by Matthew Holloway | Apr 16, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona has enacted legislation aimed at addressing teen suicide by expanding criminal penalties for adults who encourage minors to take their own lives through targeted communication.
According to a press release from Arizona House Republicans, House Bill 2665, known as “Cade’s Law,” establishes criminal liability for adults who intentionally advise or encourage a minor to die by suicide through direct communication, including online messages.
The law expands Arizona’s manslaughter statute to include cases in which an adult, age 18 or older, knowingly encourages a minor to die by suicide while aware of the minor’s intent.
The legislation, sponsored by Representative Pamela Carter (R-LD4), is named after Cade Keller, a 16-year-old Arizona teen who died by suicide in 2022. Lawmakers said the case highlighted a gap in existing law, which penalized providing the physical means for suicide but did not address targeted online communication encouraging self-harm.
In the release, the Arizona House GOP Caucus wrote, “Cade’s Law closes a dangerous loophole.”
Under the new law, “directed communication” includes verbal, written, or electronic messages specifically aimed at a minor, including social media posts, text messages, or other online interactions.
An adult who intentionally sends such communication to a minor, with knowledge of the minor’s intent to die by suicide, can be charged with manslaughter, a Class 2 felony.
The measure does not apply to general discussions about suicide or mental health that are not directed at a specific individual.
In a statement marking the law’s enactment, Carter said, “Teen suicide is a crisis, and we cannot ignore it. Cade Keller was only 16. He loved welding and had plans to attend Mesa Community College. Then his life was cut short. Cade posted online that he planned to take his life. People saw it. No one called 911. No one got an adult. Cade died. That is the nightmare every parent fears, and it is happening to too many families. Cade’s Law makes this a crime. If you knowingly use direct messages to advise or encourage a minor to die by suicide, you will be prosecuted. If you see warning signs, do not wait. Make the call. Get help. Step in.”
The legislation was designed to address the growing role of online platforms in cases involving teen self-harm. Teen suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals ages 10 to 24 in the United States, according to data cited in legislative materials.
The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Arizona Legislature and was advanced as part of broader efforts to address youth mental health and online safety concerns. It was signed into law alongside HB 2666, which addresses the sexual extortion of minors online.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 15, 2026 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
A new report from the Common Sense Institute finds that rising costs for housing, groceries, insurance, and child care continue to strain affordability for Arizona families, even as inflation has cooled from its post-pandemic peak.
According to CSI’s latest affordability rankings, Arizona is now the seventh least affordable state in the nation and ranks 45th overall when comparing household incomes to the cost of essential expenses. The state has fallen 12 spots in affordability since 2019, but remains more affordable than Florida, Oregon, New York, Massachusetts, and California, which ranked 46th through 50th, respectively.
CSI’s analysis found that Arizona households retain about 19.6% of their gross income after paying for taxes and basic expenses such as shelter, groceries, health insurance, car insurance, gasoline, and child care. That amounts to about $1,700 per month left over, compared to the national average of 24.7% ($2,170 per month).
The report found that Arizona households are spending about $19,300 more per year on essential expenses than they did in 2019, exceeding the national average increase of $15,400. CSI estimates that Arizona households have effectively lost 3.8% of their gross income to rising prices since before the pandemic.
Housing costs have continued to be the primary cause of affordability challenges in the state. According to a recent report, shelter and utility costs for Arizona households rose by $9,012 annually between 2019 and 2025, a 59% increase that ranked as the fourth-largest increase in the country. Arizona also experienced some of the nation’s fastest-growing grocery and car insurance costs during the same period.
CSI reported that grocery costs rose by $3,375, child care costs by $3,950, health insurance costs by $1,302, car insurance costs by $1,355, and gasoline costs by $313 between 2019 and 2025.
The report found that child care remains a major expense for working families. In Arizona, one full-time working parent must devote about 38% of their gross income to cover child care costs, slightly below the national average of roughly 40%. Nationally, CSI estimated that the average household spends about 16.9% of gross income on child care for preschool- and school-aged children.
“Inflation reports may show things are cooling, but that doesn’t mean life is getting more affordable for Arizonans,” said Zachary Milne, Senior Economist and Research Analyst for the Common Sense Institute AZ. “Our analysis shows the cost of everyday essentials is still significantly higher than it was before the pandemic, and for many families, incomes haven’t kept pace. That gap is what continues to drive the affordability challenges we’re seeing across Arizona today.”
CSI noted that inflation in the Phoenix area has moderated in recent months, with consumer prices rising 2.2% year over year in December. However, according to CSI’s Arizona inflation update, prices in the Phoenix metro area remain 28.9% higher than they were in December 2019, resulting in an additional $1,441 in average monthly costs for a typical Arizona household.
