The city of Phoenix is operating a program to investigate federal agencies under President Donald Trump, according to public records.
The city publicly promotes its Community Transparency Initiative (CTI) as a complaint intake system and informational resource for the public on immigration matters.
However, records obtained by Judicial Watch reflect that the city of Phoenix tasks its employees and law enforcement with documenting, reporting, and investigating more than just federal immigration officials.
CTI, developed through the Office of Transparency and Accountability (OAT), was initially developed to take in reports and complaints concerning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel.
The city’s employee training materials reveal that CTI has a much larger scope of oversight beyond ICE to include more federal agencies. City employees are trained to document and report all encounters involving federal law enforcement personnel. They are also trained to maintain records of time and resources devoted to work done concerning CTI.
Agencies under city of Phoenix employees’ purview were indicated to include the Federal Bureau of Investigation; United States Secret Service; Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; United States Postal Inspection Service; Border Patrol; Drug Enforcement Agency; United States Marshals Service; Federal Air Marshal Service; Federal Protective Service; Capitol Police; and the Transportation Security Administration.
Under CTI, the Phoenix Police Department uses its Special Investigations Division to review CTI complaints, investigate for criminal or civil rights violations, and pass along findings to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. Both the police and fire departments have been involved in implementing CTI.
The initiative also connects residents with multiple progressive nonprofit organizations: the national and Arizona chapter of the ACLU, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, National Immigration Law Center, Informed Immigrant, Florence Project, International Rescue Committee, Phoenix Legal Action Network, and the Immigrant Advocacy Network.
CTI also refers residents to its Office of Refugee and Immigrant Support, established in March 2023 amid the height of the illegal immigration crisis under former President Joe Biden. The office provides refugees and asylum seekers with integration services, including access to healthcare, housing, childcare, education, and employment.
Around the same time in 2023, Gov. Katie Hobbs’ administration allocated $60 million to house, feed, and provide other resources to the homeless and illegal immigrants. $13 million went to the city of Phoenix.
In recent years, the city spent around $8 million of its $396 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds on refugee and immigrant services.
In early March of this year, the city authorized spending up to $500,000 through June 2028 for legal counsel through Coppersmith Brockelman PLC, a favorite law firm among top Democrats such as Gov. Katie Hobbs, though the CTI website and later reporting stated that the city spent $1 million to hire the firm. Sam Coppersmith, a managing partner to the firm, was formerly a Democratic congressman for the 1st Congressional District and a chairman of the Arizona Democratic Party.
Judicial Watch didn’t receive any records confirming that the city formally considered any other law firms to provide outside legal counsel for CTI.
Following this authorization for outside legal counsel, the city passed a policy banning ICE enforcement operations from city-owned property. Mayes later issued a defense of the city’s action.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
Arizona Public Service (APS) customers will receive a one-time credit on their November electric bills following a unanimous vote by the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to return approximately $33.6 million in renewable energy funds to ratepayers.
The Commission approved the credit during its October 8, 2026 open meeting, with the average residential customer expected to save approximately $14.70 through a combination of the bill credit and a temporary suspension of the utility’s monthly Renewable Energy Adjustment Charge (REAC).
ACC Approves Bill Credit for APS customers: For residential customers, the average bill credit amounts to approximately $15. The one-time credit will appear on customers' November 2026 electricity bill. For more info, go tohttps://t.co/MQuGuKp4jGpic.twitter.com/ZkNveyoNac
— Arizona Corporation Commission (@CorpCommAZ) October 8, 2026
The REAC, which appears on residential electric bills as an “Environmental Benefits Surcharge,” currently costs the average residential customer approximately $2.49 per month. APS customers will not be charged the surcharge on their November statements.
The refund is partially attributed to the Green Power Partners program, which allows commercial and industrial customers to voluntarily purchase renewable energy credits (RECs) from the utility
On February 4, 2026, the Commission unanimously approved an expansion of the program, projected to save APS ratepayers approximately $30 million in 2026.
Proceeds from the program have contributed to an approximately $33.6 million uncommitted balance in the utility’s Renewable Energy Adjustment Charge fund, helping make the November bill credit possible.
“I was pleased to vote and approve a bill credit to APS customers for the month of November,” stated Chairman Nick Myers. “Our Commission approved Green Power Partners program, in which commercial and industrial customers voluntarily purchase RECs from APS, has resulted in over $33 million for APS customers.”
