by Matthew Holloway | May 4, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ2) is bringing attention to a “robust border security funding package” that advanced out of the House Committee on Homeland Security.
The funding recommendation proposes massive investments in physical barriers at the border, the improvement of existing facilities, a major manpower investment, including retention bonuses and signing incentives, as well as an urgently needed overhaul of border surveillance technology.
“As Arizona’s only member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I’m proud to support President Trump and his team as they secure the border. By heavily investing in overlapping deterrents, our plan will significantly reduce human trafficking, fentanyl overdoses, and unlawful entries,” said Rep. Crane.
“This package will provide reinforcements for our brave agents on the ground and fortify our defenses for years to come. I appreciate Chairman Green’s leadership and look forward to sending the President long-overdue assistance.”
Among the recommendations, the Committee advanced an allocation of $46.5 billion for an “integrated border barrier system—an advanced solution that includes not only physical infrastructure but also technological enhancements.”
According to the Committee, the improvements will include: “internally reinforced steel bollards, fencing, all-weather access roads, lighting, surveillance cameras, and other cutting-edge technologies to support real-time monitoring and response.”
In terms of physical barriers, the package would allocate $46.5 billion for:
- Completion of 701 miles of primary wall
- Construction of 900 miles of river barriers
- Construction of 629 miles of secondary barriers
- The replacement of 141 miles of vehicle and pedestrian barriers.
Technological advances would include a $2.7 billion investment in:
- Ground detection sensors
- Integrated surveillance towers
- Tunnel detection capability
- Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)
- Enhanced communications equipment.
In terms of personnel-facing investments, the package directs $4.1 billion toward filling the need for “additional Frontline CBP Personnel,” $2 billion for annual Retention Bonuses for existing personnel, and signing incentives for new hires.
“After hours of Democrat objections to commonsense border security funding, Homeland Security Committee Republicans held the line to advance budget recommendations that provide Customs and Border Protection with the resources needed to continue President Trump’s success in securing our border for years to come,” said Chairman Mark E. Green.
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 | May 4, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona Department of Education has unveiled a new public webpage identifying which schools in the state are in compliance with the Trump administration’s recent directives targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The move comes amid national legal battles over DEI in public education.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance requiring schools to sign compliance letters affirming they do not engage in DEI practices that the administration deems discriminatory. Failure to comply could result in the loss of federal funding. In response, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced the launch of a tracking site aimed at promoting transparency around which schools have agreed to follow the guidance.
“I am committed to following the law and will abide by the latest guidance from the U.S. Department of Education to take no action against schools until further notice,” Horne said in a statement.
The federal guidance has sparked legal challenges and confusion across the country, with educators and administrators unsure what qualifies as a DEI program. Two federal judges have already intervened. In one case, U.S. District Judge Landya McCafferty of New Hampshire criticized the vague language in the compliance letters, noting that they fail to clearly define DEI initiatives or how they allegedly violate civil rights laws.
Despite the legal uncertainty, Horne has voiced strong support for the administration’s position. “Federal law and the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution are clear that no person shall be discriminated [against] because of race, skin color or ethnicity, and this guidance aligns completely with my philosophy,” Horne said. “By contrast, the use of DEI programs does just the opposite and promotes racial discrimination.”
Horne said he believes the current DEI restrictions will ultimately be upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court and encouraged Arizona school districts and charter schools to take the issue seriously.
The Arizona Department of Education’s DEI compliance page can be viewed here.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | May 4, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen announced Wednesday that the state legislature has joined a coalition of 20 states in support of Idaho’s voter ID law, which prohibits the use of student IDs when registering to vote or casting a ballot. The move comes as the law faces an appeal in federal court.
The coalition, led by Arizona and Montana, filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the case of March for Our Lives Idaho v. Phil McGrane. The brief defends Idaho’s authority to establish its own voter identification requirements under the U.S. Constitution.
The challenged Idaho law, enacted in 2023, was designed to tighten election security by limiting acceptable forms of voter identification. Student IDs from high schools and higher education institutions are no longer valid under the new law. Two advocacy groups, including March for Our Lives, sued to block the measure, arguing it disproportionately impacts young voters. Although a lower court dismissed the case, it is now being appealed.
In their legal brief, the 20-state coalition argues there is no evidence the law violates the 26th Amendment, which prohibits age-based discrimination in voting rights. The states contend that Idaho’s law does not intentionally target young voters and that legislatures have broad constitutional authority to prevent election fraud before it occurs.
“Every state has an absolute right to implement voter ID laws through its legislature,” said Senate President Petersen. “Arizona has been at the forefront of this movement to ensure the integrity of our elections through voter ID requirements. Prevention is better than prosecution.”
Petersen emphasized that states should not be required to wait for fraud to occur before taking preventative steps. He praised Idaho’s approach and affirmed Arizona’s commitment to maintaining strict election standards.
