the director of Amazon Prime Air operations
these drones have six propellers and carry items that weigh up to 5 pounds
and launch your items all within one hour of placing an order
“You have the ability to go online for an urgent need
that order is delivered in your front yard
Customers can choose from up to 50,000 items that can be delivered through Amazon drone within 60 minutes
ground crews inspect and give the drones a new battery before each flight
Amazon plans on delivering more than 500 million packages using drones every year
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Moises Sandoval Mendoza
a rapist and killer described by one prosecutor as one of the most "violent
is set to be executed in Texas on Wednesday
Tolleson was a new mother to her 6-month-old daughter Avery
"I don’t think we’ll ever heal. I don’t think a mother ever truly heals from the loss of a child,” Tolleson's mother, Pam O’Neil, told The Courier-Gazette in 2005
"I can’t believe my grandbaby will grow up without a mother."
O'Neil added that she and Avery frequently watched home videos of Tolleson
including Avery's first and only Christmas with her mother
and looked through scrapbooks that Tolleson and O'Neil made together
Over the years, Mendoza's case has gained a sort of notoriety. In 2006, it was featured in the 10th season of "Forensic Files" and in 2008, the Investigation Discovery series "Solved" highlighted Tolleson's murder
Here's what to know about Mendoza's execution
'I turned into the devil': More about Texas death row inmate Moises Mendoza
Rachelle O'Neil Tolleson was at home with her 6-month-old daughter Avery in Farmersville
a small town about 40 miles northeast of Dallas
as Rachelle was in the middle of a divorce with her then-husband Andrew Tolleson
Mendoza told police he let himself inside Tolleson's house through a back door that night
Mendoza drove a little while before he began to choke Tolleson in his vehicle "for no reason," he said
He then drove the two to a field near his house
where he raped her before choking her again
Mendoza then dragged Tolleson out of his truck and choked her again until he thought she was dead
where it remained for a few days before he was interviewed by police about Tolleson's disappearance
Paranoid, Mendoza wrapped Tolleson's body in a tarp and moved it to his cousin's land in a more remote area, just a few miles east of Farmersville. He then dumped the body in a "dug-out pit" and set it on fire to "destroy the fingerprints," he told police, The Courier Gazette reports
"I don't know what happened to me at that moment. I turned into the devil and after I did something that I thought was in a dream," Mendoza wrote in a letter to his parents, as published by The Courier-Gazette
A man searching for arrowheads found Tolleson's charred body a few days after Mendoza moved it
Mendoza was convicted of murder and sentenced to death
described their daughter as a doting mother to Avery
according to court proceedings and archived stories
The O'Neils did not immediately respond to requests to speak about their late daughter
but Mark has recognized Tolleson in several public Facebook posts over the years
Mark shared a photo of Tolleson from her wedding day on Facebook
"Happy birthday to my beautiful daughter in heaven," he wrote
Neighbors described Mendoza as "hard-working" but said he changed as he got older, recounting a "violent argument" when he pinned down his mother and sister in their front yard, as previously reported by The Courier-Gazette
where he did "fairly well," court documents state
He received a few high school scholarships and completed about nine months of heating and air-conditioning training upon graduating
In 2003, Mendoza was arrested for his involvement in two aggravated robberies on the Dallas College Richland Campus, according to The Courier-Gazette reporting
It was while he was out on bail for one of these robberies that Tolleson went missing
the 2006 "Forensic Files" episode explains
For much of their upbringing in northern Texas, Mendoza and Tolleson were actually in the same grade school classes, Tolleson's mother explained in "Forensic Files." And the Friday before Tolleson's murder
Mendoza had been at Tolleson's house for a party of about 15 people
Clinical psychologist Mark Vigen described Mendoza as "immature" and "psychologically under-developed," claiming that Mendoza enjoyed getting away with "being sneaky" and got angry when others criticized him
former Collin County First Assistant District Attorney Greg Davis described Mendoza as "one of the most violent
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com
Death row inmate Moises Mendoza was executed Wednesday for the murder of a former high school classmate in 2004
becoming the third man executed by Texas this year
was executed by lethal injection and pronounced dead at 6:40 p.m.
according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office
Mendoza told his loved ones he was at peace and apologized to the family of Rachelle Tolleson
“I am sorry for having robbed you of Rachelle's life,” Mendoza said
“I know nothing that I could ever say or do would ever make up for that
Mendoza confessed to killing 20-year-old Tolleson in a small town outside of Dallas
Mendoza took Tolleson from her Farmersville home
where she was alone with her 5-month-old daughter
and sexually assaulted the woman before killing her and leaving her body in a field
Mendoza later moved Tolleson’s body to a more remote location and burned it
Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis released a statement after the execution
memorializing Tolleson and claiming justice was “finally carried out.”
