by Staff Reporter | Oct 16, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Attorney General Kris Mayes says recently elected congresswoman Adelita Grijalva must be sworn in, or else she will take legal action against House leadership.
Statewide certification occurred on Tuesday. After, Mayes sent a letter threatening House Speaker Mike Johnson with legal action should Grijalva not be sworn in promptly. Grijalva assumed the seventh congressional district seat vacated by her father, Raúl Grijalva, in a special election last month.
“Failing to seat Ms. Grijalva immediately or to otherwise provide a reasonable explanation as to when she will be seated will prompt legal action,” said Mayes in her demand letter.
Representative-elect Grijalva received nearly 70 percent of the 102,000 votes certified, a “substantial share” of which were mail-in ballots. There are about 440,000 registered voters in the district, which would mean Grijalva was elected by just 16 percent of all active registered voters in the district.
Even though Grijalva represents far less than a quarter of voters in her district — and her father was virtually absent from two whole sessions of Congress — Democrats insist on the relevance of immediate representation for the seventh congressional district.
In an accompanying press release, Mayes blamed the delay to swear in Grijalva on “political games.”
“It’s way past time for Mike Johnson to stop the political games and seat Adelita without delay,” said Mayes. “We are keeping every option open to us, including litigation, to hold him accountable and make sure that Adelita is able to begin her work as Arizona’s newest member of Congress.”
Grijalva has also been accused of political games with her demands to be sworn in prior to the certification of the special election, which would officiate the results.
The Democratic Women’s Caucus — and a few male Democratic electeds — marched the Capitol hallways chanting “Swear her in!” with matching political signs that read, “Every American Deserves Representation. Swear in Adelita Grijalva Now.”
Johnson was not in the Capitol during this display, as he was reportedly attending the ceremony to award the late Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on what would have been his 32nd birthday. Kirk was assassinated by a progressive activist last month.
A Johnson aide told CNN that Grijalva is one bargaining measure to pressure Democrats to lift the ongoing government shutdown, which has lasted over two weeks now.
Grijalva insists there’s more to the story. The representative-elect claims Johnson’s delay doesn’t have to do with the shutdown but with her support for releasing the Epstein files. Grijalva’s signature would ensure their release.
Mayes addressed the Johnson aide remarks in her demand letter.
“Arizona’s right to a full delegation, and the right of the residents of CD 7 to representation from the person they recently voted for, are not up for debate and may not be delayed or used as leverage in negotiations about unrelated legislation,” said Mayes.
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by Staff Reporter | Oct 15, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
In a departure from the “soft on crime” approach, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero announced she will allow law enforcement to address crime.
Romero called the city’s approach the “Safe City Initiative.” The mayor announced the initiative on Sunday following months of community outcry over the ever-worsening levels of homelessness and crime in the city.
Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar said felony arrests increased by 50 percent and misdemeanor arrests increased by 100 percent over the last five years. Kasmar told KGUN9 that fentanyl’s rise is largely to blame; per the chief, 80 percent of addicts on the streets will refuse treatment because they know there are no consequences for breaking the law.
“It’s the reality that they know, if they only get caught with a lower level of possession, that they’re likely to have those charges dismissed during initial appearance, and they think, well, I’ll just be out. I’ll just be out in six or eight hours,” said Kasmar. “It’s not a big deal [to them].”
One Tucson native since 1999 described it this way in a Reddit post last November:
“The nightly shootings, open drug use and dealing, street prostitution, and gang activity is unlike anything I’ve seen here,” said the user. “It used to be the case that there were a half dozen bad intersections. Now it seems like every intersection is bad. Half of the bus stops have people slumped over or doing drugs. It feels like Gotham in a Batman movie.”
When a Tucson resident pointed out the Tucson Police Department’s reported crimes data site shows a slight decline in recent years, another native pointed out that Tucson residents don’t see the point in reporting the crimes anymore.
“Have you tried to report a crime lately? No officer shows up except for certain felony crimes. You have to make an online report that may as well be routed to some computer’s trash bin,” said the native. “Crime is ‘declining’ because people no longer see the point in reporting it, much like the declining unemployment rate that resulted because people simply stopped looking for work. An opinion column isn’t necessarily the best unbiased source for this info.”
The council may also pass an ordinance making drug possession a misdemeanor in order to work around the unwillingness of the Superior Court to prosecute drug offenses, even though those are felony offenses. With such an ordinance, the city could prosecute drug cases in the Municipal Court.
“Everyone deserves to be safe — in your neighborhood, at work, and in our public spaces,” said Romero. “We hear your current concerns about safety in our community loud and clear, and we share them. That is why we are launching the Safe City Initiative.”
As a precursor to the initiative, Romero defended the many social services aimed at the homeless population including the “low barrier” shelters, Violence Interruption Vitalization Action, Community Safety Health and Wellness, and Multi-Disciplinary Outreach Teams. And yet, Romero said these many services don’t stymie the major source of crimes: the homeless individuals with mental illnesses and/or drug addiction.
