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Remember, voters: You rejected universal school vouchers. Lawmakers just ignored you

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Remember, voters: You rejected universal school vouchers. Lawmakers just ignored you



Letter to the editor: If Arizona’s expanded school voucher program isn’t already a top issue on voters’ minds, it should be.

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Arizona’s expanded school voucher program should be on the minds of voters in November.

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Not just because it is blowing an $800 million hole in the state budget or because there’s almost no accountability, but because voters, in their wisdom, rejected the idea by an overwhelming margin in 2018.

Republican lawmakers rejected your refusal to spend your money on sending rich kids to private schools because they really represent the people who pay them. It’s also why they are now fighting in court to hide the source of that money.

This isn’t a conservative vs. liberal argument. Voters from both parties rejected voucher expansion and voted to demand the source of “dark money” in our elections.

But Arizona Republicans continue to spend your money recklessly, while trying to hide the source of theirs because they know so many voters just automatically vote party over performance. And it’s costing you.

Even Texas Republicans recognized the voucher program as a scam and rejected it. Texas!

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For the record, we support public education and sent one of our kids to private school but never expected taxpayers to pay for it. Isn’t that the definition of fiscally conservative?

John Tracy, Mesa

Independents, 2024 is your year

Doug Metzger stated the Arizona Legislature is ignoring the biggest voting bloc in Arizona and in the country — independents (“Arizona needs moderate lawmakers”). He further argued that by adding moderate partisans, you have a majority of voters who just want the problems solved.

Exactly.

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We hope Mr. Metzger is aware that independent voters are on the move again in Arizona.

Make Elections Fair Arizona is working to place an initiative on the 2024 ballot to open primary elections, among other improvements. Voter Choice Arizona put its own initiative on hold to focus on heading off our Legislature’s move to block election system changes.

This loss is a win: For the open primary effort

The Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at ASU is digging deeper to reveal the true nature of independent voters, now more than a third of Arizona’s registered voters.

Many other organizations are promoting voter rights, especially for independents. A great many Arizonans have seconded Mr. Metzger’s motion.

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2024 is our year to open the door to exactly the motivated voters he describes.

Richard Sinclair, Scottsdale, and Al Bell, Peoria

The writers are co-founders of the Arizona Independent Voters’ Network.

Cute traffic signs are a danger

As a former supervisor in ADOT’s Traffic Operation Center, the agency responsible for displaying information about potential traffic problems on the overhead message boards, I totally agree with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s directive to stop using the signs for cute traffic-related comments.

NHTSA continually encourages drivers to pay attention to the roadway in front of them and never intended to use the boards to distract drivers with clever comments.

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Taking drivers’ attention away from the cars and roadway in front of them while driving at freeway speeds, even for long enough to read a message board, increases the potential for an unintended crash.

I even disagree with the current practice of TOC’s operators putting a second message blinking on the boards. From the time a driver can read the initial message and travel under the message board, the second message is yet to be displayed causing the driver to focus on the board even longer increasing the potential for disaster.

These boards were intended to warn drivers of incidents in front of them … never for humor.

Page Decker, Dewey

What I wish lawmakers did

Legislators are elected to represent ALL the people — not just those who voted for them. Legislators have a duty to act in good faith to enact bills that will benefit the state and its residents. Passing bills they know will be vetoed by the governor does not fulfill this mandate.

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Grandstanding on issues, such as who may use a bathroom or whether a teacher may use a student’s preferred name, is nothing more than performance art by people who demean the office they hold.

I would hope our legislators (well, maybe not all of them) are capable of reaching across the aisle and working to compromise on things Arizonans actually care about. Water, housing, education and criminal justice are a few topics that come to mind.

Discussion wherein each side actually listens to the other could lead to solutions that would allow our state to prosper. One can dream.

K.M. Dubbs, Tucson

Where are the Goons’ parents?

A gang of affluent teens who call themselves the “Gilbert Goons” have attacked other kids for a year now. The victims and their parents rightly complain about the lack of effective community and police action to deal with these attacks.

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Why have we heard nothing about those responsible for this gang behavior — the affluent parents?

James Talbot, Scottsdale

What’s on your mind? Send us a letter to the editor online or via email at opinions@arizonarepublic.com.



