by Staff Reporter | Nov 8, 2025 | Home Page Top Story, News
By Staff Reporter |
Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari is continuing to dedicate her limited constituent-services capacity during the shutdown to illegal immigrants.
Ansari maintains these individuals qualify as constituents, though they aren’t voting members of the district.
The congresswoman says one of the detained immigrants she visited, Arbella “Yari” Rodriguez Marquez, counts as a constituent because she had a green card until recently. Marquez’s case has been picked up by the media due to her alleged ongoing cancer battle.
Green card holders cannot vote.
Immigration enforcement spokespersons announced over the summer, following heightened media attention, that Marquez doesn’t have cancer and that medical professionals had assisted her over a dozen times since her detainment in February.
“[W]hen she was arrested by @CBP for attempting to smuggle an illegal alien with fraudulent identification in her vehicle through the Nogales, Arizona port of entry, she told law enforcement she had no medical conditions and was not taking any medications,” said Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
Marquez claims to have chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
In her last visit with Marquez, which lasted hours, Ansari revealed Marquez was allegedly visited by an oncologist on Oct. 8 but has not yet received the results or treatment plan from that visit. According to Ansari, the records from that visit will be delivered within the next two weeks.
Ansari did acknowledge the officials’ claim that Marquez doesn’t have cancer.
“Quite frankly, a lot of questioning, a lot of character assassination of Yari, the woman that was there with us insinuated there may be some doubt about her cancer from doctors and so they want her medical records from Mexico and from here,” said Ansari.
Officials also clarified that Marquez lost her green card and was detained for removal proceedings based on charges of human smuggling.
The congresswoman devoted the remainder of her time to pointing the finger at Republican leadership.
Ansari set up a table in front of House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office. A handmade sign taped to the tablefront read: “Mike Johnson is starving families and gutting healthcare to cover up the Epstein files; change my mind.”
This claim of an Epstein files coverup is the Democrats’ latest talking point to pressure Republicans to agree to their terms for ending the government shutdown.
Ansari later claimed she was asked to vacate her makeshift post outside Johnson’s office.
The government shutdown has now lasted nearly 40 days. It broke the historical record for the longest shutdown officially on Wednesday. The December 2018 to January 2019 shutdown lasted 35 days. The third-longest shutdown occurred under President Bill Clinton from December 1995 to January 1996, 21 days.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune indicated on Wednesday to reporters that they have nearly closed on a bipartisan “mini-package” deal for stopgap funding that would pay the select federal agencies necessary to end the shutdown.
Anonymized leaks to the press said a Friday vote would occur. Allegedly, Thune told fellow Republicans the Senate would take the necessary steps to end the shutdown on Friday, according to anonymous sources who spoke to Politico.
However, other source chatter indicated that Democrats felt more secure with prolonging a shutdown to negotiate stricter terms in their favor after the most recent election on Tuesday.
The shutdown’s impact to Arizona amounts to just under $300 million each week, or $1.3 billion per month. About 887,000 Arizonans rely on the SNAP benefits that dried up last week, 344,000 of whom are children. Around 58,000 federal workers in the state were furloughed or are working without pay.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Nov 8, 2025 | Must Read, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The watchdog organization Judicial Watch has filed a lawsuit against Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, seeking access to documents it says may shed light on whether the governor directed state agencies to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
The suit, filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, comes after Judicial Watch submitted a public records request on December 17, 2024. According to the group, the Governor’s Office responded that no responsive records existed, prompting the legal action. The case is listed as Judicial Watch Inc. v. Office of the Arizona Governor (No. CV2025-039217).
Judicial Watch’s records request sought two categories of documents: any instructions, communications, or policies given to state agencies that would restrict participation in federal immigration enforcement efforts; and any legal analysis or anticipated litigation documents tied to the governor’s position on the state’s role in enforcing federal immigration laws. State law prohibits Arizona officials or agencies from limiting enforcement of federal immigration laws “to less than the full extent permitted by federal law.”
The dispute follows comments Gov. Hobbs made in November 2024, when she was asked whether state police or the Arizona National Guard would cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Hobbs said Arizona would not support what she described as “misguided policies that harm our communities,” and said the state would not participate in efforts she believes “terrorize our communities.”
Immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility. Under the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause and the Immigration and Nationality Act, federal authorities retain sole authority over immigration regulation, enforcement, and removal. Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton criticized the governor’s reported approach, saying that declining to support federal operations “undermines the rule of law and places law enforcement and other innocent lives at risk.”
The case now moves forward in county court, where a judge will determine whether the Governor’s Office must turn over any documents or further justify its stance that none exist.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 8, 2025 | Must Read, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Policy experts are pushing back on Democratic attack ads against Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) and other Republicans, saying the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s (OBBB) Medicaid reforms target fraud and waste—not vulnerable populations.
