On Wednesday, the FBI office in Phoenix honored the 64 officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in 2024. Under Director Kash Patel, the FBI has directed public attention to its new special report on those officers’ deaths and the 85,000 assaults on law enforcement reported to the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
The report details the deaths of the 64 officers in both felonious circumstances as well as the 43 killed in accidents. It explained, “Thus far in 2025, 16 officers have been feloniously killed in the line of duty. Firearms were used in 75 percent of the incidents. The leading circumstances surrounding officers’ deaths included activities related to responses to unlawful or suspicious activities (7), pursuits (3), and traffic stops (3).”
The data reveals that most officers were killed in the months of April and August followed by February, July, and September, with the majority being killed in the FBI’s Southern region while responding to unlawful or suspicious activity.
In his remarks before the Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) Conference Thursday, Patel said, “The FBI is committed to honoring fallen officers, supporting their families and colleagues, and relentlessly pursuing those who do them harm.”
In his message for National Police Week, Patel told the nation:
“In my time as director, I’ve made a call to every chief or sheriff whose department has lost an officer to an adversarial action in the line of duty. And although I’ve only been in this position for less than three months, I’ve already made far too many of those calls.
“Every line of duty death is a tragedy for the families who lose a loved one; for the officers who lose a colleague and a friend; and for the communities that lose a faithful protector and guardian of justice. Those losses remind us of the tremendous sacrifice law enforcement officers across the country make to keep the American people safe.
“They go to work every morning knowing there’s a chance they won’t make it home that night that they might be targeted just because they wear the badge, like the 64 officers who were feloniously killed in the line of duty last year and the more than 85,000 others who suffered assaults. But the men and women of law enforcement continue showing up for all of us despite the hardships, the demands and the dangers. They do it because they’ve made a choice to serve and protect their fellow American citizens, and they have no intention of letting us down.”
Patel concluded, “I’m honored and humbled to work alongside those who have dedicated their lives to public service, to having the backs of the American people, and all of us owe them a debt we can never repay. That’s why National Police Week is so important. It’s an opportunity to express our deepest gratitude for those who have taken an oath to protect our communities and pursue justice. And to honor the legacies of those who gave their lives so that others could be safe. The FBI and I are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our partners throughout law enforcement together as we protect our nation.“
Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed SB 1268, a Republican-sponsored measure that aimed to increase transparency around the costs of providing healthcare to illegal immigrants in Arizona’s hospital system. The move drew swift criticism from State Senator Wendy Rogers (R-LD7), who accused the governor of obstructing efforts to ensure fiscal responsibility and protect taxpayer dollars.
The bill, sponsored by Rogers and passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, would have required Arizona hospitals to include a voluntary question on patient intake forms asking individuals to indicate whether they are lawfully present in the United States. According to the bill text, the response would have had no bearing on the care provided and would not have been shared with immigration enforcement agencies. The Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) would then compile annual reports using the data, including the number of non-citizens receiving care through the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), the state’s Medicaid program.
“Our hardworking, law-abiding citizens have a right to know how much of their money is going towards paying for the medical services of those who’ve willfully chosen to break our laws by entering our country illegally,” said Senator Rogers in a statement following the veto. “This legislation would have helped us obtain the data necessary to make informed decisions on how to tackle this problem.”
A 2023 Congressional Budget Office report cited by Rogers estimated that federal and state governments spent approximately $27 billion on Emergency Medicaid for illegal aliens between fiscal years 2017 and 2023.
Supporters of SB 1268 argue that Arizona taxpayers deserve to understand how much of the state’s healthcare budget is being used to treat non-citizens — especially as hospitals report growing strain and long wait times for patients. Rogers emphasized that the intent was not to deny care, but to gather data needed for long-term planning and resource allocation.
This marks the latest in a series of transparency and immigration-related proposals rejected by Hobbs. Her actions have drawn praise from progressive groups but sharp criticism from GOP lawmakers, who argue that the governor is ignoring the concerns of constituents struggling with a strained healthcare system.
