Several days after the one-year anniversary of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, his memorial was once again vandalized.
Kirk was assassinated Sept. 10, 2025, while speaking at Utah Valley University. He was the founder and CEO of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), a conservative advocacy organization. Kirk was 31 years old at the time of his death. He left behind Erika, his wife of four years, and their two young children.
A bronze statue depicting Kirk’s likeness and a sign featuring a picture of Kirk were vandalized with red paint.
The paint was drawn in the pattern of an “X” over the statue’s face, a frowning face was drawn over the statue’s torso, and paint was spattered over the statue’s neck and hat in a similar representation to the gunshot wound that Kirk sustained in the assassination.
Similarly, the paint was drawn in the pattern of an “X” over the face and neck area in Kirk’s picture on the sign. The quote on the sign — “May Charlie be received into the merciful arms of Jesus, our loving Savior” — had the word “Jesus” covered in red paint.
TPUSA advised in a public post that it had camera footage of the incident and that its personnel were working with law enforcement to identify those responsible for the vandalization.
“[V]andalism like this is not funny, it’s diabolical,” stated TPUSA. “The incident happened in the middle of the night because evil never sleeps. Beyond spray painting on the neck and face, they made the intentional decision to cross out the name of Jesus on a nearby sign.”
We will restore the statue and replace the signs, but we are also reviewing the footage of the incident and are working with law enforcement to identify who did this and hold them accountable.
But vandalism like this is not funny, it’s diabolical. The incident happened in the… pic.twitter.com/LSUJn9vYv4
Erika responded that incidents like this latest vandalism have only strengthened her resolve to continue her husband’s work. Erika now serves as the CEO of TPUSA.
“They thought a bullet would silence my husband’s voice but it only made it louder. They think spray paint can obscure his legacy, but it will only spread it further. Every attempt to tear down what Charlie built makes us root deeper and work even harder,” said Erika. “And if you think crossing out the name of Jesus Christ will silence Christians, history has already proved you wrong. We know what it costs to stand firm for Christ and we will stand anyway. God will not be mocked. We’ll put His name right back where it belongs, clean up the mess, restore Charlie’s statue, and keep building. We will never give up and never surrender.”
Charlie once said we should be building two statues for every statue that they tear down. His instinct was always to build, not to destroy.
They thought a bullet would silence my husband’s voice but it only made it louder. They think spray paint can obscure his legacy, but it… https://t.co/nfMlpsSwKd
Another one of Kirk’s memorials was vandalized last year by Mesa resident Ryder Corral, who was dressed similarly to Tyler James Robinson, Kirk’s accused assassin.
Man vandalizes Charlie Kirk memorial outside Turning Point USA headquarters in Phoenix
Phoenix police identified the vandal as 19-year-old Ryder Corral. In the video, he’s wearing a shirt similar to the one worn by Charlie Kirk’s killer. pic.twitter.com/bF7BJWBRTP
Robinson faces seven criminal charges in connection with Kirk’s assassination; prosecutors announced they are seeking the death penalty in his case.
Robinson’s defense attorneys have cost the state of Utah approximately $1.6 million so far, according to reporting from the Salt Lake Tribune.
A trial date has yet to be set in Robinson’s case. The next court date in his case is scheduled for Oct. 23, 2026, during which discussions of proposed trial dates are anticipated to occur.
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The city of Phoenix has declared Farmworkers Day to replace Cesar Chavez Day.
The replacement holiday will occur on the same day, March 31.
As with many other states and municipalities across the nation, the city of Phoenix ceased honoring once-lauded late civil rights leader Cesar Chavez following recent sexual abuse allegations. The allegations emerged in March of this year in reporting by The New York Times, published nearly 33 years to the day of Chavez’s death in 1993 at 66 years old.
Chavez was born in Yuma and died in San Luis. He served in the U.S. Navy for two years prior to relocating to California where he joined the Community Service Organization and began his career as a labor advocate.
Multiple women alleged to The New York Times that Chavez had sexually abused them when they were children. Other women alleged that Chavez sexually assaulted them, including Dolores Huerta, the woman who co-founded the National Farm Workers Association alongside him.
Huerta alleged that she had been pressured to have sex with Chavez in 1960 and that Chavez raped her in 1966. Huerta later entered a relationship with Chavez’s brother and had four children by him.
Some within the movement that were close to Chavez have denied the allegations against him.