The ads, funded by the dark-money group Unrig Our Economy, are linked to the George Soros-backed Sixteen Thirty Fund via Arabella Advisors, according to Influence Watch. They feature individuals with disabilities like cerebral palsy, autism, and Down syndrome, accusing legislators, including Ciscomani, of supporting “cuts to Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for billionaires.” The ads target GOP Reps. Mike Lawler (R-NY), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Thomas Kean Jr. (R-NJ), in addition to Ciscomani, and insinuate that the subjects would lose benefits under the Trump-backed OBBB.
A report from the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC), titled “The Truth Behind the Medicaid Cuts Myth,” counters that Medicaid spending is projected to grow by nearly $189 billion over the next decade, an increase of more than 30% of the current allocation, without reducing benefits for low-income children, individuals with disabilities, or working recipients.
“The reforms in the OBBB do not target low-income children, individuals with a disability, or those who can work and choose to do so,” EPIC stated in the report.
“As usual, all the Democrats have is lies. Representative Juan Ciscomani voted to protect care for Arizona’s most vulnerable, and no amount of spin can change the facts,” National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Spokesperson Ben Petersen said in a statement.
The OBBB introduces work requirements for able-bodied adults, enhanced eligibility verification to cut improper payments (which surged to 21.7% in FY 2020 post-COVID, per CMS data but have since declined to 5.09% in FY 2024), and exemptions for parents of children under 14, disabled veterans, the blind or physically disabled, those with mental or developmental issues, clinically addicted individuals, and those with severe medical conditions.
EPIC and other analysts point to state 1115 demonstrations that have included work and employment elements; evaluations of such waivers show mixed employment impacts and mixed effects on utilization, varying by state and program design.
In Arizona, Ciscomani’s district faces heightened scrutiny amid a state budget shortfall. Arizona budget analysts and JLBC staff warn of material budget pressure heading into FY2026–27; JLBC’s state-impact memos estimate a $363 million reduction in Arizona total-fund Medicaid spending stemming from federal reconciliation provisions, according to the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
EPIC is advocating “smart waivers” to prioritize the disabled and families. For Arizona’s fiscal details, see JLBC’s full report.
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 | Nov 7, 2025 | Must Read, News
By Matthew Holloway |
On Tuesday, the U.S. Senate rejected a Republican-backed short-term funding measure to reopen the government for the 14th consecutive time. Arizona’s Democratic Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego joined all Democrats in voting against the measure.
The 54-44 vote fell short of the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster, extending the partial government shutdown into its 35th day and tying the record for the longest in U.S. history with the 2018-2019 shutdown. The shutdown began Oct. 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass full-year appropriations bills.
Video footage from the Senate floor, shared by Arizona Rep. Eli Crane (R-CD02), shows Kelly casting his “no” vote during the procedural tally. Gallego also voted against the bill, consistent with the Democratic caucus position.
Crane wrote, “If you or anyone you know is impacted by the ongoing government shutdown, I want you to see something. Today, the Senate voted for the 14th time to end the shutdown. For the 14th time, Senators Kelly and Gallego voted NO. See for yourself:”
The measure, passed by the House last week on a party-line vote, sought to avert immediate furloughs for non-essential federal workers and maintain operations amid disputes over spending priorities. Democrats have blocked the stopgap 14 times, citing the absence of extensions for Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits set to expire at year’s end.
Kelly, in remarks after the vote, indicated potential progress in bipartisan negotiations. “Maybe we’re moving,” Kelly told reporters. “We’re closer to the end of this than we are to the beginning,” as reported by the Huffington Post.
Gallego’s office reiterated the senator’s prior stance that Republicans, who control the White House, House, and Senate, hold the leverage to end the impasse but have refused bipartisan talks to protect ACA subsidies and avoid middle-class tax hikes embedded in GOP proposals. “We can reopen the government, get federal workers their backpay, and prevent health care costs from skyrocketing, but only if my Republican colleagues come to the table,” he claimed per the AZ Mirror.
Moderate Democrats met on Wednesday to explore an off-ramp amid signals from both parties of emerging talks. The Senate’s official roll call record for the 119th Congress confirms the vote tally and individual positions.
Federal agencies, including those impacting Arizona, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs and national parks like the Grand Canyon, remain affected, with over 2 million civilian workers on unpaid furlough or working without pay.
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 Ethan Faverino | Nov 7, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Axon, a global leader in public safety technology, has signed an agreement to acquire Carbyne, the cloud-native emergency communications platform trusted by agencies serving over 250 million people worldwide.
The $625 million transaction, expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, marks a critical milestone in Axon’s mission to transform public safety from the moment a 911 call is placed.
