by Jonathan Eberle | Sep 6, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen is calling on Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to revise the state’s draft of the 2025 Elections Procedures Manual (EPM), warning that lawmakers may pursue legal action if disputed provisions remain in place.
The Elections Procedures Manual, which outlines how elections are conducted in all 15 Arizona counties, must comply with state law and receive approval from both the governor and attorney general before taking effect. Petersen contends the current draft includes measures that exceed the secretary of state’s legal authority.
“The Elections Procedures Manual cannot be used as a vehicle to rewrite Arizona law,” Petersen said in a statement released Monday. “If these provisions are not corrected before submission, litigation will follow.”
Among the concerns identified by Petersen and Republican legislators are provisions they say weaken election safeguards. These include extending the time for non-citizens to “cure” invalid registrations, bypassing voter ID requirements on registration forms, limiting ballot challenges, and reducing oversight on ballot chain-of-custody procedures.
Lawmakers also raised objections to proposed rules that they argue diminish political parties’ role in selecting poll workers, relax standards for petition circulators, and require election officers to adhere to policies they believe infringe on constitutional rights.
Petersen said the secretary of state has a “pattern” of resisting statutory requirements, adding that changes to election rules should be made through the legislative process rather than administrative directives.
“Our election laws are passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor — not invented by one officeholder,” Petersen said.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Sep 5, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) has joined with colleagues from seven western states to reconstitute the Colorado River Caucus, which he will co-chair with Democrat Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado.
As Arizona is heavily dependent on water flowing from the Colorado River, with 2.85 million acre-feet allocated to the state annually, the state’s political representation in decisions that govern the river has always been critical.
Initially launched as a bipartisan effort by members of the 118th Congress in 2023, the 12-member Colorado River Caucus includes representation from Arizona, California, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Colorado.
“The Colorado River is the beating heart of the American Southwest,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “Millions of people in Arizona and six other states depend on it as a source of water for our homes and businesses, our farms and ranches – our way of life. The Colorado River Caucus will help us understand and manage this precious resource as we deal with the impacts of a record-breaking drought that has lasted more than two decades. Collaboration is key and that’s the goal of this bipartisan caucus.”
In May 2023, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and the Colorado River Lower Basin States agreed to a new plan under the Biden administration “to conserve 3 million acre-feet over the next three years to protect the Colorado River system.”
However, in March of this year, Common Sense Institute (CSI) Arizona released a report that pointed to gaps in “infrastructure and ingenuity,” rather than supply scarcity as the state’s greatest water resource issue. CSI advised at the time, “If Arizona opts to address its water future by ending growth and limiting development, rather than investing in infrastructure and addressing water policies, the Grand Canyon state faces the potential of billions in lost economic activity and thousands of new jobs.“
The release from Ciscomani indicated that the Caucus will task itself with advocating for a seven-state solution that incorporates efficient conservation measures to preserve water rights across the board.
Secretary Karen Cesare of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District (CAWCD), representing Pima County, said in a statement, “The Colorado River has been and continues to be one of the most vital issues for the State of Arizona. Since the days of Senator Carl Hayden and Representative John Rhodes, our state has always had leaders in Congress that work on this important issue. I am very happy that Representative Ciscomani is returning as co-chair of the Colorado River Caucus and is continuing this legacy of leadership.”
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 Matthew Holloway | Sep 5, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Grand Canyon University announced projections for record-breaking student enrollment for the 2025-26 academic year with as many as 133,000 Antelopes or ‘Lopes’ as they’re called, donning the Christian university’s signature purple and black. The new year enrollment represents an increase of approximately 8% over the fall 2024-25 enrollment figure. The increase isn’t limited to online students either, with the university seeing a ten percent increase in new students attending in-person instruction at the North Phoenix campus.
Specifically, the total projected enrollment of GCU for 2025 is 133,000 or more. On-campus enrollment is projected to be approximately 25,000, while online enrollment is expected to exceed 118,000.
