New legislation proposes that veterans receive the same benefit of reduced retirement age as certain reservists.
Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) introduced the Reserve Component Fairness Act to end what he says is an improper disadvantage to veterans who served on regular active duty before transitioning to the National Guard or Reserve.
Veterans won’t qualify for reserve retired pay until they reach 60 years old. Reservists who are recalled to active duty or certain active service in response to a national emergency, however, have that retirement threshold reduced by three months for each cumulative period of 90 days’ active duty or service.
Hamadeh’s legislation proposes extending that benefit to veterans who have completed certain active-duty service and go on to join the Reserve.
Veterans would still have to complete existing requirements under Reserve retirement rules, which includes completing 20 years of service, and accept the current statutory minimum retirement age of 50 years old.
The congressman said in a press release that the current Reserve retirement age reduction rules rely on a bureaucratic and arbitrary distinction. Hamadeh argued further that qualifying military service shouldn’t count only if completed after affiliating with the Ready Reserve.
Hamadeh disclosed that veterans brought the disparate treatment to his attention.
“This legislation corrects a situation created by bureaucrats who arbitrarily made a distinction between two service members who may have performed identical active-duty service under the same conditions,” stated Hamadeh. “This common-sense legislation changes that without creating a new retirement benefit or altering eligibility for non-regular retired pay. Members must still satisfy all existing statutory requirements for a Reserve retirement, including completing 20 qualifying years of service, and the current statutory minimum retirement age of 50 remains unchanged.”
Hamadeh is a member of the House committees for Veterans’ Affairs as well as Armed Services.
Of the 33 bills Hamadeh has introduced that are available on the Congress website, about 40% are on the subject of the military: 10 bills concern the welfare of veterans and service members, and three bills concern military equipment and resources.
If passed, this latest proposed bill could further complement the Trump administration’s goal of boosting military recruitment through incentives.
For two years now, that approach has reportedly worked. A cooling labor market has enhanced the appeal of new incentivizes and driven more individuals to enlist.
Earlier this month, the Department of Defense announced that all branches had met or exceeded their fiscal year 2026 goals for recruitment months ahead of schedule. All branches also met or exceeded their recruitment goals in 2025.
Recruitment had hit a low in 2022.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attributed the recruiting highs as a product of the Trump administration instituting “back to the basics” military norms.
“This is what happens when strong leadership under President Trump, high standards, a return to perfecting the basics, and a mission that matters come together,” said Hegseth. “Americans are stepping up to serve because they believe in our country, our Navy, and our warfighters.”
The U.S. Navy just hit its recruiting goal of 45,000 Sailors – 3 months ahead of schedule. Even more impressive: they raised their goal by 10% and still exceeded expectations.
This is what happens when strong leadership under President Trump, high standards, a return to… pic.twitter.com/nlpr5TsHPo
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) July 1, 2026
The Pentagon told the Military Times that recruitment was at 103% of their target for this year.
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The Higley Unified School District (HUSD) community must choose between two candidates to fill a governing board vacancy, per a new court ruling.
The Maricopa County Superior Court ruled last week that voters must choose between two write-in candidates, Kathleen Richards and Travis White, who appear to have gotten special notice of a board vacancy after board member Scott Glover waited to file his resignation until July 20, 2026, the same day as the candidate filing deadline.
District policy requires board members to give resignation letter copies to the superintendent and the board prior to the effective resignation date. However, Glover not only waited until the morning of the candidate filing deadline to notify the superintendent, he waited until one minute before the candidate filing deadline to notify his fellow board members of his resignation.
Approximately two hours after Glover filed his resignation letter, Richards and White arrived at the superintendent’s office to file as write-in candidates for the vacancy.
Maricopa County School Superintendent Shelli Boggs decided to fill the vacancy through appointment, rather than election, given the timing of the write-in filings.
“Because the seat was not otherwise scheduled to appear on the 2026 ballot, the timing of the vacancy created an extraordinary situation: few who knew about the vacancy had a narrow window to file for the seat, while the broader Higley community had no opportunity to learn that the seat was even available,” stated the county superintendent’s office.
A week later, White sued Boggs to force an election in which only he and Richards would be the eligible candidates.
Since Richards and White were the only individuals to file prior to the deadline, only those votes with their names will count.
