by Daniel Stefanski | Oct 29, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Two Arizona officials have taken steps to look out for their constituents ahead of the Fall Classic.
On Wednesday, both Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and State Representative Matthew Gress sent out communications about the upcoming World Series. Mayes took time to “warn consumers to be vigilant against World Series scams.” In a statement, Mayes said, “As Arizonans cheer on the Diamondbacks as they head to the World Series, remember to safeguard yourself against curveballs that scam artists may throw your way. Whether you’re purchasing tickets or looking for a place to stay, always remember to step up to the plate with caution. Your vigilance is the best defense against falling victim to fraudsters.”
Gress sent a letter to Governor Katie Hobbs, asking the state’s chief executive “to issue an executive order extending the time for businesses to sell alcohol during the World Series. He said, “Arizona is a state of champions, and the Diamondbacks’ journey to the World Series exemplifies that spirit. By extending service hours, we’re giving fans an extra hour to celebrate and support our local businesses. Let’s come together, have fun, and show the world why Arizona is the place to be.”
The first-term lawmaker based his request to Hobbs on A.R.S. § 4-244(15)(b), “which allows the governor to issue an executive order extending alcohol sales hours for professional or collegiate national sporting events.” He also highlighted the necessity of working with law enforcement officials to implement this request, saying, “We can strike a balance between celebration and responsibility. With input from our dedicated public safety community, we can make this World Series a memorable and safe event for everyone involved.”
In Attorney General Mayes’ consumer protection alert, she gave the following tips to consumers who are looking to purchase tickets or lodging arrangements for the World Series:
Purchasing Tickets
- Buy tickets only from trusted vendors.
- Be wary of purchasing tickets from someone you don’t know on Craigslist, eBay, or other similar person-to-person marketplace or auction sites.
- Do not pay for tickets with cash, wire transfer, gift cards or pre-paid money transfer. Scam artists often request payment methods that are difficult to trace or recover. If the tickets turn out to be fake, it is highly unlikely you will get your money back. If you pay by credit card and the tickets turn out to be fake, you can dispute the charge.
- If you plan on using a mobile wallet or peer-to-peer payment service, be sure you understand the protections the service provides before making a transaction.
- Be wary of advertisements with low prices. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Lodging
- When booking online, be cautious about making reservations with unknown people or businesses. Make sure you receive a written confirmation of your reservation. Legitimate businesses will provide a written confirmation of your reservation.
- Avoid rental companies or individuals listing rental properties who can’t be reached by phone during normal business hours, who tell you that they are out of state or out of country, or who request communication via text only.
- Remember, scam artists often request payment methods that are difficult to trace or recover. If you pay by credit card and there is a problem, you generally have greater protections than other forms of payment.
The World Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Texas Rangers started Friday night. The D-backs are the away team and will host games on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Oct 28, 2023 | Education, News
By Corinne Murdock |
A Mesa High School teacher was placed on leave following an allegation that he dressed up as the devil and chanted “Hail Satan” over his students on Wednesday.
Math teacher Jesse Ruiz, donned in a red shirt and devil horns, allegedly held a pitchfork over his students’ heads and said “Hail Satan.” One student who reportedly took offense to the behavior asked for Ruiz to stop, but Ruiz reportedly refused.
That student’s father, Chris Hamlet — a former Mesa School Board candidate — posted a picture of the incident on X (formerly Twitter).
In a complaint filed with MPS, Hamlet said that Ruiz held the pitchfork over his son’s head and repeated “Hail Satan” even after his son pushed away the pitchfork and asked for the behavior to stop. Hamlet further claimed that Ruiz also “pointed the pitchfork” in his son’s face.
Hamlet also reported that his son also previously endured “an inappropriate conversation” with Ruiz in which the teacher accused his son of homophobia.
“My CHRISTIAN son told [Ruiz] several times not to do that to him and even attempted to push the pitchfork away from his head, but this teacher continued on and did it anyways,” said Hamlet. “This teacher also had an inappropriate conversation with my son and another student a few weeks back and called my son homophobic, because this teacher, is in fact, a homosexual.”
AZ Free News reached out to Mesa Public Schools (MPS) about the matter. A spokesperson informed us that MPS Human Resources began an investigation on Thursday morning after receiving notification of the incident on Wednesday evening. They also informed us that Ruiz was placed on paid administrative leave pending the result of their investigation.
We also reached out to Ruiz for comment on the matter. He didn’t respond by press time.
Ruiz was honored last year as a Pay Tribute to a Teacher winner for KTAR News, earning a $2,500 prize for his creativity in facilitating student learning at his former MPS school, Skyline High School.
“[S]preading the word of physics and math, you know, I know it’s not everyone’s favorite subject, but I love it so much,” said Ruiz. “I think my bubbly personality kind of helps with that.”
