Fighting4AZ

A west Phoenix soccer-game fight has become a homicide investigation after 19-year-old Tumusifu Bazirake died from his injuries nearly a week later. Phoenix police found Bazirake unconscious in a field near Sueno Park, near 43rd Avenue and Encanto Boulevard, around 8 p.m. August 6 after several people assaulted him during a fight and fled. He was hospitalized in extremely critical condition and died Thursday. The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner will determine his official cause of death. No arrests have been made and no suspects have been publicly identified as detectives work to determine what caused the fight and who was responsible for Bazirake’s death. https://www.allaboutarizonanews.com/maryvale-soccer-game-assault-turns-fatal-as-19-year-old-dies/

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey attended the Black Entrepreneur State Fair last weekend and attempted to dance alongside a rapper during a performance, drawing widespread ridicule online over his dancing. Frey routinely panders to illegal immigrants, Black residents, and Minneapolis’ Somali community. Last year, he ate Ambulo, a traditional Somali dish made with boiled adzuki beans, wheat berries, sugar, and spices, struggled to stomach it, and pretended to enjoy it while courting the Somali community and opposing President Trump. Earlier this year, the Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for interfering with ICE operations. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/cringe-jacob-frey-dances-rap-music-black-entrepreneur/

Five people were shot and injured outside residence halls at Virginia State University in Ettrick, Virginia, at approximately 1:28 a.m. Saturday, just days before classes were scheduled to begin. All five victims were hospitalized, with one in critical condition. One victim was a VSU student whose injuries were not life-threatening and who was subsequently released from the hospital. A 19-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with the shooting following earlier reports of multiple suspects. The shooting occurred near the Quad Annexes and prompted a campuswide lockdown that was lifted around 8:20 a.m. Law enforcement determined there was no immediate threat to the campus community, although an increased police presence remained, and the motive for the shooting was unclear. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/multiple-people-shot-outside-dorms-virginia-state-university

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said certain elite law schools and universities are effectively “off limits” to him and other conservatives because of their political beliefs, including Stanford Law School, which he has never visited. Conservative thought leaders are largely unwelcome at some higher-education institutions, and denying that reality is a lie. Thomas has visited Yale Law School but said some institutions remain presumptively inaccessible to conservatives. Stanford Law School denied that Thomas would be unwelcome and said it would be honored to host him, with students and faculty welcoming an opportunity to hear his perspectives on the Supreme Court, Constitution, and law. College campuses have become intolerant of conservative ideas, with students subjected to liberal indoctrination, and without platforms such as YouTube, the ideas of economist Thomas Sowell and other thinkers whose views are considered unpalatable could be lost to younger generations. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/clarence-thomas-reveals-certain-law-schools-wont-host

Audra Lynn Christiansen, a 2003 Playboy Playmate who lived at the Playboy Mansion, said she survived Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse and trafficking and told Hugh Hefner that Epstein had raped her and trafficked her to his wealthy friends. In 2005, Christiansen asked Hefner to contact authorities on her behalf because she believed his celebrity and connections would help ensure her allegations were taken seriously, and Hefner allegedly contacted the FBI. Christiansen did not hear from the FBI until October 2020, approximately 15 years later, and told agents she had been introduced to Epstein after her 2003 Playboy shoot was released. An amended lawsuit filed in May in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida accuses the FBI of failing to act despite receiving multiple reports of Epstein’s sex crimes beginning in 1996. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/playboys-hugh-hefner-reported-jeffrey-epstein-fbi-after

An FBI search-warrant affidavit in the James Comey presidential-threat case revealed that Comey’s wife, Patrice Comey, sent him a Google screenshot containing a nonviolent definition of “86” two minutes before Comey posted an Instagram photo showing “86 47,” indicating forethought that the post could be construed as a threat against President Donald Trump. “86” is a common street term for murder, and “86 47” means eliminating or killing the 47th president. Comey captioned the image, “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.” Comey also participated with Barack Obama and John Brennan in an effort to undermine Trump during his first term. A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of North Carolina indicted Comey on two felony counts: knowingly and willfully threatening to take the life of or inflict bodily harm upon the president and transmitting through interstate and foreign commerce a communication containing a threat to kill President Trump. U.S. District Judge Louise Flanagan, a George W. Bush appointee, postponed Comey’s trial until October. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/caught-comeys-wife-texted-him-meaning-86-minutes

