The attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday resulted in increased security protocol for the Republican National Committee 2024 Convention, which started on Monday with multiple Arizona lawmakers in attendance. Wadsack, Kern, Hoffman, Rogers, Kolodin and Shamp are all at the convention, where the delegates voted on Monday to nominate Trump as the Republican party’s nominee for the 2024 general election. “I am confident in the security plan our Secret Service RNC coordinator and our partners have put in place, which we have reviewed and strengthened in the wake of Saturday’s shooting,” Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle said in a written statement Monday. Kern told our reporter he noticed heightened security measures at the convention on Monday.
PHOENIX – Today, Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-03), sent a letter to U.S. Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle calling for accountability and demanding answers regarding the security failure that enabled the assassination attempt on President Trump.“Yesterday’s incident, which led to the tragic death of an onlooker and several injuries, including to President Trump, raises grave concerns regarding the security measures – or lack thereof – that were taken to protect a former President of the United States and a Major Presidential Candidate,” wrote Rep. Gallego. “I call on all those responsible for the planning, approving, and executing of this failed security plan to be held accountable and to testify before Congress immediately.”To understand what led to yesterday’s security failure and prevent future incidents, Rep. Gallego demanded answers to the following questions:
Did the Trump campaign request additional protection or resources for this event? If so, were those resources denied, and why?
Did the Secret Service detail, separate from President Trump’s campaign team, request additional resources?
Who approved the security plan for this event?
Was a proper threat assessment of nearby buildings conducted?
Did attendees of the event raise any alarms? If so, how were any concerns handled before the attempted assassination?
Were there any failures in protocol that enabled the shooting? If not, how was President Trump, one of only six living current or former Presidents and a current Major Presidential Candidate, almost assassinated, and what needs to change?
Will the Secret Service reconsider its denial of protection for Presidential Candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.?
“We are a nation of laws and of free and fair elections. It is why we are the greatest country in the world,” Rep. Gallego concludes. “This was a security failure at the highest level, not seen since the attempted assassination of President Reagan. This cannot happen, and I demand accountability.”Full text of the letter can be found HERE.
Phoenix, Ariz. – The Grand Canyon State is the second least-expensive choice when it comes to energy costs, a new report has found. WalletHub, a personal finance website, analyzed energy affordability across all 50 states and recently released its report, “Energy Costs by State in 2024” (https://wallethub.com/edu/energy-costs-by-state/4833). The report looked at four residential energy types: electricity, natural gas, motor fuel, and home heating oil. Arizona ranked number 49 in the report, which is sorted by the most expensive average monthly energy bill. Arizona is the second cheapest state for overall energy costs, with an average monthly bill of $400. In other key categories in the report, Arizona ranked number 22 for electricity rates at $152 per month, and number 50 for natural gas rates at $69 per month, with number 1 being the most expensive and number 50 being the cheapest. The Arizona Corporation Commission works to vigorously ensure safe, reliable, and affordable utility services. Our priority is to ensure that rates are equitable and fair among customers. The Commission has prudently protected the consumers and the electric grid during record high inflation.A few factors that distinguish Arizona from other states:
Diverse generation sources – Arizona relies on a mix of generation sources, from nuclear, natural gas, hydropower, renewables, and battery storage.
Self-Sufficiency – Arizona is not dependent on imported power. We tap into the market if needed, but our utilities’ primary focus is providing Integrated Resource Plans to guarantee future readiness. The Commission diligently oversees utility upgrades and construction.
Proactive maintenance to ensure reliability – The Commission prioritizes daily maintenance and line work leading up to summer to ensure the grid is ready for the extreme heat and high load.
“The data released in the report reflects the priorities of our Commission – reliable energy at the most affordable rates, said Commissioner Lea Marquez Peterson. “I’m proud of the service and affordable rates we work hard to provide to ratepayers throughout the state.”“Arizona energy has become the second cheapest in the nation. This is a great achievement!” said Commissioner Nick Myers. “As promised, we’ve been continuously working to improve the investor rankings for Arizona and its utilities, and I am happy Arizona is working towards a much better energy environment.”“The Arizona Corporation Commission staff has worked diligently to address the needs of all Arizonans by holding down costs and supporting increased energy supplies. This is demonstrated in the “Energy Costs by State” report by WalletHub. The benefits to consumers are reasonable rates and adequate supply of energy,” said Doug Clark, Executive Director.The Commission is proud of the rigorous resource planning by our Staff and utilities that helps make our energy landscape safe, affordable, and reliable.
