Arizona

Voters could have say on reforms for controversial ESA program

Published

3 weeks ago

February 8, 2026

Voters could have say on reforms for controversial ESA program

Several education groups and advocates have come together through a coalition and filed a petition to put reforms on the state’s controversial Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program, or ESA. ESA advocates say these reforms are unnecessary, feeling like the program is already transparent and accountable.

Since the program became universal in 2022, criticisms have followed, some saying that the program is unaccounted for and is ripe with fraud. Several people outside of the state have been indicted and charged with fraud for misusing the program. Arizona Superintendent Tom Horne previously said there have only been a few instances of issues compared to how many families use it.

“Waste fraud and abuse in any government program, including public schools, is absolutely unacceptable. Thankfully, right now, the reason we know about these situations is because of the accountability and transparency in Arizona’s ESA program is so robust,” said Jenny Clark, an ESA mom and founder, executive director of the organization Love Your School.

Before 2022, about 11,000 students used the program; it was originally meant for students with disabilities. But, after Governor Doug Ducey approved a bill to expand it universally, it has now grown to more than 100,000 students this year.

The universal program allows families to use state-funded money to attend any school they want, including private, home school, religious schools, tutoring or other educational needs.

An ABC15 investigation in October of 2023 examined the purchases made through ESA funds. Expenses ranged from tuition to trampoline parks and some purchases, such as driving lessons in luxury cars and more gained criticism. The Arizona Department of Education has previously defended those purchases and said they were allowed.

“The legislature has had years, actually three years now, to make these reforms that voters are clearly, asking for. And they’ve refused to make any reforms,” said Beth Lewis, the director of Save Our Schools.

Lewis said that lawmakers have not made many changes, despite efforts from Governor Katie Hobbs, who had to make compromises with the Republican majority legislature. So, Save Our Schools, the Arizona Education Association, families and educators, through a coalition on Friday, filed a petition to potentially get a ballot measure to bring reforms to the universal program. The petition is dubbed the “Protect Education, Accountability Now Act.”

“They still have that opportunity in the next few weeks,” Lewis said of lawmakers. “Otherwise, we the people are ready to take matters into our own hands.”

The petition filed is looking for an overhaul on the ESA program, including:

Putting an income cap for participants at $150,000.
Restricts use of funds on prohibited items, for example, jewelry or lingerie, or paying a student’s family member (except for students with disabilities).
Requires teachers and staff at qualified schools or tutors to have fingerprint clearance cards.
Requires qualified schools or tutoring services to register with the Arizona Department of Education and pay registration fees.
Ensure that schools receiving ESA funds are accredited or administer testing on ESA students.

Clark says the petition and its proposed requirements are “phony.”

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Arizona

Warmer temps increase rattlesnake risks: Arizona Game and Fish

Published

11 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Warmer temps increase rattlesnake risks: Arizona Game and Fish

article

PHOENIX – Officials with the Arizona Game and Fish Department said unseasonably warm temperatures in the state will increase risks for rattlesnake encounters.

What they’re saying:

In a statement released on Feb. 27, the agency said while rattlesnakes are most active in desert areas from March through October, they “may appear earlier in the year as warming temperatures bring them out of winter hibernation.”

“During the spring, it’s common for rattlesnakes to be out during daylight hours,” read a portion of the statement. “As the days become increasingly hot, rattlesnakes tend to move around more at night.”

What you can do:

Officials said there are things people can do to keep themselves safe, including:

Step back and let a rattlesnake move away if you see one on a trail
Be mindful of where you place your feet and hands, because rattlesnakes can easily blend in with their surroundings
Carry a flashlight at night, especially on warmer nights when rattlesnakes can be most active
Clean up yard debris and reduce standing water near homes, in order to avoid attracting rattlesnakes
Stay on marked trails, as rattlesnakes encounters are more likely to occur when a person leaves a marked trail

Game and Fish officials said people should do the following if someone was bitten by a rattlesnake:

Remain calm
Reassure the victim
Call 911 and seek medical attention without delay
Remove all jewelry and watches from the affected area
Immobilize the extremity, and keep it below the heart
Decrease total body activity, as feasible

The Source: Information for this article was gathered from a statement released by the Arizona Department of Game and Fish.

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Arizona

Idaho 78-58 Northern Arizona (Feb 26, 2026) Game Recap – ESPN

Published

23 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Idaho 78-58 Northern Arizona (Feb 26, 2026) Game Recap – ESPN

MOSCOW, Idaho — — Jackson Rasmussen had 19 points in Idaho’s 78-58 win over Northern Arizona on Thursday.

Rasmussen also had seven rebounds for the Vandals (16-13, 8-8 Big Sky Conference). Isaiah Brickner scored 15 points while shooting 6 of 11 from the field and 2 for 4 from the line. Jack Payne shot 4 for 5 from beyond the arc to finish with 12 points.

Diego Campisano finished with 11 points for the Lumberjacks (10-19, 4-12). Chris Komin added 11 points for Northern Arizona. Karl Markus Poom also had 10 points.

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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Arizona

Former Arizona town employee sentenced in COVID-19 relief, embezzlement case

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Former Arizona town employee sentenced in COVID-19 relief, embezzlement case

PARKER, AZ (AZFamily) — A former employee of a western Arizona town has learned her fate after being convicted in connection with COVID-19 relief fraud and embezzlement.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said Thursday that Jennifer Elizabeth Alcaida, 50, a former office specialist for the Town of Parker, was sentenced by a Mohave County Superior Court judge to three and a half years in prison.

According to court records, between July and Sept. 2021, Alcaida took a total of $173,295.54 by writing unauthorized checks from town accounts, keeping cash she was required to deposit, and making personal purchases on a town-issued credit card.

Records also show she received more than $20,000 from the federal Paycheck Protection Program through the U.S. Small Business Administration after claiming the funds were needed to cover payroll for a personal business that did not exist.

Alcaida pleaded guilty Jan. 6 to felony charges of fraudulent schemes and theft. After her prison term, she will serve seven years of probation and has been ordered to pay $194,128.54 in restitution.

“This case is a clear example of someone who abused the public’s trust for personal gain,” Mayes said in a written statement. “Arizonans deserve to know that those who steal from their communities will be held accountable, and this sentence reflects exactly that.”

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