More than one million Arizonans had personally identifiable or sensitive information stolen from the state’s court system during a recent cyberattack.
New information from the Arizona Supreme Court reveals the attack began when a court employee fell for “a common phishing attack” and clicked a malicious link in an email.
The court has set up a portal enabling Arizonans to check whether their information was accessed in the cyberattack. Individuals impacted may also receive official court communication via email from no-reply@courts.az.gov or via text from 83958.
The information accessed by the attackers did not include information on jurors, witnesses, or court employees. No court records were deleted, altered, or erased according to the Arizona Supreme Court, and the attack won’t affect the progress or status of any pending case.
Sensitive information copied by attackers came from nearly 30,000 records involving active and inactive protective orders, as well as the Fines/Fees and Restitution Enforcement (FARE) Program which maintains Social Security numbers. Regarding the FARE Program, approximately 1.3 million individuals were impacted.
The Arizona Supreme Court is encouraging individuals whose information was held within the FARE Program to put a hold or freeze on their credit files with the three major credit reporting agencies.
Alberto Rodriguez, Arizona Supreme Court spokesman, said the copied FARE Program data was from a backup server where it was highly compressed.
Rodriguez also said that there has been no evidence the stolen data has been rendered to be readable, and has not been used or shared.
Additionally, more than 150,000 current and past Foster Care Review Board recommendation reports dating back to 2010 were copied in the attack. Addresses and phone numbers weren’t included in those copied reports.
The Arizona Supreme Court announced in a September 25 press release that a cyberattack targeted the state court system and copied personally identifiable information for “many Arizonans.”
The cyberattack occurred the previous day, on September 24 at around 11:30 a.m. Court IT staff shut the attack down less than two hours after it was identified, according to the Arizona Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Ann Scott Timmer called the attack “outrageous” and assured the public that she had pulled together a team to formulate a response to the breach. Timmer revealed that federal authorities are investigating the cyberattack, and that the court had contacted Arizonans whose data was targeted by the attackers.
“I personally spoke with the top-ranking FBI leader in the state, and I pledged our full commitment to supporting their investigation and minimizing the likelihood that the information will be used to further jeopardize Arizonans,” said Timmer. “We’re in touch with those affected and will share more information as soon as we’re able.”
Rebecca Day, special agent in charge with the Phoenix field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has coordinated with Timmer on investigating the attack.
Authorities have yet to announce the entity or entities responsible for the cyberattack.
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The Trump administration greenlit another one of Maricopa County’s plans to incentivize clean air improvements.
The county plans to encourage the railroad and construction industries to voluntarily upgrade or replace their nonroad vehicles with cleaner emissions technologies through Maricopa County Rule 204.
The rule represents another effort to bring the county closer to compliance with the 2015 ozone standard of 70 parts per billion outlined by the federal Clean Air Act.
Maricopa County reported that it is currently designated as a moderate non-attainment area under the standard. Under the Biden administration in 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began to consider whether the Phoenix area warranted reclassification as a serious non-attainment area.
However, the EPA determined earlier this year that the county would have attained standards had it not been for international emissions, namely from Asia and Mexico.
The Maricopa Association of Governments reported that it found through modeling with the EPA that approximately 80% of regional ozone originates from natural sources or outside Arizona.
The EPA determination from this year spared the county from the burden of additional air quality regulations, which would have slowed and potentially reversed industry growth in the region.
The region has reported reduced local emissions of air pollutants by 50% since 2000. The county also reported on Tuesday that total emissions statewide have fallen by more than 70% since 1990, despite the population more than doubling.
On Tuesday, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin participated in a press conference to announce the incentives alongside Maricopa County officials, including Board of Supervisors Chair Kate Brophy McGee and Republican attorney general nominee Warren Petersen.
Zeldin remarked that Maricopa County’s approach to emissions reduction has been successful.
“They aren’t increasing emissions,” repeated Zeldin. “They are not breaking federal requirements. They are finding new, innovative ways to work within their circumstances.”