“I am disgusted and appalled by the attempt on President Trump’s life. In the United States, we resolve our differences at the ballot box and move on. We have had too many presidents and candidates struck by assassins or would-be killers. My fervent prayers are for President Trump, his family, and the families of the victims.I want to assure Maricopa County residents I will do everything I can to keep them safe while they exercise their constitutional right to vote. And I will make sure our law enforcement and public safety officials have all the resources they need.Once again, I pray for President Trump’s full and complete recovery.”
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate Republicans are proud to announce Arizona voterswill still get the opportunity to take border security matters into their own hands thisNovember with the Secure the Border Act (HCR 2060). Late last week, a superior courtjudge blocked a frivolous lawsuit filed by radical left activists in a bogus attempt to keepthe measure off the ballot.The Secure the Border Act is similar to Texas’ SB 4 and would provide local, county, andstate law enforcement the authority to arrest individuals who are non-U.S. citizens enteringArizona from Mexico outside of a lawful port of entry. SB 4 is currently on hold as it’sbeing litigated in federal court. If upheld by the courts and if Arizona voters support the Secure the Border Act in November, this specific provision of the bill would take effect in Arizona 60 days after implementation in Texas.Other provisions in the bill, not contingent on court rulings, include harsher penalties for drug dealers trafficking fentanyl across the border that leads to an overdose death of a person. It will also establish a state crime of any individuals living in Arizona illegally who knowingly submit false information or documents to apply for government benefits or apply for employment. Lastly, it will require state agencies administering benefits to use the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program, in addition to current state verification systems when determining eligibility of non-U.S. citizens.“My colleagues and I worked tirelessly this session to create impactful legislation to help secure our border because the people of Arizona are desperately asking for it,” said Senator Janae Shamp. “The attempts from Arizona Democrats and radical left activists to deprive voters of the opportunity to decide on this matter is truly appalling. From the spreading of misinformation to the filing of frivolous lawsuits, they will stop at nothing to keep our border wide open and perpetuate Biden’s border crisis. The federal government has neglected the safety of our citizens, and the time has come to empower Arizonans to fight back against the tyranny. I wholeheartedly believe the Secure the Border Act will save countless lives, save billions in taxpayer dollars, and strengthen our national security.”“While the Biden Administration continues to turn their backs on our law enforcement, we will not,” said Senator David Gowan. “These men and women are putting their lives on the line to protect our communities from the deadly crimes associated with the border crisis, and they deserve the tools and support they need to do their job.Our law enforcement reached a breaking point a long time ago. It’s now up to everyday Arizonans to stop the lawlessness.”
PHOENIX – We are outraged by yesterday’s decision against the people of Arizona and will vigorously challenge this ruling. This decision impacts the fundamental civil rights of Arizonans and undermines the principles of fairness and justice. LUCHA, a membership-led organization comprising predominantly people of color and low-income individuals, is deeply concerned about the implications of Prop 314. We continue to assert that this legislation violates Article IV, part 2, section 13 of the Arizona Constitution, known as the “Single Subject Rule.” Stop and Frisk on Steroids “If Prop 314 reaches the ballot box this November, many Arizonans will be disproportionately targeted and subjected to suspicion and persecution. This discriminatory legislation will lead to over-policing in every community across our state. Said Alejandra Gomez, Executive Director of LUCHA. Gomez Continued, “Make no mistake—this is Stop and Frisk on steroids. Arizonans, even those hundreds of miles from the border, will be under intense scrutiny by law enforcement. A routine traffic stop could quickly escalate into an inquiry about citizenship status and possible detainment based solely on the color of your skin and your last name. This is the broad scope of power that local police will inflict on our communities.” Before Prop 314 was passed, the Arizona Legislature made several unsuccessful attempts to enact its provisions through other means. These included:SB 1231, which criminalized illegal border crossing was vetoed by Governor Hobbs for being harmful to communities, businesses, law enforcement, and the judicial system.HB 2820, which aimed to create new criminal offenses for fentanyl trafficking.HB 2821, which sought to provide civil immunity for state officials, employees, or contractors enforcing immigration law.HB 2748, which would have required magistrates to issue orders for individuals who entered or attempted to enter the country to return to their country of origin.These failed legislative efforts highlight the inherent issues and widespread opposition to the provisions now consolidated in Prop 314. LUCHA remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of our members. We will continue to fight this unjust ruling and advocate for a fair and just society for all.
Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, along with Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), and James Lankford (R-OK) introduced the bipartisan Shadow Wolves Improvement Act—legislation that provides U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) with the authority to convert Shadow Wolves from the excepted to the competitive service, which provides additional career mobility opportunities to Shadow Wolves, making it easier to recruit and retain Shadow Wolves agents and improving border security. Shadow Wolves are members of the Tohono O’odham Nation who patrol the 76-mile stretch of land that the Tohono O’odham Nation shares with Mexico. They are known for their ability to track drug smugglers as they attempt to smuggle illegal commodities across Tribal land, thanks to their unique geographical and cultural knowledge. They also help improve the relationship between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Tribal communities. In 2022, Kelly and Sinema successfully introduced and passed the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act—legislation classifying the Shadow Wolves unit as special agents allowed to patrol, investigate, interdict, and secure the border—with broad bipartisan support. Previous to this, Shadow Wolves were classified as tactical officers under ICE Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), making them unable to access the same career opportunities, pay, and job mobility afforded to HSI special agents. The Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act addressed this gap by reclassifying the Shadow Wolves as special agents; however, Shadow Wolves still lack the same career opportunities as other HSI special agents because of how they were originally hired. Kelly and Sinema’s new legislation solve this by providing ICE with the authority to convert Shadow Wolves from the excepted to the competitive service upon completion of three years of satisfactory service, affording them career mobility and compensation parity with other HSI special agents. This update will enhance career opportunities for Shadow Wolves agents, strengthen recruitment efforts, and improve border security. Additionally, the legislation codifies GAO’s recommendations to improve and expand the Shadow Wolves program. “The Shadow Wolves are a critical asset to effectively fight against human and drug smugglers at our southern border,” said Kelly. “The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act builds on the support provided to the Shadow Wolves and strengthens their specialized tactical units, ensuring these Native American officers have the best training and career mobility as they work to keep Arizonans safe.” “Tohono O’odham Nation’s Shadow Wolves are critical partners combating drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other illicit activity on our border,” said Sinema. “Our bill ensures career mobility and fair compensation for Shadow Wolves Agents so they can continue keeping the Tohono O’odham Nation and Arizona safe and secure. “Border security is national security, and strengthening the Shadow Wolves program is one of the many ways we are working to deploy the personnel, infrastructure and technology needed to ensure we can restore and maintain operational control of the border,” said Hoeven. “Shadow Wolves agents do a tremendous job protecting against drug trafficking in Indian County. As we work to expand this program, including up to the northern border, it is critical we can recruit, train and retain qualified individuals in this initiative. That’s exactly what this legislation will help accomplish.”“ICE Shadow Wolves agents—a Native American tactical patrol unit—use their unique expertise and personal knowledge to stop drug traffickers and human smugglers from coming across the southern border. Giving these critical law enforcement officers access to expanded career mobility and opportunity not only supports their work to secure the border but also strengthens recruiting and retention for agents,” said Lankford.“The Shadow Wolves are an elite, all-Native American tracking and investigative unit with decades of experience, who use both technology and traditional tracking methods to interdict human and drug smuggling on the Tohono O’odham reservation. The Tohono O’odham Nation strongly supports the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act, which will further enhance the effectiveness of the Shadow Wolves program by improving retention and recruitment and expanding the program. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee has done great work incorporating feedback from the Nation into this bill. Its passage will ensure that this group of Native American agents can continue to grow and provide their uniquely important capabilities to protect the Tohono O’odham and the U.S. homeland,” said Verlon Jose, Chairman of Tohono O’odham Nation.“Public Safety, particularly drug and human trafficking, continue to be a priority for Indian Country. These issues are uniquely difficult for tribal communities, like the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, who are located along the U.S. border. The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act is an additional tool within the law enforcement toolbox that will help. The Tribe appreciate Senators Sinema and Hoeven introducing this legislation and urge its swift passage in the Senate,” said Jamie Azure, Chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.“The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act is a necessary step forward to provide appropriate guidance and options to a group of Native American law enforcement agents which will permit them to receive the same compensation, benefits, and opportunities as their non-native brothers and sisters,” said President Mat Silverman of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA). “FLEOA recognizes the value and expertise the Shadow Wolves provide and support the expansion of this program. Our country and Native American border communities will benefit from the increased opportunities, increased safety, and equality this Act will bring to the Tohono O’odham Nation and other tribes across this great nation.”
