Two men were arrested this week for allegedly drugging, kidnapping, and sexually assaulting a woman earlier this summer.
Zabdiel “Zab” Kofi Echie, 24, and Joaquin Corona Borboa, 21, face sexual assault and kidnapping charges. The two are alleged to have conspired to commit the crimes.
Echie is a Border Patrol agent in training who had served until recently in the Marine Corps. Public records indicate that Echie lived in the Virginia/Washington, D.C. area throughout his high school years, and in the Tucson area for at least the last several months.
Borboa is a college student on hiatus at the University of Arizona (U of A) who works as a handyman with his uncle and is an aspiring fitness influencer according to his social media activity. Unlike Echie, Borboa’s attorney described him as a lifelong Tucson resident dating back to four months old. Borboa’s attorney mentioned that his parents were present for the initial hearing and willing to house him should the judge permit him to be released on his own recognizance. The judge did not.
Court documents revealed that the alleged victim, an 18-year-old woman, told investigators that Echie and Borboa gave her alcohol and then, to her surprise, put an “unknown white powdery substance” in her mouth while driving her from Tucson to Echie’s home in Sahuarita on June 19.
The victim alleged that she became disoriented during the 30-minute drive, and further alleged that Borboa digitally penetrated her.
Once at Echie’s home, the victim claimed that she passed out and later awoke to Echie having sex with her in his bed. She alleged that she attempted to stop Echie but that he held her down with Borboa’s help.
The victim also alleged that Borboa forced her to perform oral sex on him before taking her to his apartment and having sex with her there for several more hours.
The interim complaint reported that Echie’s cell phone contained a short video of the sexual encounter. Investigators noted that the victim was crying on the video, and that Borboa was visibly holding her down as Echie had sex with her.
Investigators also discovered text messages between Echie and Borboa that allegedly reflect they planned the sexual assault.
The judge who oversaw Borboa’s initial court appearance called the data discovered on Borboa’s phone “concerning.”
Echie posted his $150,000 bond; Borboa is being held at the Pima County Adult Detention Complex on a $350,000 bond.
Neither Echie nor Borboa have any criminal history. Attorneys for both men negotiated for lowered bonds, arguing that neither presented a threat to the community based on their lack of criminal history.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) told 13 News that Echie was an off-duty employee and confirmed that its Office of Professional Responsibility is investigating Echie over the allegations.
“CBP stresses honor and integrity in every aspect of our mission, and the overwhelming majority of CBP employees and officers perform their duties with honor and distinction, working tirelessly every day to keep our country safe,” stated CBP.
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Three Arizona House Republicans have requested weekly, in-person briefings from Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) Director Thomas Buschatzke on Colorado River negotiations, seeking the same information provided to Gov. Katie Hobbs.
In a September 4 letter, Reps. Gail Griffin (R-LD19), Neal Carter (R-LD15), and Chris Lopez (R-LD16) asked Buschatzke to meet with them and relevant agency staff and legal counsel at least once a week. The lawmakers proposed Tuesdays at 2 p.m., while offering to arrange another mutually agreeable time.
The request follows the federal government’s decision on Colorado River operations for 2027 and 2028, which drew mixed reactions from Arizona officials. Arizona would absorb approximately 61% of the total reductions across the three Lower Basin states, with a 760,000-acre-foot reduction compared with California’s 440,000 and Nevada’s 50,000.
Griffin chairs the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee, where Lopez serves as its vice chair, and Carter is speaker pro tempore of the Arizona House of Representatives.
In the letter, the lawmakers cited the Legislature’s authority under A.R.S. § 45-106, which requires legislative approval by concurrent resolution before an agreement between the water resources director and the United States, another state, or a government involving Arizona’s sovereign rights or claims can take effect.
💧 Did you know?
Arizona’s water future depends on more than one source.
Colorado River water remains critical, but Arizona also relies on groundwater, reclaimed water, conservation, water storage, and new supply projects to support communities and future growth.
“Given our unique legislative role under A.R.S. § 45-106, we believe we are entitled to receive the same briefing you would deliver to the Governor’s office or the Governor herself, free from any filters or withholding of information,” the lawmakers wrote.
The requested meetings would allow members to receive updates, ask questions, and examine the factual, policy, and legal rationale for prospective offers, terms, or decisions. The lawmakers also asked to be informed of developments as they occur.
