Selasa, 04 Agustus 2026

Arizona Economic Growth, West Nile Surge, and Paradise Earth

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2007, NASA launched the Phoenix Mars Lander, a mission led by the University of Arizona's Peter Smith. It touched down in the Martian arctic the following spring and confirmed the presence of water ice beneath the surface.

A struggling donut shop discovered just how sweet its community can be. One online plea turned into an outpouring of support, and as we report below, the response may have saved a local favorite.

What's one local business in your community you couldn't go without? Reply to this email and let us know!

What if the biggest threat in your diet isn't sugar or fat, but something hiding in more than half of everything you eat? Ultra-processed foods have been linked to plenty of chronic conditions, all of which can shorten your life. And they're lurking in products you'd never suspect, from your morning bagel to the sauce on your stir fry. The good news? You don't have to overhaul your kitchen or your budget to cut them out. On today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla reveals six everyday swaps that push these foods off your plate, plus the one trick that exposes them on any label. Tune in here!

If you haven't compared your car insurance in a while, there's a good chance you're paying more than you need to. Even if you checked rates a year ago, the market has changed. That's why today's sponsor, Insurify, makes it easy to compare quotes from more than 120 insurers in just a few minutes.

Arizona Notches Record Economic Year

Arizona drew commitments for 26,225 projected new jobs and more than $109 billion in investment in the fiscal year that ended June 30, both single-year highs.

The figures are projections tied to company pledges, not jobs already filled. The new positions carry an average wage of $81,368, above the state median.

Expansion projects reached 23 communities, from Buckeye and Litchfield Park to Tucson, Yuma and Cochise County. Semiconductor projects included commitments from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) in Phoenix, ASML, and Amkor in Peoria.

Gov. Katie Hobbs credited the results to workforce investment and a business climate that "creates opportunity for every Arizonan."

The Arizona Commerce Authority, marking its 15th year, says it has secured more than 1,428 projects and $304 billion in investment since 2011.

Court Shields Clergy from Reporting Law

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled last week that churches, not judges or juries, decide which clergy conversations count as confidential and fall outside the state's mandatory child-abuse reporting law.

The unanimous decision stems from a lawsuit by three children who said bishops of a Bisbee ward of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints failed to report their father's abuse.

Paul Adams admitted the abuse to a bishop in a 2011 confession and again before a church disciplinary council. He was indicted in 2017 and later died by suicide in jail.

The children argued the clergy waived confidentiality once the abuse was repeated before others they contended were not clergy, and that state law required them to alert authorities.

The justices disagreed, holding that the First Amendment bars courts from second-guessing how a church defines confession. They noted judges may still intervene in rare cases of fraud or collusion.

West Nile Cases Surge across Arizona

Arizona has recorded 61 West Nile virus infections and five deaths this year, more than any other state and nearly double last year's pace.

Federal officials call it the worst early-season surge in more than 20 years. Nationally, an average of about 10 cases had been reported by the end of June since 2004. This year, the national total reached 48 before July.

Maricopa County drives the outbreak with 47 cases and all five deaths through the week of July 24, up from 24 cases and two deaths at this point last year.

The virus has reached beyond the Valley, with 11 cases in Pima County and one each in Coconino and Pinal counties. Arizona's total is roughly five times that of Texas, the state with the next-highest count.

Health officials warn peak transmission season, typically August and September, has not yet arrived. "You do need to seek medical care if you get sick," said Dr. Leo Odle, a primary care physician with Optum Arizona.

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➤ Eagar: State troopers arrested drug-trafficking suspect Jason Tobey after a chase toward the New Mexico border, ending a summer-long investigation into a Phoenix-area drug pipeline. Tobey was already wanted in five Arizona counties. (See Details)

➤ Mesa: A 9-year-old had saved $160 to open his first savings account when he spotted a masked robber vault over the teller counter at a Bank of America. He calmly warned his grandmother, and the two took cover. Police arrested the suspect and praised the boy. (Read Story)

➤ Peoria: Bjorn Hartzell, now 20, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for a 2022 Thanksgiving crash that killed five people. Prosecutors said he was 16, impaired by marijuana, and driving about 112 mph in a 40 mph zone when he hit a family's minivan. (More)

➤ Litchfield Park: The West Valley city opened a new 10,000-square-foot library Monday, nearly 40% larger than its old branch. The facility anchors the La Loma Homestead redevelopment and adds study rooms, a teen space, and an automated book-sorting system. (See Photos)

➤ Scottsdale: Postal inspectors arrested a California man accused of stealing mail and unvoted mail-in ballot packets from a post office collection box using homemade "trap" devices. Investigators say Richard Anthony Ramos Jr. also took outgoing checks, including one for $16,000. (More)

