by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 18, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Maricopa County Library District (MCLD) is facing growing scrutiny from parents and advocacy groups over concerns that sexually explicit books are being displayed in the youth sections of its libraries. Organizations like AZ Women of Action (AZWOA) and EZAZ, along with dozens of local residents, are urging county officials to take stronger action to protect children and support parental rights.
The issue reached a boiling point this spring when residents raised their concerns directly with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (BOS). In response, Supervisors Debbie Lesko and Mark Stewart held meetings with AZWOA representatives, signaling that the county may be preparing to address the controversy more directly.
MCLD, which oversees 15 libraries serving the nation’s fourth-most populous county, currently follows a Collection Development Policy that emphasizes community demand and diversity. The policy also defers to parents and guardians on what materials their children borrow, and explicitly avoids labeling materials based on their content or philosophy. Critics argue this approach lacks adequate safeguards.
At the center of the debate are specific books flagged as inappropriate by advocacy groups. Titles such as “It’s Perfectly Normal” by Robie H. Harris and “This Book Is Gay” by Juno Dawson have drawn sharp criticism for what opponents say are graphic depictions of sex and sexual behavior that are not suitable for minors. Novels by author Ellen Hopkins, which explore themes of sexual abuse and trafficking, have also been cited as problematic.
Advocates point to Arizona statutes—ARS 13-3506 and ARS 13-3507—which make it a felony to knowingly provide sexually explicit materials to minors or display such materials in public. Some residents have called on the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office and County Attorney’s Office to investigate whether the library’s practices violate these laws.
“The goal isn’t censorship,” said Merissa Hamilton of EZAZ. “It’s about ensuring age-appropriate content and preserving a parent’s right to guide their children’s upbringing.”
In recent weeks, AZWOA has launched a petition asking the BOS to move explicit titles from youth sections to adult areas and to consider implementing a rating system. Books rated three or higher on a five-point scale would require parental permission before being borrowed by minors.
As a partial response, the BOS approved a pilot program at the Queen Creek Library. The program allows parents to submit a form listing books their children may not check out. However, critics argue the system is cumbersome and poorly publicized, making it ineffective.
The future of library policy in Maricopa County remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: a growing number of residents are demanding more say in what books their children can access—and they’re not backing down.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 17, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes faced a setback last week in her legal challenge against President Donald Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Tariffs. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a favorable ruling for the President, allowing the tariffs challenged by Mayes’ and eleven other state Attorneys General to remain in effect pending appeal.
The appeals court blocked an order from the U.S. Court of International Trade, which struck down the tariffs on May 28th in State of Oregon, et al., v. Trump, et al. The appeals court acknowledged the Trump tariffs’ raise “issues of exceptional importance” and agreed to expedite the case. It will hear arguments before the entire court on July 31st. In the ruling, the court found that “both sides have made substantial arguments on the merits” and stated, “The court also concludes that these cases present issues of exceptional importance warranting expedited en banc consideration of the merits in the first instance.”
Responding to the ruling, President Trump wrote on Truth Social, “A Federal Appeals Court has just ruled that the United States can use TARIFFS to protect itself against other countries. A great and important win for the U.S.”
The May 28th ruling against the President resulted from two separate lawsuits, one brought by the Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small U.S. businesses which depend on foreign imports and the second from a coalition of 12 states including Arizona.
Mayes claimed in a post to X that “The president does not have the authority to implement tariffs unilaterally.”
White House spokesman Kush Desai responded to the ruling saying, “The Trump administration is legally using the powers granted to the executive branch by the Constitution and Congress to address our country’s national emergencies of persistent goods trade deficits and drug trafficking. The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ stay order is a welcome development, and we look forward to ultimately prevailing in court.”
At issue in the case are the discounted reciprocal tariffs that the Trump administration announced on April 2nd, which apply a 10% minimum tariff across the board, particularly in Europe, while applying more punitive tariffs, as high as 49%, in the case of Cambodia which charges the U.S. a 97% tariff or 34% initially for China, which at that point charged 67% on U.S. imports.