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Arizona

Lakota Ballers gearing up for NABI in Arizona

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Lakota Ballers gearing up for NABI in Arizona


RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA)- The Lakota Ballers is a team made up of local high school basketball players. The team is coached by Dale Pine, Jr. The Lakota Ballers will play at the Native American Basketball Invitational in Arizona next month.



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High-profile Arizona criminal cases database

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High-profile Arizona criminal cases database


Seven suspects arrested and charged in death of Preston Lord

Arizona Republicans arraigned in ‘fake electors’ case

Aaron Saucedo

Man accused of killing 9 people during serial street shootings

  • Aaron Saucedo, 28, was arrested in April 2017 in connection with serial street shootings that began in August 2015 and ended in July 2016. His next hearing is scheduled for July 15, 2024.

Alex Anthony Madrid

Mesa man charged with rape, murder of teen girl found in a dumpster in 2013

  • Alex Anthony Madrid is facing first degree murder, kidnapping, sex conduct with a minor, molestation of a child, child abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment/concealment of a body and tampering with physical evidence. His trial is set for August 5, 2024.

Angel Mullooly

Three people, including one with Neo-Nazi ties, charged in beating death of Jake Kelly

  • 34-year-old Angel Mullooly is facing murder charges. Cory Young, 44, and Shannon Young, 37, are accused of hindering prosecution.

Anthony Milan Ross

Vegan chef, motivational speaker accused of killing ex-wife and 2 children on Christmas Day 2017

April McLaughlin

Woman accused of keeping dozens of dogs in horrifying conditions at a home in Chandler

  • April McLaughlin pleaded not guilty to the charges in January, 2024. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for June 27, 2024.

Blaze Thibaudeau

Leader of doomsday family back in Arizona to face charges in Gilbert teen’s disappearance

  • Blaze Thibaudeau was reportedly taken by his uncle, Brook Hale, his non-custodial mother, Spring Thibaudeau. Hale, 47, is charged with one count of custodial interference and one count of conspiracy to commit custodial interference. Spring Thibaudeau is still awaiting extradition back to Arizona.

Christopher Rand Hoopes

Man allegedly shoots, kills wife at Tempe home after claiming she ‘startled’ him

  • 36-year-old Christopher Rand Hoopes will be in court July 15, 2024. His trial is scheduled for July 22, 2024.

Cleophus Cooksey

Phoenix man charged in serial killing spree that left 9 dead in 3 weeks

  • Cleophus Cooksey is accused of killing nine people, including his mother and stepfather, in the Phoenix area in 2017.

David Schnirch

Scottsdale luxury car dealer arrested on multiple counts of sexual exploitation, luring girls under 15

  • David Schnirch was arrested in the Summer of 2021 on child sex crime charges. His next hearing is scheduled for July 19, 2024.

DaVonte’ Neal

Former U of A football player charged with murder

  • DaVonte’ Neal is charged with first-degree murder, drive-by-shooting, and discharging a firearm at a structure in the 2017 death of Bryan T. Burns. Neal is expected back in court July 22, 2024.

Essa Williams

Phoenix man accused of shooting officer 8 times in 2021

  • Essa Williams is facing attempted murder charges, accused of gunning down Phoenix police officer Tyler Moldovan in 2021.

Germayne Cunningham

Former Phoenix PD detective and wife accused of killing 7-year-old daughter

  • Pre-trial conference starts August 23, 2024. Trial is scheduled for September 3, 2024.

Ian Mitcham

Man arrested in gruesome murder 2015 of Scottdale woman after DNA evidence was found years later

  • Ian Mitcham was arrested for the murder of Allison Feldman, who was sexually assaulted, strangled, and beaten to death at her Scottsdale home in February 2015. Mitcham will be back in court September 26, 2024.

Isaac King

Avondale man accused of shooting, killing DPS Trooper on Interstate 10

  • Isaac Damon King plead not guilty in the 2018 shooting death of DPS Trooper Tyler Edenhofer.

James Estep

Mesa man accused of sexually assaulting 5 women, teen girl

  • James Estep is being held without bond. His next hearing is scheduled for July 2, 2024.

Jonathon Altland

Man accused of killing Chandler police officer, injuring Gilbert officer after leading them on a car chase

Joshua Ben Anderson

Former White Mountain Apache police officers indicted after hitting and killing woman with squad car

  • Joshua Ben Anderson pled guilty to attempting a cover up after a hit and run in his squad car. His sentencing is August 5, 2024.