➤ Sun City West: A $50,000 Powerball ticket from Saturday's drawing was sold at a Safeway near R.H. Johnson Boulevard and Camino Del Sol. The jackpot for Monday night's drawing was estimated at $748 million. (More)

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➤ Arizona basketball signed Clemson transfer forward RJ Godfrey. Godfrey, who averaged 12 points and 5.3 rebounds on 61% shooting last season, gained a fifth year of eligibility through a recent court ruling that temporarily granted him an extra year. (More)

➤ Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Walter Nolen III is "good" after he was seen limping at practice Friday, head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters. The 2025 first-round pick missed eight weeks as a rookie with a calf strain and later tore his meniscus, so any slight injury draws attention. (More)

➤ The Cardinals released their first depth chart of the preseason, with first-round pick Jeremiyah Love listed as RB2 behind Tyler Allgeier. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis | Little League Softball World Series

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➤ SEMICON West, the semiconductor industry's flagship North American trade show, will make Phoenix its long-term home, moving to an annual spring run at the Phoenix Convention Center starting in 2027. Its Arizona debut drew 60% more registrations, the biggest turnout in nearly 20 years. (More)

➤ Celebrity chef Scott Conant brings his wood-fired Italian cuisine to Roman God of Fire, opening Aug. 7 at Mill Avenue and Rio Salado Parkway in Tempe. The Roman-inspired menu features supplì, rigatoni carbonara, and pasta matriciana, with reservations open now. (See Details)

➤ Paradise Earth, a proposed indoor rainforest near Scottsdale, had its permit vote tabled as the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Council sought answers on water use, waste, animal sourcing, and heat concerns. It will return to the council later. (More)

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➤ Arizona's deadliest animal is the western diamondback rattlesnake, according to a new World Population Review ranking of the creature most likely to kill people in each state. Snakes topped the list in 14 states, more than any other category, ahead of bears, deer, and even moose. (See List)

➤ The Local Donut, a Scottsdale shop, struggled to make payroll this summer, so owner Daniel Tes posted an online plea for help. The community packed the place the next day, with some businesses even pre-paying for strangers, helping keep the 10-year-old shop open. (Read Story)

➤ ASU's Counseling Training Center is expanding free and low-cost counseling services to all Arizona adults, not just students, and adding a Mesa location. Weekly sessions start Aug. 24. They're free for college students statewide and $100 a semester for other residents. (See Details)

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➤ The Real Reason Skin Starts To Thin After 50 (It’s Not What You Think) Remember when bruises faded fast and skin bounced back? New research shows a particular deficiency impacts strength and dark spots too—and you don’t have to accept paper-thin, discolored skin as the “new normal.” Unfortunately, most people don’t know that thinning, aging skin is often caused by this. 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:

➤ Hidden ultra-processed ingredients lurk in over half your diet, but there are six simple swaps to fight back. (Hear Details)

➤ The first deaths have been reported in the nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak, with two victims confirmed in Michigan. (Hear Episode)

➤ New Yorkers can finally camp overnight in Central Park, but scoring a free spot means winning a coveted citywide lottery. (Listen Now)

If you won a $748 million Powerball jackpot, what would you do first?

Previous Results:

Phoenix drew a record $13.4 billion from visitors last year. Are the crowds that come with tourism a problem where you live?

No, not really: 37%
Only in peak season: 21%
I welcome the visitors: 19%
Yes, it’s too much: 14%
Other: 9%

Which famous American company laid the foundation for Litchfield Park by sending executive Paul W. Litchfield to Arizona in 1916 to establish a cotton-growing operation?

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Officer Indicted, Doughnut Record, and Beekeeper Problems

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1995, Dearfield, a ghost town east of Greeley, was added to the National Registry of Historic Places.

Did you know Pikes Peak has the highest-altitude doughnuts in the world? If that doesn't impress you, the fourteener just set another doughnut record: most simultaneous dunks into coffee. Find out more in today's Top Stories.

Aurora Officer Indicted by Grand Jury

An 18th Judicial District grand jury indicted Aurora police Officer Matthew Neely, 54, on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the 2025 fatal shooting of Rajon Belt-Stubblefield.

Neely fired three shots after Belt-Stubblefield, 37, crashed his car, tossed a handgun into the grass, and then advanced on the officer while refusing commands to get on the ground.

Arapahoe County District Attorney Amy Padden said the grand jury found probable cause for the charges, while Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said officers are often called to address dangerous situations in seconds.

Neely was placed on unpaid administrative leave and was released on a $200,000 bond after surrendering over the weekend, with his next court appearance set for Aug. 17.

