Saturday, June 13, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1862, former U.S. Army Lieutenant Sylvester Mowry’s silver mine in Patagonia was confiscated and Mowry was arrested on charges of being a Confederate sympathizer.

The monsoon season has arrived a few days earlier this year. Learn more in today's Top Stories.

The Pentagon just dropped its third batch of UFO files, and this time, we're not just going to report what was in the folder, but instead move to the real question: Is there intelligent life out there? We'll give you the strongest arguments on both sides, and then reveal what your fellow Americans actually believe. Tune in to our Flyover Podcast as Amy breaks down where the debate stands on intelligent life beyond earth. Tune in here!

Today's sponsor, EnergyX, is helping meet surging lithium demand from AI, EVs, and battery technology with patented extraction tech, major industry backing, and an early-stage investment opportunity before its July 16 deadline.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Colorado River States Closer to Court Battle

Water experts testified before Congress this week as all seven Colorado River states remained deadlocked, pushing Arizona's most critical water supply closer to a court battle.

Under a federal fallback plan, Arizona faces cuts of up to 77% in its Colorado River share if states can't reach a deal before their 19-year water agreement expires at year's end. Nevada would see a 6% reduction; the five other states would see no change.

At a Senate hearing earlier this week, Utah Sen. Mike Lee warned Arizona it would forfeit $354 million in federal conservation funds if it pursues litigation. Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego pushed back, arguing the state's semiconductor manufacturing hub and domestic food supply make its water rights essential to national priorities.

The Bureau of Reclamation plans an updated allocation plan by mid- to late summer. Both negotiating camps say they are actively preparing for litigation.

Faster Valley Fever Test in Reach

As monsoon season begins, Arizona scientists are racing to develop a Valley Fever test that delivers results in 10 minutes rather than the current 23-day wait.

Doctors say 10-30% of community-acquired pneumonia cases in the Phoenix-Tucson region are actually Valley Fever, with patients cycling through multiple rounds of antibiotics before anyone thinks to test for it. The standard diagnostic test has been in use since the 1950s.

Dr. Thomas Grys of Mayo Clinic developed a 10-minute rapid test that could reach Arizona hospitals by end of 2026. At the University of Arizona, Dr. Fariba Donovan is developing an at-home pharmacy test, where a drop of blood or urine gives an instant result.

Arizona records an estimated 10,000 Valley Fever diagnoses a year, though doctors believe the real number is much higher. The state's explosive growth is part of the reason cases keep climbing, as more construction disturbs more soil and sends more spores into the air.

Monsoon Season Arrives Early

The monsoon season has arrived three days ahead of its official June 15 start date, with moisture streaming in from the south and thunderstorms already rolling through Flagstaff and Tucson.

While there was no measurable rain across the Valley on Friday, some locations saw a light stray shower pass through. The rest of the weekend will feel on the humid side. The Valley is muggy, the air thick with the kind of humidity Arizonans know means one thing.

A "super El Niño" developing in the Pacific has raised hopes for a wetter monsoon, though University of Arizona climate scientist Michael Crimmins says drier July conditions are more likely, with the bigger moisture payoff expected in August and September.

Still, after Phoenix's record-hot spring, any early moisture is worth savoring. The crackle of distant lightning over the Superstitions, petrichor rising from the desert floor, saguaros finally drinking deep: monsoon season has come home.

AI's 80,000-Ton Battery Problem

As AI infrastructure explodes, so does lithium demand. Google's AI data centers currently use 100M+ lithium-ion cells for reliable, always-on power.

The problem? Big Tech’s race to build massive new data center capacity has Morgan Stanley forecasting an 80k-ton lithium shortage this year.

Few companies are better positioned to benefit than EnergyX. Their patented tech produces up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods at speeds 500X faster than evaporation ponds.

Beyond the tech, they have rights to ~150,000 acres of lithium-rich land across North and South America, and they’ve just announced plans for their second lithium production plant in America. Now, they hold rights to up to 13M tons of lithium across North and South America.

Industry leaders like General Motors and POSCO have already invested. Join them as an early-stage EnergyX shareholder before the 7/16 deadline.

➤ Statewide: The Legislature passed its $18.3 billion bipartisan budget this week, delivering $1.4 billion in tax cuts. Gov. Katie Hobbs is expected to sign; the deal also trims $16 million from state universities. (More)

➤ Flagstaff: The mountain college town has emerged as one of the nation's fastest-growing renter markets, with remote workers and outdoor enthusiasts driving demand past what new construction can keep up with. (More)

➤ Phoenix: Canada is reopening its trade and investment office in Arizona after a 12-year absence, reviving economic ties and improving diplomatic relations. (More)

➤ Southern Arizona: Searchers returned to a border-area site near Nogales where they had previously found 25 unmarked graves following an anonymous tip in the Nancy Guthrie case, but Guthrie was not among them. The Pima County Sheriff confirmed no contact from Mexican authorities. (More)

➤ Mesa: Equipment maker Komatsu is building a 270,000-square-foot parts distribution center in the East Valley, adding to Arizona's growing footprint as a logistics and manufacturing hub. (More)

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➤ Arizona sports bettors wagered $737 million in April, continuing a trend of near-billion-dollar monthly handles since the state legalized betting in 2021. Total wagers since launch have surpassed over $34 billion. (More)

➤ The Phoenix Suns are exploring a trade into the first round of the NBA Draft after years of dealing away picks to build their current roster. They currently hold only the No. 47 pick, but Arizona's Koa Peat is among the names they’re interested in if he slides on draft night. (More)

➤ Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur said this week he's not worried about the quarterback depth chart in June, even as Jacoby Brissett's contract situation lingers. Brissett reported to mandatory minicamp after skipping OTAs but wants a raise from his $1.5 million salary. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | NCAA World Series | WNBA | Golf

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Exxon Has an Unlikely New Competitor

Energy giants like Exxon have been buying land in America’s lithium hotspot. Now they’ve got a new neighbor.

EnergyX acquired the rights to 35k gross acres of lithium-rich land right next door. It’s not just the acres turning heads, either. Their tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than usual methods.

Now they’re preparing to drill and unlock America’s next major lithium supply. General Motors and 50k+ everyday people already invested. Invest in EnergyX before their July 16 investment deadline.

➤ Two Arizona hotels earned spots on Tripadvisor's 2026 Travelers' Choice Awards Best of the Best list—Mountain Shadows Resort in Paradise Valley and Sheridan House Inn in Williams. (See Rankings)

➤ With no World Cup matches nearby, Yuma is turning itself into a soccer watch-party hub as fans gather across the city to cheer the 2026 tournament hosted across North America. (More)

➤ Seafood City, North America's largest Filipino supermarket chain, is hiring more than 100 workers for its first Arizona location, a 65,000-square-foot store opening in Chandler this summer. (See Jobs)

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