“This veto is a slap in the face to Arizona taxpayers who are demanding accountability and transparency,” Rogers said. “Shame on Governor Hobbs.”
As the debate over immigration and healthcare access continues to shape Arizona politics, similar proposals may resurface in future legislative sessions — especially as state lawmakers prepare for the 2026 election cycle, where these issues are expected to be front and center.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Under Senior Advisor of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) Kari Lake, the agency is terminating over 500 contractor roles by June 30th and is continuing efforts to sell its million-square-foot facility in Washington, D.C., despite an ongoing legal challenge.
Lake said in a statement posted to X, “In accordance with President Trump’s executive order dated March 14, we are in the process of rightsizing the agency and reducing the federal bureaucracy to meet administration priorities. We will continue to scale back the bloat at USAGM and make an archaic dinosaur into something worthy of being funded by hardworking Americans.”
She added, “Buckle up. There’s more to come.”
Per usual the fake news only uses part of my comment. Here is my comment in full: "In accordance with President Trump's executive order dated March 14, we are in the process of rightsizing the agency and reducing the federal bureaucracy to meet administration priorities. We will… https://t.co/xTQBAMWKjh
As reported by The Washington Post, the move is opposed by Biden-appointee Voice of America (VOA) Director Michael Abramowitz who told the outlet he is “heartbroken” over the downsizing.
“I find this action inexplicable, and to my knowledge, no rationale has been provided by USAGM for this decision,” he wrote in a statement to the Post. “We will continue to make efforts to help individual PSCs, especially those who face possible return to hostile countries, in any and every way we can during this difficult time.”
According to Lake, a total of 584 employees have been terminated across the board at USAGM including the Office of Cuba Broadcasting. Without specifically stating the breakdown by department, she noted that the majority were from VOA. Many of the terminations will affect different language services under the VOA aegis, and if upheld, could result in the termination of dozens of J-1 visas for foreign-born journalists who would face 30-day deadlines to leave the United States.
Steve Herman, a VOA national correspondent-turned-spokesman for the lawsuits against USAGM, told the outlet, “Among those affected (by the terminations) are J-1 visa holders who will be forced to leave the country in 30 days. Several of these journalists come from countries where they could be arrested or worse because of their objective reporting for VOA.”
As part of a raft of cost-saving measures, Lake announced in early May that One America News Network will provide news-feed services to the network of outlets under the USAGM including the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), Radio Martí, and Voice of America.
🚨ANNOUNCEMENT🚨
"United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is excited to announce a partnership with One America News Network (OAN) to provide newsfeed services to USAGM networks, including Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), Radio Martí, and Voice of America (VOA).
Lake explained at the time, “This idea came about after OCB suggested we explore OAN as a newsfeed option for the Miami-based, U.S. Government-funded news operation broadcasting to Cuba. At their suggestion, I reached out to OAN, and they offered to provide their newsfeed and video service free-of-charge. This is an enormous benefit to the American taxpayer, who is the sole-source of funding for USAGM’s news outlets, which broadcast only to international audiences.”
Lake clarified her USAGM role at the time saying, “In my current role as Senior Advisor to USAGM, I don’t have editorial control over the content of VOA and OCB programming, but I can ensure our outlets have reliable and credible options as they work to craft their reporting and news programs. And every day I look for ways to save American taxpayers money. Bringing in OAN as a video/news source does both. OAN is one of the few family-owned American media networks left in the United States. We are grateful for their generosity.” As previously reported by AZ Free News, Lake announced the cancellation of “obscene over-spending including a nearly quarter-of-a-billion-dollar lease for a Pennsylvania Avenue high-rise that has no broadcasting facilities to meet the needs of the agency and included a $9 million commission to a private real estate agent with connections.”
The sale of the existing headquarters for VOA, in use since 1954, was to take place shortly after the agency moved into the newly leased building by order of former President Biden. However, in addition to canceling that lease, Lake has also begun efforts to sell VOA’s existing studio space, listing the Wilbur J. Cohen Federal Building as “identified for accelerated disposition,” with the U.S. General Services Administration.
