by Matthew Holloway | Nov 23, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Republicans raised serious allegations Thursday around Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs’ approval of a $700,000 upgrade of the state logo by Urias Communications, owned by the brother of Office of Tourism Director Lisa Urias. On Friday morning, the Governor’s office announced that Urias would resign. Hobbs told reporters, ”This appearance of conflict is not acceptable.”
Arizona State senator Jake Hoffman laid out his allegations in a lengthy post to X in which he cited a report from Arizona Agenda. The Agenda reported that the Arizona Office of Tourism spent a sum of $700,000 originating from COVID-19 federal relief funds “on 57 in-person and digital listening sessions across the state, not to mention the $27,500 that went to the brother of the CEO of Urias’ marketing agency. He helped work on the logo with a separate graphic design company.”
Hoffman wrote, “’And of all the artists in the state who could have drafted that logo, the contract just happened to go to one who has close ties to the Office of Tourism Director Lisa Urias’—her brother.”
Hoffman added, “Katie Hobbs continues to exploit her office, break the law, and take advantage of the people of Arizona. This is what it looks like when Democrats are in control of your government.”
Senator John Kavanagh, when briefed by the outlet, reportedly called the matter “clearly an ethical violation. Whether or not it’s a legal violation is another issue.”
According to the report from Arizona Agenda, Urias’ mandate upon taking office included the hefty rebranding of Arizona to include “elements of Arizona’s Native American cultures in the design.” To that end the Office of Tourism engaged the services of Urias Communications, a company that is still owned by the director, although she “doesn’t have any role in its day-to-day operations,” as claimed by the tourism department’s communications director Josh Coddington.
The outlet noted that the Office of Tourism under Urias is leveraging a tax-funded budget of $8 million to woo tourists to come to Arizona, adding, “The appointment seems to have been an economic driver for Urias Communications as well.”
The Agenda concluded, “But even if she isn’t involved with the day-to-day operations of the company that she founded, Urias seems to be financially benefiting from the state’s contract with her company at the same time she is pulling a salary from the state.”
The report added that over a year after Urias became Director of Arizona’s Office of Tourism, her firm went on to win a $250,000 five-year contract from the Arizona Department of Education. This led Hoffman to remark that Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne “is wrapped up in this scandal too.”
However, Horne refuted this in a response posted to X saying “Senator, we paid $15K on an expiring 1-year contract with Urias. ADE does not, nor will it, have a $250K contract with Urias. Get your facts straight.”
Hoffman replied, “Public reporting says otherwise. Send the receipts to back up what you’re saying to my Senate office. Would be glad to find out the public reporting is wrong. Need the receipts though.” Horne followed up that the documentation had been sent to Hoffman’s office, even posting an image of the documentation. He added, “Documents are at your office. Unlike the Governor we don’t know Urias personally. Next time ask first.”
In a letter to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, Majority Whip Sen. Teresa Martinez called for an investigation into the allegations. Within twenty-four hours, Urias’ resignation was announced.
Urias responded to the allegations in a statement Friday saying, “In light of the Senate Confirmation members making it clear they will not confirm me as Tourism Director—despite the recent allegations being untrue and unfounded—I have tendered my resignation to the Governor.”
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 Daniel Stefanski | Nov 23, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Two Arizona Republican lawmakers are escalating their defense of the Second Amendment in a dispute of a local ordinance.
On Monday, State Representatives Quang Nguyen and Selina Bliss announced that they had sent a letter to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes over the City of Sedona’s Ordinance 12.30.090, which prohibits individuals from carrying firearms on “any trail or open space area.”
In a statement that accompanied the announcement, Nguyen said, “The City of Sedona has had ample time to address these concerns and has chosen not to act. We are left with no choice but to seek the Attorney General’s involvement to ensure the rule of law is followed.”
