The much-anticipated Mattel Adventure Park in Glendale appears to be delayed indefinitely.
Epic Resort Destinations was discovered recently to no longer be the developer behind the theme park and resort. However, the developer will continue to build in its other Mattel Adventure Park location in Kansas City, Kansas, which has also been delayed.
Epic Resort Destinations broke ground on the theme park as part of a larger 60-acre development in 2021, initially called Crystal Lagoons. In 2022, funding troubles prompted the developer to hand over the resort side of the project to Fisher Industries, who rebranded the project as the VAI Resort.
The resort is now the owner and operator of the theme park.
It appears this ownership change took place sometime on or before June 22, 2026, the date when VAI Resort published its job listing for a rides and operations director for Mattel Adventure Park. The director would be responsible for the maintenance, engineering, and technical operations for the theme park, and compensation would start at $150,000.
VAI Resort also posted job listings earlier this month for a construction procurement specialist and construction project coordinator. Both would pay $30 per hour.
Joseph said in a statement to Axios that the resort would be “redefining” the park’s “guest experience and creative vision.”
As of this report, the Mattel Adventure Park website reflects the theme park as “coming soon.” Links to park features are broken, however.
Some of the attractions have been partially constructed.
The theme park was promised to have a Barbie-themed shopping and dining experience which included a custom Barbie set builder, a flying theater, and rooftop bar and restaurant; Hot Wheels-themed go-kart and rollercoaster rides; seven Thomas & Friends attractions and an indoor play space and cafe; a Masters of the Universe-themed, 4,500 square-foot laser tag arena designed to look like Castle Grayskull fortress.
Other promotional materials shared on the park’s website or social media also included mentions of a beachfront pool, UNO! Wild Climb, mini golf, a Kerplunk drop tower, pizza kitchen, and general games area. Both official social media accounts for the theme park ceased posting in March 2024.
The theme park was originally set to open in 2023 but was hit with a series of delays, the latest of which occurred earlier this summer.
One of the causes for those delays concerned propositions limiting development on the 60 acres joining VAI Resort and Mattel Adventure Park. Last year, voters rejected Proposition 401, which would have allowed for the development of office buildings and a parking garage for the project.
Voters approved Proposition 402, which enables commercial development on the project land.
Faced with similar delays, VAI Resort no longer advertises its opening date. Instead, the owners will announce the opening date nine months prior to its occurrence.
The Mattel Adventure Park, if completed, would be the state’s first fully themed indoor/outdoor amusement park.
Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly suggested that the park’s delayed opening was due to the ownership change. That statement has been corrected.
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Three criminal illegal aliens accused of sex offenses against children were arrested in Virginia in late July, including one who entered the United States through Arizona before being released into the country by the Biden administration, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The arrests come less than two months after another criminal illegal alien who entered the United States through Arizona was also arrested in Virginia on charges involving alleged attempted abduction and indecent exposure.
All three suspects arrested in July are currently being held at the Middle River Regional Jail in Staunton, Virginia, where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged immigration detainers.
The three men are:
Efren Ramirez Escobedo, a Mexican national who was arrested on July 24 and charged with sexual assault involving a victim age 13-14 and sexual assault involving forcible intercourse. DHS says he illegally entered the United States at an unknown date and location.
Santos Bautista-Molina, a Honduran national who was arrested on July 27 and charged with nine counts of child solicitation and attempted sex offenses with a child under 15. DHS says he illegally entered the United States through Texas in September 2005.
Bayron Jose De Paz-Lopez, a Guatemalan national who was arrested on July 28 and charged with nine counts of child solicitation and attempted sex offense with a child under 15. DHS says De Paz-Lopez illegally entered the United States through Arizona in 2021 and was released into the country by the Biden administration.
Under Sanctuary Spanberger, Virginia has become the Commonwealth of Criminals.
ICE has lodged detainers for THREE illegal aliens who have all been arrested for sex crimes against CHILDREN in Staunton. @GovernorVA must cooperate with us and commit to NOT RELEASING these… https://t.co/OvmjLzLdJkpic.twitter.com/bkxrYmZiRh
On June 21, police in Annandale, Virginia, responded to reports that a man had exposed himself to a woman walking on a trail in a park. Police also received a report that a man had attempted to abduct a woman in the same park by stepping in front of her bicycle, forcing her to dismount, and attempting to drag her into the woods. The woman was able to escape.
Two days later, Fairfax County Police announced the arrest of Moises Domingo Rico Rosales, a Nicaraguan national. He was charged with abduction of a person with intent to defile and indecent exposure.
