by Matthew Holloway | Oct 14, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
With tropical storm-fueled rains hammering various parts of Arizona and flood losses mounting, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that low-interest loans are now available for the victims of severe flooding in Coconino, Gila, Graham, Maricopa, Navajo, Pinal, and Yavapai Counties, as well as tribal nations.
The SBA is offering low-interest federal disaster loans to eligible businesses, nonprofits, residents, and tribal nations—similar to those provided for the Dragon Bravo Fire victims in September.
In a post to X announcing the relief for Gila County, Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ02) called for continued prayers for those hit by the massive flooding. Remnants of Hurricane Priscilla hammered the area over the weekend, adding to late September’s monsoon deluge that devastated Globe-Miami.
Crane wrote: “@SBAgov has declared an economic disaster due to the severe flooding in Gila County. Through this declaration, SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is available to eligible businesses, private nonprofits, and residents,” providing a link to resources.
He followed up: “Please continue to keep those impacted by the devastating floods in Gila County in your prayers. For those affected, @SBAgov is offering Business Physical Disaster Loans, Home and Personal Property Loans, and Economic Injury Disaster Loans.”
According to the SBA:
“Businesses and nonprofits are eligible to apply for business physical disaster loans and may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.
“Homeowners and renters are eligible to apply for home and personal property loans and may borrow up to $100,000 to replace or repair personal property, such as clothing, furniture, cars, and appliances. Homeowners may apply for up to $500,000 to replace or repair their primary residence.
“Applicants may be eligible for a loan increase of up to 20% of their physical damage, as verified by the SBA, for mitigation purposes. Eligible mitigation improvements include insulating pipes, walls and attics, weather stripping doors and windows, and installing storm windows to help protect property and occupants from future disasters.”
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program is also available to help small businesses, nurseries, and non-profit organizations with financial losses directly related to this disaster.
For more information, the SBA directs victims to visit this website. They can apply online, call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
“When disasters strike, SBA’s Disaster Loan Outreach Centers play a vital role in helping small businesses and their communities recover,” Chris Stallings, associate administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at the SBA, said in a press release. “At these centers, SBA specialists assist business owners and residents with disaster loan applications and provide information on the full range of recovery programs available.”
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 | Oct 13, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
As enrollment dips and two schools are considered for repurposing, Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) is promoting a biking event for “girls, nonbinary youth, and gender-expansive” children in family-facing communications.
In an October 9th post to X, parental rights organization Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity (SUEI) wrote: “Parents confirmed @ScottsdaleUSD is using their district-wide communication system to promote an event for ‘nonbinary youth’ and ‘gender expansive’ children. Girls in Gear (and apparently boys, too) claims that these lessons are Social Emotional Learning. Email: GovBRD@SUSD.org.”
The “Girls in Gear” program, which focuses on cycling skills and social-emotional learning, includes participants who identify outside traditional gender norms, according to a district email sent to families. A post on X by SUEI shared the event flyer, which lists the inclusive criteria.
According to the Girls in Gear website, the event “is open to any rider who identifies as a girl. If a rider identifies as a girl, then the rider is welcome to participate in Girls in Gear.”
In a reply to the SUEI post, Arizona Women of Action drew attention to the contradiction that SUSD is continuing to focus on gender ideology despite reduced enrollment, school closures under discussion, and at-risk federal funding.
Arizona Women of Action wrote in its reply:
“1. Identifying as a gender that is not innate (boy or girl) is often the first step of the ‘trans’ path. By Scottsdale Unified recognizing these identities (non-binary, gender expansive) the district can contribute to a child’s ‘trans’ path. Change in pronouns and presentation are next, irreversible puberty blockers and hormones follow.
2. This is no longer a girls’ event if non binary or gender expansive youth can participate.
3. SUSD is closing schools. This kind of choice could be a contributing factor to low enrollment.
4. Isn’t there an EO about this? Yes. And schools can lose federal funding.”
The organization also called up on followers to call “the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at 1-800-421-3481 to report non-compliance.”
District reporting in February revealed that under SUSD Superintendent Dr. Scott Menzel, enrollment has consistently dropped. As of February 2025, enrollment stood at 19,367, a decrease of 390 students from 2024, down 355 from the previous year. Over the past seven years, enrollment has dropped precipitously by 13%, from 22,608.
In response to the enrollment trends, the SUSD governing board voted 3-2 on October 7th to advance a proposal to repurpose Echo Canyon K-8 School and Pima Elementary School for the 2026-27 school year, according to AZ Family. Menzel addressed the looming closures with families in a September message and cited under-enrollment at both schools.
