The State 48 News

BREAKING: Court Rules BOS Overstepped, Orders Power Returned to Recorder

The State 48 News — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:47:51 GMT

In a decisive ruling issued April 16, 2026, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge found that the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors overstepped its authority in its ongoing dispute with Recorder Justin Heap, ordering the Board to restore key election functions and resources to the Recorder’s Office.

This wasn’t a close call, the court overwhelming sma…

Constitutional Rebuke: Court Rejects Ballot Challenge Against LD30 Candidate David Rose

The State 48 News — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:00:11 GMT

Republican Jennifer Esposito, who narrowly lost her bid for Mohave County Supervisor and once again on the ballot, is now at the center of a high-profile legal loss that raises broader questions about judgment and potential governance.

Her lawsuit to remove Republican Legislative District 30 candidate David Rose from the ballot was not just rejected. It …

“Not a Glitch — A Crime”: Gillette Unloads on Arizona Voter System, Points to Richer Email and Sends Federal Criminal Referral

The State 48 News — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 02:42:16 GMT

Arizona Rep. John Gillette (R-Kingman) dropped a political grenade during a legislative hearing this week, presenting what he called years of evidence showing serious irregularities in Arizona’s voter registration system — and announcing a criminal referral to the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security.

Jay Feely on Immigration: How a Haiti Mission Relationship Shaped His Perspective

The State 48 News — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:54:54 GMT

Behind the politics of immigration, Feely says there is a personal story that shaped how he sees the issue.

In the conversation below, Feely explains how a mission trip and his relationship with a young man from Haiti helped shape his views on immigration.

“Deeply Corrupt” Arizona Lawmakers Advance Sweeping DCS Reforms Amid Allegations of Systemic Bias and a Broken System

The State 48 News — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:42:58 GMT

The DCS hearing went on for over three hours. These five minutes exposed the most horrifying truths about Arizona’s child welfare system.

Pinal County Took Millions Under an Illegal Tax — Residents May Never Get Up to $50 Million Back

The State 48 News — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:08:39 GMT

Nearly four years after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that Pinal County’s transportation excise tax was illegal, a new political fight has emerged at the Arizona Legislature: what to do with tens of millions of dollars collected under the unlawful tax, money that came from Pinal County residents and businesses.

While more than $39 million has already b…

Testify or Be Removed: Maricopa Board Escalates Fight With Recorder Justin Heap

The State 48 News — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:34:12 GMT

The latest flare-up between Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is no longer just a public spat over election operations. It has turned into a direct confrontation over compelled sworn testimony, the hiring of outside legal counsel by a sitting supervisor, political retreat by another, and the Arizona Republ…

Buckle Up: AZGOP’s Chair Fight Heads to Prescott Valley

The State 48 News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 07:59:18 GMT

Arizona Republicans will choose their next party chair at the AZGOP’s Mandatory Meeting on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, a high-stakes gathering that will set the stage for Republicans heading into the 2026 cycle.

There are four candidates for seeking to replace Gina Swoboda for chairman: Sergio Arellano, Rober…

Kolodin: “Arizona stands with ICE and the rule of law”

The State 48 News — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 23:53:16 GMT

`“Arizona stands with the rule of law. We stand with President Trump. And we proudly stand with ICE!” - State Representative Alex Kolodin(R-3)and Candidate for Secretary of State.`

Accountability Starts Local: The Centennial High School Case and School Oversight in Arizona

The State 48 News — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:56:17 GMT

When we started State 48 News, the goal was clear: provide solid, accountable journalism focused on local Arizona stories. We set out to cover what many outlets either ignore or only touch on at the surface—stories that affect day-to-day life in our communities.

That means asking questions others don’t. What is your mayor actually doing? Why did your sch…

Police Records Detail Alleged Inappropriate Relationships Between Centennial High School Teachers and Students

The State 48 News — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 23:22:41 GMT

Peoria police records detail an extensive investigation into two female Centennial High School teachers accused of engaging in alleged sexual conduct with students.

According to a detailed police report obtained by State 48 News, detectives executed multiple search warrants and reviewed thousands of digital files before reaching conclusions about the nat…

Hobbs ‘Pay-to-Play’ Scandal Reignites as Two Foster Teens Die After Placement in Sunshine Residential Group Homes

The State 48 News — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 16:44:59 GMT

Two teenage girls who had been living in Arizona’s foster care system died months apart under separate circumstances, but both cases intersect at the same state-licensed group home provider — Sunshine Residential Homes — a company already embroiled in a widening “pay-to-play” controversy involving Governor Katie Hobbs’ administration.