According to DHS, Rico Rosales had previously been arrested in 2024 on felony drug trafficking charges. ICE lodged an immigration detainer at the time, but Fairfax County officials did not honor the detainer and released him back into the community.
DHS says Rico Rosales had illegally entered the United States through Arizona in 2022, where he was arrested by U.S. Border Patrol. The Biden administration subsequently released him back into the country.
This illegal alien who EXPOSED HIS GENITALS to one woman and then tried to ABDUCT another was previously RELEASED by Fairfax County sanctuary politicians.
In the latest cases, ICE has lodged detainers for all three men arrested in July and is asking Virginia authorities to maintain custody of the suspects rather than release them.
“ICE has lodged detainers for three illegal aliens accused of sex crimes against children, all being held at the same jail in Staunton, Virginia,” stated DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin. “DHS is calling on Governor Abigail Spanberger and her fellow sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing these criminals from jail and to instead hand them over to ICE. Under Spanberger, the Commonwealth of Virginia has become a magnet for illegal alien crime. These reckless sanctuary policies are putting American lives at risk.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) highlighted a $1.6 million federal investment aimed at moving forward the long-planned construction of an air traffic control tower at Pinal Airpark.
Ciscomani visited the airpark last Thursday to discuss the funding and the next steps toward developing a dedicated tower at the facility, which currently operates without one.
The preliminary funding will help cover several stages of the project, including selecting a site, completing environmental reviews, developing the tower’s design, and beginning early construction-related work.
“Since 2023, I have worked in Congress to deliver an air traffic control tower to Pinal Airpark,” stated Congressman Ciscomani. “As Arizona’s only appropriator in the House or Senate, I have a unique responsibility to bring meaningful federal investments back home. This $1.6 million represents a major step toward building a tower that will enhance safety, support continued growth, and unlock new economic opportunities for Pinal County.”
The effort to bring a tower to Pinal Airpark has been a priority for Ciscomani since he entered Congress.
In 2023, he successfully secured language in the federal aviation reauthorization package intended to accelerate the process for developing an air traffic control tower at the airpark.
That provision was included in the House-passed FAA reauthorization legislation, helping lay the groundwork for the project now receiving federal funding.
The need for improved air traffic control infrastructure comes as Pinal Airpark continues to handle significant activity. According to the funding announcement, the facility accommodates more than 100,000 commercial and military flight operations annually.
Without a dedicated control tower, the airpark faces operational and safety challenges that could also affect its ability to accommodate future growth.
Pinal County Supervisor Stephen Miller credited Ciscomani with helping advance the project and pointed to its potential impact beyond aviation.
“Representative Ciscomani has led successful efforts in Congress to advance approval, design and construction of an air traffic control tower at Pinal Airpark to enhance aviation safety, strengthen military readiness, and drive job creation and economic growth throughout the region,” said Miller. “We are deeply grateful for Representative Ciscomani’s leadership and support in moving this critical project forward.”
The tower project also comes as Ciscomani seeks to bring additional federal dollars to Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District. Through this year’s federal funding bills, he is pursuing approximately $42.7 million for 20 projects throughout the district.
The Pinal Airpark funding is part of a broader effort to direct federal investment toward local infrastructure and development projects.
Ciscomani also highlighted the funding and partnership with Marana during an interview with KVOI.
Proud to advocate for bringing $42.7M back home to #AZ06 and to be one of the TOP members of Congress bringing these federal resources home to #AZ06.
Marana has been a great partner, and I am proud to work together to deliver RESULTS for our local community! 🌵 pic.twitter.com/5gB9E2b2UQ
— Congressman Juan Ciscomani (@RepCiscomani) August 20, 2026
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Trump administration has finally come to an agreement with Arizona and the other Lower Basin states on Colorado River water usage.
The news was met with a mixed reaction.
Gov. Katie Hobbs described the agreed-upon deal in an announcement on Friday as adequately protecting the state from the “disastrous and unacceptable forced federal water cuts” that were floated by the federal government earlier this month.
I'm glad the federal government has chosen to implement the Lower Basin's water allocation plan. We've protected Arizona from disastrous and unacceptable forced federal water cuts.
Together, we’ve proven that the Lower Basin will work in meaningful ways to protect the Colorado…
Under the federal government’s proposal, Arizona would have seen cuts up to 77%.
Under this deal, Arizona will lose about 61%: the most out of the Lower Basin states.