Richards is a private music and substitute teacher who has previously run for the board, and has served on the HUSD Citizen’s Committee.
White is the director and deputy chief information security officer for Shutterfly. Federal Elections Commission records only reflect a few small donations to Democrats in recent years: Sen. Bernie Sander’s 2020 presidential campaign and former congressman Beto O’Rourke’s 2018 Senate campaign.
Although school boards are nonpartisan, the two write-in candidates have hinted at their political affiliations.
Last January, Richards stated in a Facebook post that supporters of President Donald Trump and those not actively protesting his administration don’t deserve to live.
“We have a president who wants to rewrite the history that is taught to our students so that it makes cis white men more palatable,” said Richards. “If you have been able to sit for the last two weeks and be quiet, I question your morality, your humanity, and your place in this world sharing oxygen with those of us who will go to that for the marginalized in our communities.”
In a May board meeting, White defended the independence of teachers and said that student proficiency wasn’t as low as portrayals of data would indicate.
“To suggest that our teachers just teach what they were hired to teach without evolving is a recipe for stagnation. When a teacher finds an amazing tool at a conference, they don’t go rogue, they bring it to their leadership because they’re professionals who care about student achievement,” said White.
White said the district’s “A” rating nullified the low proficiency rates in math and English Language Arts: 61% and 55%, respectively.
“It’s one thing to have a different vision for our schools. It’s quite another to manufacture a crisis using alternative facts. When it’s claimed that 50% of our students are not proficient, it isn’t just misrepresenting a spreadsheet, it’s actively disparaging the hard work of our teachers and the achievements of our children,” said White.
Richards and White volunteered together on Yes for Higley Schools, a nonprofit political action committee urging a favorable vote on an override for HUSD. Voters rejected the override.
Boggs justified her decision to seek appointment over election to fill Glover’s vacancy in a post-court ruling press release issued on Friday.
Boggs implied that the two candidates had enjoyed special access to information that inherently deprived the Higley community the proper opportunity to access the ballot.
“I was not willing to simply look the other way when the circumstances gave a small number of people an opportunity that thousands of other Higley residents did not even know existed,” said Boggs. “I acted because I believe every qualified member of that community deserved a fair and meaningful opportunity to be considered for the seat.”
The timing of the resignation has led some community members to suspect that Glover’s departure was intentionally timed to wrest control of the board.
Board member Anna Van Hoek echoed those speculations.
“Nothing says defending democracy quite like secretly coordinating with a sitting Board member while denying everyone else in the community an equal opportunity to compete for the seat,” said Van Hoek.
However, board president Amanda Wade disputed the claims.
Wade did express frustration with Glover’s failure to follow board policy on resignations and his decision to wait until the day of the candidate filing deadline, but denied that his tardiness and lack of communication were part of an intentional political maneuver.
“Mr. Glover’s actions and decisions he made in this resignation process are his alone,” said Wade. “I do have a hard time with a sitting board member recklessly implying actions made by the district, Higley Educators Association [sic], and other board members because they are unhappy with choices Mr. Glover made.”
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The much-anticipated Mattel Adventure Park in Glendale appears to be delayed indefinitely.
Epic Resort Destinations was discovered recently to no longer be the developer behind the theme park and resort. However, the developer will continue to build in its other Mattel Adventure Park location in Kansas City, Kansas, which has also been delayed.
Epic Resort Destinations broke ground on the theme park as part of a larger 60-acre development in 2021, initially called Crystal Lagoons. In 2022, funding troubles prompted the developer to hand over the resort side of the project to Fisher Industries, who rebranded the project as the VAI Resort.
The resort is now the owner and operator of the theme park.
It appears this ownership change took place sometime on or before June 22, 2026, the date when VAI Resort published its job listing for a rides and operations director for Mattel Adventure Park. The director would be responsible for the maintenance, engineering, and technical operations for the theme park, and compensation would start at $150,000.
VAI Resort also posted job listings earlier this month for a construction procurement specialist and construction project coordinator. Both would pay $30 per hour.
Joseph said in a statement to Axios that the resort would be “redefining” the park’s “guest experience and creative vision.”
As of this report, the Mattel Adventure Park website reflects the theme park as “coming soon.” Links to park features are broken, however.
Some of the attractions have been partially constructed.
