Senin, 03 Agustus 2026

Biggs Picks Kerr, Save Old Tucson, and Arizona Cowboy Poets

Monday, August 3, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1918, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Casa Grande Ruins a national monument, preserving the four-story "Great House" built by the Hohokam near present-day Coolidge.

Nothing says Arizona monsoon season quite like a waterfall roaring back to life. Sycamore Falls is flowing again after recent storms, and as we report below, the rare seasonal spectacle is drawing visitors to one of northern Arizona's most fleeting natural attractions.

What's the most beautiful place you've visited in Arizona? We'd love to hear about the scenic spot that left the biggest impression on you.

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Biggs Names Kerr as Running Mate

Republican gubernatorial nominee Andy Biggs named former state Sen. Sine Kerr as his running mate Friday, the first time an Arizona gubernatorial candidate has selected a running mate for lieutenant governor.

Kerr, a Buckeye dairy farmer who represented Maricopa and Yuma counties in the state Senate from 2018 to 2025, most recently served as Arizona state executive director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency after a 2025 appointment by President Donald Trump. Biggs said she has the respect of farmers, ranchers, and policymakers statewide.

This November marks the first time Arizona voters will elect a governor and lieutenant governor together, and the lieutenant governor will become first in the line of succession, replacing the secretary of state.

Biggs is challenging incumbent Gov. Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, who has until Sept. 4 to name her own running mate. Hobbs has not made a pick and has said she is open to choosing a Republican.

New Rules Meet Arizona's Extreme Heat

With triple-digit heat gripping Arizona, new heat-safety guidelines for outdoor workers are now in place, urging employers to provide water, shade, and rest breaks on the job.

Ironworkers Local 75 coordinator Aaron McDonald said crews working atop metal structures can face temperatures approaching 140 degrees, and several ironworkers at a major Arizona construction project have suffered heat illness in recent weeks.

Some labor advocates say the guidelines lack real teeth and want a mandatory standard with penalties, like those in California and six other states.

The guidelines grew out of a task force Gov. Katie Hobbs convened that focused on water, shade, rest, heat training, and worker acclimatization.

Abducted Newborn Found Safe Near Winslow

An 11-day-old boy abducted from the West Valley city of Surprise was found safe near Winslow, nearly 200 miles away, after a statewide search.

The Navajo County Sheriff's Office received a statewide alert after the abduction and, with Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers, stopped the suspect's vehicle near Winslow hours later, finding the infant unharmed. A deputy was later photographed feeding the baby a bottle.

Surprise police said the child's father, who does not have custodial rights, had taken the child without permission. Investigators have not announced whether any charges will be filed.

The infant was taken to a hospital as a precaution and was awaiting reunification with his mother. The sheriff's office thanked the Arizona Department of Public Safety and said it was grateful for the safe outcome.

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➤ Tucson: A group of performers and fans called Save Old Tucson is seeking to take over the lease of the historic Old Tucson western theme park after operator American Heritage Railways declined to renew its lease, leaving Pima County to seek a new leaseholder. (More)

➤ Ajo: The National Park Service closed all roads to Quitobaquito Springs ahead of construction of a secondary border wall near the endangered species habitat. (More)

➤ Phoenix: The city broke ground on the USS Phoenix Cold War Monument at Steele Indian School Park, a decades-in-the-making tribute built around 65 tons of salvaged parts from the decommissioned submarine USS Phoenix. It is expected to open in about a year. (Read Story)

➤ Navajo Nation: Preston Tolth, the only person convicted in connection with the 2021 disappearance of Navajo weaver and grandmother Ella Mae Begay, was arrested on a burglary charge in Phoenix weeks after an early prison release, a violation that could return him to federal custody. (More)

➤ Chandler: With classes back in session, a resident is urging drivers to stop for extended school bus arms on Pecos Road near Alma School, saying too many cars blow past the signals. A Chandler Unified bus driver called the near-misses heart-stopping. (More)

➤ Show Low: ADOT completed two US 60 improvement projects near Show Low, adding 3 miles of passing lanes and rehabilitating 16 miles of pavement to improve safety and traffic flow. (More)

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➤ The Phoenix Mercury swung a huge trade early yesterday morning, landing five-time WNBA All-Star Kelsey Plum from the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Monique Akoa Makani and two draft picks. It is just the fourth time in league history an All-Star has been traded midseason. (More)

