Center Square News

(The Center Square) - Arizona schools Superintendent Tom Horne is pushing back against Attorney General Kris Mayes as she threatens legal action over the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account vouchers.

Last week, Mayes said she is considering suing Horne regarding a policy change the department made in 2024 that automatically paid out ESA voucher purchases of less than $2,000.

ESA vouchers are a taxpayer-funded program, and the money is administered by the Arizona Department of Education. Under the program, the money that would have paid for the student's education in a neighborhood school follows the student to a school of the parents' choice, according to www.azed.gov/esa. That includes home schooling.

Mayes is currently investigating Horne and the department for allegedly mishandling public funds.

These voucher funds allegedly paid for over 200 iPhones, more than 50 smart televisions, numerous gift cards worth up to $500, as well as more than $3 million worth of purchases on Amazon, Costco and Best Buy, according to an investigation by 12 News (KPNX-TV in Mesa).

But Horne told The Center Square this week that Mayes “has no idea what she is talking about when she is criticizing [the department] for alleged waste of money.”

“She’s being outrageous,” the state public schools superintendent said.

He said he implemented a policy called “risk-based auditing,” which audited payments under $2,000 at a later date. Any money over $2,000 was audited, he noted.

Horne said when he took office in 2022, the state’s ESA program had around 11,000 participants. In the three years since then, it has grown to almost 100,000 members.

Even with this increase in participants, Horne said the department had the same number of people working on the ESA program when it was at 11,000 members. He said the lack of work force created a backlog in processing and issuing voucher payments.

The “risk-based auditing” was seen as a way to help reduce the backlog, the superintendent said.

When the department finds improper requests, it has recovered the money, Horne said.

The department has removed over 700 people from the ESA program for improper purchases, he noted.

“We’re very proactive; we get the money back. Nothing is wasted,” Horne said.

On the social media website X, the department said in August it had found potentially $622,000 “for collections due to possible fraud or misuse.”

When the department found alleged fraud cases, Horne said they were sent to Mayes’ office. But he said she did not take any action on them.

He cited three cases in which the department found more than $158,000 in voucher funds had been misused. The cases included $80,000 being spent on technical items like laptops, $64,000 used to buy crystals and $14,000 for vaginal probiotics.

According to the superintendent, the department sends many collection cases to Mayes’ office, but she does not notify him of their progress. Instead of sending cases to Mayes, Horne said the department now sends them to Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. Phoenix is both the county seat and the state capital.

Richie Taylor, the communications director for Mayes, told The Center Square this week that the attorney general’s office “prosecutes crimes based on a reasonable likelihood of conviction. If we have declined to prosecute a case, it is because the referral does not meet our standard for prosecution.”

He added that Mayes’ office has “eight active and ongoing criminal investigations into potential ESA fraud and two pending review.”

“We will continue to investigate and prosecute cases with sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges. In the cases referenced by Superintendent Horne, while the spending certainly seems inappropriate, they did not meet the standard for criminal prosecution,” Taylor said.

“Arizonans should be concerned the ESA program has such little guardrails and oversight that items like these and others referenced by Superintendent Horne were ever allowed to be purchased in the first place,” he added.

Besides Mayes, Horne said Gov. Katie Hobbs “created the crisis” by not allowing the department to have “adequate personnel” to audit everything before paying out the ESA vouchers.

Horne said the state budget proposed by the House included more money to hire personnel to handle the ESA program, but added Hobbs told the legislative body to remove the addition. Republicans have a majority in the Legislature but not enough seats to override Hobbs' vetoes. After compromises between Hobbs, a Democrat, and the Legislature, the $17.6 billion state budget was approved in June with just days left before a government shutdown.

Horne said Hobbs and Mayes, also a Democrat, are among the people “so immersed in ideology that they ignore the needs of the students."

The governor and attorney general are doing everything they can to interfere with the ESA program, the schools superintendent noted.

“They want education to be a government monopoly rather than competition,” he said.

(The Center Square) - Arizona saw the second-largest percentage drop in unemployment claims, according to a new report.

WalletHub released a report examining unemployment claims in America from Nov. 17 to Nov. 24. The only state that did better than Arizona was Alabama.

The report examined changes in states’ unemployment claims rate and the number of claims per 100,000 people in the workforce.

Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst, told The Center Square that Arizona, particularly in the Phoenix metro area, has seen unemployment claims decline recently.

From Nov. 17 to Nov. 24, Arizona saw its unemployment claims decrease by almost 36%, according to the report. The report also found unemployment claims in Arizona are down nearly 23% compared to the same time last year.

Lupo noted Arizona has a “strong job market” currently, adding that people can find jobs, which means they file fewer unemployment claims.

He added Arizona is seeing economic expansion with businesses hiring and enlarging their operations.

This ranking can be tied to the housing market, Lupo said, noting Phoenix has a “hot real estate market.” He added an active housing market “does wonders for the labor force,” such as creating more construction jobs.

The housing market is something to “keep an eye on” because if it experiences a downward trend, then there “might be cause for concern," Lupo said.

However, despite this warning, Lupo said Arizona is doing as “well as any state” in America economically.

Looking ahead, Lupo described Arizona’s employment picture as “very bright" and said the state has a good labor force participation rate.

The report found Arizona has 40 unemployment claims per 100,000 people in the labor force. The state is tied for the fourth-lowest rate in the country.

Arizona's unemployment claims per 100,000 people in the workforce are much lower than neighboring states.

Utah and New Mexico are the closest with 82 and 83 unemployment claims per 100,000, respectively. Nevada has 132 per 100,000, and California has 170 per 100,000, the report showed.

Arizona’s labor force is “very healthy and engaged,” with few people underemployed, Lupo told The Center Square.

Lupo described an underemployed person as someone working in a job several pay grades below their level of education. An example would be someone with a bachelor’s degree working at Walmart as a greeter.

The report said blue states saw unemployment claims decrease more than red states did.

Lupo said blue states usually have large metro areas, big population centers and diverse economies.

Furthermore, he stated blue states tend to have “more jobs in sectors that are less prone to layoffs,” such as health care, professional services and technology.

Lupo also said blue states have better “programs or policies that keep people employed,” as well as stronger benefit packages and worker protections.

(The Center Square) – The Arizona State Board of Education on Monday approved removing diversity, equity and inclusion teaching standards to comply with a federal executive order and avoid the potential loss of $866 million in federal education funding.

During the meeting, board members heard testimony from parents, educators and members of the public who raised concerns about removing the standards. Yet the board approved to start the process of reviewing statewide teaching standards related to DEI.

In a Nov. 25 letter to the board, eight state lawmakers joined Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne in calling for immediate revisions to the Structured English Immersion framework.

The letter argues that the current standards contain DEI language that violates state law, undermines classroom neutrality and jeopardizes federal funds.

Horne warned that Arizona could lose the funding in 2026 if the state does not comply with Executive Order 14151, issued in January by the Trump administration to cut DEI requirements in education.

“All people should be judged based on their character and ability, not their race or ethnicity. DEI language and programs promote the exact opposite, and they have no place in the classroom. These terms do not belong in teaching standards,” Horne said in a statement.

The process will begin in early 2026 to provide draft material for the board's consideration in September 2026.

A working group will define DEI-related terms and determine which language should be removed. The board also approved language requiring that any changes maintain high pedagogical standards.

