Free Republic

Animal cruelty charges against the son and daughter-in-law of U.S. Senator Jeff Flake and two others will be dismissed after new information came to light about the deaths of 21 dogs at a suburban Phoenix kennel in June, prosecutors said on Monday. Authorities said the dogs died from overheating and suffocation caused by sweltering conditions in a cramped room of the pet boarding facility while the owners were away in Florida, leaving the animals in the care of Austin and Logan Flake. However, new evidence brought to prosecutors' attention by defense lawyers after the case was presented to a grand...

Before he was recalled in 2011, Arizona state Senate President Russell Pearce was arguably the most powerful man in Arizona politics. Elected in 2000 to represent Mesa, Pearce was known primarily for his efforts aimed at undocumented immigrants, most notably Senate Bill 1070. (SNIP) Prop 100—passed by 78 percent. [Proposition 100 denied bond to undocumented immigrants. It was later ruled unconstitutional.] Prop 200—passed by almost 60 percent. [Proposition 200 partly required proof of citizenship to vote in state and federal elections. Portions of it were also struck down.] Employer sanctions—overwhelmingly supported; S.B. 1070—supported by over 73 percent. Tell me what...

Parting Shot: Outgoing Arizona Gov. Brewer Calls Obama A ‘Failed President’ By William La Jeunesse Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, stepping down after six years in office where she was a perpetual thorn in the side of the Obama administration, is leaving with a parting shot -- calling President Obama a "failed president." "He's been a very big disappointment to me," Brewer told Fox News in an interview. "I think he has done things that certainly we would never have expected any president to do -- by executive order and because he says so." Brewer has spent the last few years...

The sheriff said that he believes the heightened rhetoric coming from politicians and community leaders about police brutality and racism “at least indirectly” caused the death of Officers Liu and Ramos on Saturday. The two NYPD officers were shot execution style by an assassin while they were eating their lunch in a patrol car. Arpaio contends that there is no one more incendiary than Al Sharpton when it comes to race baiting. “We better tell him to chill out, knock it off, stop going to the White House sitting next to the president and talking about race,” he said. According...

A longtime thorn in the side of the Obama administration's immigration policy got the first chance to stick it to the president Monday, arguing in court that his sweeping immigration order -- designed to spare nearly 5 million people from deportation -- is unconstitutional. Arizona county Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his attorney Larry Klayman argued before U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington, D.C., in the first courtroom hearing for a case against the immigration actions. "We have serious issues of constitutionality involved," attorney Larry Klayman told reporters, after the hearing. Howell, during the hearing, seemed skeptical of the lawsuit...

The two Republican Arizona senators who worked with Democrats to pass an immigration bill last June have managed to sink their poll ratings to record lows. Sen. John McCain has reached a 30 percent approval rating from Arizona voters. Sen. Jeff Flake, however, managed to reach further down to 27 percent approval, according to the new survey of 870 voters by Public Policy Polling.

PHOENIX (AP) — Many young immigrants protected from deportation under an Obama administration policy are expected Monday to begin applying for Arizona driver's licenses, a privilege first denied by the governor but now given to them by the courts. The Arizona Department of Transportation said it's anticipating a rush of immigrant applicants in the weeks ahead at Motor Vehicle Division offices statewide. It comes after a judge barred enforcement of Gov. Jan Brewer's policy of denying licenses to about 20,000 immigrants living in the country illegally. The governor is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review her appeal.

Jazz already wrote the definitive take on the grisly execution-style shooting of two New York City police officers and the role that irresponsible commentary from elected leaders – particularly Mayor Bill de Blasio – might have played in that attack. Jazz is right to question the part that the mayor’s self-indulgent and unhelpful rhetoric might have played in this incident. Hours after a Staten Island grand jury’s decision to issue no-bill for the death of Eric Garner, de Blasio went on an ill-advised tear in which he impeached the NYPD based solely on his prejudices. “That should never have to...

Retired Air Force Colonel Martha McSally today announced the members who will serve on her Transition Team. The diverse group of experts and community leaders from Pima and Cochise Counties will provide input on hiring decisions and help set up McSally’s Arizona Congressional offices to ensure a smooth transition to office. “It’s a privilege to work with so many talented and accomplished individuals from our community to get our office up and running,” said McSally. “Above all, our office needs to work for the people of Southern Arizona. Whether it’s constituent services or representing the views of Southern Arizonans in...

McDonald’s and its franchisees illegally retaliated against employees for participating in union-related activities, the National Labor Relations Board’s top lawyer alleged Friday in a case with sweeping industry implications. NLRB general counsel Richard Griffin announced Friday he will issue 13 complaints involving 78 charges against franchises and McDonald’s USA, LLC. Though many of these alleged labor violations were committed by independent franchise owners, Griffin ruled earlier this year that McDonald’s can be held liable for those actions as a so-called joint employer, leaving the corporatrion — and potentially other franchisors — exposed to such claims. McDonald’s said the decision will...

