The principal who went viral in the Valley for barring parents from attending eighth grade graduation due to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity played a key role in banning a parent from another school campus in violation of the First Amendment.
This week wasn’t the first time that Bronwyn Sternberg, principal at the Cecil Shamley School in the Tempe Elementary School District (TESD), has kept parents off campus for reportedly political reasons.
In February 2020, Sternberg participated in the ban of a parent, Rebecca Hartzell, from the premises of Marana Unified School District’s Dove Mountain School. Sternberg was an associate principal at the time, and identified in a Supreme Court filing as an official who coordinated Hartzell’s removal. The Arizona District Court ruled in March that district officials had unconstitutionally retaliated against Hartzell for her speech, consistent with a prior finding in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. A jury awarded Hartzell $200,000.
Now, a little over six years later, Sternberg has taken another action to keep parents off campus in relation to a highly politicized issue.
On Wednesday, Sternberg informed parents that they wouldn’t be permitted to attend their child’s eighth grade graduation to prevent any additional ICE detainments.
Immigration authorities detained a Cecil Shamley School mother and her son off school property on Tuesday. This prompted Sternberg to call off all outside attendance to the promotion ceremony, which occurred on Thursday.
ICE issued a statement explaining that it arrested the mother, 47-year-old Margoth Del Pilar Paredes-Ortiz of Ecuador, on referral by Border Patrol for suspicion of illegal alien smuggling. Paredes-Ortiz was subject to a removal order from an immigration judge issued last March.
Per ICE, Paredes-Ortiz voluntarily requested that her son, also an illegal alien from Ecuador with a final order of removal, be returned with her to Ecuador.
Federal law requires equal public school access to all children regardless of immigration status.
Paredes-Ortiz and her son were taken to a Texas facility for deportation proceedings.
Sternberg said that closing the graduation ceremony off to parents and other guests was a matter of safety. Sternberg said students from the sixth and seventh grades would be allowed to attend instead, and that parents would receive a recorded video of the promotion ceremony.
“This change may be disappointing for some families; however, we feel it is truly in the best interest of our students and staff. I appreciate the partnership, kind words, and questions that I have received from our parents. Thank you for your cooperation as we prioritize our students,” said Sternberg.
Libs of TikTok shared a copy of the letter to parents in a viral post.
BREAKING: @TempeElementary Principal Bronwyn Sternberg sent a letter to families informing them that parents and guests will NOT be allowed to attend students' graduation after a reported illegal alien parent and her child were arrested by ICE near the school. pic.twitter.com/TGRxTFsqcT
Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) visited the detained family and indicated he was working to secure their release. Stanton and Arizona’s other elected Democrats have given illegal aliens constituent privileges and prioritized them in their constituent work.
I’m sickened that a Tempe student and their parent were violently detained by ICE and taken to a detention center in Texas just before his 8th grade promotion.
Terrorizing a child, ripping them from their community, and forcing them into detention is beyond cruel. It is inhumane… https://t.co/n7i1jv9J1W
— Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (@RepYassAnsari) May 28, 2026
Shamley School students conducted a walkout from school in protest of the Paredes-Ortiz family’s deportation.
Sternberg became principal of Cecil Shamley School in 2023.
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Tucson Democratic State Senate candidate Rocque Perez is facing renewed scrutiny following resurfaced social media posts containing violent rhetoric and new attention to earlier allegations involving disputed online activity and deleted social media accounts.
The controversy comes as Perez seeks the Democratic nomination for Arizona’s Legislative District 20 Senate seat, where he faces state Rep. Alma Hernandez in a July primary.
Archived posts tied to Perez’s X account included violent political rhetoric dating back to 2020. The posts reportedly included statements such as “So kill them, do your duty baby girl” in response to complaints about conservative family members and “Someone throw this b—- off the capitol building roof please” in response to a post by Ivanka Trump. Other archived messages reportedly encouraged violence toward political opponents and referenced harming individuals in online settings.
The posts were first published by the California Globe in October and later independently corroborated through Archive.org.
