by Ethan Faverino | Jun 28, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Dr. Theodore Cooke, former General Manager for the Central Arizona Project (CAP), has been nominated as Commissioner of Reclamation for the Department of Interior under the Trump administration.
Senate Republicans across the state are applauding Dr. Cooke’s nomination.
Dr. Cooke brings over two decades of experience from his career with the CAP, where he played a crucial role in managing Arizona’s water delivery systems to meet the state’s critical agricultural and municipal needs.
In 2022, Dr. Cooke was nominated by Senate Republicans to serve as a Board Member of Arizona’s Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA). In this role, he contributed to the strategic financing and development of water infrastructure projects, enhancing Arizona’s defense against water shortages.
“Not only does Arizona provide national benefits from our economy, but we also have a pool of talent in water management professionals,” said Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope, Chairman of the Senate Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee. “Dr. Cooke is thoughtful, has a history of collaboration, thinks outside the box to formulate solutions, and has a track record of finding a consensus among all parties at the table. This is why he was appointed by the Arizona Senate to serve on WIFA. Dr. Cooke is exactly who the Department of Interior needs and will be more aggressive in facilitating an agreement among the seven Colorado River Basin States on water allocations, as he did with negotiating Arizona’s entrance into the Drought Contingency Plan.”
If the nomination is confirmed, Dr. Cooke will be the main federal official overseeing the seven Colorado River states through negotiations over the shrinking river’s water supply. His leadership will be crucial as these states face a 2026 deadline to agree on water cutbacks. If there is no consensus between the states, the federal government is ready to intervene and make those decisions.
As Commissioner, Dr. Cooke is set to drive transformative water management solutions, securing sustainable supplies for future generations and reinforcing economic strength through the Colorado River Basin.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 27, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
After 28 years, the sound of passenger trains arriving in Phoenix could return as soon as 2030. The Federal Railroad Administration has approved the essential scoping documents that will allow the Arizona Department of Transportation to create a Service Development Plan, completing the first stage of the Phoenix-Tucson Intercity Passenger Rail Corridor Study.
The effort will propose passenger rail service along a 158-mile corridor between the greater Phoenix and Tucson metropolitan areas and will include re-routing the Amtrak Sunset Limited back through Phoenix according to ADOT.
According to Federal Railroad Administration’s FY22 Corridor Identification and Development Program Selections, “The proposed corridor would reconnect Phoenix (Buckeye) to Tucson, AZ, with multiple daily frequencies. The proposed corridor would reinstate service on an existing alignment over which Amtrak discontinued service in 1997, rerouting the long-distance Sunset Limited to a more southerly alignment through Maricopa, AZ (the corridor would use the same route as the existing Sunset Limited/Texas Eagle between Picacho and Tucson, AZ). The corridor sponsor would enter Step 1 of the program to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan.”
Step 1, as described by the 2022 document, has now been completed.
The Sunset Limited Route, and Amtrak service overall, was diverted from Phoenix following the attack that resulted in the derailment of the train at 1:35 a.m. on October 9, 1995, near Palo Verde, Arizona, 70-miles southwest of Phoenix.
The infamous derailment caused the death of an Amtrak employee and serious injuries to 12 others, along with minor injuries to 100 of the 258 passengers aboard. It remains one of the most famous cold cases in FBI history with no suspects despite a $310,000 reward still offered by several agencies for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the attacker.
Since 1997, Phoenix has remained disconnected from the Amtrak Intercity Rail system with riders required to use buses or drive to the Amtrak depot in Maricopa, Arizona, 38-miles to the south, or about an hour’s drive in traffic.
Democrat Congressman and former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton hailed the announcement in a post to X writing, “I’ve been fighting to restore Amtrak service to Phoenix for a long time, and today it’s one step closer to becoming a reality.”
In a written statement, current Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs commented, “This is a big step forward for Arizona. I am committed to creating a bright transportation future for our state that fosters economic growth, creates jobs and expands transit opportunities for working people and families.”
The second stage of the process, the creation of a Service Development Plan, is expected to take two to three years after a crucial federal grant is approved, which is anticipated in the weeks to come per ADOT. The study, already funded with a $10.6 million budget, will include technical analysis of “capital and service requirements for passenger rail service; preliminary engineering and costs for capital improvements, such as stations, parking lots and trains; station locations; [and] service scenarios based on ridership potential.”
