by Jonathan Eberle | Nov 11, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A new survey from the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) indicates that the state’s teacher shortage remains severe, with more than 1,000 teachers leaving classrooms since July and thousands of positions still unfilled or covered by temporary staffing arrangements.
According to the data, 763 teachers resigned or failed to report for duty after July 1, and an additional 292 resigned after the school year began, totaling 1,055 departures. The survey, conducted in late August, received responses from 523 of the state’s 629 public school districts and charter schools—an 83% response rate.
The findings show more than 4,200 teaching positions remain vacant statewide. Of those, nearly 30% are being filled by long-term substitute teachers, about 24% are being covered by current educators giving up preparation or planning time, and roughly 23% rely on temporary staffing agencies. Nearly 1,400 of the openings remain entirely unfilled.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne called the situation “intolerable” and urged state leaders to take action. He pointed to long-standing concerns over teacher pay and what he described as insufficient administrative support on student discipline as key factors driving educators out of the profession.
“Teachers have been underpaid for years, and they have also been discouraged by a lack of administrative support for classroom discipline,” Horne said. He noted that he plans to renew his calls for increased pay and stronger discipline policies during his annual address to lawmakers. He also expressed hope that the upcoming debate over the reauthorization of Proposition 123 will include additional funding for teacher salaries drawn from the state land trust, emphasizing that such an approach would not require a tax increase.
Horne said the results reinforce what many educators have been voicing for years. “This survey is disheartening because the solutions are obvious,” he said. “Better pay and robust support from administrators on discipline are vital.”
Arizona has faced persistent teacher shortages for more than a decade, with advocacy groups and education leaders frequently citing low pay, high turnover, and workforce burnout as major challenges. The new survey suggests those issues remain widespread as the school year continues.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 10, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
A Change.org petition calling for the removal of a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) “Club America” chapter at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale lists 429 verified signatures on its page as of November 7, 2025. The petition—titled “Stop Political Hate Clubs in Arizona Schools”—urges Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Governing Board members Carine Werner, Amy Carney, and Maricopa County Superintendent Shelli Boggs to dissolve the club, alleging it promotes “hate, division, or discrimination under the guise of ‘religious’ or ‘political’ values.”
The petition claims that TPUSA “has a documented history of targeting marginalized groups and spreading harmful rhetoric” and argues its presence “sends the message that intolerance is acceptable.” It adds, “While every student has the right to their own political beliefs, no club should be allowed to promote hate, division, or discrimination under the guise of ‘religious’ or ‘political’ values.” Funds raised through Change.org will support “awareness efforts, educational events, and promotional materials.”
Public comments on the petition echo those themes. Saguaro alumnus Seth wrote, “As a Saguaro alum, I am appalled that such a club would be allowed to exist… The very intention of Club America is to sew [sic] discord and position one side as morally right and the other as morally wrong.” Naleah of Peoria said, “This club is not freedom of speech; it is built on the premise and beliefs of a racist and sexist….” Ines of Scottsdale added, “Saguaro should be a community that nurtures its students into well-informed adults. Having a political group that is there to influence high school kids instead of properly educating them… is harming the fundamentals of education.”
TPUSA rebranded its high-school program as “Club America” in July 2025, but the petition refers to the Saguaro organization as a “Turning Point USA chapter.” The filing claims Saguaro recently approved the club under SUSD’s policy allowing student-led groups with staff sponsors, elected officers, and signed agreements. The district has not publicly confirmed the approval.
Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity, a parental-rights advocacy group, publicized the petition on X on Nov. 7, urging followers to email the SUSD board at GovBRD@SUSD.org to “uphold students’ rights to start a Turning Point club.” In the post, the group described the petition as “an effort to silence students at Saguaro High School who wish to launch a @TPUSA club,” quoting the petition’s claim that TPUSA clubs promote “discrimination under the guise of ‘religious’ … values.”
The advocacy group also alleged that Saguaro Principal Lisa Hirsch “previously allowed an antisemitic presentation to occur at Desert Mountain High School” when she was principal there—an allegation referencing a 2023 incident that drew statewide scrutiny. District communications at the time condemned hate speech and denied institutional antisemitism.
The event, also flagged by Scottsdale Unites for Education Integrity, involved a UNICEF club at Desert Mountain High School (DMHS) telling students that Israel has been illegally occupying, taking, and settling on land belonging to Palestinians; that Israel had engaged in ethnic cleansing and apartheid by forcibly displacing and discriminating against Palestinians; and that Israel unjustly tortured and imprisoned Palestinians, including 80 percent of Palestinian children.
TPUSA, founded in 2012, has faced similar opposition in other Arizona districts. In October 2025, Snowflake High School denied a TPUSA club request citing a moratorium on new clubs dating to 2009, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
SUSD did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A message sent through Change.org to petition starter Isabella Finley received no reply by press time.
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 | Nov 10, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Voters in the Tolleson Union High School District decisively rejected two funding measures last week, signaling a sharp reversal from past election outcomes and raising new questions about public trust in district leadership.
