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Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
@azcir.org
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Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting. Statewide, nonprofit investigative journalism. Support us: http://azcir.org/donate/ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/AZCIR-Subscribe
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azcir.org
VIDEO: In Ukraine, drones have become essential for warfare and border surveillance. Now, those tools and tactics are being deployed along the U.S.-Mexico border. AZCIR traveled to Ukraine to document how “battle-tested” drones are reshaping American border enforcement.
azcir.org/news/2025/12...
From Ukraine’s Battlefield to America’s Borderlands
In Ukraine's war with Russia, drones have become essential tools for both warfare and border surveillance. Now, those tools and tactics from Ukraine are being deployed along the U.S.-Mexico border.
azcir.org
December 18, 2025 at 10:45 PM
azcir.org
ICYMI: Ukraine has become an epicenter of drone warfare and a global proving ground for defense companies. Tech “battle-tested” in Ukraine is now showing up here, accelerating militarization along the U.S border with Mexico while outpacing oversight.

Our latest, w/video:

azcir.org/news/2025/12...
Ukraine's 'battle-tested' drones are accelerating militarization along the U.S.-Mexico border - Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
As U.S. law enforcement agencies adopt drone systems “battle-tested” in Ukraine, experts question whether existing safeguards are sufficient to govern increasing levels of surveillance on U.S. soil. T...
azcir.org
December 17, 2025 at 10:11 PM
azcir.org
Drones “battle-tested” in Ukraine are now being piloted at the U.S.-Mexico border, where the boundaries between local police and military operations are becoming increasingly blurred.

Reported from Ukraine by AZCIR in collaboration w/ @appalachia100.bsky.social. Supported by IWMF.
Ukraine's 'battle-tested' drones are accelerating militarization along the U.S.-Mexico border - Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
As U.S. law enforcement agencies adopt drone systems “battle-tested” in Ukraine, experts question whether existing safeguards are sufficient to govern increasing levels of surveillance on U.S. soil. T...
azcir.org
December 17, 2025 at 2:01 PM
azcir.org
It’s #GivingNewsDay! If you’ve read, shared or relied on AZCIR’s reporting this year, today’s the day to support it. Help us reach our $5,000 goal! Every donation — big or small — is matched 2X. azcir.fundjournalism.org/newsmatch-20...
December 2, 2025 at 4:15 PM
azcir.org
ICYMI: After neighboring states restricted groundwater pumping nearly two decades ago, investors and industrial farms poured millions into Arizona’s Hualapai Valley. Now, more than 99% of cropland there is tied to out-of-state owners — and the water table is dropping fast.

azcir.org/news/2025/11...
Arizona's Hualapai Valley now a 'de facto transfer basin' for out-of-state interests
Since 2014, an influx of out-of-state interests have drilled nearly 200 agricultural wells in Mohave County’s Hualapai Valley groundwater basin, straining the aquifer and putting residential water sup...
azcir.org
November 14, 2025 at 5:18 PM
azcir.org
NEW: When CA and NV tightened groundwater rules, investors didn’t stop drilling — they just moved into AZ. Now, more than 99% of cropland in one rural basin is owned or controlled by out-of-state interests. @azcir.org's latest, via @clomahqu.bsky.social & Brendon Derr:

azcir.org/news/2025/11...
Arizona's Hualapai Valley now a 'de facto transfer basin' for out-of-state interests
Since 2014, an influx of out-of-state interests have drilled nearly 200 agricultural wells in Mohave County’s Hualapai Valley groundwater basin, straining the aquifer and putting residential water sup...
azcir.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:31 PM
azcir.org
Democracy can’t survive without high-quality, independent journalism.

From today through 12/31, all donations made to our nonprofit newsroom are double-matched by local and national donors #NewsMatch.

