NOGALES, Ariz.—Prosecutors in the high-profile murder trial of George Alan Kelly rested their case in an Arizona courtroom as defense lawyers called their first witnesses on April 16. Court officials said they anticipate final arguments as early as April 17, after which the jury would begin deliberating three weeks of physical evidence and oral testimony. […]

NOGALES, Ariz.—On the night of his arrest, George Alan Kelly told investigators that he had “no reason to believe” that he shot and killed an illegal immigrant who was later found dead on his ranch property on Jan. 30, 2023. “I’ve never been confronted with a situation such as this. I’m still somewhat agitated. I’m […]

NOGALES, Ariz.—A detective in the George Alan Kelly murder case testified at the trial that an interview with the sole eyewitness to the fatal shooting of an illegal immigrant in Arizona was partially recorded in an empty hotel lounge in Mexico. On April 11, the 12th day of the trial, defense co-counsel Brenna Larkin asked […]

NOGALES, Ariz.—An expert firearms witness in the murder trial of George Alan Kelly told a jury on April 9 that forensic tests showed no gunshot residue was present on the clothing of an illegal immigrant found fatally shot on his property. Aaron Brudnell, a forensic firearms specialist with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, said […]

NOGALES, Ariz.—The wife of an Arizona rancher accused of shooting an illegal Mexican immigrant to death testified in court that she was “terrified” to see two men armed with rifles walking across the couple’s property the day the victim was found dead hours later. The men were also dressed in camouflage clothing and carrying “big […]

NOGALES, Ariz.—An illegal immigrant suffered massive internal injuries from a single gunshot wound the night he was found dead on the property of an Arizona rancher accused of his murder, according to a forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy. However, the exact time of death remains a mystery, Dr. Krista Timm, a forensic pathologist at […]

NOGALES, Ariz.—Lawyers for George Alan Kelly, the Arizona rancher accused of gunning down an illegal immigrant, pressed a ballistics expert on what the government “can’t prove” with available physical evidence. On cross-examination, forensic scientist Richard Wyant conceded the evidence does not directly connect Mr. Kelly to the firearm that caused the fatal shot. The state’s […]

NOGALES, Ariz.—Prosecutors in the second-degree murder trial of Arizona ranch owner George Alan Kelly called, as their first witness, an illegal immigrant nearly a dozen times deported from the United States, once for illegally smuggling drugs into the country. Honduran national Daniel Alberto Ramirez, 43, testified in Santa Cruz County Superior Court on March 27 […]

FARGO, N.D.— Former President Donald Trump on March 4 coasted to an easy victory in the North Dakota Republican caucus on the eve of Super Tuesday, when he is poised to continue his dominance and come within reach of the nomination. The Associated Press projected President Trump as the winner at 9:22 p.m. ET. The […]

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said it intercepted 6,737 firearms at airport security checkpoints in 2023, exceeding all previous yearly records. “Why more guns? More passengers combined with more people who own firearms,” said TSA spokesperson Lisa Farbstein in an email to The Epoch Times. “It has increased every year except during the 2020 COVID […]

PHOENIX, Ariz.—A Republican-sponsored bill in Arizona seeks to combat forced organ harvesting in communist China, where prisoners of conscience have been killed for their organs on a large scale for more than two decades. At a press conference in Phoenix on Feb. 5, House Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci (R), the bill’s sponsor, said HB2504 would […]

LUKEVILLE, Ariz.—An unmarked white minivan hazy with dust rumbled along the dirt road to a federal processing station less than two miles north of the international border in Lukeville, Arizona. The minivan pulled into a large parking area, also dirt, where dozens of illegal aliens milled around outside large military-style tents with their worldly belongings […]

The largest county on the Hawaiian island of Maui is suing the state’s public utility for alleged “gross negligence,” resulting in wildfires that killed at least 115 people and destroyed or damaged thousands of buildings and homes. On Aug. 24, Maui County filed a civil action in the Second Circuit Court against Hawaiian Electric Industries […]

LAHAINA, Hawaii—A main bypass road into Lahaina in West Maui, Hawaii, reopened on Aug. 16, more than a week after a wildfire destroyed homes, businesses, and more than 100 lives. Travel along Route 30 into Lahaina was steady but sporadic around noon Wednesday, although heavily damaged areas remained closed under guard. At Ohana Fuels in […]

KIHEI, Hawaii—While the physical toll of the Maui wildfires was unspeakable destruction, the spiritual battle to heal and rebuild has only just begun for Hawaii’s second-largest island. On Aug. 13, the first Sunday church services were held across the lush green tropical island for thousands of grieving residents still in shock in the aftermath of […]

Over 30 tons of a chemical used in fertilizer and high explosives went missing from a railcar traveling west from Wyoming to California in April, and investigators still don’t know how it happened. According to news outlets, on May 10—a month after the incident—explosives manufacturer Dyno Nobel filed a report with the U.S. Environmental Protection […]

