by Matthew Holloway | Sep 21, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
On Tuesday, the Cochise County Supervisors voted to ask U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate the certifications and laboratory accreditation of the county’s voting systems ahead of the 2022 election.
In a letter from Cochise County Board Chairman Frank Antenori, the board requested that “information from the United States Department of Justice concerning the accreditation of the voting system test laboratories (VSTLs), the certification of ES&S electronic voting systems, and the use of engineering change orders during the 2022 Arizona general election.” He added that “these matters present material statutory and constitutional questions that relate directly to the integrity of the electoral process in Arizona.”
Antenori also observed that the Board has “a constitutional and statutory obligation to ensure compliance with election law,” citing Article 7, Section 7 of the Arizona Constitution that governs the tabulation of “legal votes.”
He explained that the United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) “has invoked 52 USC § 20971(c)(2) to argue that accreditation remains valid indefinitely absent formal revocation. Respectfully, the plain text of the statute requires renewal on a biennial basis.”
The Chairman went on to point out that the accreditation had lapsed in March 2020 and stated, “The EAC’s interpretation appears inconsistent with both the statutory language and congressional intent.”
In particular, Antenori observed that A.R.S. 16-442 (B) requires the following: “Machines or devices used at any election for federal, state or county offices may only be certified for use in this state and may only be used in this state if they comply with the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and if those machines or devices have been tested and approved by a laboratory that is accredited pursuant to the Help America Vote Act of 2002.”
The accreditation question led two Republican supervisors to delay the county’s election certification in 2022 until they were ordered to do so by a judge. A state grand jury later indicted the two supervisors on charges brought by Arizona’s Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes. Supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd, both Republicans, faced charges of conspiracy and interference with an elections officer. Judd pleaded guilty while Crosby awaits trial.
As reported by VoteBeat’s Jen Fifield, the letter to AG Bondi was proposed by Crosby after he was reelected last year. The executive session in which the letter was discussed was closed to the public; however, Fifield reported that Crosby attached a 30-page document to the meeting minutes, providing the board with additional details and even a piece of grand jury testimony from his case.
On Monday, Fifield reported that a judge rejected Crosby’s request to delay his case, and his trial date will still be set on Sept. 22.
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 Ethan Faverino | Jul 9, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday, July 7th, that they will be launching a state-of-the-art drone pilot program. They will be partnering with Draganfly Inc. to bring a cutting-edge initiative designed to enhance surveillance and operational capabilities along the U.S.-Mexico border.
This aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Unleashing American Drone Dominance.” The order prioritizes the use of advanced unmanned aerial systems to strengthen national security.
Known for their innovative approach to border security, the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office continues to lead the way in technology integration.
They have previously deployed tools such as high-resolution camera networks, sensor-integrated mobile units, and ground surveillance radar systems, which they use for border enforcement.
The department has received national recognition from President Trump and Vice President JD Vance for their commitment to technology-driven border solutions.
“The Southern Border is one of America’s most critical national security frontiers. Our organization has always been committed to leveraging the best tools available,” said Captain Tim Williams. “With Draganfly as our drone partner, we’re entering the next phase of smart border enforcement. Their North American and U.S.-built systems will enhance our ability to protect communities, manage humanitarian concerns, and respond rapidly to evolving threats.”
Draganfly Inc., a leader in drone innovation, has been developing unmanned aerial solutions for over 20 years. They specialize in advanced aerial technology, software, and AI systems for emergency response, public safety, agriculture, and defense.
CEO of Draganfly, Cameron Chell, said, “We are honored to be working with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office for this historic program. Their team represents some of the best of American law enforcement: innovation-focused, community-minded, and mission-ready. This project embodies the spirit of President Trump’s executive order and sets a gold standard for how drone technology should be used to secure national borders.”
The new pilot program at the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office will use Draganfly’s “Family of Drones.”
It will feature long-endurance fixed-wing UAVs for extended surveillance, AI-powered quadcopters for rapid-response missions, and thermal imaging drones for search and rescue missions, as well as nighttime operations.
The “Family of Drones” is designed for rugged reliability and secure data handling, which will withstand the harsh and remote terrain of the Cochise County Border.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | May 29, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
On Tuesday, Cochise County Superior Court Visiting Judge Michael Latham dismissed a lawsuit challenging the county’s plans for a new jail district election. He also denied a motion from Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, who sought to intervene in the election.