The city of Phoenix will now recognize Farmworkers Day since it occurs in proximity to April 6, the date in 1966 when the National Farm Workers Association reached a historic agreement with Schenley Industries, a major grape grower, to recognize the association as the sole collective bargaining agent for its workers.
In a press release announcing their decision, city of Phoenix leaders directly attributed The New York Times reporting to their decision to swap Cesar Chavez Day for Farmworkers Day.
“While Cesar Chavez was a well-known leader in the fight for labor rights, the movement belonged to so many other individuals who were leaders in their own right,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “We will recognize and honor their collective struggles, sacrifices, and successes on Farmworkers Day.”
Councilwoman Laura Pastor offered sentiments similar to the mayor’s, stating that labor union advocacy was greater than Chavez’s legacy.
“The fight for workers’ rights has always been deeply personal to me. The farmworker movement was built by generations of people who stood together for dignity and fair treatment,” said Pastor. “Permanently recognizing Farmworkers Day allows us to honor that legacy and center the workers whose courage and sacrifice made progress possible.”
Councilwoman Betty Guardado agreed.
“This day belongs to the workers. It belongs to their families. It belongs to everyone who has stood together and said that hard work deserves dignity, respect, and a fair shot,” said Guardado.
The city has also initiated other efforts to rename street signs, facilities, and public amenities bearing Chavez’s name.
Earlier this year, Gov. Katie Hobbs repealed the state law recognizing Cesar Chavez Day through a bipartisan emergency measure advanced by the state legislature. State Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales (D-LD20) was the sole dissenting vote against the measure.
Gonzales wrote a letter to Hobbs arguing that a veto was necessary because the measure was unconstitutional. Gonzales urged Hobbs to allow voters to decide on the fate of Cesar Chavez Day via referendum.
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Approximately 150,000 voters across Maricopa County should have received notices to confirm their voter registration addresses.
The Maricopa County Recorder’s Office sent two batches of notices between late July and mid-August.
Nearly 142,200 notices were sent July 31 or August 1, and more than 7,400 were sent August 14 or 15.
These voters received notices because their address on file in the Access Voter Information Database differed from the address on file with the Motor Vehicle Department (MVD).
The state’s address-comparison process and AVID reportedly could use some improvement.
At present, Arizona law requires the secretary of state’s office to compare AVID records against the MVD’s driver license database, then have the county recorders issue notices of discrepancies to voters.
Recorder Justin Heap toldThe Center Square that he and other county recorders have petitioned Secretary of State Adrian Fontes about improving its address-comparison process and AVID.
Address discrepancies don’t result in registration limitations or cancellations. However, it could result in the delivery of mail ballots to incorrect addresses. Voters who received a notice that contained the correct information need not reply to the county.
“It simply advises the voter of the information provided to us so they can verify it and update their registration if necessary,” said Heap. “Their voter registration remains active, and any ballot requests — including Active Early Voting List ballots — will be fulfilled as normal.”
Voters have until the voter registration deadline to act, which is October 5. Maricopa County residents may register to vote at Register.Maricopa.Vote, and check or update their voter information at BeBallotReady.Vote.
Other deadlines and critical dates are fast approaching as well.
Military and overseas ballots will be mailed out on September 19. Following the voter registration deadline on October 5, ballots will be mailed and early voting will begin on October 7.
The last day to request a replacement ballot by mail is October 23, and the last day to mail back a ballot is October 27. Election Day is on November 3.
🗳️ IMPORTANT REMINDER!
October 5, 2026, is the last day to register for the November 3, 2026 General Election in Maricopa County!
— Maricopa County Recorder's Office (@RecordersOffice) September 11, 2026
The county is also looking for part-time and full-time election workers for the upcoming election. Interested residents may apply at GetInvolved.Maricopa.Vote. A full list of available opportunities are also available through Maricopa County Careers.
Last week, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors approved 254 vote centers for the election during their regular meeting. The board noted that the ballots were streamlined to one single page — one piece of paper with content on the front and back — rather than two pages as in past years.
As of the primary election in July, there were more than 2.5 million voters registered in Maricopa County; more than 901,500 registered as “other,” nearly 884,000 registered as Republicans, nearly 705,300 registered as Democrats, nearly 29,000 registered as No Labels, more than 18,200 registered as Libertarians, and nearly 3,000 registered as Green Party.