Opponents urged the board to reject the proposed changes.

During the meeting, Beth Lewis, an Arizona parent and educator of 12 years, said removing DEI teaching standards “constitutes a broad overreach that would go well beyond what would be reasonably required by the order.”

Eliminating standards on cultural competency and celebrating cultural diversity would amount to “educational malpractice and would erase what makes our students unique … their talents and context,” Lewis added.

Board member Jason Catanese said the state’s priority should be student outcomes, not administrative costs or federal funding.

Arizona has lost more than 1,000 teachers since July, he said, noting the changes could create additional challenges.

“I value the diversity that we bring to our classrooms, and I want to make sure that every single decision truly helps our students to learn and thrive,” Catanese said.

The Arizona State Board of Education and Arizona Department of Education told The Center Square that they don't have a response beyond comments made during the meeting.

(The Center Square) - Arizona has the 14th best tax structure in America, according to a new report.

The Tax Foundation recently released its 2026 State Tax Competitiveness Index, which examines states’ tax structures and ranks them.

Arizona ranked "fairly well" with most of its taxes, said Nicole Fox, a policy analyst for the Tax Foundation. She noted the state fell short with its sales tax.

The foundation has published this report since 2003. Arizona has ranked between 14th and 18th on the index since 2020, Fox told The Center Square this week. “Arizona has a fairly competitive tax system."

The index ranks states according to five categories: corporate tax, individual income tax, sales tax, property tax and unemployment insurance tax.

The report said Arizona ranked first in America in unemployment insurance tax, which funds unemployment benefits.

For individual income tax, Arizona ranked ninth in the country. Fox said Arizona had the eighth lowest income tax in America, with a flat rate of 2.5%. Arizona is tied with North Dakota for the lowest individual income tax among states that have one, she said.

The states without an individual income tax are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

For corporate taxes, Arizona ranked 13th. Despite having the 37th highest corporate tax rate of 4.9%, Arizona ranks high on the Tax Foundation's list because it does not impose “gross receipts taxes and capital stock taxes,” the report noted.

The only area where Arizona did not perform well was sales tax, Fox said. It ranked 45th in this category.

Fox said the combined state and local sales tax rate is 8.52%, the 11th highest in the country.

But Fox noted the state exempts many personal services from sales taxes, such as haircuts and dry cleaning.

On the down side, the state taxes things such as office equipment, business leases and software services, Ford said. She warned the "business-type taxes" are passed down to consumers with higher prices. She noted Arizona could consider stopping its tax on those items.

Overall, Arizona ranked ahead of neighboring states California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado.

The states with the highest rankings were Wyoming, South Carolina and New Hampshire. The states with the lowest rankings were California, New Jersey and New York.

States that remain complacent regarding tax laws risk falling in future rankings, Fox told The Center Square.

(The Center Square) - Arizona is the 20th most dependent state that relies on the federal government, according to a new report.

The Center for Practical Federalism recently released the report detailing how reliant states are on federal officials.

Steve Johnson, a fellow at CPF, told The Center Square this week that rankings are based on measurements of how states are “doing in terms of policies and practices to protect [themselves] against federal overreach.”

Johnson described Arizona’s ranking as “middle of the pack,” saying the state had an overall “slightly above average score.”

The 2025 rankings mark the third year CPF has conducted a federalism scorecard, Johnson stated.

Arizona’s rankings have fallen since 2023, when it ranked as the 11th most resilient to federal influence. In 2024, Arizona ranked 22nd among the most vulnerable states to federal influence.

According to Johnson, a large portion of Arizona’s budget comes from federal dollars. The Arizona Center for Economic Progress said in fiscal year 2025, 45% of the state's revenue came from federal funds.

Johnson, who served three terms in the Michigan state House, said there is “a lot of room for improvement.” However, he said this may be difficult because Arizona has a Democratic governor and a Republican-controlled Legislature.

Arizona state government officials should be asking themselves whether they are “protecting the interests” of their citizens when accepting federal funds, Johnson noted.

He said many state bureaucrats will be “aligned” with a bigger government because “their jobs are funded by federal dollars.”

These bureaucrats view their role as not fighting with the federal government, Johnson said. “They’ll often just do what the federal government will ask them."

The report had eight categories: oversight committees, non-judicial deference, agency lobby restricted, legislative regulatory review, independent regulatory review, injunctive relief for citizens, null and void statutes, and legislative subpoena power.

CPF gave states color rankings: red, yellow and green. The red color meant a state was “unprotected against agency influence,” whereas yellow meant “vulnerable” and green meant “stronger-than-average.”

Arizona received a red rating in oversight committees, legislative regulatory review and injunctive relief for citizens.

To improve its score, Arizona needs to increase legislative involvement in the regulatory process, Johnson told The Center Square. He recommended more legislators get involved in government oversight and ask if specific rules are necessary.

Johnson said Arizona doesn’t currently have such a legislative oversight committee. He said the addition of that committee would help the Legislature to be a better check on the federal government.

For injunctive relief for citizens, every state besides Tennessee scored a red. Johnson said Tennessee is the only state that allows citizens to immediately seek an injunction against a state government action.

An example of a situation in which a citizen could use this relief is when a governor uses emergency powers to shut down businesses during a pandemic, Johnson said.

He noted CPF advocates for limiting the power of the state bureaucracy and “putting guardrails on it, especially surrounding legislative oversight."

“We don’t want a situation where unelected bureaucrats are doing what they’re told by the feds,” Johnson said.

CPF supports the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act, Johnson said, adding that it “requires legislative approval of any major regulations.”

The House passed the REINS Act in 2023, but the legislation has lingered in the Senate.

Besides backing the REINS Act, CPF supports legislative approval before a state applies for federal grants, Johnson said.

The organization wants to make sure “state legislatures are more involved in that process and they’re aware of [what] they’re agreeing to,” he said.

CPF also wants states to have a contingency plan when they lose federal funds. Johnson said the organization doesn’t want states to be so dependent on federal funds that they will do whatever the federal government asks.

If states have a contingency plan, they are “more likely in a situation” where they push back against the federal government, he said.

(The Center Square) - A mayor in Arizona is taking a wait-and-see approach on how the Trump administration’s fee hike for international tourists will affect her small town near the Grand Canyon.

Last week, the Trump administration implemented new rules that raised prices for international travelers seeking to visit national parks. The new rule applies to the 11 most visited parks in America, including Grand Canyon National Park.

Starting in 2026, foreigners without an annual pass will need to pay $100 per person. An annual pass costs $80 for Americans and $250 for foreigners.

Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said the new policies “ensure that U.S. taxpayers, who already support the National Park System, continue to enjoy affordable access, while international visitors contribute their fair share to maintaining and improving our parks for future generations.”

Clarinda Vail, the mayor of Tusayan, told The Center Square that it is “unknown” how the new international tourism fee will affect the town, adding that Tusayan is “very concerned.” Tusayan, a town of around 600 people, is one mile south of the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, which is open year-round.

The new park fees raises many questions on its implementation, said Kati Schmidt, the communications director for the National Parks Conservation Association, noting there's "a lot to unpack in this announcement."

Schmidt told The Center Square that her organization will ask the Department of the Interior questions such as whether “fee collectors have to check every ID going into parks” and how parks will verify digital passes.

The new rule's impact on Tusayan's economy is unknown, Vail said. But the mayor added business owners in the small town are “very concerned.”

