Minggu, 26 Juli 2026

Undelivered Ballots, Free Splash Pads, and Curious Coyotes

Sunday, July 26, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1844, Mariano Samaniego, a southern Arizona freighter, cattleman, and operator of the stage line from Tucson to Oro Blanco who became a citizen of the United States under the terms of the Gadsden Purchase, was born.

Who needs an alarm clock when you have wildlife right outside your bedroom window? That was reality for a Phoenix resident who was recently awakened by some curious critters on more than one morning. Learn more in Et Cetera.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla tackled the weather pattern that could rewrite the entire winter. Forecasters now put the odds at 81% that El Niño reaches "very strong" status by winter, potentially one of the largest on record, and every corner of the country will be affected. When a pattern this powerful takes over, it doesn't just tweak the forecast, it decides which states get soaked and which dry out. Ayla broke down the five ways forecasters say this El Niño will shape the months ahead. So which side of the split does your state land on? Tune in here!

Today's sponsor, BluSky AI, is sharing how it aims to address the growing demand for AI infrastructure by developing data centers designed to come online faster and support the computing power behind modern AI applications.

Officials Probe Undelivered Navajo County Ballots

More than 1,300 mail ballots sent to Navajo County voters were marked undeliverable before Arizona's July 21 primary, drawing state and federal scrutiny.

County Recorder David Marshall said 99% of the returned addresses appeared accurate in county systems, and he could not explain why ballots failed to reach homes.

Former state GOP Chair Gina Swoboda said she texted President Trump about the returns, calling the situation a threat to voter access.

The Postal Service said roughly 900 of 40,000 mailed ballots were returned per county request. Arizona's attorney general and secretary of state are gathering information.

AZ Ranks 6th Nationally in Measles Cases

Arizona is confronting its largest measles outbreak in decades, now ranking sixth in the nation for confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins data, prompting warnings from state health officials.

The Arizona Department of Health Services reports 119 cases statewide, most in unvaccinated people, with children under 18 making up roughly two-thirds. Mohave County leads with 69 cases, followed by Maricopa County.

Officials also identified six new exposure sites in Maricopa County, including Chase Field during a July 12 concert, urging visitors to monitor for symptoms into early August.

Experts link the outbreak to declining childhood vaccination rates—now 88%, below the 95% needed for community protection—as students prepare to return to school.

Free Splash Pads Help Beat Extreme Heat

While many areas across the state are currently under extreme heat warnings, metro Phoenix families are turning to free splash pads as an affordable way to cool off this summer.

Rescue Oasis Park in Surprise has become a popular destination, featuring a shaded, fire station-themed splash pad that is free and open daily, alongside playgrounds and an adjacent swim center.

Dozens of similar options exist Valley-wide, with cities including Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, and Gilbert operating free splash pads and low-cost public pools throughout the season.

Officials say the facilities offer families safe, budget-friendly relief during dangerous heat, with most splash pads now open seven days a week through the summer months.

Flying together with our sponsor

The $7.6 Trillion Flowing Into AI Is Not What You Think

Goldman Sachs is projecting $7.6 trillion in AI investment by 2031.

The common assumption is that all of the AI money flows to names like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. But that is not where the infrastructure dollars are going.

Every AI model, chatbot, and recommendation engine needs compute power to run. And compute power needs physical infrastructure. Data centers. Lots of them.

The problem: AI demand has increased 1 million times in the last two years, stated Jensen Huang, NVIDIA’s CEO. Meanwhile, traditional data centers take 3 to 7 years to build. The infrastructure cannot keep up.

BluSky AI has developed a premanufactured solution ready in months, not years. They have a robust portfolio of sites with negotiated power ready for deployment. BluSky AI utilizes less power, smaller footprints, little to no water, and minimizes the impact on communities.

For the first time, everyday investors can back BluSky AI as they build the backbone of AI.

➤ Eloy: Arizona firefighters cooled about 80 cattle with water after a livestock trailer broke down at an Interstate 10 truck stop, helping prevent heat-related illness until repairs were completed. (More)

➤ Scottsdale: A developer is building luxury condominium garages that offer private vehicle storage, upscale amenities, and additional space for collectors seeking secure automotive facilities. (More)

➤ Joseph City: Monsoon storm damaged an iconic Route 66 sign at the Jack Rabbit Trading Post located between Winslow and Joseph City, tearing apart the nearly 80-year-old sign and prompting efforts to assess repairs. (Watch Report)

➤ Mesa: A family received a free pool fence through a safety program that helps reduce child drownings by providing barriers and water safety education to qualifying households. (More)

➤ Tucson: The University of Arizona received five Department of Energy artificial intelligence science grants, ranking among the nation’s top 4% of institutions for awarded AI research funding. (More)

➤ Surprise: A suspect faces allegations in more than 40 thefts at construction sites, with authorities investigating stolen equipment, tools, and materials from multiple locations. (More)

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➤ The Arizona Diamondbacks picked up a gutsy 3-2 win over the Washington Nationals on Friday night, who entered the game trailing them by just two games in the National League Wild Card race. (More)

➤ Arizona Cardinals star edge rusher Josh Sweat was a surprise addition to the team’s physically unable to perform list for the start of training camp, though Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur attempted to downplay concerns during a recent press conference. (More)

➤ Former Cardinals all-pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins is joining the New England Patriots for training camp as a coach, primarily working with the personnel department. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Golf

Flying together with our sponsor

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Data Centers Built For Coexistence

Communities across the country are pushing back on data centers, and for good reason. Massive facilities are draining local water supplies, straining power grids, and disrupting neighborhoods, all while offering little in return.

BluSky AI took a different approach.

Their SkyMod prefabricated, AI-ready data centers use less power, require little to no water, and fit onto smaller footprints. This minimizes the impact on the communities they're built near, from Colorado to Texas. This is AI infrastructure designed to coexist, not compete, with the people around it.

BluSky AI's model is a unique solution to meet the high market demands that aren’t being met by the industry.. Become a BluSky AI shareholder as they open the door to everyday investors.

This is a paid advertisement for BluSky AI Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.bluskyaidatacenters.com/

➤ A Phoenix resident recorded a group of coyotes that repeatedly climbed onto his home's roof near Piestewa Peak, scratching at a bedroom window and playfully roaming outside. (Watch Video)

➤ Arizona State University’s Counselor Training Center offers free counseling to Arizona college students and low-cost services to community members while supervised graduate trainees provide mental health care. (More)

➤ The Arizona Worm Farm, a 10-acre urban farm in Phoenix, uses red wiggler worms to turn food scraps into nutrient-rich compost, reducing landfill waste while producing natural fertilizer and supporting sustainable gardening practices. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Apply This Before Bedtime To Smooth 75% Wrinkles By Morning. A powerful anti-aging nutrient helps relax facial muscles while you sleep, leaving wrinkles visibly softer by morning - without needles or costly creams. Watch the video here.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Delivery giants are rushing to keep weight-loss drugs cold. (Hear More)

➤ Thousands celebrated the birthday of the internet's favorite little monkey. (Listen Now)

➤ A beloved honey farm teetered on collapse, but one beekeeper refused to quit. (Podcast Available)