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A nearly three-year legal saga ended for the owner of a North Carolina trucking company last weekend when he finally got back $39,500 that Phoenix police seized through civil asset forfeiture.

Catch up quick: Jerry Johnson flew from Charlotte to Phoenix in August 2020 with cash he planned to use at a vehicle auction to buy a third semi for his trucking company.

Phoenix police questioned him at Sky Harbor after finding the money split between his carry-on and checked baggage.

They accused Johnson of being part of a money laundering operation and seized his cash after persuading him to sign a form indicating the money wasn't his, saying he'd be arrested if he didn't sign.

Johnson was never charged with a crime in relation to the money.

Context: Under civil asset forfeiture laws, the government can seize property it believes is connected to a crime — even if no one is charged — and the onus is on the property owner to hire an attorney to get it back.

State of play: The Institute for Justice, a libertarian legal advocacy group, took up Johnson's case and went to court to get his money back.

The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled in May 2022 that Johnson could contest the seizure, and prosecutors moved to dismiss the case in February.

What they're saying: "That the government could take my money, never charge me with a crime but hold onto my savings for so long is outrageous. It created a tremendous financial burden for me and my family, and there were a lot of business opportunities I’ve missed out on because that money was just sitting in a government account,

What's next: Johnson got his money back, but the case isn't finished yet.

Institute for Justice spokesperson Andrew Wimer tells Axios Phoenix they're still fighting over whether the state should pay him standard interest on the money and whether he's owed attorney fees from the period before the group began representing him pro bono.

Of note: Former Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation in 2021 requiring a criminal conviction before property can be permanently seized, among other protections.

Trucking company owner finally gets cash seized through forfeiture

Police took $39,500 from Jerry Johnson but never charged him with a crime.

A man faces turns to face the camera while sitting in the driver's seat of a semi truck and holds the steering wheel. 

Jerry Johnson in the cab of one of his trucks. Photo: Courtesy of the Institute for Justice

Courts

A nearly three-year legal saga ended for the owner of a North Carolina trucking company last weekend when he finally got back $39,500 that Phoenix police seized through civil asset forfeiture.Catch up quick: Jerry Johnson flew from Charlotte to Phoenix in August 2020 with cash he planned to use at a vehicle auction to buy a third semi for his trucking company.<ul><li>Phoenix police questioned him at Sky Harbor after finding the money split between his carry-on and checked baggage.</li><li>They accused Johnson of being part of a money laundering operation and seized his cash after persuading him to sign a form indicating the money wasn&#x27;t his, saying he&#x27;d be arrested if he didn&#x27;t sign.</li><li>Johnson was never charged with a crime in relation to the money.</li></ul>Context: Under civil asset forfeiture laws, the government can seize property it believes is connected to a crime — even if no one is charged — and the onus is on the property owner to hire an attorney to get it back.State of play: The Institute for Justice, a libertarian legal advocacy group, took up Johnson&#x27;s case and went to court to get his money back.<ul><li>The Arizona Court of Appeals <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ruled in May 2022" data-vars-click-url="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2022/05/11/arizona-court-appeals-reverses-39-500-civil-forfeiture-decision/9739292002/" data-vars-content-id="08fe4b9e-b07f-42c8-94c8-fea267695167" data-vars-headline="Trucking company owner finally gets cash seized through forfeiture" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix-breaking/2022/05/11/arizona-court-appeals-reverses-39-500-civil-forfeiture-decision/9739292002/" target="_blank">ruled in May 2022</a> that Johnson could contest the seizure, and prosecutors moved to dismiss the case in February.</li></ul>What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;That the government could take my money, never charge me with a crime but hold onto my savings for so long is outrageous. It created a tremendous financial burden for me and my family, and there were a lot of business opportunities I’ve missed out on because that money was just sitting in a government account,What&#x27;s next: Johnson got his money back, but the case isn&#x27;t finished yet.<ul><li>Institute for Justice spokesperson Andrew Wimer tells Axios Phoenix they&#x27;re still fighting over whether the state should pay him standard interest on the money and whether he&#x27;s owed attorney fees from the period before the group began representing him pro bono.</li></ul>Of note: Former Gov. Doug Ducey <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="signed legislation in 2021" data-vars-click-url="https://www.azmirror.com/2021/05/06/ducey-signs-bill-requiring-conviction-before-assets-are-seized/" data-vars-content-id="08fe4b9e-b07f-42c8-94c8-fea267695167" data-vars-headline="Trucking company owner finally gets cash seized through forfeiture" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.azmirror.com/2021/05/06/ducey-signs-bill-requiring-conviction-before-assets-are-seized/" target="_blank">signed legislation in 2021</a> requiring a criminal conviction before property can be permanently seized, among other protections.