Artemis Crew Visits Red Rocks

The four Artemis II astronauts took the stage at Red Rocks Monday morning to share mission highlights and never-before-seen footage from their 10-day flight around the moon.

Cmdr. Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen were scheduled to speak from 9:30 to 11 a.m. after a STEM fair opened on the Top Plaza at 8 a.m.

A Lockheed Martin spokesperson said the event was fully booked by more than 6,000 ticket holders in under 10 minutes, and the Denver Astronomical Society said its web traffic has more than doubled since March.

The mission took the crew almost 250,000 miles from Earth, farther than any humans in history.

Doughnut Record Set Atop Pikes Peak

Pikes Peak earned a Guinness World Records title over the weekend for the most people simultaneously dunking doughnuts into coffee, with 285 hikers taking part atop the 14,115-foot summit.

Guinness officials confirmed a successful attempt after the simultaneous dunk, which was staged on Saturday, Aug. 1, to mark the 150th anniversary of Colorado's statehood.

Organizers had needed at least 250 people to dunk the mountain's signature doughnuts, which come from a Summit Visitor Center recipe kept secret since the 1900s.

Sarah Braun, interim manager of Pikes Peak, said the record was "a memorable way to celebrate one of Colorado's most iconic destinations."

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➤ Commerce City: A grass fire briefly forced evacuations in the Reunion area Sunday afternoon. Crews put it out within about 35 minutes with no injuries or structures lost. (More)

➤ Keystone: Town Council unanimously approved a first reading of a measure declaring wildfire fuel hazards such as dead or diseased trees public nuisances, with a second and final vote set for Aug. 11. (More)

➤ Lake County: The Leadville 100 mountain bike and running races will follow new courses for the first time ever this month as organizers reroute the events around the Willow fire burning west of town. (More)

➤ Grand Junction: Family, firefighters, and community members gathered at the Avalon Theatre on Saturday to honor Rifle Helitack crew member Nathan Matthews, who died following injuries sustained in the Knowles Fire. (More)

➤ Northern Colorado: Ramon Parra, the 20-year-old driver in a July 25 rollover on Weld County Road 80, died over the weekend, becoming the crash's fourth victim. (More)

➤ Longmont: A mother and daughter about whom the city's public safety team had been concerned were found safe after last being seen Saturday evening. (More)

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➤ The Colorado Rapids agreed to sell 18-year-old defender Lucas Herrington to newly promoted English Premier League club Hull City in a deal worth up to $23 million. Herrington joined the Rapids in January, meaning he only spent about half a year with the club. (More)

➤ A federal judge in Colorado clarified her NCAA eligibility ruling, saying it does not cover football players who signed professional contracts this summer. The original Friday ruling granted Class of 2022 athletes a fifth year, but the clarification shut the door on players already on NFL rosters who had expressed interest in returning to college. (More)

➤ The Colorado Buffaloes could still benefit, though. Edge rusher Keaten Wade and kicker Alejandro Mata are among the CU players eligible to return, though Mata's brief stint in the Indoor Football League may complicate his amateur status. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis | Little League Softball World Series

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➤ Elk Mountain Lodge, Bill Koch's 52-acre estate near Aspen, sold at auction for more than $33.5 million, roughly 75% below the $125 million he was asking when the compound first listed last year. (More)

➤ The beekeeping industry continues to be challenged by honeybee colony losses, though Colorado has fared better than some parts of the U.S., according to beekeepers who gathered at the Parker Honey Festival. (More)

➤ A Walmart Neighborhood Market on the Aurora-Centennial border will close Monday, Aug. 24, for a monthlong remodel. The pharmacy will remain open. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

Flying together with our sponsor

Five Minutes Could Save You Hundreds

If it's been more than a year since you last shopped for insurance, now is a smart time to check.

See how much you could save with Insurify today.

➤ CU Boulder tied for No. 105—the highest of any Colorado school—in U.S. News & World Report's new global university rankings. Four University of Colorado campuses made the list. (More)

➤ More than 400 hikers climbed 12,162-foot Mount Crested Butte for the 27th annual Living Journeys Summit Hike, which supports Gunnison County cancer patients and their families. (More)

➤ A stone mansion in Steamboat Springs, built over six years and finished in 2009 beside the ski area's gondola, has returned to the market asking $13.95 million. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Real Reason Skin Starts To Thin After 50 (It’s Not What You Think. Remember when bruises faded fast and skin bounced back? New research shows a particular deficiency impacts strength and dark spots too—and you don’t have to accept paper-thin, discolored skin as the “new normal.” Unfortunately, most people don’t know that thinning, aging skin is often caused by this. Learn More