Guests - Laurie Moore, Kelly Walker, Victoria Lem, Katey McPherson

Pima County Budget Controversy: FEMA Withholds $51 Million Over Migrant Services

Laurie Moore joined Kathleen Winn to discuss the recent decision by the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to withhold $51 million in funding from Pima County due to concerns about how federal money was spent on migrant services.

"If you back up a few months, well several months ago when Joe Biden's administration was in full swing and the borders are wide open, the four Democrats on the Pima County Board of Supervisors, that's when Adelita Grajava was there, they took $117 million of federal money and they gave it out in contracts," Moore explained. "Lots of NGOs, Catholic Charities, things like that to aid, harbor and finance the invasion of the United States of America through Arizona."

These federal agencies have now sent a letter to Pima County demanding accountability for the funds already spent. According to Moore, the letter states, "until you turn over the names of the 600,000 illegals you let in and you give us their whereabouts because they were supposed to have sponsors and locations where they're landing... until you give us the names and locations of the 600,000 illegals, we are holding back $51 million."

The federal government is withholding payments to Pima County for its migrant shelter program over concerns that the county may be "encouraging or inducing an alien to come to, enter, or reside in the United States" and "transporting or moving illegal aliens" or "harboring, concealing, or shielding from detection illegal aliens." This applies to three grants awarded to Pima County through FEMA's Shelter and Services Program totaling $52.6 million.

Winn expressed frustration at what she sees as mismanagement of taxpayer money: "They mismanaged money. They took money that helped really make our county unstable. They took money for things that really as an overall county were political things that we didn't support as residents."

According to Pima County Supervisor Rex Scott, there is about $10.3 million the county has already spent on migrant services that they're waiting to be reimbursed for. "It would be a significant hit, and local taxpayers should not be asked to bear the burden of dealing with the costs of the ramifications of federal immigration policy," Scott said.

The financial consequences of this decision could be significant for Pima County taxpayers if the federal government doesn't release the funds. "So as opposed to, I just want to stop right there. They mismanaged money. They took money that helped really make our county unstable... And now the roosters come home to roost," Winn said.

Moore added that this is particularly concerning given other recent votes: "We just proved that with 414," referring to the recent defeat of Proposition 414, a tax increase measure in Tucson.

Downtown "Tiny Homes" Project for Homeless Women Raises Concerns

The conversation shifted to another controversial Pima County initiative: a project to build small standalone housing units for homeless women in downtown Tucson, specifically near Stone and Glenn.

"The homelessness issue always comes up because we have US citizens that are incapable of taking care of themselves," Moore explained. "And I don't know if they have access or insurance that they should have because they are in dire need of help that they cannot secure for themselves. They are incapable yet we have noncitizens that are getting free health care."

Moore expressed skepticism about the project, describing it as "random" and potentially problematic: "These boys had been on a terror for about a year and a half to two years. These are not tiny homes. They're like little bigger than sheds probably and they're standalone individual. So it's not like a facility where you would check on people."

Winn, who has worked on homelessness issues since her twenties, contrasted this approach with more successful programs she helped develop: "When we did this, this was the Tucson Board of Realtors and they developed a program where the women were trained and was women and children. But they were allowed to stay a certain amount of time and then they were set up in a housing thing, but they had to have a job."

Both expressed concern about the location and lack of clear qualifications or criteria for who would be placed in these homes, with Moore suggesting the city should focus on addressing root causes of homelessness rather than creating what she fears could become a hub for illicit activities: "If Pima County taxpayers are paying for something nefarious that results in prostitution... We could be providing small homes for sex trafficking and small homes for drugs and prostitution."

Winn emphasized that effective solutions require wraparound support services: "There should be qualifications. If you need housing, there should be, you know, you need to be drug free. You need to be mentally sound."

Arizona Schools and DEI Compliance Controversy

The discussion then turned to recent directives requiring schools to remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) content and programs. Moore noted that Arizona's Department of Education has created a system to monitor compliance.

"The Arizona Department of Education has launched a new webpage listing which school districts and charter schools are complying with the recent federal order on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and which ones are not," Moore explained, noting that despite some initial resistance, 551 out of 658 Arizona public school districts have already complied with the order.

Moore expressed concern about schools that may be signing compliance documents without actually removing DEI content: "I know the Anti-Theater School District is on the compliant list, but I have gone to the website of Canyon Del Oro, the school that had the furries years back... And they have a whole page on SEL, social, emotional learning."

She encouraged parents to be vigilant and check school websites for themselves: "I would like to get a group of moms together and just start going down this list of who looks like they're compliant... if you just go on their website and see anything that has to do with DEI or SEL, you can call it in. And they will be removed from that list."

Winn agreed that focusing on academics should be the priority: "It is time that we cut out the nonsense and focus on what is going to contribute to the future of these kids. And self-indulgent, political, and... You know, I'm just tired. I'm really tired of the nonsense that people want to use inside our educational system."

Both advocated for returning to educational fundamentals: "Teaching reading seems like an object. Teaching math. Our proficiencies are probably some... With how much wealth and how many good jobs college campuses that we have, our kids, when they get to college, they're not college ready."

Kelly Walker: Fighting for Parental Rights in Education

Kelly Walker joined the program to discuss his ongoing battle after being targeted following his criticism of school policies. Walker has been working with representatives in Washington, including Eli Crane and Ed Martin, to seek justice for parents who were labeled as potential domestic terrorists for speaking out at school board meetings.

"I've been working very, very hard as you know, for a number of years and I've been communicating with a whole lot of people who are invested in getting some justice and restitution for people who were targeted by the Biden administration by Merrick Garland," Walker explained. "I focus a lot on the school parents who were targeted as so-called domestic terrorists."

