Rabu, 29 Juli 2026

Lt. Gov., College Inventions, and Robotic Surgery

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1852, Commodore Perry Owens was born. Named after a naval commander, the legendary Apache County sheriff was a key figure in the Owens-Blevins shootout.

We're blaming the heat. We failed to include iced tea in Monday's Poll on favorite drinks to cool off. (See the results below.) To make up for that, today's Poll asks about your favorite AriZona tea flavor. Did you know the New York company's founder—seeking a brand identity that evoked a healthy and warm lifestyle—originally wanted Santa Fe but switched because the name didn't look right on the can? Get the full story here.

Do you know which of your daily habits actually controls your dreams? That coworker from years ago who suddenly showed up in your dream last night, or that random worry that turned into a whole storyline while you slept. Well, scientists just finished one of the largest dream studies ever, and it turns out none of that is random. In today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla shares the five things this study uncovered about what your dreams are really made of, including one thing that's been hiding in people's dreams for years without them realizing it. Tune in here!

Today's sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is helping pet owners prepare for unexpected veterinary expenses with affordable coverage options that can provide reimbursement for covered accidents, illnesses, and more.

Lieutenant Governor Debuts On Ballot

Arizonans will elect a lieutenant governor for the first time this November, filling an office voters created in 2022.

Currently, the secretary of state is next in line, even when that officeholder belongs to the opposing party.

Gov. Katie Hobbs and challenger Andy Biggs each have until Sept. 4, or 60 days before Election Day, to name a running mate. Neither has announced a pick.

The governor-lieutenant governor candidates will run on a joint ticket. Arizona voters approved the structure to smooth continuity if a governor leaves office.

Storms Follow Record Power Demand

Storms rolled across metro Phoenix before dawn Tuesday, bringing thunder, lightning, and scattered rain.

Power went out for thousands, and lightning sparked palm tree fires in Gilbert and central Phoenix. Flights briefly halted at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The rain interrupted a heat wave that on Friday drove major utilities to all-time peak usage, with Arizona Public Service hitting 9,053 megawatts and Salt River Project reaching 9,072.

An extreme heat warning runs through Sunday, with highs of 115 degrees to 118 degrees forecast by the weekend.

Homebuilders Complete Mega Merger

Berkshire Hathaway closed its purchase of Scottsdale-based Taylor Morrison, creating one of the nation's largest site-built homebuilders.

Taylor Morrison CEO Sheryl Palmer, one of the few women leading a major home builder in the U.S., will continue in her role and also oversee the integration with Berkshire's Clayton Properties Group.

Berkshire paid $72.50 per share in the $8.5 billion deal, including debt, that took Taylor Morrison private after 13 years on the New York Stock Exchange.

Taylor Morrison delivered nearly 13,000 homes across 12 states last year.

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➤ Cibola: A road bridge over the Colorado River collapsed Monday from damage caused by the Island Fire, which had burned several thousand acres near the California line. (More)

➤ Mesa: Three train cars went off the track early Tuesday, closing a busy stretch of road. No injuries were reported. (More)

➤ Casa Grande: Banner Health said labor and delivery will continue at its hospital after Sun Life Health announced it was leaving, easing fears of hour-long drives for expectant mothers. (More)

➤ Yuma: The sudden closure of a family medical clinic involved in an alleged Medicaid fraud scheme left patients scrambling for routine and non-emergency care, with another provider stepping in to absorb some of the demand. (More)

➤ Tempe: A city investigation into a social media comment officials labeled a threat unmasked a longtime online critic of Tempe government, raising First Amendment concerns. (More)

➤ Gilbert: An annual report found the town's water meets all state and federal quality standards, while flagging two wells for PFAS detection, amid Colorado River supply uncertainty. (More)

➤ Glendale: Glendale Elementary School District warned that declining enrollment could force school closures and layoffs in coming years, with officials weighing options. (More)

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➤ The Arizona Diamondbacks reportedly are not looking to trade Ketel Marte after the star second baseman erased nearly his entire Instagram feed, sparking speculation of a possible rift. (More)

➤ Junior hockey teams with the USHL are set to come to Prescott Valley and Phoenix for the 2027-28 season as part of a westward push by the league. (More)

➤ Arizona State hired Ryan Vanhoy as its track and field and cross country director. Vanhoy earned Big West Conference coach of the year honors eight times at Cal Poly. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Tennis | WNBA

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➤ The University of Arizona logged a record year for invention disclosures, a measure of how much campus research is moving toward commercial use. (More)

➤ Sixteen venues in downtown Tucson will begin sharing real-time ID scanner data to flag disruptive patrons, a system that operators say improves safety across bars and restaurants. (More)

➤ Two high school students in the Valley launched a water bottle company, drawing $190,000 in investment from a group that includes former Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald. (More)

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➤ Phoenix has broken 10 overnight heat records since May. (More)

➤ Tom Horne said he plans to open a charter school, following his reelection loss to State Treasurer Kimberly Yee in last week's primary. (More)

➤ Banner Health joined a small group of U.S. systems trained in single-incision robotic surgery, which promises faster recovery and less pain than multiple cuts. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Your dreams follow hidden rules, and scientists just uncovered what actually controls them every night. (Hear Details)

➤ Air Force One has scrapped its decades-old look for new colors. (Hear Episode)

➤ Birds are struggling to stay hydrated in extreme heat, and you can help by adding this one common freezer staple to your feeder. (Listen Now)

What's your favorite AriZona tea flavor?