The National Park Service said in 2024 that visitors to the Grand Canyon spent $905 million. This spending generated $1.1 billion in economic output and employed nearly 9,000 people.

Vail said she would have liked to have seen the new rule implementation done with more process and public input.

She noted she's concerned about the rule making lines back up for people trying to enter the park. She noted when the gate at the entryway at the Grand Canyon’s South Rim is not working correctly, cars can back up into Tusayan.

Vail added she wonders how park workers will be able to determine whether someone is a foreigner during the park’s busy times.

Tourists from around the world, including many from Canada and China, visit Grand Canyon National Park, she said.

“We don’t need any extra reasons for foreign travelers not to come see the Grand Canyon,” the mayor said. “I don’t want price to be a reason that anyone traveling to our country might skip any national park.”

Canadian visitors to Arizona this year have fallen between 20% and 30%, Arizona PBS reported.

Despite concerns that the rule changes will affect Tusayan’s economy, the new rule could raise $528 million annually for the federal government, The Center Square reported.

Property and Environment Research Center, a nonprofit research institute, said of the 325.5 million visitors to national parks in 2023, about 14 million were foreigners.

The Center Square contacted the National Park Service, but did not hear back before press time.

(The Center Square) - A University of Arizona professor has filed a federal lawsuit against the Arizona Board of Regents, claiming he was improperly blocked from faculty governance committees after raising concerns about the school’s diversity, equity and inclusion practices.

The lawsuit, filed Nov. 25 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, states the university excluded Dr. Matthew Abraham, a tenured professor of English, from faculty governance committees after he questioned the school's race-based hiring and DEI practices.

“Dr. Abraham has been discriminated against … for basically daring to question the university's hiring practices,” Ángel J. Valencia, senior counsel at the Liberty Justice Center, told The Center Square in an exclusive interview.

Abraham filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2022. The EEOC dismissed the charge and issued a right-to-sue letter in August 2025, giving the Liberty Justice Center 90 days to file the suit.

“We seek to restore lawful, transparent standards for committee service, to remove the stigma the University has placed on Dr. Abraham, and to hold the University accountable for their unlawful actions,” Valencia said in a statement.

A University of Arizona spokesperson told The Center Square in an email that "the university will not comment on what is an active legal matter.”

The Liberty Justice Center is asking the court to stop the university from using protected speech as a reason to block faculty from serving on committees, ban any race-based selection practices tied to DEI policies, remove negative labels from Dr. Abraham’s records and ensure he receives fair consideration for committee service, according to a Monday press release.

“We want this to send a message that all faculty members are free to speak their minds, legally, without fear of retribution or retaliation from their employer,” Valencia told The Center Square.

Valencia said this is a serious civil rights violation, adding that the Liberty Justice Center intends to hold the university accountable.

(The Center Square) – U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, spent the weekend saying he will not be silenced by the Trump administration.

During televised segments Sunday on CNN and NBC, Kelly dismissed criticisms and actions by President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.

“I’m not going to be bullied,” Kelly said on NBC’s “Meet the Press." “Especially by Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth.”

At issue is a recent video featuring Kelly and five other lawmakers, all of whom are Democrats and are advising military service members to “refuse illegal orders.” Five of the six lawmakers are former military service members. The sixth is U.S. Sen. Elise Slotkin, D-Michigan, who was a CIA analyst.

Since the video was posted on social media, Hegseth and Trump have criticized the lawmakers. Trump went so far as to say on Truth Social that “each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL.” In another post, Trump called the video “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” Hegseth, in a post on X, said Kelly, as a retired Navy combat pilot, could face repercussions and reposted a Department of War statement saying Kelly could be recalled for active duty to face a possible court-martial or administrative measure.

Besides Kelly and Slotkin, the video features U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio, D-Pennsylvania; Maggie Goodlander, D-New Hampshire; Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pennsylvania, and Jason Crow, D-Colorado.

Hegseth was not pleased and said as much in a post on X.

“Five of the six individuals in that video do not fall under jurisdiction (one is CIA and four are former military but not retired, so they are no longer subject to UCMJ),” said Hegseth, referring to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. “However, Mark Kelly (retired Navy Commander) is still subject to UCMJ — and he knows that.”

In the video, Kelly, who retired with the rank of captain, said he wanted to “speak directly to members of the military." He accused the Trump administration of “pitting” uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens.

“Like us, you swore an oath,” the former astronaut said. “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.”

Kelly said in the video that he understands “it is a difficult time to be a public servant," but added that their vigilance is critical.

During the Sunday television programs, Kelly said on CNN that their message in the video was “simple and non-controversial.” As for the remarks from Trump and Hegseth, Kelly called them ridiculous.

“This is an attempt to silence me, to get me to not hold this administration accountable,” Kelly told Dana Bash, host of CNN’s “State of the Union."

Kelly then doubled down, adding that “we have a president who does not understand the Constitution.” He also called Hegseth “unqualified” for his position.

“I cannot think of a secretary of defense in the history of our country that is less qualified than Pete Hegseth,” Kelly said on “State of the Union." “He should not be in this position. He should have been fired after Signalgate.”

"Signalgate" refers to a March 2025 security breach wherein a reporter was mistakenly included in a group chat that involved national security officials discussing sensitive information about military plans.

Kelly made similar comments to Kristen Welker on NBC’s “Meet the Press."

“I’ll follow the law, but I’m not going to be intimidated,” said Kelly.

The Center Square reached out to Kelly's office Monday, but did not hear back from the senator or his staff.

Trump and Hegseth are not the only ones upset over the video. As reported by The Center Square, more than a dozen current and former legislators from Arizona, all of whom are Republicans, complained about the video in a November letter to Kelly.

“The decision to use military service members as political props in a video implying that the Commander-in-Chief may issue illegal orders crosses a line that should have never been approached,” wrote the legislators. “Your participation in this effort has understandably alarmed veterans, military families, and elected leaders who value the integrity and stability of our armed forces.”

While the legislators acknowledge that "service members are duty-bound to refuse a truly unlawful order,” something they say service members know from their first day of training, the lawmakers point out that this does not require a “partisan campaign video,” or “fearmongering,” or “political operatives implying that the Commander-in-Chief is poised to commit crimes.”

The legislators added that by leaving “unlawful orders” vague and unrefined, the video aims to plant suspicion before such an order is given.

“The unmistakable implication is that President Donald J. Trump is preparing to issue illegal commands,” wrote the legislators. “That insinuation is false. Worse, it encourages doubt in the chain of command itself – a foundational threat to military discipline and national readiness.”

Arizona state Sen. Kevin Payne is one of the signers.

“I’m a veteran, and I didn’t appreciate it,” Payne, who served in the Navy, told The Center Square in November. “I think that was uncalled for.”

Payne said he was enraged when he saw the video. “He’s trying to get military service members to disobey and not follow orders."

Arizona state Rep. Nick Kupper also signed the letter. Kupper stood by his actions in November and did not back down when contacted Monday by The Center Square.

Kupper, a retired Air Force master sergeant, said he called Kelly's office on Jan. 19, 2022 when he was on active duty and expressed concerns that his commander was unlawfully ordering him to take an Emergency Use Authorization COVID shot, rather than the fully approved one Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin ordered service members to take. Kupper said he was told to simply take the EUA COVID shot.