Through subsequent negotiations with China and a ratcheting upward of the tariffs, the U.S. duties on China stabilized at approximately 55% and will remain there under a new trade deal, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told CNBC.
Despite the legal imbroglio with leftist State AGs, President Trump announced Wednesday that China’s duties on U.S. goods will remain at 10%, where they paused in May when both sides agreed to a 90-day reprieve, and he provided a glimpse into the new agreement pending with Beijing.
In a post to Truth Social, Trump wrote, “OUR DEAL WITH CHINA IS DONE, SUBJECT TO FINAL APPROVAL WITH PRESIDENT XI AND ME. FULL MAGNETS, AND ANY NECESSARY RARE EARTHS, WILL BE SUPPLIED, UP FRONT, BY CHINA. LIKEWISE, WE WILL PROVIDE TO CHINA WHAT WAS AGREED TO, INCLUDING CHINESE STUDENTS USING OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD WITH ME!). WE ARE GETTING A TOTAL OF 55% TARIFFS, CHINA IS GETTING 10%. RELATIONSHIP IS EXCELLENT! THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!”
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 17, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
In a move that signals both a shift in corporate strategy and a broader commentary on the business climate in the Pacific Northwest, Dutch Bros, one of Oregon’s most iconic homegrown brands, is officially relocating its headquarters from Grants Pass, Oregon, to Phoenix, Arizona.
The fast-growing drive-thru beverage chain, known for its coffee and energy drinks and its fiercely loyal customer base, announced that the transition to Arizona will help better position the company for its next phase of growth.
“To support the next phase of Dutch Bros’ growth, we’re relocating additional roles to our new Phoenix office and making strategic changes to the structure of several teams,” Dutch Bros said in a statement. “Bringing more people together will allow us to better serve our customers and crews across the country.”
The move had been anticipated for some time. CEO Christine Barone has operated from Arizona since 2023, and the company has steadily increased its corporate presence in the Phoenix area since early 2024. Arizona policymakers are touting the relocation as a major win for the state.
The announcement sparked immediate reactions back in Oregon, where Dutch Bros began in 1992 as a single coffee cart run by brothers Travis and Dane Boersma. Now a national brand with over 1,000 drive-thru locations and 26,000 employees nationwide (including franchises), Dutch Bros has grown annual sales from $240 million in 2018 to $1.3 billion last year. The company projects another 22% increase in 2025.
The reasons behind the move appear primarily logistical and strategic. The company cited the need to be closer to high-growth markets like Texas and the Southeast, and near a major airport to facilitate executive travel. Challenges in recruiting young professionals to rural Oregon—specifically a lack of child care—also played a role in earlier internal discussions.
Terry Hopkins, CEO of the Grants Pass and Josephine County chamber of commerce, acknowledged the emotional and economic impact of the headquarters relocation but expressed hope that Dutch Bros would remain a strong local presence. “We’ll definitely feel the impact. We’ve been fortunate,” he said, noting the Boersma family still lives in the area and continues to be active in the community.
As Dutch Bros continues its rapid national expansion—with aspirations for 7,000 locations—the company’s move may serve as both a business milestone and a broader statement about where companies see opportunity, talent, and infrastructure aligning for long-term success.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 16, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
A new report from the Common Sense Institute of Arizona (CSIAZ) has laid to rest claims that Arizona’s budget deficit stems from the state’s adoption of a 2.5 percent flat tax. The report found that the deficit is attributable to increased spending by the state in the last year. The report also found that in defiance of detractors, the flat tax has actually led to an increase in state tax revenues, and Arizona is once again experiencing a budget surplus.
In a statement, CSIAZ Director of Policy & Research Glenn Farley said, “The facts tell a very different story than many of the headlines would lead us to believe. The data shows us that Arizona’s revenues are strong, local governments are collecting more than ever, and education spending is at an all-time high. The flat tax has not created a revenue crisis—but rapid and unsustainable spending growth has created real budget pressures. If we want to restore stability, we need to focus on the underlying drivers of the imbalance.”
