by Staff Reporter | May 2, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) plans to remove masses of the Salt River wild horses despite protesters citing protections for this population codified nearly a decade ago.
The Salt River Wild Horse Protection Act, signed into law by former Governor Doug Ducey in 2016, prohibits the harassment, shooting, injuring, killing, or slaughtering of the horses. It also prohibits individuals from interfering with, taking, chasing, capturing, or euthanizing the horses without written authorization from the state or county sheriff for humane purposes. The law does allow for the state to enter into contracts with the United States Forest Service and a private entity to “address any issue” concerning this horse population.
Advocates for the Salt River wild horses say AZDA’s new plans to outright remove them would not be humane and therefore not allowed by the law.
AZDA’s new request for proposal (RFP) for a new management company to mitigate the horse populations requires outright removal of the wild horses instead of the gradual, ongoing efforts to shrink the population. AZDA wants the number reduced to about 100 horses by removing or adopting out three horses for every new horse born. There are less than 300 that live on the river at present.
The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group (SRWHMG) is the current management company looking after the horses. SRWHMG did reapply for the new AZDA RFP despite disagreeing with its removal provisions. SRWHMG president Simone Netherlands announced it has purchased 34 acres in order to establish a retirement sanctuary for the removed horses if awarded the contract.
Ideally, SRWHMG want to continue using its more “humane” approach for reducing the wild horse population. The management company currently uses a form of birth control to shrink the horse population. SRWHMG reported the population declined by about 40 percent in six years: from 460 to 2019 to around 260 presently.
“Even if you adopt a horse out, it sounds very nice but it’s very hard to find good adopters for completely wild horses because they’re very costly, they’re very hard to train, and the horse is truly not going to be happy standing in a 12×12 stall when they have the most beautiful life here on the lower Salt River,” Netherlands told Fox 34.
However, SRWHMG’s method hasn’t proved fast enough for the state. AZDA defended the removal requirement as a means of more immediate resource mitigation in a statement.
“The humane management of the herd, including population reduction to match the available resources of the Salt River where they live, is an ongoing effort,” said AZDA.
Members of the public have expressed fears that these removals would mean poor quality of life or even death for the wild horses. Protesters worry that one competing bidder, Rail Lazy H, would send removed horses to a fate similar to those managed under her in past contracts, such as the Alpine wild horses sent to a slaughter auction in Texas.
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 2, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Scottsdale’s new City Manager Greg Caton has drawn heavy criticism following the resignations of former City Manager Jim Thompson, former Public Works Director Dan Worth, former Transportation, Assistant City Manager Bill Murphy, and Streets Director Mark Melynchenko. As reported in the Scottsdale Progress, former City Councilwoman Linda Milhaven accused Caton of “creating chaos,” and added that “it’s uncharacteristic for an interim city manager to be letting people go or making changes.”
“(Caton) got to work pretty fast firing people,” Milhaven speculated. “It had to be at the direction of the City Council.”
Concern over turnover seems to be consistent in members of the previous left-leaning City Council, with incumbent Councilwoman Solange Whitehead expressing as much saying, “This year under the new council majority, we’ve lost 100-plus years of experience. These are the people who have delivered for Scottsdale. And people are continuing to leave. For me, this is a top concern.”
Both Whitehead and Councilwoman Maryann McAllen voted against the conservative majority when they approved Caton’s appointment on April 15th.
Councilman Barry Graham, one of the newly elected conservative members, denied the notion outright telling the Progress, “That’s not true. I only discuss city performance and results” with the city manager,” Graham clarified. “I don’t discuss people.”
When asked during an interview with the Progress, Caton told the outlet that “Dan Worth retired, ” adding, “I did not ask him to submit his resignation.” He continued, “I did not ask anyone to retire or resign.” However, Dan Worth contested this, telling the publication that Caton “directed me to resign or retire,” and declined to comment when asked if the move was “politically motivated.”
Vice Mayor Jan Dubauskas also expressed support for Caton saying, “Greg makes independent decisions. I happen to agree with many of them.” Dubauskas noted to the Progress, “Cost overruns and road diets were high profile issues in the community, so I’m not surprised Greg had concerns about them.”
Explaining the staffing turnover, Caton told the outlet that he discussed plans for ‘flattening’ the city’s organization. “In conversations with (Worth and Melynchenko), I discussed future plans to make changes to the organization – the ‘flattening’ we have referred to,” he said.
“Given that those future changes would affect their positions, both Dan and Mark opted to retire,” he added. “The agreements we signed are evidence of our mutual desire to determine what that transition would look like.”