Perez, now 27, told the Arizona Republic he was aware prior to entering politics that his past online activity would likely face public scrutiny and argued that the posts originated when he was 20 and 21 years old. At the time, he worked as a student employee at the University of Arizona in multicultural advancement and research communications roles, according to university employment records cited by the Republic.
“You wouldn’t be asking me these questions if this was any other 19, 20-year-old at the time,” Perez told the Republic.
Hernandez sharply criticized the rhetoric and rejected Perez’s explanation.
“To brush it off and say you were young and dumb, that’s not an excuse,” Hernandez told the Arizona Republic, calling the posts “unacceptable for anyone seeking public office.”
The resurfaced posts have also revived attention to earlier reporting involving Perez’s online presence.
Alleged Sex Worker Tied to Adelita Grijalva Scrubs Social Media Accounts.
In February, the California Globe reported that social media accounts allegedly connected to Perez and others tied to Tucson-area political circles had been deleted or scrubbed following scrutiny. The publication later published screenshots from an X account it alleged Perez used to promote an OnlyFans account known as “ThatLocalBoy,” citing material supplied by a source. According to the report, the account included photographs of Perez and sexually explicit promotional content linked to OnlyFans activity.
Another Gay Activist With Ties to Rep-Elect Adelita Grijalva Scrubs Social Media.
Perez denied those allegations when questioned by the Republic and said he never operated an OnlyFans account.
“Not at any point did I put out anything like this,” Perez told the newspaper.
The Republic reported it could not independently confirm Perez operated the alleged OnlyFans account and noted that the account in question no longer exists. Perez further declined to specifically confirm or deny whether photographs and sexually oriented posts associated with the account belonged to him, telling the paper he was “not going to relegate what was me or not me.”
Perez graduated from the University of Arizona in 2022 with a degree in political science. He previously served briefly as an appointed Tucson City Council member, and currently serves as the executive director of the Southern Arizona Education Council, formerly known as the Metropolitan Education Commission.
The Glendale City Council voted 4-3 Thursday to remove Democrat Councilmember Jose “Lupe” Conchas from office, ruling that his election to the Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District Board rendered him ineligible to continue serving under the Glendale City Charter.
The vote followed a special meeting in which councilmembers, residents, and elected officials debated whether Conchas’ newly elected SRP position constituted a second compensated public office prohibited by city rules. The council ultimately approved Resolution R26-60 declaring the Cactus District seat vacant effective immediately.
According to the Glendale City Charter, councilmembers “shall hold no other public office for which they receive compensation” except for service as a notary public or member of the National Guard or military reserve. During the meeting, city officials stated that the council was acting under its charter authority to judge the qualifications of its own members. The resolution cited Conchas’ May 2026 swearing-in to the SRP board and Arizona statute allowing compensation of up to $60 per meeting day for SRP board members.
Mayor Jerry Weiers, Vice Mayor Ray Malnar, and Councilmembers Lauren Tolmachoff and Dianna Guzman voted in favor of the resolution, while Councilmembers Bart Turner and Leandro Baldenegro opposed it. According to AZ Family, the vote left the Cactus District seat vacant and triggered the city’s appointment process.
Glendale officials and supporters of the resolution argued the matter centered on compliance with the city charter rather than politics.
“This has nothing to do with retaliation or retribution or anything,” Councilmember Lauren Tolmachoff said following the vote.
“My vote today is based on the law,” Councilmember Dianna Guzman added.
Mayor Jerry Weiers later issued a statement saying that Conchas’ election and swearing-in to the SRP District Board constituted service in “a public office that receives compensation” and that, pursuant to the city charter, the council determined he no longer met the qualifications necessary to serve on Glendale City Council.
Conchas rejected the council’s interpretation and argued that he had not accepted compensation for his SRP service. During the meeting and in subsequent interviews, he maintained that the removal effort was politically motivated and connected to his recent criticism of council stipends and vehicle allowances.
According to Axios Phoenix, Conchas said he had stopped accepting Glendale’s stipend and vehicle allowance and believed his removal was linked to his opposition to the policy, which is reportedly under review following an Arizona Attorney General complaint.
Public testimony at Thursday’s meeting reflected sharp disagreement over the council’s action.