Larry Edward Brown Jr

IRS agent indicted in deadly shooting of fellow agent following Phoenix training exercise

  • On August 17, 2023, Special Agent Patrick Bauer was shot during training at a federal gun range located on prison grounds in north Phoenix.

Lori Vallow

Former valley mom convicted in Idaho of killing her kids, now facing charges in Maricopa County

  • Lori Vallow’s next pre-trial conference is set for July 25, 2024.

Octavia Rogers

Phoenix mother accused of killing her 3 kids in 2016

  • Octavia Rogers is facing 3 counts of first degree murder after her three young sons were found stabbed to death.

Raad Almansoori

Man accused in a violent multi-state crime spree, including two stabbings in the Valley and the death of a woman at a New York City hotel room

  • Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell has refused to extradite him to New York until he stands trial for his alleged crimes in Arizona.

Rachel Henry

Phoenix mother accused of suffocating her 3 children to death

  • Rachel Henry is set to appear in court in August 2024. She pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder in February 2020.

Samuel Bateman

FLDS polygamist leader arraigned in court on child sex abuse charges

  • Samuel Bateman faces 51 felonies. The FBI says he had 20 wives, many of them underage. Ten of his followers, including some of his adult wives, were also charged with aiding him. Sentencing is set for July 15, 2024.

Sophia Simmons

Mom arrested after young daughter found dead in dumpster behind Phoenix business

  • 38-year-old Sophia Simmons is facing a murder charge after her young daughter was found dead in a dumpster behind a business in Phoenix on Christmas Eve 2023. Simmons’ trial is set for September 5, 2024.

Stephanie Davis & Thomas James Desharnais

Prosecutors to seek death penalty for murder of 11-year-old boy in Scottsdale hotel

Terrance Santistevan

Man accused of gunning down two teens in Casa Grande in 2022

  • Terrance Santistevan is in Pinal County jail on charges of first-degree murder. His next court appearance is set for July 22, 2024.

Zion Teasley

Man accused of stabbing, killing Lauren Heike while hiking in North Scottsdale

  • Zion Teasley’s next court hearing is set for September 22, 2024.

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Tracking former Southern Arizona & Arizona Wildcats baseball players in pros (6/17) | ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com

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Tracking former Southern Arizona & Arizona Wildcats baseball players in pros (6/17) | ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com


NOTE: This is a compilation of stats involving players from Southern Arizona and the Arizona Wildcats’ program in MLB-sanctioned leagues (MLB and minor leagues). The list does not include players in foreign leagues or independent leagues in the US.

LOCAL BASEBALL PLAYERS IN THE PROS

Listing of local baseball players either from high school or Arizona currently playing in pro baseball.
*Barraza, Sahuarita graduate
*Romero, CDO graduate
*Salazar, Sahuaro graduate

Player Pos Sch Yrs Team Lvl Org
Nate Baez 1B IRHS 16-19 Cedar Rapids A+ MIN
Christopher Barraza P UA* 21-23 Inland Empire A LAA
Branden Boissiere 1B UA 19-21 Wilmington A+ WAS
Tony Bullard 3B UA 20-23 Beloit A+ MIA
Alex Bustamante P CDO 16-18 Tampa A NYY
Demetrio Crisantes SS Nogales 19-22 ACL Dbacks RK ARI
Bobby Dalbec 1B UA 14-16 Boston MLB BOS
Chase Davis OF UA 21-23 Palm Beach A STL
Jose Dicochea P Sahuarita 16-19 Stockton A OAK
Matthew Dyer C UA 19-20 Montgomery AA TB
German Fajardo P Nogales 16-19 Modesto A SEA
Michael Flynn P UA 16-18 Oklahoma City AAA LAD
Matt Fraizer OF UA 17-19 Indianapolis AAA PIT
Kevin Ginkel P UA 16 Arizona MLB ARI
Nick Gonzales INF Cienega 14-17 Pittsburgh MLB PIT
Darick Hall 1B Buena 11-13 Lehigh Valley AAA PHI
Garrett Irvin P UA 20-22 Lansing A+ OAK
Scott Kingery 2B UA 13-15 Lehigh Valley AAA PHI
Randy Labaut P UA 17-19 Columbus AAA CLE
Gil Luna P UA 18-21 Birmingham AA CHW
Nik McClaughry 2B UA 20-23 Fort Wayne A+ SD
Tylor Megill P UA 17-19 NY Mets MLB NYM
Ian Mejia P Sahuarita 16-19 Mississippi AA ATL
Andrew Nardi P UA 19 Miami MLB MIA
Kevin Newman SS UA 13-15 Arizona MLB ARI
Jared Oliva OF UA 15-17 Arkansas AA SEA
Tanner O’Tremba OF UA 21-22 Eugene A+ SF
Spencer Packard OF CDO 13-16 Tacoma AAA SEA
Rob Refsnyder OF UA 10-12 Boston MLB BOS
Alfonso Rivas 1B UA 16-18 Memphis AAA STL
Kiko Romero 1B UA* 23 Hudson Valley A+ NYY
Milo Rushford CF WGHS 18-21 ACL Royals RK KC
Cesar Salazar C UA* 16-18 Houston MLB HOU
Chase Silseth P UA 21 Salt Lake AAA LAA
Austin Smith P UA 21 Mississippi AA ATL
Daniel Susac C UA 21-22 Midland AA OAK
Cal Stevenson OF UA 17-18 Lehigh Valley AAA PHI
Alex Verdugo OF Sahuaro 11-14 NY Yankees MLB NYY
Avery Weems P UA 18-19 Frisco AA TEX
Austin Wells C UA 19-20 NY Yankees MLB NYY
Donta’ Williams OF UA 18-21 Norfolk AAA BAL

