by Jonathan Eberle | Apr 2, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed SB1119, a piece of bipartisan legislation aimed at prioritizing affordable and reliable utility services for Arizonans. The bill, sponsored by Senator Tim Dunn (R-LD25), sought to direct the Residential Utility Consumer Office (RUCO) to focus exclusively on minimizing utility rates rather than considering environmental policies that could contribute to higher costs.
In a press release following the veto, Senator Dunn criticized the decision, arguing that it would negatively impact consumers already struggling with rising costs. “SB 1119 would have required the Residential Utility Consumer Office to focus its efforts on fighting for the safest and most reliable utility service achievable at the lowest retail rate possible, instead of prioritizing any costly radical environmentalist agendas,” Dunn stated. He went on to say that the veto was “short-sighted” and would ultimately burden Arizona residents.
Utility costs have been a growing concern for Arizona residents, particularly in the wake of inflation and increased energy demand. The state’s energy policies have often been a point of contention, with debates centering around balancing affordability with sustainability. RUCO, an independent agency that represents residential utility customers, currently considers multiple factors when making policy recommendations.
Supporters of SB 1119 argued that the bill would have strengthened consumer protections by ensuring that RUCO prioritized affordability above all else. The veto is expected to spark further discussions among lawmakers and stakeholders on how to bring more affordable utility rates to Arizonans. As the state continues to grapple with rising utility costs, future legislative efforts may seek to address the concerns raised by both proponents and critics of SB 1119.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 2, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Founder and former CEO of the Phoenix-based Nikola Motor Company, Trevor Milton, was granted a full-unconditional pardon by President Donald Trump on Friday as confirmed by the White House. Milton was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office – Southern District of New York (SDNY), the same office which led the infamous pre-election prosecution of the President.
In a press release issued Friday, Milton, who was convicted of fraud and sentenced to four years in prison in December 2023, referenced a vow from Trump during his second inaugural address to “end the political weaponization of the Justice Department.”
Milton said in an Instagram post, “Today I was issued a full and unconditional pardon by Donald Trump himself. He called me personally to tell me.”
He also said in a statement, “This pardon is not just about me—it’s about every American who has been railroaded by the government, and unfortunately, that’s a lot of people.
“It is no wonder why trust and confidence in the Justice Department has eroded to nothing. I wish judges would stop believing whatever the prosecutors feed them so Americans could trust the justice system again. Until that happens, our justice system will continue to erode until there is nothing left.
“The 90+% conviction rate in New York is appalling and is a result of prosecutors getting whatever they want and putting innocent people in prison. I saw firsthand the tactics they use to achieve those guaranteed convictions. I am incredibly grateful to President Trump for his courage in standing up for what is right and for granting me this sacred pardon of innocence.”
Milton also shared the news in a video post to X calling it “the best day I’ve had in five years.”
He said in the video, in part, “It’s pretty hard for me to talk about, but probably the best day I’ve had in five years. I just got a call from the President of the United States on my phone, and he signed my full and unconditional pardon of innocence. I am free. The prosecutors can no longer hurt me. They can’t destroy my family. They can’t rip everything away from me. They can’t ruin my life. I get to be with my wife now. I get to be with my family. It is done. It’s over. I am now officially pardoned by the President of the United States 45, 47, an amazing man that cared enough to call me personally to tell me how much of an injustice this all was, done by the same offices that harassed and prosecuted him. And I’m now officially 100% pardoned.”
When questioned on the pardon by reporters at the White House, President Trump replied that the pardon of Milton was “highly recommended, highly recommended by many people,” according to Fox News. The president characterized Milton’s prosecution by the SDNY as politically motivated due to the billionaire’s high profile and early support of Trump’s campaign.
“Again I don’t know him, they say it was very unfair, and they say the thing that he did wrong was he was one of the first people that supported a gentleman named Donald Trump for president.
“He supported Trump. He liked Trump. I didn’t know him, but he liked him. It was in Utah, and they went after him. They went after his family. They went after his businesses, and he was, I believe, exonerated, and then they went after him again, and they brought him this time into Manhattan, and he had nothing to do with Manhattan, and they got him. And I said that’s unfair. There are many people like that. They support Trump, and they went after him.”