The letter to Mayes follows Representative Nguyen’s prior communication to Sedona Mayor Scott Jablow and city councilmembers over the ordinance. Nguyen had highlighted that the Ordinance’s prohibition “on carrying firearms is not consistent with Arizona Revised Statutes § 13-3108,” thus making it “invalid and unenforceable because it exceeds what state law authorizes. He pointed out that “cities may…enact ordinances ‘[l]imiting or prohibiting the discharge of firearms in parks and preserves’ when certain statutory conditions are met.”
The northern Arizona lawmaker requested that the city leaders “conduct a legal analysis of the validity of Ordinance 12.30.090 and contact me at your earliest convenience to discuss your findings and any next steps you intend to take to ensure that Ordinance 12.30.090 complies with state law.”
In their most recent communication over the issue, Representatives Nguyen and Bliss told the state’s attorney general that Sedona “has not responded to our letter and, to our knowledge, has not taken any actions to remedy the Ordinance’s legal flaws.” The lack of response or corrective action led the legislators to request that Mayes “review the question identified above and issue a written report within 30 days as required by [state law].” They added that if the Arizona Attorney General’s Office were to find a violation of state law, there should be a pursuit of special action in the state’s Supreme Court to resolve this matter.
Nguyen and Bliss, two seatmates in a Yavapai County legislative district, have quickly proven themselves to be some of the top Second Amendment advocates in the state. Over the past two years, both lawmakers have won the “Legislator of the Year” award from the Arizona Citizens Defense League for their protection of Second Amendment rights. They will look to continue their defense of Arizonans’ constitutional rights to keep and bear arms in the upcoming legislative session in yet another divided state government.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Nov 23, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A ballot measure to protect Arizonans from the rise of unabated homelessness in communities was overwhelmingly passed by voters in the General Election.
Earlier this month, Proposition 312 received almost 60% of the vote, cruising to a smooth victory on Election Night. The measure, which was referred to the ballot from the Arizona Legislature, stipulates that “property owners may apply for a tax refund for expenses incurred due to a governing authority’s failure to enforce certain public nuisance laws on or near the owner’s real property.”
The legislative vehicle for the measure, HCR 2023, was sponsored by House Speaker Ben Toma. It passed both chambers in the Arizona Legislature with bipartisan support and was transmitted to the Secretary of State’s Office in March of this year.
In a statement after the successful passage of the bill out of his chamber, Senate President Warren Petersen said, “There are instances where local governments routinely and repeatedly fail their citizens by not enforcing laws. An example of this would be the City of Phoenix’s handling of the former homeless encampment known as ‘The Zone.’ This area was not only a public safety and public health disaster for those who camped there, but it was also a detriment to the livelihoods of small business owners who set up their shops in the area.”
Petersen added, “Money talks, and as a way to encourage municipalities to enforce the law, Speaker Toma and I teamed up to sponsor HCR 2023/SCR 1006. This measure is a ballot referral that would protect law-abiding citizens. If approved by voters, property owners would be allowed to request a refund for expenses incurred to mitigate the problem, up to the amount of their property tax liability. The funds would be deducted from the local government’s state shared revenue.”
Speaker Toma also had said, “Business owners and residents alike are having their property stolen, vandalized, or terrorized and are desperate for help. That’s why I sponsored HCR2023, to hold our local governments accountable to our community members and to help provide some relief for property owners who have suffered damages because of a city’s purposeful failure to provide the public health and safety services we all pay for.”
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was instrumental in promoting the proposition, issued a statement following the General Election win, writing, “Arizona voters have sent a clear message: Government, do your job. They do not want our state to become the next San Francisco or Los Angeles. Prop 312 is a win for property owners, businesses, and everyday Arizonans who too often shoulder the costs of unaddressed homelessness.”