NEW: @MaricopaCounty & @EPA announce innovative plan to improve air quality and protect jobs. We appreciate this chance to work together to prove that a healthy environment and growing economy can go hand-in-hand. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/QigWcvgheM
Brophy McGee pledged that the new county rule would maintain county residents’ quality of life and would not hinder economic development.
“This plan demonstrates how a healthy environment and growing economy can work together,” said Brophy McGee. “By incentivizing rather than punishing job creators, implementing Maricopa County’s Rule 204 will improve the quality of the air we breathe while enabling key industries to continue investing in our community. I thank Administrator Zeldin and the EPA for working with Maricopa County and our business community on this innovative approach.”
Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, called the rule “smart policy” that ensured a win-win for the economy and air quality.
“For more than a decade, Arizona’s business community has worked to expand the tools available to reduce emissions while giving companies a workable path to invest, expand and create jobs,” said Seiden. “Rule 204 does exactly that: when businesses voluntarily replace older equipment with cleaner technology and achieve real, measurable emissions reductions, those reductions can help make continued economic growth possible.”
In April, the EPA approved Maricopa County Rule 205, another incentive which provides emission reduction credits to fleet owners and operators who upgrade or replace on-road vehicles with cleaner technologies.
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Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) introduced legislation this week that would reduce a federal disaster assistance benchmark for counties where less than 15% of the land is subject to county property taxes.
The Rural Disaster Fairness Act of 2026 (H.R. 10754), would require the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to lower its county per capita damage indicator by 50% for qualifying counties nationwide. The indicator helps FEMA evaluate the local impact of a disaster when reviewing requests for federal assistance.
Crane’s office said counties with extensive federal land ownership can have limited property tax revenue to support infrastructure maintenance, emergency response, and recovery. The congressman argues that a population-based damage benchmark does not adequately reflect those limitations.
By cutting a key @FEMA damage threshold in half for counties with little taxable land, my bill would help rural communities qualify for federal aid.
I'm hopeful my colleagues will support this reform and help Americans recover from catastrophic disasters: https://t.co/o6hTgjkIaR
“The federal government owns vast swaths of land out West, which limits the tax base for rural counties. In turn, they often have less money to spend on critical infrastructure, mitigation efforts, and response operations. My legislation would reform FEMA’s evaluation process to take into account how much land these jurisdictions are able to tax,” Crane said.
Under FEMA’s existing regulations, the agency considers several factors when recommending whether the president should approve a governor’s request for major disaster assistance.
For its Public Assistance Program, those factors include estimated assistance costs, localized damage, insurance coverage, hazard mitigation efforts, recent disasters, and assistance available through other federal programs.
The regulations expressly recognize that concentrated damage at the county, local, or tribal level can warrant federal assistance even when a statewide per capita indicator is not met. Damage to critical facilities is among the circumstances FEMA considers.
Crane’s proposal would amend Section 1232 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. That existing provision directed FEMA to give greater consideration to severe local impacts or multiple recent disasters when evaluating requests for major disaster declarations.
The county per capita indicator is part of FEMA’s broader evaluation of disaster impacts. Under existing regulations, the agency considers multiple factors when recommending whether federal public assistance is warranted.
Under the Stafford Act’s declaration process, a governor’s request must be based on a determination that a disaster exceeds the capabilities of the state and affected local governments and requires federal assistance. The president makes the major disaster declaration.
Americans are expected to spend $13.5 billion on Halloween this year, surpassing last year’s record of $13.1 billion, according to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) annual consumer survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics.
The survey found that 74% of consumers plan to celebrate Halloween this year, compared to 73% in 2025 and 68% in 2019, reflecting the holiday’s continued popularity among American households.
Despite increased spending, consumers are expected to remain mindful of rising costs, with average spending projected at $115.14 per person, slightly above last year’s $114.45.
“Consumers continue to make Halloween a spending priority, but they are also approaching the season with affordability in mind,” stated NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Allison Zeller.
“For more than two decades, NRF’s Halloween survey has tracked how consumers celebrate the holiday, and this year’s results show that shoppers are being thoughtful and strategic, looking for ways to maximize value throughout the season,” added Zeller.
