Arizona
Arizona Senate Republicans advance controversial border ballot measure
Bridget Dowd/KJZZ
The Arizona Senate building in Phoenix.
A border security ballot measure advanced through the Arizona Senate on Wednesday on party lines with amendments that Republicans say will ensure no one is racially profiled under the proposal.
The legislation, HCR 2060, would make it a state crime to enter Arizona from Mexico outside of a designated port of entry. That’s already illegal under federal law, but can’t be locally enforced.
The measure is based on a Texas law, SB 4, that is currently blocked from going into effect, as it’s being challenged in court.
Democrats have likened the measure to SB 1070, a controversial immigration law passed in 2010 that was commonly known as the “show me your papers” bill. That law sparked months of protests, and portions of it were later struck down in court.
HCR 2060 is similar to a bill Republicans passed earlier this year, only for it to be vetoed by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. Republicans now aim to bypass the governor’s veto stamp by referring the measure to Arizona voters this November.
But the Senate’s approval is not the last step – the new measure goes next to a vote in the House of Representatives, which isn’t scheduled to convene again until the beginning of June.
And even if approved by the Senate, House and voters, the measure also cannot take effect unless Texas’ SB 4 is cleared in court.
The Senate only approved the measure after adopting several amendments insisted on by Sen. Ken Bennett (R-Prescott). Every Democrat in the Senate opposed the bill, and Republicans only hold a one-seat majority in the Senate – meaning Bennett held the crucial 16th vote needed to move the measure forward.
Bennett objected to part of the bill that would have allowed law enforcement officers to deport recipients under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, in the event a future administration or court order canceled the program.
While voting, Bennett said he was satisfied with an amendment that states the proposal will go into effect prospectively, and will not affect anyone who has been in the country illegally or otherwise if and when the law goes into effect.
Bennett also praised language GOP supporters say will prevent racial profiling under the proposal.
“I’ve done everything I can at this point to make sure that doesn’t happen,” Bennett said before the vote.
But Democrats said their concerns that the measure will be weaponized and used for racial profiling were not satisfied by the amendment. Sen. Rosanna Gabaldón (D-Tucson) spoke about her experience under SB 1070, warning the same could happen under this new proposal.
“Each time that I was stopped, I asked why. Majority of the time, they said, ‘no, prove your citizenship,’ or something like that,” she said. “They didn’t tell me how I broke the law. To me, I believe they didn’t have probable cause, stopping me because of what I looked like.”
Tensions ran high, as debate on the measure lasted more than four hours.
The amended measure states that law enforcement can only arrest someone if they witness them crossing the border illegally, if there is a technological recording of the crossing or if there is “any other constitutionally sufficient [signs] of probable cause.”
It’s the third, more vague explanation of probable cause that Democrats said could be abused. Sen. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) argued in favor of that third definition, insisting there are other ways to get probable cause that someone has crossed the border illegally, such as a confession.
“Criminals are stupid,” Kavanagh said, eliciting gasps from onlookers in the Senate gallery opposed to the proposal.
“I’m sorry if I offended any criminals in the gallery,” he added.
That comment led to a heated exchange between Kavanagh and Sen. Catherine Miranda (D-Phoenix), who accused him of racial profiling, which he denied and requested an apology for.
Miranda later warned that, like in Texas, this measure will be challenged if it passes and will ensnare the state in an expensive legal process. She cited warnings from the Senate’s own lawyers that the measure may be unconstitutional and could also violate Arizona statute that requires ballot referrals to cover a single subject.
Miranda argued a different part of the ballot referral that includes enhanced sentencing guidelines for a person found guilty of knowingly selling fentanyl that causes the death of another person violates that restriction.
Sen. Christine Marsh (D-Phoenix) also objected to the fact that the measure refers to fentanyl. Marsh argued that it won’t stop that drug from hurting Arizonans, citing Border Patrol figures that show most fentanyl trafficked into the country is being moved by legal residents through official ports of entry.
“This bill will not solve the fight against this crisis,” Marsh said. “It makes it appear falsely that there’s already a solution to the crisis.”
The bill was also amended to say that someone who chooses to “self-deport” could go back across the border into Mexico, or to their “country of origin” if it is not Mexico.
Senate Minority Leader Mitzi Epstein (D-Tempe) questioned how that will be enforced. She and other Democrats also questioned how much the measure will cost the state since it doesn’t include any appropriation of funds.
Republicans did not have specific answers to that criticism. Sen. David Gowan (R-Sierra Vista), the bill’s sponsor, only said that those charged under the law would be financially responsible for self-deporting.
