by Staff Reporter | May 12, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona State University is encouraging freshmen to take courses on LGBTQ+ identity and witchcraft, which some are criticizing as “woke” content that undermines rather than contributes to academia.
ASU offers these courses through Discovery Seminars offered exclusively to freshmen students. Each seminar comes with one course credit.
The LGBTQ+ identity course, “LGBTQ+ Cinema and TV in Pop Culture,” is taught by Gabriel Acevedo, assistant professor of English and Puerto Rican native. While teaching at a Catholic school in Puerto Rico, Acevedo introduced LGBTQ+ poetry to his students.
The ASU course focuses on mobilizing progressive ideas of gender, sexuality, and LGBTQ+ identities through pop culture, namely visual media like TV and movies.
Concepts of gender and sexuality are presented as fluid and subject to change with time. The course also explores how intersectionality impacts LGBTQ+ ideology by discussing identities, race, abilities, and class.
“[This course will] determine the extent to which LGBTQ+ experiences and conversations can unlock unprecedented, crucial, and essential cultural movements for young adults and teens,” stated the course description.
Acevedo’s most recent publication featured on the National Council of Teachers of English for the English Journal, “Mediating Empathy: Teaching LGBTQIA+ Young Adult Literature with Literary and Critical Care,” stressed the importance of not just including LGBTQ+ content in courses but teaching affirmation of LGBTQ+ identities to students.
Acevedo’s approach proposed treating LGBTQ+ content with the same reverence as works more traditionally classified as classic literature.
“Without intentional pedagogical focus, teachers risk unintentionally reinforcing the very marginalization they aim to challenge. Therefore, LGBTQIA+ texts should be regarded as cultural artifacts that require careful interpretation, balancing celebration of queer humanity with strategies for harm reduction,” said Acevedo. “These experiences strengthen my belief that every young person — whether queer, questioning, or cisgender heterosexual — benefits from literature that affirms gender and sexuality diversity and fosters critical empathy. Similarly, teachers, whether queer-identifying or allies, need practical, research-based strategies to responsibly include such texts in their classrooms.”
The witchcraft course, “Witches in the Age of #WitchTok,” is taught by Susan Nguyen, a poet and the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing editor-in-chief of ASU’s international literary journal, Hayden’s Ferry Review.
“#WitchTok” refers to the viral online subculture with millions of posts and billions of views dedicated to witchcraft. Creators who engage in this online subculture practice witchcraft and many use their platforms to educate others practicing, to include spells, potions, and divination.
Users attest to communicating with deities such as Hekate, or creatures like fairies and forest nymphs.
Some users attest that witchcraft and Christianity, which commands against the practice of witchcraft, may be practiced simultaneously.
Top creators include Frankie Ann (@chaoticwitchaunt, over 1.6 million followers across multiple social media channels).
In her course, Nguyen reframes witches as more than fictional side characters and as real and “powerful” figures of controversy and esteem that are making a “comeback.”
Nguyen also promotes and encourages gossip “as a tool of power and protection, especially for women and marginalized communities.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | May 12, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) has secured a significant new mission for Fort Huachuca, marking a major victory for national security, economic growth, and Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District.
The U.S. Department of War has selected Fort Huachuca as the primary site for the new mission and squadron, recognizing the installation’s unique strategic capabilities, advanced infrastructure, and strong regional support.
Local leaders and stakeholders across Cochise County and Southern Arizona are applauding Rep. Ciscomani’s determined advocacy and successful collaboration with the Trump administration and the Department of Defense.
“This new mission is a win for Sierra Vista and Cochise County, a win for Arizona and a win for our national security,” stated Ciscomani. “Most importantly, this a testament to Fort Huachuca and its nationally recognized role as an unequalled strategic asset, not just today, but for the future of our national defense.”
Fort Huachuca, located approximately 15 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border, is the largest employer in Cochise County. It features 946 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected electronic ranges. Its selection was strengthened by a robust regional ecosystem that includes the University of Arizona, along with major defense contractors such as Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and Honeywell.
Local leaders emphasized the mission’s broad benefits, including high-quality job creation and substantial economic impact.
Dr. Randy Groth, Fort Huachuca 50 said, “The selection of Fort Huachuca as the primary site for the new mission and squadron is a significant achievement for Sierra Vista and Cochise County, solidifying our community’s leadership in homeland defense and national security. I value Congressman Ciscomani’s dedicated advocacy and ongoing collaboration with the Department of War in securing this vital mission, which will create new opportunities and strengthen our region’s commitment to supporting our active duty service members.”
Clea McCaa, Mayor of Sierra Vista, stated, “Bringing this new mission to Fort Huachuca is a game-changer for Sierra Vista and our surrounding region. Not only will it further support American interests by strengthening our national defense posture, but it will also create high-quality jobs, bringing in approximately $3 billion in economic impact and reinforcing our city’s strong partnership with the Department of Defense. I appreciate Congressman Ciscomani’s continued advocacy over the past year in securing Fort Huachuca for this important investment in our future.”