🎃 Halloween spending is expected to reach $13.5 billion this year, with consumers planning to spend an average of $115 on costumes, candy, decorations and more. https://t.co/5ABujtWJNzpic.twitter.com/6ozeoGIFTf
According to the survey, nearly half of consumers (49%) planned to begin their Halloween shopping in September or earlier, an increase from 34% in 2016.
Among those shopping early, 42% cited their enthusiasm for the fall season, while 34% said Halloween was one of their favorite holidays. Another 23% said they began shopping early to spread out their expenses, while 21% were motivated by discounts and promotions.
Consumers are also adjusting their purchasing habits in response to higher prices. Nearly one-third (31%) said they would compare prices between retailers if Halloween merchandise costs more than expected, while 26% would seek coupons or sales. Another 34% plan to purchase items that can be reused in future years or repurposed for other occasions.
Costumes are expected to account for the largest share of Halloween spending at $4.4 billion, followed by decorations at $4.3 billion, candy at $4.1 billion, and greeting cards at $800 million.
Of the projected costume spending, consumers are expected to spend approximately $2 billion on adult costumes, $1.5 billion on children’s costumes, and $920 million on pet costumes.
Candy remains the most popular Halloween purchase, with 96% of shoppers planning to buy sweets. Additionally, 78% plan to purchase decorations, 71% expect to buy costumes, and 42% plan to purchase greeting cards.
Discount stores remain the leading shopping destination for Halloween merchandise, attracting 39% of consumers, followed by specialty Halloween and costume stores at 32% and online retailers at 27%.
Local and small businesses are also attracting more Halloween shoppers, with 13% planning to make purchases at these establishments, nearly double the 7% reported in 2016.
The survey also highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in consumer shopping habits.
Nearly half of consumers (47%) reported using AI platforms or tools to assist with Halloween shopping, including brainstorming costume and decoration ideas and researching potential purchases.
Online searches remain the most popular source of Halloween costume inspiration at 32%, although that figure declined from 37% last year and reached its lowest level in a decade.
The most common Halloween activities this year include handing out candy (61%), dressing in costumes (50%), decorating homes or yards (42%), carving pumpkins (42%), and watching scary movies (42%).
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) is romantically involved with a 24-year-old Democratic influencer under investigation by her committee.
Ansari is dating Jack Cocchiarella, a progressive political commentator with more than two million followers across YouTube, X, Instagram, and TikTok. Cocchiarella turned 24 last Friday, and Ansari is 34.
TMZ was first to publish their report as an exclusive, reportedly minutes after the deadline given by another reporter, Juliegrace Brufke of Sources Say News.
"Neither Ansari nor her office responded to multiple requests for comment … We sent that request this afternoon with an 8 p.m. deadline. TMZ's story posted at 8:03."https://t.co/72LswHWS6v
According to TMZ, Ansari met Cocchiarella for an interview last spring. Cocchiarella is based in Washington, D.C., and graduated from Columbia University last year.
Ansari told TMZ that her personal relationships have no bearing on her standing as an elected official, and that other political issues are of far greater importance.
“I’m not commenting on my personal life, nor is it anyone’s business,” said Ansari. “Right now, ICE is terrorizing communities across the country with zero accountability, and Trump’s reckless war in Iran continues raging on. I’m focused on helping to flip the House so we can pass meaningful legislation — that’s what we should all be focused on.”
However, Ansari’s relationship with Cocchiarella does have some overlap with congressional affairs.
Last November, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Oversight Committee), on which Ansari sits, opened up an investigation into Chorus, a project of the Sixteen Thirty Fund which pays progressive content creators for political posts and on whose council Cocchiarella sat until recently.
Following reports of Cocchiarella’s relationship with Ansari, his profile page and inclusion on the creator council have been removed.
Chorus is alleged to have circumvented federal campaign finance disclosure requirements by paying content creators up to $8,000 per month to further Democratic messaging online in secret.
Chorus was established in the weeks following Kamala Harris’ loss to President Donald Trump in the November 2024 election. The New York Timescited Chorus charter members at length about Democratic efforts to match right-wing content creators that carried Trump to a delayed second-term victory.
