Friday, December 19, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1917, Gov. Thomas Campbell offered a $250 reward for the arsonist who destroyed Salt River Valley hay fields and twice attempted to burn the new Phoenix YMCA.

An Arizona Powerball ticket scored a $2 million win in Wednesday’s drawing. The jackpot remained unclaimed, building toward an estimated $1.5 billion for Saturday night.

As you finish your holiday shopping, today’s sponsor, Brad’s Deals, offers a free, personalized newsletter with last-chance sales and handpicked deals from brands you already love.

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.

AmericaFest Returns Without Kirk

Turning Point USA’s flagship AmericaFest youth conference began Thursday in Phoenix, the first one since group founder Charlie Kirk’s assassination in September.

Heightened security measures were in place for the four-day event, with a record 30,000 attendees expected to hear from Vice President JD Vance, Erika Kirk, and other prominent figures.

The conference also features political organizing sessions, religious programs, Christian rock bands, and meet‑and‑greets with media professionals.

Held annually for more than a decade, this year’s conference will also serve as a tribute to Kirk, who was regarded as a unifying figure in the conservative movement.

Tucson Raises Thrift Store Fees

Tucson City Council members voted 5-2 to raise fees on pawn shops and secondhand stores starting in March.

A group of residents and pawn shop owners spoke out against the fee hike, saying it will result in higher costs for financially vulnerable customers.

The fee will rise from $1 to $3 per transaction and is expected to generate about $400,000 annually to help offset the city’s $16.6 million budget shortfall this fiscal year.

The council also approved fee hikes on utilities, hotel rooms, and short-term vacation rentals.

Phoenix Approves TSMC Expansion

Phoenix City Council approved Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s expansion plan in north Phoenix, including a new plant, thousands of homes, shopping areas, and trails.

The project spans about 6,000 acres of state trust land south of TSMC’s existing campus and includes infrastructure upgrades and an 18-acre expansion of the Sonoran Nature Preserve.

Some residents raised concerns about pollution, traffic, and project transparency. TSMC and the Pulte Group said the company has sought extensive community feedback and incorporated the responses into the plans.

The expansion will continue TSMC’s investments to meet rising AI-related semiconductor chip demand.

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➤ Maricopa County: A jury sentenced Cleophus Cooksey Jr. to death for a 2017 killing spree that left eight people dead over three weeks in Phoenix and Glendale. (More)

➤ Flagstaff: The city council voted unanimously to cancel the city’s contract with Flock Safety, citing residents’ privacy concerns over the automated license plate reader cameras. (More)

➤ Prescott: An off-duty fire captain rescued two people from a house fire after spotting smoke while heading to the gym. (Watch)

➤ Greenlee County: Economists forecast the population to increase in Greenlee and Graham counties and decline in Cochise and Gila counties through 2060. (Details)

➤ Tempe: Arizona State University’s Operation Comeback will provide up to $120 per credit and other financial support to former students who re-enroll to finish their degrees. (More)

➤ Pima County: Supervisors voted to sell more than 400 acres of county land to the National Park Service to expand Saguaro National Park West. (More)

➤ The Phoenix Suns’ gorilla mascot makes $200,000 a year, a sixth-highest salary of any mascot in the country and more than double the salary of Arizona’s governor. (More)

➤ Arizona State women’s basketball defeated Gonzaga 68-66 to stay undefeated in non-conference play. Arizona State will play its first Big 12 conference game Sunday against Colorado. (More)

➤ The Arizona Cardinals released defensive lineman Justin Jones, terminating the $30 million contract he signed in 2024. He played only three games this season due to injuries. (More)

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➤ The Glen Canyon Conservancy is selling the Powell Museum building in Page, citing unsustainable operating losses. The museum’s collections will be preserved and made accessible at other locations and exhibits. (Photos)

➤ A family opened Route Sixty Sipps coffee shop in a historic Route 66 building in Holbrook after performing extensive renovations. Previous tenants included The Winner’s Circle biker bar and White’s Grocery. (Details)

➤ Celebrity restaurateur Lisa Vanderpump opened her Wolf by Vanderpump restaurant and lounge in Scottsdale. (Watch)

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➤ A state investigation confirmed a Phoenix man’s Lexus was damaged by water-contaminated fuel at a local gas station, resulting in $12,000 in engine repairs. The gas station and its insurance company are working to resolve claims. (Watch)

➤ Crackdowns on robocalls and spam calls have freed up telephone numbers in the state’s 520 area code, delaying the area code’s retirement until at least 2030. (More)

➤ The fire department in Bisbee received a $620,000 federal grant to help fund the purchase of a new fire truck able to respond to both wildland and structure fires. (Watch)

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➤ Specialists at the Pacific Brain Health Center left in complete awe after they discovered that…Sleeping in this position makes you 3x more likely to develop memory loss. They were shocked to see that something so common can cause IRREVERSIBLE damage to the brain. Don’t go to sleep until you see this shocking leaked video.