by Staff Reporter | Oct 25, 2024 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
24-year-old Daniel Ashpes of the Tempe Union High School District was arrested for threats against Donald Trump Jr. and Turning Point USA founder, CEO Charlie Kirk.
The Tempe Police Department announced Ashpes’s arrest on Tuesday; he was taken into custody on Thursday, Oct. 17. Ashpes messaged threats directed at Trump Jr. and Kirk through a mass messaging system while they were in town for a political rally last week.
“Daniel Ashpes was taken into custody by Tempe police on Thursday, after detectives were notified of threatening messages sent in response to an automated mass-messaging system asking for an RSVP to the Turning Point rally at a Tempe hotel,” said the department on Facebook. “TPD’s Threat Mitigation Unit launched an immediate investigation and developed probable cause for Ashpes’ arrest that same day. In an interview with detectives, Ashpes admitted to sending the messages.”
The content of his threats were not made public.
Ashpes is facing the following misdemeanor charges: three counts of threatening to cause physical injury to another person and one count of using a phone to threaten or intimidate. Penalties for these charges range up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $2,500.
Ashpes is not an Arizona native. According to his since-deleted Facebook profile, Ashpes was from Irvine, California, where he attended Arnold O. Beckman High School in Tustin, California. His profile mentioned that he also lived for a time in Portland, Oregon.
All of Ashpes’s other social media profiles — including Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn — were deleted, limiting access to an online footprint that may have provided further insight to Ashpes’s political beliefs.
Ashpes attended Northern Arizona University and was a student teacher at Flagstaff Unified School District.
Ashpes taught social studies at Desert Vista High School; he was hired in July.
On Wednesday, Desert Vista informed parents that Ashpes was placed on administrative leave over his arrest.
“We are writing to inform you that Mr. Daniel Ashpes, a social studies teacher at DV, has been placed on administrative leave while authorities conduct an investigation,” stated the school. “Yesterday, at 1:33 PM, we notified Mr. Ashpes’ students and their families of the situation, prior to any media reports. As this is an ongoing matter, our priority was to first inform those directly impacted before communicating with the wider Desert Vista community. While we are unable to provide details at this time, we are aware that the Tempe Police Department has filed charges related to alleged online threats. Please note that the Tempe Union High School District (TUHSD) does not tolerate or condone any form of threats or harassment by employees or students.”
Donald Trump Jr.’s father, Donald Trump, has survived two assassination attempts this year: one in July and one in September.
In the July assassination attempt, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks shot a near-fatal bullet that grazed Trump’s ear at a Pennsylvania rally. The gunfire killed one, 50-year-old Pennsylvania firefighter and father Corey Comperatore, and injured seven others: 57-year-old David Dutch and 74-year-old James Copenhaver were shot and critically injured but recovered; the nephew of Congressman Ronny Jackson was grazed in the neck by a bullet but recovered; and four Pittsburgh Police officers were injured minorly by debris from objects hit by the gunfire.
The second assassination attempt occurred in September. The would-be assassin, 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh, never made it to the point where he fired off any shots at Trump. Routh had set up an AK-47 rifle, backpack, and Go-Pro camera along the fencing adjacent to the Trump International Golf Club course. Routh was spotted by the Secret Service about 400-500 yards from Trump while he was playing golf. The Secret Service then fired several rounds at Routh and caused him to flee.
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by Daniel Stefanski | Oct 21, 2024 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A Republican running for Maricopa County School Superintendent picked up a key endorsement ahead of the November General Election.
Late last month, Shelli Boggs announced the endorsement of Riley Gaines for her campaign for Maricopa County Superintendent. In her endorsement statement, Gaines said, “My advocacy has brought me to Arizona multiple times and I have gotten to really know Shelli Boggs. She is genuine. Kids and education are her passion. She believes in empowering students with knowledge and skills.”
Gaines added, “Shelli will always put students and their academic needs first! That is why I fully endorse Shelli Boggs for Maricopa County School Superintendent.”
Over the past few years, Riley Gaines has shot to national prominence over her flawless defense of the integrity of women’s sports as ladies around the country battle the encroachment of biological men within their events. Gaines was a twelve-time NCAA All-American Swimmer, and she serves as an Ambassador for the Independent Women’s Voice.
