by Staff Reporter | Feb 9, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona lawmakers are showing their appreciation for law enforcement after a fatal helicopter crash took the lives of two on-duty responders.
The incident occurred late Wednesday night when an Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) helicopter crew lost control while dispatched to an active-shooter incident in Flagstaff.
The suspect in the active-shooter incident sustained non-fatal gunshot wounds and was apprehended.
The GOP-led Arizona House opened Thursday’s floor session with a moment of silence honoring the lives of the two lost. House Speaker Steve Montenegro expressed gratitude for Arizona’s law enforcement.
“These men served the people of Arizona with courage, with professionalism, and with quiet heroism. Every day, DPS personnel places themselves in harm’s way so that our communities can be safer,” said Montenegro.
State Sen. Kevin Payne, chair of the Senate Public Safety Committee, stressed in a press release the importance of supporting law enforcement in the present climate.
“This tragic incident highlights just how challenging, unpredictable, and dangerous the job of law enforcement can be,” said Payne. “Our public safety professionals rush toward danger when others cannot, often putting themselves in harm’s way without a second thought. Today, we take a moment to recognize that sacrifice and honor the courage, dedication, and sense of duty that characterize those who serve.”
Gov. Katie Hobbs offered support to the ones left behind by the tragedy.
Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren expressed his condolences.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of two Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers who gave their lives in the line of duty,” said Nygren. “Their ultimate sacrifice reflects unwavering commitment, courage, and dedication to protecting others. Their legacy of service will not be forgotten.”
On Friday, AZDPS identified the two fallen as Pilot Robert Skankey, 61, and trooper-paramedic Hunter Bennett, 28.
Skankey served 22 years in the Marine Corps from 1988 to 2010, retiring as a lieutenant colonel before joining AZDPS in 2021. Skankey became aviation supervisor in 2024. He earned his master’s degree at Northern Arizona University.
He was an active member of his community: he founded the Kingman Young Marines nonprofit in 2015.
Skankey leaves behind a wife and four children.
Bennett joined AZDPS in 2022 as a top performer within his training academy, coming out at graduation with honors as class speaker. Prior to joining AZDPS, Bennett graduated magna cum laude from Arizona State University’s Barrett Honors College.
Bennett leaves behind his high school sweetheart, whom he married in 2024.
The crash remains under active investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are working with AZDPS on identifying the cause of the crash.
In a press conference on Friday, AZDPS advised that it was “inappropriate and irresponsible to speculate” on the cause of the crash, apparently alluding to certain rumors spreading across social media of an intentional takedown of the helicopter. One of those rumors concerned a private drone.
When asked about the drone rumor, AZDPS again stated that speculation was irresponsible and that their investigation remained active.
No gunfire came from the AZDPS helicopter.
AZDPS shared that the aircraft involved in the crash went through a maintenance check a few days before the crash. It was not considered outdated or slated for replacement.
Civilian footage of the crash showed the helicopter drop noiselessly out of the sky.
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by Staff Reporter | Feb 8, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The GOP-led Arizona House censured Attorney General Kris Mayes over remarks they say endangered law enforcement.
The House passed HR2004 on Thursday with only Republican support. All Democrats voted against the measure.
State Rep. Joseph Chaplik (R-LD3), the bill sponsor, said in a press release that Mayes had spoken in a manner that proved her lack of fitness for office. House Republicans are urging the attorney general to resign.
“This was not a slip of the tongue. These reckless statements, which she has refused to retract, put officers in danger. When the top law enforcement official in the state fuels confusion, criminals listen and peace officers pay the price,” said Chaplik. “Our officers deserve leadership that protects them, not an Attorney General who puts targets on their backs.”
Last month, Mayes offered a response to the increased federal immigration enforcement in a sit-down interview that political leaders from both parties said was inappropriate and dangerous.
The attorney general faces accusations that she effectively created a legal justification for shooting ICE and other law enforcement agents in an interview with 12News.
“[I]f you reasonably believe that your life is in danger and you’re in your house or your car or on your property, that you can defend yourself with lethal force,” said Mayes.
Mayes later told KTAR News that Renee Good would have been justified in shooting ICE. Good was shot by an ICE agent last month after she began driving her car at him. Good was present on the scene to disrupt immigration enforcement operations. Her partner yelled at Good to drive after ICE agents ordered Good to stop and exit the vehicle.
“If you are really sure that they are ICE and they present a badge or they present identification, then I would not recommend using lethal force against them. But one of the worries that I have is [that] we have a Stand Your Ground law in Arizona,” said Mayes. “If you reasonably believe that your life is in danger and especially if you’re in your home or your automobile, essentially the Castle Doctrine, you can use lethal force to protect yourself.”
