by Matthew Holloway | Apr 6, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) grew by two new members last week.
On Monday, Gov. Katie Hobbs appointed Michele Halyard, an oncologist specializing in breast cancer, and Steve Peru, formerly Coconino County’s manager.
“Dr. Michele Halyard is a leader in medical education who will provide expertise to the Board as the universities work to meet the state’s healthcare needs,” said Hobbs in an announcement. “Steve Peru is a longtime public servant with decades of experience who will bring his pragmatic leadership and focus on accountability to the Board. Our public university students deserve the best, and I’m confident Michele and Steve will help ensure the continued excellence of higher education in Arizona.”
Halyard’s past and present accomplishments included in Hobbs’ announcement referenced a fellowship with the American Society for Radiation Oncology, professorship of radiation oncology, vice deanship of the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, board membership with the Arizona Community Foundation, and membership with the Arizona Bioscience Roadmap Steering Committee.
One thing not mentioned in Hobbs’ announcement was Halyard’s career-long DEI goals on reforming health care with health equity.
Halyard has spent her 40 years in medicine advocating for affirmative action and health equity in medicine, according to Mayo Clinic profiles on the doctor published in 2023 and 2024.
Halyard expressed her belief in the existence of structural racism in medicine, and its disparate impacts on patient suffering and mortality.
“I didn’t see a lot of people of color at the clinic either working or as patients, and I really thought what a shame that was because of the preeminence of healthcare that we deliver,” said Halyard. “People who, perhaps, feel shut out from the healthcare system, people who experience structural racism that prevents them from getting in for the best care, that really results in excess death, excess suffering among populations of people.”
It was under Halyard that Mayo Clinic initiated “antiracism efforts” by using affirmative action in recruiting.
Halyard’s husband is Phoenix City Councilman Kevin Robinson, a Democrat and former Phoenix Police Department assistant chief.
Peru’s historic dedication to DEI initiatives wasn’t mentioned in Hobbs’ press release, either.
Shortly after joining Coconino County as their manager, Peru took on a years-long effort by the county to recruit an individual for a DEI directorship position.
In the weeks following Trump’s inauguration last year, Peru posted a comment agreeing with another colleague’s LinkedIn post advocating for DEI in K-12 in the wake of the new administration’s policies.
Prior to joining Coconino County, Peru was the chief development and government relations officer at Coconino County Community College and former CEO and president of United Way of Northern Arizona.
Last September Hobbs appointed Jimmy McCain, the youngest son of John McCain, to ABOR. McCain’s appointment stirred controversy, not only for his conflict with Arizona legislative leaders and President Donald Trump, but with his role at a company that was a key sponsor of Hobbs’ inaugural committee.
Hobbs has also appointed Lee Stein, former assistant U.S. attorney and special assistant attorney general within the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
The governor’s two picks for student regents have backgrounds in gun control advocacy. Their contributions to ABOR include expanding time and resources for students’ mental health.
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by Matthew Holloway | Apr 3, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has signed a bipartisan emergency measure to repeal the state law recognizing César Chávez Day, following the legislature’s action on Monday.
House Bill 2072, sponsored by Rep. Lisa Fink (R-LD27), removes statutory recognition of the March 31 holiday honoring the late union leader following New York Times reporting on allegations that he sexually abused women and minors during his tenure.
The bill passed the Arizona House with a 48-8 vote and cleared the Arizona Senate with a 29-1 vote, with State Sen. Sally Ann Gonzales (D-LD20) casting the sole dissenting vote.
“Once these reports came to light, there was no excuse for leaving this honor in Arizona law,” Fink said. “The women and children Chavez harmed should not have to watch the state continue honoring his name. Repealing this law is the proper response. It respects the victims he left behind and removes a state honor that should not remain in place.”
The legislation advanced following recent reporting on allegations involving Chávez during his tenure as president of the United Farm Workers.
“Arizona law should not honor a man tied to sexual abuse against children and violence against women,” House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) said in a statement. “The House acted today because victims deserve better, the truth cannot be ignored, and state honors carry meaning.”
Montenegro urged Hobbs to sign the bill, stressing bipartisan support in both chambers of the legislature.
Hobbs said in a statement on Wednesday that she is “deeply troubled by the recent revelations about César Chávez.”
“After learning the troubling news, I decided not to recognize César Chávez Day this year and have signed legislation to repeal the observance of March 31st as César Chávez Day. While I know signing this bill won’t erase the pain, my thoughts are with the victims and everyone affected. I’m working with community leaders to find meaningful ways to honor and celebrate our farmworker community and their continued contributions to the state of Arizona. “
Addressing the Arizona farmworkers Chávez once represented, Hobbs said, “I am incredibly grateful for our hardworking farmworkers. Their resilience is evident in the lettuce fields of Yuma and the orange-picking farms of Mesa. Arizona’s farmworkers are the backbone of our state’s economy. I remain committed to supporting them and ensuring their contributions are recognized with dignity and respect.”