U.S. District Judge Anthony J. Trenga, a George W. Bush appointee, temporarily blocked the Department of Homeland Security from obtaining approximately 17 million Commercial Driver’s License records, ordered DHS to immediately return subpoenaed documents, and prohibited the agency from inspecting the records while the court considers a motion to quash the subpoenas. Twenty-one Democratic state attorneys general and Washington, D.C., filed lawsuits challenging the records request against DHS, the Department of Transportation, and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. President Trump launched the “Freedom Haulers” initiative to remove illegal immigrant and non-English-speaking truck drivers from American roadways and expand opportunities for veterans to obtain commercial driver’s licenses after leaving military service. At least 30 people have been killed by illegal immigrant semi-truck drivers during the past year. The initiative will make roads safer, expand employment opportunities for veterans, strengthen the trucking industry and supply chains, and help veterans transition into well-paying civilian jobs. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2026/08/judge-blocks-dhs-obtaining-17-million-commercial-drivers

Celiac disease may involve underlying immune-system differences that exist long before symptoms develop and potentially even before gluten exposure. CD4 helper T cells from people with celiac disease produced less interleukin-2, divided more slowly, and were less likely to survive, with the pattern remaining regardless of sex, recent diagnosis, or time spent gluten-free. Gluten remains necessary to trigger celiac disease, but the immune system may already be predisposed to respond abnormally because of genetic or other baseline factors. These findings could help explain why celiac disease runs in families and overlaps with other autoimmune disorders. Similar immune patterns may exist in other autoimmune diseases, and future testing of immune-cell behavior could potentially identify susceptible people before symptoms or intestinal damage occur, although larger long-term studies are needed before such testing could be used clinically. https://archive.ph/6ZNyV

U.S. District Judge Lynn Winmill partially blocked enforcement of Idaho’s Defense of Life Act and Fetal Heartbeat Act, expanding abortion exceptions beyond situations in which an abortion is necessary to save a woman’s life or certain cases of sexual assault. Winmill was appointed to the federal bench by Democratic President Bill Clinton in 1995. He ruled that the 14th Amendment creates a narrow constitutional right to abortion when pregnancy threatens a woman’s life or health, including serious long-term health risks and risks of self-harm or suicide. Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador plans to appeal, maintaining that the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision returned abortion policy to voters and their elected representatives and accusing Winmill of creating a constitutional abortion right that Dobbs rejected. The ruling leaves much of Idaho’s abortion law intact but prevents enforcement in several additional medical circumstances. Idaho voters will also consider a November ballot measure that would further loosen the state’s abortion restrictions by permitting abortion until fetal viability, around 21 weeks. https://archive.ph/rpOUO

A federal appeals court revived a DOJ subpoena seeking records from QueerDoc, a Washington telehealth provider that supplies puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to minors. The Ninth Circuit ruled 2–1 that opposition to these treatments does not establish that the Trump administration acted in bad faith and that the president may direct federal agencies to enforce existing law consistent with his policy priorities. The majority found that HIPAA authorizes DOJ subpoenas when investigating potential federal healthcare violations, including possible violations of federal drug-misbranding laws, and QueerDoc failed to provide specific evidence of improper intent. The ruling reverses a lower court decision that had blocked the subpoena as an improper attempt to advance Trump’s policy of ending medical gender transitions for children. The case now returns to the district court to determine whether portions of the subpoena are overly broad or unduly burdensome. https://archive.ph/uQw1f

A Los Angeles murder suspect was captured in Chandler after allegedly fleeing California following a June homicide. George Nunez, 26, was tracked to Arizona by federal and local fugitive investigators, who located a Chandler residence where he was reportedly staying and placed it under surveillance. On Aug. 6, officers observed Nunez at the property, surrounded the residence, and repeatedly ordered him to surrender before he eventually came outside and was arrested without further incident. Nunez was booked into the Maricopa County Jail and is awaiting extradition to Los Angeles to face homicide charges. The arrest demonstrates the importance of cooperation between federal and local law enforcement agencies in tracking violent fugitives who attempt to escape prosecution by crossing state lines. https://www.allaboutarizonanews.com/los-angeles-murder-suspect-arrested-in-chandler-after-fugitive-hunt/