The report from CSIAZ offers a direct refutation of a claim made by the far-leftist think tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), which claimed in 2024 that the state would face a $1.6 billion deficit through fiscal year 2025 due to the flat income tax and universal private school vouchers. This assessment, however, leaves off a critical necessity in any conservative budget: spending cuts.
Farley and Senior Economist Thomas Young found unequivocally, “Since the flat tax passed, state revenues have grown by $3.3 billion. But the state budget is 25% larger than it was; at peak spending was up $3.7 billion, and even today it’s still up over $2.5 billion versus pre-flat Tax. If spending had followed historical trends, Arizona would have had a $4.3 billion surplus rather than a $1.6 billion cash shortfall last year.”
Farley and Young also debunked a claim from Dave Wells, Research Director at the Grand Canyon Institute (GCI) on “Arizona Horizon” who claimed in October 2024, “The flat tax’s $2 billion annual cost has had visible consequences and was a prime contributor to the budget deficits and cuts made during this legislative session.” They noted that despite forecasts that the budget would cost $4 billion over the next decade, updated estimates accounting “for dynamic effects and rapid growth in other tax types,” adjusts that to a more modest $1.4 billion impact while “revenue growth from a strong economy has more than offset the difference, meaning the state still collects more each year than before the tax cut.”
Much closer to home, claims that the tax reforms haven’t helped everyday Arizonans can be confidently cast aside with the fact that the average Arizonan saves about $400 per year from the flat tax while per-capita income has risen by 68% since 2015, with Arizona’s economic growth far outpacing the rest of the nation.
The report also addressed claims that the reforms hurt city budgets, despite the reforms increasing the share of state income tax filtered down to city and municipal governments by three percent from 15% to 18%, totaling an additional $250 million over two years. The report also refuted claims that education spending would be cut as a result of the flat tax with K-12 education spending up nearly 80% since 2010, growing by 14% since 2022.
Essentially, CSI Arizona has shown that arguments against a flat tax are definitively driven by politics and rhetoric, not facts.
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 16, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona House of Representatives passed a structurally balanced, conservative budget on Thursday, advancing a financial plan that focuses on strengthening public safety, reducing costs for families, and increasing government accountability.
Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) called the budget a reflection of voter priorities. “This budget delivers safe communities, strong families, and a government that works for the people — not the other way around,” he said. “It cuts tuition, raises pay for law enforcement, fixes critical roads, and reins in waste — all without raising taxes.”
Key components of the budget include a 5% pay raise for Department of Public Safety and corrections officers, $94 million for repairs to major highway infrastructure, and a 2.5% in-state university tuition reduction alongside a freeze for the subsequent two years. The budget also fully funds school choice programs and clears a backlog of Empowerment Scholarship Account applications.
Additional funding is designated to keep voter rolls accurate and up to date, fully fund payments for parents acting as caregivers, and provide developmental disability services. An expanded adoption tax deduction is also included.
“The House-passed budget puts the House Majority Plan into action,” Majority Leader Michael Carbone said. “We’re protecting opportunity by lowering costs for students and parents. We’re backing public safety with strong support for our law enforcement officers. And we’re holding government accountable by cutting waste and demanding better results — this is the kind of leadership Arizona voters asked for.”
Speaker Pro Tempore Neal Carter stressed the budget’s potential for boosting small business. “The House-passed budget gives long-overdue relief to Arizona’s small businesses by eliminating the administratively burdensome business personal property tax under the $500,000 threshold,” Carter said. “This helps local job creators grow, hire, and invest in their communities — and makes Arizona a more competitive place to do business.”
The budget package — HB2945 through HB2961 — now moves to the Senate for consideration.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 15, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced that his office will report Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) to the federal government for violating the “No DEI” pledge signed by district Superintendent Scott Menzel. The announcement came after SUSD adopted a DEI-oriented curriculum, despite objections from parents.
Horne explained, “Today I’m announcing that I will report to the federal government that the Scottsdale School District has violated the statement they signed that they would not teach DEI. They adopted a DEI-oriented textbook, or more than one book actually, over parental objections.”