“Nothing can undo what Rachelle’s loved ones have endured
But justice is not about erasing the past — it’s about honoring the life that was taken,” Willis said in the statement
including one to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
alleging prosecutors had used false testimony during Mendoza’s sentencing to convince jurors he would be violent while incarcerated
Mendoza’s lawyers subsequently filed for a judicial review of the Texas court’s decision to the U.S
and the review and stay were denied Wednesday by the court
A clemency request from Mendoza also was denied by the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles on Monday
The Supreme Court previously heard another Texas death row inmate’s case in February, as Ruben Gutierrez seeks to be able to sue prosecutors to test DNA on evidence he says will prove his innocence
A ruling is expected in his case in the coming weeks
The judge who presided over the case of death row inmate Melissa Lucio also recommended in 2024 that her sentence and conviction be overturned after the district attorney’s office who prosecuted her admitted they withheld evidence
Texas currently only has one other execution scheduled
was convicted of killing a Garland convenience store employee by setting them on fire
The Supreme Court declined to hear Johnson’s case in 2024
If no other executions are scheduled and carried out, it will be the seventh year in a row since Texas has executed less than 10 people
a continued slowdown after a record number of executions 20 years ago
Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival
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AZ — Tolleson police officers were involved in a shooting early Friday morning
The incident happened outside of a business near 99th Avenue and Buckeye Road around 2 a.m
A police department official at the scene told ABC15 that officers followed a truck to the parking lot of the business when some type of confrontation occurred
leading two officers to discharge their weapons
was struck by the gunfire and taken to a hospital in critical condition
No officers were injured during the incident
Buckeye police identified the man that was shot Saturday
ABC15 is not identifying the man at this time
Police add that a weapon has not been recovered at this point
but investigators have not yet searched the man's vehicle
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A school resource officer says the Tolleson Union High School District and its superintendent forced him out of his role
but Superintendent Jeremy Calles told ABC15 he felt the officer used unnecessary force on a student in September
telling city officials he was dealing with a “hostile work environment,” being a school resource officer at Tolleson Union High School
adding that the superintendent “pressured” him to leave
Hendrix claims the district had been surveilling him as well
This stems from an incident that happened in September 2024
The district told ABC15 that there was a domestic incident between two students
where they were suspended and then came back after that
ABC15's told the male student was walking out of the office as the female student was walking with Hendrix into the office
Surveillance video given to ABC15 from the district showed the officer taking the student to the wall
It’s unclear what prompted that and if anything was said between the two before Hendrix took him to the wall
it appears the student may have headbutted the officer but it’s still unclear
it was said that the student was resisting and then Hendrix appeared to have punched the student
Calles said the student gets punched multiple times by officers
but it’s unclear with the blurry surveillance video
I don't see how this type of force would ever be justified,” he told ABC15
Do you have a concern in your community or a news tip
Connect with us: share@abc15.com
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Calles told ABC15 he asked the city to replace Hendrix with another officer per their agreement with the city but that didn’t happen
Hendrix stayed at the school through last week
Another incident happened on campus where a student was taken down last Thursday
Tolleson Police tell ABC15 an SRO observed a student assaulting the principal and was then arrested for aggravated assault
Hendrix had also been involved in the event
but the extent of his involvement is unknown
Hendrix was then told he was no longer allowed on campus on Friday
“I’m extremely embarrassed and hurt that I had to leave the place that I loved without telling my side of the story
and I was wrongfully removed from the high school
It is even more embarrassing that the staff and students may think that I quit on them,” Hendrix told city council earlier this week
Police Chief Rudy Mendoza said they reviewed Hendrix’s conduct in both incidents and found no issues with what happened
The event last week is under investigation by the district
While the city and the police department expressed full support for Hendrix
Calles feels Hendrix’s conduct was unnecessary
“We are here to protect our students and whether it's an SRO
or anyone else that is causing harm to a student
“I am going to make sure that we are putting the safety and security of our students as the number one priority
regardless of who it is that we have to keep them safe from.”
