by Matthew Holloway | Dec 10, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The University of Arizona’s (UA) newly implemented civics requirement, adopted under an Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) mandate, is intended to ensure every graduate receives instruction in American government and constitutional principles. But critics warn the university’s rushed structure may undermine the very purpose of the reform.
Under the proposed plan, UA students will fulfill the entire ABOR civics mandate through a single three-credit general education course. As mandated by the ABOR policy, the curriculum requires instruction in seven areas “at a minimum,” including U.S. history’s impact on the present, core principles of constitutional democracy, our major founding documents, landmark Supreme Court cases, practical civic participation, and basic economic literacy, material that peer institutions typically divide across multiple courses.
Mark Stegeman, an associate professor of economics at the University of Arizona and longtime member of the university-wide General Education Committee (UWGEC), recently described the policy proposal as “a car crash in the making” in an op-ed for the Tucson Sentinel. Stegeman cited both academic and procedural concerns with the program’s development and execution.
Stegeman noted that a former UWGEC chair admitted the committee was “just throwing stuff against the wall” during a previous breakneck approval process. He added that at the last meeting of the committee, no one present could answer his questions about seat capacity and course availability by spring 2027. He asked whether UA can reliably offer enough sections of the new civics course to accommodate all graduating students without creating scheduling bottlenecks that delay completion.
He warned that “thousands of students arriving in nine months will face a graduation requirement” built on courses that do not yet exist, with no completed development, approval process, or clear seat-capacity plan.
Those logistical concerns amplify the academic ones. Should the course become oversubscribed or rushed through, the civics requirement could devolve into a mere procedural hurdle rather than a meaningful educational foundation.
The Board of Regents’ directive was designed to restore structured instruction in American institutions across Arizona’s public universities. Other state universities interpreted the requirement differently. Arizona State University requires students to complete both an American institutions course and a civic engagement-focused course. Northern Arizona University has also implemented a two-course model.
As Stegeman summarized: “ABOR’s Civics mandate spans history, economics, landmark Supreme Cases and constitutional debates, information literacy, opportunities to practice civil disagreement and civic engagement, etc. Neither ASU nor NAU attempt to squeeze it all into a single 3-unit course, which would be nearly impossible to do well. UA’s proposal simply omits most of it.”
Beyond the academic criticism, Stegeman raised concerns about how the program was developed internally. According to his analysis, key committees lacked clear structure and broad representation, with significant influence coming from administrative offices rather than a balanced cross-section of departments.
At a time when national surveys consistently show declining civic knowledge among younger Americans, fewer than a third can name most of the First Amendment rights, and only 7% can name all five, according to Annenberg’s 2024 survey.
Many critics among the media and online have argued that universities should expand, not compress, serious instruction in American government.
In March, Fox News’ Jesse Watters shared a segment in which beachgoers in Fort Myers, Florida, failed basic American civics questions alarmingly, including naming the first President of the United States, the three branches of government, and the number of Supreme Court Justices.
In an August 2024 report on youth civics, News21 and the Associated Press noted that in the 2022 midterm elections, only about 1 in 10 voters nationwide was between 18 and 29, according to the Pew Research Center. A June Marist survey found that about 67% of registered Gen Z and Millennial voters said they intended to vote in 2024—compared with 94% of Baby Boomers. After the election, Tufts University’s CIRCLE program estimated that roughly 47% of young people ages 18–29 actually cast ballots in 2024, based on aggregated voter-file data from 40 states. Together, those numbers suggest a generation that is sizable, but still underrepresented and underprepared in the electorate.
When civic education is treated as a matter of efficiency rather than formation, the result can be accurately termed credentialed ignorance: students who pass a requirement but leave without the depth of understanding it was designed—and indeed legally mandated—to provide. The Board of Regents’ civics mandate was supposed to rebuild civic education with rigor and seriousness. Critics like Stegeman argue that UA’s one-course model risks missing that opportunity by prioritizing speed and administrative simplicity over depth.
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 | Dec 8, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
University of Arizona (UA) English professor Dr. Matthew Abraham has filed a federal lawsuit alleging he was blacklisted from key faculty-governance committees after raising concerns about DEI-driven hiring practices within his department. The complaint, filed Nov. 25 in the U.S. District Court for Arizona, names the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) as the sole defendant and alleges retaliation in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
Abraham, a tenured faculty member, argues that the university systematically excluded him from participation in faculty oversight bodies, including the Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure (CAFT) and the English Department’s Academic Program Review Committee (APR), after he questioned policies, which he believed to be rooted in racial preferences, through legally protected internal and administrative channels.