A March 2026 report by The New York Times detailed allegations from multiple women who said Chávez engaged in sexual misconduct, including claims that he “used his power within the organization to exploit women and girls.”
House Republicans stated in a release that “Arizonans should not be forced to celebrate a figure whose legacy is now under serious question,” adding that the measure reflects “a responsibility to ensure state-recognized holidays align with values supported by the public.”
The emergency legislation, an amended version of HB 2072, repeals sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes that establish the holiday and includes an emergency clause that makes the repeal effective immediately upon the governor’s signature. The bill text specifies that it “repeals section 1-301, Arizona Revised Statutes,” which designates César Chávez Day as a state holiday.
In a March 30 letter to Governor Hobbs, Gonzales urged a veto of the measure, arguing the emergency clause is unconstitutional.
“House Bill 2072 is not an emergency, and it lacks the constitutionally required section that explains why it is necessary to preserve the public peace, health, or safety,” Gonzales wrote. She added that the bill “denies the people of Arizona their constitutionally protected right to direct democracy via referendum.”
Gonzales also called on state leaders to pursue recognition of farmworkers’ contributions through an alternative designation, writing that lawmakers should consider “renaming Dr. Cesar Estrada Chavez Day” rather than eliminating it entirely.
Despite those objections, the bill received the supermajority required for an emergency clause.
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 AZ Free Enterprise Club | Apr 1, 2026 | Opinion
By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club |
Leading under divided government is hard, but it does not excuse a governor from actually governing. Republican legislative leadership has held a clear and defensible line when it comes to the state’s budget: spend only the revenues the state actually has, provide full tax relief by implementing full conformity and don’t force Arizonans to file their taxes twice and pay more in the process. When Hobbs couldn’t move them off that position last week, she didn’t really explain why their position was unreasonable or come back with a new proposal. Instead, she walked away from the table.
Recently, a rumor was circulating around the Capitol that the Governor and legislative leadership were discussing a deal to deliver conformity tax cuts and build the contours of the budget around a speculative state land trust ballot referral. Referring a Prop 123 extension would dump hundreds of millions of new dollars into district K-12 schools without any strings attached. By the end of last week, that balloon had popped, along with any credibility that Katie Hobbs knows how to lead.
As governor, it is Katie Hobbs’ job to bring people together and solve difficult problems. Yet before the calendar has even turned to April (very early for budget season at the capitol), Governor Hobbs has already admitted that she is out of ideas.
The Prop 123 Gimmick Was Never Going to Work
Now that the budget breakdown has gone public, details of the Hobbs proposal have been released, and it was far worse than anyone had even thought. Under the Hobbs plan, Arizona’s entire budget would somehow hinge on the passage of a new Proposition 123 referral at the ballot in November…
>>> CONTINUE READING >>>
by Ethan Faverino | Apr 1, 2026 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona House Majority Whip Julie Wiloughby (R-LD13) praised a recent Trump administration decision recognizing the significant impact of internal emissions on Arizona’s ability to meet federal air quality standards.
The ruling grants the Phoenix metropolitan area relief from stricter federal requirements, opening the door for potential long-term reforms to the state’s expensive summer gasoline blend mandated in Maricopa and Pinal Counties.
The decision, issued last week by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), found that the Phoenix-Mesa nonattainment area would have met the 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) if not for emissions originating outside the United States. This finding, under Section 179B of the Clean Air Act, prevents reclassification to a more severe status. It acknowledges that a major share of emissions affecting Arizona is beyond the state’s control.
For months, Willoughby has collaborated with local and federal officials to pursue reforms addressing Arizona’s higher summer fuel costs. In January, she sent a letter to the EPA initiating discussions on permanent changes to lower costs for families while maintaining compliance with air quality standards.
“The main reason drivers in Maricopa and Pinal counties pay more for gas in the summer is that these areas are forced to use a special boutique blend made only for Arizona,” explained Willoughby. “It costs more to produce, limits supply, and leaves our state more vulnerable to price spikes. The question is whether this requirement is still doing anything meaningful to improve air quality. If it is not, then Arizona families are being forced to pay more for little to no benefit.”
Willoughby noted that industry operations are cleaner and national fuel standards have evolved since Arizona’s blend was last updated. “Industry is cleaner today than it was when Arizona’s blend was last updated, and fuel standards nationwide have changed significantly since then. There is a strong possibility that Arizona can move to a lower-cost fuel option without sacrificing air quality. If the evidence supports that conclusion, we should act immediately.”
