The House of Representatives passed a bill on Thursday which would enable Gila County, Arizona to operate a veterans center on 232 acres in Young, Arizona.
Introduced by Rep. Eli Crane, R-Ariz., the bill creates the first center of its kind in northern Arizona, providing resources and support to primarily rural veterans and their families.
This veterans center is so crucial for rural veterans in northern Arizona who selflessly served our nation,” Crane said. “I’m grateful to see my colleagues in the House recognize the significance of this land transfer.”
The federal government retains large amounts of land, limiting states’ ability to maintain, conserve, recreate, and responsibly produce on the lands within their own borders, according to Crane. Transferring ownership to Gila County would guard the property’s history and provide family housing, meeting and activity spaces, resource rooms, Veteran Ceremonial Grounds, and outdoor recreation.
“This was the first piece of legislation I introduced and is a testament to the significance of northern Arizona’s veterans,” Crane said. “Anytime Congress can vote on legislation that returns power to the states is a good thing.”
Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., and former Rep. Tom O’Halleran, D-Ariz., co-sponsored the bipartisan effort legislation last Congress.
Crane thanked the House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman and Subcommittee Chairman Tom Tiffany for their leadership. Westerman said Congress must do all it can to thank veterans and their families for their sacrifice.
“The commonsense, bipartisan land transfer provided by H.R. 1829 will do just that by opening up new experiences to veterans in the area for recreation and recovery,” Westerman said. “A veteran himself, Representative Crane has led on these issues this Congress, and I look forward to continuing to work with him to get this bill through the Senate and signed into law.”
Democratic Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Krysten Sinema introduced the bill in the Senate.
In the hearing, Crane asked Gila County Supervisor Woody Cline about the purpose of the veterans center.
Gila County Supervisor Woody Cline testified before the House Natural Resources Committee on the significant impacts and outstanding resources the center would provide for veterans and their families in the region. He said the site would be one of two in Arizona.
“It’s huge for our local community as well,” he said. “We have a local veteran community of about 100 people right there in that small town. And then right there between us and Payson, there’s roughly another 5,000-7,000 more right there. Having this accessible, not only to the local members, the state members, the national members, but also, we’re adjacent to the White Mountain Apache Tribe that is not very far away that has a number of veterans in that reservation as well that have been big supporters of this project. It means everything to these folks.”
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
Scottsdale parents and community members were approved to donate pro-American books to district schools.
The Scottsdale Unified School DIstrict (SUSD) governing board approved the books unanimously during Wednesday’s meeting. The selections will be part of a new “American Pride Library” program spread across SUSD’s 29 libraries. Grassroots activists who have been pushing for a cleanup of school curriculum celebrated the win.
Scottsdale United for Educational Integrity, the parent group leading the initiative, announced the win shortly after the board’s approval.
“We did it! Our American Pride Library donation of pro-American books has been approved 5-0 by the Scottsdale Unified governing board,” stated the group.
— Arizona Women of Action (@azwomenofaction) April 10, 2024
Among the approved books donated were selections from the popular Tuttle Twins franchise, and “A is for American Dream” by the Phoenix-based libertarian think tank, The Goldwater Institute.
In addition to the Goldwater Institute picture book, SUSD elementary schools will receive the two “America’s History” volumes from the Tuttle Twins franchise, as well as the following “Tuttle Twins” series: “Law,” “The Miraculous Pencil,” “The Creature from Jekyll Island,” “The Food Truck Fiasco,” “The Road to Serfdom,” “The Golden Rule,” “The Search for Atlas,” “Their Spectacular Show Business,” “The Fate of the Future,” “The Education Vacation,” “The Messed Up Market,” “The Leviathan Crisis,” and “The 12 Rules Bootcamp.”
Middle schools will receive both volumes of “America’s History,” as well as the following Tuttle Twins’ “Guide” series: “Logical Fallacies,” “Beware Your Bias,” “Inspiring Entrepreneurs,” “Modern Villains,” “True Conspiracies,” and “Courageous Heroes.”
