A Phoenix-based group of Teamsters is celebrating the Arizona State House Judiciary Committee’s passage of a bill to protect transit workers.
House Bill 2742 aims to protect transit, airline, and rail workers by significantly increasing the criminal penalty for assaulting them. It has bipartisan support and the endorsement of many transit, airline, and rail employers.
Teamsters Local 104, which represents 1,400 transportation workers across all industries in the Grand Canyon state, said the bill’s progress through the state House is a step in the right direction toward keeping transportation workers safe.
“The advancement of this bill for our members marks another significant step toward acknowledging the severity of crimes committed against transportation workers,” Karla Schumann, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 104, said in a news release. “This legislation directly confronts the critical issue of aggravated assault against transit, airline, and rail employees, underscoring the inherent dangers they encounter daily while serving the public.”
Schumann thanked Rep. Consuelo Hernandez, a Democrat, for sponsoring the bill. Hernandez, who has served as president of the Sunnyside Union School District School Board and worked as district manager of major accounts with ADP, is a member of the Transportation Committee.
“We express our deepest appreciation to Representative Consuelo Hernandez for her leadership and dedication in introducing HB2742, and to the Arizona State House Judiciary Committee for recognizing the urgency of this issue and for swiftly passing this important legislation out of committee,” Schumann said.
Local 104 members joined other transit workers in sharing their personal experiences of violence in their workplaces at the Capitol prior to the bill’s passage. Reported experiences included being struck with fire extinguishers, rocks, hammers, knives, and closed fists.
“State legislators must now pass this bill and have it signed into law as soon as possible,” Schumann said. “Local 104 will continue to advocate for legislation that safeguards our transportation members, ensuring they can perform their duties without fear of violence or harm.”
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
The Goldwater Institute is suing the Biden administration for fining Grand Canyon University for $37 million without explanation.
The U.S. Department of Education assessed a record fine of $37 million against the private, Christian university in October 2023. This marks the largest fine of its kind ever assessed by the department.
The Goldwater Institute, a Phoenix-based conservative think tank, is suing the administration to get answers about the fine and hold the government accountable.
Fines on universities who have improperly dealt with sexual assault pale in comparison to those levied against GCU. The Department of Education fined Penn State University only $2.4 million for failing to report the crimes of serial pedophile Jerry Sandusky. Michigan State University was fined a mere $4.5 million fine for refusing to address sexual assaults committed by athletic director Larry Nassar, who abused more than 500 students.
The Education Department claimed to fine GCU for insufficiently informing P.h.D students that they may have to take continuing courses while completing their doctoral dissertations. The federal government report did not cite any student’s complaints, and Education Department personnel did not visit GCU as part of its so-called investigation.
The Goldwater Institute submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the department to gain clarity on the fine against GCU.
“The records may help inform the public about this extraordinary fine, as well as coordination between various federal agencies in what appears to be the intentionally targeting of a successful university—one that’s no stranger to run-ins with the feds—based on extraordinarily thin allegations,” a Goldwater news release says.
The Department of Education refused to turn over these public records, the think tank said, so it is suing the agency in federal court to get them anyway.
“With its motto of ‘private, Christian, affordable’ and its track record of graduating students into high-demand and high-paying jobs, GCU is a success story by any metric,” Goldwater Institute staff attorney Stacy Skankey said. “And it stands apart from universities across the country that are facing declining enrollment, that are indoctrinating students with radical politics, and that are under attack for failing to defend the First Amendment.”
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that the Goldwater Institute was founded by Barry Goldwater. The story has been corrected.
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
The Arizona Legislature is working to strengthen parental rights in the state.
Earlier this month, the State House of Representatives passed HB 2183, which “entitles parents with the right to receive from a healthcare entity equivalent access to any electronic portal or other healthcare delivery platform for their minor child,” according to the overview from the chamber. The bill, which was sponsored by Representative Julie Willoughby, received bipartisan support on the floor, garnering a vote of 32-25 (with three seats vacant).