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Oct 28, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A new council is renewing a political feud between Arizona’s Democrat Governor and a prominent state senator.
After Governor Katie Hobbs announced that she had established the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) Council and the Disability Community Advisory Council, Senator Jake Hoffman released a blistering statement against her latest action.
Hobbs made her announcement, citing her “commitment to building an Arizona for everyone.” She shared that the DEIA Council, “whose membership will mirror Arizona’s diversity, will work with state agencies to promote equity within the government, as well as deliver fair, community-centered services to traditionally underserved groups.” The governor also stated that the Disability Community Advisory Council would “meet with the Office of Outreach & Engagement and (her) quarterly to exchange the Disability Community’s priorities and keep the communication lines open between us.”
The first-year governor burnished her motivations behind the Councils’ creations, saying, “Diversity is Arizona’s greatest strength, and I’m proud to honor it by assembling these two councils. I look forward to working with them to uplift everyone.”
Senator Hoffman was quick to respond to the governor’s announcement, issuing a press release to accuse Hobbs of breaking Arizona State law with her “latest stunt.” His release pointed to a new Arizona law, A.R.S. 41-1494, which “prohibits this state, or any of its agencies, from using public monies for any training that ‘presents any form of blame or judgment on the basis of race, ethnicity or sex,’ which is a foundational concept of diversity, equity and inclusion theory.”
Hoffman warned Arizonans of the dangers of the expected efforts of this fledgling Council, writing, “I championed legislation in 2021 to prevent exactly what Katie Hobbs is trying to do. Not only may the state not spend any funds on this type of training, but it cannot require state employees to be subject to this type of indoctrination. Taxpayer dollars should never be used for anything other than public good. Diversity, equity, and inclusion training is divisive and racist progressive propaganda. It will harm our good-faith efforts to serve our citizens. It will also harm the culture of a hard work ethic established within our state agencies that rewards individuals based on qualifications, experience, and merit, not skin color.”
The East Valley lawmaker added, “Instead of focusing on the real issues hurting our Arizona citizens, like soaring inflation, outrageous gas prices, a major housing shortage, water security, and a border crisis threatening the safety of our communities, Katie Hobbs is attempting to once again appeal to her radical left supporters by pushing woke garbage down the throats of our public employees through her creation of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Council. This move is an obvious cover for her racist past of not only nominating an antisemitic to lead the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, but also for her wrongful firing of a black state employee that ended up costing Arizona taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.”
The release from Senator Hoffman encouraged State of Arizona government employees to file complaints if they experienced “this propaganda being presented or enforced” in their workplaces. He gave readers the link to the Arizona Ombudsman Citizens’ Aide and his legislative email for their quick references.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Corinne Murdock | Oct 27, 2023 | Education, News
By Corinne Murdock |
The Biden administration has set its sights on the largest private Christian university in the nation: Arizona’s Grand Canyon University (GCU).
For over half a decade the Department of Education (ED) has denied GCU’s IRS-granted nonprofit status. After GCU pushed back with legal action, the Biden administration responded with the full force of bureaucracy: a multi-agency attack to discredit and impose hefty fines on the university.
GCU President Brian Mueller told AZ Free News that ED’s rejection of a university’s IRS designation was new and unprecedented. Mueller maintained that ED offered “inapplicable criteria” for the denial.
The president couldn’t say with certainty whether the true cause of the ED targeting had to do with religious or political differences, but didn’t rule out the possibility.
“It’s obviously something other than the facts at hand,” said Mueller. “Is it because we have 30,000 graduates on an annual basis, where they’re studying from a Christian worldview?”
Although GCU is open about its Christian foundation and teachings, it doesn’t require its students to sign a statement of faith. Mueller estimated that 30 percent of incoming students don’t identify as Christians.
“We’re not a church, we’re a university,” said Mueller. “There’s free speech here. That’s one of the attractive things about us.”
GCU’s ethical positions do put it at odds with the federal government: GCU believes that God created the world and that truth comes from Him; that full personhood begins at the moment of conception and ceases at natural death; and that only the union between a man and a woman qualifies as a marriage.
“Resistance to the state is only appropriate when the state requires disobedience to the commands of God,” states GCU’s position on religious liberty. “Christian faith is a personal matter but the implications of faith in Christ should not and cannot remain private. Anyone who follows Christ in truth should strive to live in the way that Christ lived both in private and in public.”
In a public statement, GCU speculated that the targeting was due to ideological differences between their institution and the federal bureaucracy. GCU offers an education from a Christian worldview to its 30,000-odd graduates annually, though students aren’t required to sign a statement of faith. This year, the university brought in another 26,000 on-campus students and 92,000 online students.
“[W]e believe these agenda-driven actions are unprecedented against a regionally accredited 501(c)(3) designated nonprofit university and GCU categorically denies the claims being brought forth, which lack merit and illustrate extreme government overreach in what we believe is an attempt to harm a university to which individuals in these agencies are ideologically opposed,” said GCU.