Boggs responded to the endorsement from Gaines, writing, “I am honored to have Riley Gaines’ endorsement! Riley has been a strong advocate for protecting girls’ sports and ensuring fairness for female athletes. I am grateful for her support as we work to uphold integrity in education and create opportunities for all students in Maricopa County schools. Together, we will protect what matters most in both academics and athletics.”
On her website, Boggs describes herself as “a proud Arizona mom, mimi, teacher, and education leader who got started in Arizona politics when she saw firsthand the decline in education quality and the invasion of radical politics into the classroom.” In 2018, Boggs won a seat on the Governing Board of the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT), where she served as its Vice President and then President. She states that under her leadership, “EVIT has seen enrollment double, administration costs decrease, radical politics and activism removed from classrooms, and more dollars going directly towards student success WITHOUT raising taxes.”
The Republican nominee for county superintendent promises to “ensure that the school children of Maricopa County get the education they need to succeed in life, politics are removed from classrooms, parental rights are defended, fiscal accountability is restored, school board vacancies are filled with responsible leaders, and that good teachers are being supported.”
Boggs vows to protect boys and girls in schools “because we recognize the difference between them.” She intends to “always fight to protect girls’ sports from those who want to allow biological boys to compete against our female athletes.”
Running against Boggs is Dr. Laura Metcalfe, a Democrat and an EVIT School Board Member. Metcalfe lists a number of endorsements on her campaign website, including from Arizona List, Save Our Schools Arizona, Maricopa County Young Democrats, Young Democrats of Arizona, National Organization for Women Arizona PAC, and former Democrat State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman.
The winner will replace Steve Watson as the Maricopa County School Superintendent. Watson is a Republican.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Oct 21, 2024 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced the extension of free services through the Achievement Tutoring Program until the end of the 2024-25 school year. Horne hopes the move will allow a greater number of Arizona students to take advantage of the highly successful program.
In a statement released Wednesday, Horne said, “Studies show tutoring to be the best method for academic growth. A year ago, I announced that we would repurpose about $40 million in COVID relief funds that had been allocated by the previous administration, and were not being used for academic purposes, to create the Achievement Tutoring Program. The results have been excellent as students who get this tutoring have shown significant academic growth. Because we have received an extension that allows remaining funds to continue to be used, this program will continue through at least the end of the current school year.”
The program’s website lays out that it consists of “Six-week tutoring blocks with 60 minute sessions up to four days per week.” The students will also complete pre-and post-tutoring testing to determine their needs and gauge advancement during each tutoring block.
Due to Federal rules in the extension of COVID relief (ESSER) funds, the program is no longer available at public schools but can still be accessed by students in need through private providers and the Arizona Department of Education.
According to the Department, the Achievement Tutoring Program provides tutoring for K-12 students in reading, writing, and mathematics and since its inception, has instructed 30,400 students over a seven session period. Enrollment grew from November 2023 with 4,200 students to over 6,800 students, and the current session is accepting new enrollments through October.
The release noted that in terms of academic achievement, the students enrolled “experienced at least a half-year’s worth of academic growth in six weeks, which is excellent progress in a short period of time.”
Several parents participating in the program with their children sent testimonials to the Arizona Deparment of Education, and Horne highlighted five:
- Colleen, wrote to say, “I am incredibly grateful for the services and support provided by the program. I am confident that all three of my children will have increased confidence and improved report cards in the fall.”
- Heather wrote, “As a single mom raising six young men, I could never afford to get tutoring like this to help them get caught up and build the confidence they need to have in life.”
- From Jennifer, “The Achievement Tutoring program has helped tremendously to fill in the gaps in (my child’s) learning loss… He has improved immensely!”
- Alexandra said, “My son has grown so much in reading… He finally has the confidence in reading that he has lacked for so long! I was so proud I actually cried.”
- Catherine wrote, “My daughter had been struggling, but is now much more confident in her math skills… I truly hope the ATP program will continue, as it’s changing lives and helping so many. Especially some of us with limited financial resources.”
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 | Oct 15, 2024 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has announced that her office has filed misdemeanor trespassing charges against 68 demonstrators who were arrested during a pro-Hamas protest at ASU in April. The demonstrators defied the orders of ASU police to disperse and leave the ad hoc encampment they illegally created on the alumni lawn near Old Main.