“In my lawsuit, Coker v. Austin, the DoD admitted that they did not order any fully approved COVID shots until May 2022 and did not have them on hand until June 2022," Kupper told The Center Square.

As a result, Kupper said, he has “no faith that Sen. Kelly seriously believes, or can prove, any unlawful orders have been issued by President Trump or SECWAR Hegseth.”

Kupper said he viewed Kelly’s remarks as grandstanding. “I truly believe this is just political theater at which so many of my colleagues excel."

(The Center Square) - An Arizona man is one step closer to building his hotel in downtown Prescott after years of being denied city permits for what's being called vague reasons.

Jim Griset, who owns buildings in the Arizona city of about 46,000 people, has been trying to build his boutique hotel on his property. But the city has been denying him the right to do so.

Since 2023, Griset has attempted to turn the three buildings he owns - a Harley Davidson shop, an art gallery and a souvenir store - into a hotel.

Goldwater Institute attorney Jon Riches, who represents Griset, told The Center Square that Griset needed to obtain a permit from the Prescott Historical Preservation Commission before he could build a hotel.

The commission kept denying Griset’s permit without any “clear objective criteria or guidelines," Riches said. Instead, the attorney said, the permit was denied on “subjective determinations.”

After Griset got his first permit application denied by the commission, he appealed it to the Prescott City Council, but it upheld the commission’s ruling, said the Goldwater Institute, a Phoenix-based conservative litigation and public policy research organization.

The permit denial from the city council was “vague and subjective,” Riches noted.

And as Griset redesigned his hotel to meet the standards sought by Prescott, those standards kept changing, according to the Goldwater Institute.

Griset told The Center Square that it was “very disheartening” when the city repeatedly denied his permit applications.

He added that this ordeal has been “going on for years,” saying he has spent a “considerable amount” of money on the project.

One of the key reasons the city kept denying the permits for Griset’s hotel was due to the influence of people who believe in the "Not In My Backyard" philosophy. They're known as NIMBYs, people who oppose certain types of changes in their neighborhood.

In Griset’s case, the NIMBYs were “particularly egregious” during the city council and commission hearing, Riches said.

Numerous people testified at the hearings that they “didn’t want the hotel there,” and “they didn’t want the building to change,” Riches noted.

Riches called the pushback against Griset’s hotel a “troubling display” of people not wanting anything to change, regardless of what Arizona law says or Griset’s private property rights.

The people who showed up in opposition to his hotel project “only represented” a small portion of the city’s population, Griset said.

The attorney added that he thinks the commission didn’t like the project and did not want it where Griset’s property is located.

To put this into perspective, while Griset was seeking approval for his hotel design, the city approved another hotel for construction in the same area, Riches said.

Earlier this month, after two years of battling Prescott on his hotel project, the city council overturned the commission’s decision and approved Griset’s hotel project.

Griset told The Center Square that it was a “huge hurdle” for the city to overturn the commission’s denial of his hotel project.

One of the main arguments Riches used in helping Griset get his hotel design approved was the state’s Permitted Freedom Act.

Riches said this law says that if a government “is going to act on a permit,” it must be “based on clear and objective criteria.” Gov. Katie Hobbs signed the act into law in 2023.

The Permitted Freedom Act changed the legal landscape for property owners “pretty substantially,” according to the attorney.

After the city council overturned the commission’s decision, Riches said, “It was gratifying to see the Prescott City Council finally respect Jim’s property rights and respect Arizona law that says you can’t base these denials on these sorts of vague, unsubstantiated claims.”

“The government has to have real objective standards that are measurable,” he noted.

Griset has “both a moral and legal right to use his property in any lawful way,” the attorney said.

Riches said he thinks Griset’s case is a “good lesson for city governments across Arizona.” He added that if cities “arbitrarily” impair private property rights, then “they’re gonna be held accountable under Arizona law.”

Griset is almost done getting his hotel approved for the build. He told The Center Square that he has to get a use permit approved by the city’s zoning and planning commission and then by the city council.

He said he was unsure about how the city council would rule on his use permit because it will be adding four new members.

On top of this, Griset added that he will need the hotel’s water service agreement approved by the city as well.

(The Center Square) - Texas officials are seeking a partnership with the conservative organization Turning Point USA to place chapters on every college and high school campus in the state.

Since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of TPUSA, at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, many have debated what this means for freedom of speech and religion in America.

In the days following Kirk’s death, TPUSA said it received 54,000 requests from high school and college students nationwide to start or join chapters just six days after the assassination.

That number has since increased to over 135,000 inquiries.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath met with Turning Point USA Senior Director Josh Thifault on Nov. 3 in Austin to discuss the initiative, according to the Texas Tribune.

Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, a Republican, announced Friday he is donating $1 million from his campaign account to place Turning Point USA chapters on every college and high school campus in the state.

“I had not planned to make a donation before the call, but the Lord put it on my heart to make a meaningful contribution to kick start the Texas project,” Patrick said in a post on X. “Texas has the size and the heart to open more chapters than any other state and more than most countries. Let’s get it done for Charlie, and for Texas.”

Meanwhile, former Oklahoma schools Superintendent Ryan Walters announced a partnership with Turning Point USA, which has its headquarters in Phoenix, to start chapters in every high school in Oklahoma.

“We will fight back against the liberal propaganda pushed by the radical left and the teachers' unions,” said Walters. “Our fight starts now.”

Even on the federal level, the U.S. Department of Education last week announced a partnership with TPUSA and more than 40 other organizations to launch the America 250 Civics Education Coalition.

This coalition’s goal is “to ensure every young American understands the beauty of our nation and is equipped with the civic knowledge required to contribute meaningfully to its future,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said.

(The Center Square) - Arizona has three of the top 30-ranked cities in America to celebrate Thanksgiving: Scottsdale, Gilbert and Chandler, according to a new report.

WalletHub released a report earlier in November detailing the top American cities for Thanksgiving.

According to Chip Lupo, an analyst for WalletHub, the company evaluated cities across five criteria: Thanksgiving celebrations and traditions, affordability, safety and accessibility, giving thanks and Thanksgiving weather.

Lupo said across the five criteria, WalletHub applied 18 relevant metrics to determine the rankings.

In the WalletHub report, Scottsdale ranked fifth; Gilbert, 25th, and Chandler, 28th.

Scottsdale had “solid numbers across the board," Lupo told The Center Square.

An area where the city stood out was in its giving thanks, which ranked first in America, Lupo noted. This category included information on volunteer opportunities, volunteer hours and charity organizations during Thanksgiving.

He added Scottsdale is tied with several other cities with the most “holiday decoration shops per capita.”

The city also ranks high in the number of “affordable restaurants” of four-and-a-half stars or more, Lupo stated. He added that eating out on Thanksgiving is becoming more common as more people shift from at-home meals to dining out.

This year, 4% of Americans plan to eat their Thanksgiving meal at a restaurant, according to a YouGov poll.

Lupo said the other Arizona cities, Gilbert and Chandler, had a “high number of pumpkin patches per capita.” He noted these two cities had “significantly more” pumpkin patches than Scottsdale.

Lupo also pointed out that these two cities have many “affordable four-and-a-half and five-star restaurants.”

Of the three Arizona cities in the top 30, Gilbert had the lowest crime rate, Lupo said. He added that all three cities have low crime rates.

Another factor in these cities’ rankings was the nice weather they enjoy during the Thanksgiving holiday.