The superintendent was joined by Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan who expressed major concerns regarding the objectively anti-police narrative that the text in question indoctrinates students with.
“At a time when law enforcement agencies are expanding their focus on community outreach and de-escalation of conflicts, it is counterproductive for schools to push a misguided and inaccurate narrative that will make students fearful or suspicious of their local law enforcement officers,” Sheridan said. “The men and women who wear the uniform in Arizona, are among the bravest and most noble public servants in this great state. Many are first responders, who put their lives on the line each day to keep our youth and our communities safe.”
Horne cited several examples of what he called the “unbalanced political propaganda” in the text: “U.S. History Interactive” by the Savvas Learning Company.
“At page 1033: ‘many people, including Black Lives Matter activists argued that these separate events as Well, as well as the death of many Black people in earlier years was the result of deeply embedded racism.’ Nothing was said about what other people may be saying. Other people do not believe that racism is deeply embedded in the United States.”
“On the same page referring to the 2020 riots: protest marches were generally peaceful Horne pointed out that ‘we’ve all seen the video on television of a reporter saying that surrounded by burning buildings and attacks on police cars.’”
“At page 1025, referring to the incident at Ferguson: ‘one witness claimed that before being shot, Brown had raised his hands and said ‘don’t shoot!’ Horne pointed out: ‘To his everlasting credit, Eric Holder, the first African American United States Attorney General in history, conducted an objective investigation, and concluded that officer Wilson shot Ferguson in self-defense. Limiting the discussion to what one witness said was extremely misleading.’”
“At page 1026: ‘a basic tenet of democracy is that power should belong to the people. But what can people try if they feel they’re not being heard or if they live under an authoritarian system? Civil resistance, encompasses a broad range of lawful and nonviolent action aimed at returning power to the people. Use this video as a brief introduction.’
Horne pointed out: “the United States is a Democratic Republic. We do not have a monarch. Officials are elected by a vote of the people. This gives everyone the opportunity, if they disagree with what the government is doing, to campaign for the election of someone else. That is the solution to disagree with government policy. Students are being encouraged by the video to engage in civil resistance to a democratically elected government. The suggestion in this quotation that the United States is an authority system is a woke lie.“
“From Page 167: ‘renovations and improvements conforming to middle-class preferences has driven up the demand for housing and the cost of living in these neighborhoods, making it difficult for less affluent more vulnerable LGBTQUI plus populations to live there’.” Horne replied: “I will not comment on what QUIA plus means, but the suggestion that LGBT people are financially oppressed is extremely misleading. Many LGBT People are quite prosperous. The median income for men in same-sex marriages is $149,900. The median income for men in opposite sex married couples is $124,900.”
Horne also cited issues with a human geography book also used by SUSD: “APHUG 5: Human Geography: A Spatial Perspective, Bednarz et al., Cengage, 2022”
The text states: “Republican lawmakers in some states have packed African-American voters into a single district or small number of districts thereby creating majority Republican districts in the rest of the state.’”
Horne’s response was incredulous: “This was a civil rights project of the Democratic Party. The goal was to assure minority representation in Congress. The Republican Party had nothing to do with it.”
According to AZFamily, Scottsdale Superintendent Scott Menzel rejected Horne’s assessment saying, “To label them woke without having ever read what was the 1,250 pages in the textbook is a problem from my perspective.” Horne replied to reporters that he had read all the passages he quoted. Menzel claimed that content experts reviewed the text and made an informed recommendation conforming to Arizona state standards.
“We would never adopt a curriculum that was anti-police,” Menzel told reporters. “We do have historically situations where some people argue that we should defund the police. Here in Arizona we had people who removed school resource officers. That’s not something that we would ever contemplate, but from a historical perspective our students should be able to wrestle with why someone might have made that argument.”
In a statement released SUSD said, “Horne’s claims of indoctrination and a so-called ‘leftist curriculum being imposed’ on students are simply untrue and unsupported by fact,” without refuting the examples cited by Horne.
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.