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Senator John Hoeven (N.D.) introduced the bipartisan Shadow Wolves Improvement Act – legislation that provides U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) with the authority to convert Shadow Wolves from the excepted to the competitive service, which provides additional career mobility opportunities to Shadow Wolves law enforcement officers, making it easier to recruit and retain Shadow Wolves agents and improving border security. U.S. Senators Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) are original cosponsors of the bipartisan legislation.“Tohono O’odham Nation’s Shadow Wolves are critical partners combating drug smuggling, human trafficking, and other illicit activity on our border. Our bill ensures career mobility and fair compensation for Shadow Wolves Agents so they can continue keeping the Tohono O’odham Nation and Arizona safe and secure,” said Sinema, Chair of the Senate Border Management Subcommittee. “Border security is national security, and strengthening the Shadow Wolves program is one of the many ways we are working to deploy the personnel, infrastructure and technology needed to ensure we can restore and maintain operational control of the border,” said Hoeven. “Shadow Wolves agents do a tremendous job protecting against drug trafficking in Indian County. As we work to expand this program, including up to the northern border, it is critical we can recruit, train and retain qualified individuals in this initiative. That’s exactly what this legislation will help accomplish.”“The Shadow Wolves are a critical asset to effectively fight against human and drug smugglers at our southern border,” said Kelly. “The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act builds on the support provided to the Shadow Wolves and strengthens their specialized tactical units, ensuring these Native American officers have the best training and career mobility as they work to keep Arizonans safe.” “ICE Shadow Wolves agents—a Native American tactical patrol unit—use their unique expertise and personal knowledge to stop drug traffickers and human smugglers from coming across the southern border. Giving these critical law enforcement officers access to expanded career mobility and opportunity not only supports their work to secure the border but also strengthens recruiting and retention for agents,” said Lankford.“The Shadow Wolves are an elite, all-Native American tracking and investigative unit with decades of experience, who use both technology and traditional tracking methods to interdict human and drug smuggling on the Tohono O’odham reservation. The Tohono O’odham Nation strongly supports the Shadow Wolves Improvement Act, which will further enhance the effectiveness of the Shadow Wolves program by improving retention and recruitment and expanding the program. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee has done great work incorporating feedback from the Nation into this bill. Its passage will ensure that this group of Native American agents can continue to grow and provide their uniquely important capabilities to protect the Tohono O’odham and the U.S. homeland,” said Verlon Jose, Chairman of Tohono O’odham Nation.“Public Safety, particularly drug and human trafficking, continue to be a priority for Indian Country. These issues are uniquely difficult for tribal communities, like the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, who are located along the U.S. border. The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act is an additional tool within the law enforcement toolbox that will help. The Tribe appreciate Senators Sinema and Hoeven introducing this legislation and urge its swift passage in the Senate,” said Jamie Azure, Chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.“The Shadow Wolves Improvement Act is a necessary step forward to provide appropriate guidance and options to a group of Native American law enforcement agents which will permit them to receive the same compensation, benefits, and opportunities as their non-native brothers and sisters,” said President Mat Silverman of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA). “FLEOA recognizes the value and expertise the Shadow Wolves provide and support the expansion of this program. Our country and Native American border communities will benefit from the increased opportunities, increased safety, and equality this Act will bring to the Tohono O’odham Nation and other tribes across this great nation.”Shadow Wolves are members of the Tohono O’odham Nation who patrol the 76-mile stretch of land that the Tohono O’odham Nation shares with Mexico. They are known for their ability to track drug smugglers as they attempt to smuggle illegal commodities across Tribal land, thanks to their unique geographical and cultural knowledge. They also help improve the relationship between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Tribal communities.In 2022, Sinema successfully introduced and passed the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act– legislation classifying the Shadow Wolves unit as special agents allowed to patrol, investigate, interdict, and secure the border – with broad bipartisan support. Previous to Sinema’s success, Shadow Wolves were classified as tactical officers under ICE Homeland Security Investigation (HSI), making them unable to access the same career opportunities, pay, and job mobility afforded to HSI special agents. The Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act addressed this gap by reclassifying the Shadow Wolves as special agents; however, Shadow Wolves still lack the same career opportunities as other HSI special agents because of how they were originally hired. Sinema’s new legislation solves this by providing ICE with the authority to convert Shadow Wolves from the excepted to the competitive service upon completion of three years of satisfactory service – affording them career mobility and compensation parity with other HSI special agents. This update will enhance career opportunities for Shadow Wolves agents, strengthen recruitment efforts, and improve border security. Additionally, the legislation codifies GAO’s recommendations to improve and expand the Shadow Wolves program.
