The Buckeye Police Department announced the seizure of 8,000 fentanyl pills and the arrest of four people in connection with a traffic stop near Yuma Road and Verrado Way. The lethal fentanyl M-30 pills were seized when a Buckeye police officer observed an SUV committing several traffic violations and initiated a pull-over. According to a statement from the department posted to social media, the officer determined that the driver of the vehicle had a suspended driver’s license and some of their passengers had active arrest warrants.
A search of the vehicle revealed eight bags containing 1,000 of the deadly pills each. All four occupants were placed under arrest.
Buckeye Police reporting shows that drug/narcotic offenses were down in 2023 compared to 2021 figures but are trending upward after a multiyear low in 2022. Behind theft/larceny and destruction of property, drug related charges represent approximately 12% of the city’s overall crime.
As reported by AZ Free News in June, the Common Sense Institute Arizona (CSI) released a comprehensive report on “Arizona’s Ongoing Fentanyl Crisis,” for 2024. The grim findings revealed that opioid-related encounters in Arizona hospitals leapt from 41,400 to 56,600 or approximately 37% from 2015-2019, and the DEA seized enough fentanyl in the state of Arizona to kill every resident fourteen times over. From 2020 and 2022, Fentanyl seized by the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) increased 665% from 239 to an estimated 1,828 pounds, CSI stated, citing data shared by DPS. National seizures of fentanyl reported by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency increased by 320% from 6,800 pounds in 2019 to 29,200 in 2024.
🚨 The DEA seized enough fentanyl in Arizona alone to kill every Arizonan 14 times over, if the seizures were of pure fentanyl and assuming a potentially fatal dose is at least 2 mg.
— Common Sense Institute Arizona (@CSInstituteAZ) June 25, 2024
In the DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment 2024, the agency reports that, “Fentanyl manufactured by the Mexican cartels is the main driver behind the ongoing epidemic of drug poisoning deaths in the United States… China-based chemical suppliers are the main source of the chemicals used in the production of illicit fentanyl.”
The newly elected Sheriff of Pinal County, Republican Ross Teeple, was sworn into office by his predecessor, former Sheriff Mark Lamb, earlier this month. Sheriff Teeple will report for duty effective January 1, 2025.
Teeple is a U.S. Navy veteran with 16 years of service with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. He has held a wide range of positions including Patrol Deputy, Search and Rescue Deputy, Honor Guard member, Patrol Sergeant, Criminal Investigations Sergeant, Internal Affairs Supervisor, Human Resources Manager, Patrol Lieutenant, and Lieutenant over Aviation, Search and Rescue, according to his campaign website.
Prior to his time with Pinal County, Sheriff Teeple served as a Corrections Officer for 12 years with the Arizona Department of Corrections. Over his 28 years in law enforcement, he has been decorated with several awards and commendations. During his career in the U.S. Navy, he served on a fast attack submarine as a Sonar Technician in Operation Desert Storm.
"It's a huge responsibility that I am so prepared for and really thankful for the voters of Pinal Co. for placing their trust in me."
Wednesday, Sheriff Elect Ross Teeple was sworn in to his new position by Sheriff Mark Lamb.
In a statement posted to X, Teeple said, “It’s a huge responsibility that I am so prepared for and really thankful for the voters of Pinal Co. for placing their trust in me.”
Lamb sat down with Teeple in a semi-casual video message in which Lamb bid goodbye to his friends, Deputies, and staffers and introduced Teeple.
After being introduced by Lamb, Teeple spoke highly of the soon-to-be-former Sheriff and praised his legacy saying he had “big shoes to fill.”
“I want to thank the citizens of Pinal County, especially for you guys having the trust and the gratitude and the strength to vote for me and wanting to continue on with the legacy that is Mark Lamb. I can tell you I’ve been all over this county speaking to as many people as I possibly can, getting out there knocking on as many doors, and when I talk to the people, it’s overwhelming how many people just absolutely adore this man and the way that he has run Pinal County and made us the safest large county in Arizona. And that’s directly related to you. I appreciate it,” said Teeple.
He continued, “I’m going to tell you right now, I’m probably one of the only people in Pinal County that wishes you would have done a less better job. I have really big shoes to fill because you did an amazing job. In stepping into them, there’s nowhere to go but up, but there’s a lot of way to go down, and I’m not going to allow that to happen.”