NOGALES, Ariz.—A 73-year-old Arizona man will go on trial for the alleged second-degree murder of an illegal immigrant on his ranch property in January. Justice of the Peace Emilio Velasquez determined at an evidentiary hearing in Nogales Justice Court on Feb. 24 that there was probable cause against George Alan Kelly to proceed to a […]

YUMA, Ariz.—House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said he wasn’t surprised no Democrats attended the committee’s second hearing on the southern border crisis in Yuma on Feb. 23. “When you’ve got things this screwed up, maybe it’s best to stay away,” Jordan told The Epoch Times. “It’s their job to serve the American people. […]

NOGALES, Ariz.—The public defender representing an elderly Arizona man accused of shooting and killing an illegal alien trespassing on his borderland property in January said the case has become “highly politicized” in the weeks following his arrest. “This essentially lit a match over an incredibly intense political power keg and, predictably, there was an explosion,” […]

HEREFORD, Ariz.—House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said the Biden administration must be held accountable for allowing a worsening fentanyl crisis that is killing 300 Americans daily—the equivalent of an airliner crash every day. In his first congressional tour of Arizona’s southern border on Feb. 16, McCarthy said it was his sixth visit to the U.S.-Mexico […]

WILLIAMS, Ariz.—Molly Wisecarver is a firm believer in Christmas miracles—not the kind with golden wings, but four hooves, long manes, and sullen brown eyes. Nine miracles in all. And each one is a holiday blessing—a survivor and a true testament to the goodwill of people like Wisecarver who love wild horses and want to see […]

MESA, Ariz.—Attorneys representing Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and local election officials squared off in a Mesa courtroom on Dec. 22 with Lake’s side accusing the officials of “gaslighting” the public to believe problems on election day were minimal. Attorneys on the other side, meanwhile, called for a “day of reckoning” accusing Lake’s team of coming […]

MESA, Ariz.—The first of a two-day-trial began Wednesday in Maricopa County in an election lawsuit filed by Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake against Democratic Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs in her capacity as the current Arizona secretary of state, in an attempt to challenge the Nov. 8 election and schedule a new vote. The suit also names Maricopa […]

A Maricopa County judge on Monday said he’s taking a motion to dismiss an election lawsuit filed by Arizona GOP gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake “under advisement” after a hearing at the Maricopa County Superior Court. Earlier this month, Lake filed a lawsuit against Democratic Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs in her capacity as the current secretary of state, […]

PHOENIX, Ariz.—The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted to certify the November midterm general election results despite angry voters claiming the county mishandled the election—if not rigged it. “It is what it is,” said District 5 board member Steve Gallardo, a Democrat, at the Nov. 28 public meeting in Phoenix. “This election was safe, secure, […]

A memo detailing the findings of nearly a dozen attorneys who visited voting sites in Maricopa County, Arizona, on election day describes widespread problems with tabulation equipment, long lines, and voters leaving in frustration. According to the memo—written by attorney Mark Sonneklar who summarized the findings of 11 roving attorneys working with the Republican National […]

The Arizona Attorney General’s Elections Integrity Unit sent a letter to Maricopa County demanding answers on problems that took place with the election on Nov. 8. In a letter to Civil Division Chief Thomas Liddy of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Wright said the AG’s office had “received hundreds of complaints since […]

PHOENIX, Ariz.—Maricopa County election officials said voter security would be a high priority on Election Day, and law enforcement is ready to deal with any reports of intimidation. “If there is anyone out there who intends to disrupt this election over the next six days, that is going to be responded to very strongly,” said […]

TUCSON, Ariz.—Democratic candidate for Arizona governor Katie Hobbs has refused to debate her Republican opponent Kari Lake ahead of the Nov. 8 mid-term election, with her campaign telling local media she won’t argue with a “conspiracy theorist.” Instead, Hobbs, Arizona’s secretary of state, requested a “town hall-style” format where each candidate would sit for a […]

Special investigators with the Utah County Sheriff’s Office in Utah arrested a Provo man on charges of alleged ritualistic child sex abuse stemming from a year-long investigation that is likely to produce more suspects and arrests. David Lee Hamblin, 68, was arrested in Provo on Sept. 28 by members of the sheriff’s special victims unit […]

The American Bakers Association (ABA) is warning of potentially severe consequences for the nation’s supply chain should thousands of union rail workers go on strike next week following stalled labor negotiations. “Even a temporary interruption would create a devastating ripple effect,” Lee Sanders, the ABA’s senior vice president of government relations and public affairs, said […]

KEYSTONE, South Dakota—A soft wind blew across the Grand View Terrace of Mount Rushmore National Memorial, and a shiver ran up my spine. For millions of Americans visiting for the first time, like me, this is hallowed ground—liberty and sacrifice carved into the timeless mountain. “It gives you a tingle,” said Doug Alford of Texas, […]