Myers also credited the Commission’s efforts to repeal the state’s Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff (REST) rules and permit APS to sell renewable energy credits for making the refund possible.
Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson welcomed the decision, emphasizing the financial relief it could provide to Arizona households following the summer months.
“This comes at a good time for residential customers who saw higher bills due to increased usage during the hot summer months,” stated Márquez Peterson. “I was happy to support the credit on APS customer’s bills today during our ACC meeting.”
Commissioner René Lopez similarly praised the decision, stating that recent Commission actions have helped return approximately $33.6 million to APS ratepayers.
Vice Chair Rachel Walden pointed to the Commission’s previous renewable energy requirements, arguing that the rules imposed additional costs on utility customers.
Walden noted that the Commission had voted to repeal the REST rules, which required utilities to meet renewable energy standards, but that the repeal has faced a legal challenge from the Arizona Attorney General.
“APS was able to monetize some Renewable Energy Credits under their Green Power Partners program, and those proceeds are what are being used to provide this one-time relief to customers,” stated Walden.
Commissioner Kevin Thompson also supported the decision, emphasizing the importance of reducing costs for utility customers.
“Any time the Commission and our utilities can act to save ratepayers money it’s a good day,” said Thompson
The November credit will be applied as a one-time adjustment, with the REAC returning to its previously approved rate beginning December 1, 2026.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Fountain Hills Councilman Allen Skillicorn says he has filed a report with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) alleging that signs supporting a school district budget override are blocking signs opposing the measure.
In an Oct. 9 news release, Skillicorn criticized the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce for supporting the override.
“I have filed an incident report with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office regarding the signs,” Skillicorn said. “The Chamber is free to advocate for higher taxes. But voters should be allowed to see both sides of the debate,” he added.
The release did not identify specific sign locations, who installed them, or any law enforcement determination that a violation occurred. AZ Free News requested more information from MCSO about the incident report but received no response by publication.
Responding to AZ Free News, Chamber President and CEO Betsy LaVoie rejected the allegation that the organization intentionally obstructed opposing signs:
“The Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce stands firmly behind its support of the Fountain Hills Unified School District override, and we categorically reject Councilman Allen Skillicorn’s suggestion that our signs were intentionally placed to obstruct opposing viewpoints. If Councilman Skillicorn claims our signs are blocking his, I challenge him to produce photographic evidence showing exactly where that obstruction exists. We support everyone’s right to express their position, whether they agree with us or not.
“It is deeply disappointing to see an elected official devote law enforcement resources and taxpayer dollars to what appears to be a politically motivated and baseless complaint in his ongoing campaign against our local school district. Our deputies have far more important responsibilities than refereeing political disagreements over campaign signs.
“The Chamber’s position has always been about supporting our schools, protecting the quality of education in Fountain Hills, and maintaining a strong community that attracts families, businesses, and investment. Rather than manufacturing controversy over signs, perhaps Councilman Skillicorn should focus on the very real challenges facing our schools and the students who depend on them. We will not allow political distractions to overshadow what this election is actually about: the future of education in Fountain Hills.”
Skillicorn cited A.R.S. § 16-1019, which makes knowingly removing, altering, defacing or covering qualifying political signs a Class 2 misdemeanor during the statutory election period. For ballot measure signs, that period begins 71 days before the election and ends 15 days afterward.
The statute includes exceptions for actions authorized by the candidate or ballot measure committee responsible for the sign, actions by private property owners or their authorized agents, and other specified circumstances.
The dispute concerns Fountain Hills Unified School District’s maintenance and operations override election. The official voter pamphlet describes the proposal as a seven-year continuation of the district’s existing 15% override, financed through property taxes within the district.
The district estimates the full override would provide $1,198,017 in fiscal year 2027–28. Its estimated tax rate is $0.1675 per $100 of net assessed valuation, approximately equal to the existing override rate. The pamphlet estimates an annual cost of $78 for an owner-occupied home with a limited property value of $467,130.
Without approval, the existing override would decline by one-third in 2027–28, another third in 2028–29, and expire in 2029–30. The first-year difference between the proposed budget and the budget without renewal is estimated at $399,339.
The district describes the measure as a continuation of its existing override, with an estimated tax rate approximately equal to the current rate. Rejection would allow the existing override and its associated tax to phase out.