The promotion of the program also comes amid federal policies addressing gender-related content in schools. President Trump’s Executive Order 14190, issued January 29, 2025, directs the withholding of federal funds from K-12 programs that promote gender ideology or other specified materials, and reestablishes the 1776 Commission for patriotic education. Additionally, a Department of Health and Human Services directive on August 26, 2025, requires states to certify that sex education programs do not reference transgender youth or gender ideology to receive funding, affecting 46 states and territories, including Arizona. Several Democratic-led states have filed lawsuits challenging the directive. Despite pending legal action, the Executive Order and HHS Directive both remain in effect at present.
SUSD has previously addressed transgender-related policies, including student transition plans and LGBTQ curriculum, and run afoul of the Arizona Department of Education and parents alike. In prior incidents, the district faced questions over notifications to parents and the use of school spaces for related activities, such as a “sexuality-safe-space” at Mohave Middle School, as reported by the Arizona Daily Independent.
Last month, a BrainPOP lesson on LGBTQ topics prompted review under state DEI restrictions, with Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne citing potential violations.
Other community responses in the thread include comments from users expressing concern over the event’s inclusivity and district priorities.
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 | Oct 12, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
In a video rant on Thursday, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) claimed he had to ‘restrain’ himself during a hallway clash with House Speaker Mike Johnson over the government shutdown and swearing-in of Democrat Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva.
The exchange, captured on video and shared by Gallego’s office, happened on Wednesday outside Johnson’s office at the Capitol. Both of Arizona’s Democrat Senators, Gallego and Mark Kelly, pressed Johnson on his refusal to swear in Grijalva, a Democrat and the daughter of the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva, in a pro forma session.
Grijalva’s seating would provide the 218th signature needed for a discharge petition to force a House vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein’s client list, they contend. However, Speaker Johnson has described the controversy as a “red herring” and a “distraction.” Grijalva’s special election win in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District is also still pending certification in a statewide canvas scheduled for Oct. 14th.
Gallego, a Marine veteran, described the moment in his post on X, claiming that he folded his arms in a posture he described as a Marine technique for de-escalation, to avoid escalating the situation. “I had to restrain myself from doing more,” Gallego wrote, accusing Johnson of “holding Adelita Grijalva hostage” to block the Epstein vote. In the video, Gallego can be heard telling Johnson to “get your people in and stop covering up for the pedophiles,” referring to the Epstein files.
Kelly, standing beside Gallego, called the delay “ridiculous” and urged Johnson to “swear her in,” emphasizing Grijalva’s victory in the heavily Democratic district. The confrontation lasted less than two minutes and was filmed by reporters who had gathered for a planned press gaggle outside the Speaker’s office. Contrary to Gallego’s claims, U.S. Marine Corps manuals and law enforcement de-escalation guidelines from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, as cited by the Daily Caller, do not prescribe the crossing of arms as a de-escalation technique. Rather, the outlet noted body language experts interpret the gesture as defensive or closed-off, and suggest positions with hands, open and visible.
Johnson, appearing on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper, described the encounter as a “failed publicity stunt” by the Democrats. He disputed Gallego’s account of his body language, saying the senator appeared “very uncomfortable” and was “not telling you the truth.” Johnson reiterated that the House is not in session due to the Democratic walkout and pointed to the Democrats’ demanding concessions like $200 billion in benefits for non-citizens.
In his ranting video reaction to the Jake Tapper appearance, Gallego claimed, “He’s such a f***ing liar. And what a creep. He’s just telling what I’m thinking. I literally told him what I’m thinking. He is absolutely holding Adelita Grijalva hostage so that way she can’t be the 218th vote on the discharge petition. That’s it. It’s just that simple,” Gallego said.
“His reasons keep on changing. I think he gets away with the press because they don’t actually push him on it, but I did yesterday, and he should be happy I had my arms folded. There’s a reason why Marines fold their arms. It’s because it’s a way to make sure that we restrain ourselves,” Gallego said.
Speaker Johnson’s Rapid Response team offered a blistering response in a post to X, writing, “Instead of voting to OPEN the Government, Gallego instead has time to: Stage a FAILED publicity stunt, FAIL to fundraise off it, Record this SECOND rate video, Seemingly threaten the Speaker?! Democrats hide behind expletives because they have NO message.”
The partial government shutdown began Sept. 30 after Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund federal operations. It has furloughed thousands of federal workers and closed some national parks. Republicans, led by Johnson, seek to strip funding for programs they view as wasteful, including subsidies for Planned Parenthood and specific green energy initiatives. Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have pushed for a “clean” bill without those cuts, accusing Republicans of using the shutdown as leverage.
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 | Oct 11, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey sharply rebuked Gov. Katie Hobbs’ announcement of her 2026 reelection campaign, accusing her of fiscal mismanagement that turned a $2.5 billion surplus into a $1.4 billion deficit.
