A shooting outside a Tucson gay bar earlier this week by a Muslim immigrant took the lives of two men, one of whom happened to be a sympathizer to the Palestinian cause.
The victims were Cameron Davis Capara, 33, and Vincent Anthony Siqueiros, 42.
Capara was an active Antifa activist who worked with the Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance and regularly protested against immigration enforcement, the pro-life movement, and President Donald Trump.
Although Siqueiros had a smaller online presence, he did share posts that indicated contempt for those to the right of the political spectrum, including one AI-generated video depicting President Donald Trump being knocked out from a punch to the head.
The shooter, Ousman Ceesay, 44, had moved recently to Tucson. Ceesay shot Siqueiros and Capara outside the Venture-N, a gay bar, at approximately 12:30 a.m. on August 31 prior to turning the gun on himself.
Recovered among Ceesay’s possessions was a list of LGBTQIA+ establishments.
Ceesay was a naturalized citizen and practicing Muslim who immigrated from West Africa to Oklahoma on a student visa approximately 16 years ago.
Democratic and Republican leaders have divergent viewpoints about the nature of the attack.
Arizona’s top Democrats have referred to the shooting as a hate crime rooted in anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments.
Reps. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), and Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03) conducted a moment of silence for the shooting victims alongside the Congressional Equality Caucus on the House floor on Wednesday.
Tonight I joined @Rep_Grijalva, the AZ delegation, and the @EqualityCaucus for a moment of silence on the House Floor for Vincent Siqueiros and Cameron Capara, who were murdered at a Tucson bar this week in a hate crime targeting the LGBTQ+ community. pic.twitter.com/JiSkbz8V5N
Grijalva, who organized the observance, preceded the moment of silence with a House floor speech advocating for stricter gun control and railing against Republican-led laws impacting the LGBTQ+ community.
“This type of targeted violence does not happen in a vacuum. It is cultivated by anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, laws, policies, and executive orders. And it is the direct consequence of this body’s failure to act on gun violence. Cameron and Vincent should still be alive today,” said Grijalva. “Mr. Speaker, how many more parents need to bury their children before Congress takes action to address the gun violence epidemic? How many more people need to die before this chamber stands up to the gun lobby? Our communities are sick and tired of hearing our ‘thoughts and prayers.’ We should be acting today to pass commonsense gun safety laws and to combat hate and violence targeting LGBTQ+ folks.”
Although investigators have not tied Ceesay’s attack to his religion, some Arizona Republicans are arguing the attack was more than a hate crime — they allege it was motivated by radical Islamic beliefs.
State Rep. John Gillette (R-LD30) said it was “radical Islamic terrorism” that occurred earlier this week, and that Democratic policies were to blame.
“The democrats invited these terrorists to the US that we were sent to their country to kill, so we would not have these attacks,” said Gillette. “You invited, support and have Partnerships with the enemy. Start supporting Americans! Not terrorism!”
Disgusting, you mourn the death of a person that is gay and call it equality. You are bunch of pandering idiots.
We mourn the death of an American citizen, killed by radical Islamic terrorism on our own soil.
The democrats invited these terrorists to the US that we were sent…
— Rep. John Gillette AZ House LD30 (@AzRepGillette) September 3, 2026
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State Rep. Walt Blackman (R-LD7) has endorsed Republican Bradley “Brad” Bettencourt in the three-candidate race for two Arizona House seats in Legislative District 9.
Blackman is a retired U.S. Army combat veteran who served for 21 years and received the Bronze Star Medal for combat actions in Iraq. He currently serves as chairman of the House Government Committee.
“I’m proud to endorse Brad Bettencourt for the Arizona House in Legislative District 9,” Blackman said. “Brad is a businessman and community leader who has already shown he can step up, fix real problems, and get the numbers to add up. That is the kind of common-sense leadership Arizona families need. He will work hard, respect taxpayers, and be a strong voice for Mesa and Tempe. I encourage LD9 voters to support him.”