In a press release, GCU President Brian Mueller attributed the uptick to the university’s “three core strengths,” citing “high-quality academics, taught from a Christian worldview perspective, a longstanding commitment to affordability, and a vibrant Christ-centered campus culture.”
“There is no shortage of families looking for high-quality, affordable education options rooted in Christian values,” Mueller said. “And they come from every corner of the country.”
In a press release, the GCU emphasized its policy of a tuition freeze for in-person students for the past 17 years, with “only nominal increases in online tuition.”
Mueller also explained, “If I ask students on our ground campus why they chose GCU, 9 out of 10 will say it is because of the community atmosphere on campus It’s what we’re known for, and faith plays a big part in creating that culture.”
Fresh off setting a record in April 2025 for its largest graduating class to date, GCU issued the release corresponding with the university’s ‘Welcome Week,’ describing the festivities as “a spirited tradition that includes more than 105 events organized by Welcome Programs staff alongside more than 500 Welcome Crew and Student Affairs volunteers. Activities range from student orientations, daily socials and nightly events such as Canyon Cooldown, Silent Disco and the inspirational Ignite worship ceremony, which sets the tone spiritually for the school year.”
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 Ethan Faverino | Sep 4, 2025 | Education, News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Phoenix Union High School District (PXU) is set to vote on a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC), an Arizona-based nonprofit, at its upcoming school board meeting.
The agreement, effective from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2027, aims to provide substance abuse prevention and mental health services to students at Carl Hayden High School, Bostrom High School, and Maryvale High School.
However, the proposal sparked debate among board members and community advocates, with concerns about the scope of services and their alignment with student needs.
The MOU outlines CPLC’s role as a subgrantee of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) under the federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SABG). The SABG targets groups such as pregnant women, drug users, and individuals with HIV/AIDS, alongside primary prevention services for substance abuse.
Under the proposed agreement, CPLC would deliver primary substance abuse prevention services and counseling to referred PXU students, with a specific mention of “Health Masculinity Services for Self-Identified Males.”
The proposed MOU has drawn criticism from some PXU board members, notably Jeremiah Cota, who announced via X his intent to vote against the contract.
Cota expressed concerns that the agreement prioritizes services for self-identified males and potentially includes abortion-related support under the guise of “wrap-around” services, labeling CPLC a “leftist activist group.”
His stance has been amplified by Arizona State Representative Teresa Martinez, who praised Cota’s advocacy while criticizing PXU for ignoring student safety, particularly in light of recent discussions about reinstating school resource officers (SROs).
The SROs were removed from PXU campuses in 2020 following concerns about police interactions with minority students.
Despite recommendations from the district’s student safety committee in March 2023 to reinstate SROs, the board postponed the decision, opting for further study sessions and maintaining an off-duty officer model.
No SRO vote is scheduled for the upcoming meeting, intensifying the frustration among advocates, who argue student safety is being pushed aside.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Sep 4, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
On Saturday, in a video recorded at the ICE Eloy Detention Center, Arizona Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ03) again falsely described the illegal aliens held there as her “constituents.”
In the political spectacle, a repeat of Ansari’s controversial visit in July, the congresswoman accused the facility of holding her “constituents, who are trapped inside,” claiming there is “dehumanizing, racist, unacceptable treatment happening inside the Eloy Detention Center that is run by a private company called Core Civic.”
Ansari cited the ongoing case of a foreign national known as ‘Yari,’ identified by ABC15 as Arbella Rodríguez Márquez. Yari is a U.S resident whose green card was revoked after being denied parole on human smuggling charges in July and suffers from Leukemia.
Ansari claimed that Rodríguez Márquez has not received “proper medical treatment,” however, these allegations have been repeatedly refuted by the Department of Homeland Security DHS. Assistant Secretary of the DHS Tricia McLaughlin stated in a post to X:
In her remarks, Ansari said that “the accusations against [Rodríguez Márquez] are egregious,” and that she “was a green-card holder.” But she continues to refer to the foreign national as a “constituent,” despite a statement from a DHS spokesman in July that firmly rejects Ansari’s allegations and Rodríguez Márquez’s misrepresented status as the congresswoman’s “constituent.”