ABC15 has requested multiple videos and documents related to both incidents and will continue to follow this story
A full statement from the Tolleson Police Department can be read below:
Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInTOLLESON
AZ (AZFamily) — An investigation into a stolen license plate ended in a police shooting outside a Tolleson business early Friday morning
and authorities have identified the suspect involved
Police say the situation began late Thursday night when officers began searching for a vehicle with a stolen license plate. Just after 2 a.m., police located the pickup truck in the parking lot of the Mesa Cold Storage facility near 91st Avenue and Buckeye Road
Lee Garrett says that the suspect got out when officers approached the truck
and a “confrontation ensued.” Both officers fired their weapons
later identified as 35-year-old Ricky Henry Barron
The officers then rendered aid until paramedics arrived and rushed him to a hospital
a weapon has not been recovered as investigators still have to search the suspect’s vehicle
The West Valley Critical Incident Response Team
This is the 10th officer-involved shooting in the Valley in 2025 and the 19th in the state of Arizona
LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — The Hot Spring County Sheriff's Office has its new leader
the committee voted on Richard Tolleson as the next Sheriff
Tolleson was previously a bailiff at the circuit court's courthouse and served as chief deputy for the past two administrations
Tolleson has an extensive background in law enforcement
the Glenwood City Police Department and the Pike County Sheriff's Office
Tolleson fills in after former Sheriff Scott Finkbeiner vacated his seat after pleading guilty to misleading a federal investigation
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rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium
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The AP will not be held liable for any delays
errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing
The Tolleson Union High School District’s Governing Board has reached a $450,000 settlement with the district’s superintendent
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints
including one that alleged sexual harassment by the former governing board president
The settlement agreement was approved in January by a newly seated board
which declared the previous board's actions retaliatory against Calles
In August, Calles filed a Title IX complaint against Governing Board member and state Rep. Elda Luna-Nájera
In September, the Governing Board announced that the investigation into Calles’ sexual harassment complaint had concluded and determined that there was a sexual relationship between Calles and Luna-Nájera
according to a statement read by former board member Kino Flores
the board voted 3-2 to hire Ernest Calderón
to investigate several concerns about Calles that were raised during the public comment period of a recent board meeting
the district’s deputy superintendent and Title IX coordinator
who complained about an "abuse of power" by Calles
Flores and former board member Freddie Villalon voted to initiate the investigation
the board reviewed the findings of Calderón's investigation and voted to place Calles “on leave with pay.” They directed him to work from home
Flores and Villalon voting in favor of the leave
Calles then filed his second EEOC complaint
“alleging retaliation,” according to a statement read during the January meeting in which his settlement was approved
which involved interviews with nearly three dozen “witnesses,” concluded that there was a “growing cancer/rift between the principals and Calles” but that Calles "is resolute in attempting to do a good job" and seemed “oblivious
of the top group of educators’ concerns,” according to a copy of the findings of the investigation obtained by The Arizona Republic
On Jan. 1, two new board members — Miguel Ortega-Romero and former state Rep. Leezah Sun — replaced Flores and Villalon
Calles was “reinstated to fully on-campus duties,” according to the statement
the new board approved a $450,000 settlement with Calles and renewed his contract “to avoid further legal costs that could have significantly burdened taxpayers." Luna-Nájera abstained from the vote
who now serves as the Governing Board president
read a statement that said the initiation of Calderón's investigation was “determined to be retaliatory and unwarranted by the board.”
the complaints that initiated the investigation "were neither routed through HR nor shared with staff members
but instead handled solely by then-President Kino Flores."
“The current board also reviewed the findings of a sexual harassment investigation
was responsible for pursuing a physical relationship,” the statement said
describing the same investigation that led to Flores' September statement
demonstrate conduct unbecoming of a public official.”
The board declined to disclose the sexual harassment investigation report “due to the sensitive nature of the materials involved.”
Najera exercised her authority as the swing vote to table the renewal of Superintendent Calles’s contract — despite having enough votes to approve it,” the statement read
“Two other board members had requested a discussion
"The report noted that delaying or withholding any consideration of the superintendent’s contract in such a context could be viewed by a court as an adverse employment action — particularly given that Dr
Najera had pursued a personal relationship with Superintendent Calles even after he attempted to discourage her advances," the statement said
"The investigation highlighted instances where power dynamics were exploited and outlined the retaliatory measures taken against Superintendent Calles when he resisted these advances."
"reflects the board’s commitment to resolving these matters responsibly and moving forward in a constructive manner."
Luna-Nájera was then elected to the Legislature in November
Neither Calles nor Luna-Nájera responded to inquiries from The Republic
Reach the reporter at mparrish@arizonarepublic.com
AZ — Bus drivers are unsung heroes across the Valley
getting students to school and back safely every day
there were 8,400 school bus drivers in the state of Arizona," Bert Herzog
the Transportation Director of the Tolleson Union High School District
"Since that happened...we've got less than half of that in the state of Arizona."