According to the county, Judge Latham ruled that the upcoming election is “the most effective and efficient way to correct the issue” presented in the case and that it falls within “the Cochise County Board of Supervisors’ primary authority.”
Timothy La Sota, outside counsel representing the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, praised the decision in a statement released Tuesday.
He wrote, “Today, Cochise County once again prevailed in court in its efforts to protect the citizens of this County. The Board has agreed to hold a new election because the last election was seriously flawed and left nearly 11,000 eligible voters without ballots. Oddly, the Secretary of State and the Attorney General have attempted to usurp the Board’s lawful functions; first at the Supreme Court and now at the Superior Court and have failed at every turn. This ruling is a vindication of Cochise County’s plan to address a difficult election situation and a repudiation of efforts by statewide officials to butt in, take over local elections, and disenfranchise Cochise County voters in the process.”
The controversy surrounds a proposed 2023 excise tax that would apply until enough revenue is collected by the county to construct a new jail and retire any associated debt. An election held in 2023 by mail-in ballot only approved the tax but was later found to be flawed. An Arizona appellate court determined that because ballots were not sent to inactive voters and no polling places were opened, the election was invalid.
As noted by KVOA, prior to the lawsuit, the Board of Supervisors had already voted for a new election to address deficiencies in the previous election that failed to provide ballots for approximately 11,000 voters. However, the tax had already gone into effect and a sum of approximately $18 million has already been collected to date.
The board voted in March to approve a settlement agreement with the plaintiffs, covering $130,000 for their legal fees.
The Cochise County jail, now over forty-years old, has operated with failing infrastructure, an outdated security system, and a non-functional fire alarm system according to reports. With Supervisor Kathy Gomez of District 2 telling KGUN, “I am terrified of somebody dying under my watch with no fire alarm, and issues with all the doors opening, and you know, the electrical system.”
Commander for the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office Kenneth Bradshaw told reporters at the time, “Everybody agrees, even the Board of Supervisors agrees, that we need a new jail. It’s just a matter of how we get there and what the process was where we are now.”
The voters of Cochise County will decide the matter with early voting beginning October 8th through Election Day 2025. Statements for or against the tax are due by August 6th, and pamphlets will be mailed to voters by no later than September 30th.
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 | May 13, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Ranchers are sounding the alarm and appealing to Cochise County Supervisors for help as the successful program to reintroduce Mexican wolves to the wild in Southern Arizona has begun to have consequences. The increasing number is creating problems for the ranchers, leading to calls to change their conservation status. As reported by KOLD-TV, Cochise County rancher Mike Wear, the owner of the Wear Ranch which covers an 18 square-mile area south of Willcox, told reporters, “Every cow that I lose hurts my bottom line. Immensely.”
Wear went on to explain that the wolves near his ranch have taken two cows in recent days as the 30-year effort to reintroduce the Mexican wolf to Southern Arizona has progressed. The rancher is not alone in Cochise County, and the County Supervisors have launched a dialogue to address potential changes in the federal listing of the species this week.
“It’s clearly, this deal, this wolf, Mexican wolf experimental population is on a definite runaway. They’ve had an immense amount of growth and in doing so, their primary prey base is our cattle,” Wear told KOLD.
“It’s very hard to find them. It’s created labor intensity on our ranches. I’d say ten-fold. We have to watch and check our cattle that much more because we only learn about the wolves after the kill,” Wear said.
According to Citizen Portal, during a recent meeting, the county outlined a series of requirements that must be met before delisting the Mexican wolf from the Endangered Species List would be considered.
A slide from the Cochise County Supervisors Meeting obtained by Citizen Portal entitled “Compliant delisting” stated:
“The Mexican wolf will be considered for delisting when:
1) A minimum of two populations meet all abundance and genetic criteria as follows: United States
a) The population average over an 8-year period is greater than or equal to 320 wolves;
b) The population must exceed 320 wolves each of the last 3 years of the 8-year period;
c) The annual population growth rate averaged over the 8-year period is stable or increasing; and
d) Gene diversity available from the captive population has been incorporated into the United States population through scheduled releases of a sufficient number of wolves to result in 22 released Mexican wolves surviving to breeding age in the United States population. ‘Surviving to breeding age’ means a pup that lives 2 years to the age of breeding or an adult or subadult that lives for a year following its release.”
The outlet reported that the present U.S. population stands at 286 individuals just 34 shy of the cutoff. Furthermore, 21 of 22 successful gene insertions have already been achieved.
