by Staff Reporter | Mar 12, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Governor Katie Hobbs, or the staffers running her social media accounts, appear to lack mastery of the vocabulary known to native Arizonans.
The misspelling attributed to Hobbs occurred within a post announcing her support for Read Across America week.
“Reading opens doors, minds, and possibilities,” said Hobbs. “Thanks to the students at Chapparral [sic] Elementary for inviting me to be a part of your Read Across America Week.”
Hobbs visited Chaparral Elementary School and read aloud “A Walk in the Words” by Hudson Talbott to students.
Dan Coulson, former press secretary to Hobbs’ predecessor Doug Ducey, brought attention to the governor’s error.
“Please tell me Katie Hobbs isn’t teaching those kids spelling too!” posted Coulson. “Only one ‘P,’ Katie! It’s literally in the sign right behind you!”
Read Across America Week originated with the National Education Association (NEA) in 1998 through Read Across America Day to encourage childhood literacy. The celebration was originally scheduled to take place on and around the birthday of Theodore Seuss Geisel — more commonly known by his pen name, “Dr. Seuss.” However, the NEA moved away from Dr. Seuss associations with the uproar over a handful of his books deemed racist in recent years: “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” “If I Ran the Zoo,” “McElligot’s Pool,” “On Beyond Zebra,” “Scrambled Eggs Super!” and “The Cat’s Quizzer.” These books are no longer published.
“Chaparral” defines lands predominantly consisting of dense shrubbery at high altitudes. Arizona contains approximately 3.5 million acres of chaparral habitat, or about four percent of the entire state’s nearly 73 million acres. Arizona’s chaparral species include those within the manzanita, acacia, juniper, and shrub live oak families, such as the birchleaf mountain-mahogany, skunkbush sumac, silktassels, hollyleaf buckhorn, cliffrose, desert olive, Palmer oak, Arizona white oak, Emory oak, pinyon pine, juniper, and desert ceanothus. Arizona chaparral also commonly contains succulents and wildlife found commonly within woodland or grassland habitats as well (certain night lizards and sparrows).
Monday’s post served as the latest public misstep by Hobbs.
Earlier this month, a clip of the governor venting her frustrations to the media over her inability to lead or control the state legislature went viral. Hobbs was unable to convince GOP lawmakers of her pick for the Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH). Hobbs’ lamentations to the press were directed at one of the key lawmakers behind rejecting her nominations, State Senator Jake Hoffman. A significant reason for the rejection of Hobbs’ latest pick concerned an auditor general sunset review last fall which reported serious and expensive issues with the ADOH under Hobbs’ nominee. Hoffman criticized Hobbs’ behavior as a “full blown temper tantrum.”
Last month, state legislative leaders confronted Hobbs over the $122 million shortfall within the Arizona State Developmental Disabilities Program. GOP leaders and the state treasurer accused the governor of “gross financial mismanagement.”
In an effort to counteract the struggles of her administration and improve her public image ahead of her reelection bid next year, Hobbs has adopted GOP-leaning policies and stances as of late.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Mar 11, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A proposed measure to close a significant loophole in Arizona’s election security passed the State Senate last week, bringing it one step closer to the 2026 election ballot. Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1027, sponsored by Senator Shawnna Bolick (R-2), aims to prevent foreign actors from influencing the state’s elections, especially in relation to ballot measures.
The resolution would prohibit foreign nationals, entities, and committees from contributing money or services to influence the outcome of any election in Arizona. If SCR 1027 passes the House and receives voter approval, it would be placed on the 2026 ballot, where Arizona residents will have the opportunity to cast their votes on whether to ban foreign money from election-related activities.
Senator Bolick says the bill is a response to an ongoing vulnerability in the election process that allows foreign money to potentially sway the outcome of elections. While contributions from foreign nationals to political committees are already prohibited, the current laws do not extend this prohibition to all aspects of the election process, particularly when it comes to ballot measures.
“This is a commonsense, carefully crafted measure to ensure that Arizona’s elections are free from foreign interference,” said Bolick. “The people of Arizona must be confident that foreign funds are not influencing any part of our election process. If the House approves SCR 1027, the people of Arizona will have the chance to vote on this measure to say once and for all—no foreign money in ANY part of our elections in Arizona.”