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 | Jun 27, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
As the City of Scottsdale stands poised to enact a staggering $2.2 billion budget, city leaders must now contend with a new lawsuit from the Goldwater Institute challenging the city’s controversial sales tax increase.
As of the council’s June 10th meeting, the city has reportedly agreed to spend up to $90,000 in taxpayer dollars on the outside law firm Osborne Maledon to defend it.
In June 2024, the Goldwater Institute challenged the newly approved 0.15% sales tax, which was pitched to voters as a “replacement tax,” for an unrelated, expired 0.2% Land Acquisition Tax.
Goldwater won that legal battle, “forcing the city to admit that it was raising, rather than lowering taxes,” according to a press release.
Under the Arizona Constitution, such a tax hike must be approved by at least 60 percent of voters, a threshold the city did not meet in the 2024 election. Scottsdale leaders, however, have enacted the tax.
On Friday, June 3rd, the Goldwater Institute filed a lawsuit against the city, panning the tax as “unconstitutional.” It stated that, “Supermajority rules help protect minority voices, prevent special-interest-driven decisions, and force governments to clean up their budgets before reaching for more of your money. Just like any responsible household, city, county, and state officials should look at how they’re spending first—not just always demand more, regardless of what the law and economic commonsense demand.”
Scott Day Freeman, writing for Goldwater added, “Scottsdale is ignoring the state’s constitutional mandate—requiring us to go to court yet again.”
City Attorney Sherry Scott’s summary to the city council stated, “The budget implications of not defending this case are $25 million per year for the next 30 years.” The law firm, earning approximately $912 per hour at the taxpayer’s expense, is fighting the Goldwater Institute’s efforts to seek an injunction that would stop the tax from taking effect on July 1st, along with a declaratory judgment that the tax is unenforceable.
Freeman said, “Our clients seek only a declaration that the tax is unlawful and an injunction to stop it being enforced. Our clients do not seek a refund or damages.”
Scottsdale spokesman Kelly Corsette stated, “The city is confident its ballot item and election result comply with the Arizona Constitution and all applicable election laws.” He claimed that “the 60% tax approval threshold does not apply to local ballot measures: it is in a section of the constitution that regulates statewide initiatives and referendums, not in the separate section of the constitution applicable to city initiatives and referendums.”
In its press release, the Goldwater Institute maintained that, “In 2022, Arizonans strengthened those protections by amending the Constitution to require any tax passed through a citizen initiative or referendum receive at least 60 percent approval to become law—a requirement that applies not just to statewide, but also to local ballot initiatives.”
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 Jonathan Eberle | Jun 27, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A new bill aimed at securing the long-term future of Chase Field and keeping the Arizona Diamondbacks in downtown Phoenix is poised to become law, following bipartisan passage through the state legislature and encouraging signals from Governor Katie Hobbs.
House Bill 2704, sponsored by Representative Jeff Weninger (R-LD13), offers a funding solution for needed repairs and renovations at the publicly owned stadium without raising taxes. The plan allows state sales and income tax revenues already generated by the team and its events to be redirected for stadium upkeep.
“This is a smart, responsible solution that keeps the Diamondbacks where they belong—at Chase Field in the heart of our capital city,” said Rep. Weninger, who chairs the House Commerce Committee. “The costs will be covered by revenue generated through team activity, not by pulling from the pockets of Arizonans who never set foot in the stadium. We’re protecting jobs, preserving economic impact, and keeping our beloved World Champion Major League Baseball team in Phoenix—all without new taxes.”
Under the bill, the Arizona Diamondbacks have also pledged at least $250 million toward future improvements at Chase Field, adding to more than $200 million the team has already spent—despite not owning the venue.
With the team’s lease set to expire in 2027, lawmakers and stakeholders had faced mounting pressure to develop a long-term plan that would keep the Diamondbacks in Arizona. Supporters of HB2704 argue the bill strikes a balance between fiscal responsibility and economic investment by keeping tax dollars generated by the stadium circulating locally.
Derrick Hall, President and CEO of the Diamondbacks, praised the legislative effort. “I want to thank Representative Weninger, all of the supportive lawmakers, and Governor Hobbs for the leadership with HB2704,” Hall said. “The voting results and bipartisan enthusiasm clearly showed the need for funding for this economically generating public asset.”