While Arizona will give up 760,000 acre-feet between 2027 and 2028, California and Nevada will collectively lose 490,000 acre-feet. Overall, the cuts represent a reduction of approximately 25%.
The Upper Basin states will not see cuts under this plan.
Brenda Burman, Central Arizona Project (CAP) general manager, said the Upper Basin states needed to pull their weight.
“Lake Mead should not be sacrificed to protect Lake Powell or other Upper Basin reservoirs, and every state that relies on the river should be part of the solution,” CAP General Manager Brenda Burman said in a statement. “The Colorado River needs to be treated as the system it is.”
Some of Arizona’s elected leaders issued stand-in statements in which they disclosed that they were still reviewing the plan.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), co-chair of the congressional Colorado River Caucus, said that upon initial review the current plan avoids the “most drastic options” previously announced by the Trump administration. However, Ciscomani intimated that long-term solutions were still lacking in this latest plan.
“The goal is clear: long-term water certainty and security for Arizona,” said Ciscomani. “I will continue working with the Administration and bipartisan leaders at every level of government to protect this critical resource for our farmers, ranchers, businesses, tribes, and every Arizona family that relies on the Colorado River.”
Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04) said that the deal provided two years of “welcome” stability, but that it was only “another short-term fix” and not a lasting solution.
“[A] two-year reprieve is not a solution. The agreements holding this decision together must be durable, and a record-breaking drought won’t suddenly resolve itself,” said Stanton. “Every two years, this same threat of ‘CAP to zero’ will hang over Arizona’s head. That’s no way to run a system millions of people depend on for water, power and food.”
Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03) didn’t issue a statement on the plan, but did post on social media calling water “the lifeblood of Arizona,” promising “bold action to confront the climate crisis,” and including a link to the city of Phoenix’s water quality page.
Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) issued a statement blending elements from colleagues Stanton and Ansari, calling for a more permanent solution among both the Upper and Lower Basin states while also urging action on climate change as the purported root causes of the prolonged drought.
Democrat Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego issued a joint statement simply expressing gratitude for the two years the plan afforded Arizona, and presented a lighter look forward at the road ahead for a more “lasting” plan of action. The senators also indirectly called on the Upper Basin states to take on some of the water-cuts burden as well.
“This decision provides much-needed certainty for Arizona and the Colorado River over the next two years,” Kelly and Gallego said. “The 2027 and 2028 guidelines protect Arizona from even deeper near-term cuts while giving the seven Basin states more time to reach a long-term agreement.”
Danny Seiden, Arizona Chamber President and CEO, said that the deal was “workable,” not perfect. Seiden credited state leaders for working in a bipartisan manner to accomplish the deal, specifically Hobbs, Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14), and House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29).
“We are still working through the details, but today’s decision appears to provide a workable path forward over the next two years and avoids some of the most damaging scenarios our state was facing,” said Seiden. “Arizona has already put real conservation and real cuts on the table, and the work now continues toward a long-term agreement that requires every Basin state to share in the responsibility. Arizona’s business community will continue to support our leaders as they fight for a fair, durable solution that protects our water and our economic future.”
Others weren’t so optimistic.
Scot Mussi, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, called the deal “a total failure of leadership.” Mussi criticized the deal, saying it imposes water cuts on single family homes but not data centers and apartments.
This deal is a total failure of leadership. On top of that, this deal will place most of the cuts on new single family homes while data centers and apartments get unlimited water. Conveniently, those big water users happen to be some of your biggest campaign contributors. https://t.co/pLaenPuDCc
A federal court has approved a $700 million nationwide settlement resolving a multi-state lawsuit against Google over allegations that the technology company unlawfully monopolized Android app distribution and in-app payment services.
Arizona was among the states that helped bring the case against Google in 2021, joining a coalition of attorney generals representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The lawsuit alleged that Google used its control over Android app distribution and Google Play billing to limit competition, reduce consumer choice, and charge consumers as much as 30% on certain transactions.
The settlement, approved August 18, ends a case that has been ongoing for approximately five years and establishes a $700 million fund to provide relief to eligible consumers nationwide.
Antitrust & Privacy Unit Chief Robert Bernheim and Senior Litigation Counsel Jayme Weber handled the case on behalf of Arizona.
Under the settlement, most of the $700 million fund will be distributed directly to consumers who made qualifying purchases through Google Play between August 16, 2016, and September 30, 2023.
Consumers who lived in Arizona or another participating jurisdiction during the relevant period may be eligible to receive a payment.
