Members of the 11th Air Task Force (ATF) returned home to Arizona on Dec. 17, 2025, concluding the unit’s first deployment in support of operations and integration efforts in the Indo-Pacific region, just in time for Christmas.
Christmas came early for families, friends, and members of the 355th Wing as Airmen arrived at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base after a nearly six-month deployment to the Pacific, including missions in Saipan, the Republic of Korea, and Guam, according to the U.S. Air Force.
The 11th ATF was the first U.S. Air Force (USAF) task force activated and deployed under a broader effort to create more agile, mission-ready Air Task Force units as part of force modernization and operational flexibility. Airmen from multiple bases comprised the task force, though those assigned to Davis-Monthan were among the last to return home.
The 11th Air Task Force deployed to support exercise Freedom Shield 25 in the Korean 🇰🇷 Peninsula.🛡️
The task force provided command & control & base operating support-integration using the Agile Combat Employment model. 🛫
Upon arrival in Arizona, Davis-Monthan leadership, base support personnel, fellow Airmen, family members, and friends greeted the returning service members. During the welcome home events, Airmen reunited with loved ones and were recognized for successfully completing the extended deployment.
Col. Brett Cassidy, commander of the 11th ATF, said the deployment challenged Airmen to embrace mission-ready concepts and demonstrated the unit’s capability to adapt and succeed amid dynamic mission requirements. The task force’s early return also allowed many Airmen to spend the holiday season with their families.
“The 11th ATF team performed exceptionally throughout this entire deployment,” Cassidy said in the USAF release.
“Our mission changed while we were out here, and that’s actually a good thing, because it allowed us to demonstrate our ability to adjust on the fly. That’s not typically something we get to see on deployment. It was phenomenal watching the Airmen adjust as the mission changed to achieve success. The biggest lesson from this time was that if you set up the team with the proper authorities and capabilities, and you let them train as a team so they come together and understand one another, they’re incredibly capable of getting after dynamic missions. We saw that out here, and it was a huge success for the Air Force.”
Established in July 2024 as one of six task forces across the Air Force, the 11th ATF was activated to provide rapidly deployable, integrated forces capable of contingency response and mission generation. Its inaugural deployment was billed as a milestone in testing the task force model, which emphasizes cohesive unit training and operational employment.
👀Look around the @usairforce! The 11th Air Task Force is the first #ATF to deploy during Exercise Resolute Force Pacific, and the #EOD Robot Depth-Perception System improves safety, speed and precision during high-stakes missions. #OneAFMCpic.twitter.com/cvHQZHY4Li
The return of the 11th Air Task Force highlights the evolving structure of U.S. Air Force deployments. It underscores Davis-Monthan AFB’s role as a key hub in Arizona for agile force generation and global operations.
The federal government has watched over the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) for well over a decade.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors says it’s no longer warranted.
The board filed a motion with the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona to cease federal oversight of MCSO.
Chairman Thomas Galvin explained in a video announcing the court filing that the MCSO has not had an issue with racial profiling for years — the allegation at the heart of Melendres v. Arpaio which resulted in a federal court ruling against MCSO.
“After 14 years, four sheriffs, and hundreds of millions of spent tax dollars, it is essential to defend taxpayer money if federal oversight is no longer warranted,” said Galvin.
The county has spent over $300 million to comply with federal court orders; over $30 million in fees on a court-appointed monitor. That means every year, the county has spent around $25 million for federal oversight.
The Melendres case was a class action complaint alleging racially motivated detentions under former MCSO Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Under Arpaio, law enforcement would conduct sweeps targeting individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants, often in areas where day laborers abounded. The lead plaintiff in the class action complaint, Ortega Melendres, was detained despite having lawful presence. Other plaintiffs alleged they were stopped and questioned by law enforcement because they were Latino.
Galvin said the MCSO is “100 percent in compliance” with court-ordered policy changes, and has no evidence of ongoing civil rights violations.
The motion cited results from multiple periodic reviews, such as the Traffic Study Annual Reports from the last two years which found “no statistically significant differences between white drivers and [Hispanic drivers].”