According to filings and documentation released by the Liberty Justice Center, Abraham’s concerns date back several years, culminating in multiple internal grievances, public records requests, and a 2022 complaint filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC initially dismissed the complaint but later issued a right-to-sue letter in August 2025, clearing the way for the federal lawsuit.
In the lawsuit, Dr. Abraham alleges that UA administrators and faculty leaders applied “confidential” criteria when selecting committee members, criteria he argues were influenced by DEI ideology and were used to sideline dissenting faculty.
Slides and internal correspondence referenced in the lawsuit reportedly categorized certain faculty members as “problematic,” “not appropriate,” or otherwise unfavored for committee roles. Abraham says those labels stemmed directly from his vocal opposition to using race as a factor in hiring or governance.
“University officials cannot blacklist a professor because he dared to question race-based hiring practices,” said Ángel J. Valencia, senior counsel at the Liberty Justice Center, in a press release. “Retaliation for speaking out about unlawful discrimination is itself illegal. We seek to restore lawful, transparent standards for committee service, to remove the stigma the University has placed on Dr. Abraham, and to hold the University accountable for their unlawful actions.”
Abraham’s lawsuit seeks several remedies, according to the Liberty Justice Center, including:
- Removal of “stigmatizing” labels placed in faculty records
- Clear, viewpoint-neutral criteria for determining eligibility for governance committees
- An injunction barring ABOR and UA from using race-based or DEI-based selection practices in committee assignments
- Restoration of Abraham’s participation rights within faculty governance
The University of Arizona declined comment, citing “what is an active legal matter,” according to The Center Square.
Dr. Abraham’s lawsuit comes as public universities nationwide face increasing scrutiny over the role of DEI in hiring, admissions, and internal governance. Arizona’s public higher-education system has been under heightened legal and political pressure in the past year, as previously reported by AZ Free News.
If Abraham prevails, even just by forcing broader disclosure of committee-selection records, the case could become a significant test of how DEI principles intersect with federal civil rights protections and the speech rights of public employees.
The Board of Regents has not yet filed a response in federal court as of this report.
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 | Dec 7, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) voted 4-1 on Wednesday to approve a legally binding 10-year Energy Supply Agreement (ESA) between Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and Humphrey’s Peak Power LLC to power a planned data center campus proposed for Pima County.
The Commission underscored that its review of the agreement was limited solely to ensuring statutory compliance and safeguarding ratepayers’ interests. Regulators noted they do not hold jurisdiction over the nature or approval of the associated data center project itself, only the energy contract enabling its power supply.
As reported by the Arizona Capitol Times, the ACC meeting on December 3rd was contentious, with almost two dozen members of the public calling on the Commissioners to vote against the agreement in over three hours of discussion. Commissioner Rachel Walden was the only dissenting vote.
“I’m still wary about whether or not there is a data center at the end of this,” Walden said, according to the Times.
TEP, a regulated public utility, is legally obligated to serve all eligible customers within its designated service territory without discrimination and may not refuse service to applicants who meet interconnection and regulatory requirements, the ACC explained in a press release. Commissioners reiterated that ESA terms must provide protections not only for the contracting parties but also for the broader TEP ratepayer base.
During the meeting, TEP executives said that the data center customer will ultimately decrease other customers’ rates, arguing the facility will make a larger revenue contribution than the actual cost of serving it, according to the Times.
Erik Bakken, senior vice president and chief administrative officer at TEP, explained, “We believe that we’ve got the gold standard special contract for a data center with existing resources and existing capacity that’s available.”
In a press release, TEP said its usage-based rates are set by dividing the total revenue the utility is allowed to collect by projected energy sales. Bringing in a large new user like a data center increases overall sales, the company argued, which allows per-kilowatt-hour charges for other customers to move lower than they otherwise would be.
In comments to 13 News, Pima County Supervisor Matt Heinz told the outlet that Amazon Web Services (AWS) will no longer be the end user for the data center referred to as “Project Blue,” citing multiple sources. He stated that there are now as many as seven or eight different potential end users. The outlet reported Tuesday that Facebook’s parent company, Meta, could potentially be the new suitor for Beale Infrastructure’s project based on comments from Heinz and Tucson City Councilman Paul Cunningham.
Arizona Capitol Times reported that this shift was owed to the project switching from water-cooling to air-cooling. Beale Infrastructure, the project developer, reportedly told commissioners that it is confident an end user will be found in time for the data center’s projected completion in 2027.
The data centers’ proposed 290-acre campus in Pima County, per Beale’s ESA application obtained by AZ Luminaria, has sparked a massive public debate in southern Arizona, including questions about grid load growth, long-term power procurement, water use before Beale’s conversion to air-cooling, and whether infrastructure planning is keeping pace with rapid expansion in energy-intensive industries.