The letter also references two pieces of correspondence from August. They said Buschatzke confirmed on August 25 that implementing a Lower Basin Agreement would require legislative approval and committed to keeping House and Senate members informed of information relevant to their decision.
— Arizona Department of Water Resources (@azwater) September 4, 2026
The lawmakers also said Hobbs affirmed her commitment to providing relevant updates in an August 26 letter and directed Buschatzke to “continually update” them as requested.
Hobbs plans to call a special legislative session for lawmakers to vote on a water-sharing agreement between Arizona, Nevada, and California.
Hobbs highlighted her administration’s Colorado River negotiations in a June interview with 12 News. After the federal government released its proposed operating guidelines, she urged federal officials to adopt the Lower Basin states’ proposal and distribute water reductions equitably.
In August, the federal government came to an agreement with Arizona and the other Lower Basin states on Colorado River water usage. Under the deal, Arizona will lose about 61%: the most out of the Lower Basin states. The news was met with mixed reactions. Hobbs said the decision protected Arizona from deeper cuts. U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) said his initial review indicated the plan avoided the most drastic options previously announced, while U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) described the two-year reprieve as another short-term fix and called for durable agreements.
Scot Mussi, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, called the deal “a total failure of leadership” in a statement posted to X. He stated that the deal “will place most of the cuts on new single family homes while data centers and apartments get unlimited water.” He added, “Conveniently, those big water users happen to be some of your biggest campaign contributors.”
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
A captain for the U.S. Navy will be inducted into his high school’s hall of fame on September 11.
Navy Captain Kurt Astroth will be in attendance for the induction ceremony in his honor at Mountain Pointe High School.
Astroth serves at U.S. Fleet Forces Command, headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. He joined the Navy 22 years ago.
Previously, Astroth served as commanding officer of the USS Donald Cook. Astroth has served as a surface warfare officer aboard multiple ships: the USSs Boxer, Essex, Chief, Gladiator, Scout, Lake Champlain, and Underwood.
Astroth was inspired by the men in his family to join the military. His grandfather served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, his father in the Army during the Korean War era, and his uncle served as a naval aviator in Vietnam.
His family has continued to be a positive source of support in his life.
Of his service, Astroth said that he has grown to appreciate it as having a meaning deeper than serving his country.
“When I joined the Navy as a young man, I understood service largely in terms of serving my country,” said Astroth. “After more than two decades, my understanding of service has become much more personal. Service requires sacrifice. When you are young, it is difficult to fully appreciate what that means. Over a career, sacrifice becomes time away from family, missed events and milestones, deployments, and accepting that you will not always have complete control over where you go or when you will return.”
Astroth also stated that his service has rewarded him with the unparalleled opportunity to lead and develop the younger generations coming into service.
“For me, one of the greatest rewards of service has been the opportunity to lead and develop sailors, and to know that, for a period of time, I had the opportunity and responsibility to make a positive difference in their lives,” said Astroth. “I have served around the world, led sailors at sea, commanded a warship and watched young men and women grow into capable professionals and leaders themselves.”
Astroth was raised in Phoenix and graduated from Mountain Pointe High School in 1999, approximately eight years after the school had first opened. While at Mountain Pointe, Astroth lettered in football, track, and band. Astroth was a percussionist in the high school concert band for all four years.
Additionally, Astroth participated in the school’s German exchange program and, in turn, hosted three exchange students from Germany.
Astroth graduated from Mountain Pointe as a member of the National Honor Society. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts, and achieved the Eagle Scout rank.
Astroth credited his Mountain Pointe High School teachers and coaches, his Boy Scout troop leaders and fellow scouts, and his community at Dayspring United Methodist Church in Tempe for setting him up for success in his youth.
“Each of those communities gave me opportunities to grow, challenged me in different ways and helped establish values that I carried with me into the Navy,” said Astroth.
Tomika Banks, Mountain Pointe High School principal, told Astroth in a letter that his leadership and service to the community warranted his memorialization within the halls he once walked.
“This is a well-deserved recognition of your years of outstanding leadership and service to the Mountain Pointe Community, and an acknowledgment that you exemplified exceptional commitment to our school and students,” said Banks.
Astroth’s induction ceremony is scheduled to occur on Friday, Sept. 11, 2026, at 5:15 p.m. in the gym lobby. Astroth will also be recognized at 6:30 p.m. on the football field prior to the school’s varsity football game.
