by Ethan Faverino | Aug 28, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the U.S. House of Representatives reauthorized the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) through December 31, 2028, and enacted its largest-ever expansion.
This act broadens eligibility to include new populations, such as Northern Arizona counties and additional uranium workers, while continuing support for those affected by the U.S. nuclear weapons program.
The expanded RECA provides a one-time, lump-sum payment of up to $100,000 to qualifying individuals or their survivors, offering critical restitution for those who developed serious illnesses due to radiation exposure.
Representative Eli Crane (AZ-02) announced that the reauthorized act now covers individuals in Coconino, Yavapai, Navajo, Apache, Gila, and Mohave counties in Arizona affected between January 1951 and November 1962, as well as uranium workers employed in covered occupations from January 1, 1942, to December 31, 1990.
The program also extends to onsite participants of nuclear tests and those impacted by the Manhattan Project waste.
RECA provides a non-adversarial alternative to litigation, requiring no proof of causation. Claimants qualify by demonstrating a compensable disease and presence in a designated area or occupation during specified periods.
The program, administered by the Department of Justice, is designed to resolve claims efficiently, using existing records to minimize administrative costs for both claimants and the government.
The four qualifying categories are Downwinders, onsite participants, uranium workers, and Manhattan Project waste victims.
Downwinders are individuals who developed certain cancers after radiation exposure from U.S. nuclear tests between 1944 and 1962.
The program now includes several Arizona counties along with eligible areas in Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada.
To qualify, individuals must have lived in one of the areas during a specific time period and have been diagnosed with a compensable disease such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, or certain primary cancers.
On-site participants were individuals present at U.S. atmospheric nuclear tests before January 1, 1963, and later developed a compensable disease.
Uranium workers also receive compensation for individuals employed in uranium mining, milling, core drilling, ore transport, or remediation efforts in mines or mills located in Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota, Washington, Utah, Idaho, North Dakota, Oregon, or Texas between January 1, 1942, and December 31, 1990.
To qualify, uranium workers must have been employed for at least one year during the time period and been diagnosed with a compensable disease such as lung cancer, pulmonary fibrosis, silicosis, pneumoconiosis, cor pulmonale related to lung fibrosis, or renal cancers.
Lastly, Manhattan Project waste victims get compensation for individuals exposed to Manhattan Project waste in designated areas of Missouri, Tennessee, Alaska, and Kentucky.
To qualify, individuals must have lived, worked, or attended school for at least two years after January 1, 1949, in designated zip codes and have a compensable disease.
The expanded Radiation Exposure Compensation Act delivers long-overdue justice, honoring those whose lives were forever changed by radiation exposure.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Aug 27, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Former University of Arizona (U of A) ethics professor Daniel Grossenbach is suing the school with the help of Liberty Counsel, after being fired for publicly advocating for his parental rights at Catalina Foothills School District (CFSD) meetings.
Grossenbach, a CFSD parent and resident, is the founding member of ‘Save CFSD,’ a “non-profit organization focused on educating parents about school board policies and issues and fundamental parental rights.” According to the lawsuit, he was “unceremoniously terminated” by U of A leaders, “at the demands of internet trolls’ intent on silencing his speech.”
In a press release issued Friday, Liberty Counsel announced the lawsuit on Grossenbach’s behalf. The Christian legal ministry explained, “In 2023, Grossenbach spoke several times at school board meetings, which [were] attended by hundreds of concerned parents, and delivered two-to-three-minute, pre-written speeches. He routinely included a disclaimer that he spoke for himself and not for his employer, and expressed without hate, slander, or violence how the district’s policies violated parental rights.
“The lawsuit then states that ‘anti-religious zealots turned digital critics’ coordinated over social media to silence Grossenbach and SaveCFSD by getting him fired from his job. Subsequently, numerous anonymous complaints were filed against him with the University of Arizona encouraging the university to discipline him for speaking out about his rights and beliefs.”
Liberty Counsel revealed, “In November 2023, the university informed him that it would not be renewing his part-time teaching contract for the following Spring ethics courses citing it had received funding for a full-time faculty member. However, the university never hired a full-time professor nor offered his ethics course the following Spring. In fact, the university posted advertisements soliciting resumes for additional part-time professors meeting Grossenbach’s exact skills and experience to teach similar courses he had been teaching for years.”