News

ASU, UofA and GCU are all out of the NCAA men's basketball tournament after a historic year that saw three local squads reach March Madness. But there's still one team in the brackets that has a presence in Arizona: Creighton University.

State of play: The Bluejays, a 6-seed in the tournament, face off against 15-seed Princeton in the Sweet 16 Friday after beating Baylor last weekend.

Princeton beat the Wildcats in a huge first-round upset, which headed off a potential Arizona-Creighton rematch of UofA's 81-79 win over the then-10th ranked Bluejays in November.

ASU won its play-in game against Nevada to reach the field of 64, but fell to 6-seed TCU in the first round.

Grand Canyon University earned a 14-seed in its second tournament appearance in three years, falling in a first-round game against Gonzaga.

Between the lines: While Arizonans might not view Creighton as a hometown team, the Omaha, Nebraska-based Jesuit school has expanded aggressively into the Valley over the past 11 years.

Details: The Creighton University Health Sciences Campus-Phoenix at Park Central has about 800 students at its Phoenix campus and expects that number to hit 1,000.

That includes four-year medical students, an accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, physician's assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy and pharmacy students.

"Depending on what the future holds, there may be some expansion beyond that," Catherine Todero, Creighton's dean of nursing and vice provost of health sciences, tells Axios Phoenix, adding the university could bring its paramedicine program as well.

Catch up quick: Creighton established its initial Phoenix health sciences campus in 2012 at Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center.

The university added a nursing school to the medical school in 2018, and opened its campus at Park Central in July 2021.

They expanded that campus because the Valley's rapid growth was fueling a need for medical professionals.

By comparison, Todero says, there are more than 3,000 students in health sciences programs at the school's main campus in Omaha.

What they're saying: Ann-Marie Alameddin, president and CEO of the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, tells Axios, "They have an excellent reputation and they really graduate excellent professionals."

Alameddin, a Creighton alum, noted Arizona is one of the hardest-hit states in terms of a national health care provider shortage, saying the university's presence in the Valley will help.

Of note: Creighton has more than 2,600 alumni in the Phoenix area, "So there's a lot of people there who could root for Creighton, for our basketball team," Todero says.

Between the lines: Creighton is a 9.5-point favorite over Princeton, and if they get past the Tigers, they face the winner of Friday's matchup between 5-seed San Diego State and top overall seed Alabama in the Elite Eight.

Keep an eye on Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner, the Big East player of the year who averages 15.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.

Creighton is Arizona's fourth and final team in March Madness

Creighton has about 800 students at its health sciences campus in Phoenix.

A street-level view looking up at a wood and glass Creighton University building.

March Madness

ASU, UofA and GCU are all out of the NCAA men&#x27;s basketball tournament after a historic year that saw three local squads reach March Madness. But there&#x27;s still one team in the brackets that has a presence in Arizona: Creighton University.State of play: The Bluejays, a 6-seed in the tournament, face off against 15-seed Princeton in the Sweet 16 Friday after beating Baylor last weekend.

Sports

If you like firearms and you're looking to save money on your upcoming nuptials, a Valley gun range has a unique option for you.

State of play: C2 Tactical, which has locations in Tempe and off of North Scottsdale Road, offers a Shotgun Wedding package.

Prices start at $495 and include an ordained minister, a wedding arch and seating for guests, plus they'll help coordinate food and other arrangements for the reception, along with any range-related post-wedding activities.

The bride and groom get some time on the shooting range post-ceremony.

For anyone who's new to firearms or doesn't want to shoot an actual gun, C2 has a simulator program.