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President Donald Trump signed a temporary federal funding measure Wednesday that finances government operations through Dec. 11 while Congress works on fiscal year 2027 appropriations.
The House approved the Senate-amended version of H.R. 6500 on Sept. 1 by a vote of 370-48, with 14 members absent. The supporting votes included 193 Republicans, 176 Democrats, and one independent.
Arizona’s House delegation divided 5-4 on the measure.
Republican Reps. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08), and Paul Gosar (R-AZ-09) joined Democratic Reps. Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) and Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) in voting for the bill. Republican Reps. David Schweikert (R-AZ-01), Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), and Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) joined Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03) in opposing it.
The Senate passed the measure Aug. 8 by a vote of 90-6. One senator voted present and three did not vote. Arizona Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego both supported the bill.
The enrolled legislation generally continues programs covered by the 12 annual appropriations acts at rates derived from fiscal year 2026 funding. Those appropriations encompass defense, homeland security, veterans’ services, transportation, housing, health, education, federal land management, and other government operations.
The law directs agencies to take limited funding actions during the stopgap period and generally prevents projects that received no money or authority during fiscal year 2026 from being initiated. It also permits agencies to fund civilian compensation at rates needed to avoid furloughs after reducing or deferring eligible administrative expenses.
For Arizona, the measure maintains funding for federal personnel and operations along the international border, at military installations, in national forests and parks, and throughout the state’s federal health care and veterans’ systems.
Ciscomani said a shutdown would have disrupted military pay, required Customs and Border Protection personnel and other federal law enforcement officers to continue working without pay, and affected services for nearly 80,000 veterans in his southern Arizona district.
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…
“A government shutdown is not a political game; it has REAL consequences,” Ciscomani said. “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.”
The stopgap also keeps some new fiscal year 2027 spending from beginning until Congress enacts regular appropriations. Ciscomani said operating under a continuing resolution could postpone $42.7 million in proposed projects for Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District that had cleared initial appropriations hurdles.
He concluded, “I have NEVER supported a government shutdown—partial or full. Arizona families should not have to pay the price for Washington’s dysfunction. The House did the right thing today by coming together to keep the government open, keep essential services running, and continue delivering for Arizona.”
One provision with a direct Arizona connection authorizes the Interior Department to fund its assumption of the remaining responsibilities of the Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation.
The relocation office was created to administer benefits arising from the federal division of disputed Navajo and Hopi lands in northeastern Arizona. Its remaining work includes administrative appeals, fiduciary responsibilities, land management, and livestock obligations. Congress directed Interior Department to begin handling those outstanding responsibilities as part of the office’s closure, according to a Congressional Research Service report updated in February.
The law also provides additional funding authority for the Indian Health Service (IHS) at operating rates of $75.8 million for health services and $8.3 million for facilities. The money is intended to staff and operate facilities opened, expanded or renovated during fiscal years 2022, 2026 and 2027. The legislation states national account rates and leaves facility-level allocations to the agency.
The IHS maintains Phoenix, Navajo, and Tucson administrative areas with hospitals, clinics, and health centers located throughout Arizona. The Phoenix Area system provides health and community services to approximately 180,000 Native Americans in Arizona, Nevada, and Utah through service units and tribally operated facilities. The Phoenix Indian Medical Center alone provides direct services to more than 171,000 patients.
Wildfire and disaster operations also received special treatment in the stopgap.
The Interior Department and U.S. Forest Service may spend at rates needed for wildfire suppression during the approximately 10-week funding period. Arizona fire officials entered 2026 anticipating increased fire activity because of persistent dryness, fine fuels, drought-stressed vegetation, and tree mortality.
The law gives the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) similar flexibility to fund disaster response and recovery. It also extends the National Flood Insurance Program through Dec. 11.
Transportation programs that were scheduled to expire Sept. 30 will continue through Dec. 11 under a separate division of the legislation. The extension provides a proportional share of fiscal year 2026 highway and mass transit funding and extends the federal government’s authority to spend from the Highway Trust Fund.
Federal funding accounts for most of the money used in Arizona’s highway construction program. ADOT’s 2026-2030 program includes $2.77 billion for pavement and bridge preservation, $742.9 million for highway expansion, and $603.6 million for modernization.
The law also authorizes the Transportation Department to spend at the rate needed to maintain Essential Air Service. The program subsidizes commercial flights connecting Page and Show Low with Phoenix and Prescott with Denver and Los Angeles.