Key organizers behind Chorus included Stuart Perelmuter, a Democratic operative paid by the Harris campaign; Josh Cook, former President Barack Obama’s digital strategist; Brian Tyler Cohen, another top YouTube influencer.
Chorus struggled to pull financial backing in its first few months of existence; then a report came out about these struggles last April, and the Sixteen Thirty Fund became the organization’s sponsor that same month.
In March, the Oversight Committee submitted a letter to those behind Chorus to address “a disturbing pattern of activity” to evade transparency about the Chorus project following the committee launching its investigation.
In May, the committee subpoenaed the Sixteen Thirty Fund to compel production of documents concerning Chorus.
So far, the committee’s investigation has found that Chorus-paid influencers created content advocating for candidates, ballot initiatives, and political parties.
Chorus has denied paying creators to support or oppose candidates.
The committee has not held a hearing on the investigation.
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Warren Petersen believes that Arizonans want their next chief law enforcement officer to prevent the extinction of female-only spaces, like girls sports and locker rooms.
Petersen, the Arizona Senate President and Republican nominee for attorney general, released a new, 30-second campaign ad on Tuesday featuring young female athletes declaring that “boys don’t belong in girls’ sports.”
“I work so hard. I practice every day after school. But some grown-ups think boys should be able to play against me, and use our locker rooms. That’s not right. Boys don’t belong in girls’ sports. Thank you, Warren Petersen, for fighting for me, at the capitol and at the Supreme Court, and for every girl in Arizona.”
Attorney General Kris Mayes, the Democratic incumbent, has had a “radical” and “extreme” tenure by refusing to respect the biological differences between genders and protect single-sex spaces, according to Petersen.
“Kris Mayes showed how radical she is by refusing to defend Arizona’s commonsense law to keep guys out of women’s sports and locker rooms,” said Petersen. “As Senate President I fought to protect girls. I will continue protecting girls as Arizona’s next Attorney General.”
🚨 NEW AD: I just launched my latest general election campaign ad, highlighting my proven commitment to protecting girls.
Kris Mayes showed how radical she is by refusing to defend Arizona’s commonsense law to keep guys out of women's sports and locker rooms. As Senate President…
The debate between Mayes and Petersen last month further illustrated the conflict between parties on law enforcement’s duty to define gender and police gender-based activities and spaces.
Petersen attacked Mayes for lacking the “common sense” to understand the biological differences between boys and girls.
“Talk about delusional,” said Petersen. “She thinks men can beat women, and boys are okay in girls’ sports.”
Mayes avoided the nitty-gritty of the more partisan political subjects like gender identity, instead arguing that the attorney general should be concerned with the areas where both parties could find more common middle ground, specifically naming fraud in the consumer, school choice, and Medicaid spaces; antitrust violations; environmental pollution; child support nonpayment; and drug trafficking as her examples of better office priorities.
“The primary objective of this office is to protect the people of Arizona and to make sure that corporations don’t take advantage of our state,” said Mayes.
Mayes declined to defend the Arizona Department of Education against a lawsuit filed in 2023 by the families of two transgender students challenging the state’s “Save Women’s Sports Act,” a state law passed in 2022 requiring students to play on sports teams aligning with their biological sex. That lawsuit was dropped over the summer following the Supreme Court’s June ruling in West Virginia v. B.P.J., affirming that biology, not gender identity, defines sex.
During Pride Month in 2023, several months after the transgender students sued, Mayes issued a press release condemning the Save Women’s Sports Act and all other “anti-LGBTQ bills” passed in Arizona and the nation. Mayes declared gender identity to be a civil right.
“With LGBTQ Americans – and particularly transgender Americans – increasingly targeted by extremist legislation designed to restrict their rights, I am reaffirming my office’s commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Arizonans,” said Mayes. “Federal and state civil rights laws protect the right of LGTBQ Arizonans to live, work, and freely access public accommodations without being subjected to discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or threats of violence because of who they are. My office is fully committed to enforcing these laws.”
Following Mayes’ refusal to join the case, Petersen joined the case alongside Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) to defend the state law in the highest court through an amicus brief filed last September.
Petersen has fought in court in defense of the law for years.
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