➤ Former Arizona State safety and 2025 All-Big 12 selection Myles Rowser is exploring a possible return to college football after a federal court ruled that high school class of 2022 players are eligible for an extra year. (More)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Jordan Lawlar is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment next week, according to manager Torey Lovullo. (More)

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

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➤ Phoenix metro visitors spent a record $13.4 billion in 2025, or about $36.6 million a day, according to a Tourism Economics report. The region welcomed 47.7 million visitors, and their spending generated a total economic impact of $23.6 billion. (See Report)

➤ Select Specialty Hospital–Tucson East, a 28-bed facility on the Tucson Medical Center campus, has closed and laid off 99 workers. Parent company Select Medical says it is trying to relocate some staff to its other Tucson and Phoenix-area locations. (More)

➤ The Collective on Ocotillo, a $20.1 million medical office condominium project, has broken ground in Queen Creek, one of metro Phoenix's fastest-growing communities. Developed by Mesa-based A.T. Craft, it will offer healthcare providers space to buy or lease and is expected to open in early 2027. (More)

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➤ The 38th Arizona Cowboy Poets Gathering brings more than 40 cowboy poets, musicians, and storytellers to Yavapai College in Prescott Aug. 6-8, with three nights of performances and two days of free daytime sessions celebrating Western heritage. (See Details)

➤ Recent monsoon storms have revived Sycamore Falls, a seasonal 70-foot waterfall in the Kaibab National Forest near Williams that flows only after significant rainfall. Reaching the overlook takes about a 10-mile drive on unpaved forest roads followed by a short walk. (See Photos)

➤ A Scottsdale home has hit the market for $8,755,000, offering 6,493 square feet with six bedrooms and eight bathrooms for buyers shopping at the top of the Valley's luxury market. (See Photos)

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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:

➤ A gunman killed three people and wounded seven others at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, before taking his own life. (Hear More)

➤ Wind-driven wildfires around Spokane, Washington, have destroyed more than 600 structures and forced tens of thousands from their homes in what the mayor calls the region's worst natural disaster. (Listen Now)

➤ A crime network tied to Iran is recruiting European teenagers as hitmen over social media, then abandoning them when they're caught. (Tune In)

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

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Were you a fan of Hot Dog on a Stick restaurants?

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No: 22%
Yes: 18%

Director Howard Hawks filmed this 1959 Western, starring John Wayne and Dean Martin, at Old Tucson Studios. Name the film.

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Street Takeover, Nuclear Reactors, and Unbridled Rodeo

Monday, August 3, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1960, Dave Rearick and Bob Kamps became the first climbers to surmount The Diamond on the east face of Longs Peak.

Days after state officials declared the small southeastern plains town of Hartman abandoned, residents are calling for accountability. Read the full story below.

Today's sponsor, Oricle Hearing Aids, is helping readers hear more clearly without the sky-high prices—offering a tiny, easy-to-use hearing aid with clear sound and all-day power for under $100.

Residents of Abandoned Town Call for Arrests

The Colorado Department of State has declared the 116-year-old town of Hartman abandoned, a legal designation that ends the Prowers County community's existence as a municipality after its entire government resigned.

The town's three remaining trustees quit in January, a day after a brawl broke out among four women following a board meeting, leaving no one authorized to sign contracts or call an election.

Hartman's roughly 30 residents have been under a boil-water advisory since October 2025, and the town could not tap more than $1 million in state grants to fix its failing water system without officials to sign for it.

Residents are now demanding accountability, arguing in a community Facebook group that dissolving the town does not erase criminal liability for alleged embezzlement of COVID relief funds and unauthorized checks.

No Arrests after Denver Street Takeover

No arrests were made and no citations issued after an illegal street takeover at Broadway and Mississippi late Friday night, Denver police said.

Video shows cars spinning donuts through thick smoke, a crowd cheering in the intersection, fireworks going off, and eventually a fire burning in the middle of the road.

One neighbor estimated officers took about 30 minutes to arrive, while DPD said patrol cars reached the scene roughly 16 minutes after the takeover began and cleared it using lights and sirens.

Police did not explain the lack of arrests but said higher-priority calls may have delayed the response, and DPD has made at least 59 street-racing arrests and impounded 44 vehicles this year.

