by Ethan Faverino | Aug 20, 2025 | Education, News
By Ethan Faverino |
In a unanimous decision, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has dismissed its lawsuit against Grand Canyon University (GCU) and its CEO, Brian Mueller, bringing an end to years of coordinated lawfare by former Biden administration officials targeting the university.
The lawsuit, previously dismissed by the United States District Court of Arizona on jurisdictional grounds, was fully resolved through a joint Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice.
FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, joined by Commissioners Melissa Holyoak and Mark Meador, issued a statement citing recent developments that influenced the decision.
The statement reads:
“This case, which we inherited from the previous administration, was filed nearly two years ago and has suffered losses in two motions to dismiss. These losses are compounded by recent events: Grand Canyon secured a victory over the Department of Education in a related matter before the Ninth Circuit; the Department of Education rescinded a massive fine levied on related grounds; and the Internal Revenue Service confirmed that Grand Canyon University is properly claiming 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation designation. In its reduced form, this case presents consumers very little upside relative to the cost of pursuing it to completion, especially given the developments chronicled above. We view it as imprudent to continue expending Commission resources on a lost cause. Because we have a duty to maximize consumers’ return on their tax-dollars investment, we have decided against pursuing this matter any further.”
GCU President Brian Mueller expressed gratitude for the FTC’s objective review, noting that multiple agencies and courts have consistently ruled in GCU’s favor.
“They threw everything they had at us for four years, and yet, despite every unjust accusation leveled against us, we have not only survived but have continued to thrive as a university,” President Mueller said. “That is a testament, first and foremost, to the strength and dedication of our faculty, staff, students, and their families. Above all, it speaks to our unwavering belief that the truth would ultimately prevail.”
The FTC lawsuit was part of a broader, coordinated campaign by former Biden administration officials, including the Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to target GCU with duplicative investigations and lawsuits.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 20, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
On National Nonprofit Day, August 17, the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) urged nonprofit organizations across the state to check whether they had unclaimed property waiting to be recovered.
ADOR officials noted that many nonprofits may not have realized they were entitled to unclaimed assets such as forgotten bank accounts, uncashed checks, or insurance proceeds. Recovering those funds, the department emphasized, could provide a valuable boost to organizations that serve Arizona communities.
“Every dollar returned to a nonprofit is a dollar that can support the essential work they perform,” the agency stated.
The search process is free, simple, and takes only a few minutes. Nonprofits are encouraged to visit ADOR’s unclaimed property website at azdor.gov/unclaimed-property to see if funds are available. Organizations can search by their nonprofit name and any states in which they operated. Claim forms and filing instructions were also available online. Nonprofits were also encouraged to use the nationwide database missingmoney.com for a broader search.
ADOR says the effort aims to help nonprofits reconnect with resources that belong to them, strengthening their ability to continue providing services across Arizona.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 19, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona businesses are taking on some of the nation’s largest loans, according to a new study that analyzed Small Business Administration (SBA) lending data from 2021 through 2024.
The report, compiled by Fleysher Law Bankruptcy & Debt Attorneys, found that companies in Arizona borrowed an average of $699,343 per loan, placing the state sixth highest nationwide. In total, 5,293 SBA loans worth more than $3.7 billion were approved in Arizona during the study period.
Georgia topped the list, with businesses borrowing an average of $795,216 per loan across 8,099 approvals, amounting to $6.4 billion. Texas and California followed, averaging $770,887 and $765,968 per loan respectively. California led all states in both total approvals (31,610) and overall loan value ($24.2 billion).
Other high-borrowing states included Alaska ($725,285), North Carolina ($722,981), Louisiana ($663,950), Nevada ($647,991), Alabama ($637,609), and Utah ($630,412). Maine ranked lowest, with businesses averaging just $272,290 per loan.
The study highlights wide regional differences in borrowing patterns, particularly with Southern states recording higher average loans. Analysts note that while large loans may suggest increased financial obligations, they are often a sign of investment rather than distress.
“This data shows clear differences in how businesses across the country access financing,” a spokesperson from Fleysher Law said. “Though large loans mean that the company needs money, it doesn’t automatically signal financial trouble. Many businesses borrow for working capital, equipment purchases, or product development.”
The report reviewed three types of SBA loans:
- 7(a) Loans, which provide flexible funding for a variety of business needs.
- 504 Loans, designed for fixed assets such as real estate, buildings, or large equipment.
- Microloans, offering up to $50,000 for smaller businesses or startups.
The findings underscore how companies across the U.S. are leveraging federal loan programs to finance operations and growth. With economic pressures continuing, access to capital remains a critical factor in business sustainability.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Aug 19, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Following a post on X mourning the reported buyouts of Arizona Republic writers and reporters, Arizona Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes received a harsh rebuke for her participation in a 2000 stock trading scandal. Mayes acknowledged being a party in a 2003 article after resigning from the newspaper.