Areas where Scottsdale got dinged in the rankings were in the costs of its Thanksgiving dinners, which ranked 54th in this category, the “high number of DUI-related fatalities in motor vehicle crashes around Thanksgiving” and travel-related issues.

These reasons kept Scottsdale out of the top three cities for Thanksgiving, Lupo stated.

The top three cities in WalletHub's rankings were San Antonio, Texas; Atlanta, Georgia; and Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Besides Scottsdale, Gilbert and Chandler, other cities from Arizona made the top 100 list: Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa and Glendale.

Phoenix just missed the top 30, ranking 33rd. Tucson ranked 44th; Mesa, 58th, and Glendale, 64th.

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Department of Education’s move to establish new borrowing caps for professional and graduate students, excluding several health care programs, has drawn criticism from state officials who say the limits could deter students from continuing their education.

Starting July 1, 2026, Grad PLUS loans will be capped. New borrowers pursuing professional degrees, such as law, will face a lifetime limit of $200,000, while those in other graduate programs will be restricted to $100,000.

Concerns have risen over the change of some graduate degrees not included in the definition of “professional degree.”

Those excluded include degrees for nursing, physician assistants, physical therapy, audiology, social work, counseling or therapy and speech pathology.

Senate Assistant Minority Leader Catherine Miranda, D-Arizona, criticized the policy in a recent press release.

“I am worried about how these changes will prevent our students from seeking a higher education," the state legislator said. "Postsecondary education prices continue to go up and are becoming more and more unaffordable for many Americans. And by getting rid of the Grad PLUS program and capping the new programs' loan amounts at different prices for different degrees, the Trump administration is essentially blocking students from the opportunity to get better job opportunities, higher incomes and upward social mobility.”

Miranda added that excluding specific healthcare fields from the “professional degree” category threatens Arizona’s workforce.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing shared the same concerns, posting a statement that the proposal could worsen existing health care shortages.

“AACN is deeply concerned by the Department of Education’s decision to move forward with a proposed definition of professional degree programs that excludes nursing and significantly limits student loan access. Should this proposal be finalized, the impact on our already-challenged nursing workforce would be devastating,” according to a Facebook post.

The U.S. Department of Education pushed back, addressing alleged misconceptions about the caps.

“Myth: Nurses will have a harder time securing federal student loans for their programs, contributing to the nationwide nursing shortage," the department said. "Fact: According to Department of Education data, 95% of nursing students already borrow below the annual loan limit and therefore will not be affected by the new caps.”

The press release states loan limits could also incentivize graduate nursing programs to reduce tuition, preventing graduates from being burdened with unmanageable debt.

Ellen Keast, the department's press secretary for higher education, told The Center Square that online misinformation has overshadowed the agency’s goals.

“Misinformation on TikTok has caused confusion about the Trump administration’s ongoing actions to implement student loan caps for graduate students," Keast said. “While still in development, the Trump administration is implementing long-needed loan limits on graduate loans to drive down the cost of programs, and under the new limits, graduate nursing students will still be eligible to borrow up to $100,000 in federal student loans for their graduate programs.”

(The Center Square) – State Sen. Janae Shamp, R-Surprise, wants tougher laws to protect children from sexual predators.

Shamp’s demands come after Phoenix police and court documents said 25-year-old Abel Gblah followed a student into Orangewood Elementary School and sexually assaulted her in an empty classroom. Authorities add Gblah told the student he was a doctor.

Gblah is already a Level 2 sex offender on lifetime probation. He was released from custody only days before authorities say the assault at Orangewood occurred.

Shamp said she was “absolutely disgusted and mortified that this guy with his history was even allowed to be on the streets” at the time of the Orangewood Elementary case.

“He was arrested in 2019 for human smuggling on our southern border, and as a Liberian immigrant, he would have been deported had they not plead the charges down,” Shamp told The Center Square Wednesday. “Then in 2021, he sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl who is autistic and also suffered from cerebral palsy.”

As a result, Shamp said the system failed not only the child at Orangewood Elementary, but society itself.

“This man had violated his probation,” said Shamp. “He’d left the state. He was arrested in Miami-Dade County allegedly for stealing a car. He had a smartphone. He had not shown up for his therapy classes 22 times.”

In recent legislative sessions, Shamp was successful in getting several major child-protection bills signed into law. These include Senate Bills 1232, 1236 and 1404.

SB 1232 classifies sexual conduct with a minor 12 or younger resulting in serious physical injury as a Class 1 felony, punishable by natural life imprisonment.

SB 1236 requires additional Level 1 sex offenders convicted of dangerous crimes against children be listed publicly on the state sex offender website.

SB 1404 requires schools to be notified when a parent at that school is a registered sex offender convicted of DCAC.

Because of the allegations over the Orangewood Elementary School situation in Phoenix, Shamp plans to push new, tougher measures in the 2026 legislative session. Reform proposals from Shamp include strengthening mandatory consequences for repeated probation violations and increasing oversight of probation and treatment providers. Shamp will also explore a requirement for immediate intervention for high-risk assessments, in addition to improvements for notification systems used for schools and parents.

“I like to fix things,” said Shamp, who held a related press conference on Monday. “I am a nurse, and I don’t like to see children hurt.”

Shamp recommended communities also be on the lookout and find ways to help children. One recent example used by Shamp involves a Buckeye daycare worker taking in a 12-year-old girl to protect her from a registered sex offender that police say was harassing the girl while she waited for the bus.

“Everyone needs to be looking at this from the standpoint of ‘that could be my kid,’ " said Shamp. “The community is going to need to make sure that we’re paying attention, because these deviants are walking among us unfortunately right at the moment.”

(The Center Square) - Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel times of the year, with over 81 million friends and families reconnecting across the dinner table this Thursday.

As the Southwest and the nation prepare for the holiday, the American Automobile Association predicts yet another year of growing number of trips. That's despite an affordability crisis and concerns lingering after the recent federal government shutdown.

Over 81 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles from home this Thanksgiving, according to AAA. Nearly 90% – over 73 million – will do so by car. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the busiest days as travelers gear up for Thanksgiving.

A record 6 million people are expected to fly in the coming days, with an average roundtrip domestic flight at $700. Some travelers could opt to drive amidst concerns of flight cancellations and short staffing from the recently ended federal government shutdown, but the FAA has assured shutdown cancellations have been restored.

“Holiday travel, specifically Thanksgiving where there's a tremendous pull to be with family and friends, happens despite what people might be worried about costs or delays,” said John Treanor, AAA Mountain West senior communications specialist.

“What people do when they get there – the way a vacation might look – may be different," Treanor told The Center Square. "That’s where people might be deciding [how] cost is going to affect things. ‘I need to maybe change my plans when I get to my destination…’ But when it comes to actually traveling and getting to those destinations, taking those trips, being with family and friends, we're still predicting records.”

With the end of the federal shutdown, all flights should be back to operational full capacity, Treanor said, but added a word of caution about the Transportation Security Administration. “TSA has been dealing with short staffing, which means that you could see longer lines at TSA to get to your gate."

AAA recommends people get to the airport two hours ahead of their flight for Thanksgiving travel and to account for potentially longer TSA lines.

And AAA says the best times to drive throughout the nation are before 11 a.m. Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; anytime on Thursday; before 10 a.m. Saturday; before 11 a.m. Sunday; and after 8 p.m. Monday.