The motion argued that MCSO hasn’t been able to devote full energy to public safety and “countless” other priorities due to the significant diversion of resources required to fund federal oversight.
“MCSO’s current practices do not violate federal law. But continued federal oversight diverts resources that could be used to serve the people of Maricopa County,” stated the motion. “It also upsets the democratic process and America’s federalist structure by making local officials accountable to a federal court — based on the conduct of a former Sheriff who has been out of office for eight years.”
Chairman Galvin characterized the county’s petition as a defense of federalism by restoring the power of accountability to voters.
“All that’s left to enforce are matters unrelated to discriminatory policing which should be left to the sheriff who was elected by you: the Maricopa County residents,” said Galvin. “In our federalist system, elected officials are accountable to voters.”
In a separate statement, Galvin said the MCSO was a “completely different agency” than when the Melendres ruling was handed down nearly 15 years ago.
“The voters held the responsible parties accountable and voted them out. Since then, MCSO disbanded immigration-related units, implemented new policies and anti-bias trainings, and is a law enforcement agency we can be proud of. Further federal oversight is unnecessary and only serves to divert taxpayer dollars away from true public safety needs,” said Galvin.
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U.S. Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) introduced the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act, bipartisan legislation to enhance one of the nation’s most effective and unique border security programs, the Shadow Wolves
The Shadow Wolves are an elite, all Native-American unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactical agents who specialize in tracking and interdicting drug smuggling and human trafficking across tribal lands along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Operating primarily on the Tohono O’odham Nation in Arizona since the 1970s, the unit’s members use ancestral tracking techniques combined with modern law enforcement training to patrol some of the most remote and challenging terrain on the southern border.
“For decades, the Shadow Wolves have played an essential role in supporting border security and strengthening relationships between DHS and tribal communities,” said Congressman Ciscomani. “Arizona has led the way on this program since the beginning, and this bill helps ensure the Shadow Wolves can continue their mission for years to come.”
A 2024 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report highlighted chronic staffing shortages within the program due to retirements and recruiting challenges under the current “expected service” hiring structure. The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act directly addresses these issues by authorizing ICE to convert Shadow Wolves positions to the “competitive service,” a change recommended by both GAO and ICE leadership.
This reform will open broader recruitment pools, improve retention through enhanced benefits and promotion opportunities, and enable expansion of the program to additional border-adjacent tribal nations experiencing high levels of illicit cross-border activity.
The legislation has gotten strong support from tribal leaders and Native American law enforcement organizations:
Jaime Azure, Chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, said, “Public Safety, particularly drug and human trafficking, continues to plague Indian Country. These issues are uniquely difficult for tribal communities, like the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, who are located along the U.S. northern border. The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act is an additional tool within the law enforcement toolbox that will help. The Tribe appreciates U.S. Representatives Juan Ciscomani and Tom Suozzi for introducing this important legislation and urges its swift passage in the House of Representatives.”
Gary Edwards, Chief Executive Officer of the National Native American Law Enforcement Association, said, “The National Native American Law Enforcement Association (NNALEA) strongly supports the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act. Native Americans play a key role in protecting the U.S. borders and National Security. This bill is a positive step forward in giving Indian Country Law Enforcement the recognition and support they deserve.”
Verlon Jose, Chairman of the Tohono O’odham Nation, said, “The Shadow Wolves, an all-Native American tracking and investigative unit, have decades of experience protecting the Tohono O’odham Nation and our border. Their unique skill set and deep knowledge of the land are invaluable to law enforcement efforts to interdict drugs and human smuggling on our reservation. The Tohono O’odham Nation strongly supports the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act, which will improve retention and recruitment of Shadow Wolves agents, and support the Nation’s vital role in protecting our land.”
A companion bill in the Senate (S.572), led by Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), has already advanced through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee with strong bipartisan backing.
“Working in a bipartisan way, we’re giving ICE the tools it needs to hire and retain these highly specialized agents, expand the program to additional tribal lands, and bolster efforts to combat drug trafficking along our southern border. This is common-sense legislation that strengthens security and honors the history and contributions of the Shadow Wolves,” concluded Ciscomani.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Phoenix City Council approved several ordinances that will hold the homeless accountable for crimes committed in public parks and spaces.