More than 1,100 scientists and professionals worldwide have signed a World Climate Declaration (WCD) stating that there’s no climate emergency. The independent foundation Climate Intelligence (CLINTEL) issued the one-page summary on June 27, garnering 1,152 total signatures in 15 countries as of Aug. 23. “Climate science should be less political, while climate policies should be […]

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), her Republican challenger Kelly Tshibaka, and Democrat Patricia Chesbro will advance to the general election in November as the projected winners of Alaska’s ranked-choice primary on Aug. 16. With about 50 percent of the ballots counted, Murkowski has 43 percent and Tshibaka 42 percent, according to DecisionDeskHQ. Republican Buzz […]

LONG BEACH, Calif.—Michael Clifford works for a trucking company in Utah but spends much of his time making deliveries in California. As a non-resident company employee, Clifford said he’s not happy with California’s new labor law—Assembly Bill 5 (AB 5)—that was passed and signed into law in 2019 and went into effect last month after […]

Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem has won the Republican nomination for Arizona secretary of state in the Aug. 2 primary election. Finchem defeated his closest rival Beau Lane with 38 percent of the vote. Lane received 26 percent, Arizona state Rep. Shawnna Bolick, 20 percent, and Arizona state Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, 16 percent. Finchem, an […]

Arizona businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson currently leads her opponent Kari Lake in a heated five-way battle for the Republican nomination for governor of Arizona in the Aug. 2 primary. With 82 percent of precincts reporting, Robson currently holds a solid lead with 48 percent of the vote. Lake trails by 8 points at 41 percent. […]

PRESCOTT, Ariz.—One rally looked more like a catered banquet event on steroids, the other like a rock concert with all the hoopla of a religious revival meeting. One thing was sure: former President Donald Trump and his former Vice President Mike Pence were the stars at dueling rallies in the final days before the Arizona […]

The Republican Party of Arizona (RPAZ) will offer up to two $50,000 rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone suspected of “vote-buying” in the statewide primary on Aug. 2. “There is historical precedent of vote-buying fraud, which ultimately led to secret ballot laws. Unfortunately, the movement towards mass mail-in voting completely […]

Two conservative Republicans—one endorsed by former president Donald Trump, the other by his erstwhile political ally and vice president Mike Pence—will battle it out in a hotly contested race for Arizona governor in the Aug. 2 primary. Former television anchor and Trump-endorsed Kari Lake faces her most substantial direct challenge from Pence-endorsed Karrin Taylor Robson. […]

Arizona lawmakers say they will review footage of the June 24 pro-abortion protest and attempted breach of the state Senate building in Phoenix to identify those involved. “We are a state that believes in law and order,” Arizona House Majority Whip Leo Biasiucci (R) said. “I am hopeful that with all of the footage from […]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—Unofficial polling results in Alaska’s June 11 special primary placed former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and Nick Begich, both Republicans, among the top four vote-getters in Alaska’s June 11 special primary. As of 10:51 a.m. ET on Sunday, with roughly 72 percent of the votes counted, Palin had garnered 29.8 percent and Begich received […]

Consumers can expect food prices to increase by as much as 8 percent in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine, higher interest rates, and avian flu, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2022 Food Price Outlook. “All food prices are now predicted to increase between 6.5 and 7.5 percent,” the outlook said. The […]

EAGLE, Idaho—Incumbent Republican Gov. Brad Little is the projected winner of Idaho’s May 17 primary out of eight candidates. Unofficial election results placed Little far ahead of his two leading Republican opponents, receiving 54 percent of the vote just with 84 percent of counties reporting at 3:35 a.m. May 18. Trump-endorsed incumbent Lt. Gov. Janice […]

The United Nations General Assembly approved on March 2 a resolution denouncing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine while calling for an immediate and peaceful withdrawal of all troops. The vote was 141 to 5, with 35 of the body’s 193 members abstaining. It was the first time the assembly convened an emergency session since 1997. Assembly […]

A Republican sponsored bill prohibiting males from playing on Arizona female school sports teams passed by a majority vote of the state’s Senate on Feb. 2 and now goes to the state House for review and vote. The Senate voted 16–13 to pass the bill, with all Democrats voting against it. Sen. Juan Mendez (D) […]

An Arizona Senate subcommittee passed six more pieces of legislation on Jan. 31 aimed at shoring up the state’s electoral process following a disputed 2020 election and ballot audit and recount in Maricopa County. The bills were passed by the Senate Committee On Government along party lines, with the committee’s Republican majority edging out Democrats […]

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it is not working in tandem with the U.S. Postal Service to specifically target foreign shipments of ivermectin despite two recent seizures of the drug. On Oct. 4, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working at the international mail facility at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport […]

The United States Attorney’s Office in Arizona reported that 241 individuals were charged with illegal entry in June, 40 with violent crime convictions. Of the 241 charged, 178 had previously been convicted of non-immigration criminal offenses in the United States, according to the agency’s Arizona June 2021 Immigration and Border Crimes report. The report said […]