Roughly halfway through the proceedings, Sen. T.J. Shope (R-Coolidge) was interrupted by protesters with LUCHA, an advocacy group opposed to the measure, who yelled “Stop the hate,” and cursed at Republicans before being escorted out by security.
Sen. Anna Hernandez (D-Phoenix) said that not only is she concerned about racial profiling, but how individuals who believe they are victims of that treatment will hold law enforcement accountable.
She drew attention to a section of the bill that grants law enforcement officers civil immunity if they are sued for enforcing the law.
“What legal recourse will they have?” Hernandez asked the room.
Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) rejected that criticism, saying the immunity clause applies to issues at the state level, not alleged violations of federal Civil Rights laws.
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Arizona
AP men’s basketball Top 25: Arizona remains No. 1, Nebraska earns highest ranking since 1991
Arizona maintained its position as the No. 1 team in the Associated Press men’s basketball Top 25 on Monday, earning 42 of 61 first-place votes after a week that included a 96-75 win over No. 16 Alabama.
The Wildcats (9-0), one of seven undefeated teams remaining in Division I, already own five wins over high-major opponents.
There was little movement in the top 10 after a week with few upsets. Michigan (10-0), Duke (10-0), Iowa State (11-0) and UConn (10-1) remained Nos. 2-5, respectively. The only team to move up in the top 10 was No. 7 Gonzaga (10-1), which swapped places with No. 8 Houston (10-1) after adding another top-tier win over UCLA on Saturday.
The greater movement occurred between Nos. 10-25.
Nebraska (11-0) was the biggest riser, jumping eight spots to No. 15 after Saturday’s 83-80, buzzer-beating win over No. 18 Illinois. The Huskers, the lone power-conference team to never win an NCAA Tournament game, achieved their highest ranking since 1990-91, when they finished the season No. 11.
Illinois (8-3) and No. 23 Florida (6-4) were the biggest fallers, dropping five spots apiece.
Georgia (9-1) was the lone newcomer to the poll at No. 25, while UCLA (7-3) dropped out.
Here’s the full poll, along with my ballot:
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Record
|
Prev
|
CJ’s vote
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
9-0 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
2 |
10-0 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
3 |
10-0 |
3 |
5 |
|
|
4 |
11-0 |
4 |
3 |
|
|
5 |
10-1 |
5 |
4 |
|
|
6 |
10-1 |
6 |
6 |
|
|
7 |
10-1 |
8 |
7 |
|
|
8 |
10-1 |
7 |
10 |
|
|
9 |
9-1 |
9 |
9 |
|
|
10 |
9-1 |
10 |
8 |
|
|
11 |
9-1 |
11 |
11 |
|
|
12 |
9-1 |
14 |
15 |
|
|
13 |
10-0 |
15 |
12 |
|
|
14 |
8-2 |
17 |
14 |
|
|
15 |
11-0 |
23 |
13 |
|
|
16 |
7-3 |
12 |
17 |
|
|
17 |
8-3 |
19 |
16 |
|
|
18 |
8-3 |
13 |
18 |
|
|
19 |
7-3 |
16 |
21 |
|
|
20 |
7-3 |
20 |
20 |
|
|
21 |
8-3 |
21 |
NR |
|
|
22 |
6-3 |
22 |
24 |
|
|
23 |
6-4 |
18 |
19 |
|
|
24 |
9-1 |
24 |
22 |
|
|
25 |
9-1 |
NR |
25 |
|
|
NR |
9-2 |
NR |
23 |
Others receiving votes: USC 68, Iowa 47, Seton Hall 46, LSU 19, Kentucky 19, UCLA 16, Clemson 14, California 13, Saint Mary’s 12, Arizona State 5, Villanova 5, Notre Dame 4, Indiana 4, Miami (Ohio) 4, Miami (Fla.) 4, Utah State 2, Saint Louis 1, Wisconsin 1.
How good is Nebraska?
I caught Nebraska in person earlier this season when it beat New Mexico and Kansas State in Kansas City, Mo., and I’ve been a believer since. It’s a classic Fred Hoiberg team with a playmaking big, tons of shooting and awesome offensive execution. But what also stood out was how hard the Huskers played, and the defense is better than many of his best teams of the past at Iowa State.
The numbers are starting to back that up. The Huskers are up to 28th in adjusted defensive efficiency, the highest ranking ever for a Hoiberg defense. All this team was missing was signature wins, and it got two this past week, crushing Wisconsin 90-60 and then winning on the road at No. 18 Illinois on a last-second shot.