Blackman, a 21-year U.S. Army combat veteran and chairman of the House Government Committee, had the following to say.
“I’m proud to endorse Brad Bettencourt for the Arizona House in Legislative District 9,” Blackman said. “Brad is a businessman and community leader who has… pic.twitter.com/HhYahtjhwi
Bettencourt welcomed the endorsement and cited Blackman’s military and legislative service.
“Rep. Blackman’s endorsement means a great deal,” Bettencourt said. “He has served this country in uniform and this state in the Legislature. He knows the difference between talk and results. I will take that same standard to the House: fiscal responsibility, safe communities, parents in charge of their children’s education, and a state budget that works for the people who live here.”
Bettencourt will face Democratic Rep. Lorena Austin and Democratic candidate Jacob Martinez in the general election.
The official statewide primary canvass recorded 10,441 votes for Bettencourt in the Republican primary. Austin received 11,252 votes, and Martinez received 9,290 votes in the Democratic primary.
Austin currently represents LD9 alongside Democratic Rep. Seth Blattman. Blattman announced in December that he would not seek reelection in 2026.
Bettencourt is president of the Dobson Association, the homeowners’ association serving Dobson Ranch in Mesa. His campaign biography says he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arizona State University, previously worked as a credit analyst and credit officer, and operates a real estate investment business.
Bettencourt has cited his work at Dobson Ranch as evidence of his approach to government finances. His campaign says the community, which includes approximately 5,000 homes and condominiums, uncovered more than $1.5 million in budget errors before he helped bring its finances back into order.
Bettencourt has made fiscal responsibility, housing affordability, water security, public safety, school choice, and government spending central issues in his campaign.
The Legislative District 9 Republican Committee endorsed Bettencourt in February. The committee’s resolution cited his service as an elected Republican precinct committeeman, his Dobson Ranch leadership, and his business experience.
A majority of Arizona voters oppose additional large data center development, with opposition becoming even stronger when voters are asked to weigh economic benefits against concerns over water, electricity, and infrastructure, according to a new poll from Noble Predictive Insights.
The Arizona Public Opinion Pulse (AZPOP), conducted August 10-13, among 1,040 registered Arizona voters, including 923 likely voters, found that 57% of registered voters oppose additional large data centers in the state. Thirty percent support additional development, while 13% remain unsure.
Opposition was particularly strong, with 35% of voters saying they strongly oppose additional large data centers compared with 9% who strongly support them.
The poll also found that voters become substantially more opposed when presented with the potential tradeoffs associated with data center development.
Sixty-one percent said Arizona should limit additional data center development because of concerns over water use, electricity demand, and infrastructure costs. Just 18% said the state should encourage additional development because of potential investment and tax revenue.
The poll found support for limiting additional data center development across all major political groups.
Fifty-four percent of Republicans, 71% of Democrats, and 61% of Independents said Arizona should limit additional development when water, electricity, and infrastructure concerns were included in the question.
The preference for limits also crossed ideological lines. Seventy-eight percent of liberals, 60% of moderates, and 52% of conservatives favored limiting additional development.
Even among Republicans who identify more strongly with President Trump than the Republican Party, 51% favored limits, compared with 32% who favored encouraging additional development.
The divide among Republicans was more pronounced when voters were simply asked whether they supported or opposed additional data centers.
Among registered Republicans, 42% supported additional development and 46% opposed it.
Trump-first Republicans supported additional data centers 49% to 37%, while Republicans who identified more closely with the party than Trump opposed additional development 53% to 37%.
However, both groups shifted toward limiting development when the question included concerns about water, electricity, and infrastructure.
The results were also similar across different types of communities. Fifty-nine percent of urban voters, 62% of suburban voters, and 64% of rural voters favored limiting additional data center development.
The Center Square reported that at least six Arizona local governments — Chandler, Marana, Phoenix, Mesa, Mohave County, and Tucson — have enacted regulations governing data centers.
