Rabu, 12 Agustus 2026

Patriot Games, Small Plane Crash, and Whatnot

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1883, stagecoaches were robbed between Florence and Globe and on the Prescott–Ash Fork route. This photo shows the Tombstone-to-Bisbee stagecoach circa 1885.

Do you think you're a good driver? A new study asked nearly 2,700 drivers about the risky things they do behind the wheel, and the answers reveal a strange gap between what people believe and how they actually drive. Here's one that will sting. It's something 61% of us do in the car, barely anyone considers it dangerous, and research shows it can scramble your focus for nearly half a minute after you stop. And the kicker: 78% of drivers believe they're safer than everyone else on the road, and researchers say that belief is wrong and dangerous. So, which of the top 5 known mistakes are you guilty of? Today, Ayla counts down the driving errors we all talk ourselves into. Tune in here!

Today's sponsor is Blood Sugar Secrets, sharing information about a surprising factor that may offer clues about blood sugar health and a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels.

Senate Leader Drops Map Fight

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen dropped plans to sue over the state's congressional district lines, leaving the current map untouched.

Petersen, R-Gilbert, said redistricting commissioners indicated new lines would look much like the existing ones.

Petersen floated the suit after an April U.S. Supreme Court decision narrowed when mapmakers may consider race.

In Arizona, mapmaking is overseen by the Independent Redistricting Commission, which is not scheduled to convene again until 2031.

Flock Defends Cameras

A Flock Safety executive defended the company's license plate readers as more Arizona police agencies cancel or reconsider contracts over privacy and misuse concerns.

In Apache Junction, an officer resigned after an internal investigation found he used the cameras to track his wife's car, Police Chief Michael Pooley said.

Flock spokesman Trevor Chandler said the cameras read plates and vehicle characteristics, and that the company does not own or sell the data. The company deletes data after 30 days unless downloaded as evidence.

The Pinal County Sheriff's Department and the city of Chandler ended their contracts this month. Flagstaff, Sedona, and South Tucson cut theirs earlier.

Scottsdale, Mesa, and Gilbert are among the cities that continue to use the readers.

Teens Compete in Patriot Games

Two Phoenix-area teenagers represented Arizona at the 2026 Patriot Games, the Freedom 250 competition announced by President Trump that wrapped up Tuesday in Geneva, Ohio.

Abraham Van Wie, 14, of Phoenix traces his adoptive family's military service to the Revolutionary War, with a Van Wie serving in every major American conflict since.

Mesa's Eliza Anderson, 17, a Westwood High School senior who has placed at state in tennis, swimming, and wrestling, joined him on Team Arizona.

The three-day event featured about 120 young people competing in a series of athletic challenges for a share of a $250,000 scholarship pool. Champions will be crowned during a one-hour TV special at 6 p.m. Thursday on ABC.

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Quick Question: What color is your urine most often?

Did you know the color of your urine may reveal clues about your blood sugar health that an A1C test might not show? While urine color is often associated with hydration, a new university study has raised questions about a surprising factor that could affect how the body manages blood sugar. Changes in your urine may provide clues worth paying attention to, especially if you are concerned about maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.

Now, you can learn more about what different urine changes could potentially mean and discover a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels. Take a closer look at the research and see what your urine may be telling you about your health.

Check it out here.

➤ Payson: Two local men were killed when their small airplane crashed in a rugged area near town late Monday. (More)

➤ Mesa: Gov. Katie Hobbs officially announced former Mesa mayor John Giles as her running mate in the state's first lieutenant governor race. He was first named as her choice last week. (More)

➤ Flagstaff: A former Northern Arizona University fraternity pledge master faces up to a year in jail and four years' probation after pleading guilty to felony hazing in connection with a student's death in January. (More)

➤ Tucson: Businesses near the University of Arizona report slower summer sales, with one Main Gate Square cafe citing a 20% to 30% drop, ahead of an expected smaller incoming class. (More)

➤ Peoria: The Peoria Unified School District pulled several books from its middle school English curriculum as it rolls out new guidance on controversial topics and diversity, equity, and inclusion. (More)

