by Daniel Stefanski | Nov 30, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A legal verdict for a case with national attention earned responses from some Arizona officials.
Last week, the trial for Laken Riley’s murderer concluded, with a guilty verdict and the sentence imposed. Riley, a young nursing student, rose to national prominence posthumously, after she was horrifically and tragically killed by an illegal immigrant on the campus of the University of Georgia.
Arizona State Senator Janae Shamp reacted to the news, writing, “Justice for Laken! I still don’t have the words to describe how sickened I’ve been following this trial, but the monster who killed her will now forever be behind bars! My heart hurts for Laken Riley’s family as there isn’t a verdict or sentence that will take away their pain and heartache.”
Shamp added, “Criminals and murderers don’t have a place in our country, and I pray no other family ever has to endure this type of horrific tragedy again. President Trump’s inauguration cannot come soon enough!”
In an exclusive comment to AZ Free News, Senate President Warren Petersen said, “While Laken Riley’s family received justice, they will forever live with this heartbreaking and senseless loss because the United States federal government failed to enforce the law and protect our citizens. We must do everything in our power to secure the border and remove these criminals from our communities to prevent similar heinous attacks from threatening innocent American lives. I’m confident President Trump and his Administration will do just that, and the Republican-led Arizona Legislature stands ready to help in this critical endeavor.”
State Senator Shawnna Bolick told AZ Free News that, “Far too often we have seen countless issues stem from illegal immigration, including the senseless murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. Throughout the investigation it was apparent no verdict could ease the pain of the community or the heartbreak felt by her loved ones from this tragic incident. While last week’s verdict closes the chapter of Laken’s death, another angel family has sadly been born. No parent should have to endure the loss of a child.”
Republican State Representative Travis Grantham said, “I’m glad the murderer has been convicted but he never should have been here to begin with. The entire Biden administration has her blood on their hands. What happened to her is a disgrace.”
President-Elect Donald J. Trump, who has promised to renew his efforts to secure the border when his second term in the White House begins in January, also responded to the verdict, saying, “JUSTICE FOR LAKEN RILEY! The Illegal who killed our beloved Laken Riley was just found GUILTY on all counts for his horrific crimes. Although the pain and heartbreak will last forever, hopefully this can help bring some peace and closure to her wonderful family who fought for Justice, and to ensure that other families don’t have to go through what they have. We love you, Laken, and our hearts will always be with you. It is time to secure our Border, and remove these criminals and thugs from our Country, so nothing like this can happen again!”
Most – if not all – of the reactions for this verdict from Arizona public officials appeared to be from Republicans, with Democrats remaining silent in the aftermath of this case.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 30, 2024 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics have released a new survey indicating the hottest selling toys and gifts for the holiday season.
In a press release, NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen introduced the survey saying, “The holiday season is in full swing and while many consumers have made progress on their shopping lists, most shoppers will make the majority of their purchases over the coming weeks. Whether shoppers are looking to spread out their purchases or seeking the best deals, retailers are ready to help consumers with all their shopping needs this holiday.”
According to the survey, the NRF forecasts that 2024 holiday spending will increase by approximately 2.5-3.5% and total between $979.5 billion and $989 billion.
In the category of toys, the survey found real-world toys like Legos, Hot Wheels, and other toy cars reigning supreme over video games and video game consoles for boys. For girls, it found Barbie and other dolls standing tall with Legos, followed by cosmetics and beauty products.
For adults, the survey found that the top five gift-giving categories will be clothing (54%), gift cards (44%), toys (36%), books, video games, movies, series and other media (31%), as well as food and candy (30%).
For gift cards, the most popular are those for restaurants at 30%, department stores at 25%, bank-issued gift cards at 25%, and coffee shop gift cards at 22%.
Prosper Insights & Analytics Executive Vice President of Strategy Phil Rist explained that most shoppers will find their gift inspirations online. He said, “Younger shoppers continue to embrace social media for gift ideas, with those between the ages of 18-24 more likely to find inspiration through platforms such as TikTok (28%) and Instagram (27%). These shoppers are also more likely than any other age group to purchase jewelry, with 30% planning to gift these items.”
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 29, 2024 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Goldwater Institute released a report on Tuesday detailing the shocking expenditures of the Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD). According to the report, the district has blown a total of $76,969 “on what amounted to luxury vacations for school board members and administrators,” per public records obtained by Goldwater.
In the space of two days, the board reportedly shelled out $42,000 in hotel costs, $22,000 of which was for the catering. And this was all for just thirty people. The math works out to a brutal $700 per person, per day.
Christopher Thomas, Goldwater’s director of legal strategy for education policy, told AZFamily, “Those are monies that could have been spent on teacher salaries and educational programs for students.”
According to Goldwater, despite the public access requirements of the state of Arizona’s Open Meetings Law, these “Board and Administrator Retreats,” which act as long-form working meetings, are essentially hidden from the taxpayer. Furthermore, Goldwater reported that, “As a result of the noted board member absences, many of the meetings held during the $42,000 retreat in 2024 lacked even a board quorum (a majority of the five-member board), meaning that under the law, these were not lawful meetings of the board at all.”