Gov. Katie Hobbs told reporters that Mayes’ speech was “inappropriate” and advised her to issue a retraction.
“It is the responsibility of every elected official to turn down the temperature and do everything we can to be very careful with our language about ramping up the potential for violence,” said Hobbs. “We are seeing across the county people’s fear increasing and the potential for violence.”
So far, Mayes has maintained that her remarks were misunderstood: she didn’t advise the shooting of ICE agents, she advised ICE agents that they were in danger of a justified shooting because they often wear masks.
“Arizonans do not want masked agents entering their homes without warrants. It is un-American and it threatens the rights and safety of everyone in our state,” said Mayes. “We have all witnessed the increasingly chaotic and dangerous activity of ICE agents in cities across the country.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Feb 8, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
New polling reflects a continued high level of support for President Donald Trump’s mass deportations.
Earlier this week, the White House shared two sets of polling data that declare opinions of deportation remain positive.
Republicans, independents, and swing voters who responded all shared majority positive opinions on mass deportations in one poll from Cygnal: Republicans, 97%; independents, 59%; and swing voters, 64%. Only 25% of Democrat respondents expressed support for mass deportations, and 67% said they opposed.
This polling data came from just over 1,000 voters likely to vote in this year’s midterm general election.
A significant majority of all respondents also aligned when it came to interpretations of immigration law and enforcement.
73% of all respondents agreed that entering the country without permission constitutes breaking the law. 61% overall supported deportations for illegal aliens. 64% determined that illegal aliens were a very to somewhat severe problem: 33% of Democrats, 60% of independents, and 97% of Republicans.
A slimmer majority amounting to 58% of respondents rejected the Democrat-led proposal to defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Less than that, 54% overall, supported ICE enforcing federal immigration laws.
The Democrats’ fight within Congress to defund ICE mustered a partial shutdown this week.
The shutdown arose beyond Democrats’ general disagreement with mass deportations. Democratic leaders oppose Department of Homeland Security (DHS) approaches to carrying out immigration enforcement. Two American activists in two separate incidents died last month after their protests against ICE turned into interference with law enforcement operations.
Both individuals, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot by ICE agents after refusing law enforcement orders.
Anti-ICE activists have also taken to protesting across Arizona. The Phoenix ICE office has been vandalized repeatedly, sometimes with death threats, and been subjected to protests that have devolved into rioting as activists resisted law enforcement orders.
This week’s partial shutdown was much shorter-lived than the longest one in America’s history that occurred last year, lasting over 40 days from October to November. President Donald Trump signed a spending package lifting the shutdown on Tuesday.
The second poll shared by the Trump administration came from Harvard University Center for American Political Studies (CAPS) and Harris. That polling reflected that 73% of Americans believe criminal illegal aliens should be deported. 2,000 registered voters served as respondents. Most of the voters said that price increases, inflation, and affordability along with immigration were their top two concerns.
Overall, the Harvard-Harris polling found that Trump’s approval rating on key issues (the economy, immigration, foreign affairs, administering the government, handling inflation, reducing the cost of government, returning America to its values, tariffs and trade policy, and fighting crime in America’s cities) ranged from 39% to 47%. The president’s highest rating level was 51% for response to anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis.
Overall, 38% of voters said the country was on the right track: 74% of Republicans, 15% of Democrats, and 24% of independent voters. Likely voters, not weighted in the median total, were at 43%. Congressional approval was worse: 32% overall.
35% of overall voters said their financial situation was improving, and 40% said it was declining.
Other polls have found dramatically different sentiments among the American people. Another three-day poll conducted by Ipsos determined that 62% of Americans believe current ICE enforcement activities go too far.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Feb 7, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
In the latest escalation between Maricopa County leaders’ legal jockeying for elections authority, the Board of Supervisors reportedly subpoenaed staff with the Recorder’s Office.
Recorder Justin Heap issued a statement on Tuesday accusing the board of attempting “to intimidate and bully” his staff and “unduly influence” the pending court ruling. The recorder and board have been fighting for months in the Maricopa County Superior Court over who has proper authority over which elections administration powers.
“Their actions are beyond inappropriate,” said Heap. “My staff has bent over backwards to work with the Board, yet despite our earnest efforts the Board continues to engage in unhinged, emotional, and unprofessional behavior.”
Within the hour of Heap’s post, supervisor and former chair Thomas Galvin quoted Scripture that appeared to allude that the truth of the matter was beyond Heap’s remarks.
“‘And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’ – John 8:32,” posted Galvin.
Galvin also shared a video from Chair Kate Brophy McGee addressing the accusations from Heap. McGee said their subpoena concerned an apparent conflict between Heap’s remarks during his annual budget request and sworn testimony on voter disenfranchisement from Heap’s staff, both of which took place last week on separate days.