To advance the issue, Willoughby introduced a package of five measures aimed at lowering fuel costs, evaluating compliant fuel options, and requiring the state to adopt a lower-cost fuel once federally approved.
“In order to change the blend, Arizona must submit a request to the EPA to revise our State Implementation Plan and show that we can still meet federal air quality standards with the new blend,” added Willoughby. “The modeling used to make that demonstration must take into account the fact that a major share of the emissions affecting our state comes from outside our borders and is beyond Arizona’s control. The Trump Administration’s recent decision recognizing international transport acknowledges this impact and gives Arizona more room to reevaluate whether our current fuel requirements are still justified. With the federal government signaling openness, this may be our best and only opportunity to get this done.”
In February, Willoughby requested that the Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) model the impacts of switching from Arizona’s current boutique gasoline blend (Reid Vapor Pressure of 7.0 psi) to a more widely available, lower-cost blend with an RVP of 7.4 psi.
Preliminary modeling completed in March showed that the switch would increase the maximum ozone concentration in the Phoenix metropolitan area by between zero and 0.01 parts per billion.
“That is a negligible impact and more than enough reason to move this conversation forward,” continued Willoughby. “Just as important, Governor Hobbs’ administration already has these results. MAG provided the modeling to her Department of Environmental Quality, which means the Governor could begin acting on this now if she wanted to. She does not need to wait. She does not need more excuses. If Governor Hobbs is serious about lowering fuel costs, she should direct her agency to act immediately.”
In a follow-up letter to MAG Director of Environmental Planning, Matt Poppen, Willoughby highlighted the positive results from the Comprehensive Air Quality Model with Extensions (CAMx v7.32) and Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ v5.5) analyses. The CAMx results showed no changes in the 2023 design value attainment at any monitoring site, while CMAQ predicted a maximum impact of just 0.01 ppb at three sites.
Willoughby also requested additional modeling for a Federal Reformed Gasoline blend with an RVP of 7.8 psi, used in some other western states, and discussions on next steps for a State Implementation Plan revision.
“The modeling is favorable. The facts are lining up in Arizona’s favor. We should seize this opportunity and make the case for lasting gas affordability now,” concluded Willoughby.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Mar 31, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen sharply criticized Governor Katie Hobbs last week for vetoing Senate Bill 1010, which would have designated the Loop 202 as the “Charlie Kirk Loop 202.”
Petersen accused the governor of breaking Arizona’s long-standing nonpartisan tradition of honoring individuals based on their impact and contributions to public life rather than political alignment.
“Governor Hobbs didn’t just veto a bill. She broke with a long-standing Arizona tradition of recognizing impact over politics,” stated President Petersen. “Charlie Kirk inspired millions of Americans to engage in their communities, speak freely, and exercise their First Amendment rights. He built something that reached far beyond Arizona, and he brought that energy right here to our state. That kind of influence matters.”
Petersen emphasized that Arizona has historically honored service and civic contributions without requiring political agreement. He pointed to the precedent of naming a portion of the same Loop 202 after the late Congressman Ed Pastor, a Democrat, as a tribute to his service.
“Arizona has never required political agreement to recognize someone’s contribution to public life. We’ve recognized impact, service, and people who’ve shaped conversations and encouraged others to participate,” added Petersen. “This veto makes it clear that standards have changed. It tells people that recognition now depends on political alignment, not contribution. That’s not how Arizona has ever approached these decisions, and it’s a disappointing shift for our state.”
Gubernatorial candidate, Congressman Andy Biggs, also condemned Hobbs’ veto, saying, “Katie Hobbs wants us to forget about Charlie Kirk. We won’t. And we will honor him in November by voting her out of office.”
The bill directed the Arizona Department of Transportation to install appropriate signage, specified that the designation would not supersede existing names (such as Red Mountain Freeway, Santan Freeway, and Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway), and carried no anticipated fiscal impact to the state’s General Fund. It also required the new name to appear in official state records and documentation.
In her veto message, Governor Hobbs stated:
“Today I vetoed SB1010.
Charlie Kirk’s assassination is tragic and a horrifying act of violence. In America, we resolve our political differences at the ballot box. No matter who it targets, political violence puts us all in harm’s way and damages our sacred democratic institutions.
I will continue working toward solutions that bring people together, but this bill falls short of that standard by inserting politics into a function of government that should remain nonpartisan. Any renaming of a highway must follow the current process through the Arizona State Board on Geographic and Historic Names and not be circumvented by the Legislature.”
The veto marks the second time this session that Governor Hobbs has rejected legislation honoring Kirk, following her earlier veto of a bill proposing a specialty license plate in his memory.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