High schools will receive both volumes of “America’s History,” as well as the following Tuttle Twins’ series: “The Hyperinflation Devastation,” “The Little Pink House,” “The Case of the Broken Window,” “The Play for Power,” “Guide to Logical Fallacies,” “Guide to Beware Your Bias,” “Guide to Inspiring Entrepreneurs,” “Guide to Modern Villains,” “Guide to True Conspiracies,” and “Guide to Courageous Heroes.”
The books were part of a pushback against the objected books available containing a variety of progressive, often explicit content addressing subjects like LGBTQ+ ideology and Critical Race Theory. These activist groups maintain a list of these objected books, which they characterize as “adult only.”
The Tuttle Twins company’s Education Outreach Coordinator, Andrea Ford, expressed support for the Scottsdale grassroots’ mission to improve SUSD’s library selections.
“We appreciate the hard work and dedication of the teachers in SUSD and are excited to support them in building a freer society by providing materials to enhance critical thinking skills, knowledge of free market economy and entrepreneurship, and increasing proficiency in the history of our country,” said Ford. “Our goal at Tuttle Twins is to distribute our books to all schools in the nation and assist in bringing a new culture of liberty for our rising generation.”
“Conservative Circus” radio host James T. Harris also praised the grassroots for taking initiative in improving their schools’ libraries with “positive, wholesome books” that would build up the community and the nation as a whole.
“These parents, they came together, they took this issue into their own hands, and here they are presenting something positive,” said Harris.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
Arizona legislative Republicans are calling on their leadership to send a border-related measure to the voters in November.
On March 28, a group of Arizona House Republicans signed a letter, requesting that Speaker Ben Toma and Senate President Warren Petersen “convene a special committee hearing, whereby Texas-style border security legislation can be promptly advanced and placed on the ballot.”
Arizonans will not have the opportunity to vote on Texas-style border legislation unless leadership takes action. We are calling on them to do just that! pic.twitter.com/sSsXuNp74d
— Rep. Alexander Kolodin (@realAlexKolodin) March 28, 2024
The members wrote that they “stand united with our brothers and sisters in the Senate in this body’s ongoing efforts to curb crimes against our citizens and prevent the ongoing invasion of this state.” They stated their resolve to “no longer allow continued cooperation with criminal international cartels, foreign countries, NGO’s, and the immigration industrial complex to make Arizona their staging ground and open-door funnel to destroy our Republic.”
According to the letter, the Republicans asserted their knowledge that “this Governor will not take action,” adding that Hobbs “has already vetoed several common-sense border security measures,” prompting the desire to act.
The next day, Representative Alexander Kolodin posted an update on his “X” account, sharing that he was “informed that the legislature will be having a ‘border day’ to introduce and hear ballot referrals before the end of session.”
Update, I am informed that the legislature will be having a "border day" to introduce and hear ballot referrals before the end of session! https://t.co/nhgYhrpiPi
— Rep. Alexander Kolodin (@realAlexKolodin) March 29, 2024
Last month, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed SB 1231, the Arizona Border Invasion Act, which was sponsored by Senator Janae Shamp. The bill would have “ma[de] it unlawful for a person who is an alien (unlawful immigrant) to enter Arizona from a foreign nation at any location other than a lawful port of entry and outline[d] penalties for violations of illegally entering Arizona and provide[d] immunity from civil liability and indemnification for state and local government officials, employees and contractors who enforce this prohibition” – according to the purpose from the state Senate.
In her veto letter to Senate President Warren Petersen, Hobbs said, “This bill does not secure our border, will be harmful for communities and businesses in our state, and burdensome for law enforcement personnel and the state judicial system. Further, this bill presents significant constitutional concerns and would be certain to mire the State in costly and protracted litigation.”
Anti-immigrant legislation to score cheap political points has no place in our state. SB1231 does not secure our border. Instead, it demonizes our communities, hurts businesses and farmers, and burdens law enforcement and our judicial system.
— Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) March 5, 2024
Shamp vowed that members of her party would continue to push forward solutions to combat the border crisis, saying, “The Republican-controlled Legislature will continue to prioritize closing our border and providing law enforcement with the tools they need. This veto is a slap in the face to them, Arizona’s victims of border-related crimes, and other citizens who will inevitably feel the wrath of this border invasion in one way, shape, or form at the hands of Hobbs and Biden.”
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs Blocks Senate Republican Bill Protecting Arizonans from Border-Related Crimes pic.twitter.com/pMgyTEiBgX
A Mexican national was sentenced to prison for leading a human smuggling operation.
Last month, U.S. District Judge Scott H. Rash sentenced Martin Garcia-Velazquez to 90 months in federal prison “for his leadership role in a criminal conspiracy to transport and harbor at least 1,000 undocumented noncitizens over several years.” On September 20, 2023, Garcia-Velazquez pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Transport and Harbor Illegal Aliens for Profit.
According to the press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office – District of Arizona, Garcia-Velazquez “admitted that he organized the transportation of undocumented noncitizens from the Mexico border to houses in and around Phoenix.” The announcement also revealed that Homeland Security Investigations agents “seized and forfeited from organization members over $1 million” – in addition to firearms, ammunition, and vehicles.
Garcia-Velazquez is 42 years-old. He comes from San Antonio, Michoacan, Mexico.
Other co-conspirators of the operation have been sentenced in federal court.
The investigation and prosecution resulted from an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation and Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA). The news bulletin from the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that OCDETF “identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.” The Office also shared that JTFA “was established to marshal the investigative and prosecutorial resources of the Department of Justice, in partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, to enhance U.S. enforcement efforts against the most prolific and dangerous human smuggling and trafficking groups operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
A popular “superfan” of the Phoenix Suns and high school basketball coach, “Mr. ORNG,” was arrested on Wednesday on charges of soliciting minors for sexual content.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office revealed that Mr. ORNG, 37-year-old Patrick Battillo, had been arrested following notification to the Peoria Police Department of a sexual offense investigation into Battillo at his alma mater, Peoria High School (PHS), where he served as head coach of the boys basketball team.
The investigation concerned reports that Battillo had solicited minors for sexually explicit photos and videos of themselves. In return, Battillo allegedly offered money to the minors.
Battillo was charged with luring a minor for sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking, both classified as felonies. Luring a minor for sexual exploitation qualifies as a class 3 felony, which carries a prison sentence ranging from two to eight years in prison. Child sex trafficking qualifies as a class 2 felony, which carries a prison sentence ranging from 13 to 27 years for first offenders.
Battillo wasn’t the only one arrested on Wednesday in relation to his alleged crimes. A coworker, 46-year-old Holly Holgate, was arrested on charges of hindering prosecution and failure to report the neglect of a minor. According to a statement from Peoria Unified School District (PUSD), Holgate warned Battillo that police were coming for him so that Battillo could leave the school. Holgate had worked at Peoria High School for over 20 years.
Battillo began coaching at PHS in 2016, starting out as an assistant coach for the varsity team. PUSD indicated that Batillo’s fingerprint and background check came back clear. Holgate’s fingerprint clearance was also up to date.
Holgate was the club sponsor for Jobs For Arizona Graduates, a club helping sophomores and juniors make career transitions. In 2020, Holgate was awarded the “Pride of Peoria” by PUSD for being “a selfless server of students, always willing to go the extra mile, always looking out for all of the interests of the students.”
In a 2022 interview with Cronkite News, Battillo described his players as his family and noted that the boys relied on him for “comfort and guidance.”
“The relationships I have made with current and former players, fans of the Suns and at the NBA level, transcending that and those experiences of my relationships with those people to the relationship I have with my athletes, all comes full circle,” said Battillo.
Battillo said that he felt it was his duty as a coach to make men out of his players.
“Life is bigger than basketball, and all of it comes full circle,” said Battillo. “How you treat others, how you develop each other specifically at the high school level, how you develop these young men into men during this crucial transition in their life.”