The Transportation Department’s May 2026 program report listed annual subsidies of approximately $4.4 million for Page, $5.9 million for Show Low, and $6.3 million for Prescott, totaling about $16.6 million.
Federal nutrition and housing programs serving Arizona residents will also continue.
The law maintains mandatory payments and activities under the Food and Nutrition Act, which covers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Arizona reported that 451,762 people received SNAP benefits in May 2026.
The measure allows the Department of Agriculture to spend at rates needed to maintain participation in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the existing caseload for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Arizona administers the latter program as the Commodity Senior Food Program, providing monthly USDA food packages to qualifying residents who are at least 60 years old. The state projected an average monthly caseload of 29,931 people during fiscal year 2026 in its budget materials.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development may use prior-year balances to prevent families from losing tenant-based rental assistance because of insufficient funding during the 2026 calendar-year cycle. The City of Phoenix’s Housing Choice Voucher program alone assists more than 7,000 households.
H.R. 6500 also extends a series of veterans’ programs through Dec. 11. Those provisions cover rural mental-health services, suicide-prevention grants, assistance for family caregivers, ambulance reimbursement for qualifying rural veterans, housing support for homeless veterans, transportation to VA facilities, and adaptive sports programs for disabled veterans and service members.
The Department of Veterans Affairs estimated Arizona’s veteran population at 467,010 in fiscal year 2025. Nearly 160,000 Arizona veterans received disability compensation totaling an estimated $4.24 billion annually, while more than 53,000 participated in VA education programs.
The law also permits the Small Business Administration to adjust spending to meet demand for 7(a), 504 and Small Business Investment Company financing. The 7(a) program is the agency’s primary lending program and guarantees qualifying loans for real estate, equipment, working capital, business acquisitions, and other expenses.
H.R. 6500 keeps those operations and programs funded until Congress enacts the applicable fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill or the stopgap expires on Dec. 11.
The United States added 162,000 nonfarm payroll jobs in August, and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1 percent, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) monthly employment report.
Republicans on the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), chaired by Arizona Republican Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-01), reported that the increase included 127,000 private-sector jobs and 35,000 government jobs. The total was more than three times the 53,000-job forecast cited in the committee’s Monthly Employment Update.
Labor Day weekend starts with a BOOM: August jobs numbers BLEW past expectations. 💥
August’s national gain exceeded the average monthly increase of 31,000 jobs recorded during the preceding 12 months. The national labor force participation rate increased by 0.2 percentage points to 61.6 percent, and the broader U-6 unemployment rate declined by 0.2 percentage points to 7.7 percent.
August jobs increased by 162K jobs (+127K private sector, +35K gov), more than 3Xs expectations of 53K. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1% while the labor force participation rate ticked up 0.2pp to 61.6%. July job openings, a measure of labor demand, increased by 89K.…
— Joint Economic Committee Republicans (@JECRepublicans) September 4, 2026
The latest state-level figures cover July, while the newest national report covers August. Arizona added 2,300 seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll jobs during July, and the state unemployment rate remained at 4.9 percent.
Arizona’s July gain followed an increase of 2,700 jobs in June. The state’s private sector added 1,900 jobs in July after adding 2,500 during the preceding month. Arizona’s total nonfarm and private-sector payroll employment each increased during nine of the 12 months ending in July.
Over the 12 months ending in July, Arizona added 23,100 seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll jobs and tied for 11th among the states and District of Columbia in percentage payroll growth. The private sector added 29,900 jobs during the same period, placing Arizona in a tie for ninth in percentage private-sector payroll growth. The difference reflects a net decline of approximately 6,800 government payroll jobs during the period.
Private education and health services recorded Arizona’s largest monthly sector gain in July, adding 1,600 jobs. Professional and business services added 1,300. Leisure and hospitality employment declined by 1,600 jobs, and construction declined by 1,300.
From July 2025 through July 2026, Arizona’s private education and health services sector added 18,900 jobs, and professional and business services added 11,700. Leisure and hospitality employment declined by 7,900 jobs, and financial activities declined by 4,500 during the period.
Arizona’s 4.9 percent unemployment rate was unchanged from June and stood 0.6 percentage points above its July 2025 rate of 4.3 percent. A total of 181,297 Arizonans were unemployed in July.