Democracy needs news. News needs you.
bit.ly/47jUt0c
November 3, 2025 at 4:21 PM
azcir.org
ICYMI: Ten colleges in Arizona are losing millions of dollars after federal cuts hit grants to minority-serving institutions. Without the additional funds, schools are reducing services that helped raise GPAs and made students feel at home, AZCIR’s @molboha.bsky.social found: bit.ly/4o1dPNF
Arizona colleges face ‘devastating impact’ after Trump slashes grant funds to minority-serving institutions
Ten community colleges and universities in Arizona will lose at least $13.8 million after President Donald Trump's administration cut discretionary funding to minority-serving institutions.
bit.ly
October 21, 2025 at 8:38 PM
azcir.org
When the Trump administration recently cut certain grants to minority-serving institutions, millions of dollars earmarked for student support at 10 Arizona schools disappeared—forcing some to end student support programs and reduce staff, via AZCIR’s ‪@molboha.bsky.social‬ azcir.org/news/2025/10...
Arizona colleges face ‘devastating impact’ after Trump slashes grant funds to minority-serving institutions
Ten community colleges and universities in Arizona will lose at least $13.8 million after President Donald Trump's administration cut discretionary funding to minority-serving institutions.
azcir.org
October 20, 2025 at 5:12 PM
azcir.org
ICYMI: More than half of AZ’s community health center funding comes from Medicaid. But a new federal law could slash $34 billion in Medicaid dollars over the next decade — leaving more than 300,000 Arizonans without coverage. Via @jasminedemers.bsky.social

azcir.org/news/2025/09...
Arizona’s community health centers were built on Medicaid. Now they face uncertainty
Arizona’s safety net of community health centers, which serve 870,00 patients, face an uncertain future as billions in federal Medicaid cuts loom.
azcir.org
September 26, 2025 at 5:11 PM
azcir.org
NEW: More than half of AZ’s community health center funds come from Medicaid. A new federal law could slash $34 billion in Medicaid dollars over the next decade—leaving more than 300,000 Arizonans without coverage, via @jasminedemers.bsky.social

azcir.org/news/2025/09...
Arizona’s community health centers were built on Medicaid. Now they face uncertainty
Arizona’s safety net of community health centers, which serve 870,00 patients, face an uncertain future as billions in federal Medicaid cuts loom.
azcir.org
September 25, 2025 at 1:36 PM
azcir.org
Thanks to @kjzz.org for having @azcir.org's @molboha.bsky.social on to discuss her recent reporting about ICE policies at Arizona's largest universities. Listen in:

www.kjzz.org/the-show/202...
This reporter looked at Arizona universities' policies about ICE on campus — and how they varied
Back in January, the Trump administration revoked an Obama era memorandum preventing Immigration and Customs Enforcement from conducting enforcement actions in certain areas, such as schools, hospital...
www.kjzz.org
September 17, 2025 at 6:24 PM
azcir.org
ICYMI: What happens if ICE shows up on campus? At some of Arizona’s biggest universities—including ASU and UA—there’s no clear public policy, @azcir.org’s @molboha.bsky.social found:

azcir.org/news/2025/09...
Amid student fear and uncertainty, Arizona colleges split on clear policies for ICE on campus
Arizona’s 20 higher education institutions with the largest in-person enrollments are split on providing clear policies for what to do if ICE shows up on campus.
azcir.org
September 9, 2025 at 4:15 PM
azcir.org
NEW: What would your university do if ICE agents showed up? In Arizona, the answer isn’t always clear. Experts say schools should have explicit protocols, but @azcir.org's @molboha.bsky.social found some of the state’s largest universities don’t.

azcir.org/news/2025/09...
Amid student fear and uncertainty, Arizona colleges split on clear policies for ICE on campus
Arizona’s 20 higher education institutions with the largest in-person enrollments are split on providing clear policies for what to do if ICE shows up on campus.
azcir.org
September 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM
azcir.org
FACT BRIEF: Is there a secure process to track Arizona’s mail-in ballots?

Yes. Every mail-in ballot in Arizona carries a unique barcode tied to a voter, which prevents duplication and allows secure tracking. Read more, via @tallulahanne.bsky.social

azcir.org/news/2025/08...
FACT BRIEF: Is there a secure process to track Arizona’s mail-in ballots?
Yes. Every mail-in ballot in Arizona carries a unique barcode tied to a voter, which prevents duplication and allows secure tracking. State law requires counties that offer mail-in voting to provide a...
azcir.org
August 21, 2025 at 8:12 PM
azcir.org
FACT BRIEF: Have ICE arrests in Arizona more than doubled since January 2025? Read our latest fact brief, via an @azcir.org partnership w/ @gigafactproject.bsky.social, via Tallulah Anne & @allymarkovich.bsky.social

azcir.org/news/2025/08...
FACT BRIEF: Have ICE arrests surged in Arizona since Trump took office?
Yes. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in Arizona were up 72% in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, according to an AZCIR analysis of immigration enforcement...
azcir.org
August 15, 2025 at 4:51 PM
azcir.org
Stay in the know by following our investigative reporters! You'll be the first to know about our latest investigations, and we'll share behind-the-scenes detail of how we do what we do. See you soon!