Arizona households are also carrying greater debt, coupled with declining credit scores and rising delinquency rates, at levels significantly higher than the national average, according to CSI’s April 1 report.
CSI detailed its data sources and methodology on its website.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 14, 2026 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
A new report from the Goldwater Institute alleges that Arizona’s public universities are not complying with state requirements to provide students with instruction in American civics, history, and economics. The findings follow previous Goldwater reports examining the integration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion content into both honors and American civics courses.
The report, titled “Civic Decline: Arizona’s Public Universities Smuggle DEI into Required American Civics Courses,” examines how the state’s three public universities are implementing the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) American Institutions policy within their general education programs.
The policy requires universities to incorporate coursework covering key areas of American civics, explicitly stating:
“The study of American Institutions will include at minimum (I) how the history of the United States continues to shape the present; (II) the basic principles of American constitutional democracy and how they are applied under a republican form of government; (III) the United States Constitution and major American constitutional debates and developments; (IV) the essential founding documents and how they have shaped the nature and functions of American Institutions of self-governance; (V) landmark Supreme Court cases that have shaped law and society; (VI) the civic actions necessary for effective citizenship and civic participation in a self-governing society – for example civil dialog and civil disagreement; and (VII) basic economic knowledge to critically assess public policy options and to inform professional and personal decisions.”
The report asserts that some universities are allowing courses outside of traditional civics instruction to satisfy those requirements.
Timothy Minella, director of higher education policy at the Goldwater Institute and the report’s author, said universities are not meeting the intent of the requirement.
“Arizona’s public universities are failing students by allowing niche courses steeped in DEI to satisfy the state’s robust history and civics requirements,” Minella said in a statement released with the report.
At Arizona State University, Minella states that courses such as “Anthropology of American Democracy,” “Social Welfare, Work, and Justice in the US,” and “Theatre and U.S. Democracy” are being used to meet civics requirements.
He argues that the first course, “ ‘Anthropology of American Democracy,’ fails to meet AMIT requirements and instead centers on the claim that American society oppresses certain groups.”
“The syllabus states that the course ‘emphasizes the relationship between personal narratives and broader historical forces, highlighting how belonging, rights, and obligations are experienced differently across diverse social, racial, and cultural contexts.’ … In the list of required readings for the course, there are only two that could plausibly be considered ‘founding documents’: the U.S. Constitution (which appears in only one section of the course) and the Declaration of Sentiments from the Seneca Falls Women’s Rights Convention.
Almost every other reading comes from specialized anthropological studies, including ‘I’m American, not Japanese!: The Struggle for Racial Citizenship among Later-Generation Japanese Americans’ and ‘Replicate, Facilitate, Disseminate: The Micropolitics of U.S. Democracy Promotion in Bolivia.’ Revealing the course’s leftist orientation, one module covers ‘anthropology’s role in American Empire Building,’ requiring students to read excerpts from Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World.”
At Northern Arizona University, Minella’s report identifies courses such as “Sociology of Chicanx and Latinx Communities” and “Indigenizing Museums and the Art World” as qualifying for civics and history requirements.
The report also alleges that the University of Arizona has failed to implement the American Institutions policy.
Minella wrote, “In utter defiance of ABOR’s directive, the University of Arizona (UA) has so far failed to implement AMIT at all. UA’s plan to integrate AMIT into general education has been mired in delays and troubling protocols.”
In December 2025, Mark Stegeman, an associate professor of economics at the University of Arizona, warned the university was failing to implement a civics program in accordance with the ABOR mandate, describing the U of A proposal for a single 3-unit course as “a car crash in the making.”
The report recommends that state lawmakers take action if universities do not fully comply with the policy.
The findings follow a separate March report from the Goldwater Institute examining honors colleges at Arizona public universities, including Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, and the W.A. Franke Honors College at the University of Arizona, and the integration of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into honors programs and American civics courses.
The Civic Decline report is available on the Goldwater Institute’s website.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 14, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is facing renewed scrutiny over longstanding personal, political, and financial ties to U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) following recent allegations against the California congressman and the subsequent collapse of his gubernatorial campaign.
Swalwell suspended his bid for governor of California in a Sunday announcement after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, including a former congressional staffer. Swalwell has denied the allegations, which were detailed in reporting published Friday by the San Francisco Chronicle.
The California Democrat has announced his intent to resign from Congress in a statement released Monday:
“I am deeply sorry to my family, staff, and constituents for mistakes in judgment I’ve made in my past. I will fight the serious, false allegation made against me. However, I must take responsibility and ownership for the mistakes I did make. I am aware of efforts to bring an immediate expulsion vote against me and other members. Expelling anyone in Congress without due process, within days of an allegation being made, is wrong. But it’s also wrong for my constituents to have me distracted from my duties. Therefore, I plan to resign my seat in Congress. I will work with my staff in the coming days to ensure they are able, in my absence, to serve the needs of the good people of the 14th congressional district.”