The attorneys argue that despite Grossenbach’s good performance and positive reputation, U of A terminated his employment “after discovering that he was an outspoken Christian advocating for change within his local school board to protect his family.” They claim the university subsequently stalled the disclosure of public records regarding his termination for 239 days in violation of Arizona law.
“[The University of Arizona’s] actions have inflicted irreparable damage to Professor Grossenbach’s professional career and reputation, ended his academic pursuit of a doctorate degree, decreased his earning potential, and reduced his income,” wrote Liberty Counsel. “Further, when Professor Grossenbach was terminated, he lost a potential textbook publishing deal, furthering his financial loss and reputational damage.”
According to the lawsuit, Grossenbach was terminated on November 30, 2024, after serving in his role for over three years “on the basis of complaints lodged by anonymous online censors targeting his constitutionally protected speech regarding his sincerely held religious beliefs, in his private capacity, separate and apart from the workplace.”
The professor filed a charge of discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and obtained a Notice of Right to Sue on May 25, 2025.
“Professors at public universities and colleges do not shed their constitutional rights to free speech and religious exercise when they work for a university,” said Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver. “Professor Daniel Grossenbach engaged in constitutionally protected speech, religious expression, and religious exercise and was speaking on matters of public concern regarding his faith, morality, and the community. The University of Arizona cannot fire a professor for his protected speech. Viewpoint discrimination is unlawful and violates the First Amendment and religious discrimination violates Title VII.”
Liberty Counsel is seeking a permanent injunction to declare the university’s Nondiscriminatory and Anti-Harassment Policy and Statement of Professional Conduct illegal and unlawful, along with compelling U of A “to reasonably accommodate the religious beliefs and practices of its employees.” The lawsuit also asks the court to reinstate Grossenbach to his former position, restore his benefits, and award damages.
Grossenbach’s efforts with ‘Save CFSD’ and exposure of controversial whistleblower audio released in May have been reported on by AZ Free News. The Professor also penned an op-ed on AZ Free News in October 2024 discussing his termination.
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 Ethan Faverino | Aug 27, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The U.S. Border Patrol’s Yuma Sector has established a National Defense Area within its area of operations to boost security along the southern border and address illegal cross-border activities.
The designated zone, neighboring the Roosevelt Reservation along the Barry M. Goldwater Range and the Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge, aims to enhance border protection and mitigate environmental damage caused by illicit activities.
The National Defense Area authorizes military personnel to temporarily detain individuals who unlawfully enter the restricted zone.
Detainees will be transferred to U.S. Border Patrol agents and may face criminal charges for violating defense property regulations, unauthorized entry onto military property, and illegal entry, in addition to removal proceedings.
Clear signage has been posted throughout the National Defense Area to warn that unauthorized entry is prohibited under federal regulations.
The signage reads:
“WARNING
RESTRICTED AREA:
This Department of Defense property has been declared a restricted area by authority of the commander in accordance with the provisions of the directive issued by the Secretary of Defense, pursuant to the provisions of Section 21, Internal Security Act of 1950.
UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY IS PROHIBITED
All persons and vehicles entering herein may be detained and searched. Photographing or making notes, drawings, maps, or graphic representations of the area or its activities are prohibited unless specifically authorized by the commander. Any such material found in the possession of unauthorized persons will be confiscated.”
This initiative mirrors similar National Defense Areas established in Texas and New Mexico, designed to curb illicit drug and human smuggling while reducing environmental degradation caused by cross-border foot traffic, litter, and vehicle activity.
The Yuma Sector’s National Defense Area demonstrates a continued commitment to defend the southern border, protecting national security, and preserving the region’s natural resources.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Aug 26, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Joseph Sanberg, co-founder of Aspiration Partners and a prominent California Democrat who has donated to Gov. Gavin Newsom, pleaded guilty Thursday to two counts of wire fraud. Sanberg, who launched the company with former Arizona Democratic Chairman and CD1 Congressional candidate Andrei Cherny in 2013, faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison per count for “defrauding multiple investors and lenders” in a carbon credit purchasing scheme.