✅FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE✅ Arizona House Protects Parental Access to Minor Children’s Medical Records Online
“Arizona’s parents’ bill of rights safeguards parents’ ability to make healthcare decisions for their minor children,” said State Representative @JWilloughbyAZ, sponsor of… pic.twitter.com/q8YemrJVbI
In a statement after the House vote, Representative Willoughby said, “As healthcare delivery evolves, patients have increasingly varied avenues to access and communicate with healthcare providers. Yet, I’ve heard from parents who have been denied the ability to access their child’s medical records through an online patient portal. These portals are essential for parents to manage the care of their children, enabling them to contact pediatricians and specialists, schedule appointments, and refill prescriptions.”
Willoughby added, “Arizona’s parents’ bill of rights safeguards parents’ ability to make healthcare decisions for their minor children. My bill expands upon this protection, guaranteeing parents’ equal access to healthcare delivery platforms like online medical portals to care for their minor children.”
Before arriving on the floor for a vote from the whole chamber, HB 2183 was approved by the House Committee on Health and Human Services in January, with a partisan 6-4 vote.
HB 2183 was co-sponsored by Representatives Biasiucci, Bliss, Carter, Cook, Dunn, Gillette, Kolodin, Nguyen, Peña, and Speaker Toma.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, Christine Accurso and a representative from the Center for Arizona Policy signed in support of the proposal. Representatives from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, American Civil Liberties Union of AZ, AZ Public Health Association, Children’s Action Alliance, Arizona Center for Women’s Advancement, NARAL Pro-choice America, National Council of Jewish Women Arizona, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Stonewall Democrats of Arizona, and Human Rights Campaign registered their opposition to the bill. Additionally, representatives from the Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Health System Alliance of Arizona noted their organization’s neutrality on the legislation.
The bill now awaits action in the Arizona Senate.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The gender support plan, filled out by school staff, caregivers, and students, allows schools to hide students’ identification as transgender from their parents.
The purpose of the document is to “create shared understandings about the ways in which the student’s authentic gender will be accounted for and supported at school.”
The district’s plan to support a minor’s transgender status despite parent support or knowledge appears to be in direct violation of the Arizona Parents’ Bill of Rights, which states that parents have the “right to make all health care decisions for the minor child.”
The form asks for the name the student uses, the name on their birth certificate, their gender identity, and so-called assigned sex at birth.
The “Parent/Guardian Involvement” section on the form measures parent knowledge of their child’s “gender status.” The form asks if parents are aware of the child’s gender status, then offers a scale of 1 to 10 to denote the student’s parents’ level of support.
“If support level is low, what considerations must be accounted for in implementing this plan?” the form asks.
The “Student Safety” section of the form establishes a “go to adult” at the child’s school, and asks “if this person is not available, what should the student do?”
In the “Privacy: Names, Pronouns and Students Records” section, the plan asks, “How will instances be handled in which the incorrect name or pronoun are used by staff members?”
The document asks for the “name/gender marker” on the student’s identity documents and entered into the Student Information System, as well as the name and pronouns to be used when referring to the student.
The form asks about what adjustments need to be made to protect the student’s privacy and who will be the point person for ensuring the adjustments are made.
Scottsdale also uses the document to denote what bathroom the student will use and where they will change clothes, demonstrating that the district would allow biological male students to share rooms, bathrooms, and changing rooms with females.
“What are the expectations regarding rooming for any overnight trip?” the form asks.
The district, which educates 22,000 students, also suggests that biological male student athletes would be allowed to play in girls’ sports.
“In what extracurricular activities or programs will the student be participating (sports, theater, clubs, etc.)?” asks Scottsdale Unified School District.
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
Another lawmaker has been appointed to serve in the Arizona Legislature.
On Wednesday, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors appointed Charles Lucking to serve in Legislative District 5, filling a vacancy from former legislator Amish Shah. According to a press release from the Arizona House Democrats, Lucking is a fourth-generation Arizona native who is employed by Community Legal Services.