LOCAL BATTERS IN THE PROS

Through games of June 16
*Injuries:
Boissiere (60-day/arm)

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Player Team Lvl G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB AVG
Baez MIN A+ 33 101 19 27 2 1 7 19 0 .252
*Boissiere WAS A+ 33 112 11 24 4 0 2 15 0 .214
Bullard MIA A+ 8 25 3 5 2 0 0 2 1 .200
Crisantes ARI RK 29 121 31 43 7 5 1 20 10 .355
Dalbec BOS MLB 33 76 6 10 2 0 1 7 3 .132
Davis STL A 49 175 22 37 14 0 5 30 3 .211
Dyer TB AA 35 106 16 23 5 2 1 8 3 .217
Fraizer PIT AAA 22 75 8 17 3 1 1 8 0 .231
Gonzales PIT MLB 32 122 17 38 7 1 5 25 2 .311
Hall PHI AAA 48 189 19 47 5 0 5 26 0 .249
Kingery PHI AAA 58 205 34 50 8 1 13 31 9 .244
McClaughry SD A+ 46 140 17 24 6 2 0 8 4 .171
Newman ARI MLB 52 159 23 45 10 1 2 16 3 .283
O’Tremba SF A+ 38 126 25 28 7 1 2 16 9 .222
Oliva SEA AA 42 113 23 24 3 0 5 15 18 .212
Packard SEA AAA 6 25 6 10 4 0 0 2 0 .400
Refsnyder BOS MLB 42 129 16 42 11 1 2 16 1 .326
Rivas STL AAA 50 172 27 43 11 2 1 20 0 .250
Romero NYY A+ 34 102 15 23 6 0 4 14 4 .225
Rushford KC RK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Salazar HOU MLB 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 .500
Sands SF AAA 13 51 5 9 1 0 0 5 0 .176
Stevenson PHI AAA 58 169 28 43 10 3 3 21 15 .254
Susac OAK AA 41 162 14 43 7 0 3 16 3 .259
Verdugo NYY MLB 71 265 35 69 15 1 9 41 1 .260
Wells NYY MLB 41 120 14 25 7 0 2 10 1 .200
Williams BAL AAA 4 13 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 .154

SUNDAY’S HOME RUNS

Nate Baez is a Class of 2019 graduate at Ironwood Ridge who went on to play at Arizona State

1B Nate Baez (Ironwood Ridge), Twins A+, 2 HRs (2-run HR and solo HR) (7th overall, 3rd in three days and 4th in last six games)

SUNDAY’S STANDOUTS

LF Spencer Packard (CDO), Mariners AAA, 5-6, 2 runs, 2 doubles, 2 RBIs

1B Nate Baez (Ironwood Ridge), Twins A+, 2-3, 2 runs, 2 HRs, 3 RBIs

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LF Matthew Dyer (Arizona), Rays AA, 2-4

