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Morgan Fischer

Morgan Fischer

@morgfisch.bsky.social

140 followers 110 following 39 posts

staff writer phoenix new times! @vmgguild.bsky.social Tips? Reach me on Signal at 623-295-9472

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Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · 5h

Our @morgfisch.bsky.social went to Short Creek, home to Arizona's biggest measles outbreak in decades. It's also the former home of infamous polygamist leader Warren Jeffs.

Jeffs' reign is over, but measles -- and low vaccination rates -- shows he casts a long shadow.

A must-read:

Uncontained: Short Creek, measles and the long shadow of Warren Jeffs

Arizona's biggest measles outbreak in decades is in a small Arizona town trying to move past its infamous polygamist prophet.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · Sep 9

Ex-Cortez High School teacher Eric Chapman faces 20 felonies for having sexual encounters with male students at school.

A police report says documents indicating a positive syphilis test for someone -- it's not clear who -- were found in Chapman's desk.

By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Teacher facing student sex charges had positive STD test in his desk

Eric Chapman is facing 20 felonies after he admitted to having sexual encounters with male students in his classroom.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · Sep 11

Outside Turning Point's headquarters in Phoenix, Charlie Kirk supporters shed tears and left flowers.

On the ASU campus, where TPUSA has a large presence and where Kirk held many events, feelings were . . . complicated.

From @tjlheureux.bsky.social and @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Charlie Kirk memorial forms at Turning Point’s Phoenix headquarters

The controversial conservative media icon, who based his operation in Arizona, was killed during a college event in Utah.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · Aug 21

Measles cases in the tiny northern Arizona town of Colorado City -- where vaccine rates are low and many residents are Fundamentalist Church of Latter-day Saints members -- have grown eightfold in a week.

@morgfisch.bsky.social on the budding outbreak:

An Arizona town is at the center of a budding measles outbreak

Measles cases in Mohave County, which has a low vaccination rate, have grown eightfold in one week.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · Aug 19

The Arizona Supreme Court has been using AI "avatars" to explain rulings and make them more digestible.

But one such video -- announcing the denial of a death penalty appeal -- struck some as "horrifying," "gross" and "dystopian."

By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Arizona court explained death penalty ruling with ‘dystopian’ AI video

The Arizona Supreme Court’s “AI reporters” are meant to make decisions more accessible, but they strike some as creepy.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Morgan Fischer @morgfisch.bsky.social · Aug 21

Mohave County health officials are warning a community on the Arizona-Utah border — where vaccination rates are low — about a growing measles outbreak.

Nine cases have been confirmed so far. Here’s what you should know: ⬇️
www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · Aug 15

Kelly Yu, the detained Peoria sushi restaurant owner, is out of options to prevent deportation.

Except one: Appeal to Donald Trump directly.

A local GOP leader is helping her do it.

By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Friends of detained Peoria restaurateur plan last-ditch plea to Trump

Even local GOP chair Lisa Everett wants to stop Kawaii Sushi owner Kelly Yu’s deportation: “We need to bring her home."

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Morgan Fischer @morgfisch.bsky.social · Aug 15

Peoria restaurateur Kelly Yu can see her American dream — her restaurant, husband, daughter, friends — but doesn’t know when she’ll be with them again.

Held by ICE since May, supporters are now turning to Trump to intervene.

Latest:
@phoenixnewtimes.com
www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/detaine...

Friends of detained Peoria restaurateur plan last-ditch plea to Trump

Even local GOP chair Lisa Everett wants to stop Kawaii Sushi owner Kelly Yu’s deportation: “We need to bring her home."

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · Aug 13

“It doesn’t make me hate my country, but it makes me want to leave it.”

Peoria restaurant owner Kelly Yu has been in ICE custody since May. Her husband, a U.S. citizen, has given up hope of saving her from deportation to China.

By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Peoria restaurateur will be deported to China soon, husband fears

Sushi joint owner Kelly Yu has been in ICE detention since May. Her husband has “lost faith” that she'll avoid deportation.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Morgan Fischer @morgfisch.bsky.social · Aug 13

Kelly Yu, the owner of Kawaii Sushi in Peoria, has been held in the Eloy ICE detention center since May.

Her husband told @phoenixnewtimes.com he fears she could be deported "any day now" and says he's "lost faith" in the prospect of stopping it. www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/peoria-...

Peoria restaurateur will be deported to China soon, husband fears

Sushi joint owner Kelly Yu has been in ICE detention since May. Her husband has “lost faith” that she'll avoid deportation.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Morgan Fischer @morgfisch.bsky.social · Aug 7

Since the start of Trump's renewed mass deportation push, nearly 60 ICE sightings have been publicly reported across the Valley by community rapid response groups.

@phoenixnewtimes.com mapped where agents have been seen: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/map-pho...

Map: Where ICE has been seen in Phoenix so far in 2025

Publicly reported sightings — which represent a fraction of ICE activity — show agents hitting some areas more than others.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Morgan Fischer @morgfisch.bsky.social · Aug 7

Shelli Boggs reportedly asked school board applicants about their voter registration and other politically charged questions -- before appointing a MAGA political operative more than 100 days after the seat was vacated.

Latest @phoenixnewtimes.com
www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/maricop...