According to the Department of Justice, Sanberg, “devised a scheme to use his role as a co-founder and board member of Aspiration as well as his shares of company stock to defraud various lenders and investors.”
All told, Sanberg pleaded guilty to attempting to bilk investors of as much as $2 billion, the company’s proposed valuation. The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation.
From 2020-21, Sanberg and fellow board member Ibrahim Al Husseini “fraudulently obtained $145 million in loans from two lenders by pledging shares of Sanberg’s Aspiration stock.” The two subsequently falsified Al Husseini’s bank and brokerage statements to inflate his assets by tens of millions of dollars for the purpose of securing loans.
Cherny left the company in mid-October 2022, according to Forbes, following “a rift” that developed between him and Sanberg and a failed attempt to take the company public. At the time of his departure as CEO, the fraudulent activity had been ongoing for approximately two years.
The SEC complaint revealed a text message from Sanberg to Cherny in 2020 in which he said, “If you don’t get me the money tomorrow we are all f…ed. Get me the money. Your turn to figure it out like I have for so long. Wire it to the [Sanberg-entity] account. If you don’t then [the lender] will foreclose. This will give you a good taste of what I have to experience every day. I hate you and I hate this company and I don’t want to work anymore with you [ ]. You are so oblivious to what you’ve forced me to have to do.”
“This is a case about greed and abuse of trust,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “Today’s guilty plea is a direct result of the commitment by the FBI and our law enforcement partners to hold those accountable who set out to defraud victims and undermine our financial system. The FBI will continue to work with our partners to ensure this kind of malicious behavior is investigated and stopped.”
When the investigation was launched by the Justice Department and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission following a 2021 ProPublica investigation, Cherny, deep in his failed campaign to unseat Rep. David Schweikert, defended his work at Aspiration. Cherny told ProPublica that only 12 million of the 35 million “cumulative total of to-be planted trees” had been planted at that time, noting the turnaround on a new planting was about 18 months.
“I have spent more than 25 years working to combat the climate crisis and am proud of the work I did to promote cutting-edge solutions at Aspiration,” Cherny said. “The carbon removal credit industry is an emerging industry and deserves to be regulated and scrutinized to ensure it is as effective as possible.”
He added, “I have no knowledge whatsoever of any wrongdoing at Aspiration and will fully cooperate with this inquiry.”
According to the SEC complaint, “To make it appear as though Aspiration’s business was rapidly growing, Sanberg recruited friends, associates, small businesses, and religious organizations and presented them to Aspiration as bona fide customers who were fully committed to paying large sums of money for the tree-planting services.”
The complaint continued, “Through his fraud, Sanberg raised more than $300 million from investors who falsely believed Aspiration had a thriving environmental sustainability services business.”
“The defendant didn’t just bend the truth, he built a business on a lie to boost the company’s value and line his own pockets,” said Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group. “The Postal Inspection Service will go after this kind of calculated deception. No matter who you are, you will be brought to justice.”
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 | Aug 26, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona’s labor market continued to struggle in July, losing nearly 5,000 jobs and marking the state’s third consecutive month of employment decline, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The state shed 4,900 nonfarm jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis last month, a 0.15% decrease that ranked Arizona 46th among all states in monthly job growth. Since April, the state has lost a total of 23,400 jobs—the steepest decline in both raw numbers and percentage change of any state in the nation.
Nationally, employment also slipped, falling 0.12% in July. Twenty-one states reported job losses.
On a year-over-year basis, Arizona gained 29,600 jobs, a 0.9% increase that puts the state roughly in line with the national average of 1.0%. But the pace of growth has slowed sharply compared to recent years. So far in 2025, Arizona has added just 5,200 jobs—an average of 743 per month. Between 2022 and 2024, monthly job growth averaged more than 5,300.
Economists say the state remains well below its pre-pandemic trajectory. Arizona now has about 254,400 fewer workers than it would have had if its 2017–2019 growth trend had continued. At the current pace, the gap is unlikely to close.