The theme park was promised to have a Barbie-themed shopping and dining experience which included a custom Barbie set builder, a flying theater, and rooftop bar and restaurant; Hot Wheels-themed go-kart and rollercoaster rides; seven Thomas & Friends attractions and an indoor play space and cafe; a Masters of the Universe-themed, 4,500 square-foot laser tag arena designed to look like Castle Grayskull fortress.
Other promotional materials shared on the park’s website or social media also included mentions of a beachfront pool, UNO! Wild Climb, mini golf, a Kerplunk drop tower, pizza kitchen, and general games area. Both official social media accounts for the theme park ceased posting in March 2024.
The theme park was originally set to open in 2023 but was hit with a series of delays, the latest of which occurred earlier this summer.
One of the causes for those delays concerned propositions limiting development on the 60 acres joining VAI Resort and Mattel Adventure Park. Last year, voters rejected Proposition 401, which would have allowed for the development of office buildings and a parking garage for the project.
Voters approved Proposition 402, which enables commercial development on the project land.
Faced with similar delays, VAI Resort no longer advertises its opening date. Instead, the owners will announce the opening date nine months prior to its occurrence.
The Mattel Adventure Park, if completed, would be the state’s first fully themed indoor/outdoor amusement park.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly suggested that the park’s delayed opening was due to the ownership change. That statement has been corrected.
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The Trump administration has finally come to an agreement with Arizona and the other Lower Basin states on Colorado River water usage.
The news was met with a mixed reaction.
Gov. Katie Hobbs described the agreed-upon deal in an announcement on Friday as adequately protecting the state from the “disastrous and unacceptable forced federal water cuts” that were floated by the federal government earlier this month.
I'm glad the federal government has chosen to implement the Lower Basin's water allocation plan. We've protected Arizona from disastrous and unacceptable forced federal water cuts.
Together, we’ve proven that the Lower Basin will work in meaningful ways to protect the Colorado…
Under the federal government’s proposal, Arizona would have seen cuts up to 77%.
Under this deal, Arizona will lose about 61%: the most out of the Lower Basin states.
While Arizona will give up 760,000 acre-feet between 2027 and 2028, California and Nevada will collectively lose 490,000 acre-feet. Overall, the cuts represent a reduction of approximately 25%.
The Upper Basin states will not see cuts under this plan.
Brenda Burman, Central Arizona Project (CAP) general manager, said the Upper Basin states needed to pull their weight.
“Lake Mead should not be sacrificed to protect Lake Powell or other Upper Basin reservoirs, and every state that relies on the river should be part of the solution,” CAP General Manager Brenda Burman said in a statement. “The Colorado River needs to be treated as the system it is.”
Some of Arizona’s elected leaders issued stand-in statements in which they disclosed that they were still reviewing the plan.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), co-chair of the congressional Colorado River Caucus, said that upon initial review the current plan avoids the “most drastic options” previously announced by the Trump administration. However, Ciscomani intimated that long-term solutions were still lacking in this latest plan.
“The goal is clear: long-term water certainty and security for Arizona,” said Ciscomani. “I will continue working with the Administration and bipartisan leaders at every level of government to protect this critical resource for our farmers, ranchers, businesses, tribes, and every Arizona family that relies on the Colorado River.”
Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) said that the deal provided two years of “welcome” stability, but that it was only “another short-term fix” and not a lasting solution.
“[A] two-year reprieve is not a solution. The agreements holding this decision together must be durable, and a record-breaking drought won’t suddenly resolve itself,” said Stanton. “Every two years, this same threat of ‘CAP to zero’ will hang over Arizona’s head. That’s no way to run a system millions of people depend on for water, power and food.”
Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03) didn’t issue a statement on the plan, but did post on social media calling water “the lifeblood of Arizona,” promising “bold action to confront the climate crisis,” and including a link to the city of Phoenix’s water quality page.
Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) issued a statement blending elements from colleagues Stanton and Ansari, calling for a more permanent solution among both the Upper and Lower Basin states while also urging action on climate change as the purported root causes of the prolonged drought.
Democrat Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego issued a joint statement simply expressing gratitude for the two years the plan afforded Arizona, and presented a lighter look forward at the road ahead for a more “lasting” plan of action. The senators also indirectly called on the Upper Basin states to take on some of the water-cuts burden as well.
