Wednesday, August 20, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1775, Lt. Col. Hugo O’Conor of the Royal Spanish Army selected the site and layout for the Presidio de San Agustín de Tucson fort, shown here circa 1869.

Firefighters recovered the charred but mostly intact 600-pound bronze statue of Brighty the Burro, damaged in the wildfire that destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge.

🎙️ In today’s Flyover podcast, host Ayla Brown digs into what’s happening with the all-you-can-eat hotel breakfast. Once a travel staple, the buffet isn’t quite what it used to be. Why the shift? That’s a podcast-exclusive story you won’t see in the email edition. Listen now on Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcasts.

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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.

Child Targeted in Identity Theft

A Mesa mother discovered that her 4-year-old autistic daughter’s identity was stolen during the process of applying for Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) services.

Someone in Chicago received paychecks using the child’s Social Security number for at least two months, state investigators said.

Mesa Detective Jesse Macias said identity thieves often target children because they’re unsuspecting and overlooked. Research firm Javelin reports that nearly 1.25 million children in the U.S. are victims of identity theft each year.

The Federal Trade Commission offers tips on safeguarding children’s sensitive information.

Hatchet-Wielding Man Killed by Police

A man carrying a hatchet died following a police-involved shooting at an IHOP restaurant near 19th and Northern avenues in Phoenix about 4:15 a.m. Tuesday.

Police responded to a call that the man was inside the restaurant, threatening customers and cutting himself. When they arrived, he was outside holding a hatchet.

The man began walking toward officers and, after warnings and a less-lethal attempt failed, an officer fatally shot him. No officers were injured.

Survey: Employees Like AI Within Limits

A survey found that 66% of workers in Arizona and other states think management guided by artificial intelligence would make workplaces fairer and more efficient.

However, only 34% would prefer to report to an AI manager, noting that the technology falls short of human leaders in key areas.

Elsewhere, the Resume Now survey found that most employees are comfortable with AI assisting in tasks like hiring, promotions, budgeting, and performance management.

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➤ Pima County: The Regional Transportation Authority proposed a 20-year sales tax extension to raise $2.7 billion by 2045 for county transportation projects. (More)

➤ Sedona: Police Chief Stephanie Foley and Mayor Scott Jablow accused each other of harassment and hostile workplace behavior. An independent review is underway. (More)

➤ Statewide: Several Arizona BASIS schools ranked among the nation’s best in U.S. News 2025-2026 high school rankings, with BASIS Tucson North taking top honors. (Watch)

➤ Grand Canyon: A Northern Arizona University researcher is studying how the Dragon Bravo Fire may impact the Grand Canyon’s Roaring Springs water supply. (More)

➤ Chandler: A $1 million Powerball ticket in Monday’s drawing was sold at a Circle K, while the jackpot for tonight’s drawing grew to an estimated $643 million. (More)

➤ Maricopa County: Convicted murderer Lori Daybell was extradited to Idaho to resume serving a life prison sentence in that state following her Arizona trials. (Watch)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte apologized for his recent absences, including for missing games right after the All-Star break. (More)

➤ Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson went viral on social media for dunking on the team’s quarterback during a team basketball game. (See Video)

➤ The Phoenix Suns named former team assistant Paul Jesperson as the franchise’s G League coach this week. Jesperson may be best known for hitting a 2016 March Madness half-court buzzer beater while playing for Northern Iowa. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | LLWS

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➤ SanTan Spirit House will open Thursday in Terminal 4 at Sky Harbor Airport, adding to the brewery’s existing Terminal 3 SanTan Brewing location. (More)

➤ Popular pizzeria Ciao Down in Tucson temporarily closed to upgrade its kitchen amid soaring demand, with plans to reopen on Thursday. (Watch)

➤ A 54,000-square-foot Aldi grocery store is planned for South Bridge Marketplace in Maricopa, which is also home to a new Lowe’s store. (More)

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➤ Auto enthusiasts showcased their classic vehicles at a vintage car show this past weekend in Flagstaff, celebrating Route 66 and automotive history. (Watch)

➤ The 19th annual Arizona State Poker Championship began at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, with the winner set to take home $500,000. (Watch)

➤ Novatio, a new virtual school in Arizona for fourth to eighth graders, uses shorter classes, personalized schedules, and artificial intelligence support to enhance learning. (Details)

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