go.bsky.app/8rPRBBR
July 30, 2025 at 4:36 PM
azcir.org
ICYMI: A tribal water settlement reintroduced in Congress this year could help repair decades of exclusion from major water allocations for Hopi, Navajo and San Juan Southern Paiute communities. Our latest, via @clomahqu.bsky.social

azcir.org/news/2025/07...
Tribal water settlement aims to repair generations of exclusion
The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act would repair decades of legal disputes and devote $5 billion to delivering Colorado River water to tribes in northeastern Arizona.
azcir.org
July 23, 2025 at 3:58 PM
azcir.org
After decades of drought, contamination & legal battles, Hopi, Navajo & San Juan Southern Paiute tribes are closer to securing long-promised water rights. A $5B federal settlement could deliver Colorado River water after generations of exclusion, via @clomahqu.bsky.social
azcir.org/news/2025/07...
Tribal water settlement aims to repair generations of exclusion
The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act would repair decades of legal disputes and devote $5 billion to delivering Colorado River water to tribes in northeastern Arizona.
azcir.org
July 22, 2025 at 12:48 PM
azcir.org
📣 Exciting news from @azcir.org — we’re welcoming three new investigative reporters:

– @molboha.bsky.social‬: higher education
–‪ @allymarkovich.bsky.social‬: criminal justice
– ‪@adriana-navarro.bsky.social‬: gender, politics & policy

Give them a follow!
July 15, 2025 at 10:52 PM
azcir.org
ICYMI: Arizona’s Medicaid agency says its efforts to unravel the $2.5 billion fraud scheme could take many years. Even then, it’s likely that most of the stolen taxpayer money won’t be recovered.
Arizona has recovered 5% of taxpayer dollars lost in $2.5 billion Medicaid fraud scheme
The state has so far indicted more than 100 individuals and recouped $125 million. But despite state and federal efforts, it’s likely that most of the stolen taxpayer money won’t be recovered, officia...
azcir.org
May 9, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
hannahbassett.bsky.social
And out today from @azcir.org's Jasmine Demers: a hard-hitting piece detailing how Arizona's has recovered just 5% of taxpayer dollars lost in the $2.5B medicaid fraud scheme, with reporting contributions from me & @clomahqu.bsky.social. Co-published with @propublica.org
azcir.org/news/2025/05...
Arizona has recovered 5% of taxpayer dollars lost in $2.5 billion Medicaid fraud scheme
The state has so far indicted more than 100 individuals and recouped $125 million. But despite state and federal efforts, it’s likely that most of the stolen taxpayer money won’t be recovered, officia...
azcir.org
May 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
propublica.org
NEW: Two years after Arizona officials uncovered a $2.5 billion Medicaid fraud scheme that targeted Native Americans seeking treatment for addictions, the state has recouped $125 million — just 5% of the funds the state estimates it paid to bad actors.

With @azcir.org
Arizona Has Recovered Just 5% of Taxpayer Dollars Lost in a $2.5 Billion Medicaid Fraud Scheme
The state has so far indicted more than 100 individuals and recouped $125 million. But despite state and federal efforts, it’s likely that most of the stolen taxpayer money won’t be recovered,…
www.propublica.org
May 6, 2025 at 12:45 PM
azcir.org
Two years after Arizona officials uncovered a $2.5 billion Medicaid fraud scheme that targeted Native Americans seeking treatment for addictions, the state has recouped just a fraction of the taxpayer funds lost to fraud.

With @propublica.org.
Arizona has recovered 5% of taxpayer dollars lost in $2.5 billion Medicaid fraud scheme
The state has so far indicted more than 100 individuals and recouped $125 million. But despite state and federal efforts, it’s likely that most of the stolen taxpayer money won’t be recovered, officia...
azcir.org
May 6, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
propublica.org
NEW: Under Carmen Heredia’s leadership, Arizona's Medicaid agency withheld payment to more than 300 businesses as it investigated fraud allegations.

The state’s swift response left patients homeless, @propublica.org and @azcir.org found.

By @maryhudetz.bsky.social
Director of Arizona Medicaid Agency Resigns Following Fraud Scheme Response
Under Carmen Heredia’s leadership, the agency withheld payment to more than 300 businesses as it investigated fraud allegations. The state’s swift response left patients homeless, ProPublica and the A...
www.propublica.org
May 2, 2025 at 7:46 PM