The Goldwater Institute, which also pushed for Prop 312’s passage, also took a well-deserved victory lap after the positive result. The organization’s President and CEO, Victor Riches, stated, “The voters sent a clear message this election cycle: they demand their tax dollars be used to enforce the law and address rampant homelessness. Now that Prop 312 is law, business and property owners will not be left holding the bag when municipalities refuse to do their job.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 22, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-2) announced Wednesday that H.R. 3047 which he proposed to transfer Federal Land within the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest to the northern Arizona communities of Pinedale and Alpine, has made it through the House Committee on Natural Resources. Specifically, the bill addresses the needs for both communities for expanded cemetery space which, being surrounded by federal land, is nearly impossible for the towns or private buyers to acquire.
The bill is cosponsored by Congressman Paul Gosar (R-AZ-9) and would convey 2.5 acres of National Forest System land to Navajo County for the Pinedale Cemetery expansion and 8.06 acres of National Forest System land to Apache County for the Alpine Cemetery expansion.
The office of Rep. Crane noted that for over a decade both communities have struggle with locating appropriate cemetery space, often needing to lay loved ones to rest in cemeteries over a hundred miles away from the communities in which they lived and died.
Navajo County Supervisor Daryl Seymore wrote, “The community of Pinedale has a long and rich pioneer history, and the residents are proud of that heritage. Pinedale is a community where generations of families live, grow, and raise their families. This bill will allow families to lay their loved ones to rest in the place that their family member loved so much. I’m grateful to Congressman Crane and his staff for their work on this bill and his support of the Pinedale community.”
Crane said in a statement, “I’m pleased to report that my bill passed out of the House Committee on Natural Resources and awaits consideration on the House Floor. These communities have storied histories, and they deserve to lay their loved ones to rest in the place that means so much to them.”
The Congressman credited the community of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints adding, “This piece of legislation is one of the first bills I introduced in Congress and is a testament to the strength of the Latter-Day Saints Community in Northern Arizona. I appreciate Supervisors Seymore and Nelson for their leadership, and we will continue to do everything we can to push this bill through the legislative process.”
Apache County Supervisor and Board Vice-Chairman Nelson Davis wrote, “As a County Supervisor and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Apache County, I have seen firsthand the ‘very real needs’ of the communities that I represent. Recently, the effort put forth by you and your staff in securing the conveyance of USFC land immediately adjacent to the Alpine Community Cemetery is representative of meeting that ‘very real need.’”
Following the passage of the bill through the House Committee on Natural Resources, Chairman Bruce Westerman said, “Oftentimes, the smallest solutions can have the most meaning. Congressman Crane’s legislation to convey important parcels of land to the Apache and Navajo counties will help communities properly lay to rest their loved ones. This is the type of thoughtful work that makes Rep. Crane such an important asset to his constituents.”
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 Daniel Stefanski | Nov 22, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona Republican officials have met with the State of Florida’s chief of elections to ascertain necessary changes to their own systems of counting and reporting votes.
On Tuesday, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen led a call with the Florida Secretary of State, Cord Byrd, for the purpose of gleaning information about the Sunshine State’s efficient ballot tabulation for Election Day.
In a post on his X account, Petersen marked the meeting, saying, “Just finished a great meeting with Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd and his staff discussing what they do to get election results quickly. As expected a big difference is that we do not have a cutoff for early ballot drop-offs at polling places like they do. But we also learned of other ways to be more efficient. I look forward to passing legislation so that AZ will have election results night of.”
Petersen also thanked the Republicans who joined him on the call, including Representatives Steve Montenegro, John Gillette, Senators Shawna Bolick, John Kavanagh, JD Mesnard, incoming Senator Mark Finchem, Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin, incoming Supervisor Debbie Lesko, and Republican Party of Arizona Chair Gina Swoboda.
In an exclusive comment to AZ Free News, Petersen shared more of his thoughts about the meeting, stating, “What I came away with is that the biggest thing we can do to speed up results, that would be the easiest to implement, would be having a cutoff of 7 p.m. on the Friday before the election to drop off ballots.”
Secretary Byrd acknowledged the meeting on social media, posting, “Yesterday, I and my team at the Florida Secretary of State spoke with legislative leaders from Arizona including the Senate President and Speaker of the House about how Florida’s election code allows for the timely and accurate counting of ballots. We are happy to share the Florida blueprint.”