In a rare show of near-unanimous bipartisan cooperation, Arizona lawmakers have passed legislation aimed at curbing a new and deadly wave of synthetic opioids sweeping across the state. SB 1622, sponsored by State Senator Carine Werner (R-LD4), chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, was signed into law earlier this week.
The bill adds eight synthetic opioids — including the highly potent drug protonitazene — to Arizona’s list of controlled narcotic substances, aligning state law with current federal drug classifications. These nitazene compounds, originally developed in the 1950s but never approved for medical use, are now being found in counterfeit pills and street drugs sold across the U.S.
“Drug dealers have begun to sell nitazenes in communities across Arizona. These synthetic drugs are considered much more powerful than fentanyl and are now claiming lives across the nation,” Senator Werner said in a statement. “A Scottsdale teen lost his life in 2024 after taking a pill cut with protonitazene, which is three times more potent than fentanyl alone and 150 times stronger than heroin.”
Anyone caught knowingly possessing, manufacturing, transporting, or selling these substances can be charged with a felony ranging from class 4 to class 2, depending on the circumstances. Enhanced penalties and mandatory prison time may apply in certain cases, such as when the drugs are sold near schools or lead to a fatal overdose. The new law takes effect 90 days after the end of the legislative session.
Nitazenes are a relatively new class of synthetic opioids that have been found in drug busts and autopsies across the country in recent years. Unlike fentanyl — which is legally manufactured for medical use and diverted into illegal markets — nitazenes have no approved clinical use and are produced illicitly. Their extreme potency, often hundreds of times stronger than morphine, makes them especially lethal even in trace amounts.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has been issuing warnings about nitazenes since 2021, citing a surge in overdose deaths linked to their presence in counterfeit painkillers and recreational drugs.
According to the CDC, synthetic opioids — primarily fentanyl and its analogues — were involved in nearly 75% of all drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2022. Public health officials warn that nitazenes could become the “next fentanyl” in terms of public danger and scale.
SB 1622 garnered broad support in both chambers of the Arizona Legislature, with members from both parties acknowledging the urgent need to stay ahead of evolving drug trends.
“This bill is about protecting our children and communities from a deadly threat that most people haven’t even heard of yet,” Senator Werner said. “I’m grateful for the support this bill received from both Republicans and Democrats alike.”
As Senator Werner emphasized: “We must take action to prevent unsuspecting victims from senselessly losing their lives to opioid overdoses, and SB 1622 is a step in the right direction.”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Governor Katie Hobbs has another secretive fund, this one used to cover legal expenses.
Hobbs has never disclosed the existence of this fund, which covered the costs of a lawsuit filed against her by former gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake. AZ Capitol Times uncovered and first reported on its existence after discovering a financial report from the parent company of the state’s electric utility giant, Arizona Public Service (APS), disclosing a gift of $100,000 in 2024 to cover Hobbs’ legal expenses.
State law enables Hobbs to maintain this secretive fund; it has for nearly a decade.
APS parent company, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation (PWCC), also gave to Hobbs’ other secretive fund for her inauguration.
Although Hobbs’ legal fund was discovered, the governor says she won’t be publicizing any other details about the donors or total amount collected.
Hobbs also attempted to keep her inaugural fund secret, but relented to public disclosure after receiving threats of litigation. Records revealed that Hobbs’ inaugural fund collected nearly $2 million, but the event cost less than $210,000. Government transparency watchdogs attempted to determine whether Hobbs’ inauguration team continued to collect donations in excess of a pre-event budget, to no avail.
PWCC’s singular donation of $250,000 to the fund covered the inauguration in its entirety — but Hobbs pocketed the excess of well over a million for her reelection bid next year. Other large donors to that fund issued $100,000 each: Blue Cross Blue Shield, the National Association of Realtors, and Sunshine Residential Homes.
That last major donor, Sunshine Residential Homes, received millions in contracts from the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) after making around half a million in campaign donations to Hobbs and the Arizona Democratic Party — despite DCS denying pay increases to home operators and dropping 16 providers during the contract renewal process.