Suresh Garimella, President of University of Arizona added, “The establishment of this mission at Fort Huachuca is a historic win for Arizona and a testament to the tireless advocacy of Congressman Juan Ciscomani. The University of Arizona has a long and storied legacy, and we are eager to bring our world-class research and technical prowess to this vital national security priority. We look forward to supporting the Air Force in Southern Arizona to safeguard our nation’s interests.”
Melany Edwards-Barton, Sky Islands Regional Partnership said, “The fact of the matter is, missions don’t come to an area that is not supported by its community. We have a supportive community down here that is willing to support it. Bringing in another mission adds jobs, adds another level of financial security to our region; the economic impact is going to be fabulous.”
This announcement underscores Fort Huachuca’s continued importance to America’s defense posture and delivers tangible economic benefits to Southern Arizona.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | May 12, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Arizona Republican Party is ramping up its election integrity operations ahead of the 2026 election cycle, naming attorney Greg Roeberg as legal counsel to oversee legal strategy and respond to anticipated election-related disputes.
Under the leadership of Chairman Sergio Arellano, party officials said Roeberg will help guide legal strategy and election-related operations in the lead-up to statewide races, including a competitive contest for attorney general.
Roeberg, an Arizona-based attorney with experience in business and government law, has served as an election integrity attorney for the Republican National Committee, President Donald Trump, and Republican candidates in Arizona during the 2020, 2022, and 2024 election cycles.
In an exclusive statement to AZ Free News, Arellano explained that election integrity remains a central issue for voters heading into 2026.
“Election integrity is a mandate from Arizona voters, and Greg Roeberg has already proven he knows how to fight and win on that front— having represented President Trump and Republican candidates in the most consequential election battles in our state,” Arellano said.
Arellano also referenced ongoing disputes between Republicans and Arizona election officials, including Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, stating that the party is preparing legal resources to respond to election administration issues in the coming cycle.
“We have seen how far Adrian Fontes will go to assert his will to subvert fair and free elections, and the AZGOP stands ready now to protect voters,” Arellano said.
Roeberg said he is “honored to serve the Arizona Republican Party” and emphasized the importance of legal preparation ahead of the next election.
“After three election cycles in the trenches, I know what’s at stake in this state,” Roeberg said. “I’m ready to get to work alongside Chairman Arellano and our grassroots team to protect the voice of every legal voter in Arizona.”
Earlier in the 2026 cycle, Roeberg launched a campaign for Arizona attorney general before stepping aside to focus on election-related legal work.
The appointment comes as both parties continue building legal and campaign infrastructure ahead of the 2026 election cycle, with election administration and litigation expected to remain a central component of political strategy in Arizona.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Staff Reporter | May 11, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A viral story across the media accused the Trump administration of keeping parents from their adult son dying of terminal cancer.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded that was the furthest thing from the truth.
Although their son had been living and already returned to Mexico, his parents decided to reenter the country illegally.
DHS says the parents, Isidor Gonzales Aviles and Normal Anabel (also identified as Norma Anabel Ramirez Amaya), were not in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and that their family misrepresented critical facts in their case to the media.
Per DHS, Aviles and Anabel had been deported years prior to this event and were illegal aliens. Neither individual had standing to enter the country regardless of the reason.
Aviles entered the country illegally in 2000; from that point to his removal in 2011, Aviles was arrested and charged multiple times with sexual abuse, retail theft, battery, trespassing, and disorderly conduct.
Anabel entered the country illegally in 2005. She was also deported back to Mexico in 2011. However, Anabel entered the country illegally again in 2024, where she was apprehended by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and redeported within several days.
Their son Kevin Gonzalez — who is 18 and is identified as a U.S. citizen — was born during that time period while his parents were hiding out in the country illegally in Chicago, Illinois. That would mean Gonzalez was born to illegal immigrant parents, what some call an “anchor baby” in the heated debate over birthplace citizenship that has made its way to the Supreme Court.
Although Gonzalez was born in Chicago, he lived in Mexico with his parents leading up to December 2025. That’s around when Gonzalez received his cancer diagnosis and left his parents to seek out medical treatment in the U.S.
Gonzalez was diagnosed with metastatic Stage 4 colon cancer in January and was initially under the care of his brother, Jovany Ramirez, in Chicago. Aviles and Anabel reported petitioning for humanitarian parole into the country to be with Gonzalez, but their petitions were denied.
During this time, Gonzalez traveled back to Mexico to be with his family. He entered the care of his grandmother, Virginia Amaya.
DHS later responded to media reports on the claim of humanitarian parole; according to DHS, Aviles and Anabel applied for B1/B2 visas, which were denied, not humanitarian parole.
Although Gonzalez returned to Mexico, Aviles and Anabel then reentered the country illegally in April and were detained by CBP in Douglas, not ICE. The parents were taken to the Florence Correctional Center for processing.
On Thursday, a federal immigration judge authorized the expedited release of Aviles and Anabel.
Congressional Democrats who qualify illegal aliens as constitutents and have prioritized fighting against immigration enforcement efforts came to the family’s defense.
Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) called the story “heartbreaking.”
