Monday, December 15, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1919, U.S. Marshal Joseph P. Dillon poured 8,000 gallons of seized wine into Pinal Creek as 117 residents faced Prohibition charges.

Grab your shades! A North Phoenix home called Santa’s Castle shines bright with 100,000 LED lights and animatronic displays.

🎙️Tune into today’s Flyover Podcast, where host Ayla Brown shares simple ways you can spread joy in your community through donations during a busy holiday season. Even the smallest act of kindness can go a long way in making someone’s holidays brighter. Watch the episode here.

If you’re ready to regain control over your personal information, today’s sponsor, DeleteMe, offers a powerful first line of defense against the data brokers quietly collecting and selling your private details.

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.

Minors Allegedly Paid Bar’s Bouncers

An ongoing investigation into underage drinking at a Tempe bar found that some minors allegedly paid bouncers to be allowed in without ID.

Tempe Tavern came under heavier scrutiny in September after a 19-year-old hit-and-run suspect allegedly spent hours inside the tavern before a fatal crash.

Previously, an April raid at the bar led to 173 citations, while a November raid resulted in 246 citations and three people booked into jail.

Tempe Tavern denied wrongdoing, attributing part of the problem to the rise of sophisticated fake IDs. The bar also noted its cooperation with authorities.

Scams Targeting Seniors Rise

Arizona has experienced a more than 20% rise in reported senior fraud cases in 2025, costing victims nearly $67 million, the Federal Trade Commission reported.

They’re now exploiting the holiday season, using online shopping schemes and technology such as Wi-Fi-jamming to disable home security cameras before stealing packages.

The Better Business Bureau warned of 12 common holiday scams, including misleading social media ads, bogus apps, fraudulent charities, and free gift card schemes.

The holiday surge coincides with increased online activity and charitable giving, with seniors particularly vulnerable, authorities said.

Inaugural Phoenix Marathon Draws 7,000+

The first-ever Phoenix Marathon attracted more than 7,000 runners from all 50 states and over a dozen countries.

The event featured a full marathon, half-marathon, and 10K, with enthusiastic supporters lining the course.

Jake Heslington from Utah won the men’s full marathon in 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 29 seconds.

Tiaree Towler, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, won the women’s division in 2 hours, 45 minutes, and 23 seconds.

City leaders hope the marathon becomes an annual event.

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➤ Tucson: Mayor Regina Romero’s posting about an ongoing illegal immigration operation drew mixed reactions from residents. (More)

➤ Statewide: A federal judge blocked changes to a disaster-prevention program that the Trump administration claims was used as a slush fund for green energy projects in Arizona and other states. (More)

➤ Chandler: The city council voted unanimously against rezoning land for a proposed data center amid community concerns over water use, electricity demand, and local impacts. (More)

➤ Yuma: A fisherman rescued a blind dog abandoned in the remote desert, providing it with a home and raising funds for sight-restoring surgery. (More)

➤ Pinetop-Lakeside: Firefighters contained a blaze that destroyed two homes. No injuries were reported. (Photos)

➤ Bullhead City: A judge rejected a plea deal as too lenient for Jesi Huckaby, one of the three people accused of stealing an elderly Mohave Valley man’s life savings. (More)

➤ No. 1 Arizona men’s basketball beat No. 12 Alabama 96-75 in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday. Brayden Burries led the Wildcats with a career-high 28 points. (More)

➤ The Arizona Cardinals dropped their sixth straight game Sunday, falling 40-20 to the Houston Texans. (More)

➤ Arizona State men’s basketball erased a 19-point deficit to defeat Santa Clara 82-79 on Saturday, with coach Bobby Hurley ejected in the first half. (More)

➤ Arizona State football head coach Kenny Dillingham is reportedly in talks with the school over a new contract amid rumors Michigan could pursue him. (More)

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➤ Buc-ee’s first Arizona location in Goodyear is now set to open in June. (More)

➤ The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors removed 53 pages of regulations as part of an effort to accelerate housing construction. (More)

➤ Grand Canyon National Park reopened Phantom Ranch following waterline repairs, while South Rim lodging remains closed due to water and fire restrictions. (More)

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➤ Sanctuary Cove in Marana is celebrating 70 years of its stone chapel, which offers a place for silent reflection on 80 acres of preserved desert land. (Photo)

➤ Elgin School’s parent-teacher council will host a free Ugly Sweater Party on Friday at the Sonoita Fairgrounds’ Pioneer Hall, offering food, music, and photos with the Grinch. (Details)

➤ Sierra Vista firefighters continue to seek toy donations in their 54th annual Christmas drive to provide gifts for 750 local children. (Watch)

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➤ A new video reveals a surprising kitchen-made mixture that may help support healthy blood sugar. They say just one tablespoon of this simple blend—made from a few inexpensive supermarket items—has helped thousands feel more in control and enjoy their favorite sweets again. Watch the video to see the ingredient everyone is talking about.