Many of the drivers in Tolleson left for other jobs as school activity stopped
a lot of people just didn’t have a job," Herzog said
The district has not yet had to shorten or change routes but has had to back-fill temporary shortages with employees who have their commercial driver's license (CDL)
the district is holding a bus driver hiring event on Thursday
They will have on-site interviews at their district offices at 9801 West Van Buren St
“Tolleson wants to hire the people that are going to make a difference in these kids' lives," Herzog said
The average pay for a driver is $27 an hour
The district will also pay for new hires to get the required training and license to become a school bus driver
For more information on the job openings, click this link to head to the Tolleson Union High School District website
Learn more about becoming a bus driver here
Multiple Positions Available to Fill Immediate Openings
The Postal Service is hosting a job fair Friday
at the West Valley Postal Support Annex to fill immediate openings for Electronic Technicians and Mail Handler Assistants
Accepting a position with the United States Postal Service is the first step to starting a long
forward-thinking organization committed to delivering for the American people
we want you to be a part of our proud tradition of service
Applications are also accepted online at www.usps.com/careers. Job postings are updated frequently
so check back often for additional opportunities
The United States Postal Service is an equal opportunity employer offering a fast-paced
rewarding work environment with competitive compensation packages
The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 169 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America
restore long-term financial sustainability
dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories
and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands
The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage
products and services to fund its operations
Copyright© 2025 United States Postal Service
Amazon customers near the company’s Tolleson facility now have the option to have a package delivered by a drone
a feature that the company launched Tuesday
For eligible deliveries that weigh under five pounds
customers that are within the delivery range can opt for drone delivery and receive their items in under an hour
The option carries an additional fee of $9.99 for Prime members and $14.99 for non-Prime members
will be listed in delivery options when a person buys their items
Amazon has already been using drones to deliver medications through Amazon Pharmacy in College Station
The drone is called the MK30 and was granted approval by the Federal Aviation Administration and allows the automated aircraft to fly beyond the visual line of sight
Over 50,000 items will be eligible for drone drops
but only one item per order will be delivered at a time
the highest-priced item in the order will be delivered by drone
Amazon announced the plans to roll out drone delivery in Tolleson in April. At the time
Rodriguez said drone deliveries would be within a seven-mile radius of the Amazon facility
Reach the reporter at cvanek@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter @CorinaVanek
Susie was the fourth of seven children in a close-knit family
Her parents’ story began during the Great Flood of 1927 when Ben and Leona met on the levee
Their bond grew stronger after the waters receded
leaving Ben to raise their children with the help of their devoted grandmother
Ben remained steadfast and never remarried
moved to Crossett after he was transferred from the Pine Bluff Paper Mill to the Crossett Paper Mill
and later took a position at the local shirt factory
Susie devoted herself fully to her greatest calling—caring for her home
She and Glynn became faithful members of South Crossett Missionary Baptist Church
where Susie served with love and dedication
Her church family held a special place in her heart
and she treasured the fellowship and friendships she built there
Susie’s warmth and generosity left a lasting impact on everyone she met
She was known for treating strangers like family and embracing every child as her own
Her greatest desire was for her family to know Jesus as their Savior and to love and support one another through life’s challenges
Susie was the glue that held everyone together
Affectionately known as “the boss,” she took pride in guiding her family with a steady hand and a caring heart
finding immense joy in their lives and accomplishments
and family will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew her
and Bonnie “Tootsie” Dennis; and two brothers
and children; Donnie Stevens of Midlothian
and Glynda Kay Sapp (Russell) also of Crossett; along with nine grandchildren
Melissa Sapp (Jimmy Curl) and Lori Sapp (Brandi Hill)
Brooks Russette; and a host of extended family
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 p.m.
followed by interment at Crossroads Cemetery under the direction of Medders Funeral Home
The Tolleson Union High School District's Governing Board has approved an agreement that it said would provide immediate financial relief to its neighboring Isaac Elementary School District, which is in the midst of a financial crisis that has left it insolvent and unable to pay employees
so will we," said Tolleson Union Governing Board President Leezah Sun
"We’re taking this initiative on behalf of our community because it’s a win-win situation."