Lucking said, “I’m very excited and honored to be representing LD 5 in the legislature. Arizona is facing a mountain of very complex challenges, such as our housing crisis. I’m eager to get started doing the hard work as a servant of the people to implement real solutions for all Arizonans.”
Bill Gates, the District 3 Supervisor on the Maricopa County Board wrote, “Charles Lucking is not only a long-time resident of LD-5, he is also a fifth generation Arizonan with a deep commitment to serving his community. When interviewing him, it was clear that he will be laser-focused on creating more affordable housing and addressing the budget deficit head on.”
Arizona House Democratic Leader Lupe Contreras added, “With the appointment of Charles Lucking, Arizona and our caucus has gained a passionate champion who is committed to use his legal expertise to address pressing social issues, including the housing crisis and environmental conservation. Deep roots and unwavering dedication to service, advocacy, and community empowerment will make Representative Lucking an impactful addition to our caucus.”
On Monday, the Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus announced that President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Ben Toma had filed a lawsuit against the Biden Administration’s “unlawful, dictator-style land grab last summer in northern Arizona.” The challenge, which “attempts to reverse Biden’s confiscation of nearly a million acres of land within Coconino and Mohave Counties,” was launched in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: President @votewarren Leads Coalition in Legal Battle Against Joe Biden's Unlawful, Dictator-Style Land Grab in Arizona
Back in August 2023, President Joe Biden visited Arizona to establish the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. In his signed proclamation, Biden stated, “Protecting the areas to the northeast, northwest, and south of the Grand Canyon will preserve an important spiritual, cultural, prehistoric, and historic legacy; maintain a diverse array of natural and scientific resources; and help ensure that the prehistoric, historic, and scientific value of the areas endures for the benefit of all Americans.”
“This federal confiscation promises to wreak havoc on our local and state economies, jeopardize the livelihoods of our citizens, and compromise national security, all in an attempt to score cheap political points with radical environmentalists,” said President Petersen. “Biden’s maneuver is incredibly disingenuous, as it has nothing to do with protecting actual artifacts. Instead, it aims to halt all mining, ranching, and other local uses of federal lands that are critical to our energy independence from adversary foreign nations, our food supply, and the strength of our economy.”
Petersen highlighted the lack of defense against Biden’s executive overreach from the state’s Democrat attorney general, which has been a common refrain from legislative Republicans over the past few months. He said, “Needless to say, I’m incredibly disappointed our Attorney General has once again failed to carry out the duties of her office in defending our state against this reckless federal overreach and is instead showing her complicity with Biden’s extremist agenda. Nonetheless, we look forward to prevailing in court and for the president’s abuse of power to be reined in.”
Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee, another Republican, also joined in the lawsuit. According to a press release sent from her office, Yee signed on “as she is responsible for the receipt and investment of all revenue from Arizona state trust land.”
I am suing the Biden Administration for violation of the Antiquities Act. Biden's unlawful land grab will directly affect our economy and the livelihoods of our citizens by devaluing state trust lands. It must be stopped.
— Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee (@AZTreasurerYee) February 12, 2024
In a statement that accompanied her announcement, Yee said, “We must protect the value of state trust lands for the future of Arizona. This unlawful land grab by the Biden Administration will directly affect Arizona’s economy and the livelihoods of our citizens. The Federal Government needs to compensate the permanent school fund for the tens of thousands of trust land parcels left economically isolated by the stroke of the pen by President Biden. This big hand of government will hurt our K-12 education beneficiaries the most.”
Yee added, “The suit affirms that Congress passed the Antiquities Act to protect just that: antiquities. It did not pass the law to allow the Biden Administration to declare every inch of federal land a monument.”
Mohave County and the towns of Colorado City and Fredonia also joined the Arizona Legislature and the Treasurer’s Office in the lawsuit.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