FORT HUACHUCA — Libby Army Airfield saw its flying missions officially increase with the ribbon cutting opening a new facility Thursday. And, the flight missions will not involve Army or Air Force aircraft, but rather those of the Arizona Air National Guard. The 214th Reconnaissance Group has been operating MQ-1 Predators since 2006. Construction of a facility on the local Army post provides the group with a home for its launch and recovery training missions, said Air Guard Brig. Gen. Ted Maxwell, the commander of the Arizona Air National Guard.

Arizona 'Dreamers' To Line Up For Driver's Licenses; Brewer Vows Fight Dulce Matuz celebrates with others at the Arizona state Capitol in Phoenix on Wednesday after a Supreme Court ruling that allows young immigrants to acquire driver's licenses. (Nick Oza / Arizona Republic) By KEVIN BAXTER Young immigrants in Arizona are expected to line up for driver's licenses, but Gov. Jan Brewer vows to fight So-called Dreamers are authorized to stay and work in the U.S., but Arizona has denied them driver's licenses Thousands of young immigrants protected from deportation under a federal program will begin lining up for Arizona...

FORT HUACHUCA — They may be both Republicans and represent Arizona in the upper chamber of Congress but they don’t agree on the recent decision of the Obama Administration of the reestablishing diplomatic relations with Cuba after six decades. After about 90 minutes on Fort Huachuca Thursday, Sen. John McCain and Sen. Jeff Flake discussed the announcement with the Herald/Review during a quick walking interview to a plane waiting to take them to Yuma.

A judge cleared the way Thursday for thousands of young immigrants in Arizona who are protected from deportation under an Obama administration policy to get driver’s licenses. The preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge David Campbell bars the state from enforcing Gov. Jan Brewer’s policy of denying the licenses to about 20,000 immigrants. The injunction that takes effect on Monday was a formality that carries out instructions issued in July by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. …

Full title: Judicial Watch Obtains Fast and Furious Crime Scene Photos from Phoenix 2013 Gang-Style Assault with Rifle Supplied by Obama Justice Department Photos include close-up shots of Fast and Furious AK-47 rifle, blood-stained apartment, victim with massive head wound (Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch announced today that it has obtained graphic crime scene photos taken at the site of a 2013 gang-style assault on a Phoenix, AZ, apartment building, including a close-up photo revealing the serial number of the AK-47 rifle used by the assailants. As a result of Judicial Watch’s October 2, 2014, public records lawsuit, the weapon...

TUCSON, ARIZ. (AP) – Tucson police said Wednesday they will no longer fully enforce the state's landmark immigration law that requires local police to check the immigration status of people they encounter while enforcing other laws. Chief Roberto Villaseñor said his officers will now only check immigration status and call the U.S. Border Patrol when a person has prior serious felony convictions, poses a threat to national security or has gang affiliations. The criteria was set out for federal immigration authorities in an executive order issued last month by President Barack Obama intended to prioritize offenders for deportation.

PHOENIX (AP) — A Phoenix-area school district will not edit a high school honors biology textbook to remove content to comply with a state law on abortion-related instructional material. The Gilbert Unified School District board agreed during a meeting Tuesday to find an alternative solution that does not involve redacting the textbook, the Arizona Republic reported (http://bit.ly/1z4FP7y ). Superintendent Christina Kishimoto had asked the board to reverse its request, saying editing the copyrighted book could open the district to legal issues. At issue is a chapter in the textbook, "Campbell Biology: Concepts & Connections," that discusses abstinence, birth-control methods, tubal...

Over the dissents of three Justices, the Supreme Court today rejected Arizona’s request to allow it to deny driver’s licenses to young undocumented immigrants who have been permitted by Obama administration policy to remain in the United States. In a brief order, the Court refused to block a temporary ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit requiring the state to issue driver’s licenses to the so-called “Dreamers” — young adults who came to this country illegally — if they have permits allowing them to have jobs here.

Martha McSally (R) has been officially declared the winner in Arizona's second congressional district by a razor-thin 167-vote margin over incumbent Rep. Ron Barber (D). This was the final race of the 2014 election that was yet to be decided, as Arizona law mandates a recount if an election is decided by fewer than 200 votes.Member-elect McSally released the following statement thanking everyone who worked on her campaign and the people of southern Arizona: "We're grateful to everyone who devoted their time and resources, especially during the extended vote and recount processes, to get us over the finish line," said...

Seven more states signed on to a lawsuit challenging President Obama's executive action halting the deportation of as many as 5 million undocumented immigrants, bringing the total to 24 states, Texas Atty. Gen. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday. The new states to join the coalition were Arizona, Florida, Arkansas, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio and Oklahoma. The original 17 states, including Alabama, Kansas and Texas, filed suit in U.S. District Court last week, arguing that Obama overstepped his powers in enacting such changes on his own. "The president's proposed executive decree violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law, circumvents the will of...