The allegations triggered political fallout within Democratic circles. Gallego, who had previously endorsed Swalwell’s gubernatorial campaign, later revoked that endorsement.
Gallego and Swalwell have maintained a close relationship for years, publicly describing each other as close friends and frequently appearing together in political settings during their time in Congress.
Their ties extend beyond personal association into financial and campaign-related activity. According to a March report, Gallego invested campaign funds into an artificial intelligence startup launched by a business partner described as a close associate of Swalwell.
The report documented that the startup’s leadership included individuals with direct ties to Swalwell, drawing attention to the overlap between political fundraising and private investment activity.
The House Committee on Ethics has opened a probe into allegations of sexual misconduct by Swalwell, according to an announcement released Monday.
The committee stated it has “begun an investigation and will gather additional information regarding the allegations that Representative Eric Swalwell violated the Code of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation, or other applicable standard of conduct in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities, with respect to allegations that he may have engaged in sexual misconduct, including towards an employee working under his supervision.”
Additional attention has come from social media posts by former New York Congressman George Santos, who has highlighted the longstanding relationship between Gallego and Swalwell and suggested further scrutiny may be warranted. In posts on X, Santos pointed to the timeline of alleged incidents and Gallego’s tenure in Congress alongside Swalwell, raising questions about the extent of their association.
Santos’ posts have fueled online discussion about Gallego’s association with Swalwell and other members of Congress.
Other political figures, including Turning Point Action COO Tyler Bowyer, have also pointed to Gallego’s past public support for Swalwell in response to the allegations.
The questions surrounding Gallego’s relationship with Swalwell have also drawn attention from journalists. In a post on X, Yashar Ali wrote, “An important question everyone should be asking: what did Senator Ruben Gallego know and when did he know it?”
Swalwell has previously faced national attention over other controversies, including reported contact with a suspected Chinese intelligence operative earlier in his congressional career. U.S. officials stated at the time that Swalwell was not accused of wrongdoing and cooperated with investigators.
Gallego initially appeared to publicly defend Swalwell as allegations emerged, before later distancing himself by withdrawing his endorsement. As of this report, Gallego has not issued a detailed public statement addressing the full scope of his relationship with Swalwell or the financial ties documented in prior reporting.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 13, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Arizona Corporation Commission approved a temporary bill credit for UNS Electric customers, expected to reduce monthly costs during peak summer usage.
According to a Wednesday press release, the Commission approved an $18.50 monthly credit for customers with average usage of 884 kilowatt-hours. The credit will be in effect from May 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026. The measure was approved in a 5–0 vote during the Commission’s open meeting on April 8.
The adjustment is tied to the Purchased Power and Fuel Adjustment Clause (PPFAC), a mechanism which utilities use to recover fuel and purchased power costs. The Commission stated that utilities do not earn a profit on expenses recovered through the PPFAC.
Commissioner Kevin Thompson said in the release that the credit follows the Commission’s earlier action to address a significant under-collection in the PPFAC balance.
In May 2023, the Commission approved a temporary surcharge to reduce the balance, which was accruing interest costs that were being passed on to ratepayers.
“The Commission had to make a tough vote in 2023 to pay down significant fuel cost debt that had been allowed to build as a result of circumstances outside the utilities’ control,” Thompson said. “As a result of the temporary surcharge, UNS was able to rapidly pay down the debt and save ratepayers money in the long run. Asking ratepayers to pay more in their monthly bills to pay down costs is never an easy task, but this solution removes the massive debt hanging over the heads of the ratepayers and provides additional bill relief when customers need it most.”
The surcharge was eliminated in December 2025 after the balance was paid down. The Commission said that the change reduced the average residential customer’s bill by approximately $20 per month.
Following the removal of the surcharge, the utility reported a positive PPFAC balance of $5.6 million in mid-February 2026, which has continued to grow.
According to the release, UNS Electric began experiencing under-collection in October 2021, which grew to approximately $48 million. The deficit was attributed to increased natural gas prices during the COVID-19 pandemic, extreme weather events including Winter Storm Uri, and global energy market impacts related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“As we are approaching the summer heat, I am glad the Commission was able to provide some rate relief for customers in Kingman, Lake Havasu, Nogales, and other smaller communities in Mohave and Santa Cruz counties,” Chairman Nick Myers said in a statement.
With the new temporary credit in place, the Commission said a typical residential customer is expected to see an average monthly reduction of approximately $38 this summer compared to the same period last year.
“As regulators we often have to make difficult decisions as we balance the various interests involved in ratemaking,” Myers said. “In this case, I am pleased that our difficult decision to address the PPFAC in 2023 has resolved the problem and resulted in a meaningful reduction in rates for UNSE customers through the end of the year.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