Zoom in: Managing member Vince Vasquez tells Axios Phoenix that C2 began offering wedding packages around 2015.

They were already doing bachelorette parties, so weddings seemed like a natural next step.

C2 has hosted about a dozen weddings, Vasquez said, and they offer vow renewal ceremonies as well.

Of note: The largest group they've hosted is about 30 people, and Vasquez estimates they could hold 40, so weddings at C2 are more of an intimate experience.

What they're saying: "It's a fun little service that we do and people are looking for something different to do," Vasquez says.

Valley gun range offers "shotgun wedding" packages

C2 Tactical has locations in Tempe and off of North Scottsdale Road.

A black and gold colored shotgun shell with two wedding rings on it. 

Marriage

If you like firearms and you&#x27;re looking to save money on your upcoming nuptials, a Valley gun range has a unique option for you.State of play: C2 Tactical, which has locations in Tempe and off of North Scottsdale Road, offers a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Shotgun Wedding" data-vars-click-url="https://c2tactical.com/shooting-packages/shotgun-weddings-ceremonies/" data-vars-content-id="741fa206-5167-458c-b576-0bd4e6651a09" data-vars-headline="Valley gun range offers &quot;shotgun wedding&quot; packages" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://c2tactical.com/shooting-packages/shotgun-weddings-ceremonies/" target="_blank">Shotgun Wedding</a> package.

Things to Do

Business

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs' 17th veto is likely just around the corner after GOP lawmakers sent her a bill that would bar cities from taxing groceries.

Context: Hobbs has signaled she would likely veto the bill if it reached her desk, expressing concerns about its effects on cities' budgets.

Smaller municipalities in particular are more dependent on sales taxes from food.

Yes, but: The icy relationship between the Democratic governor and Republican-controlled Legislature got a boost Monday when the Senate Director Nominations Committee OK'd Hobbs' appointments of Jeffrey Glover to head the Department of Public Safety and Thomas Torres to run the Department of Forestry and Fire Management.

The full Senate must now approve the nominations.

Meanwhile, the committee rejected Hobbs' nominee for the Department of Health Services, put her pick for the Department of Administration on hold and grilled several of her picks for other agencies.

Zoom in: On a party-line vote, Senate Republicans approved SB 1700, which would require the Department of Education to compile a list of books to be banned in K-12 schools that are considered "lewd or sexual in nature" or are written "to promote gender fluidity or gender pronouns or to groom children into normalizing pedophilia."

Hobbs' spokesperson Josselyn Berry tells Axios Phoenix the governor will veto any bill she views as targeting the transgender community.

The intrigue: GOP lawmakers continued their push for what some deem "election integrity" bills inspired by mostly baseless allegations surrounding the 2020 and 2022 elections, with mixed results.

The Senate narrowly rejected SB 1695, which would require counties to hold new elections if as few as 1,000 voters in Maricopa County or 250 voters in smaller counties sign affidavits saying they were disenfranchised. That includes people who had to wait more than 90 minutes to cast ballots.

Sen. Ken Bennett, a Prescott Republican who served as Arizona's secretary of state from 2009 to 2014, was the lone GOP senator to oppose the bill, which could come back for another vote.

The Senate also passed legislation that would set the stage for Arizona to withdraw from Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC), a multi-state voter registration data program that helps thwart voter fraud. A number of Republican-led states have pulled out of it recently.

Of note: Hobbs is likely to veto any such election bills if they reach her desk.

The intrigue: As he told Axios he'd do, Sen. Steve Kaiser, R-Phoenix, introduced a new version of his housing bill, which stripped some of the more controversial provisions of a previous iteration.

The bill, which would force cities to allow casitas at single-family homes, eliminate some municipal parking requirements and mandate that cities allow people to rent single rooms to people ages 55+, passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee 5-2, with one Democrat and one Republican voting against it.

Lawmakers are also awaiting a proposal from the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, which lobbied against Kaiser's original bill.

Republicans send food tax ban to Hobbs for likely veto

Many cities say barring them from taxing food will cause major budget cuts.

Photo illustration of Katie Hobbs with lines radiating from her. 

