many agency rules and plays a key role in shaping the state’s regulatory environment.
While Governor Hobbs’ office has not issued a public statement regarding the withdrawal, the move has sparked renewed partisan tensions over appointments and administrative oversight. Republicans argue that the situation reflects broader issues with Hobbs’ approach to governance.
As of now, it remains unclear who Hobbs will nominate to replace Domingo on the council. GRRC’s upcoming agenda includes regulatory reviews that could affect multiple sectors, from occupational licensing to construction and consumer goods.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 2, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Health insurers in Arizona will soon be required to involve a licensed physician before denying medically necessary care, under a new law aimed at increasing oversight and accountability in coverage decisions. House Bill 2175, introduced by Republican House Majority Whip Julie Willoughby (R-LD13), was signed into law after receiving strong bipartisan support in the state legislature.
The legislation mandates that an Arizona-licensed medical director must personally review any denial based on medical necessity, whether it involves a prior authorization or a claim. Crucially, the reviewing physician must exercise independent medical judgment and cannot rely solely on automated tools or artificial intelligence systems.
“This law ensures that a doctor, not a computer, is making medical decisions,” said Willoughby in a statement. “If care is denied, it should be by someone with the training and ethical duty to put patients first.”
The law is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, allowing insurers more than a year to adapt their internal procedures. The delayed implementation aims to give companies time to bring their policies into compliance, including staffing licensed physicians for the review process.
The measure comes amid growing national scrutiny over how insurers use algorithms and automated decision-making tools in the claims process. Critics argue that such systems can lead to denials of care without adequate clinical oversight, potentially putting patient health at risk.
Supporters of HB 2175 say the law provides a necessary check on those systems and re-centers medical decision-making around qualified professionals who are accountable to both patients and state standards.
“Arizona families deserve real oversight when it comes to life-changing medical decisions,” Willoughby said. “This law puts patients ahead of profits and restores a layer of accountability that’s long overdue.”
The new policy aligns with the House Republican Majority Plan, which emphasizes individual rights and system transparency. While the law’s primary sponsors are Republican, it passed with bipartisan support, reflecting broad legislative agreement on the need for more oversight in insurance determinations.
The implementation of HB 2175 will be closely watched by healthcare advocates, insurers, and policy analysts as Arizona becomes one of the latest states to regulate the use of AI in healthcare decision-making.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