Voter ID laws have been a source of national debate, with supporters saying they protect election integrity and opponents claiming they can disenfranchise voters, particularly younger and marginalized communities. Legal challenges continue to test how far states can go in setting identification rules without violating federal protections.
The Ninth Circuit Court’s decision in the Idaho case could have broader implications for other states with similar laws or those considering tightening voter ID requirements. No date has been set for oral arguments in the appeal.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | May 3, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A commissioner with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), Nick Myers, denies a power company is to blame for a woman’s death.
82-year-old Kate Korman died last May less than a week after the Arizona Public Service (APS) shut off her power for failure to pay. Per APS, Korman ceased paying in January and owed around $500.
The medical examiner’s report attributed Korman’s cause of death as chronic alcohol use with heart disease listed as a contributing factor and declared the manner of her death to be an accident caused in part by exposure to elevated temperatures.
ACC prohibits power shut offs based on a certain timeline — June 1 through October 15 — not based on temperatures. APS does offer a program allowing family members to oversee their loved one’s bills.
Myers opposed modifying policy to implement temperature-based shutoff restrictions. The commissioner also said the current shutoff restrictions have caused more problems than it aimed to solve.
“We are already at a point where the policies we have in place are causing massive debt within our lower income communities (an unintended consequence of those policies) and therefore I believe, and am attempting to verify, that the mental stress is actually CAUSING more deaths than they are saving (by way of suicides increasing). Furthermore, much of that debt, millions of dollars of it actually, are ultimately being transferred back to the rest of the customers, increasing bills, which is actually exacerbating the underlying problem of people not being able to pay their bills,” said Myers. “In a nutshell, at some point people (and their families, and possibly their communities, like churches) should be responsible, it shouldn’t all fall on utilities and the ratepayers of utilities. It’s ultimately an unsustainable catch-22, and we are possibly seeing that we are at that cusp right now.”
Myers defended APS in response to criticisms made by Jonathan and Adam Korman, the sons of the deceased woman. Korman maintains his mother died due to temperatures inside her home, and that APS bears responsibility for shutting off her power.
Myers asserted there existed no further remedies to mitigate heat exposure due to shutoffs. Myers indicated there were further details about the elder Korman’s death that would have cast her in a negative light.
“Alcoholism killed your mother, heat may have been a contributing factor, but the utility did go above and beyond what we require. There really are no more practical methods that can be implemented at this point,” said Myers. “We did address it and trust me, I’m sure the family doesn’t want made public what we found. This is another case where the utility did above and beyond what they needed to, and more importantly the shutting off of power for non-payment was NOT the cause of death.”
Myers also said the elder Korman’s children bore some of the responsibility for her death, since they were not keeping an eye on her.
“So you are really going to come after us, who have no control over the situation, when you failed to protect your own mother, even though there were multiple tools in place for you to use for that exact purpose?” said Myers. “I’m not just blaming your mom, I’m more blaming you for not looking out for your elderly mom. I refuse to tell utilities that they have to provide power to people that do not pay their bills. To be honest, I’m not even happy about many of the programs that they have in place to help, but I understand the need for them. The only problem is the customer, and their family, have to actually reach out to take advantage of those programs. Again, I am sorry for your loss, but you have to take responsibility here. This is not a problem that the rest of society should shoulder.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | May 3, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Members of the Arizona GOP Caucus, Reps. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08) and Eli Crane (R-AZ02), marked the 100th day of President Donald Trump’s second administration with statements and social media posts praising the accomplishments of the 47th President and the Republican-led Congress.
Congressman Crane offered a series of posts to X pointing to the President’s achievements in border security, the economy, energy, forest health, and draining the swamp.
In full he wrote, “Thank you, President Trump, for ending the premeditated border invasion. We didn’t need new legislation. We just needed a new President.”
“The Democrats left President Trump a broken economy with record inflation and skyrocketing costs. Thankfully, we now have a President who prioritizes Americans, not globalists.”
“Under President Trump’s leadership, American Energy Dominance will prevail. The days of sidelining our vast resources are over.”
“Thank you, President Trump, for revamping our approach to forest health. #AZ02 welcomes these proactive wins that provide long-term stability.”
“Despite formidable opposition, President Trump continues to take on the administrative state and entrenched establishment. We appreciate the President’s commitment to tackling waste, fraud, and abuse.”
Congressman Hamadeh offered his own congratulatory post with a note: “Promises Made. Promises Kept. Congratulations to @POTUS on an incredibly successful First 100 Days!”
Hamadeh cited as accomplishments: 70+ Terrorists killed, $5 Trillion in secured domestic investment, $57 Billion in canceled foreign aid, $935 Billion in saved tax dollars, along with 139,000 illegal immigrants deported to date.