“At Maricopa County, we count every lawful vote. That’s why we take any claim of disenfranchisement seriously, and have asked the Recorder’s office to provide further testimony regarding conflicting claims recently made by Recorder Heap and his staff,” said McGee. “This is an important issue and we need straight answers. If any voters are being disenfranchised, we will fix it immediately. If not, then the Recorder’s office must clarify to the court why it provided such testimony. Maricopa County voters need the truth.”
During last week’s board hearing, Heap said no voters had been disenfranchised since he took office in January 2025.
“We stated that we want this machine to make sure that we don’t disenfranchise voters. We didn’t say that any voters have been disenfranchised since I took office in the administration,” said Heap.
Two days earlier, Heap’s chief of staff, Sam Stone, issued sworn testimony in the Maricopa County Superior Court that disenfranchisement was occurring in the present.
“We had two potential places we would have made the substantial changes to one or the other to bring this in, to not disenfranchise voters, which is happening now,” said Stone.
Stone directed the court to testimony from Janine Petty, senior director of voter registration, who said disenfranchisement occurred during the 2024 election when certain provisional ballots were processed as federal-only due to time constraints even though they were voted as a full ballot.
“[Those provisional ballots] would be counted, but they would not be afforded the full ballot. So they would be duplicated by the elections board to be a federal ballot, when that voter was entitled a full ballot and voted a full ballot,” said Petty.
Heap earned a legal win on Wednesday against the board after the Maricopa County Superior Court rejected the board’s move to stop America First Legal (AFL) from representing Heap in court going forward.
AFL sued the board on behalf of Heap last summer over the contested elections administration powers, a battle stemming from a “lame duck” agreement between the outgoing recorder, Stephen Richer, and a board majority also on their way out.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Feb 6, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Republican lawmakers in the Arizona House are continuing their investigation into Gov. Katie Hobbs over an alleged pay-to-play scheme.
On Monday, House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) announced the House advisory team obtained outside counsel from out of state to investigate the connection between Hobbs and a Glendale group home, Sunshine Residential Homes, independently.
Montenegro said in a statement that the connection between the governor and the group home constituted special treatment derived directly from political donations. The lawmaker said that the addition of outside counsel was necessary to achieve the full independence an investigation of this significance needed.
“The advisory team has done serious, disciplined work, and their recommendation to bring in independent counsel is the right next step,” said Montenegro. “The House will not look the other way when taxpayer dollars and vulnerable children may have been used as leverage in a political scheme. We will follow the facts, consider the findings, and ensure transparency and accountability in state government. Arizonans deserve nothing less.”
The outside counsel is Justin Smith with the Missouri-based James Otis Law Group. The law group was founded by Trump’s solicitor general, D. John Sauer.
Smith is the listed counsel in President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against a woman, E. Jean Carroll, alleging battery and defamation. Carroll sued Trump for defamation after he publicly denied her 2019 claims of him sexually assaulting her in the 1990s.
That petition is before the Supreme Court.
According to Montenegro, Smith will conduct records review and interviews. All findings will go directly to the advisory team and House leadership.
Advisory team members are State Reps. Selina Bliss (R-LD1), David Livingston (R-LD28), Matt Gress (R-LD4), Quang Nguyen (R-LD1), and Neal Carter (R-LD15).
Last November, that advisory team was created to follow up on 2024 media reporting alleging the pay-to-play scheme within the Arizona Department of Child Safety under Hobbs’ direction.
In the summer of 2024, the Arizona Republic reported that Sunshine Residential Homes received a unique 30% rate increase following a donation exceeding $400,000 to Hobbs and the Arizona Democratic Party.
Much of 2024 was spent attempting to determine who, if anyone, was fit to conduct an investigation into the allegations against the governor.
One of the earliest requests came from Republican State Sen. T.J. Shope, who asked Attorney General Kris Mayes to investigate. Mayes complied initially, but was immediately hit with other Republican lawmakers and state leaders asking her to recuse herself due to an alleged conflict of interest.
State Rep. Matt Gress asked Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell and Auditor General Lindsey Perry to investigate.
All three leaders are investigating. Mitchell and Perry are coordinating on one investigation, while Mayes will conduct her own investigation.
As reported last November, the work of the House’s advisory team will coordinate with these parallel investigations by the auditor general and county attorney, and the attorney general.
In February 2024, Sunshine Residential Homes owners Elizabeth and Simon Kottoor maxed out their donations to Hobbs’ reelection campaign. Each gave the maximum $5,400 contribution amount.
In October 2022, the Kottoors gave Hobbs’ initial gubernatorial campaign $10,000.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