State lawmakers tel…

Inside the Statehouse — Senator John Kavanagh on State Legislatures: An Owner’s Manual

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 23:44:57 GMT

State 48 News sat down with Arizona State Senator John Kavanagh for an in-depth discussion about his newly released book, State Legislatures: An Owner’s Manual. What followed was less a promotional interview and more a candid walkthrough of how state government actually functions — and why much of it is routinely misunderstood.

For context, State 48 editor Christy Kelly read the new book cover to cover. Despite its nearly 400 pages, the book is a surprisingly easy read and is packed with practical, usable information for anyone seeking to understand how state government actually operates.

Kavanagh, who has spent nearly two decades in the Arizona Legislature, wrote the book to address a gap he repeatedly encountered both in public discourse and in academic settings. According to the Senator, there is no widely available, practical guide that explains how state legislatures truly operate — from bill drafting and committee maneuvering to leadership dynamics and informal power structures that never appear in one civics textbook.

The book draws heavily from Kavanagh’s firsthand experience as a lawmaker and educator. In addition to serving in the legislature, he teaches at Arizona State University, where the original concept for the book emerged while preparing course material on state legislative systems. That project ultimately expanded into a comprehensive manual intended for lawmakers, staffers, journalists, students, lobbyists, and engaged citizens seeking a clearer understanding of how policy is made at the state level.

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During the interview, Kavanagh emphasized that state legislatures —not Congress — are where many of the most consequential policy decisions occur, yet they remain poorly understood by the public.

State Legislatures: An Owner’s Manual covers both the formal mechanics of lawmaking and the informal realities that influence outcomes behind the scenes. Kavanagh does not shy away from discussing political pressure, ethics, and how legislators are punished by leadership.

The interview offers readers a rare opportunity to hear directly from a veteran Arizona lawmaker reflecting on the institution from the inside. Rather than advancing partisan talking points, the discussion centers on institutional knowledge, civic literacy, and the practical realities of governing.

Kavanagh’s book is now available in print and digital formats - you can find in on Amazon.

Rep. Kolodin Warns Arizona Is “Behind the Curve” as Lawmakers Confront AI Threats to Elections, Free Speech & Employment

The State 48 News — Fri, 05 Dec 2025 16:57:21 GMT

The Arizona House of Representatives held a public hearing on November 14 to examine how artificial intelligence (AI) could disrupt democratic processes and undermine election integrity, with lawmakers from both parties warning the state is already lagging behind fast-moving technology.

The hearing, titled “The Implications of Artificial Intelligence fo…

Second Privacy Failure? Horne’s Office Publishes Unredacted ESA Letter

The State 48 News — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 16:03:57 GMT

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is facing criticism after publishing an unredacted letter on December 2 that identified a parent in an Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) case, exposing a family’s identity during a public political dispute between state officials.

The document was released by the office of Superintendent Tom Horne as part of …

Prescott Case Becomes a Statewide Test of Arizona’s Ethics Laws

The State 48 News — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 14:58:59 GMT

“If officials can use taxpayer money to defend their own alleged misconduct, then conflict-of-interest laws in Arizona are meaningless.” — Ryan Heath

We’re following up on our previous article on Hanna v. City of Prescott, and the case has now escalated. Prescott officials are facing allegations that go to the heart of public trust — and the Court of Appeals is being asked to step in. Here is our first article, in case you missed it!

Prescott is now the test case for whether Arizona’s conflict-of-interest laws still have any teeth. Attorney Ryan Heath filed a Special Action this week on behalf of Prescott resident Sherrie Hanna, arguing that city officials crossed a bright red line when they used public money to pay for their personal legal defense in a lawsuit accusing them of conduct Arizona law classifies as a felony.

Heath puts it plainly: “If public officials can use their offices to funnel taxpayer money into their personal legal defenses, then conflict-of-interest laws in Arizona are meaningless.” That is the bigger picture. This is why it matters far beyond Prescott.

At the center of the dispute is a May council appointment riddled with undisclosed conflicts, an alleged Open Meeting Law violation, and what Heath calls a coordinated “cover-up vote” in October — when the Council publicly approved legal representation “for the City,” then immediately used that same authorization to defend themselves individually.

The core allegation is simple: officials participated in a vote that financially benefited them — a direct violation of A.R.S. § 38-503. And they used taxpayer dollars to do it.

Now the case sits before the Arizona Court of Appeals, where Heath is asking for immediate intervention before attorney–client privilege locks in and the damage becomes irreversible.

The stakes are not just local. Prescott is preparing to steer more than $15 million in state funding for Rodeo Grounds improvements. Attorney Heath says, if the city’s own leadership is allowed to blur the line between public duty and private gain, Arizona’s conflict-of-interest framework becomes little more than a suggestion — not a law.

This case is now the litmus test: will Arizona enforce the rules on the books, or will Prescott become the blueprint for how to get around them?

Attorney Heath’s article gets deep into the legal details, so make sure to read his full breakdown. And if you live in Prescott, the has been covering this from the beginning.