Under A.R.S. 13-1502, criminal trespassing entails “knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully on any real property after a reasonable request to leave by a law enforcement officer, the owner or any other person having lawful control over such property.” As a Class-3 misdemeanor, the penalty, if the accused are found guilty, could be up to 30 days in the county jail with a $500 fine and up to one year of probation.
“The right to free speech does not extend to violating the law,” County Attorney Mitchell said.
“The university’s policy is clear – encampments are not permitted in this particular area on campus. The protestors – many of whom were not students – were given the chance, over and over again, to peacefully take down the encampments and leave the area. ASU, along with local law enforcement, had a responsibility to keep the area safe for students and faculty. My office is now playing the equally important role of holding these people accountable for their actions.”
Shortly after the arrests on April 26th, ASU released a statement, now seemingly confirmed by Mitchell, that the demonstrators were mostly not ASU students or faculty:
“ASU Police arrested 72 people for trespassing after they set up an unauthorized encampment Friday, in violation of university policy. Encampments are prohibited on Arizona State University property. Lawful demonstrations can take place except overnight between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
A group of people – most of whom were not ASU students, faculty or staff – created an encampment and demonstration that continued until well past 11 p.m. when the group was instructed repeatedly to disperse. Individuals who refused to leave after numerous warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass. Of the 72 arrested throughout the day Friday, 15 were ASU students; about 80 percent of those arrested were not students.“
According to later reporting from ABC15, twenty of the people arrested were later revealed to be ASU students who were subsequently suspended from the university after their arrest.
In the days following the arrest, independent journalist Kyle Becker reported that ASU fraternity members could be seen assisting campus police to tear down the demonstrators’ encampment. Speaking to Campus Reform, the students told reporters that the university was happy to have their help.
“It’s our duty to help keep our freedoms secure. Jews should not have to feel threatened to hide on campus,” they told the outlet. “When they call for “Jewish genocide” the answer was extremely clear: help the police.”
In May, charges against the 68 suspects were initially vacated due to a failure on the part of ASU police officials to refer them to the prosecutor’s office in a timely manner. The charges were eventually submitted over the next few months.
The incident resulted in ASU police chief Michael Thompson being placed on administrative leave after a series of complaints were filed against him for his actions during the demonstration. He ultimately retired.
Mitchell’s office stated that the arrests were carried out by Tempe Police, Arizona Department of Public Safety, and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Officers, and that trial dates for the accused are pending.
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 | Oct 14, 2024 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Common Sense Institute of Arizona (CSI) has released a comprehensive report setting facts versus myths surrounding Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program.
According to the CSI, the full eleven page report, “dispels misconceptions and presents data-driven insights into the fiscal and educational impacts of the ESA program on Arizona’s public education system and state budget—an issue of growing interest for states considering ESA expansion.”
Although it follows an argumentative “claim/fact” format, the primary findings of the report can be broken down into five key area: K-12 Funding Growth, Per-Pupil Spending, Public School Enrollment Decline, ESA Program Costs, and Accountability and Oversight.
According to the release, during the nine year-span from Fiscal Year 2016 to 2025, the K-12 funding for Arizona Public Schools exploded by approximately 60 percent, jumping up by over $6.3 billion. Conversely, the funding allocated to ESAs only increased by $792 million over the same period, amounting to barely 11% of the budget’s overall growth. This simple fact torpedoes the popular online fiction that legislators are making cuts to public school funding to pay for the ESA.
As previously reported by AZ Free News, the report aligns well with a statement from Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne as well as a report from the Arizona Legislative Budget Committee and the Goldwater Institute.
Answering concerns on per-pupil spending, the CSI found, “Arizona now spends over $15,100 per public school student, a 30% increase since FY2016 (adjusted for inflation). Despite a decrease of over 23,500 students in public school enrollment over the past five years, overall funding has continued to grow.”
In a post on X, the CSI observed, “Traditional district public school enrollment has been steadily declining in Arizona for years. This trend, driven by demographic shifts and changing attitudes, is likely to continue regardless of the ESA program. ESA is the response not the cause.”