Both a proposed bond and budget override failed by wide margins, marking what state leaders are calling a significant shift in community sentiment. According to Arizona State Representative Matt Gress, who chairs the House Education Committee and co-chairs the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the margin represents an estimated 40-point swing from the district’s last round of voter-approved measures.
“That kind of reversal doesn’t happen by chance,” Gress said in a statement. “It reflects taxpayers’ deep concern over how their money is being managed and the direction of district leadership.”
The vote comes as the district faces ongoing scrutiny from lawmakers over financial transparency. Gress first requested detailed financial transaction data from Tolleson Union on August 26 following a legislative audit hearing. The district declined to provide electronic records and instead issued an estimate exceeding $26,000 to fulfill the request. A follow-up clarification was sent on September 17, and as of last week the district had not complied.
Gress said the lack of cooperation has only fueled public skepticism. He pointed to delayed responses to official requests and continued planning for an $80 million domed stadium as examples of misplaced priorities, particularly as some governing board members face an active recall effort.
“When a school district refuses to provide basic financial records to the Legislature … public trust deteriorates quickly,” he said. “The Tolleson Union Governing Board should halt any further work on the stadium until transparency is restored and confidence is rebuilt.”
Supporters of the failed measures argued the additional funding was needed to maintain educational programs, address facility needs, and manage enrollment growth. But Tuesday’s results underscore a shifting climate in which voters appear more reluctant to approve additional spending without stronger fiscal assurances.
“The people of Tolleson have made their position clear: accountability must come before new spending,” Gress said. He added that lawmakers will continue to press for the financial records needed to assess how taxpayer funds are being used. School districts often rely on bonds to finance major capital projects and budget overrides to supplement operational funding. The rejection of both measures could force Tolleson Union to adjust spending plans or scale back initiatives in the months ahead.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Nov 10, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Abe Hamadeh urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, Dr. Martin Makary, to immediately withdraw or indefinitely suspend enforcement actions against desiccated thyroid medications.
This follows explosive allegations of misconduct by former Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) Director George Tidmarsh.
Dr. Tidmarsh resigned on November 2, 2025, amid a Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) investigation into claims that he abused his regulatory authority to target desiccated thyroid drugs—medications safely used by 1.5 million Americans for decades—in an effort to harm business rival, Kevin Tang.
Aurinia Pharmaceuticals filed a lawsuit the same day, alleging Tidmarsh used official FDA resources to “target multiple companies” linked with Tang, including a company where Tang serves as board chairman, American Laboratories, a key supplier of active ingredients for desiccated thyroid drugs.
The timeline raises serious concerns as Tidmarsh assumed leadership of CDER in July 2025, just one month before the FDA issued enforcement warnings against these very medications.
Reports indicate Tidmarsh was placed on administrative leave on November 1st, before resigning the following day.
In Congressman Hamadeh’s first letter, he raised alarms about the FDA’s actions, warning that restrictions could disrupt care for thousands of veterans and seniors in Arizona’s 8th District who rely on these treatments. Although Hamadeh’s office followed up many times, the FDA provided a very generic response to their inquiries.
Now, in a November 4th letter to Commissioner Makary, Congressman Hamadeh demanded immediate action, including:
- Suspension of all enforcement actions against desiccated thyroid drugs initiated on or after July 2025.
- A transparent public and congressional accounting of all regulatory decisions involving thyroid medications, including communications, conflicts of interest, and internal concerns about Dr. Tidmarsh.
- 180-day advance notice to Congress before any future enforcement, with scientific justification and patient impact assessments.
- Guaranteed uninterrupted access for the 1.5 million patients dependent on these medications.
- Substantive responses to his original August inquiries.
“It was clear to me, based on the feedback that I have received from countless constituents, that the FDA’s action against these medications was likely not science-based,” said Congressman Hamadeh. “Given our government’s reaction to COVID-19, it is not hard to imagine that bad actors in our government have personal agendas and no regard for science or our citizens.”
“The FDA’s primary mission should be ensuring drug safety and efficacy, not unnecessarily restricting access to medications with established track records of safety and effectiveness,” concluded Congressman Hamadeh. “The American people expect that FDA regulatory actions be grounded in science and patient safety, not personal scores or abuse of authority.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Nov 9, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Center to Advance Security in America (CASA), a nonpartisan organization committed to enhancing national safety and security, has formally filed a complaint against Arizona Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) with the Senate Select Committee on Ethics.
The complaint, written by CASA Director James Fitzpatrick, accuses Gallego of violating Senate ethics rules through comments that allegedly threaten physical violence against House Speaker Mike Johnson and falsely claim he is “protecting pedophiles.”
CASA’s complaint, addressed to Chairman James Lankford (R-OK) and Vice Chairman Chris Coons (D-DE), demands a thorough investigation and appropriate disciplinary measures.
The organization argues that Gallego’s statements not only breach the Senate Ethics Manual’s standards for moral and ethical conduct but also risk inciting further political violence in an already volatile climate.