2B Nick Gonzales (Cienega), Pirates MLB, 2-5, run

RF Rob Refsnyder (Arizona), Red Sox MLB, 2-3, run

1B Alfonso Rivas (Arizona), Cardinals AAA, 2-3, 3 runs, double, RBI

CF Chase Davis (Arizona), Cardinals A, 1-2, 2 runs, RBI, stolen base

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1B Kiko Romero (CDO/Arizona), Yankees A+, 1-4, double

LOCAL PITCHERS IN THE PROS

Through games of June 16
*Injuries:
Bustamante (60-day/arm)
Silseth (60-day/elbow) – rehab assignment
Weems (7-day/arm)

Player Team Lvl W-L G GS SV IP H R ER BB SO ERA
Barraza LAA A 0-2 17 0 1 21.1 19 11 9 16 19 3.80
*Bustamante NYY A 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00
Dicochea OAK A 1-4 9 6 0 29 29 25 20 15 31 6.21
Fajardo SEA A 2-1 15 0 0 30 25 19 14 18 36 4.20
Flynn LAD AAA 1-0 17 0 2 24.1 17 14 12 9 36 4.44
Ginkel ARI MLB 5-1 29 0 5 28.1 29 15 10 5 22 3.18
Irvin OAK A+ 1-1 17 0 1 18.2 23 18 14 13 22 6.75
Labaut CLE AAA 2-4 19 1 1 26.2 24 20 14 16 24 4.72
Luna CHW AA 2-1 19 0 2 20 14 9 6 20 22 2.70
Megill NYM MLB 2-3 6 6 0 30.2 27 15 12 13 37 3.52
Mejia ATL AA 5-0 11 11 0 60.1 38 12 12 21 67 1.79
Nardi MIA MLB 0-0 32 0 0 25.2 28 16 16 7 31 5.61
*Silseth LAA AAA 0-2 2 2 0 7.2 11 9 9 8 7 10.57
Smith ATL AA 0-0 4 0 0 3.2 7 5 5 3 4 12.27
*Weems TEX AA 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

SUNDAY’S STANDOUT

RHP Chris Barraza (Sahuarita/Arizona), Angels A, 1.2 IP, 2H, 0R, 0ER, 2BB, 2K (no decision)

RHP Kevin Ginkel (Arizona), Diamondbacks MLB, 1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K (no decision)

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LHP Garrett Irvin (Arizona), Athletics A+, 2.2 IP, 1H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 3K (no decision)

LHP Gil Luna (Arizona), White Sox AA, 1 IP, 0H, 0R, 0ER, 0BB, 1K (no decision)

RHP Tylor Megill (Arizona), Mets MLB, 5 IP, 5H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 5K (win)

RHP Chase Silseth (Arizona), Angels AAA, 5 IP, 7H, 3R, 3ER, 3BB, 4K (loss)

RECENT TRANSACTIONS (LAST 14 DAYS)

Tuesday, June 11
Spencer Packard – Assigned to Tacoma Rainiers (AAA) (Seattle Mariners)

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Cesar Salazar – Recalled from from Sugar Land Space Cowboys (AAA) (Houston Astros)

Chase Silseth – Assigned to Salt Lake Bees (AAA) for rehab (Los Angeles Angels)

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Sunday, June 9
Donny Sands – Released by Giants. The 28-year-old Salpointe graduate signed a minor-league deal with the club in mid-May after the Tigers released him at the end of spring training. The Yankees selected Sands in the eighth round of the 2015 draft, and he spent the next seven seasons in their system before the Yankees traded him to the Phillies ahead of the 2022 campaign. Sands made his MLB debut with Philadelphia the following September. He appeared in three games as a pinch-hitter and caught two innings behind the plate that season, the extent of his big-league career. The Phillies traded him to the Tigers during the 2022-23 offseason. Sands’ background of being a homeless teen while at Salpointe made national news. This occurred after his father died of a heart attack and his mom Alma had to move to her native Mexico to find employment.

Donny Sands batted .450 as a senior at Salpointe in 2015

Thursday, June 6
Branden Boissiere – IL-60 Injured/arm (Washington Nationals)

Tuesday, June 4
Matthew Dyer – Assigned to Montgomery Biscuits (AA) (Tampa Bay Rays)
Milo Rushford – Assigned to ACL Royals (Rk) (Kansas City Royals)
Donta’ Williams – Assigned to Norfolk Tides (AAA) (Baltimore Orioles)

FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!

ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Sunnyside High School in the Sunnyside Unified School District.

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