Previous Results:

What’s your go-to drink to cool off?

Ice water: 41%
Other: 13%
Lemonade: 10%
Cold beer: 10%
Sports drink: 9%
Soft drink: 9%
Iced coffee: 8%

Which home builders merged in 2007 to form Taylor Morrison?

Show me the answer

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Tourism Report, Tricycle Fleet, and a Sunken ATV

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1878, astronomers flocked to Colorado to view the Great Eclipse of 1878, a total solar eclipse that ran along the spine of the Rocky Mountains.

Greg Lopez Qualifies for Governor Race

Greg Lopez qualified Tuesday for the November ballot as an unaffiliated candidate in Colorado's governor's race.

Unaffiliated candidates need 1,000 valid signatures from each of the state's eight congressional districts, and the secretary of state's office verified just under 12,000 of his signatures.

Lopez, who served six months in Congress after Ken Buck resigned in 2024 and who previously was Parker's mayor, is making his third consecutive run for governor after primary losses in 2018 and 2022.

Attorney General Phil Weiser is the Democrats' nominee, Victor Marx is the Republican nominee, and Jeff Peckman is running with the Unity Party to succeed term-limited Gov. Jared Polis.

Tourism Contributed $29.2B in 2025

Tourism contributed a record $29.2 billion to Colorado's economy in 2025, a 2% increase over 2024, according to research released Tuesday by Gov. Jared Polis and the Colorado Tourism Office.

The state welcomed 96.8 million visitors last year, up 1.4% from 95.4 million in 2024, and travel generated $1.91 billion in state and local tax revenue.

Tourism directly supported 187,860 jobs, a decline of 0.6%, though worker earnings rose 1.6% to $10.5 billion.

Polis' office warned that rising competition, federal policy uncertainty, and weather challenges are slowing growth, with some mountain destinations seeing seasonal declines near 40%.

Severe Storms, Lightning Batter State

Severe thunderstorm and flash flood watches took effect across northeastern Colorado on Tuesday, bringing heavy rain, large hail, damaging winds, and frequent lightning.

Storms first formed in the mountains around midday, pushed through the Denver metro area by early afternoon, and then picked up strength east of Interstate 25.

Flash flood warnings covered the Cameron Peak burn scar in Larimer County, part of Mesa County near the Colorado National Monument, and communities including Beulah and Elbert. The severe thunderstorm watch reached more than 2.8 million people.

On the Western Slope, forecasters expect more high-elevation storms and flash flood risk near burn scars, followed by potentially record-breaking heat this weekend with highs of 98 to 104 degrees.

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Pet insurance may be more affordable than you expect

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➤ Colorado Springs: A poll paid for by Democrat Jessica Killin's campaign put her 1 point behind Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank in the 5th Congressional District, which has never elected a Democrat. (More)

➤ Also in Colorado Springs, Lower Skyway neighbors say the Arcturus Drive and Green Star Drive intersection has flooded for at least a decade, and the city's public works director is waiting on development plans before committing to a fix. (More)

➤ Boulder County: Colorado Parks and Wildlife euthanized a bear that broke into a western Boulder County trailer where a 57-year-old man was found unconscious, after officials determined he had a medical emergency before the break-in. (More)

➤ Grand Junction: An industrial fire in a shed of liquid resin at TotalEnergies Cray Valley sent black smoke over the city Monday night and closed Riverside Parkway until just before 10 p.m., with no known injuries. (More)

➤ Larimer County: Rescuers used a highline and a boat to bring a woman and her dog back across the Poudre River just before midnight last week, after rising water trapped them on a riverbank in Poudre Canyon. (More)

➤ Cañon City: Remains found by hikers near Skyline Drive earlier this month have been identified as those of Shawn Dixon Sr., a man first reported missing in 2023. (More)

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➤ Colorado Rapids defender Lucas Herrington earned a coach's selection for tonight's MLS All-Star Game in Charlotte, where stateside superstars face the best players from Mexico. (How to Watch)

➤ The Denver Nuggets hired former NBA head coach Dave Joerger as lead assistant on David Adelman's staff. Joerger coached Memphis and Sacramento for six seasons, bringing a particular focus to the defensive side of the ball. (More)

➤ The Broncos' annual half-price ticket sale went live yesterday, with a limited number of seats starting at $23 for home games at Empower Field at Mile High. Fans are limited to one game and four tickets per household. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Tennis | WNBA

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➤ Denver is the first North American pilot city for three-wheeled rental e-tricycles, part of Veo's Micromobility Fleet. (More)

➤ Two new restaurants, E Hijole Tacos and Mile High Deli, opened in Concourse B of Denver International Airport. (More)

➤ 85 °C Bakery Cafe, a Taiwan-based chain with more than 1,000 stores worldwide, is building its first Colorado location in Aurora, with plans to open in September. (More)

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➤ A Littleton couple delivered their newborn daughter on the shoulder of Interstate 225 with their doula's help. After nearly 130 days in the hospital, the baby is finally home. (More)

➤ Green Mountain Reservoir has dropped to 23% capacity in the drought, exposing an ATV that an ice fisherman lost five years ago. The owner is working with the U.S. Forest Service to retrieve it. (More)

➤ The Colorado National Guard honored the lives of service members who fought in World War I. (See Photos)

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