There were more than 4.3 million voters total in the state as of the primary election.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
A new economic analysis estimates that measures proposed during Arizona’s 2026 legislative session could have imposed at least $31.5 billion in annual costs and reduced employment by more than 424,000 jobs if they had taken effect together.
The 2026 Arizona “Job Killers” report, produced by Common Sense Institute Arizona (CSI) and the Arizona Chamber Foundation, identified 119 legislative measures that the organizations classified as potential tax increases, labor-cost increases, regulatory burdens, or new operating restrictions on Arizona businesses.
What is the potential cost of policy?
CSI Arizona and the Arizona Chamber Foundation identified 119 bills introduced during the 2026 legislative session that would have increased taxes, fees, labor costs or regulatory requirements.
A review of the measures’ introduced sponsorship records found that 92 had Democratic lead sponsors and 27 had Republican lead sponsors. One Democratic-led measure also listed Republican sponsors. All 23 measures classified in the report’s labor category had Democratic lead sponsors.
CSI used Regional Economic Models Inc. (REMI) simulation software to produce the statewide estimates. Most individual estimates represent direct, first-order costs, while researchers applied a broader REMI TaxPI+ analysis to selected proposals.
The projections describe hypothetical effects, not recorded losses. The report assumes sudden and simultaneous enactment of the modeled proposals and cautions that actual costs could vary with implementation. None of the 119 measures became law.
The authors wrote, “An initial econometric analysis using CSI’s REMI simulation software suggests enactment of 88 of the 119 bills identified and tracked by the Arizona Chamber would have imposed at least $31 billion in new annual costs on Arizona.”
The report’s methodology footnote gives a different count, stating that CSI limited its quantitative analysis to 31 proposals whose costs could be estimated from tax and fee provisions or existing academic research. It says the remaining proposals could impose additional costs that were not readily estimable for the report.
CSI reported that its economic simulation estimated that simultaneous implementation of the modeled proposals could have reduced statewide employment by 424,400 jobs, or 9 percent; lowered real disposable personal income per resident by as much as $4,100 annually, or 7 percent; and reduced Arizona’s real gross domestic product by $48 billion, or 8 percent, once the effects were fully realized.
The largest estimated cost category consisted of labor measures, with 23 proposals carrying an estimated combined cost exceeding $17.5 billion.
These included proposals to repeal Arizona’s constitutional and statutory right-to-work protections. SCR 1035 and HCR 2022 proposed placing the repeal of Article XXV of the Arizona Constitution before voters. If voters approved the constitutional change, the related HB 2464 would have repealed Arizona’s statutory right-to-work provision.
Article XXV prohibits denying a person employment because of nonmembership in a labor organization and prohibits agreements that exclude people from employment on that basis.
CSI’s modeling assumed repeal would lower Arizona’s projected average annual GDP growth over five years from 3.86 percent to 3.05 percent, a reduction of approximately 21 percent from the baseline growth rate. The model projected between 30,000 and 40,000 fewer jobs.
Other labor proposals included mandatory paid-leave programs, minimum-wage increases, workplace heat regulations, and changes to scheduling, meal breaks, and overtime requirements. The report estimated $1.8 billion in costs from proposed paid-leave programs and up to $1.9 billion from minimum-wage increases.
HB 2466 would have required overtime compensation for work exceeding eight hours in a workday, double pay for hours beyond 12 in a workday, and additional meal and rest breaks. CSI placed the measure’s estimated annual cost at $2.5 billion.
The report estimated that tax proposals would have imposed a combined cost of nearly $3.8 billion.
HB 4095 proposed an additional 3.5 percent tax on federal adjusted gross income exceeding $250,000 for single filers and married people filing separately, or $500,000 for married couples filing jointly and heads of household. Revenue would have been divided equally between the Classroom Site Fund and the Emergency Deficiencies Correction Fund.
CSI estimated the measure would have generated approximately $1.5 billion in additional annual tax liability.
HB 2636 would have retained the state’s 2.5 percent rate on taxable income through $1 million and applied an 8 percent rate to income above that threshold. The report’s narrative incorrectly identifies that proposal as HB 2629; its appendix identifies it correctly.
Separately, HB 2629 would have increased the minimum annual corporate income tax from $50 to $1,000 for otherwise taxable corporations with at least 50 employees. CSI estimated approximately $3.9 million in additional annual costs.