which was approved with a 4-1 vote on Wednesday
Tolleson Union will essentially loan Isaac Elementary $25 million over 12 years at a 6% interest rate
according to Tolleson Union Superintendent Jeremy Calles
Calles said he suggested Isaac Elementary pass a bond to repay the debt in its entirety in one year
Tolleson Union will acquire leasehold rights over Isaac Middle School
which it will lease back to the Isaac Elementary district
Isaac Elementary cannot do anything with Isaac Middle School or close more than two schools over the life of the agreement
That means that if the Arizona Legislature were to pass a bill to dissolve the district or to force the closure of a third school
they would have to pay back the outstanding balance
Elda Luna-Nájera was the only board member to vote against the agreement
saying she expected a legal challenge and thought the agreement merited more review before passage
Isaac Elementary's Governing Board also approved the agreement on Wednesday
Calles said the transfer would occur on Thursday
Calles said Kenny would be able to demonstrate $9 million in budget capacity
resulting in Isaac Elementary employees receiving their paychecks on Friday after having not been paid on time on Tuesday
Tolleson Union currently has $73.8 million in rolled-over maintenance and operations funds and a capital budget balance carryforward of $6.2 million
The district was scheduled to hold a meeting on Thursday to revise its 2024-25 budget to account for the agreement
The Tolleson Union Governing Board meeting on Wednesday drew public comment from community members who opposed the agreement and argued that Tolleson Union funds should stay within the district
"It's not wise to use Tolleson funds to fund other people's mistakes," said Adan Morado
Isaac Elementary and Tolleson Union educators
"I am asking you as an Isaac employee of 23 years to help our district out," Crystal Perez said to the board
said she was "hopeful." She said she wanted to hear from Kenny before getting her hopes up too much
"We want to make sure that we get paid for work that has already been provided," Valencia said
educators in the Isaac District Education Association
the union representing educators in the district
voted to return to work without pay on Wednesday and Thursday
They are set to vote again on Thursday on whether they would continue showing up to work
"They want to see concrete proof that this is resolved and that paychecks are going to be cut this week," said Les Braswell
a spokesperson for the Arizona Education Association
Calles previously attempted to assist Isaac Elementary in his personal capacity as a school finance consultant
the former superintendent of Isaac Elementary
called him in January to ask him to look over Isaac Elementary's finances
Calles proposed a solution during the State Board of Education meeting during which Isaac Elementary was placed under receivership
Calles could no longer work for the Isaac Elementary district
"I have never received a single dime from Isaac," Calles said Wednesday
which serves approximately 4,800 students in Phoenix
was placed under receivership two weeks ago by the Arizona State Board of Education because it had overspent its budget by millions
Held is the receiver now controlling the district's operations
the district's superintendent and chief financial officer resigned
According to Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Thomas Galvin
the district owes the county $28.5 million
The county has said it would not provide any more funding for the district's expenses until the district could demonstrate the ability to pay back its debt
leaving the district without cash to fund operations
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has launched an investigation into the financial mismanagement at Isaac Elementary
On Tuesday, the House Education Committee unanimously approved a bill
that would direct Maricopa County Treasurer John Allen to issue $2.5 million to cover one payroll for the school district
The money would be an advance on Isaac's basic state aid
The bill would also remove the district's school board members from office
Though Gress said he anticipated his legislation would be signed into law by Gov
that was not in time for the district to make payday for its employees on Tuesday
Gress promised that more legislation would be on the way to help the district remain open for the rest of the school year
though he said that additional reforms would be needed before the Legislature could offer more support
Assistance on way: Arizona Legislature takes first steps to keep Isaac school district open
Scott Richardson won his 500th game as Tolleson's baseball coach early this season
His family didn't have to go far to celebrate with him
is the head freshman baseball coach and a special education teacher
Brock's wife Kati is a teacher and a pom coach
is a teacher and the head girls' tennis coach
my entire family teaches and coaches here at Tolleson High School," said Richardson
who is in his 25th year leading the baseball program
She teaches in Glendale but shows up for games
Richardson said it was easy to get his family connected with jobs at Tolleson
who graduated from Tolleson a year before Richardson took over the school's baseball program
"I had the privilege of working with Felipe
trying to get him to college baseball," Richardson said
So when they were all getting involved in education
I know we need tennis.' All the pieces fit together that one year and he hired all of them."
Raeann ran the snack bar at her dad's baseball games
after she'd get out of school at Goodyear Estrella Foothills
where she was an accomplished tennis player
Because she wanted to stay involved in dance and Tolleson didn't offer that
standing next to the Tolleson baseball field
"I knew when I grew up and got married and became a coach
where they both attended college on tennis scholarships
He was a grad assistant at New Mexico after he finished playing
where he's been the tennis coach for the past six years
Gravitating to a coaching family seemed like a natural
we visited her house," Richard Southern said
"I was walking around the baseball room and he had all of the teams (pictures) he ever had
will you marry me?' And we were not dating at the time
When Kati married into the Richardson family
the Tempe Marcos de Niza graduate knew her life would revolve around baseball
and received words of wisdom from Scott that she applies to her coaching and teaching
"There was something that my father-in-law Scott said that stuck out
but to some of our spirit-line members," Kati said
because we had quite a few competitions where we were one point away from making it to Day 2
It's something I've been trying to use more in coaching and in the classroom
that you feel pressure and it's a privilege to feel that."
I almost felt more like an assistant coach than a player," Brock said
Scott Richardson has nine coaches on his current Tolleson baseball staff
Scott has been wooed by other schools to leave Tolleson
"This is where I've wanted to be," Richardson said
"We've had some really good players come through here
'A lot of the bad things about high school athletics
I don't experience that here.' The parents are thankful
The players shake your hand after every practice
maybe I don't have first-rounders who come through here
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
an $8bn Dallas-based RIA started by John Tolleson
has sued publicly traded wealth manager AlTi Tiedemann Global for hiring three of its former employees
allegedly in breach of their non-compete agreements.