Photo illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Taxes

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs&#x27; 17th veto is likely just around the corner after GOP lawmakers <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sent her a bill that would bar cities from taxing groceries" data-vars-click-url="https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2023/03/22/measure-to-eliminate-cities-ability-to-tax-food-heads-to-hobbs/" data-vars-content-id="b15e1fbe-edcb-4d56-bd2e-aad8e9720842" data-vars-headline="Republicans send food tax ban to Hobbs for likely veto" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://azcapitoltimes.com/news/2023/03/22/measure-to-eliminate-cities-ability-to-tax-food-heads-to-hobbs/" target="_blank">sent her a bill that would bar cities from taxing groceries</a>.Context: Hobbs has signaled she would likely veto the bill if it reached her desk, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="expressing concerns" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/03/07/city-food-tax-ban-skepticism-governor-hobbs" data-vars-content-id="b15e1fbe-edcb-4d56-bd2e-aad8e9720842" data-vars-headline="Republicans send food tax ban to Hobbs for likely veto" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/03/07/city-food-tax-ban-skepticism-governor-hobbs" target="_self">expressing concerns</a> about its effects on cities&#x27; budgets.

Politics

The Arizona Women's History Alliance wants to put up a statue of suffragist leader Frances Willard Munds at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, which would be one of the few such monuments to women from the state's history.

State of play: The statue of Munds, created by local artist Stephanie Hunter, is completed and awaits a new home.

The alliance needs to raise about $60,000 to reach its $280,000 goal, according to their website.

It will also meet soon with the Legislative Council and the Arizona Department of Administration to determine the exact site for the statue.

What's next: Melanie Sturgeon, president of the alliance's board of directors, said they'd hoped to have the statue up by Nov. 5, the anniversary of women winning the right to vote in Arizona, but the process has taken longer than expected.

Legislative Council executive director Mike Braun said they'll get a green light to proceed once fundraising is complete.

Flashback: Munds was a leader in the fight for women's suffrage in Arizona.

After statehood in 1912, she became president of the Arizona Equal Suffrage Association and led the campaign to put a women's suffrage measure on the ballot, which voters overwhelmingly approved.

Arizona granted women the right to vote eight years before the ratification of the 19th Amendment did the same nationwide, which, Sturgeon said, "might not sound like much, but these women didn't sit still. They got a lot of legislation through and they were able to help with a lot of changes."

Munds became one of Arizona's first two female legislators in 1914 when she was elected to represent Yavapai County in the Senate.

What they're saying: "I would say 95% of the people in Arizona have no idea who Frances Willard Munds is," Sturgeon told Axios Phoenix.

She added that Munds deserves the honor of a statue "because she was the one that really understood about building coalitions and that sort of thing."

Why it matters: There are few statues of women in Arizona and fewer still of individuals.

The only monuments of individual women Sturgeon was aware of  include Sandra Day O'Connor in the federal courthouse named after her in downtown Phoenix and Sedona Schnebly, after whom the town of Sedona is named.

Other statues of women are intended to represent broader groups, such as the monument to Arizona pioneer women in Bolin Plaza and the Madonna of the Trail statue in Springerville.

Only 6% of American monuments feature real women as their subjects, Axios' Chelsea Brasted reported.

You tell us: Which Arizona women do you believe should be honored with statues?

We'll follow up next week with a story on the recommendations from readers and historians.

The Arizona Women's Hall of Fame features many of the most notable women in our state's history.

If there are statues of notable women in Arizona history, please let us know so we can give them their due!

Women's suffrage leader Munds to be honored with Bolin Plaza statue

Nationally, only 6% of monuments feature real women

A side view of a bronze statue of a woman holding a flagpole in her right hand and a piece of paper in her left hand.

Stephanie Hunter's statue of suffragist leader Frances Willard Munds. Photo: Courtesy of the Arizona Women's History Alliance.