Caton is remembered by Southern Arizonans as the Town Manager for Oro Valley from 2012 until he stepped down from the role to take a City Manager role in Colorado in 2016.
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 | May 1, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Monday ordering an end to in-state college tuition for aliens — the very policy endorsed by Republican gubernatorial candidate Karrin Taylor Robson.
Robson advocated for the passage of Proposition 308 in 2022: the proposition extending in-state tuition rates to illegal aliens protected from deportation by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, usually referred to as “Dreamers.”
Robson was featured in a commercial by “Yes on 308” advocating for Proposition 308’s passage. Robson argued Dreamers provided a fiscal benefit to the state.
“It will improve Arizona’s economy by keeping skilled workers here in Arizona – kids we’ve already invested in for years, with zero tax increase,” said Robson.
Robson also signed onto a letter alongside over 50 Arizona Republican leaders advocating for aliens as critical members of the workforce.
Proposition 308 passed narrowly thanks to millions in dark out-of-state funds.
Trump’s executive order ordered an end to these college tuition benefits, claiming these and other similar policies qualified as unequal treatment of Americans. Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to end state and local laws, regulations, policies, and practices which favor aliens over American citizens.
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and appropriate agency heads, shall identify and take appropriate action to stop the enforcement of State and local laws, regulations, policies, and practices favoring aliens over any groups of American citizens that are unlawful, preempted by Federal law, or otherwise unenforceable, including State laws that provide in-State higher education tuition to aliens but not to out-of-State American citizens that may violate 8 U.S.C. 1623 or that favor aliens in criminal charges or sentencing.
Of note, Trump endorsed both Robson and her Republican primary opponent, Congressman Andy Biggs. Dual endorsements aren’t rare for the president, though Trump’s endorsement of Robson occurred prior to Biggs entering the race.
Arizona Republican leadership opposition to Robson’s campaign prompted Robson to unregister as a lobbyist earlier this year.
Shortly after Trump’s executive order, Biggs backed the move to end in-state tuition for Dreamers. The congressman also cited his support for a bill by Congressman Paul Gosar to prevent illegal aliens from receiving benefits restricted to American citizens.
“President Trump is right – US citizens shouldn’t pay more for college tuition than illegal aliens,” said Biggs. “I stand with President Trump on securing the border and ending policies that incentivize illegal immigration.”
Arizona’s legalization of in-state college tuition for illegal aliens resulted in the increased influence of dark money operations. These opaque cash flows have funneled into scholarship programs offered by the state’s universities.
Arizona isn’t the only state to grant this privilege to aliens. About half of the country and the District of Columbia also allows illegal aliens to pay in-state tuition for public colleges and universities including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.
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 1, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
According to the Mesa Police Department, a man has been taken into custody in connection with a suspected arson at a Mesa Tesla dealership earlier this week. On Monday, officers were summoned to the scene following reports of an explosion where they found a flaming Cybertruck. Mesa PD told reporters that “additional callers reported smoke and flames coming from an area near the building, which ultimately was found to be a brand-new Tesla Cybertruck.”
The Fire Department arrived soon after and found the fire was limited to the vehicle. “As crews began their attack on the vehicle fire, additional crews made entry to the building to check the interior for smoke and heat,” police said. “The fire was contained to the vehicle on the exterior of the building.”
The outlet also reported that the misspelled word “thief” was also spraypainted on the side of the building.
Mesa officials stated the fire is being investigated as possible arson. The Mesa PD announced later in the day that they had arrested a 35-year-old male suspect identified as Ian Moses who is facing charges of arson of a structure and property.
Detectives noted that during the course of their investigation, a suspicious van was observed parked nearby near the intersection of Southern and Rowan, not far from the dealership. Investigators noted a bicyclist, identified as Moses, approached the van and opened its door.
Surveillance footage from the dealership was able to capture an image of the suspected arsonist and police were able to match the image to Moses, police said.
No injuries were reported in the incident, and investigators from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives is investigating alongside the Mesa Fire and Medical Department, Gilbert Fire and Rescue, and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office.
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 | Apr 30, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Republican Party’s former treasurer and GOP candidate for the 2026 state treasurer’s race warned lawmakers against Governor Hobbs’ nominee for the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI).
In a letter to Arizona state senators, state treasurer candidate Elijah Norton said that Hobbs’ DIFI nominee, Barbara Richardson, not only displayed troubling behavior during her two Director Nominations (DINO) committee hearings but had a poor performance record as director of DIFI. Norton owns multiple insurance and insurance-related businesses regulated by DIFI — some of which he says have been targeted by Richardson in the past.
