by Matthew Holloway | Mar 8, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Mesa police are investigating the fatal shooting of a Mesa mother of seven after identifying an investigator with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office as being involved in the incident.
Authorities say 32-year-old Maria Ernestina Lewis was found with a gunshot wound early on Feb. 28 near Ray Road and Inspirian Parkway in Mesa after officers responded to a welfare check call. Lewis was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Mesa Police Department later identified 47-year-old DuLance Morin, an investigator with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, as being “involved in the shooting,” though authorities have not publicly detailed the exact circumstances of the incident. Police have not confirmed who fired the weapon, as reported by FOX10 Phoenix.
According to investigators, officers were dispatched to the neighborhood after receiving a welfare check call around 2 a.m. When officers arrived, they located Lewis with a gunshot wound outside a residence. She was found on the doorstep of a neighbor’s home, according to local reporting.
“I can confirm DuLance Morin has been employed by the Attorney General’s Office since February 2016,” a spokesman from the Arizona Attorney General’s Office said in a statement on Monday. “He was placed on administrative leave this weekend pending the Mesa Police Department’s investigation.”
Authorities have not announced any arrests or criminal charges in connection with the case, and the investigation remains active. “The Mesa Police Department emphasizes that this remains an active and ongoing investigation,” the department said in a statement to 12 News.
The department added, “Detectives are working to obtain additional evidence through search warrants, reviewing potential surveillance footage from the surrounding area, and awaiting the results of forensic testing and analysis.”
Investigators have not publicly described any relationship between Lewis and Morin or how the two individuals came into contact before the incident. Mesa Police have also not released information about whether a weapon was recovered at the scene or whether any other individuals were involved.
Officials say additional information will be released once the investigation progresses. However, authorities have not announced whether an outside agency will participate in the investigation as of this report.
As of the latest update from Mesa police, the case remains under active investigation, and authorities have not provided a timeline for additional information.
Lewis is survived by her husband and seven children. According to FOX10 Phoenix, Lewis’ family has called for prosecutors to pursue a murder charge. The outlet also reported that relatives said blood-stained tiles were removed from the scene hours after the shooting.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact the Mesa Police Department.
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 Matthew Holloway | Mar 8, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
In a 42–14 bipartisan vote on Monday, the Arizona House approved House Concurrent Resolution 2005 (HCR 2005), a proposed constitutional amendment requiring the Legislature to adjourn its regular session no later than April 30 each year.
HCR 2005, was sponsored by State Representative Justin Wilmeth (R-LD2) and proposes amending Article IV, Part 2, Section 3 of the Arizona Constitution to establish a firm adjournment deadline for legislative sessions. Under the measure, the Legislature would continue to convene annually on the second Monday of January but would be required to adjourn sine die by April 30.
The resolution was passed by the Arizona House and transmitted to the Arizona State Senate for consideration.
Under current practice, Arizona’s regular legislative sessions traditionally begin in January and are expected to conclude within approximately 100 days. However, sessions have frequently extended well beyond that timeframe in recent years, often continuing into late spring or summer.
According to the sponsor, the proposal is intended to restore a predictable schedule consistent with Arizona’s model of a citizen legislature.
“A part-time Legislature should act like one,” Wilmeth said in a statement. “When sessions drag into June, priorities are delayed, and decisions are delayed. Arizonans expect us to pass a budget on time and finish our work. The House vote shows bipartisan support for a firm deadline. April 30 is reasonable, and we should meet it.”
The measure preserves the governor’s authority to call special sessions when necessary. Under Arizona law, special sessions must be limited to the subjects specified in the governor’s call.
If approved by the Senate, the proposed constitutional amendment would be placed on the ballot at the next general election, allowing Arizona voters to decide whether to adopt the April 30 adjournment deadline.
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 Staff Reporter | Mar 8, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A retirement community in Eloy had its water rates raised significantly through a recent Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) vote.
The ACC approved the rate increases narrowly, 3-2, during its meeting on Wednesday. Commissioners Kevin Thompson and Lea Marquez Peterson voted against the rate increases.
Marquez Peterson said the utility companies should have done more to conduct public outreach prior to engaging in the rate increase process.
“We received many public comments concerning the dramatic rate increase though an increase was certainly expected from a utility who hadn’t filed a rate case in over 25 years. I believe that more could have been done to promote gradualism in the sewer rate case,” said Marquez Peterson.
Picacho Water and Picacho Sewer Company serve the retirement community Robson Ranch, located south of Casa Grande. The community has historically enjoyed low water and sewer rates due mainly to subsidization from the developer behind the community, Robson Companies. The developer absorbed the cost of increased expenses rather than pass them onto the residents.
The rate increases would result in increases of just shy of $7 for water and $65 for sewer, for a combined increase of about $76. No rate changes have occurred since the 1990s. For years, residents paid an average of about $30 per month for water and $42 per month for sewer services.
ACC declined to impose a phased increase of rates.
Commissioner Thompson said that was where the rate increase plan lost his vote.