Founder and CEO of Noble Predictive Insights, Mike Noble said the findings could make data center development an increasingly important issue for Arizona policymakers and candidates, particularly as voters weigh the industry’s economic benefits against concerns over the state’s water, electricity, and infrastructure capacity.
“Data centers have moved from an economic-development talking point to a test of governing competence,” Noble said. “The candidate who can show voters a credible plan for water, electricity, and infrastructure will have the advantage on this issue.”
Despite the polling results, supporters of continued data center development argue that Arizona should not respond to public concerns by restricting an industry they say can bring investment, jobs, and tax revenue into the state.
Jen Springman, coalition’s manager for the Goldwater Institute, told The Center Square that Arizona should continue its traditional approach of encouraging economic development and innovation.
“We don’t hold back entrepreneurs with overregulation,” Springman said. “That’s been Arizona’s recipe for success. Arizona cannot and should not turn away from that. That’s exactly what will happen if we allow fear of data centers to scare us into shutting down development.”
Springman argued that some of the opposition to data centers has been driven by misinformation and said existing facilities are already operating in Arizona while providing jobs and contributing to the state’s economy.
She acknowledged concerns about electricity, water, and land use but argued that those issues should be addressed without halting development.
Regarding water use, Springman said newer data centers can use closed-loop recycling systems and dry-air cooling to reduce consumption. She also pointed to the potential for data centers to generate significant tax revenue and provide high-paying jobs.
The debate comes as Arizona faces growing pressure over how to accommodate the rapidly expanding demand for data centers while balancing their effects on power, water, and other infrastructure.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Arizona Medical Board has been operating in a matter that puts public safety at risk, according to a new audit.
A sunset review released earlier this week by the Arizona Auditor General found the board is failing to resolve complaints in a timely manner, establish sufficient oversight and accountability mechanisms, and act within or fully exercise its statutory authority.
Statute requires the board consist of 12 governor-appointed members to serve five-year terms. However, as of their latest meeting on Wednesday, the board had nine of its 12 required positions filled, one more than what the audit noted back in February of this year.
The auditor general warned that these failings outlined in this latest audit present an increased risk to public safety and contribute to inefficient and ineffective operations, statutory noncompliance, unauthorized disciplinary actions, and waste of public resources.
According to the audit, 78% of complaints closed in fiscal year 2024 weren’t resolved within 180 days as required; some complaints took up to 4.5 years to resolve. Additionally, the board failed to consistently use its authority and enforcement options when resolving complaints.
There were 1,069 complaints opened up in fiscal year 2024, and 1,095 complaints opened up in fiscal year 2025.
The nature of these complaints concern allegations that a licensee may be medically incompetent, guilty of unprofessional conduct, or mentally or physically unable to safely engage in the practice of medicine.
Some of the complaints that were resolved past the statutorily required time frame included allegations of a licensee sexually harassing staff, inappropriately performing surgical procedures, inappropriately prescribing controlled substances, and failing to query the Controlled Substances Prescription Monitoring Program as required.
One complaint that took more than three years to resolve concerned a licensee allegedly failing to obtain consent from a patient prior to conducting a medically unnecessary procedure. Nine months later, the board received a second complaint alleging the same licensee operated without informing a patient with a recent infection at the surgical site of the risks and failed to provide adequate post-operative care, treatment, and communication. The board then received two additional complaints for the licensee during those three years to resolve the initial complaint. Although the board substantiated the allegations per the audit, the board allowed the licensee to continue practicing for more than three years.
The audit noted that the board has historically failed to investigate and resolve complaints in a timely manner. Five prior audits spanning 43 years have raised that same finding, without sufficient resolution.
The audit also found that the board and its executive directors regularly delegated key responsibilities to staff but didn’t establish oversight and accountability mechanisms necessary to preserve operations, public resources, and statutory and policy compliance.
Although the board wasn’t timely on complaint resolutions, the audit did find that the board was issuing and renewing licenses, registrations, and permits in a timely manner.