Romero said the city would continue investment in those programs. Additional investing will come from the opioid settlement funds to establish a Sobering Alternative Facility for Recovery Center, said Romero.
The Safe City Initiative will create a task force under the city manager, Tim Thomure, to help shape ordinances and policies that combine law enforcement action and drug addiction treatment. It will also increase police presence on public transit and in other high-crime areas, and social service outreach presence in areas with high levels of homelessness.
The mayor alluded to seeking greater state and regional funding and establishing more partnerships for treatments of mental and behavioral illness, and substance abuse.
The initiative also promises to expand the sessions offered by Community Court, which provides diversion programs for criminals dealing with mental illness and/or drug addictions.
Last week, the Tucson Police Department deployed officers to clear out a major homeless encampment.
Romero, first elected in 2019 and reelected in 2023, is coming up on the last leg of her second term, which ends in December 2027. The mayor may serve three consecutive four-year terms before being termed out.
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by Staff Reporter | Oct 11, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva says her district deserves representation, though she was silent on the absence of her father, the late Raúl Grijalva, from office.
The younger Grijalva has yet to be sworn in. She says Republicans are to blame for their refusal to agree to Democrats’ desired Obamacare continuations to lift the ongoing government shutdown.
“Speaker Johnson continues to make excuses but all the while southern Arizona still does not have a voice in Washington,” said Grijlava.
Senator Ruben Gallego also blamed House Speaker Mike Johnson and the rest of his Republican colleagues for Grijalva not being sworn in, claiming Johnson was telling “lies” to the public.
Contrary to Grijalva’s characterization of the situation, Grijalva can’t be sworn in because the statewide certification has yet to take place.
Grijalva’s desire to secure representation for her district is also a newfound one. She had little to say during the final years of her father’s term.
The late Grijalva missed most votes from last year and this year amid a lung cancer battle that would ultimately claim his life in March at 77 years old. The longtime Democrat had held his seat for 20 years when he announced his lung cancer diagnosis in 2023.
The late Grijalva missed nearly all votes (about 97 percent of votes) this and the last session before his passing. The only vote he took this session was for Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for House Speaker at the start of session. He defended his absence with the claim his vote wouldn’t have any impact in a Republican-controlled Congress.
“They’re inconsequential because the Republicans are in charge and it’s the worst performing Congress in decades, if not a hundred years,” said Grijalva at the time.
Tucson residents were quick to point out the successor Grijalva’s hypocrisy.
“A lung cancer diagnosis in April 2024 led Grijalva to miss most of his votes in the House of Representatives throughout the year and into 2025,” said one user. “[You] didn’t say a damn word.”
Grijalva couldn’t be sworn in sooner than next Tuesday, anyways, because that’s when the statewide canvass is scheduled.
Arizona Secretary of State and fellow Democrat Adrian Fontes issued a press release on that point. The deadline to file an election contest, also, will not occur until October 20.
Next Tuesday is also the earliest date the Senate will reconvene to possibly agree on a continuing resolution to cease the government shutdown.
Debbie Lesko, Maricopa County Supervisor and former congresswoman, reminded the public that she wasn’t sworn in until the House began its session that year, in 2018.
“[This is] what’s happening with Grijalva,” said Lesko. “The Democrats and media are making a big deal over nothing.”
Congress had its longest shutdown on record from December 2018 to January 2019. The shutdown has lasted for over a week now.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Oct 10, 2025 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
A school social worker “gone rogue,” who resigned to avoid firing in 2023, claimed she had the approval of a governing board member.
Peoria Unified School District (PUSD) investigated and ultimately released a now-former Peoria Flex Academy social worker, Allyson Jamee Ross, for treating students and taking them off campus without parental consent, according to records obtained and first reported on by the Arizona Daily Independent.
Ross worked in PUSD from around 2019 to 2023. Prior to that, Ross worked with the Child Protective Services and foster care systems in both Arizona and Virginia.
Ross defended her actions — which included taking students to doctors appointments and serving as their health advocates, helping a student plan to run away from home, taking a pregnant student to a Wiccan for consultation, and assisting a student with securing a birth control prescription — as necessary, comparing parents to “wolves” when describing their involvement.
“Our students don’t have the parents or guidance to teach them those skills,” said Ross. “I will be in the wrong, but I will never send a student away because I don’t have a consent form.”
Ross claimed she acted with the approval of her boss, Peoria Flex Academy Principal Cybill Jacob, and PUSD governing board member Melissa Ewing.
“She [Jacobs] knows exactly what I’m doing with students every single week. She knows very well, and even brags to Melissa [Board Member] about how her social worker goes so above and beyond and does all these great things like taking them to doctor’s appointments, food stamps, social security, etc.,” said Ross in an interview with investigators. “It was completely supported by everyone, driving students in personal vehicles. The van is never available, always broken, stolen catalytic converter, or always in the shop.”
Ross also violated district policy by transporting them regularly in a personal vehicle. School leaders attempted to resolve Ross’ infractions through trainings and meetings before turning her over for an investigation that concluded with giving her the option to voluntarily resign or face punishment.