“For decades, the developer chose to operate the water utility at a loss. No one disputes that the new owner is entitled to recover lost revenues and earn a reasonable profit on those investments,” said Thompson. “But rate increases should adhere to principles of gradualism, and as a regulator, I felt I had a duty to advocate for a resolution that strikes an appropriate balance between all parties and not subject these ratepayers to the consequences of business decisions that were no fault of their own.”
The decision to adjust utility rates after nearly 30 years came after another company, JW Water, acquired both companies from Robson Companies in 2024.
Robson Ranch residents spoke out against the rate increases during Wednesday’s meeting. They accused JW Water of seeking to maximize shareholder return.
The residents also blamed Robson Companies for covering increased expenses rather than passing the cost along to the customers. Residents said they had no knowledge their rates were being subsidized all those years; they said low rates were marketed as a perk of buying within the community.
Jay Shapiro, speaking on behalf of Picacho Water and Picacho Sewer during the meeting, said the rate case was “difficult for everybody involved” and that no one would be happy with the final results.
Shapiro denied exploitation of customers. He argued the longstanding rates were no longer recovering the cost of service. He said the rates were “just and reasonable,” and not a result of “price gouging” to benefit foreign investors. Shapiro accused critics of the rate increases of conducting a smear campaign.
“Rate shock was inevitable — rate shock sure sucks,” said Shapiro. “It’s an unintended consequence of some rate filings.”
Chairman Nick Myers agreed with JW Water that these rate increases were a necessity for services provided, not a means of making up for lost profits.
“Though I personally would prefer not to approve rate increases, we have a constitutional duty as Commissioners to set just and reasonable rates,” said Myers.
Vice Chair Rachel Walden concurred.
“JW Water is NOT recovering revenue losses over the course of the past 25+ years, nor are they recovering the purchase price of the utilities,” said Walden. “This rate case is ONLY about setting rates to cover the cost of service. I put forth a verbal amendment that was supported in full to ensure that future growth will pay for itself.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Mar 7, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
More is coming to light about the handling of unaccompanied alien children under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Approximately 450,000 unaccompanied alien children were smuggled into the country under the Biden administration and placed with sponsors.
On Tuesday, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem testified to the Senate Judiciary Committee that an investigation into the Biden administration found that they paid individuals to act as sponsors for unaccompanied alien children, with the knowledge that those individuals were traffickers.
“So, under that administration, we not only had children that were in this country as a part of a [government] program, [but the] government was paying individuals that were knowingly trafficking them and abusing them. That has stopped,” said Noem.
Noem said their agency has located about 145,000 unaccompanied alien children. Last December, that number was just over 129,000.
Throughout mid-to-late 2024, the Biden administration denied claims that their administration had lost track of over 300,000 unaccompanied alien children. These claims stemmed from a DHS report issued in August 2024. Officials at the time said the lack of knowledge concerning these children’s whereabouts didn’t mean the children were missing.
Last March, the Trump administration announced the discovery of a backlog of over 65,000 reports regarding unaccompanied alien children who came into the country under the Biden administration. By July, HHS processed over 59,000 of those reports; over 4,000 investigative leads on crime emerged from these reports, including for fraud and human trafficking.
Last November, the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) issued a report on Biden administration data from 2021 and 2022 revealing Health and Human Services (HHS) lost contact and couldn’t determine the safety status of nearly half of all unaccompanied alien children transferred into sponsor custody. CIS is engaged in multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits against HHS to obtain more data on these unaccompanied alien minors under the Biden administration.
That same month, ICE launched an initiative to partner with state and local law enforcement to conduct welfare checks on unaccompanied alien children. DHS asserts that “many” of these unaccompanied alien children were placed with smugglers and sex traffickers acting as sponsors.
Last summer, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ02) participated in a House Committee on Homeland Security hearing on the Biden administration’s hotline for unaccompanied alien children. Testimony revealed the Biden administration assigned one staffer to man the hotline. There was no information to be found about the number of hours that lone staffer worked.
Ali Hopper, president and founder of GUARD Against Trafficking, alleged in her testimony that from August 2023 to January 2025, 65,000 calls alleging neglect and abuse went unanswered on that hotline.
Approximately one dozen pregnant unaccompanied alien children have been housed in one Texas facility dedicated to their case type since last summer. At least half became pregnant as a result of rape, according to unnamed officials who contacted Texas Public Radio. The youngest among those children are 13.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Mar 7, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
In a display of strong bipartisan support, the Arizona Senate unanimously advanced legislation designed to crack down on deed fraud and better protect property owners statewide.
On Tuesday, the Senate passed SB 1479, sponsored by Majority Whip Frank Carroll (R-LD28), and sent the measure to the House for further consideration.
With deed fraud schemes growing more complex and repeatedly targeting vulnerable homeowners, lawmakers are acting to close dangerous loopholes in Arizona’s real estate recording system.
The bill updates statutes to improve identity verification, increase transparency, and impose stricter penalties on those who exploit the system for fraudulent purposes.