The ethics manual, which CASA is referring to, states, “The Senate of the United States is a responsible political body, important in the maintenance of our free institutions. Its members are expected to conduct themselves with a proper respect for the principles of ethics and morality, for senatorial customs based on tradition, and with due regard for the importance of maintaining the good reputation of the Senate as the highest legislative body in the Nation.”
The complaint traces back to a heated in-person exchange in the U.S. Capitol on October 8, 2025, between Gallego, a former U.S. Marine, and Speaker Johnson.
The following day, October 9, Gallego amplified the incident via an Instagram post captioned, “Mike Johnson doesn’t know that’s not why Marines fold their arms.” In the video, Gallego remarked, “And he should be happy I had my arms folded. There’s a reason why Marines fold their arms. It’s because it’s a way to make sure that we restrain ourselves.”
CASA interprets this as an implied threat of physical assault, emphasizing Gallego’s military background as a factor heightening its significance.
“Given Gallego’s military training as a Marine, he has the physical capabilities to inflict serious bodily harm,” mentioned CASA in the complaint. “Any threat whatsoever to any federal official should be taken seriously. But Gallego threatened the Speaker of the House. The Speaker is second in line to be President and a key official for continuity of the American government.”
Intensifying the issue, Gallego joined fellow lawmakers for a press conference outside the Capitol on October 15, 2025, where CASA called the accusations against Johnson false.
“Speaker Johnson is protecting pedophiles; that is what this is all about,” declared Gallego. “The only reason Adelita Grijalva is not being sworn in right now is because he wants to protect whatever is in those files and all the pedophiles that would be revealed, and he wants to make sure every day that doesn’t happen. He has one more day to protect all those pedophiles, whether it’s involving Donald Trump or any of his rich elite friends.”
Fitzpatrick’s letter brands this as “defamation per se,” asserting that Gallego “knows this statement is false and he is acting with malice and reckless disregard for the truth in stating it.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 9, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Congressman Andy Biggs continues to hold a dominant polling position in Arizona’s 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary, maintaining the same lead he’s had since September when he also polled ahead of Karrin Taylor Robson by 24 points.
The latest poll, conducted October 26–28 among 397 likely GOP primary voters, shows Biggs at 43 percent with Karrin Taylor Robson at 19 percent and David Schweikert at 2 percent. Another 35 percent remain undecided. The mixed-mode survey, which carries a ±4.9 percent margin of error, was conducted by the Phoenix-based research firm GrayHouse Research & Analysis.
Biggs, a five-term congressman representing Arizona’s 5th District and former chair of the House Freedom Caucus, has led every early-cycle measure of the prospective Republican field. His advantage reflects both high name recognition and continued grassroots strength among conservative voters focused on border security, spending restraint, and state sovereignty.
The poll underscores a steady pattern: Biggs’ lead hasn’t wavered despite increased visibility from Robson, who finished second in the 2022 gubernatorial primary, or speculation that Schweikert could consolidate the party’s establishment wing. With one-third of the electorate still uncommitted, the numbers suggest Biggs enters 2026 as the de facto frontrunner. As reported by AZ Free News, Biggs polled at 55% against Robson’s 31%, with 14% of voters undecided in a September poll from Pulse Decision Science. He also polled at 48.6% against Robson’s 26% in a June poll by NextGen Polling, barely edging out “Other” and “Undecided” with a combined 25.5%.
Turning Point USA Chief Operating Officer Tyler Bowyer shared the results in a post to X, remarking “Latest Arizona Poll out on @politico’s website shows @andybiggs4az up 24 points on Karrin Robson. This is consistent with every poll to date. Republicans need to get behind Biggs for Governor and prepare the resources now to win next year.”
In a similar sentiment, Richard Baris of Big Data Poll, Chairman of the National Association of Independent Pollsters and host of ‘Inside the Numbers’ commented, “Yep, Biggs has a significant lead. It’s not particularly close. Would be a waste of money to even challenge him. But nobody ever accused GOP donors of being smart, so…”
GrayHouse’s data, drawn from its statewide voter panel and Arizona voter file, also provided a detailed look at the primary electorate.
In the attorney general primary, Senate President Warren Petersen started at 16% and former Tucson City Council member Rodney Glassman at 8%, with 76% undecided. After biographical information, Petersen rose to 48% and Glassman to 15%, with 37% undecided.
The poll also measured voter sentiment on state direction: 52% said Arizona is on the wrong track, 25% on the right track, and 22% did not know. For re-electing Gov. Katie Hobbs, 43% supported it, 48% preferred someone new, and 9% were undecided. Including Independents and Democrats, the poll surveyed 744 registered voters with a margin of error +/- 3.6%.
Arizona’s top issues ranked were affordability and cost of living at 29%, threats to democracy at 17%, and border security and immigration at 16%, followed by jobs and the economy at 9%, education and healthcare both at 7%, with crime/public safety and water both at 6%. Climate change and the environment came in at 3%, and abortion barely registered at 1%.
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.