Norton alleged that Richardson retaliated against him for testifying before DINO against her by asking the agency she formerly led — the Nevada Department of Insurance (NDI) — to investigate him. Norton said that one week after his DINO testimony, his company received an email from NDI demanding an National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) biographical affidavit.
“I believe that Ms. Richardson contacted a mid-level sympathetic bureaucrat in her old office and asked them to do this in retaliation for the well-documented part I played in bringing several issues to light that resulted in her failing the DINO confirmation vote,” said Norton.
Norton further attested that one day after he went public to Arizona lawmakers and political leaders about the NDI request he believed was prompted by Richardson, NDI called him to retract their request and ask instead for his Social Security number — information which NDI has had on file for over a decade, per Norton.
“The person on the phone sounded very nervous, and it appeared to me they were trying to ‘cover their tracks,’” said Norton.
According to Norton, this retaliation wasn’t new to him — or others. Norton also alleged Richardson targeted not only him but Barry Goldwater Jr. (son of late Senator Barry Goldwater) in the past with “regulatory retaliation.” According to Norton, Richardson banned him from calling the NDI while she was the Nevada Insurance Commissioner because he challenged a certain regulation. Goldwater Jr. allegedly faced similar problems after he voiced his opposition to Richardson to Arizona Senate leadership.
“[I] pushed back on a ridiculous minor change on a form that was going to cost my company over $10,000 and over 100 hours of time due to one of her unreasonable bureaucrats wanting me to underline one immaterial sentence — that would require me resubmitting the form to all of the various states. The requested change wasn’t even contained in the statute, rather the bureaucrat relied on the ‘promulgation clause’ (resembling the way she abused SERFF in Arizona),” stated Norton. “She retaliated by sending me a letter saying I was ‘banned’ from calling the Nevada DOI (despite paying them over $1,000 per year in regulatory fees), simply because I pushed back against an unreasonable regulation – violating my constitutional rights. This is the only time in my entire career this has occurred before and since.”
Norton also alleged Nevada lost its NAIC accreditation under Richardson, but available records reflect the state maintained its accreditation.
Norton also revisited key points of concern raised by Republican lawmakers over Richardson’s time as DIFI director during the first DINO hearing last month. Hobbs appointed Richardson to the DIFI position in March 2023.
In the first DINO hearing, Richardson was questioned about her service as chairwoman to a NAIC committee which considered variable insurance pricing based on race. The committee dissolved a day before her first DINO hearing last month.
That first hearing also revealed that, under Richardson’s directorship, System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing (SERFF) abuse occurred, significant increases to licensing times piled on, and services rendered decreased continually — of note, DIFI was found to have restricted its licensing hotline to voicemail only at certain times under Richardson’s tenure.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Apr 30, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona lawmakers have taken new steps to crack down on fraud in the state’s sober living home industry, with legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Frank Carroll officially signed into law recently.
The new measure, SB 1308, strengthens the Department of Health Services’ (DHS) authority over sober living homes — facilities that provide housing for individuals recovering from substance use disorders. Under the law, DHS will now have enhanced powers to license, oversee, inspect, and penalize sober living homes that fail to comply with state and local regulations.
In recent years, Arizona has seen a surge in concerns surrounding sober living homes, many of which have operated without formal state oversight. Advocacy groups, city leaders, and recovery organizations have reported instances of fraud and abuse, raising alarms about the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable residents. Critics have also warned that lax oversight has allowed unscrupulous operators to exploit government-funded health care programs, leading to the misuse of taxpayer dollars.
“At long last, the state of Arizona has taken meaningful action to protect vulnerable individuals seeking refuge and recovery,” Carroll said in a statement following the bill’s signing. “Over the years, there have been many frightening stories about fraud and abuse at these homes thanks to the lack of regulation and licensing. This new law will protect the men and women residing at these homes, put bad actors on notice, and end the gravy train of taxpayer funds to those attempting to exploit the system for financial gain.”
Several cities and towns across Arizona backed the legislation, citing the urgent need for reform. Sober living homes have historically played a crucial role in the broader recovery ecosystem, offering safe, drug-free environments to individuals transitioning out of treatment programs. However, without clear regulatory standards, some facilities have drawn scrutiny for inadequate living conditions, improper billing practices, and even allegations of patient brokering — the illegal practice of referring patients to facilities in exchange for kickbacks.
SB 1308 aims to close regulatory loopholes by setting clear licensing requirements and enforcement mechanisms. Supporters of the legislation argue it will help restore trust in sober living homes and ensure taxpayer resources are used appropriately to support genuine recovery efforts. The new law takes effect later this year.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