Thomas explained that the retreats, “lacked transparency that’s required by the Open Meeting Law.”
Matters of great public interest were reportedly decided at these retreats, including strategies for improving student participation and graduation rates, student attendance rates and test scores, and budget priorities and academic goals, all away from public and parental oversight.
The costs revealed did not include transportation or the hourly pay of those involved, as many of them were effectively “clocked-in” during these “retreats.”
TUHSD reportedly indulged board members and administrators at two four star resorts in 2023 and 2024: the JW Marriott Starr Pass in Tucson and the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock. Notably, Goldwater observed that although records pertaining to these expenses were requested in July, they weren’t released until the middle of November… after new bond and a budget overrides were approved by Tolleson Union voters and a member of the governing board was safely re-elected.
At the JW Marriott Starr Pass in Tucson for the board’s two-day 2023 Board/Administrator Retreat, TUHSD reportedly paid $33,969 to the resort, which included $22,061 on catering. In 2024, the three day retreat at Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock ran up a tab of $42,154 for 36 people.
“The leaders in this school district do not fundamentally understand that they are working with public dollars, and that every one of those public dollars has got to be spent in a way that gives the maximum benefit to the taxpayer and accomplishes their educational mission,” Thomas said.
Comparatively, as Goldwater Institute and AZ Free News previously reported, the Creighton Elementary School District’s Governing Board and Administrative Team attended a three-day, $4,000-per-person “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) conference at a Napa Valley wine country resort in July, which also drew heavy criticism of district leaders.
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 Staff Reporter | Nov 29, 2024 | News
By Staff Reporter |
“Protect and serve” means more than just keeping the peace and enforcing the laws — for Phoenix police, it means ensuring their neighbors have plenty on their tables this Thanksgiving.
Phoenix Police Department’s Desert Horizon Precinct donated 865 turkeys for St. Mary’s Food Bank on Tuesday morning. They couldn’t do it alone: community members rallied around their local department’s cause, making the massive contribution possible.
The collaborative effort between community and police allowed St. Mary’s Food Bank to not only reach but exceed its goal of 10,000 turkey donations this year.
The generosity means that much more, as Thanksgiving prices remained higher than they were several years ago, and more families have turned to food banks for help amid rising inflation. St. Mary’s Food Bank has around 1,500 families coming through its Phoenix Neighborhood Food Center every weekday alone, more than during the height of the 2020 pandemic.
The Arizona Food Bank Network has reported its monthly service numbers amounting to over 600,000 individuals. In July, the state saw a record number of households turning to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits: over 460,000 families. HonorHealth Desert Mission Food Bank reported serving double the number of households daily.
According to the USDA, about 12 percent of Arizona households met the threshold for food insecurity, meaning they lacked consistent access to enough food. Food inflation rose 25 percent from 2019 to 2023 (according to the USDA), with grocery prices increasing well over one percent in the past year alone (according to the Consumer Price Index). That latter increase marked a five percent jump from 2022 to 2023.
Officers also assisted with loading the turkeys and food boxes at the food bank’s headquarters.
St. Mary’s Food Bank president and CEO, Milt Lou, said in a press release that the donation turnout was “exciting.” Lou envisioned the happy scene to be had on Thanksgiving Day, when the many families that came to them for help walked away with a full Thanksgiving spread.
“[We’re happy] to make sure that every family that comes to us today and tomorrow will receive a turkey along with all the fixings, fresh produce, and bread,” said Lou.
Phoenix Police interim chief Michael Sullivan said in that same press release that he hopes this effort serves to show the reliability and dedication of his officers.
“These donations tell me you can bet on the Phoenix PD to come through when you need us and bet on the City of Phoenix,” said Sullivan. “The beauty of Phoenix’s community — now that’s something to be thankful for.”
St. Mary’s Food Bank also collected donations to buy turkeys for this year’s distribution. A $20 donation assured the purchase of one turkey and a meal of pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, stuffing, and a produce bag including onions, carrots, and potatoes.
This year, St. Mary’s Food Bank expects to distribute around 23,000 turkeys across the Valley. That’s above its total of 21,000 turkeys distributed last year.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 27, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Former Santa Cruz County Treasurer, Democrat Elizabeth Gutfahr, pleaded guilty last week to charges that she embezzled and laundered approximately $38 million from Arizona taxpayers. Gutfahr, who served as County Treasurer from 2012 to 2024, also failed to pay income tax on over $13 million while serving in a position of public trust.
According to a press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), Gutfahr embezzled and laundered the money while in office through a scheme of wiring funds form Santa Cruz County’s account directly to the accounts of various ‘shell companies.’ She had created the companies explicitly for the purposes of defrauding the county and ultimately transferring those funds to her personal bank account.
To say that Gutfahr’s use of the funds was blatant and extravagant may be an understatement. According to the DOJ she used the taxpayers’ millions to purchase real estate, renovate her family’s ranch, pay her company’s operating expenses, and buy at least twenty vehicles.