The Gavel Project Newsletter

Prescott’s Conflict of Interest Scandal Reaches the Court of Appeals

Prescott’s Conflict of Interest Scandal Just Hit the Court of Appeals…

6 months ago · 9 likes · Ryan Heath

“This Is Personal” — CD7 Candidate Daniel Butierez Loses Sister While Fighting Tucson’s Homelessness and Addiction Crisis

The State 48 News — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 22:23:31 GMT

Arizona’s political landscape is often marked by sharp divisions, but for Congressional District 7 candidate Daniel Butierez, the issues of homelessness and addiction have never been political—only urgent. The Republican candidate, who ran in both the 2024 cycle and the 2025 special election, has long stated that his commitment to addressing these crise…

Gina Swoboda Affirms Democratic Pima County Recorder’s Authority to Bar Election Observers

The State 48 News — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 12:03:56 GMT

A sharp divide opened inside the Arizona Republican Party this week as the AZGOP’s X page, controlled by Gina Swoboda, publicly rejected Queen Creek Republican Sen. Jake Hoffman’s election-security claims after political-party observers were denied access to ballot-replacement centers during last week’s election.

“I am getting reports out of Pima County …

PRISON TO PURPOSE

The State 48 News — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:27:07 GMT

Lake Havasu pastor and school board president David Rose says his new book, From Prison to Purpose, is about redemption — a message forged through hardship long before his rise to local leadership. The autobiography is set to publish early next year.

In an exclusive interview with State 48 News, Rose confirmed that his book traces his journey from a young man with a criminal record in Florida, Ohio, and Kentucky to a husband, pastor, and now political candidate for Arizona’s Legislative District 30.

“I was raised in church,” Rose said. “But I also came from a broken and abusive home.”

He doesn’t hide from his past. “I have never run from my past. I tell my story everywhere I go,” Rose told State 48 News. For Rose, this is a big part of his ministry as a pastor.

Rose said that when he ran for school board, Democrats tried to use his past as a gotcha moment. “I tell my story more than anyone,” said Rose, the pastor-turned-political candidate.

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Public records reflect a turbulent early life. His legal troubles began at age 21 in Florida, with charges for petty theft and related fraud. Over the next decade, Rose faced charges in multiple states for theft by deception and check fraud, including several felony convictions in Kentucky.

During that period, Rose co-founded a short-lived newspaper venture that collapsed amid fraud allegations, lawsuits, and an eventual arrest warrant.

At the height of his time in media, WHAS11 reported in 2011 that “Rose, who is only 28 years old, worked hard to get noticed in Louisville. His newspaper, the Metro Messenger, was distributed in dozens of stores. He personally updated local stories daily on his newspaper’s website. Rose entered the media world with the help of his new girlfriend, who is also his business partner.”

As the paper unraveled and court dates loomed, Rose admits he “went on the run,” eventually being captured in California and extradited back to Kentucky to serve his sentence.

PHOTO CREDIT: HEADLINE FROM WHAS11

He clarified that the newspaper was launched with his then-girlfriend, whom he described as an “equal partner” in the business, and that it ended badly for everyone involved.

While incarcerated, Rose said he experienced a life-altering shift. “I gave my life to God,” he said. “I started ministering to other inmates, and that’s when everything changed.” In Kentucky, for non-violent crimes, rights are automatically restored after prison after fines and parole is completed.

He laughed as he added, “My wife likes me to make it clear that she didn’t know me in my pre-Jesus days.”

Photo Credit: David Rose Facebook. Crystal Rose, President Donald Trump, and David Rose (2025). Pastor Rose and Crystal serve on President Trump’s National Faith Advisory Board.

In 2020, Rose and his wife, Crystal, founded Restoration Hope Church in Lake Havasu City, where he now serves as lead pastor. He was later elected president of the Lake Havasu Unified School District Governing Board, where he emphasizes family-centered values. Now stepping onto the statewide political stage, Rose has announced his run for the Arizona House of Representatives in LD30. He told State 48 News that his campaign and his upcoming book share the same message: “You can’t talk about redemption if you’ve never fallen. My story isn’t about perfection. It’s about purpose after failure.”

As Rose moves from pulpit to public office, Prison to Purpose is poised to serve as both testimony and campaign platform — a story of faith, failure, and the long road to purpose.

Photo Credit: David Rose Facebook.

Snap Benefits Still in Limbo

The State 48 News — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 17:06:39 GMT

While Hobbs’s reassurance of SNAP benefits, that may or may not come, will make headlines, chaos unfolded elsewhere in Arizona politics. Maricopa County elections officials scrambled to explain how 2,288 ballots were discovered in a sealed container after Election Day, prompting questions about transparency and accountability. And in the West Valley, th…