The worst times, according to AAA, are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, 1 to 7 p.m. Friday, 1 to 8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and noon to 8 p.m. Monday.

Wherever you're going, don't drink and drive or text and drive, AAA reminds motorists. There were 868 deaths in the U.S. during the Thanksgiving weekend from 2019-2023.

The Southwest, meanwhile, will be caught in the thick of travel congestion, with each state facing unique problems and solutions for the holidays. Here's a look at California, Nevada, Arizona and Colorado.

California

Nearly 6.8 million Southern Californians are expected to travel for Thanksgiving, over 5.9 million via roadtrip, said AAA.

Newsweek reported 9.6 million motorists are expected to drive throughout California, up from 9.4 million from Thanksgiving in 2024.

“Thanksgiving has always been a popular time to travel, but it's really grown into an even greater priority in recent years after the pandemic limited those opportunities to connect with family and friends,” said Doug Shupe, communications manager for AAA Automobile Club of Southern California.

“This holiday continues to be one of the busiest and even more meaningful times of year to travel," Shupe told The Center Square.

Shupe noted AAA will provide roadside assistance to roughly 147,000 Southern California drivers between Tuesday and Saturday.

“You really want to inspect that car,” said Shupe, stressing that tires, batteries and windshield wipers should be checked. “In Southern California, the sunshine can wreak havoc.”

Airports in California are not expected to be affected by shutdown cancellations.

“ Things are back to normal at the airports, but don't take that for granted because these holiday weeks the airports will be packed,” said Shupe. “We still recommend that people get to the airports at least two hours before domestic flights, at least three hours before international flights.”

Nevada

Nevada is expected to see among the highest levels of movement from travelers in and out of the state, especially in Las Vegas.

“This is a tourist destination,” said AAA's Treanor, a Las Vegas resident. “The travel sector, the tourism sector is a major industry, and we are on the top 10 list. Those destinations that we see people taking for their Thanksgiving holiday, Vegas is on there.”

Las Vegas regularly ranks among the top 10 Thanksgiving travel destinations. This year it's ranked as the ninth most popular, behind several Florida and California metro areas, as well as Honolulu and New York City.

Las Vegas will also see the third highest demand for rental cars, with Wednesday the busiest pick up day, according to Hertz.

Arizona

AAA estimated 1.7 million Arizonans will travel for Thanksgiving, more than in 2024. The two major destinations from Arizona are Southern California and Las Vegas. The main travel corridors are expected to be in and out of the Phoenix area, as tens of thousands of people add to the usual traffic congestion of the area.

One unique tip AAA had for Arizona drivers is the gas price differences within the state.

"Gas is much cheaper in Southern Arizona compared to Northern [Arizona],” said Julian Paredes, AAA Arizona public relations specialist.

“There's almost a 50 cent difference between Phoenix and Tucson," Parades told The Center Square. "So people who are traveling for Thanksgiving can definitely be strategic about how they get gas. Just know that Southern Arizona is substantially cheaper than Phoenix or Northern Arizona.”

Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to be the busiest days to travel in Arizona.

Colorado

“Colorado tends to be a big beneficiary of travel to here, as a function of Thanksgiving and these holidays being the kickoff to the winter skiing season,” said Skyler McKinley, AAA regional director of public affairs.

While Colorado has been unseasonably warm and dry, McKinley said, high tourist rates are still expected.

“Many travelers had those travels booked, and they’re coming out here anyway," McKinley told The Center Square.

Much of the congestion in Colorado is expected at Denver International Airport and the roads in the metro area. Travel into the high country via rental cars is likely to also see a sharp increase, McKinley said. “It’s good for the high country economy. It’s good for ski town economies. It’s good for tourist town economies.”

McKinley added that the high number of non-Colorado natives who have permanently moved to the Centennial State means plenty of people will leave Colorado for Thanksgiving.

While winter weather has not yet moved into Colorado, the first cold front could be expected around Thanksgiving time. “The first cold snap, and we’re starting to see one of those move in, tends to be the thing that kills your battery,” said McKinley. “It tends to be what triggers your tire pressure warning light on your dash. It’s when you get all sorts of operability problems.”

AAA stressed Coloradans should not neglect car servicing in preparation of Thanksgiving and the coming colder weather.

“Kick your tires both literally and figuratively before you go,” added McKinley.

AAA: Expect delays

AA stressed that drivers and flyers alike should be prepared in advance and expect delays on the single busiest holiday for Americans to travel. For drivers, AAA overloads can mean additional delays for roadside service. Last year, AAA responded to nearly 600,000 roadside emergencies such as dead batteries or flat tires around Thanksgiving time.

“ If you are traveling – just leave early, give yourself a lot of time, and be patient with other people,” said AAA's Paredes. “Because traveling is a pretty stressful time for everybody, especially with so many people on the road.”

(The Center Square) – It appears the Pentagon may recall Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Arizona, into active duty for a possible court-martial after the retired Navy combat pilot told military service members to "refuse illegal orders" in a social media video.

None of the other former military service members in a social media post are facing a possible court-martial, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. He said Kelly, as the only one who retired from the military, is the only person subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

The video, which features Kelly and other Democratic members of Congress, is called “Don’t Give Up The Ship.” In it, Kelly, who flew combat missions during Operation Desert Storm and received multiple medals, and other Democratic members of Congress are all reading from the same script. Each participant is seen using different lines from the message. Collectively, the lawmakers are advising military service members to “refuse illegal orders.”

Besides Kelly, the video features U.S. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, and U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio, D-Pennsylvania; Maggie Goodlander, D-New Hampshire; Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pennsylvania, and Jason Crow, D-Colorado. All except Slotkin are former members of the military. Slotkin is a former CIA officer.

During the video, Kelly said he wanted to “speak directly to members of the military,” adding the Trump administration is “pitting” uniformed military and intelligence community professionals against American citizens.

“Like us, you swore an oath,” the former astronaut said. “Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.”

Kelly said in the video that he understands “it is a difficult time to be a public servant," but added, “Your vigilance is critical.”

On Monday, the Department of War reacted to the video with an official statement on X. The department said it has received serious allegations of misconduct against Kelly in accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice and other applicable regulations.

“A thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures,” said the Department of War. “This matter will be handled in compliance with military law, ensuring due process and impartiality.”

Further official comments will be limited to "preserve the integrity of the proceedings," the department said.

The Center Square reached out to the Pentagon Tuesday for additional comments and was told the Department of War has “nothing to provide.”

In its statement on X, the department said it “reminds all individuals that military retirees remain subject to the UCMJ for applicable offenses, and federal laws such as 18 U.S.C. § 2387 prohibit actions intended to interfere with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces.”

Any violations will be addressed through appropriate legal channels, according to the department.

“All service members are reminded that they have a legal obligation under the UCMJ to obey lawful orders and that orders are presumed to be lawful,” said the Department of War. “A service member's personal philosophy does not justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.”

Hegseth issued a message of his own on X. Hegseth referred to the members of Congress in the video as the “Seditious Six” and called their actions “despicable, reckless, and false.”

Hegseth added their calls to refuse illegal orders undermine every aspect of “good order and discipline.” Hegseth, who served in the Army National Guard prior to becoming a television news personality, added the lawmakers' “foolish screed sows doubt and confusion, which only puts our warriors in danger.”