The state’s mining and logging industry was the strongest performer, adding 1,400 jobs in July and growing nearly 10% over the past year. Analysts credit federal policy shifts and rising demand for U.S.-sourced raw materials like copper and uranium for the sector’s continued momentum.
By contrast, manufacturing continued to contract, losing 1,100 jobs last month and more than 3,000 over the past year—a 1.6% decline. Nationwide, the sector has also struggled, with 29 states reporting year-over-year manufacturing job losses. Leisure and hospitality posted the steepest monthly decline in Arizona, down 0.9% in July.
Arizona’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1%, holding steady for the fifth straight month. The labor force participation rate also stayed flat at 61.4%. By comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate ticked up to 4.2% in July, while the national participation rate edged down to 62.2%. Both Arizona and the nation remain below pre-pandemic participation levels.
Wages showed modest improvement. Average hourly earnings in Arizona increased by 10 cents in July to $34.79, a 0.29% rise that ranked 18th among all states. Over the past 12 months, wages in the state climbed 4.9%, outpacing the national average of 3.9%. Adjusted for inflation, real wages in Arizona are up 4% compared to just 1.1% nationwide.
Still, long-term wage trends tell a different story. Since April 2020, inflation-adjusted pay in Arizona has fallen 4.1%.
The report also underscored concerns about the reliability of monthly employment estimates. June’s figures were revised downward sharply—from a reported loss of 8,400 jobs to a revised loss of 15,200. That revision ranked as the seventh largest adjustment among all states.
Economists caution that declining survey response rates and lingering disruptions from the pandemic have increased volatility in state-level labor data, making short-term trends harder to interpret.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Aug 26, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman David Schweikert (AZ-01) introduced the Cybercrime Marque and Reprisal Authorization Act of 2025 (H.R.4988).
This legislative measure is to counter the rising tide of foreign cyberattacks targeting American citizens and infrastructure.
The bill, referred to the Committee of Foreign Affairs, revives Congress’s constitutional authority under Article 1, Section 8, Clause 11 to issue letters of marque and reprisal, empowering the President to commission private cyber operators to disrupt foreign criminal enterprises engaged in cybercrimes. The legislation comes in response to alarming data from the FBI’s 2024 Internet Crime Report, which recorded 859,532 complaints of suspected internet crime, with reported losses exceeding $16 billion— a 33% increase from 2023.
The top cybercrimes included phishing/spoofing, extortion, and personal data breaches, with investment fraud involving cryptocurrency leading to over $6.5 billion in losses.
Americans over 60 were hit hardest, suffering nearly $5 billion in damages.
California, Texas, and Florida reported the highest number of complaints, with many attacks traced to state-linked “scam-farms” in nations like Myanmar and North Korea. Continuing into 2025, Arizonans 60-69 have already lost $12.5 million in the first quarter alone, due to fraud.
Congressman Schweikert stated, “Criminal syndicates backed by foreign governments are using cyberspace to prey on American seniors, steal intellectual property, and undermine national security. Our current tools are failing to keep pace. This legislation allows us to effectively engage these criminals and bring accountability and restitution to the digital battlefield by leveraging the same constitutional mechanism that once helped secure our nation’s maritime interests.”
H.R. 4988 authorizes the President to issue letters of marque and reprisal to private entities, enabling them to target individuals or foreign government-linked enterprises involved in cybercrimes such as fraud, ransomware, cryptocurrency theft, identity theft, and unauthorized access to computers or sensitive data.
These operations, conducted under strict federal oversight and requiring security bonds to ensure compliance, aim to seize assets and disrupt criminal activities outside U.S. borders.
The bill defines cybercrimes broadly, covering offenses like accessing a computer without authorization (to obtain national security information, to obtain personally identifiable information, to engage in fraud, or to transmit a program, code, or command), trafficking in passwords without authorization, pig butchering scam, ransomware attack, cryptocurrency theft, or identity theft.
Congressman Schweikert added, “Americans deserve protection from digital predators who exploit outdated laws and hide in foreign jurisdictions. This proposal harnesses innovation and constitutional authority to respond to the modern crisis of cybercrime.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