He continued, “You don’t realize, this is a vicious group of people that were in this office before us. This is a vicious group. They’re violent. What they would… what they were doing to people, and you could go story after hundreds and even thousands of stories. And they went after this man. And when I heard about it I said, ‘Nope, not gonna happen.’ They persecuted. They destroyed five years of his life. He fought for five years of his life, and he did nothing wrong, and he’s a good person. And basically, I had these fantastic recommendations about him from people that you know very well. All top of the line people. They thought it was a horrible thing. There were… there were many such cases by the way many such cases.”
As reported by Reuters, federal prosecutors alleged that Milton misled Nikola investors claiming that the firm had constructed a truck from the “ground up,” and had developed its own batteries, despite buying them and allegedly misled them about the capabilities of the company’s “Nikola One” EV Semi-truck.
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 | Apr 1, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A man has been arrested in the viral assault of a Tesla driver near Flagstaff.
Police named the arrested individual as 33-year-old Robert Artherton of Flagstaff. According to a statement from the Flagstaff Police Department (FPD), Artherton was arrested via a criminal citation for disorderly conduct, assault, and aggressive driving in the “road rage incident that escalated into a violent encounter.”
The FPD statement also stated that conflicting accounts existed as to what led up to the assault and how the incident played out, with witnesses reporting “erratic driving behavior” from both Artherton and the victim, a 61-year-old woman who maintained anonymity in her remarks to the media.
Video evidence showed Artherton drove his Chevrolet Cavalier in front of the Tesla along Route 66, preventing the female driver from continuing forward. Artherton then exited his vehicle in order to approach the driver’s side of the Tesla and reportedly began punching the driver repeatedly. FPD confirmed both drivers sustained minor injuries from the altercation.
“All parties involved allege that the incident was triggered by driving behaviors, honking, and disorderly hand gestures,” stated FPD. “At the time of the investigation no additional details regarding the motives behind the incident were provided.”
The woman told AZ Family she felt she was attacked for her perceived political stance or, at the very minimum, the current perceived political statement of owning a Tesla.
“I didn’t buy my car for a political statement,” said the woman. “I bought my car because it is really fun to drive. My politics have nothing to do with that. I’m ashamed of our society and what they are doing.”
The incident occurred earlier this month. FPD did not confirm whether the assault was a case of apolitical road rage or due to the fact that the woman was driving a Tesla.
Many in the public sphere connected the assault with the ongoing vitriol and violence issued by those opposed to Tesla CEO Elon Musk over his heading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration.
Congressman Abe Hamadeh condemned the incident and called for greater responses to the ongoing verbal and physical attacks.
“Unable to come to terms with their historic loss in November, & spurred on by the incendiary anti-Elon rhetoric of the leaders of their party, the radical left has resorted to violence,” said Hamadeh. “This needs to stop before more people are hurt.”
Congressman Eli Crane called the attack “shameful behavior.”
Last week, the FBI announced the creation of a dedicated task force to “crack down on violent Tesla attacks,” including fires set to Tesla vehicles and charging stations. The FBI categorized the attacks as “domestic terrorism.” The FBI is coordinating with the ATF to investigate criminal activity.
FBI Director Kash Patel promised a swift response from his agency.
“This is domestic terrorism,” said Patel. “Those responsible will be pursued, caught, and brought to justice.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi backed these characterizations earlier this month.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 1, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona State Senator JD Mesnard (R-LD13) is looking to reduce the size of government and the state income tax burden on Arizonans with dual bills: SB1318 and SCR1014. Both bills, which are moving through the House after passing the Senate in February, would require the Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) to reduce the individual income tax rate by 50% of the structural surplus for each Taxable Year (TY). If SB1318 passes the legisalture and is vetoed by Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs, SCR104 would put the issue on the Arizona ballot.
Both bills would require the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) to determine the surplus for each Fiscal Year (FY), which would then be used to pro-actively reduce the income tax rate by 50% of the surplus amount, passing the tax savings onto the taxpayer more immediately than the issuance of a tax dividend.
Mesnard has a history of pursuing tax cuts. He was one of the lawmakers responsible for the historic 2021 tax reform that brought a flat income tax rate of 2.5% to individual taxpayers in Arizona. He also authored SB1783 the same year which lowered taxes on small businesses.
As reported by the AZ Capitol Times, Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs expressed her opposition to SB1318, however should she veto it, the legislature would send SCR1014 to the Secretary of State, who would submit this proposition to the voters at the next election. Comparing the bill to the 1992 ‘TABOR’ or the Taxpayers Bill of Rights instituted by Colorado, Hobbs said, “I’m not interested in tying our hands like that. No. Not like TABOR. No. That’s not tax relief. That is tying the hands of future administrations.”