Skillicorn described the proposal as a “$6 million tax hike.” An AZ Free News calculation using the district’s estimated 2027–28 override amount and the ballot’s seven-year schedule puts the additional cumulative funding from renewal at about $5.99 million over a seven-year period compared with allowing the existing override to expire, assuming the district’s revenue control limit remains unchanged.
Source: AZ Free News calculations using the annual estimate on page 4 and ballot provisions on page 10 of theofficial voter pamphlet. Assumes the district’s revenue control limit remains unchanged; these are illustrative calculations, not district-issued seven-year revenue projections.
“Looking at the Chamber’s track record, the question is simple: Has the FH Chamber ever seen a tax hike it didn’t support?” Skillicorn said.
“The Chamber has supported the Town’s primary property tax, the last failed bond tax hike, high-density Daybreak apartments, and Sandor’s urban style single-bedroom apartments. At this point, the pattern is hard to miss: if it raises taxes or increases high-density/section 8 housing, the Chamber seems to be there.
“Now there’s another issue. Numerous pro-override Chamber signs appear to be blocking signs opposing this $6 million tax hike. Arizona law, A.R.S. § 16-1019, makes knowingly covering a political sign supporting or opposing a ballot measure a Class 2 misdemeanor.”
Press Release: Apparently, the Fountain Hills Chamber Has Never Met a Tax Hike It Didn’t Like
I’d like to welcome the Fountain Hills Chamber of Commerce to the $6 million override tax-hike campaign—with its new political signs. I guess they must have missed the Orange & Blue… pic.twitter.com/5psBbIkFEr
The chamber’s argument supporting the measure, signed by President and CEO Betsy LaVoie and Board Chair Julie Jones, says its board of directors supports continuing the funding.
“This measure continues existing, voter-approved funding,” the argument states. “It is not a new tax or a new program. Continued M&O funding is critical to maintaining the quality, stability and success of our local schools.” The chamber argues that strong schools help attract and retain families, support property values, and strengthen the local workforce.
The district’s statement in the pamphlet identifies teacher and staff salaries, campus safety, all-day kindergarten, career and technical education, and extracurricular activities among the services supported by the override.
Skillicorn also submitted an opposing argument in the pamphlet, contending that renewal would prevent anticipated property tax relief. He called for the district to demonstrate how it uses proceeds from property sales and reduce the cost of maintaining underused campuses.
Under the ballot language, approval would continue override authority at 15% of the district’s revenue control limit through 2031–32, followed by 10% in 2032–33 and 5% in 2033–34. A no vote would allow the existing authorization to phase out.
Attorney General Kris Mayes is styling her campaign to show bipartisan support; her latest endorsement comes from a “lifelong Republican” former mayor who misused the 911 system.
Mayes opened her latest campaign ad with the endorsement of Sam Campana, the former mayor of Scottsdale from 1996 to 2000.
“I’m voting for Kris Mayes because Arizona deserves better than politics as usual,” said Campana.
Mayes has encouraged a public perception of nonpartisanship on the campaign trail and the debate stage.
During her debate against Republican nominee Warren Petersen last month, Mayes presented herself as apolitical. Petersen disagreed with that characterization and revisited actions by her office that he claimed were evidence of political lawfare, such as her refusal to defend a state law banning boys from girls sports.
“Whether it was a Republican president or a Democratic president, our criteria is the same: has the Constitution been violated? Has the state been harmed?” said Mayes. “And that has happened all too often over the past two years.”
“Kris Mayes is the most political and partisan AG that this state has ever had,” replied Petersen. “She’s got [more than] 50 lawsuits against her political opponents. She has weaponized the office.”
In furtherance of that goal to present herself as nonpartisan, Mayes this week featured an endorsement from Campana, Scottsdale’s first female mayor who previously identified as a Republican.
Some Arizona voters were quick to point out that the chief law enforcement officer had chosen an endorser who misused 911 on more than one occasion.
While mayor, Campana repeatedly called 911 for directions to city functions when she couldn’t get an answer in time from non-emergency lines.
Campana continued calling 911 despite being asked by local police leadership to cease calling the emergency line for driving directions.
Campana eventually relented from calling 911 for directions according to reports, but stated at the time that she continued to call police for navigational assistance.