The council approved ordinances prohibiting certain behaviors most often done by the homeless.
One ordinance puts more restrictions on public parks: no more entering areas closed to the public, drinking liquor, smoking, bathing, or obstructing guests or amenities.
Park rangers or police officers will be allowed to issue a trespass notice lasting one year, and the court may impose community restitution, education, or treatment programs.
Council member Anna Hernandez was the sole “no” vote on the ordinance.
Hernandez said she “needed to take [the council] to church” on the issue. She called the ordinance “shameful, racist, ineffective policy.”
“This is a huge step in aligning our city in Trump’s war on homelessness. We need more beds [and support services], not more criminalization,” said Hernandez.
Parks and Recreation Director Cynthia Aguilar clarified this ordinance was about aligning park code of conduct with city ordinances — not a new effort to criminalize behaviors, or target the homeless specifically.
“The consequences or the penalties that exist already existed prior to this when it comes to the ordinances, but there were clarifications in where that language was placed,” said Aguilar.
The council also approved, unanimously, an ordinance increasing the punishment for remaining on road medians and obstructing traffic. Rather than requiring law enforcement to give a warning for the first violation, law enforcement may issue a civil traffic offense amounting to a class one misdemeanor.
By far the most controversial ordinance passed prohibits the public provision of medical care or treatment, sale or exchange of needles and syringes, and the sale or distribution of harm reduction, or drug usage, kits. First responders, family members, individuals rendering aid during an emergency, and administration or distribution of naloxone are exempt.
Parks and Recreation Director Cynthia Aguilar cited the need for the ordinance to address “safety, potential harm, and [bio]hazard [concerns]” for park users.
Again, Hernandez was the sole “no” vote on the ordinance.
Opponents to the ordinances said they amounted to “criminalization” of poverty and “fascism.” They argued the city had a duty to address the underlying causes of unlawful behaviors by the homeless and provide alternatives, such as more public showers, rather than holding them accountable for their crimes.
Supporters of the ordinances testified to the dangers posed by the transients, especially to the children: bathing publicly in the nude, open-air drug usage, discarding drug paraphernalia, dealing drugs, blocking traffic, and harboring dogs that roam unleashed in public spaces and roadways.
State Senator Lauren Kuby (D-LD8), speaking on behalf of constituents and “mutual aid groups” claimed the behaviors that would be punished were actually constitutionally protected activities. Kuby also argued that it was “basic human behavior” for the homeless to bathe in public.
“Phoenix parks are not just recreational spaces. Under the Constitution, they are traditional public forums — places where people gather, speak, assemble, pray, protest, and exist in public life,” said Kuby.
State Representative Mariana Sandoval (D-LD23) and Senator Analise Ortiz (R-LD24) issued a joint letter criticizing the ordinances as “criminalizing poverty” that would cost taxpayers more without reducing crime or overdoses.
Council member Betty Guardado implied that families in affected neighborhoods should use their “means” to go elsewhere to enjoy public spaces and have their children play.
Council member Jim Waring criticized the opponents of the ordinances as supportive of preserving currently dangerous environments.
“Some of you are clapping. You think you’re on the side of truth and justice. Well, I’ve got some bad news: you’re not. You’re wrecking it for the rest of these people who are also paying taxes. When do we start thinking about them?” asked Waring.
Waring also criticized the hands-off approach to the homeless. He expressed a desire for the homeless to be made to accept services to get off the street and cease drug usage in public.
“We spend a fortune on the homeless — way more than we used to,” said Waring. “You guys think the homeless should just take over the parks and do whatever they want.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
U.S. consumer price inflation slowed more than expected in November, with the latest official data showing a notable drop in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and core inflation. This key measure strips out food and energy costs, according to an update released Thursday by the Joint Economic Committee (JEC).
The headline Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), a broad measure of prices consumers pay for everyday goods and services, rose only 2.7% from November 2024 to November 2025, below the roughly 3.0% economists had expected. This marks one of the lowest readings in 2025, signaling a potential easing of inflationary pressures.