According to an Arizona Daily Independent report citing an anonymous city staff source, Conchas allegedly made an offer during deliberations that some participants viewed as an attempt to influence the vote’s outcome. ADI reported that Conchas suggested he would focus exclusively on his district and forego a future mayoral campaign if allowed to remain on council. Conchas has not publicly responded to that allegation.
Several speakers, including state lawmakers and community activists, urged the council to reject the resolution, arguing that Conchas had been duly elected and that the move created the appearance of political retaliation. Others supported removal, arguing that the city charter’s language was clear and should be applied consistently regardless of political considerations.
State Rep. Quantá Crews (D-LD26) questioned whether the charter applied if Conchas declined compensation from SRP, while State Rep. Cesar Aguilar (D-LD26) argued that the common meaning of “receiving” compensation involved accepting payment rather than merely being eligible for it.
Crews commented, “The people have the power here,” telling council members, “I don’t feel comfortable with the people’s power being taken away from them.”
Other speakers, including Glendale residents and former elected officials, argued the council had a legal obligation to enforce the charter regardless of Conchas’ popularity or public service. Former State Sen. Anthony Kern told the council he supported the council’s action, saying, “It is because of the rule of law.” He added, “It is not against Mr. Conchas at all…it is because law has to be followed.”
Conchas told AZ Family he plans to pursue legal action challenging the council’s decision and seek reinstatement to the seat.
The two candidates for the Republican primary in the attorney general’s race took to the debate stage on Thursday.
Rodney Glassman and Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) exchanged jabs about the legitimacy of the other’s status as an attorney.
Glassman first ran for public office as a Democrat in the 2010 U.S. Senate race, where his campaign video “Sweet Home Arizona” went viral. Glassman lost to the incumbent, the late Sen. John McCain. Since then, Glassman has made unsuccessful runs in other races as a Republican candidate: Arizona Corporation Commission in 2018, Maricopa County assessor in 2020, and attorney general in 2022.
Petersen has been a Republican since he first ran for public office in 2012, where he won in the Arizona House of Representatives race for the 12th district. He has served in the Arizona legislature since then.
During Thursday night’s debate, Glassman said Petersen was problematic for engaging in bipartisanship to secure a state budget every year under the Democratic leadership of Gov. Katie Hobbs and incumbent Attorney General Kris Mayes.
Glassman argued that Petersen allowing the passage of several state budgets with a Democrat attorney general in power, Kris Mayes, was improper for a Republican to have done. Glassman blamed Petersen for Mayes filing 42 lawsuits against the Trump administration.
Petersen said Glassman was “not a serious candidate,” in part for making that argument. Petersen said the implications of refusing to fund the attorney general’s office in the state budget would effectively defund law enforcement, which he called “reckless” on Glassman’s part. Petersen did clarify that the Republican-led legislature had cut Mayes’ budgeting.
“We have cut [Mayes’] funding, to hold her accountable, and she sued us [the legislature],” said Petersen.
Petersen claimed Glassman lacked any noteworthy professional experience, save for a status as a perennial candidate — first as a Democrat, then a Republican.
ICYMI: Rodney Glassman let the mask slip. He admitted he supports defunding law enforcement and opposes Republican budgets that fund public safety. Watch Warren Petersen completely dismantle him. Rodney spoke like a radical lefty. When someone tells you who they are, believe them pic.twitter.com/vcWocWKapB
— AZ Politics War Room (@AZPolWarRoom) May 29, 2026
Glassman said he supports President Donald Trump and his agenda. This represents a flip from the years leading up to this race in which Glassman aligned with mainstream Democrat policies on major issues like abortion, border security, campaign finance, public education, energy, healthcare, and taxation.
Glassman also stressed his experience as a lieutenant colonel in the Air Force JAG Corps Reserve at Luke Air Force Base.
ICYMI👇
Last night, I went head-to-head with my Republican primary opponent. While he resorted to false, unproven attacks, I focused on what actually matters: experience.
Arizona Republicans want to fire Kris Mayes this November. I’m the only candidate with the background to… pic.twitter.com/gZKyJgwn8T
Petersen responded with a claim that personnel within the Luke Air Force Base legal department have denied knowing Glassman.