SB 1479 requires individuals submitting deeds or related documents in person at a county recorder’s office to present valid photo identification, with exemptions provided for trusted entities such as escrow officers, title insurance agents, banks, credit unions, active members of the State Bar of Arizona, and governmental entities. Recorders may note identification details in the system, but are prohibited from retaining copies of the identification, and this information remains non-public and exempt from disclosure.
“Property ownership is one of the most basic rights Arizonans have, and protecting that right should never be controversial,” stated Carroll. “When criminals can forge documents, quietly transfer property, or exploit weak safeguards, it puts families, seniors, and small businesses at real risk of losing what they worked their entire lives to build.”
The legislation also directs county assessors to establish a voluntary notification system by January 1, 2027, enabling property owners to opt in for prompt alerts—via email, text message, or similar means—whenever changes are made to ownership or mailing address information.
Additionally, the bill strengthens affidavit requirements for deeds and contracts transferring title by requiring the inclusion of mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and optional contact details such as email addresses for buyers and sellers.
For high-risk real property documents—including deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, and power of attorney affecting real property—notaries must obtain a thumbprint in their journal, with exceptions for foreclosure-related trustee’s deeds, releases, and certain compliant remote notarizations that include retained audiovisual recordings for at least seven years.
The measure repeals outdated provisions, increases penalties for recording forged documents, and makes clear that property fraud carries serious criminal consequences.
“This legislation restores trust in our system by strengthening identity verification, improving transparency, and holding bad actors accountable,” added Carroll. “The unanimous vote shows that protecting property owners isn’t partisan—it’s common sense. Arizona is sending a clear message that we will stand with rightful owners and will not allow fraudsters to game the system.”
As concerns over property scams continue to rise across the state, SB 1479 represents a proactive effort to ensure Arizona’s recording processes prioritize legitimate owners and deter fraud at every stage.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Mar 7, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Senate lawmakers passed legislation on Monday that would explicitly prohibit the use of Sharia law in state courts, a proposal supporters say clarifies existing statutes governing the application of foreign law in judicial proceedings.
The measure, Arizona Senate Bill 1018, would amend Arizona law to specify that the definition of “foreign law” includes Sharia law, the religious legal tradition associated with Islam.
Under current Arizona law, state courts are prohibited from enforcing foreign laws when doing so would violate the U.S. Constitution, the Arizona Constitution, or state statutes.
SB 1018 would revise that framework by explicitly naming Sharia law within the statute governing the application of foreign law in state courts and by expanding the definition to include any legal system outside U.S. federal or Arizona law.
Supporters of the proposal say the measure is intended to clarify that religious or foreign legal codes cannot override constitutional protections in Arizona courts.
The legislation was introduced by State Sen. Janae Shamp (R-LD29) and passed the Senate floor in a 17-12 vote after receiving committee approval.
Opponents say the bill singles out a specific religious legal tradition and could stigmatize Muslim communities in the state. Senate Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan (D-LD18) told AZ Capitol Times that the bill specifically referenced the practices of female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and “domestic violence or spousal abuse that is justified by cultural, religious, or family authority,” stating that they could be considered related to some followers of Islam.
She told the outlet, “So really, what this bill does is it singles out a group of people, and it singles out a religion for harassment and discrimination merely by the fact that we are talking about this.” She added, “It is targeted discrimination. It is asking for more harassment and discrimination.”
In a statement to the California Globe, Sen. Shamp said, “This bill aims to defend American rights and ensure our legal system remains clear and consistent.”
She explained, “Sharia law is a religious legal system that, in practice, has been used to justify unequal treatment of women, restrictions on free speech, and punishment for religious dissent — all of which conflict directly with the U.S. Constitution. Allowing any foreign or religious law into our courts creates dangerous ambiguity. This legislation sends a strong message: in America, the Constitution takes precedence.”
A broader national trend has seen several states pass laws limiting the use of foreign or religious legal systems in court proceedings over the past decade. Measures prohibiting the application of Sharia law or other foreign legal codes have previously been adopted in 10 other states—Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Washington —according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Arizona already has statutory restrictions on foreign law in judicial decisions, and critics of SB 1018 argue the proposal is largely symbolic because those protections already exist. However, Sen. Hildy Angius (R-LD2) pushed back on the objection, telling the Times, “But that’s not the point,” adding that the bill is designed to address the judicial process after the law has already been broken.
“This amendment addresses whether any external legal system may ever be invoked to justify, excuse, or pressure conduct that violates Arizona law,” Angius said. “Clarifying legal supremacy is not redundant. It is preventative.”
She also rebuked claims that the bill targets the Islamic faith, saying, “Sharia is a legal system. This amendment does not judge faith. It clarifies authority.”
The legislation is continuing through the Arizona Legislature and would require approval by the House of Representatives before being sent to Governor Katie Hobbs for consideration, where its adoption outlook is grim. Since taking office in 2023, Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed more than 390 bills passed by the Republican-led Legislature, more than any governor in Arizona history.
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.