As of this report, his verified X account, @PHXMRORNG, and Instagram account, @mrorng, were still active.
Battillo gained a fan following over a decade ago for showing up to Suns games with his body and hair painted entirely orange and decked out in team merchandise. His popularity would afford him opportunities to lead on a number of fundraisers and charity events over the years.
In addition to coaching PHS basketball, Battillo co-hosted the Inferno podcast through Bleav Sports. Battillo received an educational doctorate from Grand Canyon University (GCU) in 2022.
Battillo was regularly invited to speak at various schools around the Valley. His latest speaking engagement occurred last Thursday at Legacy Traditional Schools in Peoria for “ORNG Day.”
A bipartisan bill to expand health care opportunities in Arizona was signed into law.
Last week, Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1021, which would “remove the requirement that health professional groups proposing to increase the scope of practice of a state-regulated health profession must complete a statutory sunrise review” – according to the overview from the Arizona House of Representatives.
SB 1021, sponsored by Senator @TJShope, was signed into law!
The bill was sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore T.J. Shope, who released a statement to mark the occasion after the governor’s action. He wrote, “Thank you Governor Hobbs for signing my SB 1021! When President Warren Petersen named me his Chair of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, I set out to bring more health care options to underserved communities and this bill will help by eliminating an unnecessary process that only served to enable a protectionist and non-free market point of view in healthcare delivery. Together, with over two-thirds of my colleagues in both chambers, we have broken that barrier!”
Thank you @GovernorHobbs for signing my SB1021 (Scope of Practice; Process; Repeal)! When President @votewarren named me his Chair of the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, I set out to bring more health care options to underserved communities and this bill will help by… pic.twitter.com/mfyIuxDFb4
Shope thanked his colleagues who had assisted in supporting the proposal – Senators Shamp and Burch and Representatives Montenegro and Hernandez. He said that “we made a great team on this!”
Shamp responded to Shope’s post on “X,” saying, “Honored to be your Vice Chair and to work on good policy for the betterment of Arizonans!”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Chiropractic Defense Federation, Arizona Retailers Association, Arizona Dental Hygienists’ Association, Arizona Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Barry Goldwater Institute for Public Policy, Arizona Pharmacy Association, Arizona Optometric Association, Arizona Oral Health Coalition, and Collision Chiropractic, all endorsed the bill. Representatives from the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association, Arizona Society of Anesthesiologists, Maricopa County Medical Society, Arizona Ophthalmological Society, Arizona Medical Association, And the Arizona Chapter American College Emergency Physicians indicated their opposition to the bill.
The Arizona Medical Association had asked Governor Hobbs to veto the bill after it was sent to her desk. In a letter from almost two dozen health care organizations, the coalition informed Hobbs that “approving SB 1021 has the potential to endanger patient safety and will not advance the delivery of healthcare in Arizona.” They added that “this bill will further complicate healthcare licensing decisions by removing transparency and replacing it with lobbyist influence.”
ArMA and 19 other healthcare organizations are asking @GovernorHobbs to veto Senate Bill 1021, which seeks to repeal the Sunrise Review, a pro-patient protection against inappropriate scope of practice expansions. #SB1021 threatens patient safety by removing the requirement for… pic.twitter.com/wWSKfsuVOT
— Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) (@ArizonaMedicine) April 1, 2024
In February, the Arizona Senate had approved the legislation with a 24-4 vote (with two members not voting). After the bill was transmitted to the Arizona House, it was passed at the end of March with a 40-13 vote (with six members not voting and one seat vacant).
Jenna Bentley with the Goldwater Institute cheered on the governor’s signature. She said, “With SB 1021 now law, Arizona has removed an unnecessary burden on healthcare professionals wishing to practice at the top of their training, while still ensuring that bills are vetted by the full legislature.”
SIGNED! With SB1021 now law, Arizona has removed an unnecessary burden on healthcare professionals wishing to practice at the top of their training, while still ensuring that bills are vetted by the full legislature. @TJShope@GoldwaterInsthttps://t.co/c4aCekELbg