Most eligible consumers will not need to submit a claim form. Payments are expected to be distributed through electronic payment services, including PayPal and Venmo, according to the settlement distribution plan.
The settlement also requires Google to make significant changes to its business practices involving the Android ecosystem.
For at least five years, app developers will be permitted to use alternative billing systems, tell consumers about lower prices available outside Google’s billing system and distribute their apps through competing app stores without facing retaliation from Google.
Android users will also be permitted to download apps from sources outside the Google Play Store for at least seven years.
The changes are intended to provide consumers and app developers with greater choice in how applications are distributed and how purchases are processed.
The case was brought under the states’ parens patriae authority, which allows attorneys general to bring certain claims on behalf of consumers living in their respective jurisdictions.
The states alleged that Google’s practices resulted in consumers paying more for apps and in-app purchases while limiting their ability to choose alternative app stores and payment systems.
The states also alleged that Google made misleading representations concerning the risks of obtaining Android applications outside of the Google Play Store and regarding its billing practices.
Google has denied wrongdoing and, under the court’s final judgment, the settlement is not an admission or concession by Google of liability, fault, or wrongdoing.
U.S. District Judge James Donato of the Northern District of California issued the final approval order on August 18, funding the settlement and its distribution plan to be fair, reasonable, and adequate.
The court appointed Berkeley Research Group to assist the states with implementing the distribution plan and continued the appointment of Verita Global as settlement administrator.
The court will retain jurisdiction over the settlement’s implementation and distribution of the funds.
The court’s order also provides for a potential holdback of $93.62 million from an initial distribution if payments begin before a final ruling on attorney’s fees, costs, and incentive awards.
Any amount ultimately not awarded from that reserve would be returned to the settlement fund for subsequent distribution to eligible consumers.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened low-interest federal disaster loans to small businesses and private nonprofit organizations that suffered economic losses from the Pocket Fire.
The SBA issued the disaster declaration Aug. 11 after receiving a request from Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs on Aug. 7. The declaration covers Coconino, Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai counties in Arizona, along with Kane and San Juan counties in Utah.
Businesses and private nonprofits in the affected counties may apply through the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL). Eligible applicants include small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, and private nonprofit organizations, including faith-based organizations, that suffered financial losses directly related to the fire.
ICYMI – The @SBAgov is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for Arizonans experiencing economic losses from the Pocket Fire.
Applicants may qualify even if their business did not sustain physical damage to account for lost revenue.
The SBA said agricultural producers, farmers, and ranchers generally are not eligible for disaster loans under the declaration, with an exception for aquaculture enterprises.
Economic Injury Disaster Loans may be used for working capital expenses including fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could not be paid because of the disaster. Applicants may qualify even if their business or nonprofit did not sustain physical damage.
Loans are available for up to $2 million, with interest rates as low as 4% for businesses and 3.625% for private nonprofits. Repayment terms may extend as long as 30 years. Interest does not accrue, and payments are not required during the first 12 months after the initial loan disbursement.
“SBA loans help eligible small businesses and private nonprofits cover operating expenses after a disaster, which is crucial for their recovery,” said Chris Stallings, Associate Administrator of the Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience at SBA. “These loans not only help business owners get back on their feet but also play a key role in sustaining local economies in the aftermath of a disaster.”
The SBA determines eligibility, loan amounts, and repayment terms based on each applicant’s financial condition.
“If your business or nonprofit experienced challenges caused by the Pocket Fire, I encourage you to review this avenue of assistance from the SBA,” said Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ02). “The EIDL program offers eligible applicants low-interest loans, which can help offset losses from this disaster.”
Crane also thanked SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler and the agency for issuing the declaration and encouraged affected Arizonans to examine the assistance available through the program.
The Pocket Fire began June 19 about seven miles north of Sedona. The fire remained at zero percent containment through June 30, 12 days after it began, and ultimately burned more than 27,000 acres. The Arizona Emergency Information Network reported on July 30 that the fire had reached 100% containment, allowing officials to substantially reduce the surrounding closure area.
The SBA has also opened a Business Recovery Center at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce Administrative Office, 45 Sunset Drive. SBA representatives are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to answer questions and assist applicants. Walk-ins are accepted, and appointments may be scheduled in advance.
Crane’s office also publicized the availability of SBA federal disaster loans following the 2025 Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires.
Applications can also be submitted through the SBA’s disaster assistance website. The deadline for Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications related to the Pocket Fire is May 11, 2027.