ED has rejected GCU’s nonprofit status by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for over five years now. The IRS granted GCU its nonprofit status in July 2018; it took ED until November 2019 to deny the IRS classification, despite 26 other governmental, accrediting, and official entities accepting the nonprofit status including: the Arizona Corporation Commission, Arizona Private Postsecondary Board, Higher Learning Commission (HLC), and the NCAA.
ED maintains that since GCU’s majority revenues go to its former owner — Grand Canyon Education (GCE), a for-profit entity — that it doesn’t qualify as a nonprofit. GCU said that the revenues given to GCE were for education services at fair market value, as reported in investigations by two independent accounting and finance firms shared with the Biden administration.
GCU hasn’t raised its tuition in 15 years.
After GCU spent over a year attempting to resolve the ED denial, it sued the agency in February 2021. The timeline indicates that the lawsuit spurred a coordinated effort between ED, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to target GCU. Several months later, ED launched a multi-year, off-site review of GCU.
Then, in October 2021, the FTC named GCU as one of 70 for-profit institutions on which it would exercise a decades-dormant punitive power: the Penalty Offense Authority (POA). The FTC alleged GCU, among others, to be a “bad actor” engaging in “unfair or deceptive” practices regarding “false promises” of graduate job and earning prospects. Each violation incurs civil penalties of up to about $50,000 (about $43,800 in 2021).
In that October 2021 announcement, the FTC declared their action was a “resurrection” of the POA, in which they would coordinate with ED and VA; the last time the FTC exercised the POA was in 1978.
Under the POA, the FTC may seek civil penalties if it can prove that its target was aware that certain conduct was unfair or deceptive, and that the FTC had previously issued a written decision on the conduct in question.
The three agencies began their investigations into GCU in 2022: the FTC in May, ED in June (regarding doctoral degrees), and VA in October.
One of FTC’s main accusations was that GCU had a disproportionate number of students who defaulted on federal student loans; GCU responded that its students have a lower loan default rate than the national average at nonprofit universities. FTC also accused Grand Canyon Education, GCU’s education services provider, with making inappropriate cold calls to prospective students. GCU maintained that GCE only reaches out to students who contacted them with interest first, never cold calls.
ED alleged that GCU conveyed substantial misrepresentation regarding its doctoral degree cost. In response, GCU cited the recent federal district and appellate rulings in Young v. GCU, which denied similar claims, and their last Higher Learning Commission (HLC) report declaring robust and transparent financial information practices.
“Their recruitment and marketing materials are clear and transparent, and financial information presented to students throughout the student lifecycle is robust,” said HLC. “The information and resources provided are robust and thorough, providing prospective students a clear picture of their academic and financial path toward a degree at GCU.”
GCU also cited its public calculator for the estimated costs for a 60-credit doctoral program and any potential continuation courses needed to complete a doctoral dissertation. ED requires universities to provide cost of attendance estimates for first year in college to first-year, first-time students, and only for undergraduate programs. GCU also reported that it goes beyond that, providing direct cost estimates for each year of the program of the study and for all its degree programs.
ED also disputed that an online student’s posting of a bio on the first day of class didn’t qualify as “academic-related activity.” GCU countered that ED’s Office of General Counsel told GCU in a 2012 written statement that such postings met that requirement, and that no accrediting bodies, nor ED, have questioned that practice previously, including ED’s last program review in 2014, which made no mention of the practice as problematic.
ED claimed that a 2011 rule change preempted the general counsel’s 2012 email to the university. It required GCU to review all student files from July 2014 to June 2021.
Under VA authority, the Arizona Veterans Services State Approving Agency (AZ SAA) told GCU that its advertising on cybersecurity demand was “erroneous, deceptive, or misleading.” Specifically, the AZ SAA took issue with describing cybersecurity experts as being “in high demand” and that all companies “need cybersecurity.”
GCU said that once it refuted the claim, AZ SAA accepted their refutations as true. GCU claimed that the AZ SAA was pressured by the VA to carry out a different type of audit in order to find fault with GCU’s advertising language regarding cybersecurity.
“It is our belief the SAA was unduly influenced by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, in conjunction with other federal agencies, to conduct and carry out a risk-based audit in this manner rather than the audits it has performed in the past in which the University has received stellar reviews,” said GCU.
GCU says it has spent thousands of man hours and millions of dollars in legal fees to fulfill the Biden administration’s requests. It noted that these ongoing costs and potential fines threaten to upend its 15-year freeze on tuition — a major factor for its growth and, as a result, exposure of a Christian worldview-based education to more Americans.