“Five of the six individuals in that video do not fall under jurisdiction (one is CIA and four are former military but not 'retired, so they are no longer subject to UCMJ),” said Hegseth. “However, Mark Kelly (retired Navy Commander) is still subject to UCMJ — and he knows that.”

Kelly’s office did not respond to The Center Square’s request for comment. However, Kelly on Monday issued a statement that touts a lengthy military career and public service for “this country that I love and has given me so much.”

According to Kelly, Hegseth’s post was the first time he heard of a possible court-martial.

“I also saw the president’s posts saying I should be arrested, hanged, and put to death,” said Kelly.

He was referring to Trump's Truth Social posts including one in which the president wrote, "Each one of these traitors to our Country should be ARRESTED AND PUT ON TRIAL," and another in which the president said, "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!"

Kelly did not appear to be backing down.

“If this is meant to intimidate me and other members of Congress from doing our jobs and holding this administration accountable, it won’t work,” said Kelly. “I’ve given too much to this country to be silenced by bullies who care more about their own power than protecting the Constitution.”

Trump and Hegseth are not the only ones upset over the video. More than a dozen current and former legislators from Arizona, all of whom are Republicans, complained about the video in a letter to Kelly a letter.

“The decision to use military service members as political props in a video implying that the Commander-in-Chief may issue illegal orders crosses a line that should have never been approached,” wrote the legislators. “Your participation in this effort has understandably alarmed veterans, military families, and elected leaders who value the integrity and stability of our armed forces.”

While the legislators acknowledge that "service members are duty-bound to refuse a truly unlawful order,” something they say service members know from their first day of training, the lawmakers point out that this does not require a “partisan campaign video” or “fear-mongering” or “political operatives implying that the Commander-in-Chief is poised to commit crimes.”

The legislators added that by leaving “unlawful orders” vague and unrefined, the video aims to plant suspicion before such an order is actually given.

“The unmistakable implication is that President Donald J. Trump is preparing to issue illegal commands,” wrote the legislators. “That insinuation is false. Worse, it encourages doubt in the chain of command itself – a foundational threat to military discipline and national readiness.”

Arizona state Sen. Kevin Payne is one of the signers.

“I’m a veteran, and I didn’t appreciate it,” Payne, who served in the Navy, told The Center Square. “I think that was uncalled for.”

Payne said he was enraged when he saw the video. “He’s trying to get military service members to disobey and not follow orders."

Arizona state Rep. Nick Kupper also signed the letter. Kupper told The Center Square that he felt it was his duty to add his name.

“As a fellow vet and politician, I would like to see Sen. Kelly own up to his failure in this instance and take accountability,” said Kupper, retired Air Force master sergeant. “Taking accountability is far too rare these days especially amongst us politicians. He had a great service record, but sadly, he’s tarnishing it now.”

Kupper called Kelly' statement a political dodge that in no way acknowledges his clear intent in the video.

“Especially if you focus on the words he said in the video in context with the words others said before and after his, the message from him is clear: He wants current military members to question their military leaders especially the CINC [commander-in-chief], and he is leading them to believe that illegal orders have been issued already,” said Kupper. “He knows this was over the line, but has yet to show enough courage to admit fault.”

(The Center Square) - An Arizona legislator is seeking to require voters show government-issued IDs before they cast a ballot, as well as proof of citizenship to get mail-in ballots.

Sen. Shawna Bolick, R-Deer Valley, pre-filed a resolution for next year’s legislative session seeking to safeguard Arizona’s elections.

Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 1001, known as the Arizona Secure Elections Act, seeks to amend Article VII of the Arizona Constitution. If passed by the Legislature, the election integrity proposal would appear as a referendum in the Nov. 3, 2026 general election.

In addition to voter ID, Bolick's referendum would require the state to give mail-in ballots only to Arizonans who request them and show proof of citizenship. And the referendum calls for ending early voting by 7 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day. The measure also prohibits campaign contributions to candidates or ballot measures from foreign sources, including individuals and corporations.

Bolick told The Center Square Monday that Arizona Republican voters want to ensure the state has “secure” and “timely” elections. She said election integrity is her priority for the upcoming legislative session.

According to a recent Center Square Voters' Voice Poll, most Americans support a voter ID requirement.

Last session, Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, vetoed House Bill 2703, which contained many of the provisions in SCR 1001. Republicans have majorities in both houses of the Legislature but lack enough seats to override Hobbs' vetoes.

Hobbs also axed the Bolick-sponsored Senate Bill 1374 in 2024, which would have prevented foreign donations in Arizona’s election administration and ballot measures.

But in Arizona, if the Legislature passes a resolution like SCR 1001, it bypasses the governor and is sent to voters for their consideration in the next general election.

Because of Hobbs' unwillingness to work with Republican legislators on safeguarding elections, the only thing that can be done is “to give it to the voters and give them a voice in the process,” Bolick said.

“If voters decide that they’re not gonna pass it, then that’s on them,” she added.

In 2022, Arizonans voted down Proposition 309 by fewer than 19,000 votes, which sought to change the state's voter ID laws.

SCR 1001 is a “priority for the Republican caucus,” Bolick noted.

Rep. Alex Kolodin, R-Fountain Hills, is sponsoring a mirror bill: House Concurrent Resolution 2001.

Bolick said she anticipates her bill being tweaked during deliberations, adding that she is “open to suggestions” from her colleagues.

The senator noted she anticipates a lawsuit from Democrats if her resolution passes in the Legislature.

But she added that a provision included in the referendum states that if one part is considered invalid, the other provisions aren't affected.

Arizona is currently facing a lawsuit over voter registration laws it passed in 2022. Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, turned to the U.S. Supreme Court to appeal the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit’s ruling that overturned the laws. Justices have not announced if they will hear the appeal.

Petersen and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes are among the defendants in the suit filed by Mi Familia Vota, a Hispanic voting rights organization.

(The Center Square) – A federal court has issued a permanent injunction stopping the Trump administration from dismantling four federal agencies that deal with issues varying from libraries to homelessness.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island ruled the executive branch violated the Administrative Procedure Act, as well as the U.S. Constitution's Take Care Clause and Separation of Powers doctrine, when it tried to dismantle the federally funded agencies without congressional approval. The agencies are the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Minority Business Development Agency, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. Separation of Powers gives Congress control over federal spending, and the Take Care Clause entrusts the president with enforcing Congress' laws.

The court's ruling came in a lawsuit filed by Democratic attorneys general from California, New York, Arizona, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, Washington state and Wisconsin. The lead plaintiffs were Attorneys General Letitia James of New York, Anne Lopez of Hawaii and Peter Neronha of Rhode Island.

The district court ruling blocks the federal government from dismantling four of the seven agencies listed in President Donald Trump’s March 14 executive order, “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureacracy."

“This case concerns the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle federal agencies that are responsible for, among other things, funding museums and libraries, mediating labor disputes, supporting minority-owned businesses, and preventing and ending homelessness in the United States,” U.S. District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell Jr. wrote Friday in the ruling. “By now, the question presented in this case is a familiar one: may the Executive Branch undertake such actions in circumvention of the will of the Legislative Branch? In recent months, this Court — along with other courts across the country — has concluded that it may not. That answer remains the same here.”

The lawsuit was filed on April 4. The U.S. District Court for Rhode Island issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration’s dismantling of the agencies on May 13. On Sept. 11, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit denied the Trump administration’s stay on the injunction pending its appeal.