Senator Bolick, who was also on the call with the Florida Secretary of State, told AZ Free News that, “In the past, I have worked with folks who helped fix the Florida issues. We also have tried different solutions over the past few years only for bills to be vetoed or killed by fellow GOP legislators because they didn’t sponsor the bill. I believe late earlies are the biggest hinderance in getting results on election night. Our voters are tired of being the laughingstock of the country, especially voters in Maricopa County. We shouldn’t be waiting two weeks for results. Early voting ends the Friday before the election as should mail-in ballots.”
Bolick added, “Florida’s voters know they can’t walk their vote by mail ballot into a polling place on election day. They can only walk it into their supervisor’s (aka our recorder’s) office on election day. Voters I have spoken to would be okay modifying these changes if it means getting results on races on election night. I am certain the legislature would be interested in appropriating funds to ensure timely, accurate results.”
State Senator Wendy Rogers also indicated her presence on the call and cheered the opportunity “to learn from Florida’s successes!”
Lesko made sure to note the call on her X account, writing, “Today, I was privileged to join AZ Senate President Warren Petersen, House Speaker Steve Montenegro, Supervisor Thomas Galvin, and several state legislators, on a call with Florida Secretary of State Cord Byrd to discuss their policies for elections that have made Florida into an admirable model. Republicans and Democrats must unite to make necessary reforms to Arizona elections. I look forward to working with legislators to accomplish this worthy goal on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.”
Republicans in the Arizona Legislature have vowed to make these reforms their top priority in the next legislative session, which starts in January. However, they are expected to meet resistance from Democrats, especially Governor Katie Hobbs, who has vetoed other commonsense elections bills in her previous two years in office.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 21, 2024 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Dr. Owen Anderson of Arizona State University (ASU) reported earlier this week that an examination of the ASU course catalog for the Spring 2025 semester shows that the school does not offer any classes on Christianity. Although the website itself does list Anderson’s REL 270 course, he reports that it “didn’t have enough enrollment, so it was canceled.” He added, “Religious Studies blocked its general education requirements, so students would not be helped toward graduation.”
A course on the New Testament of the Bible is offered, however, it is an online course, which curiously does not require the Bible as a required text. Instead, it requires “How To Read the Bible,” by liberation theologian Harvey Cox, the 95-year-old former Hollis Professor of Divinity at Harvard Divinity School. According to U.S. Catholic, “Liberation theology is a social and political movement within the church that attempts to interpret the gospel of Jesus Christ through the lived experiences of oppressed people.”
In Cox’s text he wrote, “There is scarcely one figure in the entire Hebrew scripture we would want our children to emulate.”
In the same work, he also is quoted writing, “The dominant ethos of the twenty-first century consists of an intermingling of the sacred and the secular.”
Anderson added that the university contrasts this by offering seven different courses on magic and witchcraft.
In a post to X, Anderson said, “ASU has canceled its only Religious Studies course on Christianity for the Spring of 2025. You will find all of the other world’s religions taught at ASU, as well as a healthy representation of classes about witchcraft. ASU currently has more events about the benefits of witchcraft than it has courses on Christianity. What is going on? Why would any Christians want to study a humanities topic at ASU when this is how they are treated…”
In his post to Substack, Anderson noted that although Christianity is taught in the coursework of other classes, “Christianity does not get a dedicated class the way Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Witchcraft do.”
The tenured professor argued that parents and students both need the ability to provide input on how the university’s schedule is built: “Parents and students, you need to know how the schedule is built and what classes you are filtered toward. It is a false choice. They give you the appearance of free will. ‘Do you want Buddhism or Witchcraft?’ Either way, you’ll be learning what they want, and you will not be represented.”
Responding to a commenter on X who was disappointed in the university’s decision, Dr. Anderson advised, “This one is done. But you can write an email to the Dean of the Religious studies department. I always recommend that such interactions be respectful.”
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.