Rain To Douse Heat Wave

Denver hit 100 degrees Sunday for its fourth triple-digit day of 2026, pushing the year into the top 10 for most 100-degree days on record, according to the National Weather Service.

Boulder tied its all-time record at 104 degrees, and first pitch at Coors Field came at 99 degrees, the second-hottest start to a Rockies home game in franchise history.

The scorching stretch caps the second-hottest July in Denver history, which averaged 78.7 degrees and set a new record with 28 days at or above 90.

A cold front arriving Monday should knock temperatures down 15 to 25 degrees across the plains by Tuesday and Wednesday, with a chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms.

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➤ Douglas County: Commissioners are weighing a feasibility study for small modular nuclear reactors, with Commissioner George Teal calling the carbon-free technology a long-term option worth mapping out now. (More)

➤ Statewide: Victims are warning about the FTC-flagged "You're Invited" scam, in which phishing emails disguised as Evite or Paperless Post invitations prompt recipients to log in and surrender their credentials. (More)

➤ Summit County: Swan Mountain Road has been closed since mid-April, and officials now hope to reopen the Breckenridge-to-Keystone connector before school starts, though recent rain keeps eroding the surface ahead of final paving. (More)

➤ Colorado Springs: Police are asking for tips after a Saturday afternoon shooting near Prospect Lake at Memorial Park left one person in serious condition, with one suspect fleeing on foot and another driving off. (More)

➤ Parachute: A coal train derailed outside of town south of Interstate 70 on Saturday, closing Highway 6 in both directions and a nearby boat ramp, though police said initial reports indicated the derailed cars were empty. (More)

➤ DIA: A police dog alerted on an unattended bag Friday evening, closing Level 6 West until the bomb squad found no explosives. A SkyWest flight to Grand Junction was later deboarded over a threat police called non-credible. (More)

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➤ Denver Broncos President Damani Leech expressed frustration with the process of building the team’s new stadium in a recent press conference, though he noted he still believes it will open in 2031 as planned. (More)

➤ The Colorado Rockies won their 44th game of the season on Saturday, surpassing their win total for the entirety of the 2025 season with 51 games left in the 2026 season. (More)

➤ Broncos quarterback Bo Nix told reporters that he will not be afraid to scramble on his surgically repaired ankle next season, noting that he “feels at [his] best” when he’s on the move. (More)

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

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➤ Join 27,392 Pest Free Yard Owners. Drive out moles, voles, gophers, snakes & 30+ disease carrying pests with Vermix Stakes. Push it into the lawn. Results in 48 hours. Learn More

➤ Intermountain Health's cancer center in Grand Junction is offering daraxonrasib, a first-in-class drug for metastatic pancreatic cancer that oncologists say more than doubles the length of life patients could previously expect. (More)

➤ Xcel Energy has started burying power lines in Boulder County, the first stretch of roughly 50 miles it plans to move underground by 2027 under a wildfire mitigation plan costing about $4 million per mile. (More)

➤ The owner of the Squire Lounge on East Colfax says Friday's storm sent about three feet of water into his basement and collapsed a foundation wall, and he blames bus rapid transit construction for blocking storm drains. (More)

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➤ You may have more home equity than you think. The average U.S. homeowner is now sitting on ~$315,000 in equity — and most have never touched it. Some are putting it to work: consolidating higher-rate debt, renovating, covering big summer expenses. Rates and fees swing a lot by lender, so the trick is comparing before you commit. [Match with a HELOC lender in under a minute →]

Flying together with our sponsor

Why pay thousands for hearing aids?

Hear better, live better—order Oricle today and save!

LEARN MORE

➤ South Suburban Parks and Recreation has what it says is the first autonomous ice re-surfacer in the western hemisphere—a roughly $100,000 machine that reads ice temperature, humidity, and thickness on every pass. (More)

➤ The second Unbridled Rodeo drew more than 500 people to the Douglas County Fair, offering sensory accommodations and adaptive events so people with disabilities could rope, ride, and take part firsthand. (More)

➤ Nine cousins set up a lemonade stand in Conejos County to raise money for a relative whose Beulah home was destroyed in the Aspen Acres Fire. (More)

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➤ A gunman killed three people and wounded seven others at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls, Idaho, before taking his own life. (Hear More)

➤ A crime network tied to Iran is recruiting European teenagers as hitmen over social media, then abandoning them when they're caught. (Tune In)