After Ansari claimed that she was denied access to the Eloy Detention Center in July, a DHS spokesman told 12News:
“Allegations that Congresswoman Ansari was denied access to the Eloy Detention Facility are FALSE. After being told that Ansari would be unable to speak with detainees—illegal aliens, not constituents—she did not even show up or have the courtesy to send a cancellation notice to ICE.
“While ICE law enforcement officers face an 830% increase in assaults against them, Congresswoman Ansari is has demonized ICE law enforcement in the past—calling them a ‘military force hell bent on terrorizing immigrant communities.’
“Any claim that there are subprime conditions at ICE detention centers are FALSE. All detainees are provided with proper meals, medical treatment, and have opportunities to communicate with their family members and lawyers. Ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of individuals in our custody is a top priority at ICE. ICE has higher detention standards than most U.S. prisons that hold actual U.S. citizens.”
As a legal resident in the United States and not a citizen, even before the revocation of her residency, Rodríguez Márquez was unable to vote in U.S. federal elections legally. Following the revocation of her residency, her legal status reverted to that of a foreign national in the U.S. illegally or an illegal alien and a detainee.
Libs of TikTok observed the discrepancy in a post to X writing, “Rep Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ) says she has ‘many constituents’ who are in ICE detention facilities[.] Why do you have ‘constituents’ who are in our country illegally @RepYassAnsari?? Does @RepYassAnsari care this much about her actual constituents who are American citizens?”
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 Ethan Faverino | Sep 3, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Trump administration announced that it has successfully located over 23,000 unaccompanied immigrant children who were previously unaccounted for during the Biden administration, marking a significant step in addressing the crisis.
This figure represents approximately 7% of the estimated 300,000 unaccompanied children that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reported as untraceable under the prior administration.
Border Czar Tom Homan, a key figure in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts, criticized the Biden administration’s handling of the issue.
“The last administration wasn’t even looking for them,” said Homan. “We’re not going to stop until we find every one of them.”
The administration is prioritizing resources in sanctuary cities like Chicago, where local policies limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, to ensure the safety and accountability of these vulnerable children.
The Biden administration’s Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) was unable to contact approximately 85,000 unaccompanied children by phone after their release to sponsors between January and May 2023. A later DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report in August 2024 further highlighted systemic failures, estimating around 300,000 unaccompanied children remained unaccounted for.
The report noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) failed to monitor the location and status of these children after their release from federal custody, with over 32,000 failing to appear for immigration court hearings between fiscal years 2019 and 2023.
Additionally, 31,000 children were released to sponsors with invalid or incomplete addresses, enhancing the risk of losing track of them.
The DHS OIG report also revealed that ICE failed to serve Notices to Appear (NTAs) to over 291,000 unaccompanied children as of May 2024, meaning these children had no scheduled immigration court dates.
The report shows the heightened risk of trafficking, exploitation, or forced labor for children who did not appear in court, raising serious concerns about their safety.
In response, the Trump administration launched an aggressive initiative in May 2025 to conduct welfare checks on the estimated 450,000 unaccompanied children who entered the U.S. under the Biden administration.
By June, approximately 500 children were taken into government custody due to unsafe living conditions or immigration enforcement actions against their sponsors.
The issue was a focal point during a November 2024 Homeland Security Committee hearing, where congressional leaders examined the breakdown in government processes under the Biden administration that led to the disappearance of these children. The Trump administration’s proactive measures stand in contrast to the previous administration’s shortcomings, as evidenced by the historic low of 4,598 total apprehensions along the southern border in July 2025—the lowest ever recorded—compared to over 10,000 daily apprehensions under the Biden administration.
Additionally, ICE has arrested over 160,000 illegal immigrants within the U.S., primarily those posing public safety and national security threats.
“We have the most secure border in the history of this nation, and the data proves it,” said Homan. “President Trump has been a game changer, and his leadership makes the country safer every day. Promises made. Promises kept. Promises proven.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