According to a complaint filed in Dallas County District Court in August
AlTi helped the ex-employees breach their contracts with Tolleson
‘encourag[ing] and facilitat[ing] those breaches.’ Tolleson seeks $1m in monetary relief
Both Tolleson and AlTi Global declined to comment
The firms both do business in the Dallas Fort-Worth area.
ARIZONA NEWS
BY DAVID VEENSTRA
PHOENIX – The investigation against Tolleson Mayor Juan Rodriguez has concluded without any evidence of wrongdoing
The investigation found “no clear and convincing evidence” supporting allegations of inappropriate and unprofessional conduct
The city is recommending for the complaint to be dismissed without further action being taken
“I appreciate the thorough and fair investigation,” Mayor Juan F. Rodriguez said in a press release
“I remain committed to serving the people of Tolleson with integrity and fostering positive relationships with our community partners.”
On Sept. 10, Lupita Hightower announced that she would be retiring at the end of the calendar year after serving nearly 14 years as the district’s superintendent
The governing board called a special meeting to be held next day
when it voted unanimously to appoint Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Gisselle Herrera as superintendent effective Jan
Rodriguez then allegedly confronted several board members in the parking lot after the meeting
Board Member Roberta Garcia said Rodriguez shouted inappropriately and addressed Garcia by name while questioning the legality of the board’s actions
“Had I known that he was outside waiting for me
I would have asked our school resource officer to walk me to my vehicle,” Garcia said in a press release
Another board member said the mayor and his wife invaded his personal space in a manner that felt threatening
“I would think there would have been more professional behavior and respect for me as a governing board member,” Anthony Aponte said in the release
Rodriguez was elected Tolleson mayor in 2020 after more than a decade on the City Council
He ran unopposed in his mayoral reelection bid last year
Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here
AZ (AZFamily) — An Amazon fulfillment center in Tolleson may look like any other industrial warehouse
you’ll find 320,000 square feet full of activity
“This is the time of year where Amazon really shines,” Zoe Richmond told On Your Side
On Your Side was given an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how everything works from once an order arrives to when an item is packed and shipped to your doorstep
It all starts on what’s called the Robotic Floor, where you see hundreds of yellow robots picking items up to store and other yellow robots delivering items to be packed by Amazon employees and shipped
“When folks know that Amazon uses robotics
I’m not sure if they think like the Terminator or something from the future
But really what we’re talking about is these industrial-sized Roombas that make it easier for our associates
It keeps our associates having to walk long distances because they’re able to have the item brought to them,” Richmond said
Trevor Rocha is one of the facility’s operations managers and says when an item arrives at the facility
it’s scanned and assigned to a yellow robot that automatically retrieves and stores the item until someone orders it
an Amazon associate uses a computer to locate which yellow robot is storing the item and it automatically brings it to the associate
“This is really incredible isn’t it?” On Your Side’s Gary Harper asked
It really is a great system that’s in place and gets items to our customers quickly
And then, there are drones
The Tolleson facility is actually using drones to deliver items that weigh less than 5 pounds to nearby ZIP codes
the next time you use Amazon to order something
just remember what happens behind the scenes to get your item packed
“That’s where the technology comes in,” Richmond said
“It’s not only helping our employees by making their jobs easier and safer
but also making sure we get the right item to the consumer at the right time.”
AZ — The Tolleson Elementary School District Governing Board has filed a complaint against Tolleson Mayor Juan Rodriguez with the city
following what they call aggressive behavior towards board members
School Board President Tida Garcia said an incident occurred after the board meeting on September 11
when the board voted to hire Giselle Herrera as the new Superintendent when the current Superintendent retires
they felt attacked by Mayor Rodriquez when they were exiting the school board meeting on September 11th," stated Garcia
The School Board President said Board Member Anthony Aponte was accosted about the decision first
"She walked out of the school board meeting on September 11th
Mayor Juan Rodriguez physically and aggressively went up to her questioning her
so much that she said she was scared," Garcia continued
ABC15 reached out to Mayor Rodriguez for a comment twice following this complaint
The School Board President stated the city is investigating the complaint
"We're volunteers," shared School Board President Garcia
"We're not there for any other political reason
We're there for the kids of Tolleson and the community of Tolleson and for another elected official to act in that behavior and not have the proper code of conduct and just etiquette..