“I only use it under duress,” said Campana.
The only "Republican" @KrisMayes could find to endorse her in her new ad?
A former mayor who abused police resources by repeatedly calling 911 "to get driving directions." The police chief had to send out a memo telling her to stop 🤡 pic.twitter.com/p9lBWG2BQj
The former mayor also told the Arizona Progress Gazette in a 2020 interview that she helped to ensure that women were hired over men during her tenure, giving the implication that she participated in sex-based hiring discrimination.
“It was an exciting time on the Mezzanine of City Hall when all the mayor and council staff were women! Mostly it was because we hired the most capable person for the job, but in a case or two it was a nudge to give a woman an opportunity who otherwise wouldn’t have gotten it,” said Campana.
Campana was among several self-identified lifelong Republicans in this latest campaign ad who said they viewed Mayes as one of their own, since the attorney general was a registered Republican until 2019.
Although Campana described herself as a lifelong Republican, she has endorsed Democratic candidates for years and was a member of Republicans for Harris.
Campana endorsed President Joe Biden in 2020, Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2022, and Kamala Harris in 2024.
This year, Campana supported Solange Whitehead and Raoul Zubia for Scottsdale City Council, and Marlene Galan-Woods for Congress — all Democrats.
“Principled, public policy-minded, cares about Arizona, steady at the wheel and a proven statewide candidate who has delivered every time,” said Campana of Hobbs in her 2022 endorsement.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
Arizona State Representative Gail Griffin (R-LD19) is raising concerns over the state’s continued failure to meet federal auditing requirements, warning that billions of dollars in federal funding supporting health care, long-term care, and other assistance programs could face penalties.
Arizona has missed the federal Single Audit deadline for four consecutive fiscal years, from 2022 through 2025, under Governor Katie Hobbs’ administration.
The Single Audit is an annual financial and compliance review required by federal law to account for how states spend federal funding and ensure compliance with federal regulations.
Arizona’s fiscal year 2025 audit was due March 31, 2026, but remains incomplete. The Arizona Auditor General has projected that the report may not be released until March 5, 2027, less than a month before the fiscal year 2026 audit deadline.
According to state officials, Arizona spent approximately $28.6 billion in federal funding during fiscal year 2024, including $18.3 billion from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The funding supports several programs, including the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), which administers Medicaid services, and the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS), which provides nursing home and long-term care assistance to eligible seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Federal funding also supports behavioral health services, child care assistance, food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other public assistance programs.
“Governor Hobbs has allowed Arizona to remain out of compliance year after year, and now the health care and benefits Arizonans depend on are exposed to federal penalties,” stated Rep. Griffin. “We are talking about $18.3 billion in HHS funding and services that seniors, people with disabilities, and vulnerable families rely on. These Arizonans should not have to worry about losing benefits because the Governor has failed to meet basic federal accountability requirements.”
🚨Hobbs’ Noncompliance Could Cost Arizona Billions in Health Care Benefits Federal government warns continued Single Audit failures put $18.3 billion in Medicare and other federal funding at risk, including services for seniors and Arizonans with disabilities
During a September 21 hearing of the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC), HHS Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources Gustav Chiarello criticized the state’s response to its overdue audits, calling it “inadequate.”
Under federal regulations, agencies have several enforcement options when recipients fail to comply with funding requirements, including withholding payments, disallowing costs, and suspending or terminating federal awards.
The federal government previously notified Hobbs of Arizona’s noncompliance in a July 14 letter, citing a “consistent pattern of noncompliance” and requesting corrective action.
On July 31, the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) proposed completing the overdue audit by December 30, 2026, and shifting portions of the federal compliance auditing process to outside accounting firms.
The Auditor General subsequently disputed that timeline, calling it unrealistic and identifying March 5, 2027, as a more achievable completion date.
Arizona’s delayed audits have already resulted in financial consequences for the state’s public universities. Federal agencies have reportedly withheld or frozen hundreds of millions of dollars in funding, including approximately $154 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Shortly after, the universities separated their federal audits from the statewide Single Audit process to protect their access to federal funding.
During the September hearing, Chiarello also testified that neither Hobbs nor her office had directly contacted him or his staff to address the state’s noncompliance following the July notification.