Far-right schools chief put MAGA ally on downtown Phoenix school board

Shelli Boggs asked applicants about their voter registration before tapping a right-wing operative for an empty board seat.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Morgan Fischer @morgfisch.bsky.social · Aug 6

AZ's GOP Senate president wants @senanaliseortiz.bsky.social prosecuted for posting about a nearby ICE sighting on her Instagram - a move that appears to fly in the face of the First Amendment.

"These intimidation tactics will not scare me," she shot back.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...

State GOP bigwig called the feds on Democrat for posting ICE sighting

Arizona Senate President Warren Peterson is running to be the state's top cop. Should he maybe learn about freedom of speech?

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · Aug 6

Warren Petersen called the feds on Analise Ortiz for sharing an ICE sighting.

Posting about the public activities of law enforcement is protected speech. Should a guy running for attorney general know that?

By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

State GOP bigwig called the feds on Democrat for posting ICE sighting

Arizona Senate President Warren Peterson is running to be the state's top cop. Should he maybe learn about freedom of speech?

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Morgan Fischer @morgfisch.bsky.social · Aug 4

@repyassansari.bsky.social is at The Van Buren with Rep. Crockett and Sen. Murphy for a town hall hosted by Move On to “Flip the House.”

The 2026 election cycle is in full swing.

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · Jul 29

There were protests outside Abe Hamadeh's office for months. Frequently, someone called police, who unfailingly found nothing inappropriate going on.

Oh, and Hamadeh's staff had a protester's car towed and allegedly lied to her about it.

By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Someone kept calling the cops on protesters at Abe Hamdeh’s office

A staffer at Rep. Abe Hamadeh’s office even had one protester’s car towed while claiming to have “no idea” who did it.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Phoenix New Times @phoenixnewtimes.com · Jul 29

A staffer at Rep. Abe Hamadeh’ s office even had one protester’s car towed while claiming to have “no idea” who did it.

Someone kept calling the cops on protesters at Abe Hamdeh’s office

A staffer at Rep. Abe Hamadeh’ s office even had one protester’s car towed while claiming to have “no idea” who did it.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Morgan Fischer @morgfisch.bsky.social · Jul 30

While driving southbound on State Route 51, Julio's truck was hit by another driver. Upon pulling off the freeway, he called 911 to file an accident report.

But the interaction almost landed him in ICE custody instead. My latest for @phoenixnewtimes.com
www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...

He called 911 after a fender bender. A state trooper called ICE

A green card applicant got uncomfortably close to deportation after he got clipped on the highway earlier this month.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Morgan Fischer @morgfisch.bsky.social · Jul 30

Someone kept calling the cops on protesters demonstrating on the sidewalks in front of MAGA Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh's office in Surprise, police records received by
@phoenixnewtimes.com show.

One demonstrator's car was even towed.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/surpris...

Someone kept calling the cops on protesters at Abe Hamdeh’s office

A staffer at Rep. Abe Hamadeh’s office even had one protester’s car towed while claiming to have “no idea” who did it.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Zach Buchanan @zhbuchanan.bsky.social · Jul 28

Years ago, border czar Tom Homan saved undocumented immigrants from deportation in Phoenix.

Then came Trump. Now Homan's former colleagues don't recognize the cruel man -- "Hulk Homan," one calls him -- that he's become.

By @stephenlemons.bsky.social:

Tom Homan once spared Phoenix migrants. Now he’s Trump’s Darth Vader

Pre-Trump, colleagues of border czar Tom Homan described him as reasonable. Now, they see a cruel man they don’t recognize.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Morgan Fischer @morgfisch.bsky.social · Jul 25

Remember this guy? Well, @phoenixnewtimes.com tried to talk to him about calling Trump a "piece of shit" in a Twitter rampage.
www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix...

QAnon Shaman calls Trump ‘a piece of shit,’ demands $555 to talk to us

Jacob Chansley was pardoned by Trump for storming the Capitol on Jan. 6. How quickly people forget a favor.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Phoenix New Times @phoenixnewtimes.com · Jul 7

🔗: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/downtown-phoenix-gets-new-swamp-king-trump-billboard-on-grand-avenue-22056888

The billboard portrays Trump as a “swamp king” ruling over his administration’s many missteps.

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Phoenix New Times @phoenixnewtimes.com · Jul 3

Sonia Almaraz says Arbella “Yari” Rodríguez Márquez has lost 55 pounds since February, when Border Patrol arrested her.

Phoenix woman with leukemia getting sicker in ICE lockup, partner says

Sonia Almaraz says Arbella “Yari” Rodríguez Márquez has lost 55 pounds since February, when Border Patrol arrested her.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Phoenix New Times @phoenixnewtimes.com · Jul 8

GOP Rep. Andy Biggs dutifully passed Donald Trump’s budget bill, which will hurt the state Biggs aspires to lead.

5 ways governor hopeful Andy Biggs voted to screw over Arizona

GOP Rep. Andy Biggs dutifully passed Donald Trump’s budget bill, which will hurt the state Biggs aspires to lead.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com

Reposted by Morgan Fischer

Eviction Lab @evictionlab.bsky.social · Jul 7

“Only 0.2% of tenants in eviction court have an attorney, while nearly every landlord does.”

www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/how-pho...

By @phoenixnewtimes.com's @morgfisch.bsky.social
#housing+ #urbanism+ #urbanism

How a Phoenix right-to-counsel program could combat eviction crisis

Only 0.2% of Valley tenants in eviction court have lawyers. A Phoenix right-to-counsel program could save homes and millions.

www.phoenixnewtimes.com