The State 48 News 🎙️

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...

“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...

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, O...

The Master Sergeant Orlando Dona Valor Act , better known as Arizona’s Stolen Valor Bill , was one of the flagship pieces of legislation from the last session. If you were in Arizona, you saw the headlines. The bipartisan measure cracked down on impersonating veterans for personal or financial gain, and it carried a powerful name: Master Sergeant Orlando Dona, a U.S. Air Force veteran who passed a...

Legacy media is losing its grip, newspapers are shuddering and independent voices are rising from digital platforms. State 48 News sat down with two veterans who have navigated both politics and media from the inside. The conversation, hosted by Christy Kelly, explored what it really takes to build a career in political communication today—and whether journalism is still worth the fight. Rachel Al...

THE STATE 48 NEWS sat down with Libertarian leaders in Arizona to discuss the state of third parties and the rapid rise of Party Not Designated (PND) voters in Arizona. Recent voter registration data shows this is the fastest-growing bloc in the state, adding thousands of voters each month while Democrats and Republicans steadily lose ground. The shift raises key questions: * Can third parties, es...

In an interview with State 48’s Christy Kelly, Republican candidate Daniel Butierez previews the July 15 special primary for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District seat, vacated by the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva. As one of three GOP contenders, alongside Jorge Rivas and Jimmy Rodriguez—Butierez lays out his vision for the district and positions himself as the conservative alternative in a region that h...

State 48 News breaks down Arizona’s ESA drama just one day after furious parents walked out of a State Board meeting — and with a potential challenger already being recruited to take on Superintendent Tom Horne in 2026. Time Codes: 00:00 Intro :07 Stacey discusses what happened during the April 28, 2025 ADE meeting :59 Stacey explains what happened during ADE public comment 2:12 The ADE meeting 3:...

ICYMI: Garret Lewis with The Afternoon Addiction featured our original article on his radio show. If you didn’t read it, Karrin Taylor Robson: APS Lobbyist Turned Conservative Candidate is a must-read. State 48 News was the first to really dive into the question: Can Robson move past her APS ties and stand up for We the People ? She is a very recent former lobbyist for progressive APS, which is st...

State 48 News is proud to present our one-on-one interview with Rep. Joseph Chaplik , a conservative Republican representing Arizona’s District 3. Chaplik brings over 25 years of executive leadership, having worked with Fortune 500 telecommunications companies and later founding his own firm, Joseph Bernard Investment Real Estate, which specializes in multi-family investments and has handled over...

At the launch luncheon for the newly established Buckeye Union High School District Education Foundation , State 48 News had an exclusive one-on-one interview with Dr. Steve Bebee, Superintendent of BUHSD, to discuss a slate of proposed bills in the Arizona Legislature that could have lasting impacts on local schools. From taxpayer-funded travel and board retreats to higher math opportunities for...

The Buckeye Union High School District hosted a launch luncheon today at West-MEC Southwest Campus for its Education Foundation , a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising scholarship funds for students. The foundation has already secured $25,000 to support students pursuing higher education after graduation. Aligned with BUHSD’s mission, the foundation aims to provide students with a safe, en...

“ Jen & Friends ” Podcast Guest: Jay Beeber Executive Director of Policy for the National Motorists Association They call it the dilemma zone for a reason—it's that split-second moment when you're barreling toward a yellow light and suddenly must decide: slam on the brakes or hit the gas. And guess what? Your lawmakers are cashing in on your little lapse of perfection. Here in Arizona, it’s a game...

Our State 48 News’ Senior Investigative Journalist Jen Barber has been digging into red-light cameras, license plate readers, and AI-driven mass surveillance for more than a year. In this episode of “ Jen and Friends ” for State 48 News , Barber talks with a variety of state lawmakers and activists, and shares the pros and cons of traffic photo enforcement from the ongoing discussions at the capit...

From student privacy protections to increased travel transparency for school boards, a slate of bills is moving closer to becoming law. State 48 News breaks down everything debated in the Arizona House of Representatives today—fast and to the point. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thestate48news.com/subscribe