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➤ Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins accused former Arizona Cardinals GM Steve Keim of setting him up with a contaminated drug test in 2022 that led to a six-game suspension. Keim denied any involvement. (More)

➤ Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham blasted a loop of The Itsy Bitsy Spider and other nursery rhymes during practice, challenging players to perform in an "uncomfortable" environment. (More)

➤ Arizona football will bring back linebacker Max Harris and leading rusher Ismail Mahdi after a federal court order granted each a fifth year of eligibility. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis | Soccer

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➤ Live shopping platform Whatnot, started in a Phoenix garage, raised $545 million in investments, pushing the company's valuation to nearly $20 billion. (More)

➤ Arkansas-based 7 Brew may challenge Salad and Go's $105 million bankruptcy sale of up to 65 closed drive-thru locations to Dutch Bros, arguing the deal should go to an open auction. (More)

➤ Paul Brierley, director of the Arizona Department of Agriculture, said numerous factors played a role in the federal government's choice of the Douglas port to resume cattle imports from Mexico. (More)

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Did you know the color of your urine may reveal clues about your blood sugar health that an A1C test might not show? A new university study has raised questions about a surprising factor that could affect how the body manages blood sugar.

Discover what your urine may reveal and learn about a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels.

Check it out here.

➤ A silkie chicken named Banana got her own special Dutch Bros sticker, which sold out by 10 a.m. at the Tucson coffee shop that she visits almost every day with her owner. (More)

➤ A driver arrested on suspicion of DUI on Route 66 near Flagstaff displayed an Arrive Alive, Drive Sober vanity plate on their pickup truck, state troopers said. (More)

➤ The Cholla Trailhead on Camelback Mountain in Phoenix will close from Monday through Aug. 28 for sewer construction. (More)

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➤ Did you know your urine color may reveal clues about your diabetes risk that even an A1C test could miss? A new university study has raised questions about a surprising factor affecting blood sugar. Learn how to detect this potential issue and discover a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels. See what the research reveals and learn more.

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:

➤ New research reveals the dangerous driving mistake 78% of Americans don't believe they're making. (Hear Mistake)

➤ Federal rules may soon let parents grow their children's savings with pretax paycheck dollars, and employers could match. (Hear Details)

➤ After 1,666 days in a Russian prison, a U.S. Marine veteran's story just took a dramatic turn. (Listen Now)

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Are you a math person or an art person?

Math: 34%
Neither: 30%
Both: 19%
Art: 17%

Arizona is one of five states that lack which statewide office that its voters will fill for the first time in November?

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Data Center Vote, Meteor Shower, and Time Capsule Tour

Wednesday, August 12, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1878, the town of Alamosa incorporated. Today, Alamosa is known as the “Gateway to the Great Sand Dunes,” which are close enough to be visible from town.

Make a wish! The Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight into early tomorrow. Find out how to watch in our Top Stories—then hit reply to share your favorite meteor shower memories.

Do you think you're a good driver? A new study asked nearly 2,700 drivers about the risky things they do behind the wheel, and the answers reveal a strange gap between what people believe and how they actually drive. Here's one that will sting. It's something 61% of us do in the car, barely anyone considers it dangerous, and research shows it can scramble your focus for nearly half a minute after you stop. And the kicker. 78% of drivers believe they're safer than everyone else on the road, and researchers say that belief is wrong and dangerous. So, which of the top 5 knowing mistakes are you guilty of? Today, Ayla counts down the driving errors we all talk ourselves into. Tune in here!

Aurora Rejects Data Center Ban

Aurora's City Council voted 6-5 Monday night against a six-month moratorium on data center construction, with the mayor casting the tiebreaking vote.

Council members instead passed a competing resolution from Council Member Curtis Gardner directing the city manager to develop new regulations over the next 35 days.

The rejected measure, from Council Member Amy Wiles, would have paused construction while standards were adopted. Aurora is home to the state's largest data center, with five more on the way.

Residents raised concerns about water and electricity costs, and the coming rules could include banning evaporative cooling and revisiting zoning. The city has no authority over energy impacts.