The White House posted on X, “Under President Trump’s leadership, we have the most secure border in the history of this nation. President Trump was able to do in 100 days what the Biden administration couldn’t — or wouldn’t — do in four years.” In a subsequent post the White House added, “100 days of President Trump—and we’re nowhere near tired of winning. To the haters: we’re just getting started. AMERICA FIRST FOREVER!”
In a statement, President Trump said, “Every single day I will be fighting for you with every breath in my body. I will not rest until we have delivered the strong, safe and prosperous America that our children deserve and that you deserve. This will truly be the golden age of America.”
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 | May 3, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs announced Wednesday that two of her top health officials, AHCCCS Director Carmen Heredia and Department of Health Services Director Jennie Cunico, have resigned after it became apparent that the Republican-controlled state Senate would not confirm their appointments.
The resignations come amid a broader struggle between the governor’s office and the state Senate’s Director Nominations Committee, chaired by Republican Senator Jake Hoffman. The committee has become increasingly assertive in vetting Hobbs’ executive agency nominees, and in recent weeks signaled it would reject both Heredia and Cunico. Hobbs’ office said the resignations were necessary due to the Senate Majority’s unwillingness to confirm them.
“Today’s announcement is a testament to the important work being conducted on behalf of the citizens of Arizona by the Senate Committee on Director Nominations. I’m pleased Katie Hobbs saved herself, and AHCCCS Director Nominee Carmen Heredia, from the embarrassment of advancing her through the scheduled hearing this week,” said Senate Director Nominations Committee Chair Jake Hoffman. “Under Heredia’s direction, AHCCCS mismanaged the procurement process and improperly awarded contracts for healthcare services for thousands of elderly and physically disabled individuals enrolled in the Arizona Long Term Care System. A judge described the process as ‘arbitrary and capricious’ and recommended a full reset. Instead of responding to the feedback appropriately, Heredia basically told the judicial system to pound sand and moved forward with the contracts. Her refusal to provide transparency in this matter displayed nothing more than arrogance.”
“What’s even worse, Arizona is in the middle of a monumental Medicaid fraud crisis with a loss of more than $2 billion in taxpayer dollars,” continued Hoffman. “Under Katie Hobbs’ leadership, Heredia’s response has been incredibly disturbing, to say the least. Patients in sober living homes were evicted from facilities overnight after AHCCCS poorly executed suspensions of more than 300 providers. Many of these patients were mid-treatment, detoxing, or severely mentally ill and were dropped off on the streets with no identification or transportation. Legitimate providers were caught up in the mess without AHCCCS providing explanations or due process. Some are still waiting to be reinstated or reimbursed. We are left with a broken system due to Heredia’s mismanagement, and our vulnerable populations are caught up in this collapse.”
“Since its inception, the Committee on Director Nominations has been committed to honestly, thoroughly, and accurately vetting Katie Hobbs’ nominees. We have served as Arizonans’ last line of defense against incompetent, unqualified, and highly partisan picks to lead state agencies. We will continue to do the hard work the citizens of Arizona expect of us and will only approve competent, non-partisan individuals to serve in these critical roles,” stated Hoffman. “We look forward to Katie Hobbs sending us a sensible leader that will be able to rein in the abuse that has occurred at AHCCCS.”
Heredia, who led the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) since early 2023, was credited by Hobbs with implementing sweeping reforms that led to nearly $1 billion in Medicaid fraud recoveries and savings over three years. She expanded access to care for working-class children, oversaw transitions to employer-sponsored insurance, and spearheaded behavioral health initiatives such as the Housing and Health Opportunities program.
However, Heredia’s leadership was the subject of fierce criticism from Senate Republicans. Senator Hoffman accused her of mismanaging Medicaid contracts and overseeing what he called a “broken system” during Arizona’s recent Medicaid fraud crisis. The Senate committee never formally held a confirmation hearing for Heredia, but it became clear she lacked the votes needed.
In her resignation letter, Heredia said, “It has become increasingly difficult to carry out this mission in good faith under the current political climate… Political theater has begun to outweigh sound policy.”
Cunico, a career public servant who transitioned from the Ducey administration also became ensnared in the Senate’s broader dispute over executive appointments. “It is clear to me that there is no path forward to confirmation,” Cunico said in her statement.
The latest resignations reflect a deepening power struggle between the Democratic governor and the Republican-led Legislature. Hobbs condemned what she called an “unprecedented politicization” of the confirmation process, warning that the climate in the Capitol is deterring qualified public servants.
“These resignations were not due to a failure in governance, but a failure in politics,” Hobbs said. “The people of Arizona deserve leaders who are judged by their performance, not their party.”
As the governor seeks replacements for both roles, it remains unclear how future nominees will fare in a process increasingly shaped by ideological divisions.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
