Monday, June 29, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1994, the thermometer at a Lake Havasu City fire station hit 128 degrees, the hottest temperature ever recorded in Arizona. The mark still stands.

The Fourth of July countdown is on. See what AAA expects for this year's holiday travel rush in Top Stories.

Today’s sponsor, Lemonade Pet Insurance, helps pet owners manage rising vet costs with affordable plans starting around $10/month and flexible coverage designed to protect both your pet’s health and your budget.

July Fourth Rush Begins

About 1.59 million Arizonans are expected to travel at least 50 miles from home during this Fourth of July week, part of a near-record 72.2 million travelers nationwide.

Drivers are catching a bit of a break at the pump. Arizona's average gas price dropped 15 cents in the past week to $4.05 a gallon as of Sunday. A year ago, the average price was $3.26.

AAA spokesperson Doug Johnson tied the dip in gas prices to ongoing talks between the U.S. and Iran. Holiday demand could nudge them back up in the coming days, he said.

AAA's national travel estimate is up from about 71.8 million last year, though the year-to-year increase is smaller than recent holiday gains.

Power Shutoffs Activated

Arizona Public Service cut power to about 8,000 customers in the Flagstaff and Grand Canyon area Saturday morning, citing the threat of lines sparking a wildfire in extreme conditions.

The public safety power shutoff hit a dozen areas, including Doney Park, Mormon Lake, Tusayan, and the Grand Canyon's south and east rims. The utility began restoring service to much of the Grand Canyon by Saturday night, with Flagstaff-area customers waiting longer.

APS had advised residents to prepare for the outage days in advance. The utility opened cooling centers and ice-and-water distribution sites across the region and set up the Medical Care Program for residents on powered medical equipment.

In Doney Park, Mountain View Market owner Rebecca Rambo ran three generators to stay open, storing neighbors' medications and breast milk.

Death Penalty Stays in Kirk Case

A Utah judge ruled that Tyler Robinson could still face the death penalty if convicted of assassinating Charlie Kirk, rejecting the defense's bid to take it off the table.

The judge called that defense team's request—made in response to a deputy prosecutor's comments to the media about "ample evidence" in the case—"grossly disproportionate."

Instead, the judge opted to hold the deputy prosecutor in civil contempt and expand jury screening to protect a fair trial.

Prosecutors maintain they were correcting misleading defense claims about an ATF ballistics report related to the assassination of Kirk, co-founder of Phoenix-based Turning Point USA.

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➤ Flagstaff: The city's Heritage Preservation Commission denied a certificate needed for a downtown hotel and parking garage. The city council will hear an appeal. (More)

➤ Yavapai County: Health officials reported a suspected case of pneumonic plague in a resident. They urge anyone with sudden high fever, chest pain, or difficulty breathing to seek care, and recommend treating pets for fleas. (More)

➤ Tempe: The city will hold its Fourth of July celebration at Tempe Diablo Stadium instead of Tempe Town Lake, after a contracted production company backed out. (More)

➤ La Paz County: Authorities arrested two suspects in a string of train burglaries, a Mesa resident and a Mexican national, after pulling over a box truck on Highway 95. (More)

➤ Wheatfields Lake: A search continued in Apache County for two boaters missing since their vessel capsized Friday evening. High winds hampered crews and forced lake closures. (More)

➤ Tucson: Habitat for Humanity dedicated the first 12 homes at its Angels Crossing neighborhood. Each homeowner logged more than 250 hours of "sweat equity" and completed financial-literacy classes before getting the keys. (More)

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➤ Arizona State's Landon Hairston will be among the three finalists when the Golden Spikes Award is presented tonight on MLB Network. (More)

➤ Arizona State swimmer Julia Ullmann, who was afraid of the water as a small child, has become a 100-fly school-record holder, a three-time All-American, and a 2028 Olympic hopeful. (More)

➤ Three Arizona State hockey players were selected in the 2026 NHL Draft over the weekend. (More)

➤ The United States Hockey League announced expansion teams for Phoenix and Prescott Valley for the 2027-28 season. The premier U.S. junior league says nearly 30% of NHL players came through its ranks. (More)

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➤ Scottsdale-based ON Semiconductor agreed to acquire San Jose chipmaker Synaptics in an all-stock deal valued at $7 billion, expanding its push into AI-powered devices. (More)

➤ The first phase of Uptown, the 2.5-million-square-foot "urban resort village" replacing the former Foothills Mall in Tucson, opened as residents moved into the new Astrie luxury apartments. Developer Bourn Companies plans to add a hotel, shops, and restaurants in later phases. (More)

➤ A 163-acre commercial development called Destination at Gateway is moving forward in southeast Mesa, set to bring a Walmart-anchored retail center and a large auto mall. (More)

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➤ Grand Canyon National Park reopened several inner-canyon trails that were closed for waterline repairs, including the River Trail, the Silver Bridge, and the Plateau Point Trail. (More)

➤ Smithsonian Magazine's interactive map of each state's best offerings spotlighted the chimichanga as one of Arizona's top regional dishes, crediting its invention to Tucson's El Charro Café. Legend holds that an owner dropped a burrito into the fryer and muttered the word in place of a curse. (More)

➤ A mother of eight and one of her sons crossed the graduation stage together Saturday, earning high school diplomas through Goodwill's Excel Center in Phoenix. The pair drove more than an hour each way to attend classes. (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:

➤ A "perfect storm" of falling birth rates and high prices could shrink the U.S. auto market by 2040. (Listen Here)

➤ A mother's decision to leave her daughter behind after she forgot her passport has sparked a heated online debate. (Episode Available)

➤ The common habit of washing strawberries right after buying them is the main reason they spoil so fast. (Hear Details)