Chase Field, which opened in 1998 and has hosted over 55 million fans, plays a significant role in downtown Phoenix’s economy. Lawmakers say the legislation ensures the stadium remains a viable and modern venue well into the future—without tapping into the general fund or creating new financial burdens for Arizona residents.
Governor Hobbs has expressed public support for the measure, and her signature is expected in the coming days. Once signed, the bill will take effect and begin shaping the next chapter for both the team and the stadium.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 26, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs on Tuesday vetoed a continuation budget passed earlier in the day by the state House of Representatives, sharply criticizing House Republicans for what she called “pointless political grandstanding” just days before the June 30 budget deadline.
The House-passed stopgap measure aimed to keep the government operating past the end of the fiscal year while negotiations continued over a full budget agreement. But Hobbs swiftly rejected the proposal, calling it a “sham budget” that threatens critical state services and derails the bipartisan progress already made in the Senate.
“For months, I worked with leaders of both parties, in both chambers, to craft a bipartisan, balanced, and fiscally responsible budget that the majority of Senate Republicans support,” Hobbs claimed in a statement. “That budget has pay raises for State Troopers and firefighters, cuts taxes on small businesses, invests in combatting Veterans homelessness, and makes childcare more affordable and accessible.”
The governor’s veto comes amid rising tensions between the House and executive branch. House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) had framed the continuation budget as a responsible step to avoid a shutdown after the Senate-negotiated agreement failed to garner enough support in his chamber. “We owe it to the people we serve to take the time needed to get this right,” Montenegro said. “This continuation budget ensures state services remain funded while giving lawmakers the time to work toward a better, more responsible solution.”
Governor Hobbs, however, dismissed that reasoning and accused House Republicans of endangering essential state services for political gain. “I have long made clear that both of the partisan and reckless House Republican budgets are unacceptable,” she said. “They gut public safety, slash health care for Arizonans, harm businesses, fail to lower costs, and leave our Veterans out in the cold.”
With just five days remaining before the state’s fiscal year ends, the legislature remains without an approved budget. Hobbs urged lawmakers to abandon political brinkmanship and adopt the bipartisan budget already passed by the Senate.
“Now, it’s time for House Republican leadership to move past their political stunts and work productively with their colleagues before they force an unnecessary state government shutdown of their own creation,” she said.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 26, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A former longtime public servant in Santa Cruz County has been sentenced to a decade in federal prison after pleading guilty to stealing tens of millions in taxpayer funds. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Rosemary C. Márquez sentenced 63-year-old Elizabeth Gutfahr of Rio Rico to 120 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. In addition, she was ordered to pay roughly $51.8 million in restitution to Santa Cruz County and the United States Treasury.
Gutfahr, who served as county treasurer from 2012 to 2024, admitted to orchestrating a wide-ranging fraud scheme that funneled approximately $38.7 million in county funds into fake companies she created. According to court documents, the companies conducted no legitimate business and were used to conceal the embezzlement.
“This sentence shows that abuse of public trust will be punished,” said U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. “Ms. Gutfahr stole more than money from the people of her county — she betrayed the confidence of the voters who elected her.”
Over the course of ten years, Gutfahr executed nearly 200 fraudulent wire transfers. She circumvented internal financial safeguards by using the digital authentication token of a subordinate employee, allowing her to both initiate and approve transfers without oversight. She then falsified county records and investment reports to cover her tracks.
Federal investigators say Gutfahr used the stolen money to fund a lavish lifestyle, purchasing at least 20 vehicles, making real estate investments, and financing improvements to her family’s ranch and cattle business. None of the stolen funds were reported on her federal tax returns.
“Each act of greed and dishonor negatively affected fundamental aspects of the county’s operations,” said FBI Phoenix Special Agent in Charge Heith Janke. “The FBI continues to investigate public corruption cases, and we remain committed to identifying and pursuing those who violate the public’s trust.”
IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Carissa Messick echoed the sentiment. “Taxpayers deserve to know that their elected leaders are working in the community’s best interest — not just their own.”
The case was investigated by the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation. Prosecutors included Assistant U.S. Attorney Jane L. Westby and Senior Litigation Counsel Nicholas W. Cannon of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section.
Gutfahr’s scheme unraveled after discrepancies were discovered during an internal audit, leading to a joint federal investigation and her eventual arrest and guilty plea to charges of embezzlement by a public official, money laundering, and tax evasion.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