The measure is designed to add a layer of transparency and accountability to election funding. Under SCR 1027, any person or group attempting to influence the outcome of a ballot measure would be required to file a campaign finance report within 48 hours of making an expenditure. They would also need to certify under penalty of perjury that no foreign national provided funding or resources for preliminary election activities. This would be enforced by the Secretary of State’s office to ensure compliance.
Arizona is not alone in its concerns; other states have passed similar laws in recent years to protect their elections from foreign meddling. In 2020, Washington State implemented restrictions on foreign donations to initiatives, following concerns over foreign money being funneled into state campaigns.
Supporters of SCR 1027 argue that this measure will protect the integrity of the state’s election process and send a strong message about Arizona’s commitment to safeguard its elections from foreign influence. Critics, however, may raise concerns about the potential for overreach or unintended consequences that could hinder legitimate political activity.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Mar 11, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Congressman Abraham Hamadeh introduced the Veterans Readiness & Employment Transparency Act last week in bipartisan collaboration with Rep. Juan Ciscomani along with Reps. Jonathan Jackson (D-IL), Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC), Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA), Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO), and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA).
According to Hamadeh, the bill is designed to increase the access and the responsiveness of the Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program.
At present the VR&E program, which assists veterans with job training, education, employment accommodation, resume development, and job-seeking skills coaching, lacks a hotline for veterans and there is no accessible contact information provided by the regional offices where average wait times by regional office ranges from 2 weeks to 158 days.
At the Phoenix regional office, the average wait time for a veteran in need of assistance currently stands at 68 days to see a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for an initial evaluation. Congressman Hamadeh said in a statement, “Many say VR&E program is the Department of Veterans Affairs’ best-kept secret, but many veterans and campus administrators can’t get the Department’s help with the onerous application process—or even know where to begin. Veterans are often ignored by their VR&E counselors – with no recourse, adding to often extreme wait times.”
In a post to X the Congressman wrote, “Our veterans did not delay when heeding the call of our nation, & our nation cannot delay when our veterans call for assistance Congressman Hamadeh’s Veterans Readiness & Employment Transparency Act is common-sense legislation that has bipartisan support.”
The new bill will require the establishment of a hotline, that all regional offices “must display a name, email, and number online for vets with VR&E questions,” and that regional offices hold Q&A sessions on the VR&E program at every school in their area of responsibility. The new bill will also require an annual report on vocational training extension waivers and requires that they be approved or denied within 30 days.
Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who joined Hamadeh on the bill, wrote “When our veterans return home, they deserve to be able to easily access the support and benefits their service earned.”
“Unfortunately, due to unnecessary bureaucracy, many veterans have difficulty accessing VR&E programs that help with job training, education, and employment accommodations, especially for those who were injured in the line of duty. I am proud to join my fellow Arizona colleague Rep. Hamadeh in a bipartisan effort to make VR&E programs more accessible to veterans in my district, and across the country.”
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 11, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona’s House Republican leadership has issued a strong condemnation of Governor Katie Hobbs’ handling of the state’s Developmental Disabilities (DDD) program, citing a $122 million budget shortfall and accusing the administration of gross mismanagement. The joint statement, released last week, criticized the governor for reckless spending decisions and a lack of consultation with the legislature, which they say has contributed to a financial crisis in the program.
House Speaker Steve Montenegro, Majority Leader Michael Carbone, Majority Whip Julie Willoughby, and Speaker Pro Tempore Neal Carter joined forces to decry what they called Hobbs’ failure to take responsibility for the growing issues facing the program. The DDD program, which serves Arizona’s most vulnerable citizens—those with developmental disabilities—has seen its financial situation worsen due to an unsustainable increase in costs.
The Arizona Developmental Disabilities program is a $4 billion initiative that provides essential services and care for individuals with developmental disabilities. According to the House Republicans, the program is on track to double in cost from fiscal year 2023 to fiscal year 2026, creating a serious budget shortfall that the governor’s office has failed to adequately address.
Republican leaders were especially vocal in their criticism of Governor Hobbs’ management of the program, accusing her of making “reckless spending decisions” that have led to the current crisis. The lawmakers pointed out that the governor’s administration had failed to work collaboratively with the legislature to develop solutions, instead opting for unilateral actions that have only exacerbated the problem.