As of February, there were more than 35,000 active licensees and registrations.
The auditor general recommended the board implement complaint-handling policies and procedures inclusive of mechanisms for tracking, monitoring, identifying, and resolving delays. Additionally, the audit recommended improving staff productivity and performance standards, and establishing accountability measures to ensure the alignment with those standards.
And the auditor general recommended stricter alignment with statutory processes for taking disciplinary actions, along with training for board members on their full statutory authority and enforcement options.
The auditor general’s office contracted with Walker & Armstrong, an independent CPA firm, to conduct the audit.
Raquel Rivera, the board’s executive director, issued a response agreeing to all of the audit’s findings and recommendations. A follow-up will occur in six months, also conducted by Walker & Armstrong.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
The U.S. trade deficit widened to $88.58 billion in July, increasing $17.39 billion from June and ending the month 43 percent above its 12-month average, according to an analysis released Thursday by Republicans on the Joint Economic Committee (JEC).
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and U.S. Census Bureau reported that the deficit increased 24.4 percent from a revised $71.2 billion in June. Total exports declined $6.6 billion to $310.7 billion, and imports increased $10.8 billion to $399.3 billion.
The monthly figures are seasonally adjusted and are not adjusted for changes in prices.
The July increase occurred within a year-to-date decline in the trade gap. Through the first seven months of 2026, the goods and services deficit was $188.4 billion, or 29.6 percent, lower than during the same period in 2025. Exports increased $237.2 billion, or 12 percent, and imports increased $48.8 billion, or 1.9 percent.
The latest figures were released as the Trump administration continues rebuilding its tariff framework following legal setbacks and imposing new duties on goods from dozens of countries.
The goods deficit increased $17.62 billion to $119.59 billion, placing it 31 percent above its 12-month average. The services surplus increased by $225 million to $31.02 billion, reaching 5 percent above its 12-month average.
Exports of goods declined $6.2 billion to $201 billion during July. The decrease included reductions of $4.5 billion in crude oil exports and $3.9 billion in nonmonetary gold exports. Imports of goods increased $11.4 billion to $320.6 billion, led by increases of $6.9 billion in computers, $6.6 billion in computer accessories, and $1.2 billion in semiconductors.
The Washington Times attributed much of the technology-related increase to demand associated with the expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure. Computers, computer accessories, and semiconductors produced a combined monthly import increase of approximately $14.7 billion.
Total trade deficit in July was $88.58B, 43% above the 12-month average. In trade of goods, the US ran a trade deficit of $119.59B, 31% above the 12-month average. In trade of services, the US ran a trade surplus of $31.02B, 5% above the 12-month average. https://t.co/SWQZ1mDv7e
— Joint Economic Committee Republicans (@JECRepublicans) September 3, 2026
Over the 12 months ending in July, the United States recorded a total trade deficit of $743.58 billion. The country ran a $1.10 trillion deficit in goods and a $353.73 billion surplus in services. Total exports reached $3.67 trillion, and imports totaled $4.41 trillion during the period.
Vietnam accounted for the largest goods trade deficit over the 12-month period at $219.12 billion, representing 20.39 percent of the total goods deficit. Mexico followed at $213.35 billion, or 19.85 percent, and Taiwan ranked third at $203.67 billion, or 18.95 percent.
The largest goods trade surpluses were recorded with the Netherlands at $79.74 billion, the United Kingdom at $45.12 billion, and Hong Kong at $43.90 billion. The BEA’s July report also recorded monthly goods deficits of $27.5 billion with Mexico, $23.3 billion with Vietnam, $18.1 billion with Taiwan, and $15.2 billion with China.
Civilian aircraft, engines, equipment, and parts; nonmonetary gold; and crude oil were the country’s three largest goods exports by value during the 12 months ending in July. Together, the categories accounted for 17.94 percent of exported goods.
U.S. goods exports to Mexico totaled $370.39 billion, followed by Canada at $337.85 billion, and the United Kingdom at $109.39 billion. The three countries accounted for 34.62 percent of U.S. goods exports during the period.