PUSD didn’t file a statement of charges against Ross since she voluntarily resigned and voluntarily surrendered her social worker certificate.
PUSD also reported Ross to the Arizona State Board of Education.
PUSD Board President Heather Rooks shared the report on Ross. Ewing admonished Rooks for sharing the article and the detail of her alleged knowledge of the incident publicly.
“I had no knowledge of this happening and never would have supported this. You could have placed a phone call to me to ask me that as we sit on the same board. We have sat together for almost 3 years. We have both heard the same information both in public and in executive session,” said Ewing. “As President of the Board, you could have asked that this be reviewed in executive session – oh wait you did, despite it happening 2 years ago. All 5 board members heard the same information.”
State Senate candidate Anthony Kern (also a former state lawmaker) said that this incident justified the opposition he and other Republican lawmakers share over having social workers on school campuses.
“[Social workers] are tools of the deranged Democrats,” said Kern. “Get your children out of public schools. Sign up for an ESA account.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Oct 9, 2025 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
The superintendent of Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD), Jeremy Calles, declined to show up to a legislative hearing to audit his district.
Instead, Calles had a notice of defamation claim served to the committee ahead of their hearing. State Representative Matt Gress, House Education Committee chairman and Joint Legislative Audit Committee vice chairman, explained that Calles filed the $150,000 defamation claim because lawmakers were holding the hearing.
Gress also said Calles wanted to charge him up to $28,000 for “basic” public records pertaining to the district’s finances. Gress requested those records in August following a separate committee hearing the previous month.
“This is a very unusual situation,” said Gress. “I’ve not seen a school district or any political subdivision of the state for that matter, be so antagonistic to the legislature’s constitutional authority and responsibility to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.”
Lawmakers held a joint audit committee hearing on Tuesday to discuss TUHSD finances under Calles.
TUHSD came under legislative scrutiny following a $25 million leaseback agreement to rescue the Isaac School District (ISD) at the start of this year — another district with allegations of financial mismanagement. Calles disclosed in the July hearing that initial conversations on the ISD deal began with the other role he holds as a consultant. Calles is the highest paid superintendent in the state.
Gress flagged the deal as potentially unlawful and challenged Attorney General Kris Mayes’ approval of the deal.
“This agreement raises glaring legal and financial red flags,” said Gress. “The Isaac School District has a long history of financial mismanagement, and now it’s relying on a last-minute bailout that may not even be legal. The Attorney General owes the public clear answers about how this deal was approved and whether it complies with state law.”
ISD was placed into receivership in January. Preliminary investigations into the district’s finances found it overspent nearly $30 million — mainly federal relief dollars during the COVID-19 pandemic — and falsified financial records.
Over the summer, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed legislation inspired by ISD that would oust the school board of any district placed in receivership.
“[T]he financial mismanagement of the Isaac School District is unacceptable, and governing board leadership must take accountability and resign,” said Hobbs. “This bill appears to seek broad retribution rather than providing targeted methods to address problems. Mandating the upheaval of an entire elected school board is blatant legislative overreach that would create disruption and confusion for school districts during a time of crisis.”
Last November TUHSD spent nearly $77,000 on “luxury vacations” for its board members and administrators over the course of two days for just 30 people.
The bipartisan committee voted unanimously, 9-0, to audit TUHSD following testimony.
Felipe Mandurraga, who was a principal at Tolleson Union High School for eight years until he resigned following this spring semester, testified that Calles abused funding. One of Mandurraga’s allegations was that Calles handed out $20,000 vouchers to teachers without rules on their expenditure.
Apart from finances, Mandurraga also alleged TUHSD officials allowed a teacher in a relationship with a student to resign with full benefits without launching an investigation, filing a report with police, or reporting the incident to the Arizona State Board of Education (ASBE). Mandurraga further alleged the teacher in question was hired two weeks later by another district and has no pending complaints according to ASBE.
Mandurraga also alleged that Calles denied the removal of a student suspected of possessing a gun on campus; several months later, that same student was involved in a Phoenix shooting.
Calles denied knowledge of the alleged incident to members of the media.
The committee also heard testimony from the Citizens for Schools Accountability.
Auditor General Lindsay Perry said the audit would take until January 2027 to complete.
Last December, TUHSD placed Calles on paid leave amid tensions between himself and several board members. Months before, Calles had filed a formal sexual harassment complaint against then-Governing Board President and current State Representative Elda Luna-Najera.
An independent investigation by TUHSD found that Calles and Luna-Najera were in a consensual, sexual relationship. Calles filed a complaint of retaliation for his placement on paid leave.
In January, TUHSD paid Calles $450,000 to settle his complaints of sexual harassment and retaliation. TUHSD Governing Board President Leezah Sun read the statement announcing the settlement. Sun resigned from the state legislature last year to avoid expulsion after the House Ethics Committee found she violated ethics rules.
Prior to becoming TUHSD superintendent in 2023, Calles served as the district’s chief financial officer for six years.
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