SB 1575 would have changed Arizona’s formula for allocating the income of multistate corporations by ending the option to calculate business income using only the sales factor. CSI estimated approximately $292.9 million in annual costs.
HB 2461 proposed a workforce-development surcharge on businesses with at least 50 employees. The bill set the surcharge at 1 percent of payroll taxes paid during the taxable year. CSI estimated an annual cost of $32.6 million.
Energy and environmental proposals accounted for an estimated $7.1 billion in annual costs, according to the report.
HB 2551 would have required Arizona electric distribution utilities to generate at least 50 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by January 1, 2035. It also proposed establishing an Office of Resiliency within the governor’s office.
SB 1385 proposed a similar renewable energy requirement taking effect by January 1, 2036.
CSI estimated that the renewable-generation requirements could have increased electricity costs by approximately $3 billion after accounting for generation and backup-capacity expenses.
The study also examined HB 2467, which would have removed transaction privilege and use-tax exemptions for qualifying data-center equipment. The bill would have required data centers to use renewable electricity with battery storage beginning in 2027 while imposing limits on water-consuming cooling systems.
The report identified 66 measures involving legal or administrative requirements, with an estimated combined cost of $3.3 billion. Those proposals addressed rent regulation, mandatory acceptance of cash, pharmacy benefit managers, consumer refunds, and price restrictions during emergencies.
“No single policy determines the entire direction of an economy, but policy choices compound over time,” CSI Arizona Executive Director Katie Ratlief said. “That’s exactly why we do this analysis every year. A tax here, a new mandate there, another regulatory requirement somewhere else may not seem significant on its own. But put them all together, and the economic picture can change dramatically. Our job is to connect those dots and give Arizonans a clear view of what these policy choices could mean for jobs, investment and the future of our economy.”
The analysis also compared Arizona’s economic performance with Colorado’s. CSI reported that Arizona’s inflation-adjusted GDP has grown at an average rate approximately 20 percent faster than Colorado’s since 2016. Arizona’s average annual population-adjusted net interstate migration increased 18.5 percent since 2020 compared with its average during the previous decade, while Colorado’s comparable measure declined by more than 90 percent, according to CSI.
CSI estimated that Arizona would have approximately 154,405 fewer workers and $26.4 billion less in real GDP if the state had followed Colorado’s economic growth trajectory since 2019. That comparison is also a modeled counterfactual rather than a measurement of losses Arizona experienced.
“Arizona’s economic success is not an accident,” Arizona Chamber President and CEO Danny Seiden said. “It reflects years of policy choices that have kept taxes competitive, preserved a flexible labor environment, cut red tape, and given businesses the confidence to invest and hire here.”
“We’re fortunate none of these bills became law. If they had, Arizona’s competitive advantages could have been dramatically undermined. Arizona’s competitive position is strong, but we can’t take it for granted,” he added.
Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03) made another oversight visit to an immigration detention facility this week.
Wednesday’s visit marked the 13th since Ansari took office. Ansari’s latest visit took place at the ICE Phoenix Field Office, which contains a temporary hold facility.
Ansari claimed that she was concerned about detainees experiencing medical neglect and prolonged stays in overcrowded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities.
One progressive outlet reported that the average length of detainment increased from eight to 10 hours up to 20 hours while the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) strongly disputed that claim, maintaining that detainees are held for no longer than 12 hours.
Ansari rebutted the DHS claim, alluding to an outdated waiver issued last summer under former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem allowing holding facilities to expand the 12-hour limit to 72 hours. That waiver was removed in recent months around the time that the new DHS secretary, Markwayne Mullin, took office.
“Up until a couple of months ago, DHS from the highest levels had sent down a waiver to every single ICE facility across the United States to say that it’s okay if the time limit for someone being held somewhere, the capacity limits are broken, and that waiver no longer exists,” said Ansari.
I’m on my way to the Phoenix ICE Field Office to continue demanding transparency and accountability about what’s going on in these holding facilities, especially when it comes to how our friends and neighbors are being treated in federal custody. pic.twitter.com/ahTAAz6mUT
Ansari told a press gaggle outside the field office that she was barred from speaking to detainees. Ansari accused the detention centers of treating detainees “incredibly inhumanely,” conditions she says are exacerbated by alleged excessive detention times.
