The U.S. Department of Justice says "viral videos" have prompted a civil rights investigation into diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies at ASU.

Why it matters: If DOJ concludes the university has impermissible or illegal policies, it could seek to punish the school by pulling funding or other penalties.

The big picture: This is the latest chapter in an intensive push by the Trump administration to target universities over DEI and other policies.

• The U.S. Department of Education launched investigations into several dozen universities in March 2025, including ASU, over allegations of antisemitism and racial discrimination.

State of play: DOJ's Civil Rights Division announced yesterday that it launched an investigation into DEI policies in response to videos indicating that "ASU denied equal treatment to students based on race, color, or national origin — while attempting to hide its discriminatory practices from federal scrutiny."

• They'll investigate whether ASU subjects students to illegal discrimination through DEI policies in admissions, recruitment, scholarships, tutoring and educational support, DOJ said.
• Federal law requires universities that receive federal funding to treat students equally, "regardless of race, color or national origin," the agency noted.

Zoom in: The investigation was prompted by covert videos taken of ASU employees by conservative nonprofit Accuracy in Media, which has numerous videos on its website in which the group alleges administrators bragged about continuing to push DEI policies despite state and federal bans.

• In one video posted last month, a woman identified as a coordinator for the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics said the university had to remove words like "diversity" from some centers and programs, "but it isn't changing the work."

The other side: ASU complies fully with federal law and doesn't discriminate in admissions, the university said in a statement to Axios.

• Doing so would violate ASU and Arizona Board of Regents policy, as well as a provision of the Arizona Constitution prohibiting preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity, national origin or sex, the university added.
• ASU declined to comment on the videos, saying it "does not comment on secret video recordings of its employees who are not authorized to speak on behalf of the university."

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Route 66 — the "Mother Road" of America that stretches 385.2 miles across Arizona — turns 100 this year.

Why it matters: The big birthday is a great opportunity to reconnect with the iconic remnants of Americana in Flagstaff, Williams, Winslow and beyond.

• Get your kicks at these summer celebrations:

🚗 Williams Car Show: About 500 vehicles will line Historic Route 66 in downtown Williams, along with live music, local food and more.

• Tomorrow-Saturday

🎂 Flagstaff Route 66 Centennial Celebration: A free family festival with nostalgic reenactments, a classic car show, chalk art and other festivities.

• Saturday

🏆 Jack Rabbit Trading Post Car Show: The Joseph City stop promises prizes, raffles, food and more.

• June 13

🚘 Mother Road Classic Car Show: The Flagstaff event raises money for local charities.

• Aug. 15

🎸 Standin' on the Corner Festival: While the Eagles likely won't make an appearance, you'll still get two full days of live music, food and drinks in Winslow.

• Sept. 25–26

Plan a road trip

👀 The Arizona Secretary of State's Office accidentally publicly released home addresses and telephone numbers for domestic violence victims and other voters whose information is supposed to be confidential. (Votebeat)

🚧 Developers began the process to demolish a former radio station building in downtown Phoenix, which is slated to be replaced with a video game-themed Atari Hotel. (Phoenix Business Journal)

🏢 One Camelback, the midtown office-to-housing conversion project that's been under construction for seven years, is accepting pre-lease applications ahead of its anticipated opening later this year. (AZcentral)

• Monthly rents range from $1,600 to $10,000.

🏈 The Rate Bowl is being moved from Chase Field back to ASU's Mountain America Stadium, and its former Cactus Bowl name is being restored. (Arizona Sports)

Our colleague, Axios Salt Lake City reporter Erin Alberty, sent us this photo dispatch from Tucson, where our state flower is in bloom at Saguaro National Park.

• Then it turns into this delicious fruit: