by Jonathan Eberle | Jul 6, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Governor Katie Hobbs signed legislation Wednesday creating a new Independent Correctional Oversight Office for Arizona’s prison system—but critics say the move rings hollow, as the Governor declined to provide any funding to make the office functional.
Senate Bill 1507, introduced by Senator Shawnna Bolick, was designed to increase accountability and transparency within the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR). The bill comes amid heightened scrutiny of the state’s prison system following recent inmate deaths and reports of systemic failures.
But while the bill was signed into law, supporters say its impact has been effectively neutralized by the Governor’s refusal to allocate funding to the new office. “I’m glad to see Senator Bolick’s SB 1507 signed into law. This is a long-overdue step toward accountability in our corrections system,” said Rep. Walt Blackman. “But a law without funding is just a press release.”
Senator Bolick, who chairs the Senate Regulatory Affairs & Government Efficiency Committee, expressed frustration with the Governor’s decision, accusing her of prioritizing appearances over action.
“Signing a bill and refusing to fund it is like buying a car and not putting anyone in the driver’s seat,” Bolick said. “The Governor is selling the illusion of progress while withholding the tools the office needs to function.”
The oversight office was envisioned as a neutral body to monitor Arizona’s prison system, investigate abuse, and ensure transparency—functions advocates say are urgently needed.
Supporters of the bill argue that the Governor’s rejection of all related budget requests undermines the very accountability the legislation was meant to establish. Without staff, resources, or operational funding, the office exists only on paper.
Bolick is now urging the Governor to take immediate steps to rectify the situation, suggesting Hobbs find funds either within her own office or by reallocating money from another agency.
“If she believes in this office,” Bolick said, “she needs to fund it.” For now, the Independent Correctional Oversight Office remains a concept without a functioning framework—leaving reform advocates wondering when, or if, oversight will become reality in Arizona’s prison system.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 12, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The tragic loss of Apache Junction Police Officer Gabriel Facio, who died from injuries sustained in the line of duty on Sunday, has spurred an upswelling of community support.
Facio, a 46-year-old with the AJPD for three years, was shot in the face by a driver he pulled over for brandishing a firearm in a road-rage incident on June 2nd according to ABC15. He passed away in the hospital six days later from his injuries and was the first Apache Junction Police officer to be killed in the line-of-duty. AJPD Chief Michael Pooley told reporters that Facio was a Mexican immigrant who was living his dream: “He came to the United States with the whole intention of being an officer, and he accomplished that goal.”
The suspect, 37-year-old Roger Nunez, left his vehicle and walked away from officers responding to the scene. He failed to respond to officers’ commands, until, per the AJPD, he told the officers to shoot him. The four responding officers then employed “less lethal ammo,” at which point Nunez turned and opened fire, striking Facio. Several officers fired back, subduing the suspect who remains in critical condition.
Arizona Representative Walt Blackman released a statement praising the life and sacrifice of Officer Facio. He wrote:
“Our community is grieving the loss of Officer Gabriel Facio, a three-year veteran of the Apache Junction Police Department, who died on Sunday from injuries sustained while bravely serving in the line of duty.
His passing marks the first line-of-duty death in the history of the Apache Junction Police Department—a painful milestone that underscores the risks our officers face each day and the selfless service they provide to keep us safe.
But Gabriel Facio was more than an officer. He was a devoted husband, a proud father, a beloved son and brother, and a trusted friend. His life was defined by his service and commitment to protecting others. Before joining the Apache Junction Police Department, Officer Facio served honorably in law enforcement across Phoenix and the Valley, earning a reputation for professionalism, compassion, and strength.
To the Facio family—please accept my deepest condolences. Words cannot ease your pain, but know that your grief is shared by all of us in Legislative District 7 and across Arizona. We mourn with you, we honor Gabriel’s service and sacrifice, and we stand beside you in sorrow and support.
To the officers of the Apache Junction Police Department—you have lost a brother. I share in your grief and thank you for your courage and resolve during this difficult time.
And to the community, thank you for the outpouring of love—through your prayers, your blue ribbons, and countless quiet acts of kindness. The 100 Club of Arizona, city leaders, and residents have come together to honor a true public servant and hero.
Let us never forget Officer Gabriel Facio. May we carry forward his legacy of service, courage, and compassion. Rest in peace, Officer Facio. You served with honor, and you will not be forgotten”
Apache Junction Police Chief Michael Pooley wrote in a statement to social media, “On behalf of the men and women of the Apache Junction Police Department, we appreciate the support and outpouring of love from the community. A little piece of us was lost as Officer Facio took his last breath surrounded by family and friends. He was a beloved father, husband, son, brother, friend and police officer who showed his passion for people through his service to others.”
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 27, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
An investigation by Republican Reps. David Marshall, Walt Blackman, and Quang Nguyen found that the City of Phoenix has distributed over $28.5 million of taxpayer funding to more than 100 private organizations with a shocking lack of oversight. Now, the Goldwater Institute is asking Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes to intervene and stop what it termed an “unlawful spending spree.”
Citing the legislative findings, the Goldwater Institute alleges that “Organizations like the Phoenix Film Foundation, Phoenix Pride Inc, Mexican Baseball Fiesta LLC, the Arizona Science Center’s Galaxy Gala, and many others received subsidies—sometimes simultaneously by multiple departments—under questionable labels like ‘Sponsorships,’ ‘Grants and Subsidies,’ ‘Emerg[ency] Assist[ance],’ or ‘Miscellaneous.’ The city has no lawful authority to spend public money in this way.”
Parker Jackson, a staff attorney at the Goldwater Institute, said in a statement, “This effectively turns large portions of the city’s budget into a patchwork of slush funds that special interests can access in the sole discretion of a single city employee. Amazingly, the city ‘does not track donations by nonprofit status,’ so it does not know exactly how much taxpayer money has been funneled out through this opaque process.”
The reported “Sponsorships,” “Grants and Subsidies,” “Emerg[ency] Assist[ance],” or “Miscellaneous” donations run afoul of the Arizona State Constitution’s Gift Clause according to Jackson in a letter to the Attorney General co-signed by Jon Riches, the Goldwater’s Vice President for Litigation.
Riches wrote, “Most—if not all—of these expenditures appear to violate the Arizona Constitution’s Gift Clause, which strictly prohibits use of public funds to benefit private, special interests. Not only is it doubtful that these allocations serve a legitimate public purpose, but there also appears to be no direct or measurable consideration received in return for this use of public resources.”
The Arizona Constitution under Article 9 Section 7 states, “Neither the state, nor any county, city, town, municipality, or other subdivision of the state shall ever give or loan its credit in the aid of, or make any donation or grant, by subsidy or otherwise, to any individual, association, or corporation, or become a subscriber to, or a shareholder in, any company or corporation, or become a joint owner with any person, company, or corporation, except as to such ownerships as may accrue to the state by operation or provision of law or as authorized by law solely for investment of the monies in the various funds of the state.”
The Goldwater attorneys have called on Mayes to “[e]njoin the illegal payment of public monies” and to “[r]ecover illegally paid public monies,” under A.R.S. § 41-194.01 and A.R.S. § 35-212 respectively.
Jackson wrote in a Goldwater Institute press release that the finding by the Arizona legislature may seem familiar to keen observers: “If treating taxpayers as financiers for private entities—even controversial and ideological ones—sounds familiar, that’s because it mirrors what has been exposed throughout the federal government this year. For example, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) was aptly described as ‘a slush fund for leftist priorities’ after the White House exposed decades of waste and abuse in that agency.”
In a video posted to X, Jackson said, “At the end of the day, public dollars should be used for public purposes… not to enrich special interests at a bureaucrat’s whim.”
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 Daniel Stefanski | Feb 22, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to better look after the interests of Arizona’s children passed one chamber of the Arizona Legislature.
On Monday, the Arizona House of Representatives approved HB 2079 “to streamline the guardian process and prioritize minors’ best interests [by] strengthen[ing] guardianship procedures, remov[ing] bureaucratic delays, and prioritiz[ing] stable homes for children.”
HB 2079 received an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 56-3 (with one member not voting) to ensure its passage over to the state Senate.
In a statement that accompanied the announcement of the bill’s progress, State Representative Walt Blackman, the legislation’s sponsor, said, “This bill is about one thing and one thing only: putting kids first. We won’t let politics or outdated legal hurdles prevent children from getting the care and stability they need. WE are ensuring that guardianship decisions are made swiftly, fairly, and in the best interest of the child – not based on bureaucracy or red tape.”
According to the press release that was issued by the Arizona House Republicans, the bill would do the following:
- “Ensur[e] guardianship decisions are made based on the child’s best interest, not legal loopholes.
- “Allow 16- and 17-year-olds without parental support to have a clearer pathway to guardianship.
- “Protect minors from unnecessary delays by permitting courts to extend temporary guardianships when needed.
- “Ensur[e] due diligence in locating a child’s living parent while prioritizing stability over red tape.”
Blackman added, “For too long, kids in Arizona have fallen through the cracks because of slow-moving legal procedures and unnecessary court delays. We need to be proactive in protecting and supporting them, not making them wait for a system that doesn’t always work in their favor.”
If signed into law, the bill would “also ensure that minors 16 and older, who are not part of an open dependency case, have a greater say in their future. By recognizing their unique circumstances, the bill allows courts to grant guardianship when no willing or able parent is present, preventing unnecessary hardships for vulnerable youth.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, a representative from Homeless Youth Connection signed in to support the proposal.
Last month, the bill was approved by the House Government Committee with a unanimous 7-0 vote.
HB 2079 will now be considered by the Arizona Senate in the next stop in its legislative journey.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 18, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A bill to provide better support to Arizona families has cleared a legislative hurdle.
Last week, the Arizona House of Representatives Government Committee passed HB 2216 “to establish the Positive Alternatives for Pregnancy and Parenting Grant Program within the Arizona Department of Health Services. The bill was sponsored by State Representative Walt Blackman.
According to the release from Blackman, the proposal “advances efforts to provide real, practical support for women and families facing unplanned pregnancies by funding nonprofit organizations that offer medical care, parenting education, adoption assistance, and essential resources like clothing, car seats, and housing support.” If signed into law, HB 2216 would “establish strict accountability measures, requiring annual audits and reports to ensure responsible use of grant funds; [and] prohibit funds from being used for political or religious purposes while ensuring all participating organizations protect client privacy in compliance with state and federal laws.”
In a statement that accompanied the announcement of the bill’s progress, Representative Blackman said, “HB 2216 helps make sure women and families have the resources they need to choose life and build a strong future. Too often, women facing unplanned pregnancies feel like they have nowhere to turn. This program sees they have access to real help – prenatal care, parenting classes, material support, and housing assistance – without pressure or political agendas. We’re putting Arizona families first by funding organizations that empower mothers and protect the most vulnerable among us.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, National Association of Social Workers – Arizona Chapter, Arizona Center for Women’s Advancement, Camelback Family Planning, National Council of Jewish Women, Pro-Choice Arizona Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, Arizona National Organization for Women (NOW), and American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, all signed in to oppose the bill.
HB 2216 passed the Senate Government Committee along party lines with a 4-3 vote. It will soon be considered by the full chamber of the Arizona House of Representatives.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
