Thursday, July 2, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt established the Coconino National Forest by merging surrounding forest reserves.

A weather delay pushed NASA's latest space mission to today, when Katalyst Space Technologies of Flagstaff will help save a NASA telescope from burning up in Earth's atmosphere. Get more details here.

Sleep experts have a new answer for why so many of us struggle to sleep well, and it has less to do with how many hours we log than you think. A new study followed adults in their 50s, 60s, and 70s for six weeks and found five specific habits that made a real, measurable difference in how rested people felt, some of them surprisingly simple. Tune in to today's Flyover Podcast as Ayla reveals what those five habits are and why researchers say it only took a few minutes to see results. Ready to sleep better tonight? Tune in here to learn more!

Today’s sponsor is Insurify, a simple tool that helps drivers compare auto insurance quotes from multiple companies in minutes. With insurance costs continuing to rise nationwide, more people are seeking ways to lower their monthly expenses without sacrificing coverage. That’s why we’re highlighting Insurify today.

Egg Producers Settle Price-Fixing Case

Arizona's largest egg producer, Hickman's Egg Ranch, agreed to pay a $1 million civil penalty and donate 3.25 million eggs to food banks to settle allegations that it helped inflate egg prices.

The proposed settlement also covers Cal-Maine Foods and Versova Holdings. Together, the companies will pay states $3.3 million and donate 53 million eggs.

The companies admitted no wrongdoing as part of the deal, announced by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Arizona Attorney General's Office.

Investigators alleged the producers secretly coordinated to raise prices between June 2022 and March 2025, a stretch that saw egg costs spike nationwide.

GOP Leaders Praise Ruling

Republican legislative leaders in Arizona praised a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that upholds bans on males playing in females’ sports, saying the decision also strengthens a measure headed to the November ballot.

This November, Arizona voters will decide on a measure to expand the law by requiring that schools also maintain separate bathrooms and designate their sports teams as male, female, or co-ed.

State Senate President Warren Petersen, who filed a legal brief in support of upholding the bans, called the Supreme Court ruling “a win for common sense and, more importantly, a win for girls.” State schools superintendent Tom Horne also praised the ruling.

Opponents of the November ballot question have filed a lawsuit seeking to block the measure, saying the proposed law would harm youth, invite invasive “gender checks,” and undermine local control.

Thunderbirds Soar Over Flag-Draped Dam

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds performed a flyover at Hoover Dam, this time with the giant American flag hanging from the dam as part of the America250 celebration.

Tuesday's flyover also marked the return of the flag after its removal and repair last month due to a tear.

The Thunderbirds previously buzzed the dam on Saturday, but high winds kept the flag from being unfurled.

The Air Force said the elite demonstration squadron made the flyover while en route to the East Coast for other Fourth of July events.

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➤ Surprise: The federal government reached an agreement with the state Attorney General's office to put a hold on a proposed illegal immigration center pending an environmental study. (More)

➤ Seligman: A proposed 76-turbine wind farm drew pushback from some residents, who cited concerns about noise, light pollution, wildlife and property values. The developer said the project could generate more than $80 million in property taxes. (More)

➤ Sedona: The Pocket Fire spread to more than 17,069 acres with 20% containment, with evacuation warnings downgraded for some communities while Oak Creek Canyon remained on SET status. (More)

➤ Tucson: A potential Sun Tran bus strike was called off, with the transit agency's latest offer to be presented to union workers on July 11-12. (More)

➤ Statewide: The FBI rescued three children and made 23 arrests during the first month of Operation Summer Heat, a 95-day nationwide push against violent crime. (More)

➤ Cornville: The Verde Valley community will mark its 141st birthday with an open house from 2 to 6 p.m. July 9 at its restored 1885 post office. (More)

➤ Avondale: A police officer went the extra mile for a stranded driver, taking a flat tire to a local shop for repairs after realizing the motorist's spare tire was also flat. (Watch)

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➤ Arizona State ranked No. 20 in a CBS Sports listing of the best overall college athletics programs for the 2025-26 season, while Arizona landed at No. 24. (More)

➤ Ketel Marte moved into second place on the Arizona Diamondbacks' all-time hits list, behind only Luis Gonzalez. (More)

➤ Arizona Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita won the Long Shot Challenge at this year's Manning Passing Academy, beating out a field that included Texas' Arch Manning and Ohio State's Julian Sayin. (More)

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

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➤ This small tool completely transformed my dog's gross breath. Nobark DentoFix clears pet plaque build-up, strengthens teeth and freshens breath naturally. Learn more.

➤ Valley-based luxury resale company Eco-Chic, the parent of My Sister's Closet, My Sister's Attic, and Well Suited, marks 35 years of operation this month. It was founded by two sisters in Phoenix in 1991. (More)

➤ Hyatt detailed its plans to convert the 13-story former Arizona Hotel at the Tucson convention center into a Hyatt Regency, targeting a late-2027 opening for a 291-room hotel with about 22,000 square feet of meeting space. (Details)

➤ A weeklong health sciences camp gave Valley high schoolers hands-on medical training, part of an effort to steer students toward a field facing a persistent worker shortage in the state. (More)

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➤ Elon Musk’s new X Money, is not just a fintech product. It is the completion of Elon’s 25-year-old obsession — and the most consequential upgrade to the American financial system since the credit card. It’s already approved in 41 states, and people are starting to receive their cards in the mail. This is much bigger than launching a credit card. As Elon says. It’s possible to become the biggest financial institution in the world. (LEARN MORE)

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➤ This year's dinosaur-themed Summer Reading Game promotion by the Maricopa County Library District offers prizes and other incentives to encourage reading by all ages. (More)

➤ New-to-Me Week in Tucson runs from Monday through July 12, encouraging diners to try spots they've never visited. (More)

➤ A plan to turn 4.5 acres of Phoenix's Los Olivos Park into a working urban farm—with a farm-to-table restaurant, market and educational space—continues to advance. (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:

➤ Researchers highlighted five habits that are guaranteed to help you fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer. (See Habits)

➤ The Justice Department and 17 states have accused three major egg producers of manipulating prices, inflating the market. (Hear Episode)

➤ A new report suggests everyday phone use may be quietly reshaping the body in ways few people realize. (Listen Now)