During hearings in February, Mesnard explained, “This is a proposal to essentially strike a balance. When you have a surplus, let’s split it between giving money to taxpayers and the other half allocating towards whatever you want.”
Democrat Sen. Brian Fernandez described the bill as an effort to “handcuff us so we can’t make decisions during a budget (negotiation).”
Mesnard responded, “So, ‘handcuff’; is an interesting choice of words. We can put parameters on ourselves. The voters put parameters on increasing taxes back in the 90s and also, more recently, when they’re on the ballot.”
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 Matthew Holloway | Apr 1, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Democrat Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, daughter of late-Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07) has announced that she will resign from her County Office effective April 4th and enter the primary race for her father’s seat. Declining to run for the 7th District seat herself, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero will chair Grijalva’s campaign.
In a press release issued Monday, the Pima County Supervisor indicated that her decision largely comes from a desire to oppose the agenda of President Donald Trump, maligning X owner Elon Musk in his capacity as a special government employee as leading a “gang of billionaires […] destroying our nation.”
Grijalva said in her full statement:
“I am running for Congress because Southern Arizona deserves bold leadership that will fight for working families and stand up to Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their gang of billionaires are destroying our nation. They’re destroying our schools. They’re attacking our most sacred rights. They’re poisoning our environment. But together, we will stop them. This fight starts right here, right now, in southern Arizona.
“I’ve spent my life as an advocate, fighting for the brighter future we all deserve – from 20 years on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board where I strengthened public education for all children, to the Pima County Board of Supervisors where I spearheaded investments in affordable housing and childcare, and protected our beautiful Sonoran desert. In Congress, I will work to create opportunities to help all our families achieve their American Dream – no matter who you are, where you come from, or where you live.”
Speaking with AZ Luminaria, Grijalva said, “We’re not living in normal times,” and accused the Trump administration of “dismantling our entire democracy.” The outlet reported that Grijalva will be launching a listening tour later this week with a stop in Yuma and a focus on talking “to people who have lived experience that I don’t have.”
As noted by the outlet, Grijalva will face off in the Democratic primary against former AZ State Representative Daniel Hernandez, in addition to a dozen other candidates.
Ten Republicans have reportedly filed statements of interest in the Congressional seat with Daniel Butierez, Rep. Grijalva’s 2024 opponent considered the leading GOP Primary contender. According to The Cook Political Report, District 7 is well-established as Democrat held with a rating of D+15. The late Congressman Grijalva was elected to the House of Representatives in 2003 and held his seat for over twenty years despite redistricting in 2013. In the 2024 election, Grijalva defeated Butierez by a 26.8% margin.
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 Jonathan Eberle | Mar 31, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona State Senator Carine Werner (R-LD4), Chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee, has called for a legislative probe into the Arizona Department of Child Services (DCS) group home regulations. Werner called for the investigation after the gruesome murder of 14-year-old Emily Pike. Pike had run away from a state-licensed facility in January before being killed.
In a press release, Werner expressed deep concern over the failure of the system to protect vulnerable children. She announced plans to convene a bipartisan hearing through the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on the Department of Child Safety. The hearing will include DCS officials, law enforcement, lawmakers, tribal councils, and social services departments to examine existing policies and identify areas for reform.
“Arizona’s licensed group homes have repeatedly made headlines for egregious mistakes that have cost lives and threatened the safety of staff,” Werner stated. “There may be underlying systemic issues requiring immediate reforms, so we must assess where mistakes are occurring and determine the next steps.”
Werner also called for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to launch an investigation, though no official inquiry has been announced at this time.
Arizona’s child welfare system has faced long-standing criticism over group home conditions and the safety of children placed in state care. Reports of abuse, neglect, and inadequate oversight have raised alarms among lawmakers and child advocates. The tragic case of Emily Pike has reignited demands for stricter oversight and accountability.
The Senate hearing is expected to focus on the effectiveness of existing DCS policies, safety measures in group homes, and potential legislative solutions to prevent future tragedies. Senator Werner has pledged to keep the public informed on the progress of the investigation and any forthcoming policy recommendations.
As Arizona lawmakers push for answers, the case underscores the ongoing debate over child welfare reforms and the role of state oversight in protecting the most vulnerable children.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