“I’m asking ICE to accommodate this request so Kevin can see his parents one last time,” said Grijalva. “This isn’t about politics — it’s about human decency.”
On Friday it was reported that Aviles and Anabel were traveling back to Mexico.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | May 11, 2026 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Grand Canyon University’s student ensemble choir Critical Mass will perform later this month at a national celebration in Washington, D.C. tied to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
The choir was invited by the White House to participate in “Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving,” scheduled for May 17 on the National Mall. The event is part of the broader America250 initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
According to Grand Canyon University News, 14 members of Critical Mass remained on campus after the conclusion of the spring semester to continue rehearsals before departing for Washington on May 15.
“This is probably the biggest stage for Critical Mass,” Grand Canyon University Chair of Music Dr. Juan de Dios Hernandez told GCU News. “This event reflects who we are, a jubilee for prayer and praise.”
The May 17 event coincides with the 250th anniversary of the Continental Congress’ 1776 proclamation calling for a national day of fasting and prayer. Organizers described the gathering as an event intended to “reaffirm the country’s biblical foundation through moving messages, personal testimonies and worship music.”
“This really centers around what we do,” he added. “We do a lot of things, but the primary thing we do is share the Christian faith in whatever context we are.”
Critical Mass serves as one of the university’s primary musical ambassadors and performs more than 100 times during the academic year, according to the university. The ensemble recently performed during 13 commencement ceremonies held at Global Credit Union Arena.
University President Brian Mueller publicly recognized the group’s invitation during a recent commencement ceremony.
The Washington event is expected to feature addresses from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson, and Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester in Minnesota, according to GCU News.
Other scheduled performers include Christian artist Chris Tomlin, singer Laura Osnes, Liberty University Praise, the Hillsdale College Choir, and the United States Navy Band.
The appearance marks another public role for GCU in events surrounding the nation’s upcoming semiquincentennial observances. Earlier this year, the university hosted the Arizona America250 Commission’s traveling museum exhibit commemorating the anniversary.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Staff Reporter | May 11, 2026 | Economy, News
By Staff Reporter |
The labor market is on a continued decline in Arizona, per the latest federal data reporting for March.
Arizona’s reported numbers marked one of the worst months of decline in the labor market nationwide, according to an analysis published this week by the Common Sense Institute (CSI) in its review of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for March.
CSI stated in a press release that the BLS data indicated Arizona’s labor market had exhibited an increased divergence from national trends this year: slowing employment growth, rising unemployment, and weaker wage growth. Overall, CSI said these behaviors indicated the state would be enduring a tougher economic environment.
Arizona recorded its first monthly job loss of this year, losing around 2,600 nonfarm jobs. This caused the state to be placed 12th in terms of worst employment performance nationwide. The state also lost 300 manufacturing jobs, bringing the year-over-year total to 1,300 jobs lost, and 1,600 trade, transportation, and utilities jobs, bringing the year-over-year total to 6,200 jobs lost.
Arizona and 15 other states experienced month-over-month job losses. March marked the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year job losses for Arizona.
“[T]he confluence of a falling labor force participation rate and rising unemployment rate further point to a souring labor market in the state – a trend we highlighted in the previous Jobs and Labor Force Update,” stated the CSI report.
The nation gained 178,000 jobs in March, overcoming the loss of 133,000 jobs in February.
Arizona had a middling ranking year-over-year for job growth nationally (36th) and a lower ranking year-over-year for hourly wage increases (44th). The jobs ranking improved slightly from earlier this year (43rd).
Arizona has been losing jobs year-over-year since last August, warned CSI, while the growth of jobs has slowed steadily since 2022.
In the latter dataset, Arizona hourly wages increased nearly two percent year-over-year. Real wages rose up by more than half a percent year-over-year, compared to the national average of 1.3 percent.
The state’s employment rate rose to 4.7 percent.
The trend in Arizona aligns with the overall decline experienced across the nation. Job openings fell in March, though a recent hiring surge surpassing several years of pacing indicates this decline may stabilize or even turn around.
Acting BLS Commissioner William Wiatrowski, a longtime component of the agency, has defended the labor market reports amid months of criticisms from President Donald Trump. It was the president’s dissatisfaction with BLS reports, in part, that prompted the removal of Wiatrowski’s predecessor last summer.
Earlier this year, Wiatrowski denied accusations that poorer reports were manipulated or influenced to benefit Democrats.
“I can tell you there is no outside interference in the data,” said Wiatrowski. “If anyone was cooking the books, I would be one of the first persons shouting.”
Trump has nominated another longtime BLS economist and twice member of the president’s Council of Economic Advisors, Brett Matsumoto, to take over as the permanent commissioner.
“For many years, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, under WEAK and STUPID people, has been FAILING American Businesses, Policymakers, and Families by releasing VERY inaccurate numbers,” said Trump in a Truth Social post in January. “I am confident that Brett has the expertise to QUICKLY fix the long history of issues at the BLS on behalf of the American People. Brett Matsumoto is a Brilliant, Reputable, and Trusted Economist who will restore GREATNESS to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