HE HIT IT‼️
Jamarques Lawrence’s 3-pointer right before the buzzer sends No. 23 @HuskerMBB to a dramatic win at No. 13 Illinois. pic.twitter.com/PhSr8kmnQn
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) December 13, 2025
Arkansas could keep climbing
Arkansas fell out of my rankings for a few weeks early in the season because its computer numbers were bad after a few close calls against mid-majors. It was obvious the talent was there, but the Razorbacks just weren’t sharp early. They’re starting to play up to their talent, and I moved them up to 14th this week, which is one spot below where I had them in the preseason.
John Calipari’s best teams always have an NBA-level point guard, and he has one in Darius Acuff, who is averaging 17.7 points and 5.7 assists. Calipari also has three big wings who could develop into pros — Meleek Thomas, Karter Knox and Billy Richmond III — and as I wrote about in my weekly rankings, Trevon Brazile is playing the best ball of his career. This team is deeper and more talented than last year’s group, which got hot late and made the Sweet 16. Might still be a little low on this group.
Best team not ranked: Iowa
Iowa has yet to make the AP Top 25, but I’ve ranked the Hawkeyes the last three weeks and would argue their case was made even stronger last week in a loss. Iowa led Iowa State by 13 in the first half last Thursday at Hilton Coliseum and ended up taking a 4-point loss, which actually moved it up in the computer models. The Hawkeyes now rank 20th at KenPom and Bart Torvik, 19th in the NET and 21st at Evan Miya.
As the Hawkeyes proved against Iowa State, they are a tough out. Similar to Drake last year, Ben McCollum’s second Division I team gives nothing in transition, is hard to score against in the half court and is exhaustingly patient offensively waiting for a great shot to develop.
I can understand why my fellow voters aren’t there yet. With Ole Miss being a disappointment, you could argue Iowa is missing a signature win. The first opportunity is Jan. 3 when Iowa hosts UCLA.
Pitching was a big reason why Arizona made it back to the College World Series last season. The return of many key arms for 2026 makes it likely the Wildcats will again have a stellar staff.
Who guides those pitchers, however, is uncertain.
Michael Lev of the Arizona Daily Star is reporting that pitching coach John DeRouin is leaving the program for a position within the New York Mets organization. DeRouin had been elevated to pitching coach over the summer after Kevin Vance was hired as head coach at San Diego State.
DeRouin, who was a pitching strategist under Vance the previous two seasons, was integral in developing Arizona’s arms, particularly starters Owen Kramkowski and Smith Bailey and reliever Tony Pluta. That trio are among several key pitchers returning from the CWS team, with DeRouin’s promotion factoring in their decisions to stay in Tucson.
“John is like the pitching whisperer,” head coach Chip Hale said last month.
Hale could promote from within again, elevating Owen Cuffe. Whoever he hires will technically be his fourth pitching coach in five seasons. Dave Lawn handled the role in 2022-23, retained from Jay Johnson’s staff, before Vance was hired in 2024.
DeRouin is the latest in a string of college baseball coaches leaving for pro jobs. The most notable is Tennessee head coach, hired last month as manager of the San Francisco Giants
Arizona begins preseason practice in January ahead of the 2026 opener Feb. 13 against former Pac-12 rival Stanford at a tournament in Surprise.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The firm hired by Michigan to search for a football coach to replace Sherrone Moore has contacted representatives for Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham and Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Saturday because they were not authorized to share details of the search.
Moore was fired on Wednesday, when the school said an investigation uncovered his inappropriate relationship with a staffer. Two days later, Moore was charged with three crimes after prosecutors said he “barged his way” into the apartment of a woman he’d been having an affair with and threatened to kill himself.
College football’s winning program suddenly needs a coach.
After the 35-year-old Dillingham was linked to numerous open jobs last month, he said he was not leaving his alma mater.
Two weeks ago, Drinkwitz agreed to a six-year contract that increases his average compensation to $10.75 million annually.
Michigan is hoping to hire a coach this month, helping its chances of retaining recruits and keeping key players out of the transfer portal in January.
Dillingham, who is from Scottsdale, Arizona, graduated from Arizona State in 2013 and started his coaching career as an assistant for the Sun Devils. After coaching at Memphis, he was the offensive coordinator for Auburn, Florida State and Oregon before returning to Arizona State.
Dillingham orchestrated a quick turnaround, leading the Sun Devils to the Big 12 championship and the College Football Playoff for the first time last year.
Arizona State was 8-4 this season, improving Dillingham’s record to 22-16 over three seasons.
The 42-year-old Drinkwitz is 46-28 in six seasons at Missouri after going 12-1 in a year at Appalachian State. He has built the Tigers into a steady Southeastern Conference program, earning five straight bowl bids.
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