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.
by Matthew Holloway | Mar 21, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona legislative Republicans criticized Gov. Katie Hobbs after she stepped away from budget negotiations, raising concerns about her proposed plan involving the state’s Public Land Trust Fund, according to a joint statement released by GOP leadership.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and House Speaker Steve Montenegro said in a statement that Hobbs “chose to walk away from budget negotiations despite a path forward being within reach.”
At issue is the governor’s proposal to increase distributions from Arizona’s Public Land Trust Fund, which supports K-12 education and is protected under the Arizona Constitution. According to the statement, legislative budget analysts estimate the proposal would reduce the fund from approximately $9.7 billion to $4.7 billion over the next 20 years.
The Republican leaders explained that the proposal calls for a 10.9 percent annual distribution over 20 years, compared to a previous structure of 6.9 percent over 10 years. They also raised concerns about the assumptions underlying the plan, including projected long-term investment returns.
“At the center of this dispute is her proposal to dramatically increase withdrawals from Arizona’s Public Land Trust, a voter-protected fund designed to support K-12 education for generations. This is not a solution. It is a long-term raid on a critical resource,” Petersen and Montenegro said.
“The Governor wants to drain a voter-protected education fund, pile on $1.5 billion in new debt, and rely on numbers that simply don’t add up,” they added. “We have shown the Governor’s Office a balanced budget with tax conformity. We’ve put forward a responsible plan that cuts taxes for working families and funds schools without gimmicks. She walked away from the table because her math doesn’t work. Arizonans deserve better than headlines and blame-shifting.”
The joint statement also criticized the broader budget framework, alleging it includes approximately $1.5 billion in new debt, higher taxes and fees, and revenue projections they described as unrealistic.
Republican leadership stated they had presented an alternative budget proposal that they described as balanced and including tax conformity, though details of that proposal were not included in the release.
The lawmakers said they intend to continue working on a budget plan in the coming weeks.
Hobbs’ office has not yet publicly responded to the statement as of publication, but in a post to X following its release, she wrote, “As Governor, and the sister of public school teachers—I know how important strong public schools are for Arizona families. I’m proud to keep fighting for our students, educators, and classrooms, because a great public education is key to expanding opportunity and the Arizona Promise.”
Petersen and Montenegro concluded their statement saying, “While the Governor plays political theater, Arizona families are dealing with real consequences. This impacts your cost of living, your paycheck, your kids’ classrooms, and whether Arizona remains affordable for the families who live here. A temper tantrum won’t balance the budget, and it is not leadership to rely on voters to pass the funding we need after the fact. We’re ready to get this done. The question is whether she is.”
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 19, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona will not recognize Cesar Chavez Day this year following allegations detailed in a report by The New York Times that labor leader Cesar Chavez sexually abused girls and assaulted women connected to the United Farm Workers movement.
According to a FOX 10 Phoenix report, the state will not observe the March 31 holiday in response to the allegations. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs honored Chavez as recently as 2022 in a post on X, writing, “Today, we celebrate and honor the life and legacy of civil rights and labor activist Cesar Chavez.”
In a statement released March 17, the governor’s office said:
“The Governor’s Office is deeply concerned by the troubling allegations against César Chávez. As a social worker who worked with homeless youth and victims of domestic violence, Governor Hobbs takes allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior against women and minors very seriously. The Governor’s Office has decided to not recognize César Chávez Day this year. Our thoughts are with the victims and all those affected.”
The Times reported that two women, Ana Murguia and Debra Rojas, said Chavez sexually abused them for years when they were minors associated with the United Farm Workers’ La Paz compound in California. Murguia said Chavez was 45 and she was 13 when he began summoning her to his office for sexual encounters, which she said continued dozens of times over four years. Rojas said Chavez first touched her inappropriately when she was 12 and later had sexual intercourse with her at age 15 during the union’s 1975 1,000-Mile March—conduct the Times noted constituted rape under California law due to her age.
The investigation also reported that longtime labor activist Dolores Huerta, a co-founder of the United Farm Workers, said Chavez sexually assaulted her. Huerta told the Times that Chavez raped her in 1966 in Delano, California, and described an earlier 1960 encounter in which she said she felt pressured into sex during a work trip.
According to the Times, the findings were based on interviews with more than 60 people, including former aides, relatives, and union members, as well as a review of hundreds of pages of union records, emails, photographs, and audio recordings. The accounts of Murguia and Rojas were corroborated through interviews with individuals they had confided in and through contemporaneous documents and records, the report said.
The fallout was immediate. The United Farm Workers canceled its annual Cesar Chavez Day celebrations after learning of the allegations during the reporting process. In a statement cited by the Times, the organization said the “troubling allegations” were incompatible with its values and that it would take time to ensure support services were available for those affected.
Chavez’s family said it was “not in a position to judge” the claims, according to the Times, adding that the allegations were “deeply painful” and that they support individuals who report sexual misconduct.
The investigation further reported that some relatives and former union leaders had been aware of allegations of sexual misconduct for years, but there was no evidence of efforts to fully investigate or publicly address the claims. Internal communications reviewed by the Times included discussions of Murguia’s allegations dating back more than a decade. The report also cited a social media post by Rojas in a private group years earlier in which she alleged Chavez had molested her.
Additional allegations included an account from Esmeralda Lopez, who told the Times that Chavez made a sexual proposition to her in 1988 while she was working within the movement. Lopez said she refused. Her account was corroborated by her mother, according to the report.
The Times also reported that some individuals who worked closely with Chavez denied the allegations, while others who lived at La Paz said they did not experience misconduct.
Chavez, who died in 1993, remains a prominent figure in American labor and civil rights history, with his name attached to schools, public buildings, and annual observances nationwide. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Bill Clinton in 1994, and a bust of Chavez was displayed in the Oval Office of former President Joe Biden in 2021.
Arizona’s decision not to recognize Cesar Chavez Day this year marks a direct response to the findings outlined in the Times investigation.
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 | Mar 18, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Gov. Katie Hobbs fired an Arizona State Board of Education (ASBE) member following pressure from a public school activist group, email records revealed.
The emails obtained and published by FOIAzona revealed that Hobbs heeded a demand from Save Our Schools Arizona (SOSAZ) to fire former ASBE member Jenny Clark due to her general support for school choice.
SOSAZ led a ballot initiative in 2022 in an attempt to overturn the legislation that universalized Arizona’s school choice within the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program. The effort was unsuccessful after SOSAZ far overestimated their signature numbers when they turned in their signature sheets.
SOSAZ lobbyist Beth Lewis emailed Hobbs chief of staff Chad Campbell and deputy chief of staff Lourdes Pena in January of last year with the demand to fire Clark and another board member, Katherine Haley. Lewis alleged the pair were “anti-public school” due to their school choice affiliations.
Lewis recommended Hobbs replace Clark with an ESA parent of a special needs student, suggesting Kathy Boltz, a member of the SOSAZ board. Haley’s recommended replacement was Alison Bruening-Hamati, an administrator with the Tempe Elementary School District.
Three days after that initial email, Lewis sent a follow-up email to stress the urgency of both Clark and Haley’s removals, citing an upcoming (at the time) ASBE meeting to update the ESA Parent handbook.
Pena responded that they had “a plan in place to replace Clark,” and that they were holding “more ongoing convos” about Haley. Not much later, the former would be given the boot. For unknown reasons, the latter was permitted to remain on the board.
A little over three weeks later, Clark announced on social media that Hobbs’ office ignored her refusal to resign and notified her of a forthcoming letter confirming the end of her term. When that letter hadn’t arrived six days later, Clark again posted online to notify of the absence of the letter. Within hours, the governor’s office sent a letter notifying Clark that she had been replaced since her term had expired.
Several other members of the board were serving on expired terms when Hobbs ousted Clark. However, in a letter last March announcing the appointment of Lupita Hightower to replace former ASBE board member Anna Tovar, Hobbs’ office claimed no other ASBE members were serving expired terms. However, that was not true.
Haley, now the president, had her term expire last January. Both vice president Scott Hagerman and Jason Catanese had their terms expire in January 2024.
At the time of Hobbs’ letter last March, Karla Phillips-Krivickas and Jacqui Clay had unexpired terms. However, both of their terms expired this January.
Hightower did not replace Clark. Kathleen Wiebke, whose term was set to expire in 2029, replaced Clark last March but passed away in December.
ASBE also has two vacancies at present, one seat for a public member and one seat for a charter school administrator.
In all, five of the 11 board members are serving on expired terms and two are vacant.
Lewis, the author of the emails, responded that the publishing of her emails was “hilariously stupid” and accused the women she sought to remove from ASBE as “working to destroy public education.”
“[Y]all are just pearl clutching — take luck!” said Lewis.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