Easily the most divisive effort to assail ESA funding has come from the claim that it only benefits wealthy, urban students. The CSI joins the Joint Legislative Committee in dashing the notion, stating, “Since the pandemic, demand for traditional district public schools has fallen nationwide – among broad demographic groups. With the expansion of things like home schooling, Microschooling, etc., non-traditional students may look very different than you’d expect!”
As noted in prior reporting: the Goldwater Institute, the nonpartisan Common Sense Institute, and multiple conservative outlets have repeatedly verified that families of ESA children cover the full breadth of the socio-economic strata from crushingly impoverished to blindingly wealthy, from the broken down trailer parks of South Phoenix to the most lavish homes of Paradise Valley.
The report notably cites the Black Mother’s Forum, an Arizona microschool operating two locations and serving over 150 pupils since 2021. All the students use ESAs and 90% are non-white with a wide majority classified as low-income. According to the Forum’s CEO, “Without the universal ESA program, these schools would not exist.”
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 | Oct 11, 2024 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
A former superintendent secretary with Yuma County’s Hyder Elementary School District, Nubia Gonzalez, has been indicted for Theft, Misuse of Public Monies, and Forgery. The indictment comes eight weeks after her arrest in Scottsdale in connection with an elaborate fraud scheme against the Cocopah Middle School Association of Parents and Teachers (APT).
A press release from the Arizona Auditor General revealed that Gonzalez has been indicted on allegations that in December 2020 she “embezzled $2,486 when, 3 months after she was terminated, an illicit District check in that amount was deposited in her business checking account.”
As reported by Fox10, court documents revealed that the Yuma County case “is currently with the AZ Attorney General’s Office,” however, Attorney General Kris Mayes’ Office replied to reports that the AG “cannot comment on this matter at this time.”
On July 3rd, Scottsdale Police received a report of suspected fraud from the president of the Cocopah Middle School APT. After returning from travel outside the U.S., the president had found the organization’s savings account emptied.
Per Fox10, court documents showed, “After she saw this, [the APT president] reached out to the former treasurer to ask her about the zeroed out accounts.” The documents noted also, “[the former treasurer] stated that she had no idea what had happened.”
The two APT officials reached out to the organization’s bank investigators. They discovered that the entire balance of the organization’s accounts had been wiped out in a series of withdrawals from their savings and checking accounts, linked to Gonzalez.
Police reported in the court documents that, “The total combined loss between both accounts was $36,512.09. Banking documents were obtained directly from Wells Fargo personnel, which showed Nubia Gonzalez signing each withdrawal slip.”
According to AZFamily, the group’s president said that Gonzalez was elected as treasurer in April and was given control and signing authority over the group’s accounts at Wells Fargo bank. Only the two of them had access. The authorities said, “It became readily apparent” that the suspect “immediately withdrew the money,” once the president had left. On the same day, Gonzalez reportedly deposited $22,300 into her personal checking account which she subsequently used to pay her own bills including “credit cards and other various accounts.”
The court documents described that Gonzalez allegedly told the president she was moving the group’s funds to a higher-yield interest bearing account, however, none was created per the bank. She reportedly sent doctored screenshots and forged documents supporting this claim.
The authorities wrote, “This was a well-thought out fraud scene, which involved counterfeit and forged banking documents.”
The board members promptly voted to remove Gonzalez from her position as treasurer. She later turned herself in following media reports of the allegations and has been charged with theft, fraudulent schemes, and forgery. Funds totaling $14,212.09 are still unaccounted for according to Scottsdale Police.
Per 12News, Gonzalez is being held on a $40,000 bond in Scottsdale and a $30,000 bond in Yuma County.
In a statement to Fox10 the Cocopah Middle School APT wrote:
“The Cocopah APT would like to express our appreciation to the community at large for all the support shown to us. We are moving forward stronger and more united than ever.
We have added additional security measures and will continue to educate and inform other school parent organizations to learn from this incident and adapt their processes as well. Unfortunately at this time, it does not appear the money will be recovered. We are working hard to raise needed funds for our school and students during our current fundraising campaign for this school year.
This investigation is in the very capable hands of Maricopa County and we thank them as well as the Scottsdale PD for their diligent work in this matter.”
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.