Hobbs launched her bid for a second term on Wednesday in a two-minute video posted to X, where she emphasized her administration’s focus on education, public safety, and housing affordability.
“Arizona is a place of hard work, hope and determination,” Hobbs said. “That’s why I’m running for reelection — to continue putting your family first.”
Ducey, a Republican who preceded Hobbs in office, responded hours later on X, quoting Hobbs’ video and writing: “This dishonesty isn’t surprising given the current struggles on the 9th floor. When I left office, I turned over a $2.5B SURPLUS to Katie Hobbs. She blew it all AND created that $1.4B deficit in only a year. AZ didn’t have a revenue problem, Hobbs had a spending problem.”
The exchange between the former and current governors highlights Arizona’s ongoing budget tensions. Hobbs inherited the surplus from Ducey in January 2023, but the state faced a projected $1.4 billion shortfall for fiscal year 2025. According to a report from the Common Sense Institute of Arizona (CSI), that shortfall was mainly driven by increased spending and not the state’s adoption of a flat income tax rate of 2.5% or the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program.
The GOP-led Arizona legislature approved a $16.1 billion budget in June 2024, following a major budget battle that addressed the deficit by incorporating spending cuts and one-time adjustments. Hobbs signed the measure, though Republican critics, including House Speaker Ben Toma, have described her fiscal approach as unsustainable.
Reactions to Ducey’s post were polarized. A few users defended Hobbs, claiming Ducey’s tax cuts and ESA expansions as root causes of the shortfall. Others echoed his criticisms. A few, urged Ducey to support GOP challengers in the 2026 gubernatorial race, like U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs. The vast majority offered critiques of the former Governor.
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 | Oct 10, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The ongoing disagreement between the City of Scottsdale and Axon Enterprise, Inc. has taken on a new dimension after the city issued a clarification of its position on last week. Regardless of whether the controversial “Axon Bill,” SB 1543, remains in effect, the city stated that Scottsdale City Code Section 2-5 requires a referendum to be placed on the ballot at the next general election, scheduled for Nov. 3, 2026.
In a statement issued October 3rd, the city stated that the timetable for a referendum could be shortened, noting, “The city could, if directed by the City Council, place that referendum question on a city election ballot before Nov. 3, 2026, by calling a Spring 2026 Special Election or placing the item on the Aug. 4, 2026, primary election ballot.”
Responding to the enactment of SB 1543 in April, the City Council voted to authorize filing a notice of claim/notice of unconstitutionality in a special meeting on September 12th. The claim filed on September 15th serves as formal notice to the State of Arizona that potential legal action from the city may follow. As reported by AZ Free News at the time, SB 1543 strips residents in cities of certain sizes, including Scottsdale, of their ability to challenge zoning decisions through ballot initiatives. The law applies retroactively and nullified a referendum effort by nearly 27,000 Scottsdale residents who had petitioned to challenge a city council-approved expansion of Axon’s Scottsdale headquarters, which included almost 2,000 multifamily residential units, over 400 hotel rooms, and approximately 47,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.
City leaders pleaded with Governor Katie Hobbs to veto the bill, citing local concerns over increased traffic and infrastructure strain. They wrote in their plea, “These are not abstract issues—they impact the daily lives of our residents.”
Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky and the City Council warned that SB 1543 “undermines the principles of local control that are foundational to Scottsdale’s governance,” adding that it “sets a dangerous precedent.”
Borowsky told KTAR 92.3 host Mike Broomhead last week that, before “going to the state legislature,” Axon was negotiating with the city, and the 2000-apartment plan could have been reduced to 750. She added, “Let me be clear, I’m opposed to that high density of housing units,” referring to the initial 2,000 unit plan, but added there are three members of the council who are “vehemently” opposed to negotiation.
Public Affairs Supervisor Holly Peralta wrote, “The City Council’s vote did not authorize litigation, but that step could be taken by a separate Council action in the future.” She further added that a political action committee filed suit against the state and the city regarding Senate Bill 1543.
The lawsuit filed by Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions, or TAAAZE, claims that SB1543 violates both the “special laws” ban in the Arizona Constitution, as well as the right of referendum enshrined there.
Alexis Danneman, a Perkins Coie, LLP, partner and lead counsel for TAAAZE, said in a statement. “This lawsuit is about two of our State Constitution’s most important principles. First, it’s about the right of Arizona voters to hold referenda and vote directly on legislation passed by their city councils but with which they disagree. Second, it’s about the Constitution’s ban on so-called ‘special laws,’ like the Axon Bill, that confer special privileges and benefits on a specific company or group. The Axon bill passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor is the very definition of special interest legislation and it is illegal in the state of Arizona.”
As a separate matter, the city is “evaluating that lawsuit,” according to Peralta.
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.