Court documents reveal that Gutfahr accomplished this feat through an astonishing series of about 187 wire transfers she “completed by subverting the two-step approval process for the wire transfers by using the token of a subordinate Santa Cruz County employee.” This method allowed her to both create and approve the transfers. The prosecution also revealed that to cover her tracks, “Gutfahr falsified accounting records, cash reconciliation records, and reports of the County’s investment accounts to conceal the millions of dollars that she had stolen from Santa Cruz County.”
The head of the DOJ’s Criminal Division, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, said in a statement, “Elizabeth Gutfahr stole $38 million from the people of Santa Cruz County, Arizona, during the 12 years she served as their County Treasurer. We expect public officials to serve as stewards of the government fisc — not to loot it. Today’s plea demonstrates yet again that the Justice Department remains committed to rooting out public corruption at all levels of government.”
“I wire transferred the Santa Cruz County funds from the County’s Savings Account and Checking Account for the purpose and as an essential part of carrying out the scheme to defraud to fraudulently obtain the funds for my personal use, all without authorization,” Gutfahr said, according to court documents cited by CNN. “I agree I owe restitution in the amount of $38,712,100.00.”
“These account names were materially false and fraudulent representations to intentionally conceal the fact that I was wire transferring Santa Cruz County funds to my Wells Fargo and BMO Accounts to embezzle the County’s funds,” Gutfahr stated per the terms of her plea agreement.
In a statement to KGUN9, Gutfahr’s attorney wrote, “Liz Gutfahr wants to take responsibility for the harm she has caused to Santa Cruz County. She knows that by pleading guilty, and accepting the punishment she will face as a result, she is taking a step in the right direction to be accountable for her actions. Today was just a step, albeit a major one, along the road to redemption, and she will work to remain on that path for the rest of her life.”
The disgraced Democrat pleaded guilty to one count of embezzlement by a public official, one count of money laundering, and one count of tax evasion. Her sentencing has been scheduled for Feb. 6, 2025, and she could face up to ten years in prison for embezzlement, 20 years for money laundering, and another five for tax evasion. All told, she could face 35 years in prison. Gutfahr will also be required to pay restitution to the county as well as tax penalties. However, as reported by KGUN, a court-appointed receiver working to sell off real estate and property reported the courts may only be able to recover about one-third of the loss. She has also been sued in civil court by Santa Cruz County in an attempt by the county to recover the funds.
Gutfahr was released on her own recognizance pending sentencing but is prohibited from leaving the state of Arizona without prior clearance from the court.
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 Staff Reporter | Nov 27, 2024 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizonans enacted a major incentive for local governments to address homelessness.
Voters approved Proposition 312, which requires local governments to compensate its property and business owners for damages caused by the homeless. Governor Katie Hobbs certified the proposition on Monday alongside all other election results.
Proposition 312 would secure compensations through a refund on property tax payments up to an amount matching costs incurred by local government’s “failure to enforce laws and ordinances prohibiting illegal camping, loitering, obstructing public thoroughfares, panhandling, public urination or defecation, public consumption of alcoholic beverages, and possession or use of illegal substances.”
Should the cost of damages exceed the property tax bill, the proposition gives the owner the right to apply for a refund from their next property tax payment(s) in perpetuity until that initial balance is paid.
“Property owners would be eligible annually for refunds until the taxing entity begins enforcing the relevant public nuisance laws,” stated the ballot summary.
Policy experts anticipate the Arizona proposition to inspire other cities to adopt a similar policy.
The Goldwater Institute, which crafted Proposition 312, said in a statement on Monday that the measure provided another tool in addressing the homeless crisis facing Phoenix and major cities in other states. Victor Riches, Goldwater Institute’s senior communications manager, said in an opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal that the proposition should serve as sufficient motivation for local elected officials to act with more urgency.
“Proposition 312 should be a wake-up call for elected officials forcing law-abiding businesses and residents to pay the price for a crisis they didn’t create,” said Riches. “The message to politicians couldn’t be clearer: Do your job. Enough is enough.”
Riches identified Phoenix and its infamous downtown area unofficially cordoned off for the homeless (“The Zone”) as a prime example of the “government malfeasance” that allowed the adverse effects of homelessness on properties and businesses in the area.
“Property values plummeted in the Zone. Small businesses suffered. People lost their livelihoods as dozens of business owners had no choice but to close up shop,” said Riches. “And even as the city spent over $180 million to address the crisis (only a fraction of which is publicly accounted for), the number of homeless people in Phoenix rose 92% between 2018 and 2023.”
Nearly 59 percent of voters (1.8 million votes) approved Proposition 312. The legislative vehicle for the proposition, HCR 2023, passed in both chambers with bipartisan support earlier this year.
Major leftist organizations said in their arguments against Proposition 312 that the cities and counties shouldn’t face financial punishment for the acts of the homeless, and reduced tax revenue would hinder funding for community assistance geared toward homelessness.
Among those to oppose Proposition 312 were Civic Engagement Beyond Voting, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, Opportunity Arizona, Fuerte Arts Movement, Living United for Change in Arizona, and the ACLU of Arizona.
The Common Sense Institute Arizona (CSI) found in a report released last month that the proposition would likely improve property values.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