Women

The Arizona Women&#x27;s History Alliance wants to put up a statue of suffragist leader Frances Willard Munds at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza, which would be one of the few such monuments to women from the state&#x27;s history.State of play: The statue of Munds, created by local artist Stephanie Hunter, is completed and awaits a new home.<ul><li>The alliance needs to raise about $60,000 to reach its $280,000 goal, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="according to their website" data-vars-click-url="https://azwomenshistoryalliance.org/frances-munds-suffrage-statue/" data-vars-content-id="be4bb0fa-e149-498c-bfbe-9e5af4a0d02f" data-vars-headline="Women&#x27;s suffrage leader Munds to be honored with Bolin Plaza statue" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://azwomenshistoryalliance.org/frances-munds-suffrage-statue/" target="_blank">according to their website</a>.</li><li>It will also meet soon with the Legislative Council and the Arizona Department of Administration to determine the exact site for the statue.</li></ul>What&#x27;s next: Melanie Sturgeon, president of the alliance&#x27;s board of directors, said they&#x27;d hoped to have the statue up by Nov. 5, the anniversary of women winning the right to vote in Arizona, but the process has taken longer than expected.<ul><li>Legislative Council executive director Mike Braun said they&#x27;ll get a green light to proceed once fundraising is complete.</li></ul>Flashback: Munds was a leader in the fight for women&#x27;s suffrage in Arizona.<ul><li>After statehood in 1912, she became president of the Arizona Equal Suffrage Association and led the campaign to put a women&#x27;s suffrage measure on the ballot, which voters overwhelmingly approved.</li><li>Arizona granted women the right to vote eight years before the ratification of the 19th Amendment did the same nationwide, which, Sturgeon said, &quot;might not sound like much, but these women didn&#x27;t sit still. They got a lot of legislation through and they were able to help with a lot of changes.&quot;</li><li>Munds became one of Arizona&#x27;s first two female legislators in 1914 when she was elected to represent Yavapai County in the Senate.</li></ul>What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;I would say 95% of the people in Arizona have no idea who Frances Willard Munds is,&quot; Sturgeon told Axios Phoenix.<ul><li>She added that Munds deserves the honor of a statue &quot;because she was the one that really understood about building coalitions and that sort of thing.&quot;</li></ul>Why it matters: There are few statues of women in Arizona and fewer still of individuals.<ul><li>The only monuments of individual women Sturgeon was aware of include Sandra Day O&#x27;Connor in the federal courthouse named after her in downtown Phoenix and Sedona Schnebly, after whom the town of Sedona is named.</li><li>Other statues of women are intended to represent broader groups, such as the monument to Arizona pioneer women in Bolin Plaza and the Madonna of the Trail statue in Springerville.</li><li>Only 6% of American monuments feature real women as their subjects, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios&#x27; Chelsea Brasted reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/08/women-history-month-us-monuments?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sanfrancisco&amp;stream=top" data-vars-content-id="be4bb0fa-e149-498c-bfbe-9e5af4a0d02f" data-vars-headline="Women&#x27;s suffrage leader Munds to be honored with Bolin Plaza statue" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/08/women-history-month-us-monuments?utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axioslocal_sanfrancisco&amp;stream=top" target="_self">Axios&#x27; Chelsea Brasted reported</a>.</li></ul>You tell us: Which Arizona women do you believe should be honored with statues?<ul><li>We&#x27;ll follow up next week with a story on the recommendations from readers and historians.</li><li>The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arizona Women&#x27;s Hall of Fame" data-vars-click-url="https://www.azwhf.org/inducted-women-by-name" data-vars-content-id="be4bb0fa-e149-498c-bfbe-9e5af4a0d02f" data-vars-headline="Women&#x27;s suffrage leader Munds to be honored with Bolin Plaza statue" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.azwhf.org/inducted-women-by-name" target="_blank">Arizona Women&#x27;s Hall of Fame</a> features many of the most notable women in our state&#x27;s history.</li><li>If there are statues of notable women in Arizona history, please let us know so we can give them their due!</li></ul>

Jeremy Duda

Featured stories

Valley gun range offers "shotgun wedding" packages

Creighton is Arizona's fourth and final team in March Madness

Republicans send food tax ban to Hobbs for likely veto

Women's suffrage leader Munds to be honored with Bolin Plaza statue

Trucking company owner finally gets cash seized through forfeiture