Tuesday, June 30, 2026

On this day in 2013, 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots died fighting the Yarnell Hill Fire west of Prescott.

This week, the nation is once again mourning the loss of wildland firefighters, including a Glendale native. More in Top Stories.

Americans have been chasing the coveted 10,000 steps a day for years. We all know walking keeps the heart strong, the mind clear, and the body moving well into old age. But a major new study says the number of steps isn't what matters most. Researchers who tracked tens of thousands of adults found that how you walk does far more for your heart than how many steps you rack up. Tune in to today's Flyover Podcast as Ayla breaks down what the research found, plus five simple ways to get more out of the walking you're already doing. So are you walking the right way? Tune in here to find out!

Later today, watch for a special message from our partner, EnergyX, about an early-stage investment opportunity in a lithium company backed by major industry leaders.

Today’s sponsor, Fisher Investments, is helping you plan your ideal retirement with a free guide that aligns your goals, timeline, and investment strategy for lasting financial confidence.

Justices Will Review Voter ID Laws

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Monday to decide whether Arizona can keep requiring documentary proof of citizenship from people who register to vote in state races.

In 2023, there were about 20,000 voters in Arizona who were registered to vote in federal elections only, as they did not provide proof of citizenship to the state.

The case stems from a pair of 2022 state laws that a federal appeals court ruled were preempted by the National Voter Registration Act.

The Republican-led state legislature and Republican National Committee appealed, saying the appeals court substituted its judgment for that of Arizona voters.

Opponents argue that the laws burden eligible voters.

The justices will also weigh whether Arizona can purge suspected noncitizens from the rolls within 90 days of an election.

Firefighter Killed Battling Colorado Wildfire

Nick Hutcherson, 27, of Glendale, was one of three firefighters killed Saturday while battling the Knowles Fire in western Colorado.

Hutcherson's death came days before today's 13th anniversary of the deadly Yarnell Hill Fire in Arizona that claimed 19 firefighters.

Hutcherson was assigned to the U.S. Forest Service's Kaibab National Forest and was working with the Rifle Helitack crew when fast-moving flames overran the firefighters.

The others who died were Emily Barker, 38, of Michigan, and Sydney Watson, 26, of Alabama. Two more firefighters were injured and are receiving care.

"We mourn the loss of three firefighters who answered the call to protect others," U.S. Wildland Fire Service Chief Brian Fennessy said.

Blazes Dot Arizona

Crews continued battling multiple Arizona wildfires on Monday, with the Pocket Fire north of Sedona topping 11,100 acres after more than doubling over the weekend.

North of Globe, the Sycamore Fire—the state's largest at about 11,900 acres—reached 60% containment after lines held through Red Flag conditions.

In Gila County, the Steamboat Fire near Kearny grew to 1,683 acres at 14% containment, prompting "GO" orders for two ranch communities. Crews downgraded evacuations on the smaller Spring Fire near Flagstaff.

You can track the wildfires in the state here.

In response to the Pocket Fire, State Route 89A was closed to everyone but residents, and several communities were put under "SET" evacuation status. Forest Service spokesman Dick Fleishman called the area one of the most challenging landscapes in the West for fighting wildfires.

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➤ Tucson: A QuikTrip sold a $2 million Powerball ticket in Saturday's drawing. A separate $50,000 ticket was sold at a Peoria Circle K. (More)

➤ Northern Arizona: APS finished restoring power to about 8,000 customers around Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon after ordering a public safety power shutoff this past weekend. (More)

➤ Pinal County: Election officials began notifying voters after a printing error affected 1,468 ballots in two precinct committeeman races. (More)

➤ Statewide: Gov. Katie Hobbs said a statewide fireworks ban is not under consideration despite higher fire risks in parts of the state ahead of July 4. (More)

➤ Chandler: Police fatally shot Jeremiah Partridge, 32, on Saturday after he refused commands to drop a shotgun during a domestic incident, authorities said. (More)

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➤ Arizona State outfielder Landon Hairston and Chandler native Roch Cholowsky of UCLA finished as runners-up for the Golden Spikes Award, with Georgia catcher Daniel Jackson taking college baseball's top honor Monday night. (More)

➤ The Phoenix Suns acquired forward Miles Bridges, a 2029 first-round pick, and a 2027 second-round pick from the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Grayson Allen, Royce O'Neale, and a 2033 first-round pick. (More)

➤ Former Arizona Cardinals running back Chris Johnson revealed that he’s been diagnosed with ALS and now uses a speech-generating device to communicate. (More)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado drew three standing ovations in his first trip back to St. Louis, where he played from 2021 to 2025. In an interview, Arenado reflected on both his time in St. Louis and his plan to play college baseball at Arizona State if he had not opted for pro ball. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | Wimbledon

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➤ Casa Grande fourth-generation dairyman Casey Dugan discussed the rewards and challenges of the work, including rising fuel costs while milk prices stay flat. (More)

➤ A Phoenix startup sells portable, wearable misting devices designed to keep people cool while moving through the summer heat. (More)

➤ Paradise Valley resort Kimpton Miralina will add the state's first Katsuya restaurant in the final phase of a $70 million renovation that also includes 134 renovated villas. (More)

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Source: HealthView Services, as of 11/07/2025.

➤ Mesa landed at No. 10 on WalletHub's ranking of 148 large U.S. cities for being best-run. Phoenix ranked No. 40 and Tucson No. 61. (List)

➤ Joaquin "Juke" Sanchez, a 100-year-old World War II veteran from the Gila County town of Miami, received the first of 17 handmade America 250 quilts a group plans to award to veterans in the state. (Photo)

➤ Sculptures made of canned food now decorate Park Place Mall, with public voting on their favorites open through July 8. The food cans used in the Canstruction Tucson contest will be donated to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. (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:

➤ Americans chase 10,000 steps a day, but a major new study says how you walk matters far more. (Hear Details)

➤ A coalition that owns nearly 400 local newspapers has accused OpenAI and Microsoft of copying their reporting to train AI systems. (Hear Episode)

➤ President Trump declared the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool "in full use" and blamed radical left vandals for the pool's recent problems. (Listen Now)