Arizona Game & Fish reported in March that the 2024 minimum count of Mexican wolves revealed an 11% increase over the minimum of 257 wolves counted in 2023. The new survey found that the population was distributed with a minimum of 162 wolves in New Mexico and 124 in Arizona. The wolves were spread across sixty packs at the end of 2024, 37 in New Mexico and 23 in Arizona with 164 pups born in 2024 and 79 surviving their first year for a 48% survival rate. At the reported rate, it appears likely the population will exceed the delisting criteria within two years.
“Each year, the wild Mexican wolf population numbers increase, and the areas they occupy expands. Genetic management using pups from captivity is also showing results. In total, 126 pups carefully selected for their genetic value have been placed in 48 wild dens throughout the recovery area since 2016 and some of these fosters have produced litters of their own,” Chief of Wildlife for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Stewart Liley said in a statement. “As we evaluate Mexican wolf recovery efforts, examining the last decade of data certainly provides confidence that recovery will be achieved.”
Clay Crowder, Assistant Director for the Arizona Game and Fish Department indicated that the 2022 Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan is exceeding expectations. He said, “The results of this year’s count reflect the hard work of many people and agencies that lead recovery. It also supports the recovery strategies in the 2022 Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan as we see both demographic and genetic objectives being exceeded this year.” He noted that the program has seen the ninth consecutive year of population growth saying the wolves are “knocking on the door of recovery.”
Greta Anderson, deputy director of Western Watersheds Project told KOLD, “Wolves inhabited this area until about 70 years ago when they were eradicated at the behest of the livestock industry by the federal government. So this is wolf habitat,. This is where wolves belong. This is their native wildlife in this area, and it’s really the humans that are the interlopers here.”
She added, “Livestock depredations that have occurred have all been pretty recent so this is kind of a new problem, but these wolves are not new.”
Anderson continued, pointing out that ranchers have options under the current conservancy status. “They’re allowed to lethally remove animals that are in the act, so to the extent that there’s already a difference in what you’re allowed to do on public and private land and I think one could say they have more flexibility because it is private land.”
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 | Mar 10, 2025 | News
By Mathew Holloway |
The verdict is in on Governor Katie Hobbs’ “Operation Desert Guardian” from Arizona’s Border Sheriffs, and it isn’t good for the Democrat governor.
As the governor faces dwindling popularity poll numbers, fellow Democrat Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos bailed on a lengthy online conference about Hobbs’ border task force, saying “I don’t need another task force.” Noting his membership in four other collaborative efforts combating drugs and human trafficking, he noted, “I’m sorry, I just don’t. And so, I’m out.”
Nanos said his department will not be participating in a devastating blow to the governor’s initiative, given that Pima County covers approximately 31.6% or nearly a third of Arizona’s border with Mexico. The move also has serious political implications. Nanos was one of Hobbs’ biggest supporters during her campaign, even going so far as to cut a campaign ad for her.
Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot, a Republican, offered similar pushback saying, “Let’s not waste state tax payer money on building something that doesn’t need to be rebuilt.”
Both sheriffs were reportedly taken aback by Hobbs’ surprise Executive Order and offered serious criticism of her and the goals of the operation. They told reporters that the work the task force is set to tackle is already being done and would be duplicative, not an added benefit.
“The state is not going to come in to rescue us and be the savior of what we’ve been dealing with,” Wilmot said, noting that the border Sheriffs’ departments offer a wealth of ground-level experience. “They need to come in and be a partner.”
According to a follow up report from AZCentral, Yuma County will participate after a meeting with Hobbs earlier this week.
Speaking with KGUN, Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels had his own doubts, “My budgets are already fulfilled. They’re maximized. And so if there are expectations that my office will be doing something without the budget, chances are we won’t do it… I can’t do it.”
Dannels asked, “What’s the cost to my agency? What’s it going to mean for resources? What are they going to take care of that I don’t already have?” He expressed that he wasn’t made aware of the task force, and though he has hopes it could complement his department’s actions, he said, “I don’t know. I have not seen an operational plan.”
Republican Governor’s Association Rapid Response Director Kollin Crompton suggested Hobbs’ political motives in a statement to AZ Free News saying, “Katie Hobbs’ desperate attempt to cover up her open border policies won’t work, and border county sheriffs of both parties know she’s a disaster. Arizonans want a secure border and safe communities, that’s not possible as long as Katie Hobbs is governor.”
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.