ASU dining workers employed by contractor Aramark are suing ASU, the Arizona Board of Regents, and President Michael Crow after university police removed protesters from a May demonstration near graduation activities and arrested two workers. The employees are demanding higher wages, cheaper health insurance, retirement benefits, and a new labor contract while claiming restrictions on their demonstration violated their First Amendment rights. Employees certainly have the right to advocate for themselves, but having a right to free speech does not mean having an unlimited right to protest wherever and whenever they choose without consequences or without following workplace and campus rules. Aramark hired these employees to perform a job under agreed-upon terms; if those wages, benefits, or working conditions are no longer acceptable, they can negotiate for better terms or find another employer. The increasingly popular idea that workers should be able to disrupt their employer’s operations, disregard reasonable restrictions, and then treat continued employment on their preferred terms as an entitlement is absurd. A job is a voluntary relationship: employers can establish lawful working conditions, employees can accept them or negotiate, and ultimately either side can walk away. https://www.allaboutarizonanews.com/asu-dining-workers-sue-over-right-to-protest-working-conditions/

President Donald Trump ordered the Navy to develop a plan to replace electromagnetic aircraft launch systems and advanced weapons elevators with traditional steam catapults and hydraulic systems on the USS Doris Miller, arguing that the newer technology is more expensive, overly complicated, and less effective. The Aug. 13 memorandum also seeks to reverse decades of declining U.S. shipbuilding capacity by addressing cost overruns, delays, backlogs, limited competition, and an inadequate supplier base. The plan expands domestic shipbuilding while temporarily allowing allied foreign shipbuilders to construct up to two vessels overseas before shifting production to U.S. shipyards, using the U.S.–Finland icebreaker agreement as a model. Trump also ordered the establishment of a fifth naval shipyard, a submarine component repair center, and a major reorganization of Naval Sea Systems Command focused on faster production, accountability, and reducing bureaucracy. https://archive.ph/jb86f

Gilbert police arrested Arizona resident Bryan Mercado on 27 felony counts involving allegations of years of sexual abuse of a child, including 21 counts of sexual conduct with a minor, two counts each of child molestation and sexual exploitation of a minor, and additional counts of indecent exposure and aggravated assault. The child first disclosed the alleged abuse at age nine and later detailed 15 separate incidents dating back about three years. Investigators searching Mercado’s home found a severely damaged metallic-blue Motorola phone with a white sticker that matched the child’s later description of a phone allegedly used to photograph her during one incident; police believe the device appeared intentionally destroyed. Mercado denied the allegations and invoked his right to remain silent when questioned about the phone. His bond was set at $250,000. https://ktar.com/arizona-news/sexual-conduct-abuse-minor-alleged-gilbert

How about keeping your pets out of public spaces until they are older? The Arizona Humane Society is urging pet owners to keep animals vaccinated year-round as its Parvo ICU treats a record number of dogs, with 526 cases so far compared with 451 at the same point last year. AHS attributes vaccination to preventing parvovirus, distemper, and feline panleukopenia and encourages owners to check vaccine records before fall travel and boarding. However, the increase in parvovirus cases despite widespread vaccination recommendations raises questions the information does not answer, including how many infected dogs were completely unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or considered fully vaccinated, whether vaccination rates have actually declined, and what other factors are contributing to the increase. Without that breakdown, the case numbers alone do not establish that insufficient vaccination caused the rise. https://ktar.com/arizona-news/ahs-year-round-vaccinations-preventable-diseases-rise