“We know that there is really no access to quality food. There are no access to showers for people here,” said Ansari in a post. “The conditions are not meant for people to be sleeping here. There are no beds.”
Critics say it only makes sense that there aren’t any beds in the facility since detainees stay for relatively short periods.
This morning, I conducted an unannounced oversight visit at the ICE Field Office in downtown Phoenix. This is often the first place people are taken before being transferred to a more long-term detention center like Eloy or Florence, where the conditions are horrific.
Small business optimism edged lower in August as owners reported weaker sales, persistent inflation pressures, and continued difficulty finding qualified workers, according to the latest data from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).
The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index fell to 98.7 in August, down 1.1 points from July’s highest reading since August 2025. Despite the decline, the index remained slightly above its 52-year average of 98.
NFIB’s Uncertainty Index also declined by two points to 89 but remained well above its historical average of 68, suggesting business owners continue to face questions about economic conditions and future investment.
“Uncertainty remains elevated among small business owners as they face a mixed set of challenges with weakened sales, supply chain disruptions, and inflation pressures,” said NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg. “While expectations for the overall economy dimmed, Main Street owners remain largely positive in the health of their own businesses.”
#NFIB's August Small Business Economic Trends report shows a slight decline in #SmallBusiness optimism and uncertainty as business owners continue to navigate inflation pressures, weakened sales, and supply chain disruptions.
In Arizona, NFIB State Director Chad Heinrich said small business owners are taking a cautious approach as they evaluate sales, hiring, and future investments.
“Arizona’s small business owners are cautious right now,” Heinrich said. “Sales are down, uncertainty is up, and owners are watching the economy closely before they commit to their next hire or investment.”
Heinrich also pointed to tax conformity measures approved by Arizona lawmakers this year, arguing that reducing tax-related uncertainty removes an additional obstacle for businesses considering expansion.
Nationally, sales showed signs of weakening during August. A seasonally adjusted net negative 9% of owners reported higher nominal sales during the previous three months, a five-point decline from July and the lowest reading since November 2025.
Expectations for better business conditions also fell five points to a net 10%, though the figure remained above the historical average of 4%.
Inflation became a greater concern during the month, with 16% of owners identifying it as their single most important problem, an increase of two points from July.
Inflation is now tied with taxes as the second-most frequently cited problem facing small businesses.
Supply chain issues also remain widespread. Sixty-two percent of small business owners said supply chain disruptions affected their operations to some degree, down only one point from July.
Despite those concerns, most owners continued to give their own businesses relatively positive remarks. Eleven percent rated the health of their business as excellent, while 57% described it as good. Another 28% rated conditions as fair, and 3% as poor.
Hiring conditions also softened in August, although businesses continue to report significant difficultly finding qualified workers.
The NFIB’s Small Business Employment Index declined 0.3 points to 101.8 but remained above the 2025 average of 101.2 and its historical average of 100.
Thirty-five percent of owners reported job openings they could not fill, one point lower than July but still 11 points above the historical average.
Among the 56% of businesses that were hiring or attempting to hire, 82% reported receiving few to no qualified applicants.
Thirty-one percent of owners reported openings for skilled workers, while 13% had openings for unskilled positions.
Hiring plans also cooled. A seasonally adjusted net 17% of owners said they plan to create new jobs over the next three months, down three points from July.
#NFIB's August Jobs Report found that small business hiring and job creation plans eased as summer came to a close, though many owners still struggle to find qualified workers. #SmallBusiness#JobsReport
“Small businesses are slowing down their hiring efforts as the summer comes to an end, with fewer owners reporting job openings or plans to create new positions,” said Dunkelberg. “The pressure to offer competitive wages is still high, but it’s no longer a top challenge for most Main Street employers.”
Labor pressures nevertheless remain elevated compared with historical levels. Twenty-three percent of owners identified labor quality or availability as their top operating problem, down four points from July but 11 points above the historical average.
Labor costs, meanwhile, were identified as the top problem by 7% of owners, the lowest level since March 2021.
Compensation increases remained steady, with a seasonally adjusted net 31% of owners reporting they raised pay in August. A net 18% plan to increase compensation during the next three months.
The August figures present a mixed picture for small businesses heading into the fall: optimism remains slightly above its long-term average and most owners continue to view their individual businesses positively, but weaker sales, elevated uncertainty, inflation, and persistent hiring difficulties continue to weigh on Main Street.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