“For four years under Governor Hobbs, this problem has gotten worse instead of better,” Griffin said. “Arizona has missed four consecutive federal deadlines, the number of audit findings has grown, and HHS is now warning about federal enforcement. Even after HHS formally notified the Governor that Arizona was not in compliance, her office did not have a direct conversation with the federal official responsible for addressing the delinquency. Four years is more than enough time to get this under control.”
State officials have attributed the continued delays in part to late financial reporting from multiple agencies, including the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES). The Auditor General also reported that agency submissions were arriving later than in previous years, further complicating efforts to complete the required audits.
At the hearing, ADOA acknowledged that the delays were unacceptable but did not commit to completing the fiscal year 2026 audit by its federal deadline.
Griffin called on the Hobbs administration to establish a realistic timeline, improve communication with federal officials, and implement corrective measures to bring Arizona back into compliance.
“Governor Hobbs needs to take responsibility and fix this,” said Griffin. “Arizona needs a credible timeline, direct engagement with the Department of Health and Human Services, and an immediate plan to bring the State back into compliance.”
“Seniors, families, and Arizonans with disabilities should not have their health care and other essential benefits put at risk because the administration cannot get its financial reporting in order,” added Griffin.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes and Republican challenger Warren Petersen each received 45% support among likely voters in a newly released Equis Research survey, while Gov. Katie Hobbs led Republican Andy Biggs, 49% to 43%.
The Oct. 6 memo also showed Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes at 46% against Republican Alex Kolodin’s 44%. The generic congressional ballot stood at 45% for each party.
The survey interviewed 1,214 registered Arizona voters Sept. 1–9, including 400 Latino registered voters, using equal shares of live telephone interviews and text-to-web responses. Equis reported a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points for the full sample and 4.9 points for Latino registered voters. The candidate results were reported for likely voters; the memo did not separately identify that subgroup’s sample size or margin of error.
Equis describes its work as researching Latino voters and increasing civic participation. The organization also identifies itself as a resource for the progressive political ecosystem.
The findings differ from earlier Arizona surveys that showed larger Democratic advantages in the attorney general and secretary of state contests.
An August poll from Noble Predictive Insights placed Mayes ahead of Petersen, 44% to 38%, with 16% undecided. Fontes led Kolodin, 41% to 35%, with 20% undecided.
That survey also showed Republican Kimberly Yee at 40% against Democrat Teresa Leyba Ruiz’s 37% in the superintendent of public instruction race, with another 20% undecided.
Noble conducted its survey Aug. 10–13 through an opt-in online panel of 1,040 registered voters, including 923 classified as likely voters through screening questions. The firm reported a margin of error of approximately 3.2 percentage points for its likely-voter results and weighted that group to its projected electorate.
A separate HighGround survey conducted Aug. 15–18 showed Mayes ahead of Petersen, 48.3% to 40.3%, and Fontes ahead of Kolodin, 43% to 35.3%.
HighGround also found Democrat Nick Mansour at 41.8% against Republican Elijah Norton’s 39% for state treasurer. Leyba Ruiz received 42.3% against Yee’s 41.2% for superintendent.
HighGround sponsored its survey of 400 likely voters, using live interviews and a turnout model with an eight-percentage-point Republican partisan advantage. It reported a margin of error of 4.9 percentage points.
The surveys used different respondents, interview methods, and turnout assumptions. Their results alone do not establish how much individual voters’ preferences changed between August and September.
Recent national coverage has also highlighted past differences between polling and election results. During a Sept. 30 CNN segment, chief data analyst Harry Enten said Republicans outperformed September polling in major 2024 races by nine percentage points in Iowa, six in Ohio and five in Michigan.
Dems have had a lot of very good polls from Iowa, Mich & Ohio.
But are polls underestimating the GOP again? In all 3 states, GOP did better by 5+ pt in 2024 than polls had at this point.
Enten also cited the 2018 midterms, when Republicans outperformed September polls in major statewide races by six points in Iowa, six in Ohio, and eight in Michigan. He cautioned that another Republican overperformance could alter the outlook for Senate control. Enten’s comparison concerned Iowa, Ohio, and Michigan and did not assess Arizona results.
Beyond candidate preferences, the Equis memo identified the economy and cost of living as the leading concern for 33% of likely voters, followed by water at 23%.
Although released in October, the survey’s voter-preference findings reflect interviews completed Sept. 9 and do not measure reactions to subsequent campaign developments.