In her August 13th post, Mayes wrote, “The buyouts at the Arizona Republic are devastating. Losing legendary reporters like @maryjpitzl means less accountability and less transparency for the public. And it’s bad news for democracy. As a former Republic reporter it breaks my heart to see the state of the paper today.“
Brian Anderson, Founder of the Saguaro Group and Arizona Capitol Oversight, quoted the post from Mayes the following day. His post included a newspaper clipping dating to the 2003 Arizona Republic story that revealed Mayes’ participation in purchasing stock from Central Newspapers Inc. (CNI) shortly before the sale of the Arizona Republic to Gannett Co., Inc.. The stock trade netted the then-beat reporter approximately $5,000, according to Mayes.
Anderson wrote, “When @KrisMayes was a ‘journo’ at @azcentral, she was investigated for insider trading and then suddenly resigned.”
According to a 2022 article in the Republic, when the scandal came to light again in Mayes’ campaign for the AG Office, the Democrat defended the purchase of CNI stock. No charges against Mayes or the other nine members of the Republic newsroom were brought at the time.
However, as the Republic noted, a letter to readers in the newspaper in 2000 from then-Executive Editor Pam Johnson announced the scandal, informing readers that 10 of its “newsroom staff” were flagged by the company after purchasing CNI stock through their 401(k) accounts.
Johnson, who passed away at the age of 74 in 2021, openly chided her staffers, including Mayes, for violating the Republic’s ethics policy. She wrote, “Republic journalists should never attempt to gain from information the general public does not have access to.”
She told readers:
“In this case, we investigated all of those involved and concluded that no one had what securities regulators would consider ‘insider information.’ That is to say, they had no concrete evidence that the company was going to be put up for sale. And therefore, there were no legal implications. They acted on gossip. Still, they heard or saw things that the general public couldn’t.”
“Many of our staff members heard or saw those same things and did not act. As one said: ‘I didn’t know if it was illegal, but I knew it wasn’t right.’ We agree,” she added.
According to AZCentral, the punishments handed down in the incident included suspensions without pay for four supervisors and formal letters placed in the personnel files of six reporters, including Mayes. The Attorney General has maintained that her subsequent resignation was planned in advance so that she could attend law school.
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 18, 2025 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) marks the most transformative overhaul of federal tax policy since the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
The OBBBA locks in the TCJA’s individual tax provisions, avoiding a tax increase for approximately 62% of tax filers in 2026, according to the Tax Foundation.
The group’s recent analysis also shows that the law will reduce federal taxes for individual taxpayers in every state, with an average national tax cut of $3,752 per taxpayer in 2026.
The economic impact is equally as big, with 938,000 new full-time equivalent jobs created over the long term, including 132,000 in California, 81,000 in Texas, and down to 1,800 in Vermont.
In Arizona, the Tax Foundation says that the OBBBA will deliver an average tax cut of $3,521 per taxpayer in 2026, providing relief to families and individuals across the state.
Maricopa County will see an average tax cut of $4,049 per taxpayer in 2026, driven by key provisions like:
- Income Tax Rate Cuts and Bracket Changes: $1,613 in savings per taxpayer.
- Standard Deduction Expansion: $821 in savings
- Child Tax Credit Expansion: $630 in savings
- Tip and Overtime Deductions: $50 and $229 in savings
- Business Provisions: $1,321 in savings
Other counties in the state will see major tax cuts in 2026, including Coconino County, with $3,096, Yavapai County, with $3,066, Greenlee County, with $3,011, Pima County, with $2,781, and Pinal County, with $2,553.
The Tax Foundation also projects that Arizona will gain approximately 18,014 full-time equivalent jobs in the long run, boosting local economies and supporting communities across the state.
OBBBA’s long-term outlook remains strong, with average tax cuts projected to dip to $2,505 in 2030 due to the expiration of temporary provisions like the tip and overtime deductions, before rising to $3,301 by 2035 as inflation enhances the value of permanent cuts.
Arizona’s business-friendly provisions, such as permanent 100% bonus depreciation and research and development (R&D) expense, will continue to drive investment and job creation.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 18, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Pittsburgh-based autonomous trucking company Aurora Innovation Inc. has officially opened a terminal in Phoenix, marking a significant step in the company’s efforts to expand its commercial footprint beyond Texas.
The newly operational site supports driverless freight runs, including nighttime operations, and is part of Aurora’s strategy to scale its autonomous vehicle network across the southwestern United States. The company confirmed that the Phoenix terminal opened in June and is already servicing commercial routes for two of its key partners: Hirschbach Motor Lines and Werner Enterprises.
This development follows Aurora’s earlier announcement, reported last fall, that it would extend its existing autonomous freight corridor — which previously connected Fort Worth and El Paso — to include Phoenix. The move marks Aurora’s first expansion outside of Texas and signals growing confidence in its driverless trucking technology.
While Aurora declined to provide the terminal’s exact location, a company spokesperson said it is situated a few miles from the Loop 202 and Interstate 10 interchange in Phoenix — a strategic logistics hub for commercial transport. Details on staffing at the terminal, including how many employees are currently working on site or whether they are permanently based in Arizona, were not disclosed.
The expansion comes as Aurora and its competitors in the self-driving freight sector race to commercialize their technology at scale. With rising demand for long-haul freight solutions and persistent driver shortages, autonomous trucking is increasingly being positioned as a critical innovation in the logistics industry.
Aurora has not yet announced additional expansion locations, but its continued growth outside of Texas suggests a broader national rollout may be on the horizon.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