“This decision provides much-needed certainty for Arizona and the Colorado River over the next two years,” Kelly and Gallego said. “The 2027 and 2028 guidelines protect Arizona from even deeper near-term cuts while giving the seven Basin states more time to reach a long-term agreement.”
Danny Seiden, Arizona Chamber President and CEO, said that the deal was “workable,” not perfect. Seiden credited state leaders for working in a bipartisan manner to accomplish the deal, specifically Hobbs, Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14), and House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29).
“We are still working through the details, but today’s decision appears to provide a workable path forward over the next two years and avoids some of the most damaging scenarios our state was facing,” said Seiden. “Arizona has already put real conservation and real cuts on the table, and the work now continues toward a long-term agreement that requires every Basin state to share in the responsibility. Arizona’s business community will continue to support our leaders as they fight for a fair, durable solution that protects our water and our economic future.”
Others weren’t so optimistic.
Scot Mussi, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, called the deal “a total failure of leadership.” Mussi criticized the deal, saying it imposes water cuts on single family homes but not data centers and apartments.
This deal is a total failure of leadership. On top of that, this deal will place most of the cuts on new single family homes while data centers and apartments get unlimited water. Conveniently, those big water users happen to be some of your biggest campaign contributors. https://t.co/pLaenPuDCc
Phoenix resident Jamar Johnson, 54, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for the theft of more than $1 million in COVID-19 pandemic loans.
Johnson admitted to submitting false applications to obtain Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans, according to a press release issued on Wednesday by the Arizona District Attorney’s Office.
Johnson claimed to run a multimillion-dollar business called CBL Worldwide II, a recreational basketball league which he purported had 73 employees and more than $4.9 million in annual payroll expenses.
Federal prosecutors said the fraudulent business had zero employees and zero payroll expenses.
Johnson reportedly used the $1 million in PPP loans for personal gain through purchases of cryptocurrency, a vehicle, and cosmetic dentistry. Johnson also transferred the ill-gotten funds to foreign markets in an effort to conceal them.
According to court records, Johnson applied for relief in late April 2020, three weeks after the PPP launched, in which he initially claimed that he had five employees and paid $144,000 in annual payroll the year prior. Johnson received $30,000 from that first loan application in May 2020.
Then, Johnson applied for a second loan in late March 2021 in which he claimed to have 73 employees and more than $4.8 million in annual payroll expenses for his amateur basketball league. Johnson received more than $977,000 for the second loan.
Court records also revealed that Johnson lost a large portion of funds invested in cryptocurrency: at least $839,000.
Johnson also received PPP loan forgiveness, which required him to falsely attest that he had spent at least 60% of the loan proceeds on actual payroll costs. He submitted false tax records to back up his claims.
Federal prosecutors requested in their sentencing memorandum filed last week that Johnson be sentenced to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release.
“Defendant lied outright to obtain the funds, which he then used to pay for personal expenses and failed investments,” stated the memorandum. “This offense involved greed, repeated lies, and Defendant taking advantage of a national emergency for his own personal benefit.”
Arizona District Court Judge Sharad Desai — a 2024 Biden appointee and brother to Roopali Desai, a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judge also appointed by Biden — sentenced Johnson to 15 months in prison and three years of supervised release.
Johnson will also be required to pay full restitution to the Small Business Administration.
Versions of Johnson’s CBL venture extend back over 20 years under various names like “CBL City Rec” or “CBL Basketball.” These versions of the CBL venture would promise varying payouts to recreational players who obtained memberships through his league.
According to a 2019 profile on Johnson by VoyagePhoenix, CBL Worldwide II was a recreational basketball league platform for adult players that offered monthly player membership fees as opposed to the traditional team fee format.
Prior to the pandemic loan fraud, Johnson promised wins up to $20,000 per year. Johnson directed applicants to download his CBL League App to subscribe to the league.
Then, around late 2021 and through 2022, Johnson began advertising $1.6 million in cash prizes. He reintroduced his venture as “CBLHoopCity.”
The league purportedly offered several team levels with “a tax-deductible membership fee,” ranging from $2,500 to $10,000. Johnson promised that national tournament cash prizes would range from $100,000 to $1 million.
Johnson’s final post on his CBLHoopCity Instagram page was a video in 2024 cautioning against scammers.
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