Walker expressed optimism about recent developments in the Trump administration, noting that Ed Martin has been appointed to head the weaponization working group despite not getting an attorney general position: "One of the most exciting things to me, Kathleen, you know, I was very disappointed that Tom Telus scuttled Ed Martin's appointment by Trump as the attorney. However, there's a real silver lining here because you might have seen that Donald Trump appointed him to several roles, one of which is the head of the weaponization working group."

Walker explained that he's been connecting with various congressional representatives who are working on behalf of targeted parents: "Representative Andy Ols of Tennessee, his team has been spearheading a letter to Cash Patel and Pam Bondi directing Cash Patel to investigate, to have the FBI investigate on behalf of these parents."

Reflecting on his own experience, Walker noted the personal cost of taking a stand: "I knew it would be a sacrifice. I can't think I realized how hard it would be. I didn't realize that it would take us back to a ground level where, you know, all we have is my wife and I have each other and our kids and, you know, we go into political exile because we moved when they went after our kids."

Despite the challenges, Walker remains committed to seeking justice: "In a sense, it's not a game, but in a sense, I've been playing the long game and I know that in the end we're going to win because the truth always wins out."

Victoria Lem's Visit to Washington DC for Conservative Advocacy

Victoria Lem, chair of Legislative District 20 for the Republican Party in Pima County, shared her recent experience lobbying in Washington DC with Concerned Women for America (CWA).

"I was blessed to have received an extended invitation from our prayer chapter leader here in Tucson, Patty Erickson to attend a lobbying day with concerned women for America," Lem explained. Their mission focused on advocating for defunding abortion services and stopping gender transition procedures for minors.

Lem described the organization's mission: "Concerned Women for America protect and promote biblical values and constitutional principles through prayer, education and advocacy," with a vision of being "the leading movement dedicated to impacting the culture for Christ through education and public policy."

During her visit, Lem met with several Arizona representatives including Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, and Juan Ciscomani. She also unexpectedly met with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene.

"We went in and we had a phenomenal college gal that was preparing her speech in the hallways as she was going to go and deliver this to her admin staff," Lem recalled. "And we all walked into the main office. She started delivering her speech to the admin staff around who we were. We were there representing concerned women of America and here's what we want to drop off with the office. And Lo and Behold from behind us, Marjorie Taylor-Green had been standing there listening to her entire speech."

The organization's core issues include "family, the sanctity of human life, religious liberty, education, sexual exploitation, national sovereignty and support for Israel." Lem expressed that these align closely with the values of her constituents in LD 20.

Looking ahead, Lem mentioned an upcoming event on June 14, Flag Day, to introduce Republican candidates running for Congressional District 7. "We have a special election coming up and we have three Republican candidates for Congress in this primary. So what we're trying to do is make sure that the community, not just the conservatives and Republicans, but the independence and the Democrats, we're looking for to make sure that they know there's another choice out there."

Preston Lord Murder Case: A Mother's Perspective on Youth Violence

Katie McPherson joined the program to discuss the ongoing trial of those accused in the death of Preston Lord, a 16-year-old who was beaten to death by a group of teenage boys at a party in Queen Creek, Arizona.

Preston Lord was a 16-year-old high school student in Queen Creek, Arizona, who died on October 30, 2023, two days after being attacked at a Halloween party. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide, leading to charges against seven individuals between the ages of 15 and 18. FOX 10 PhoenixWikipedia

McPherson, who recently attended court proceedings, described the first defendant to accept a plea deal: "The day right before the deadline, the Democrats stopped. He pled to manslaughter. So a lesser charge than murder one. And then he had several attacks that he had been a part of prior to Preston that he was charged with aggravated assault. And then he had a DUI charge where he ran into someone."

On May 2, 2025, Judge Scott McCoy sentenced 19-year-old William Owen Hines to 12 years in prison for Lord's death, plus an additional five years for vehicular aggravated assault in a separate case, with the sentences to be served consecutively. Azfamily

McPherson explained that Hines was one of seven individuals charged in Lord's death, though he was "the least involved" of those who physically attacked Preston: "He ended up kicking Preston in the stomach and in the leg after he was already unconscious on the pavement."

The violence that led to Lord's death wasn't an isolated incident, according to McPherson: These youths "did this every weekend for two years," engaging in regular violent attacks, particularly in the town of Gilbert. Fox News "This is literally what they did for two years in the town of Gilbert. And then this party was for Halloween and happened to be in the town over and it was literally just another weekend to beat someone up."

McPherson noted that since coming forward about Lord's case, she's heard from other parents whose children were victimized by the same group: "I've even had people reach out to me after last Friday and say that child also hurt my son. And we just never came forward because my son begged us not to."

When asked about the motives behind the attack, McPherson suggested it wasn't targeted at Lord specifically but rather part of a pattern: The group, sometimes referred to as the "Gilbert Goons," had been involved in numerous assaults in the East Valley area, with their actions often recorded and shared on social media. Ktar

McPherson also pointed out an unsettling pattern in victim selection: "I think, you know, a 4.0 student. I mean, he was a great kid. And he was kind and compassionate. And, you know, they didn't care who their victim was, but I do find it very interesting that when you put all the victims out on the table, they all look exactly the same. They're all beautiful, handsome, kind, blonde hair, mostly blue-eyed kids."

The case has created a scholarship in Preston's memory: "Preston's mom said 'I had a kid leave for college and then I had a 16-year-old boy and then overnight I became an empty nester'... I was asked to give the Preston Lord scholarship out the other night, which was such an honor."

The six remaining defendants are still charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping, with their trial scheduled to begin in July 2025. McPherson emphasized the ongoing trauma for Lord's family, who may have to go through court proceedings multiple times: "The family has to go through this possibly six more times."