Petersen said under his administration, the state would enter into a 287(g) agreement to assist immigration enforcement with deportations. Petersen also promised to prioritize election integrity regardless of the party in power. Glassman vowed a loyalty to Trump on the matters of election integrity, alluding to some doubts about the validity of the 2020 election.
Petersen also said he would approach the state’s water crisis through a focus on water augmentation, specifically by 2.5 million-acre feet. Glassman didn’t offer a solution that could be heard (that portion of the debate faced technical difficulties), but instead cited his doctorate in arid-land sciences and environmental law degree from the University of Arizona.
Petersen called Glassman “a trust-fund baby” whose entire occupation is running for office, and that Glassman was a candidate “who lies about everything” and belongs in prison.
Recent polling shows Petersen as favored to win the Republican primary for attorney general.
Glassman has raised over $3 million for his campaign, $1 million of which came from his own pocket (33%). $77,500 came from interest or dividends received from banks.
Petersen has raised over $1.4 million for his campaign, $123,000 of which came from his own pocket (8%).
The Arizona Clean Elections Commission hosted the hourlong debate:
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
The Joint Economic Committee (JEC) released an update Thursday showing inflation remained above the Federal Reserve’s target in April while consumer spending increased and personal savings declined.
According to the JEC’s Monthly Expenditures Update, the headline personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index increased 0.40% from March to April, while core PCE inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, rose 0.24%. The annual inflation rate from April 2025 to April 2026 measured 3.77% for headline PCE and 3.29% for core PCE, both exceeding the Federal Reserve’s stated 2% inflation target.
The PCE index is the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure and tracks changes in prices paid by consumers for goods and services.
The JEC reported that spending increased during the same period while savings declined. Real personal consumption expenditures increased by 0.11%, representing approximately $18.08 billion in additional spending. Real spending on services increased 0.19%, or $21.47 billion, while real spending on goods rose 0.08%, or $4.7 billion. At the same time, the nominal personal savings rate declined by 0.6 percentage points to 2.6%.
Y/Y, headline PCE price index inflation was 3.77%, which is higher than the Federal Reserve’s target of 2% & core PCE price index inflation was 3.29%. M/M, headline personal income remained unchanged, or $19 million, while real disposable personal income per capita decreased by…
— Joint Economic Committee Republicans (@JECRepublicans) May 28, 2026
According to the committee’s update, headline personal income remained effectively unchanged month-over-month, increasing by approximately $19 million, while real disposable personal income per capita decreased by 0.50%. The report stated that after-tax income increased more slowly than consumer prices during the month.
The figures align with data released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), which reported increases in both consumer spending and inflation during April. According to the BEA, personal income increased by $210.1 billion, or 0.8%, while disposable personal income increased by $189.4 billion, or 0.8%. Personal consumption expenditures increased $47.8 billion, or 0.2%.
The BEA reported that prices for personal consumption expenditures increased 0.4% month-over-month and 3.8% annually, while core PCE prices increased 0.2% during April and 3.3% over the previous twelve months.
The JEC also released its Gross Domestic Product Update for the second estimate of first-quarter 2026 economic activity.
According to the committee, real gross domestic product increased 1.62% from the fourth quarter of 2025 to the first quarter of 2026. Current-dollar GDP increased 5.15%, or approximately $396.9 billion, bringing the total size of the U.S. economy to $31.819 trillion.
JEC Chairman Rep. David Schweikert (R-AZ01), who is also running for governor of Arizona, discussed affordability and inflation during a segment with KTAR host Mike Broomhead, describing what he characterized as the continuing effects of “Biden inflation” on Arizona households.
“For people in Arizona, for a whole segment of our working middle class — you know, hardworking population — they’re poorer today than they were five years ago,” Schweikert said. “We were one of the epicenters of Biden inflation. Then you actually do policies from particularly the governor’s office of not recruiting new businesses here to compete for your willingness to work. So affordability — because our wages haven’t gone up — we’re now 45th in affordability. That’s miserable. I mean how many people can afford a house right now?”
Arizona’s working middle class is poorer today than five years ago. Wages are flat, housing is out of reach, and families are trying to make the mortgage and car payment.