In the 2024 General Election, Teeple defeated his Democratic opponent, Patrick Melvin, a retired Deputy Chief with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office by a massive margin of 27.2%, or 55,176 votes, indicating wide voter support for a continuation of Lamb’s policies.
Earlier this month, Gov. Katie Hobbs sent a letter to Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne, rebuking him for the implementation of a risk-based auditing approach to approving Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program reimbursements. A few days later, Horne responded by suggesting that Hobbs “should start reading what she signs.”
In a statement, Horne reminded the Democrat governor that the process the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is now employing is explicitly called for under a bill she signed into law herself. He notes further that Hobbs is also directly responsible for creating the situation that necessitated the change when she signed a bill permitting private school tuition to be paid under reimbursement rather than the previous third-party vendor.
The move has come as a backlog of reimbursement requests for the ESA program has exceeded 85,000. The Department of Education, unable to utilize third party provider Class Wallet, which was previously the procedure, will now automatically approve the requests up to $2,000 and then audit them after the fact.
12.9.2024
All ESA payments under $2,000 will be automatically processed and undergo risk-based auditing. Just announced at the AZ state board meeting by Supt. Horne.
In the initial letter to Horne, Hobbs pointed to recent indictments and allegations of fraud and abuse of the ESA program and claimed that the implementation of the risk-based auditing approach “is a complete dereliction of the ADE’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate use of public funds.”
Horne replied in a statement saying:
“The method we are instituting, known as risk-based auditing, is specifically provided for in the budget statute that the Governor signed last session. Maybe she should start reading what she signs.
Equally startling, is that she herself created the problem we are trying to solve by signing a bill to permit private school tuition to be paid under the reimbursement method, rather than going through our vendor, Class Wallet, which was previously required. This played a major role in increasing the delays and reimbursements from 30 days a year ago to over 100 days now.
The Governor played a major role in creating a problem that we now must solve by using a method provided for in a Bill that she signed.
Part of the problem appears to be that staff in the Governor’s office are slow learners.”
In a press release, Horne referred to Arizona Law under A.R.S. 15-2403 (B), which explicitly permits this method stating, “The department, in consultation with the office of the auditor general, shall develop risk-based auditing procedures for audits conducted pursuant to this subsection.”
The Superintendent also stressed the accountability of the program saying, “The ESA program is among the most accountable programs in the State. It’s responsible for demonstrating accountability through reporting that is required by statute, rules, and ad hoc requests from seven government agencies and bodies, including: Governor’s Office; Legislative Leadership; Joint Legislative Budget Committee; Attorney General’s Office (multiple units); Auditor General’s Office (multiple divisions); State Board of Education and the State Ombudsman.”
As previously reported by AZ Free News, Hobbs was recently fact-checked by Citizens For Free Enterprise, who publicly criticized her for attacking the ESA program. The group stated, “FACT CHECK: Arizona’s universal school choice program is a model of accountability, transparency, and security, according to CSI Institute Arizona. The over 83,000 Arizona families using ESAs just want the best for their children – and Katie Hobbs should stop attacking them.”
FACT CHECK: Arizona’s universal school choice program is a model of accountability, transparency, and security, according to @CSInstituteAZ. The over 83,000 Arizona families using ESAs just want the best for their children — and Katie Hobbs should stop attacking them. https://t.co/Law8wrNwSEpic.twitter.com/ZA1KiLdFYl
According to a new report from Mixbook, the Christmas light displays of three Arizona cities have been voted among the most popular in the nation. The three cities enjoying the honor are Lake Havasu City, Prescott, and Glendale.
Christmas displays from New York, California, and Hawaii dominated the top ten in the survey, which covered 3,000 families nationwide. Arizona’s three cities ranked 53rd, 110th, and 119th respectively.
Lake Havasu City’s 29th Annual Festival of Lights will see over 500,000 lights set aglow the beautiful London Bridge over the Bridgewater Channel. The city’s website states that families can stroll the walkway beneath the British 19th-century stone-arched bridge, which dates to 1831 and spanned the Thames River for 136 years. Boaters can also enjoy the spectacle from on the water.