isn’t it fair to ask if they’re spending what you’ve already given them wisely—especially when it turns out they’ve been using at least some of your money to subsidize luxury resort getaways to vacation hotspots
Public records obtained by the Goldwater Institute reveal that’s exactly what the Tolleson Union High School District in Avondale
did: attend what amounted to multi-day vacations at four-star resorts—even as the district now wants voters to agree to tax themselves more to support additional spending
Tolleson Union is far from the only district trying to pry open voters’ wallets through “budget override” and bond elections—39 such proposals are on the ballot in Maricopa County alone
The additional tax money will ostensibly go toward building or improving school buildings (via bonds or “District Additional Assistance Overrides”) or toward providing additional budget capacity for things like staff salaries and programs
which is asking for approval for both a bond authorization and a District Additional Assistance Override
has been spending its existing taxpayer cash in some highly questionable ways
Tolleson Union’s school administrators and school board members treated themselves to multi-day summer “retreats” at four-star resorts in Sedona and Tucson
Most school districts do hold retreats—for strategic planning and to discuss important goals that will drive their work for the coming year—but they typically happen at the district office
where the cost is minimal and the public can attend and participate
Tolleson Union’s completely unnecessary trips may
have broken Arizona’s Open Meeting Law by not even providing the required public access to the meetings
At the two-day June 2024 Retreat held at the Hilton Sedona Resort at Bell Rock
Tolleson Union’s governing board failed to provide an agenda that stated the topics up for discussion
there was no meaningful way for the public to attend the proceedings
or even to watch a video stream or listen to an audio recording
What’s more, two of Tolleson’s school board members also served in executive positions with the Arizona School Boards Association and attended countless hours of professional development sessions on how to comply with the Open Meeting Law
and inclusion” (DEI) in schools—to the tune of $4,000 per person
And just days before, the state Auditor General blew the whistle on the Baboquivari School District spending “$342,000 sending staff to a 2-day out-of-State professional development conference,” “exceed[ing] maximum amounts of lodging and meals,” and “wast[ing] district resources” on “unnecessary travel costs.”
Taxpayers deserve to know when their tax money is being wasted—especially when those same taxpayers are being asked to approve even more spending. That’s why Goldwater filed a statement to be included on the Voter Information Ballot Pamphlet that voters will receive before the November election, letting Tolleson Union taxpayers know about this wasteful spending. And it’s why we have also submitted public records requests to find out exactly how much these wasteful trips cost.
Our public officials must always be accountable for how they spend taxpayer dollars. The Goldwater Institute is hard at work making sure that happens.
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AZ — Tolleson Police Department says an investigation is underway after an employee died at the JBS Tolleson facility
Officers were first called to the meat processing business near 91st and Buckeye avenues around 8:45 a.m
Wednesday for a report of an unresponsive employee
Watch previous aerial coverage from the scene in the player below
The employee was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts from police and fire officials
Tolleson PD has identified the employee as 55-year-old Eduardo Reyes Hernandez
JBS Tolleson officials told ABC15 the death was "unrelated to work"
"JBS Tolleson is saddened by the death of a long-time team member that was unrelated to work
The decision was made to close the facility during the first shift of the day out of respect to the team member
Our thoughts and prayers are with the individual’s family
Tolleson police officials are now calling it a "workplace accident" and are investigating
The Medical Examiner's Office is working to confirm the cause of death
Their investigation will look at whether there were any violations of worker-safety standards
Phoenix’s Isaac School District has agreed to sell one of its middle schools to another district in order to keep schools open amid a budget crisis
Isaac teachers have been working without pay since Tuesday
The district was placed under state receivership earlier this month as it faced a massive budget shortfall
While its governing board met to approve the sale of the Isaac Middle School building Wednesday night
the Tolleson Union High School District board met to approve the purchase
Tolleson Superintendent Jeremy Calles said while some people want the district to take more time to consider the idea
“We have many people who live paycheck to paycheck [and] the first of the month is right around the corner and they may not be able to pay their rent
Tolleson will buy the property for $25 million
and the Isaac District will have 12 years to buy it back with 6% interest
The sale will not affect day-to-day operations at the middle school
Isaac teacher Marisol Garcia released a statement after the agreement was reached
stood up for their students and for each other to get us to this agreement to keep Isaac schools open
we will continue to wait for further communication from the receiver tomorrow
Isaac educators were told repeatedly that the crisis would never get to this point
so we’ll know it’s resolved when checks are in hand.”
In a governing board meeting at the Tolleson Union High School District Tuesday night
board members announced a settlement with Superintendent Jeremy Calles in two of his U.S
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims; one of which alleged sexual harassment from a board member
Calles filed a sexual harassment complaint against then-board president Dr
the board said the previous board withheld information from the investigation
was responsible for pursuing a physical relationship
demonstrate conduct unbecoming of a public official,” the statement read
Calles’ contract was up for discussion months ago
it was tabled as Luna-Najera “exercised her authority as the swing vote to table the renewal of Superintendent Calles’s contract—despite having enough votes to approve it.”
The board also said power dynamics were involved and “exploited and outlined the retaliatory measures taken against Superintendent Calles when he resisted these advances.”