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 | Dec 7, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Peoria Mayor Jason Beck posted on X on Wednesday that he will not seek reelection in 2026. Beck noted that he and his wife, Jane, will instead guide the company they founded, Tyr Tactical, through its upcoming merger.
Elected in 2022, Beck called his role as mayor “the best job I ever had,” in the Wednesday press release, saying that he approached the role “with a desire to serve the community I have lived in, worked in, and raised a family in.”
He added, “I never intended to run for office or had a long-term goal to be a politician. When I saw that Peoria wasn’t achieving its full potential, I felt called to run and make changes. I’ve since learned after being elected, that Peoria’s potential is limitless, and it’s been an honor to help unlock it.”
Both Beck and the Peoria City Council began their term with three stated goals: economic development, public safety, and water security, and the Mayor pointed to examples of each. He referred to “unlocking thousands of acres for sustainable future growth” through a major land agreement with the State Land Department, the groundbreaking of an Amkor Technology facility, and kick-starting of the revitalization of Peoria’s Historic Downtown district.
He noted that under his tenure, the city’s Real Time Crime Center and the West Valley’s first advanced aviation unit were launched by the Peoria Police Department, along with an expansion of the city’s School Resource Officer program.
In the area of water security, Beck touted new investments in Peoria’s water infrastructure, “positioning Peoria for long-term stability as we navigate the challenges of the Colorado River and the anticipated regional growth.”
Thanking his city staff and fellow councilmembers, Beck said, “The next thirteen months will be a sprint,” adding, “There is still important work to be done to ensure we leave Peoria stronger than we found it.”
“My future focus needs to be on my family and our businesses, all of which have supported me throughout this journey,” Beck said. But he emphasized he would not be stepping away from public life entirely: “My commitment to our community is far from over. I will continue to stay involved, support strong candidates, and work to improve the place we all call home,” he said in his announcement.
“For someone who never envisioned a path in public service, I can’t imagine my life without it. As a business owner, husband, father, and citizen, public service doesn’t stop here. This is where it begins.”
As reported by AZCentral in November, the merger Beck referred to involves Cadre Holdings. This Florida-based, publicly traded firm also manufactures protective products for first responders and federal agencies. The anticipated merger would reportedly see Cadre purchase the Peoria-based company for $175 million.
After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Beck founded TYR Tactical, a body armor and tactical equipment firm with his wife Jane in 2010. It has since grown into one of Peoria’s largest private employers with an annual revenue of almost $94 million according to 12News.
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 | Dec 6, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Starting February 2026, air travelers arriving at TSA checkpoints without acceptable ID, such as a REAL ID or a passport, will face a $45 fee and be required to complete additional online identity verification, the agency confirmed Monday.
As reported by Fox News, a proposed rule published in the Federal Register had called for a lower fee amount of just $18. However, Senior TSA Officials told the outlet that upon careful review, the agency determined that higher-than-anticipated technology and operating costs necessitated the higher final fee.
The TSA announced the move on Monday in a press release, reiterating that the REAL ID law was signed and took effect over 20 years ago, and is now being fully implemented and enforced at the direction of President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, as of May 7, 2025.
Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Administrator for TSA, Adam Stahl, explained, “Identity verification is essential to traveler safety, because it keeps terrorists, criminals, and illegal aliens out of the skies and other domestic transportation systems such as rail.”
According to the TSA, over 94 percent of U.S. passengers already use REAL IDs or another acceptable form of identification. However, passengers who do not provide an acceptable ID can expect increased wait times at Security Checkpoints. The agency listed over a dozen forms of acceptable identification in its release. A complete list of acceptable forms of ID can be found here.
Stahl noted, “The vast majority of travelers present acceptable identification like REAL IDs and passports, but we must ensure everyone who flies is who they say they are. Beginning February 1, travelers who do not present an acceptable form of ID at our security checkpoints and still want to fly can pay a $45 fee and undergo the TSA Confirm.ID process. This fee ensures the cost to cover verification of an insufficient ID will come from the traveler, not the taxpayer. The security of the traveling public is our top priority, so we urge all travelers to get a REAL ID or other acceptable form of ID as soon as possible to avoid delays and potentially miss flights.”
The TSA has called upon travelers who do not possess a REAL ID to pay the fee in advance online before arriving at an airport. However, for those who do not, information on how to pay the fee and complete the TSA Confirm.ID process will be available at locations at or near TSA Checkpoints. The agency stressed that passengers completing the process at the airport should expect delays.
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.