“[B]ecause GCU, like almost all private universities, is dependent on tuition as a primary revenue stream and does not receive state funding like state universities, the university may be forced to raise tuition if the legal fees or fines associated with these actions continue to escalate,” stated the university. “We are, in essence, trying to protect our students from this government overreach.”
Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Oct 27, 2023 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
The Arizona State Board of Education is welcoming a new member.
On Monday, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs appointed Anna Tovar to the State Board of Education.
Tovar is a current member of the Arizona Corporation Commission. She previously served on the Tolleson City Council, including as Vice Mayor before being elected as Mayor. Tovar also served for several years in the Arizona Legislature, where she quickly ascended to leadership for the Democrat Party in both chambers.
“I have been a champion of the public school system my entire career. I started out as a kindergarten teacher in the Tolleson Elementary School District and I believe strong public schools are critical for the future of Arizona,” said Anna Tovar. “I thank Governor Hobbs for the opportunity to serve on the State Board of Education. I am excited to get to work for our students, parents, and educators.”
“Anna’s perspective as an educator and dedicated public servant makes her the ideal person to join the State Board of Education,” said Governor Katie Hobbs. “With her leadership and experience as an educator and mentor, I’m confident that the Board will be well positioned to protect public education and ensure every Arizona student has the tools they need to thrive.”
A spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Education told AZ Free News, “Superintendent Horne is looking forward to having a productive working relationship with Board Member Tovar.”
As the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, Horne is a member of the eleven-person State Board of Education. Other members include Dr. Daniel P. Corr (President), Katherine Haley (Vice President), Jason S. Catanese, Dr. Jacqui Clay, Jennifer Clark, Dr. Scott Hagerman, Julia Meyerson, Karla Phillips-Krivickas, and Dr. Robert C. Robbins.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Oct 26, 2023 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A northern Arizona lawmaker won a major recognition from a Second Amendment organization.
On Monday, the Arizona House announced that State Representative Selina Bliss, a freshman Republican, earned the “Legislator of the Year” Award from the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL).
“I am immensely honored to be recognized by the Arizona Citizens Defense League,” said Representative Bliss. “They are a terrific organization, dedicated to legislative action in support of the Second Amendment. Like them, I believe fervently in safeguarding our citizens’ right to bear arms – a cornerstone of our Constitution. As a state legislator, it is my privilege to work alongside fellow Arizonans in safeguarding and preserving the freedoms that define our great state, and to stand against any attempts to undermine those cherished liberties.”
Representative Bliss wasted no time in coming to the legislature and working to achieve results for her constituents and Arizonans. Bliss introduced HB 2617, which would have “allowed a constable or deputy constable to carry a firearm, both on and off duty and in the same manner as other certified peace officers, if the constable or deputy constable is in compliance with the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (AZPOST) firearms requirements and has fulfilled all other requirements as prescribed.” The first-term legislator told AZ Free News that she had introduced the bill after learning from her own Yavapai County Constable Ron Williams ““that constables and deputy constables are not part of the list in ARS 38-1113, which covers off-duty carry of firearms by peace officers.”
Even though the legislation passed out of the State House with broad bipartisan support on May 15, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed the bill four days later. In the governor’s veto letter to House Speaker Ben Toma, Hobbs said, “I am concerned that this bill would have expanded the authority of constables to carry a gun while off-duty whereby some constables may choose to view themselves as having a ‘duty to respond’ when they are off duty.”
Bliss also scored a recent Second Amendment victory over the City of Phoenix’s donation of hundreds of unclaimed firearms to Ukraine’s national police force, working with Arizona House Judiciary Chairman Quang Nguyen to force the municipality’s leaders to end their efforts and to seek sanctions against its leaders. Both Bliss and Nguyen sent a 1487 complaint to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes over the issue, who issued a subsequent report which concurred that the City’s ordinance had violated multiple state laws. The two lawmakers were then joined by Representative Travis Grantham in sending a letter to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, calling on the prosecutor to “immediately undertake a criminal and civil investigation of City of Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and City Councilmembers for their intentional and flagrant violation of state law in connection with their actions surrounding the City’s Ordinance S-50010.”
According to its website, AzCDL “is a non-profit 501(c)(4), all volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to the principles contained in Article II, Section 2 of the Arizona Constitution that ‘All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.’”
The organization’s goals for Arizona are as follows:
- Freedom to Carry – Restore and protect the right of law-abiding citizens to carry a firearm openly or discreetly anywhere they have a right to be.
- Fewer restrictions on the lawful carrying of firearms on public property (state and local government buildings, parks, etc.).
- Restaurant Carry – The ability of law-abiding citizens to dine out while carrying a firearm.
- Continued strengthening and preservation of the right of presumed innocence in self-defense situations.
- Strong State Preemption – Firearms laws should be consistent throughout the State.
- Liability responsibility for property owners who ban firearms.
- Continued improvements to CCW laws.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