“Governor Hobbs’ gross mismanagement puts Arizona’s most vulnerable citizens at risk,” the joint statement reads. “Her administration’s reckless spending decisions—made without consulting the Legislature—have bankrupted the DDD program, creating an avoidable crisis. Now, she’s demanding a taxpayer bailout without accountability or reforms.”
Adding fuel to the fire, the House Republicans also highlighted the recent shake-up within the governor’s administration. Governor Hobbs’ budget director resigned, she demoted the director of the Department of Economic Security (DES), and removed her health policy advisor—all actions that Republican lawmakers argue signal a lack of leadership and accountability within the administration.
Instead of collaborating with lawmakers to address the growing concerns, House Republicans claim that Governor Hobbs has deflected blame, choosing to focus on political tactics rather than on solving the issue at hand. They argue that these leadership changes are a direct result of the administration’s inability to manage the program effectively.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Mar 10, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Two New Mexico teenagers were arrested near Palominas, Arizona, on charges that they transported three illegal immigrants on March 1st. The illegal immigrants were identified as Mexican nationals by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
CBP’s Tucson Sector announced that as agents patrolled a well-known smuggling route, they observed a person wearing camouflage and began to investigate. While investigating, the agents spotted a black Dodge Ram pickup truck and initiated a traffic stop to perform an immigration inspection on the vehicle.
According to the agents, they discovered the teenagers, a male and female both aged 17, in the front of the vehicle with three older men attempting to conceal their presence in the back seat of the truck. The three men were confirmed to be Mexican nationals who had entered the U.S. illegally, while both the driver and front-passenger were confirmed to be U.S. citizens.
The driver and his female passenger were placed under arrest and transported to the Brian A. Terry Border Patrol Station, and the agents seized the pickup truck. The driver is facing prosecution for human trafficking, a felony under 8 U.S.C 1324 and could face anywhere between one and ten years in prison. The female passenger is not facing charges at this time.
According to the press release from CBP, the three illegal immigrants have all been previously removed from the U.S. and are now facing the reinstatement of their prior removal orders and will serve as material witnesses in the prosecution of the driver.
In a post to X, Chief Patrol Agent (CPA) of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector John R. Modlin wrote, “A U.S. Citizen juvenile was arrested near Palominas, AZ for smuggling 3 illegal aliens. The 17-year-old smuggler faces felony charges of 8 USC 1324 Transporting an Alien Who is Unlawfully Present in the US.”
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 10, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona State Senate recently passed a bill aimed at addressing the ongoing shortage of election officers in the state. Senate Bill 1319, sponsored by Senator Tim Dunn (R-25), received strong bipartisan support and is now on its way to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
The bill proposes a change to the current certification process for election officers by allowing certification to occur in even-numbered years, rather than just in odd-numbered years. This adjustment is designed to ensure that Arizona has enough trained personnel to manage elections, particularly in general election years when voter turnout and election complexity tend to be higher.
Arizona law currently requires election officers, clerks of the board of supervisors, or county recorders to hold a valid election officer’s certificate, which is issued by the Secretary of State before January 1 of each general election year. However, the certification process currently only takes place in odd-numbered years, leaving a narrow window to ensure that election officers are adequately prepared for the upcoming election season.
SB 1319 aims to address this issue by shortening the certification window. Under the new legislation, individuals seeking to serve as election officers would be required to obtain their certification before June 1 of even-numbered years, allowing more time for training and preparation before the general elections.
The bill seeks to ensure that election officials have the training they need and that the state is not facing a shortage of qualified election officers by allowing certification in the first half of an election year. This adjustment would also allow for better planning and coordination in advance of elections, making it easier for county officials to recruit and train election officers in a timely manner.
Senator Dunn emphasized the importance of ensuring that Arizona’s election system is well-staffed and efficiently run. “We need to ensure that our election officials are properly trained and certified,” Dunn said. “This bill allows certification for the first six months of an election year instead of in odd years only. When we pursue commonsense solutions, bipartisan election policy is possible, and we can improve and secure the election process for all Arizonans.”
Dunn also praised the bipartisan support the bill received, acknowledging that cooperation across party lines was critical in crafting a solution to this ongoing issue. “I applaud my colleagues in both chambers for coming together and seeing value in this legislation,” he added. “I’m optimistic this bill will make its way to the governor’s desk for signature.”
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