This isn't just another light display –– this is the 29th Annual Festival of Lights with over a half-million of these little beauties illuminating the Bridgwater Channel all season long! Join us for a holiday experience you won’t soon forget! #golakehavasu#letsdohavasupic.twitter.com/sJH2CVEuoj
With Prescott designated as Arizona’s Christmas City by Governor Rose Mofford in 1989, the territorial capital has become a nexus for Christmas celebrations both before and after the lighting ceremony. Events run all the way up to a fireworks spectacular on December 31st at 7 p.m. According to Mixbook, “The Courthouse Plaza, adorned with a million lights, becomes the heart of this nostalgic Christmas experience.”
Wishing you an enchanting holiday from Arizona's official Christmas City. 🎄✨
In the Valley of the Sun, Glendale Glitters is “an exquisite arrangement of lights, complimented by beautiful interactive features and picture-perfect holiday displays,” according to the city’s website. Although the kickoff and parade have come and gone, the beautiful lights will remain on display until January 1st from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The city encourages folks to enjoy some local holiday shopping and treats as they stroll through Downtown Glendale, taking in the magical lights and features.
We're having ourselves a merry little Christmas in Glendale! 🎄✨ What a sparkling start to #GlendaleGlitters! 🎅❤️🎉 Thank you to everyone that came out to celebrate. Come soak in the magic and make memories — the glow lasts until the New Year! 🎄💫 #GlendaleAZpic.twitter.com/2mwSXyjUUN
— Glendale, Arizona Economic Development (@GrowGlendale) December 16, 2024
A spokesman for Mixbook said in a statement, “As the holiday season approaches, these incredible light displays remind us of the magic that comes from bringing communities together. Whether it’s a neighborhood effort, a citywide festival, or a creative masterpiece, these displays capture the spirit of the season and give us all a reason to celebrate.”
According to a recent letter from the Goldwater Institute, Governor Katie Hobbs’ administration has imposed a regime of regulation that has ground the development of new home construction in the fast-growing areas of Maricopa County to a halt. Now, the organization is challenging the validity of the newly established rules.
A press release this week from Goldwater stated that the action conducted by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR), which lacks the approval of the Arizona legislature or a formal regulatory approval process, is “driving up housing costs for all Arizonans and threatens to stifle economic growth in our state.”
Goldwater went on to characterize the ADWR’s move as “one of the most significant bureaucratic overreaches in Arizona’s history.” In its letter to the agency, it urged leaders to reverse course.
Bureaucrats under AZ @GovernorHobbs have enacted a rule stopping new home construction in Maricopa County’s fastest-growing, affordable areas.
Jon Riches, Goldwater’s Vice President for Litigation, explained in his letter:
“ADWR has imposed two AMA-Wide rules that have prevented HBACA (Home Builders Association of Central Arizona) members from obtaining Certificates of Assured Water Supply. The first of these invalid rules provides that, if groundwater modeling predicts that a well may not be able to fully satisfy projected demand in any location within the Phoenix AMA Model domain within the next 100 years, then there is no groundwater available throughout the entire model domain (‘AMAWide Unmet Demand Rule’). The second invalid rule provides that if modeling predicts that depth-to-water will exceed 1,000 feet in any location within the Phoenix AMA in the next 100 years, then there is no physical availability of water anywhere within the Phoenix AMA model domain (‘AMA-Wide Depth-to-Water Rule’).”
Goldwater noted that the AMA-Wide Unmet Demand Rule doesn’t exist under Arizona law and was not adopted through the legal rulemaking process. It argued that under previous rulings in Arizona courts, the policies are “rules” and are legally subject to Administrative Procedure Act’s (“APA”) rulemaking process. Specifically, it cites “an agency policy as a rule subject to the Administrative Procedures Act’s rulemaking process as one that ‘is generally applicable, and … implements, interprets or prescribes law or policy, or describes the procedure or practice requirements of an agency.’”
Furthermore, the rule was reportedly created under what Goldwater refers to as a “flawed concept,” the eponymous “unmet demand,” which establishes that if a groundwater shortage is projected by models at any location within a given management area, then zero groundwater across that area will be considered available for any use.
“The model further compounds this issue by arbitrarily placing wells throughout the management area that do not move over the course of 100 years, far in excess of the life expectancy of most wells,” Goldwater writes.
”If water in a hypothetical well is projected to dip below a certain depth in the East Valley, the agency declares a water shortage for developments in entirely unrelated areas like the West Valley.”
In the release, the Goldwater Institute expressed concern that the Hobbs administration took this action unilaterally, effectively defying both the legislative and judicial branches of the Arizona government in what amounts to a massive overreach of her executive authority.