If we want affordability, we need jobs that force businesses to compete for Arizona workers again. pic.twitter.com/lU9c983UUT
— David Schweikert (@DavidSchweikert) May 27, 2026
In a post to X on Thursday, he wrote, “If we’re serious about affordability, the first thing we do is raise wages by bringing employers here that have to compete for Arizona workers.”
The committee’s GDP update reflected the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ second estimate for first-quarter economic growth. The full Joint Economic Committee Monthly Expenditures Update and GDP Update are available through the committee’s website.
As Summer RV travel peaks across the United States, new research highlights stark differences in crowding at America’s national parks. Arizona’s iconic Grand Canyon National Park stands as a major draw for RV enthusiasts, ranking ninth busiest overall despite a cooling trend in 2025.
According to data from Blue Capital Holdings, RV campers flocked to Glacier National Park in Montana more than any other over the past five years, logging more than 429,000 summer visits (June-August) from 2021 to 2025. Yosemite National Park in California followed closely in second place.
Top 5 Most Popular National Parks for Summer RV Camping (2021-2025):
Glacier National Park, Montana – 429,693 visits
Yosemite National Park, California – 423,672 visits
Great Smokey Mountains National Park, Tennessee – 333,739 visits
Olympic National Park, Washington – 280,272 visits
Acadia National Park, Maine – 158,105 visits
“Summer shows just how concentrated RV travel has become around a small number of national parks,” stated Blue Capital Holdings CEO Rich Turasky. “Glacier and Yosemite are in a league of their own, and together they logged more than 850,000 summer RV visits over the past five years. What is interesting is that popularity does not always mean momentum. Glacier still ranks first overall, but its numbers slipped in 2025, while Yosemite surged by 43%. Rocky Mountain also climbed 23%, and Kings Canyon rose 42%, so there are still parks seeing very strong summer demand.”
Grand Canyon National Park in northwestern Arizona recorded 124,968 summer RV visits over the five-year period, securing ninth place nationally. The park saw 26,075 visits in 2024 before declining roughly 20% to 20,854 in 2025, reflecting broader patterns where many headline destinations experienced softening demand amid concerns over heat, crowding, and access.
Arizona’s crown jewel continues to captivate travelers seeking its world-renowned vistas, dramatic landscapes, and unique Southwest character. While not topping the list, the Grand Canyon remains a bucket-list staple for the RV campers drawn to Arizona’s natural wonders.
According to the National Park Service, Grand Canyon’s North Rim reopened as of May 15, 2026, following impacts from the Dragon Bravo Fire. All paved roadways within the park have reopened, restoring access to many iconic viewpoints such as Point Imperial, Cape Royal, Roosevelt Point, and Angels Window.
The North Rim Campground is expected to reopen in June 2026 for tent and RV camping, however there will be no water or RV hookups available — campers must bring all their own portable water.
Stage 2 fire restrictions also remain in effect throughout the 2026 season due to limited water resources, prohibiting wood and charcoal fires.
Several trails remain closed due to fire impacts, including Bright Angel Point, Widforss, Transept, Uncle Jim Trail, and sections of the Ken Patrick Trail. No overnight lodging is available on the North Rim inside the park this season, though options exist outside the park boundaries.
At the other end of the list, several parks recorded dramatically lower traffic, providing quieter alternatives for summer travel.
Top 5 Least Popular National Parks for Summer RV Camping (2021-2025):
Badlands National Park, South Dakota – 1,845 visits
Death Valley National Park, California – 4,245 visits
Big Bend National Park, Texas – 4,979 visits
Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas – 5,531 visits
Canyonlands National Park, Utah – 6,138 visits
“At the same time, some of the biggest names lost ground. Great Smoky Mountains fell 19%, Grand Canyon was down 20%, and Yellowstone dropped 31% year on year,” added Turasky. “That suggests RV travelers are not just following the most famous names blindly, but are being influenced by heat, crowding, access, costs and the overall experience once they arrive. The least-visited summer parks also tell their own story. Places like Death Valley and Big Bend are spectacular, but summer can be a difficult time to visit them in an RV. For travelers willing to plan carefully, though, the lower numbers can mean a much quieter national park experience.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