Former CU Admin Arrested

A former University of Colorado Boulder administrator has been charged with theft, embezzlement of public property, and first-degree official misconduct after an internal audit.

Cory Randall Hilliard administered the university's Nike Elite Program, which manages employee product benefit allocations such as athletic apparel allotments and stipend programs.

Auditors reviewed financial records, interviewed athletics staff, and analyzed transaction histories, finding Hilliard diverted $9,510.50 in university funds between 2021 and 2025.

Hilliard was hired as chief financial officer of USA Swimming in December 2025. The organization said it placed him on leave, cut his access to company data, and opened an investigation. He reportedly resigned on Tuesday.

How to Watch Perseid Meteor Shower

The Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight into the early hours of Thursday, and the peak lines up with a new moon, leaving almost no moonlight to wash out the show.

NASA says 50 to 100 meteors per hour may be visible in ideal conditions. The debris comes from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle, which is not due back until 2125.

You can start looking around 10 p.m. No telescope or binoculars are needed—just a dark location well away from city lights and time for your eyes to adjust.

Clouds are the wild card, with monsoon moisture in the forecast, though the mountains west of Denver and southern Colorado are considered good bets if skies break.

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Quick Question: What color is your urine most often?

Check it out here.

➤ Statewide: Colorado spent nearly $175,000 last year on government-issued cellphones that went unused, according to a state audit, with about 400 of 6,688 phones receiving no calls or texts. (More)

➤ Denver Water has shifted from education to enforcement, issuing more than 50 warnings and roughly six fines last week as customers stay limited to watering lawns two days a week. (More)

➤ Westminster: Three dogs were bitten by a rattlesnake at the same open space over the weekend. A nearby veterinary center has treated roughly eight snakebites this year. (More)

➤ Colorado Springs: Monse's Pupuseria, a popular local restaurant, says theft and vandalism at its Old Colorado City and downtown locations caused at least $80,000 in damage, including stolen rooftop HVAC units. (More)

➤ Ault: A microburst tore through a local festival over the weekend, lifting a 100-pound concrete booth weight that struck vendor Johanna Emery in the chest and sent her to the hospital. (More)

➤ Longmont: A police officer shot and killed a 20-year-old man Monday afternoon after the man allegedly took a victim hostage during a domestic-related disturbance. (More)

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➤ Greek basketball club Panathinaikos made a formal offer to buy Nikola Jokic out of his Nuggets contract this summer—which Denver rejected—but they plan to try luring him to Europe again when the three-time MVP becomes a free agent next year. (More)

➤ Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar was voted the NHL's best defenseman by NHL Network for a fifth consecutive year. He's been a Norris Trophy finalist in six of seven seasons, joining Bobby Orr as the only defensemen to do it. (More)

➤ The state’s new sports betting rules take effect today, banning credit card deposits and capping bettors at six deposits per day. The law also bars sportsbooks from sending push notifications that solicit bets, a first among U.S. states. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis | Soccer

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➤ A rancher between Beulah and Colorado City lost at least 250 grazing acres to the Aspen Acres Fire and now expects to spend around $40,000 on hay he would not normally need to buy. (More)

➤ State utility regulators cut Xcel Energy's requested rate increase from $225 million to $166 million, though some customers say any hike is more than they can absorb. (Read More)

➤ Denver City Council approved three contracts worth $248 million for Denver International Airport, covering terminal expansion, the concourse train system, and baggage handling. (More)

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Discover what your urine may reveal and learn about a simple approach being discussed for supporting healthier blood sugar levels.

Check it out here.

➤ The Colorado Capsule tour stops at the Glenwood Springs Community Center today from 9 to 10 a.m., collecting items from everyday life before a 50-year burial in Loveland. (More)

➤ Savannah Bananas and Indianapolis Clowns players will serve coffee at the Greenwood Village Dunkin' from 9 to 11 a.m. this Friday ahead of the team's games at Coors Field. (More)

➤ Country singer Ashley McBryde called out Greeley when asked which city has the “worst fans” during a podcast interview. (More)

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