Phoenix, Ariz. – The Arizona Corporation Commission works vigorously to ensure that our regulated utilities are prepared to produce enough capacity to meet peak demand during the hot summer months. Chairman Jim O’Connor is pleased to report that our state continues to meet these challenging electricity demands without interruption, saying “Hotter temperatures and monsoon winds put even more pressure on our electric grid, as we demand increasing amounts of power each year from our utilities. Thankfully Arizona has top notch utilities with dedicated employees that coordinate to keep our power reliable across our state.” This year, utilities were anticipating an even higher electricity demand than last year’s record highs. Here is a snapshot of the state’s three largest utilities’ performance over the last two weeks during an unrelenting excessive heat warning:CompanyHighest Peak Demand to Date in 2024Record High in 2023APS 8,100 MW on July 8, 2024 8,200 MWSRP 8,087 MW on July 8, 2024 8,163 MWTEP/UNS 2,917 MW on July 8, 2024 2,969 MW In April, the three largest utilities assured the Commission that they are prepared to produce a combined total of more than 23,000 gigawatts of electricity to meet daily summer demands. Arizona utilities produce power from diverse sources, including natural gas, coal, nuclear, steam, solar, battery, wind, hydroelectric, and storage facilities, as well as investing in short-term purchases.Company# CustomersCapacityPeak ForecastAPS 1.3 million 9,742 MW 8,403 MW SRP 1.1 million 9,385 MW 8,257 MWTEP/UNS 719,000 3,500 MW 2,974 MWThe Commission encourages Arizonans to be mindful and help reduce electric demand during peak hours. “Each of us can continue to do our part to lessen the demands on our power grid during critical times of the day, especially between 4pm and 7pm, by turning up our thermostats an additional degree or two and delaying the use of our major appliances or charging vehicles until the later evening or early morning hours,” said Chairman O’Connor. The Commission remains committed to rigorously regulating resource planning to make sure that our energy landscape remains affordable, reliable, and responsive to the needs of Arizonans. The Commission also ensures that regulated utilities remain proactive in maintaining the power grid throughout the year and that the infrastructure remains safe and dependable.
PHOENIX, AZ – Founded by partners Jon Seaton, Ryan Price, and Matt Kenney, Echo CanyonConsulting boasts an all-star team of some of the strongest, sharpest operatives across thecountry. Known for their relentless work ethic and unyielding pursuit of excellence, EchoCanyon will be a force on the national stage.Headquartered in Phoenix, Echo Canyon is a national firm with offices in both Dallas, Texas andAlexandria, Virginia. While the firm serves clients from across the country, Echo Canyon hasdeep Arizona roots – as evidenced by its name.“Our firm is named after the arduous double-black diamond hike to the top of CamelbackMountain because we embrace the toughest challenges,” said Seaton, who is a FoundingPartner and CEO of Echo Canyon. Seaton, who is based in Virginia, has extensive Arizonaexperience that includes senior positions on Sen. John McCain’s 2008 Presidential campaign aswell as the late Senator’s 2010 re-election campaign to the U.S. Senate.The Phoenix headquarters is led by Matt Kenney, an Arizona native from Tucson who alsoleads Echo Canyon’s public affairs practice. Over the past decade, Kenney has led countlessnational, statewide, and local political and initiative campaigns as well as corporate public affairsprojects. Previously, Matt served as the executive director of a multi-million dollar independentexpenditure effort to re-elect Senator McCain in 2016 before becoming the Executive Director ofthe Arizona Republican Party.“Arizona is my home, and I am so proud to launch our new venture in the state that hasprovided endless opportunities for both myself and my family,” said Kenney, who is also aFounding Partner and the President of Echo Canyon’s public affairs practice. “The entire teamat Echo Canyon is extremely talented, and we are all so proud to bring our expertise andpassion to every project, driving success for our clients across the nation.”The public affairs team also includes Senior Directors Cale Ottens and Rudy Cota III, both ofwhom are based in Phoenix. A former journalist, Ottens has over a decade of experience inmedia relations, public affairs and political campaigns. Cota, an Arizona native, has extensivepublic service and government affairs experience that includes working for three reputableMembers of Congress in the U.S. House of Representatives. Echo Canyon’s public affairs teamis rounded out with two Associate Directors: Jessica Roza and Mandi Boyce, both of whom arealso based at the Phoenix headquarters.Echo Canyon Consulting is open for business and ready to join you on your journey to a winningcampaign. Check us out at EchoCanyonConsulting.com or on X @EchoCanyonUSA.
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