The state’s labor force participation rate declined from 60.3 percent in June to 60.1 percent in July, placing Arizona 37th nationally. The July figure was Arizona’s lowest participation rate in 10 years and stood two percentage points below its July 2025 level.
Arizona’s seasonally adjusted labor force decreased by 14,355 people during July and by 92,368 over the preceding 12 months. The state had approximately 3.286 million seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll jobs in July.
Nationally, leisure and hospitality led sector growth in August with 62,000 jobs, followed by state and local government with 40,000. Information employment declined by 23,000 jobs, and financial activities declined by 11,000.
The BLS revised July’s national payroll estimate upward by 44,000 jobs, changing the previously reported loss of 23,000 jobs to a gain of 21,000. June’s estimate was revised upward from the previous calculation of 20,000 jobs to a final gain of 31,000. The revisions increased the combined June and July total by 55,000 jobs.
Average nominal weekly earnings for all private nonfarm employees increased 3.69 percent nationally from August 2025 through August 2026, and average nominal hourly earnings increased 3.09 percent. Average hourly earnings reached $37.75 in August.
Separate federal data showed 7.271 million job openings nationwide in July, an increase of 89,000 from June. The job-openings rate increased by 0.1 percentage points to 4.4 percent, with the BLS characterizing both measures as little changed in its Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey.
The BLS is scheduled to release its September national employment report on Oct. 2.
Arizona State Senator Mark Finchem (R-LD11) is questioning a request by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to pause 30 pending administrative appeals involving a healthcare provider while the agency pursues a separate lawsuit over the same disputes.
AHCCCS filed the motion September 2 with the Arizona Office of Administrative Hearings, asking an administrative law judge to stay the pending proceedings involving Prorenata Labs and six AHCCCS-contracted health plans.
The request has drawn scrutiny from Finchem, co-chair of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, who argues that the move raises broader questions about whether Arizona residents and businesses can rely on the state’s administrative hearing process when challenging government decisions.
“This is bigger than one laboratory and one billing dispute. It is about whether Arizonans can trust the process when they challenge the government,” stated Senator Finchem.
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Senator Finchem Sounds Alarm Over AHCCCS Attempt to Sidestep Provider Appeals Process
The underlying dispute concerns reimbursement for certain COVID-19 tests. Among the questions being litigated is whether the tests are subject to a maximum reimbursement rate, typically $100 per test, and whether an out-of-network laboratory can receive payment for non-emergency services provided without prior authorization or documented urgent medical need.
According to Finchem, AHCCCS acknowledges that hundreds of similar cases have already proceeded through administrative hearings and were resolved in favor of AHCCCS and its contracted health plans.
“The Legislature has already paid for an independent hearing system so people and businesses can challenge government actions without being forced into a more expensive court fight,” said Finchem. “AHCCCS says it has already prevailed in hundreds of these cases through that process. If it worked hundreds of times, the agency must explain why it now wants 30 pending appeals frozen while it pursues a different legal strategy in court.”
AHCCCS argues that temporarily pausing the administrative hearings would reduce costs, prevent duplicative litigation, and avoid potentially inconsistent rulings between the administrative and judicial proceedings.
An administrative law judge has not yet ruled on the agency’s request.
The Office of Administrative Hearings was established to provide an independent forum for individuals and businesses challenging decisions made by state agencies.
Finchem said the Legislature needs to determine whether AHCCCS’s request could undermine that process or establish a precedent that other state agencies could use when facing administrative challenges.
“We are not deciding whether this laboratory is owed money,” added Finchem. “We are asking why an executive agency wants to halt established proceedings and shift the legal question to a lawsuit it initiated.”
Finchem said he intends to use the Joint Legislative Audit Committee’s oversight authority to examine the circumstances surrounding AHCCC’s request.
Among the questions he wants answered are how long the 30 appeals could be delayed, how much the Superior Court litigation could cost taxpayers, why AHCCCS changed its approach after prevailing in hundreds of administrative cases, and whether the agency considers its strategy a potential precedent for other disputes involving state agencies.
“Without a full and public explanation, this smells like another attempt by the Hobbs administration to cover up agency actions,” said Finchem. “If this becomes a playbook for state agencies, the consequences will reach far beyond this case. I intend to use the Joint Legislative Audit Committee’s oversight authority to get the facts, demand answers, and determine whether legislative or audit action is necessary. Due process cannot exist only when it is convenient for the government.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