In the new ruling, McConnell said the federal government is barred from acting to dismantle the agencies.

Democratic attorneys general applauded the court’s 47-page ruling.

“The federal government’s illegal attack on these agencies threatened vital resources for workers, small businesses, and the most vulnerable in our communities,” said James in New York in a news release.

“More and more, courts are rejecting — definitively and permanently — the Trump Administration’s illegal efforts to dismantle our government agencies and strip away the vital services they provide,” California Attorney General Rob Bonta said in a news release.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes noted judges, often conservative ones, are siding with attorneys general in their lawsuits against Trump.

Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown said in a statement that the ruling “reaffirms that the President can’t reverse the will of the people and their elected representatives with the stroke of a pen.”

(The Center Square) – U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh, R-Arizona, has introduced bills to end the federal income tax on military pay and veterans’ retirement benefits.

Hamadeh said he promised voters that he would assist U.S. service members and military retirees. The congressman said he is keeping that promise with the Service Members Tax Relief Act and the Tax Cuts for Veterans Act.

He added this will help the nation with military recruitment and retention.

“This will help us keep the very best in our uniformed services,” Hamadeh told The Center Square, answering questions by email. “Because military members face high operational demands and cost-of-living pressures that outpace the pay table, they will provide a level playing field for our service members.”

Hamadeh himself is a veteran. The former U.S. Army captain and intelligence officer is now a member of the House Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs committees.

“As for veterans, we know that they have some of the highest rates of volunteerism in their communities,” Hamadeh said. He quoted the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as saying, "Veterans volunteer for significantly more hours per year and are more likely to be involved in informal helping, civic groups, and donating to non-political causes than other groups.”

Based on that, Hamadeh said these bills would allow service members to contribute to their communities without a heavy financial burden.

“So not only does it help our veterans, but it helps our local communities,” said Hamadeh.

The bills are HR 6190 and HR 6189. Both would amend the Internal Revenue Code. HR 6190 would exclude all military retirement and related benefits from the federal income tax. HR 6189 would amend the tax code to exempt certain income of active or reserve service members.

Cosponsors of HR 6190 include U.S. Reps. Mike Levin, D-California; Barry Moore, R-Alabama, and Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky. Another cosponsor is U.S. Rep. Kimberlyn King-Hinds, a Republican who represents Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory in the western Pacific Ocean.

Moore, Massie and King-Hinds are also co-sponsoring HR 6189.

U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Nebraska, has introduced companion measures in the Senate.

“The bills have earned bipartisan support, and I expect many more members to sign-on soon,” Hamadeh told The Center Square.

(The Center Square) - Pima County voters will decide next year whether to extend a half-cent sales tax for another 20 years to fund a construction referendum.

Residents in the Arizona county will vote in March on a $2.67 billion plan to finance projects across the Tucson area. The measure is coming at a time when projects have gone over budget, including work on the Downtown Links transportation corridor.

And that has led the Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute to raise questions over what it calls mismanagement of taxpayers' money.

In September, the Pima County Board of Supervisors agreed to put the sales tax extension, proposed by the Regional Transportation Authority based in Tucson, on the ballot. The RTA is a political subdivision created by the Arizona government and managed by the Pima Association of Governments.

As part of the $2.67 billion, Pima County is asking for $257.6 million to complete the original plan approved by voters in 2006. In this plan, county residents approved the original half-cent tax increase to raise $2.1 billion for construction-related projects.

However, according to a Pima Association of Governments news release, additional funding for the 2006 plan’s project is needed partially due to the shortfall created by the 2008 recession and the increased project costs.

The Downtown Links project is a 1.3-mile corridor connecting Maclovio Barraza-Aviation Parkway to the Interstate 10 frontage road, according to the Regional Transportation Authority. The original operating budget for the project skyrocketed from $76 million to $110 million, according to the Goldwater Institute. William Beard, a municipal affairs liaison for the Phoenix public policy research and litigation organization, told The Center Square the project is more than 40% over budget. Beard wrote the institute's report, "Municipal Mismanagement or Malfeasance in Tucson?"

In October, RTA approved Tucson’s eighth request for additional funding to complete the project, which is anticipated for early 2026.

The Downtown Links project was supposed to be completed in 2021, the Goldwater Institute said.

Beard told The Center Square that Tucson keeps delaying projects, which increases costs. He noted the city never seems “to set aside extra funds to handle whatever inflation would naturally occur for those delays.”

If things keep being delayed, Beard questioned whether city taxpayer money is being spent wisely.

He added he doubts Tucson can meet its completion deadline.

Even though Tucson agreed to pay for itself if any project exceeds 10% of its original budget, the city isn’t doing so, Beard said.

Tucson residents are frustrated with how the city has handled the project, he noted.

The Downtown Links project is part of a bigger set of projects, but is “indicative of some of the problems” Tucson and the RTA have “in delivering what was promised to the voters," he said.

According to Beard, the concerns regarding the sales tax extension are about whether Tucson will follow through on its promises to voters.

“That’s an awful lot of taxpayer dollars,” he noted.

If voters approved the plan, the new 20-year extension would start in July 2026.

The Center Square reached out to the Pima Association of Governments, but did not receive a response before press time.

(The Center Square) – Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Friday she will appeal a ruling in the “fake electors” case.

She is asking the Arizona Supreme Court to overturn a lower court ruling that she must send the case back to a grand jury.

A May ruling by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Sam Myers said Mayes had to do so because jurors weren’t given the text of the Electoral Count Act of 1887, which the defense said was crucial to its case. In September, the state Court of Appeals upheld Myers' ruling, and Mayes is appealing that decision.

Myers said a prosecutor must instruct a grand jury on all of the law relevant to a case.

Mayes argued Friday that the grand jury did its job.

“An independent grand jury of ordinary Arizonans found that there was sufficient cause to charge the defendants with the alleged crimes,” Mayes said in a statement.

In April 2024, 11 Arizona Republicans were indicted by the grand jury for allegedly signing and submitting a document on Dec. 14, 2010, claiming Trump had won Arizona’s 11 electoral votes and that they were the electors. Those 11 were Kelli Ward, Michael Ward, Tyler Bowyer, Nancy Cottle, state Sen. Jake Hoffman, former state Sen. Anthony Kern, James Lamon, Robert Montgomery, Samuel Moorhead, Gregory Safsten and Lorraine Pellegrino.

But Trump, the Republican incumbent, lost the state’s popular vote, and therefore its electoral votes, to former Democratic President Joe Biden by 10,457 votes.

Also indicted were ex-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Trump's former lawyer; Mark Meadows, a White House chief of staff during Trump's first term; Trump campaign aides Boris Epshteyn and Mike Roman; and attorneys Christina Bobb, John Eastman and Jenna Ellis.

The 18 defendants pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, fraud and forgery.

“These defendants were charged based on two things: the facts and the law,” Mayes said Friday. “We remain squarely focused on ensuring the defendants are held accountable because there is nothing more important than enforcing the rule of law.”

Charges were dropped against Ellis in exchange for her agreement to help prosecutors. And as part of a plea deal, Pellegrino pleaded guilty to a lesser, misdemeanor charge of filing a false document.

Trump pardoned all 18 defendants, but that was only for any federal crimes.

Trump himself was not indicted.