By combining Carbyne’s modern call-handling core with Axon’s AI-driven Prepared platform, the company introduces Axon 911–the industry’s first fully integrated, start-to-finish emergency response system.
Axon 911 seamlessly links callers, dispatchers, and field responders through real-time data, live video, multilingual translation, and automated evidence workflows. From the initial alert to final case resolution in Axon Evidence, every critical detail is captured, shared, and actionable.
“Every year, more than 240 million 911 calls are made in the U.S., and in too many cases, vital information is lost between the call and the response,” said Axon Founder and CEO, Rick Smith. “By uniting Axon’s 30-year legacy of innovation with Carbyne’s cloud-based call management platform, we’re closing that gap, giving call takers and dispatchers instant visibility and connecting them directly to officers in the field. It’s how we transform a call for help into the first moment of intelligence.”
The transformation relies on two complementary engines. Prepared by Axon serves as an AI overlay that enhances any existing 911 system with real-time transcriptions, automated triage, and non-emergency deflection. It currently operates in over 1,000 centers across 49 states and serves nearly 100 million residents.
Carbyne functions as a cloud-native core with 99.9% uptime, intelligent routing for voice, text, and video, and real-time voice-to-voice translation. The platform currently processes more than 250 million data points annually.
Together, Prepared and Carbyne power Axon 911 as a unified platform. Call data instantly feeds Axon Fusus for real-time analytics and command visibility. Dispatchers can trigger Axon Drone as First Responder (DFR) directly from the call screen to help deliver real-time updates. Body-camera footage, drone feeds, and digital evidence are automatically archived in Axon Evidence.
Even though 80% of 911 calls now originate from cell phones, most centers still rely on decades-old landline systems. A survey done by Carbyne with the help of the National Emergency Number Association reveals that 86% of centers face high call volumes at least weekly, with 35% experiencing them daily. Additionally, 63% report that 50-80% of calls are non-emergencies.
“Carbyne was created to modernize how help arrives — by giving emergency professionals the clarity, resilience, and confidence they need in critical moments,” said Carbyne Founder and CEO, Amir Elichai. “Joining Axon allows us to scale that mission globally and integrate more deeply into the broader public safety ecosystem. Together, we’ll help agencies save time, reduce uncertainty, and improve outcomes for the people and communities they serve.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Nov 7, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
As more Americans look beyond the traditional 9-to-5 for additional income, new research highlights the U.S. cities most actively exploring side-hustle opportunities — and one Arizona community, Tempe, has earned a spot among the nation’s top hotspots.
A study by Ninja Transfers, which examined monthly Google search activity for more than 80 side-hustle-related jobs across over 170 U.S. cities, found that Atlanta, Georgia, leads the nation in interest for earning extra income. Search terms included queries such as “how to make money with [job],” “does [job] pay well,” and “[job] gig,” spanning roles from online tutoring to podcasting, freelance writing, mystery shopping, and more.
The analysis comes as nationwide searches for “side jobs” hit a record 279,000 in July 2025—underscoring rising demand for supplemental income amid cost-of-living pressures. With an average of 1,914 monthly searches related to side hustles—equating to 384 searches per 100,000 residents—Atlanta ranked first in the country. Georgia’s capital also showed a strong preference for podcasting, online tutoring, and freelance tutoring as the most-researched side-gig categories.
Orlando, Florida, ranked second with 361 monthly searches per 100,000 people, and Florida placed strongly overall, with Fort Lauderdale (275) and Miami (269) also landing in the top 10. Salt Lake City, Utah, secured third place with 319 searches per 100,000 residents, making it the top Western U.S. city for side-hustle interest. Midwestern representation came from St. Louis, Missouri (284), in fourth place, and Minneapolis, Minnesota (270), in seventh.
Rounding out the top five was Birmingham, Alabama, with 283 searches per 100,000 residents.
Tempe ranked 21st in the nation for side-hustle search activity. According to the study, residents conduct about 380 monthly searches tied to side-gig opportunities—equivalent to 204.4 searches per 100,000 people.
With a study population of 185,950, Tempe’s ranking suggests strong local interest in supplemental income streams, particularly among gig-friendly demographics such as college students, young professionals, and remote workers.
Researchers say both economic realities and entrepreneurial ambition are driving this shift. “Many Americans nowadays are looking to explore further than the standard 9-to-5,” said Victor Ilisco, Director of Sales & Operations at Ninja Transfers. “A Bankrate study from back in 2023 found that 39% of Americans have a side hustle, and this number has likely grown since then. They are becoming increasingly accessible thanks to digital platforms and tools, and the barrier for starting one is a lot smaller than what it used to be.”
Southern and Rust Belt cities featured prominently throughout the rankings, signaling a growing appetite for supplemental income in both growth markets and historically industrial regions facing economic transitions.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