Computers, computer accessories, and pharmaceutical preparations were the three largest imported-goods categories by value, accounting for 20.89 percent of all goods imports. The United States imported $583.73 billion in goods from Mexico, $385.96 billion from Canada, and $271.07 billion from China. Together, the three countries supplied 36.11 percent of U.S. goods imports over the 12-month period.
The Trump administration has presented tariffs as a mechanism for encouraging domestic manufacturing, protecting U.S. industries, and producing federal revenue. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the administration is pursuing a policy under which companies that manufacture products in the United States would avoid tariffs applied to imported goods.
In a Friday social media post, President Trump connected trade policy with his call for the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates.
“Lower the rate or I’ll stop trading with countries with which we have a deficit,” Trump said.
Trump: U.S. Has the Right to Stop Trading With Deficit Countries
President Donald Trump says the U.S. has leverage over countries running trade deficits, arguing America has the right to stop trading with them if necessary.
Trump wrote that the United States should have the lowest interest rate in the world and said ending trade with countries that maintain surpluses with the U.S. would be “better than tariffs.”
The BEA and Census Bureau are scheduled to release their August trade report on Oct. 6.
Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) voted Tuesday in favor of a bipartisan continuing resolution to fund the federal government through December 11, citing the potential consequences of another shutdown for military personnel, law enforcement, and Arizona veterans.
The House passed H.R. 6500, the “Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2027” by a 370-48 vote. The measure was previously passed on August 8, by the Senate with a 90-6 vote before being sent to President Donald Trump, who signed it into law, September 2.
The legislation provided fiscal year 2027 funding for federal agencies generally at current levels through December 11 and extends authorities for a range of federal programs, including surface transportation and veterans programs.
Ciscomani, who serves on the House Appropriations Committee, said he supported the temporary measure to prevent another shutdown while Congress continues negotiations over full-year appropriations bills.
“Today, I voted for a bipartisan, temporary Continuing Resolution (CR) to prevent another government shutdown. A government shutdown is not a political game; it has REAL consequences,” stated Ciscomani.
He pointed to the potential impact on military personnel, Customs and Border Protection agents, law enforcement officers, and veterans.
“It disrupts pay for our troops, leaves CBP agents and law enforcement working without pay, and disrupts services for the nearly 80,000 veterans I have the privilege of representing,” he added.
The Arizona congressman also acknowledged that continuing resolutions are not a substitute for completing the annual appropriations process.
“As an appropriator, I know CRs are not ideal and can delay critical bipartisan work, including the $42.7 million in funding that has cleared the first major legislative hurdles to deliver critical investments to Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District,” said Ciscomani.
Today, I voted for a bipartisan, temporary Continuing Resolution (CR) to prevent another government shutdown. A government shutdown is not a political game; it has REAL consequences. It disrupts pay for our troops, leaves CBP agents and law enforcement working without pay, and…
Among the funding priorities he highlighted were $42.7 million in funding that he said has cleared the first major legislative hurdles and would provide investments in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District.
Ciscomani said he has opposed government shutdowns and argued that federal funding disputes should not result in disruptions for Arizona families.
“I have NEVER supported a government shutdown—partial or full,” said Ciscomani. “Arizona families should not have to pay the price for Washington’s dysfunction.”
The temporary funding measure comes after Congress faced the possibility of another funding lapse when the federal fiscal year ends September 30.
Lawmakers have sought to avoid another prolonged shutdown after the federal government experienced two major shutdowns during the previous year. One lasted a record 43 days, while a separate shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security lasted 76 days.
The new CR gives Congress additional time to negotiate and pass full-year appropriations legislation for Fiscal Year 2027.
Ciscomani said the House’s approval of the measure would allow the government to remain operational while lawmakers continue working on longer-term funding legislation.
“The House did the right thing today by coming together to keep the government open, keep essential services running, and continue delivering for Arizona,” Ciscomani said.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