Core CPI, a measure that excludes volatile food and energy prices, also fell to 2.63% year-over-year, its lowest reading since March 2021.
Between September and November, the headline CPI increased modestly by 0.20%, while core inflation edged up by 0.16% over the same period, indicating that prices rose only slightly in recent months, even after volatility is adjusted for.
The data showed a mixed picture for specific sectors:
Food price inflation was 2.65% year-over-year, a decline of roughly 0.46 percentage points from September.
Energy price inflation rose 4.24% year-over-year, up about 1.39 percentage points from September.
Regionally, the Northeast saw the highest inflation rate between September and November at 3.1%, while the West and Midwest tied at 3.0%. The South recorded the lowest inflation at 2.2%, down from 2.7% in the September report.
In addition to prices, the JEC noted improvements in real wages during the most recent two-month period. Inflation-adjusted earnings for private nonfarm workers showed that weekly earnings rose 0.66% and hourly earnings rose 0.35%, suggesting that wage growth modestly outpaced price gains through November.
In a post to X on Thursday, the White House highlighted the slowed inflation and the pace of wage increases, writing, “President Trump is turning the economy around—pulling it back from the brink & setting the stage for a HISTORIC BOOM.”
President Trump is turning the economy around—pulling it back from the brink & setting the stage for a HISTORIC BOOM.
✅ Bringing high prices down ✅ Wages rising faster than inflation ✅ 100% of new jobs to American-born workers ✅ Gas prices ⬇️
Economists have cautioned that some of the recent inflation slowdown reflected in official figures may be affected by data collection challenges earlier this year. Independent reporting highlights that federal data gathering was disrupted by a prolonged government shutdown, which prevented the Bureau of Labor Statistics from compiling October CPI data and may have altered how price changes were measured, according to Reuters.
Nonetheless, both headline and core measures show inflation moving closer to longer-term targets, a development policymakers and markets will be watching closely as the Federal Reserve, Congress, and Trump Administration consider their next steps in 2026.
Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) introduced legislation Thursday requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deliver annual terrorism threat assessments on the hostile use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), citing the rapid spread of drone technology among foreign adversaries and terrorist organizations.
The bill, titled the Detecting and Evaluating Foreign Exploitation of Novel Drones (DEFEND) Act, would amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to strengthen congressional oversight of emerging UAS threats, according to a release from Crane’s office.
Crane’s bill would require DHS to evaluate drone-related risks to the United States, submit a classified annual report to Congress with an unclassified public annex, and provide a briefing within seven days of each report’s submission. The legislation is co-sponsored by members of the House Homeland Security Committee, including several subcommittee chairs.
In a post to X announcing the legislation, Crane wrote, “America must maintain a decisive tactical advantage over our adversaries.”
Today, I introduced the Detecting and Evaluating Foreign Exploitation of Novel Drones (DEFEND) Act.
This legislation would strengthen congressional oversight of emerging drone threats.
According to a release from Crane’s office, the measure is intended to help close an intelligence gap around drone threats and give Congress clearer insight into vulnerabilities in U.S. airspace.
Arizona has growing strategic exposure to unmanned aircraft system threats, given ongoing cartel drone activity along the state’s southern border; the presence of key military installations involved in UAS development and counter-UAS training, including Fort Huachuca, Yuma Proving Ground, Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, and Luke Air Force Base; and the state’s expanding commercial drone testing sector. Federal assessments in recent years have also warned that drones pose increasing risks to critical infrastructure sites, including energy, water, and transportation systems across the United States.
In the release announcing the legislation, Crane said Congress must act to close intelligence blind spots and “maintain tactical advantage over malign actors” seeking to exploit UAS capabilities, citing drone use in recent conflicts overseas.
“The DEFEND Act ensures Congress has the knowledge necessary to effectively allocate resources to defend our homeland. I encourage my colleagues to back this approach to close this intelligence blind spot,” he added.
Per congressional procedure, the bill will be referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security, where co-sponsors sit in leadership positions across the Committee’s oversight and cybersecurity panels.