Michael Beyer, the newly named communications director for Hobbs’ reelection campaign, defended the legal fund and its secrecy in a statement to the AZ Capitol Times.
“Kari Lake baselessly challenged the results of a free and fair election she lost,” said Beyer. “We won eight times in court, and yet Lake fought the results all the way through November 2024 when she finally lost her last appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court.”
Beyer recently joined the Hobbs campaign following his stint as the communications director for Virginia Senator Tim Kaine’s re-election campaign. Beyer’s past communications work includes the campaign for Mississippi’s 2023 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Brandon Presley, the Ohio Democratic Party, New Hampshire Democratic Party, and the Democratic Governors Association.
Some question whether the funds are another example of alleged “pay-to-play” occurring within the governor’s office. Hobbs approved legislation permitting public power entities like APS to engage in securitization. APS wrote the legislation.
Hobbs issued a defense of her passage of the bill, saying it would lower energy costs and improve grid resiliency.
“By working with bipartisan legislators I put in safeguards to ensure everyday Arizonans, not utilities, will benefit from securitization. And I made sure this bill will provide a tool to grow our energy economy,” said Hobbs. “Because of this bill, Arizona families will save money and we will help create more jobs in a clean energy economy that, in just the last few years, has brought nearly $18 billion in investments to our state and created over 18,000 quality jobs.”
Hobbs also vetoed legislation from Senate President TJ Shope requiring companies seeking state contracts to list all donations given in the past five years to the governor.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill to provide restitution to individuals harmed by gender transitions they obtained as minors.
The legislation, Senate Bill 1586, sought to expand civil liability on health care professionals or physicians who provide gender transition or transition procedures.
Under the bill, health care professionals and physicians that provide gender transition procedures for a minor would have been strictly and personally liable for all costs associated with subsequent detransition procedures for that minor within 25 years after the gender transition procedure. Individuals who undergo a detransition procedure would be able to bring a civil action lawsuit against the health care professional or physician who provided their gender transition procedure before turning 26 years old.
The bill would have also prohibited the health care professionals or physicians from obtaining a contractual waiver of liability for gender transition procedures.
In her veto letter, Hobbs said the bill was redundant given present medical malpractice statutes, and she further stated the bill was not a priority compared to Arizonans’ current needs.
“Medical malpractice statutes currently exist to give patients a private right of action related to matters of informed consent,” stated Hobbs. “This bill will not increase opportunity, security or freedom for Arizonans. I encourage the legislature to join with me in prioritizing legislation that will lower costs, protect the border, create jobs, and secure our water future.”
The bill author, Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp, issued a press release accusing Hobbs of allying herself with “radical left-wing ideology” and ignoring harms endured by children who have undergone gender transition procedures.
“There have been many tragic stories about children who have submitted to life-altering surgeries to change their gender – only to experience awful repercussions later on when they mature,” said Shamp. “Unfortunately, Governor Hobbs and her band of Democrat allies would rather these children’s lives be forever changed in one of the worst ways imaginable to satisfy their extreme ideological lust. Republicans will not stand for this callousness and endorsement of defacto child abuse. We will continue to fight on behalf of our precious sons and daughters until these inhumane and ungodly practices are abolished.”
Shamp later indicated she would take another run at securing restitutions for individuals who underwent gender transition procedures while they were minors.
“I will never stop fighting for children who are being butchered by this ungodly and inhumane practice,” said Shamp.
Arizona law already bars health care professionals and physicians from providing gender transition procedures. The state legislature passed the prohibition in 2022. Per the Kaiser Family Foundation, less than three percent of minors identify as transgender.
Although surgical procedures were prohibited, the law didn’t speak to the prescription of drugs impacting sex-based hormones. Health care providers continued prescribing puberty blockers and hormone replacements to minors. It wasn’t until earlier this year that providers known for these prescriptions, like Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Planned Parenthood of Arizona, ceased issuing them in order to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order prohibiting gender transitions for minors.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