Calles had put in a second EEOC complaint when the board voted for him to work from home after the investigation was released
The board reached a settlement with Calles of $450,000 along with the renewal of his contract
“This resolution reflects the board’s commitment to resolving these matters responsibly and moving forward in a constructive manner,” a statement read
ABC15 reached out to both the House Republican and Democratic communications managers about any possible ethics complaints or investigations into Rep
The House Republican communications spokesperson told ABC15 that a complaint has not been filed against the representative
A spokesperson with the House Democrats told ABC15 that they are unaware of an ethics investigation involving Rep
The Tolleson Elementary School District Governing Board has accused Mayor Juan Rodriguez of aggressive behavior toward its members
(City of Tolleson and Facebook/Tolleson Elementary School District Photos)
BY KEVIN STONE
PHOENIX – A school board in suburban Phoenix is accusing the Tolleson mayor of inappropriately confronting its members after they appointed a new superintendent last month
Tolleson Elementary School District Governing Board members said Monday they felt threatened by Mayor Juan Rodriguez’s behavior
“While we respect the mayor’s right to express his views, we believe that public officials must model the behavior we expect from our students and community,” the five-member board said in a collective statement
“This incident raises serious concerns about the safety and well-being of our governing board members and the respect they deserve.”
The Tolleson Elementary School District consists of four K-8 campuses that serve approximately 3,000 students in the West Valley
On Sept. 10, Lupita Hightower announced that she would be retiring at the end of the calendar year after nearly 14 years as the district’s superintendent
The governing board called a special meeting for the next day
According to the minutes from the meeting
the vote came after the board went into executive session for legal advice
Rodriguez allegedly confronted several board members in the parking lot after the meeting
Board Member Roberta Garcia said the Tolleson mayor shouted inappropriately and addressed her by name while questioning the legality of the board’s actions
He ran unopposed in his mayoral reelection bid this year
According to his bio on the city’s website
KTAR News reached out to Rodriguez’s office for a reaction to the allegations but has not received a response
Multiple Positions Available in Greater Phoenix Area
With Summer days getting shorter and winding down to Autumn
The Postal Service is ramping up hiring in the greater Phoenix and West Valley area and throughout Arizona
We have a variety of positions available from letter carriers to processing clerks to mechanics
To help job seekers complete hiring profiles and applications
USPS is offering hiring assistance at job fairs in Phoenix and West Valley throughout September
The Postal Service is proud to provide great career opportunities for veterans
Join a diverse team with a variety of positions
and advancement to maximize your skills and interests
Meet postal employees at hiring events hosted at the following locations:
The Postal Service is looking to hire more than 200 mail handler assistants (processing)
and custodial positions for the Arizona Regional Processing and Distribution Center located in Avondale
USPS is hosting a series of hiring events at the West Valley Parcel Sorting Annex in Tolleson
USPS personnel will be on-site to provide detailed information about the positions
and help potential candidates through the application process step by step
Starting pay ranges from $18 to $25 per hour depending on the position
Applications are also accepted online at www.usps.com/careers
so check back frequently for additional opportunities
Accepting a position with the United States Postal Service is the first step to starting a long
forward-thinking organization committed to delivering for the American people
The United States Postal Service is an equal opportunity employer offering a fast-paced
rewarding work environment with competitive compensation packages
Authorities continue to investigate an early morning police shooting at a Tolleson parking lot where the suspect is hospitalized
on March 28 by Tolleson police while they were searching for his Nissan truck
The shooting took place in the parking lot of Mesa Cold Storage near 99th Avenue and Buckeye Road
Buckeye police spokeswoman Carissa Planalp confirmed
Barron remained hospitalized in critical condition the morning of March 29
Authorities did not explain what led to the shooting
a weapon had not been recovered as a search had yet to be conducted on Barron's vehicle
and served honorably in the United States Army
Glynn was an active member of South Crossett Missionary Baptist Church
where his faith and fellowship were integral parts of his life
Glynn worked at the Georgia Pacific Papermill
where his hard work and strong work ethic left a lasting legacy
often found tending to his vegetable and flower gardens or taking walks
Known for taking great pride in his home and possessions
Glynn’s meticulous care extended to his family’s shoes
which he always kept polished to perfection
a true testament to his gentle and compassionate nature
He leaves behind his loving and devoted wife
Susie Marie Isom Tolleson of Crossett; one son
LeAnn Oden (Sammy) and Glynda Kay Sapp (Russell) both of Crossett; along with one sister
and Lori Sapp (Brandi Hill); twelve great-grandchildren
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2:00 p.m.
followed by interment at Crossroads Cemetery under the direction of Medders Funeral Home. Pallbearers are Randal Culbreath
and Will Cox. Honorary pallbearers are Ayden Carter and Reid Culbreath