Matt Gress – California Globe

Arizona Lawmakers Consider Mandating School Access to Religious Instruction Programs

May 6, 2026 10:53 amMay 6, 2026 10:53 am

A renewed debate over the role of religion in public education is unfolding in Arizona as lawmakers consider legislation that would expand access to “released-time” religious instruction programs during the school day, drawing opposition from secular advocacy groups. At the...

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs Vetoes School Administrator Contract Transparency Bill That Followed 2025 Investigative Report

April 9, 2026 1:42 pmApril 10, 2026 10:38 am

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed legislation that would have required expanded public disclosure of employment contracts for school district administrators, according to a veto letter issued April 7. House Bill 2075 would have required public school districts to post...

Arizona House Escalates Probe: Independent Counsel Retained in Governor Hobbs’ Alleged Pay-to-Play Scandal

February 3, 2026 7:25 amFebruary 3, 2026 7:25 am

Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-29) announced on Monday that the House has retained independent counsel to deepen the investigation into Governor Katie Hobbs’ (D) alleged pay-to-play scandal at the Department of Child Safety (DCS). This move comes amid mounting...

AZ Senate President Signals Impeachment Readiness Amid Pay-to-Play, Prosecutorial Allegations Against Hobbs and Mayes

November 18, 2025 8:19 amNovember 18, 2025 8:28 am

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen escalated the political stakes in Phoenix on Friday, declaring that Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes now face “disturbing allegations” of impeachable conduct. In a sharply worded post on X, Petersen said:...

AZ Speaker Montenegro Forms House Advisory Team to Investigate Governor Hobbs’ Pay-to-Play Scandal at DCS

November 14, 2025 3:20 pmNovember 14, 2025 3:26 pm

Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro announced Thursday evening that legislative leaders will launch an investigation into Governor Katie Hobbs’ Department of Child Safety, following an Arizona Republic report alleging a pay-to-play scheme within the agency. A trove of documents and...