The Arizona Corporation Commission unanimously approved a standardized process designed to prevent existing rural electricity customers from subsidizing data centers and other large-load businesses. Six electric cooperatives—Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, Duncan Valley, Sulphur Springs Valley, Mohave, Graham County, and Trio—must obtain ACC approval of large-load electric service agreements before they take effect. Agreements must serve the public interest, establish reasonable rates, and prevent costs from being shifted to other customer classes. Large-load customers will be responsible for costs associated with their service, including new infrastructure and transmission construction. The framework allows rural communities to pursue jobs and economic investment from data centers and other major electricity users while protecting existing ratepayers and maintaining affordable, reliable electric service. https://ktar.com/arizona-news/az-regulators-approve-plan-shield-energy-customers-data-centers-costs https://www.allaboutarizonanews.com/arizona-regulators-approve-new-rules-to-keep-data-center-costs-off-rural-power-customers/

Lucio George Martinez and his spouse were ordered by the Arizona Corporation Commission to pay more than $2.7 million in restitution for securities violations and fraud, with Martinez also ordered to pay $80,000 in administrative penalties. Martinez founded MyBrandForce in 2020 and sold 16 investments totaling $2.775 million to 13 investors in 2023 despite neither he nor the company being properly registered. He failed to disclose a previous securities-fraud order and falsely told an investor that he had fully paid the restitution from that case. Martinez had previously been ordered to pay nearly $1.5 million in restitution and $50,000 in penalties involving Shadow Beverages and Snacks LLC, making this his second major securities-fraud case before the commission. https://ktar.com/arizona-news/az-securities-fraudster-2-7m-in-restitution

Adam Sheafe was sentenced to natural life in prison without the possibility of parole plus an additional 102 years for the 2025 murder of 76-year-old New River pastor William “Pastor Bill” Schonemann. Sheafe pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and other charges after previously admitting that he killed and crucified Schonemann because he believed Christianity was wrong. He also said he had planned to kill and crucify more than a dozen priests and pastors across multiple states for “leading the flock astray” and initially demanded the death penalty. After his father and stepmother died in a plane crash, Sheafe changed course and accepted a plea agreement that removed execution as a possibility. He was arrested in Sedona two days after Schonemann was found dead, and authorities later connected him to the murder. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell credited multiple law-enforcement agencies with capturing Sheafe before another planned attack could occur. https://ktar.com/arizona-news/adam-sheafe-sentenced-kill-new-river-pastor https://maricopacountyattorney.org/m/newsflash/home/detail/1324 Related Post: https://t.me/Fighting4_AZ/46411

We The Patriots USA’s federal lawsuit, Nastri v. Bondi, challenges restrictions on carrying firearms on U.S. Postal Service property under the Second Amendment. After the district court dismissed the case and an appeal was filed with the Second Circuit, the Department of Justice issued an August 12, 2026 opinion concluding that federal law does not prohibit otherwise law-abiding officials from carrying constitutionally protected firearms into public post offices for self-defense. The DOJ opinion referenced the district court decision in Nastri three times. The fight extends beyond carrying firearms in post offices because New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen requires firearm restrictions to be consistent with America’s historical tradition of firearms regulation. Allowing restrictions in places such as post offices and other federal buildings to remain unchallenged risks establishing them as accepted historical precedents that could justify broader restrictions in the future. Protecting Second Amendment rights therefore requires challenging even seemingly minor restrictions rather than allowing them to become the foundation for progressively greater limitations. https://wethepatriotsusa.substack.com/p/victory-following-federal-lawsuit

COVID-era policies eroded constitutional freedoms by closing churches, schools, businesses, and courts while vaccine and other mandates pressured Americans with religious or personal objections. Churches failed to challenge restrictions that infringed on First Amendment freedoms, while school closures deprived children of classroom instruction, graduations, sports, and other formative experiences. Shutdowns also inflicted significant economic damage and disrupted the judicial system. Americans must learn from the pandemic response so fear does not again lead them to surrender fundamental freedoms during a crisis. Protecting those freedoms requires spiritual discernment, staying informed, participating in elections, understanding candidates and issues, speaking out against wrongdoing, and refusing complacency. Religious liberty can disappear when citizens are unwilling to defend it, and exposing what happened during COVID must be followed by accountability, justice, and efforts to ensure the same mistakes are not repeated. https://ifapray.org/blog/what-america-must-learn-from-covid/