Monday, March 16, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1890, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie pledged $25,000 to help build a public library. The building, shown here circa 1900, now houses Children’s Museum Tucson.

The Arizona Wildcats beat the Houston Cougars to win the Big 12 men’s basketball title on Saturday. In Top Stories, we take a closer look at the win and the team’s NCAA Tournament seeding.

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Wildcats Earn No. 1 Seed

The Arizona men’s basketball team earned a No. 1 seed in the West Region in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday, a day after the team dethroned Houston as Big 12 tournament champions.

The Wildcats’ first-round matchup against Long Island University from Brooklyn, New York, tips off at 10:35 a.m. Friday at Viejas Arena in San Diego, California. Here’s how to watch.

If the Wildcats play deep into the tournament, they will likely play powerhouses like Michigan and Gonzaga. A potential matchup with No. 1 overall seed Duke or defending champion Florida could await in the national championship game. See the full bracket.

Arizona’s eighth time as a top seed—the fifth-most in college basketball history—comes as the team won its last nine games en route to a 32-2 overall record.

On Saturday, Arizona held off a late rally to beat Houston 79-74 to win the Big 12 championship in Kansas City, Missouri, with the Wildcats’ Brayden Burries scoring 21 points.

Southwest Dropping O’Hare and Dulles

Southwest Airlines will end service to Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles airports starting June 4, affecting travelers in Arizona and elsewhere who rely on the airline to reach those regions.

Arizona passengers will still be able to fly to those regions on Southwest by using Chicago Midway International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, or Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Southwest said operating at O’Hare has been “challenging,” and that it plans to focus its Chicago service at Midway, where it already runs hundreds of daily flights to more than 80 destinations.

Customers with Southwest flights booked after June 4 to O’Hare or Dulles will have those reservations canceled. They can rebook on alternate routes or request refunds.

Police Recommend Charge in Doorstep Shooting

A special agent with the state Attorney General’s Office is being investigated on suspicion of negligent homicide in the Feb. 28 shooting death of a Mesa mother of seven.

Mesa detectives submitted the charge to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office for review after weeks of interviews, search warrants, and forensic analysis.

According to police, Maria Lewis was shot to death on the doorstep of her neighbor, longtime state attorney general investigator Dulance Morin, after knocking on Morin’s door in the middle of the night.

Lewis possibly went to the home following an argument at her house. Morin told police the knocking startled him, and he warned the person at the door that he was armed.

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➤ Cochise County: Evacuations were lifted after the Palominas Fire burned about 40 acres near the Arizona-Mexico border and reached 50% containment Sunday morning. (More)

➤ Lake Havasu: A memorial dedicated to Charlie Kirk was unveiled Saturday at the Havasu Memorial Walkway beneath London Bridge. (Photo)

➤ Eastern Arizona: State regulators approved converting the Springerville and Coronado coal plants to natural gas to cut emissions while preserving power capacity and jobs. (Details)

➤ Phoenix: Thousands lined downtown streets Saturday as the Red Bull Showrun brought Formula 1 engines, stunt bikes, and off-road trucks to the city. (Watch)

➤ Casa Grande: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church has started rebuilding after a 2024 arson fire destroyed much of the church, with the arsonist still at large. (Watch)

➤ Goodyear: A new class at the Optum Community Center aims to help older adults understand artificial intelligence and spot potential scams. (Watch)

➤ Chandler High School freshman Sophia Valencia made history as the first girl in Arizona to earn a spot on a 6A baseball team. (Watch)

➤ Several Cactus League baseball teams pushed back game times as Phoenix braced for an early-season heat wave that could reach 105 degrees. (Details)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno will rest for several days with elbow inflammation but is expected to be ready for the regular season. (More)

➤ The Arizona Cardinals agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal with return specialist Devin Duvernay, who logged more than 1,000 kickoff return yards last season. (More)

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➤ Tri-City Cardiology in the Phoenix area agreed to pay $4.75 million to settle allegations that physicians performed unnecessary vein procedures between 2017 and 2022. (More)

➤ Prescott Valley leaders approved a plan intended to increase affordable housing options and address the local housing shortage. (More)

➤ The 2026 Ranking Arizona poll named Briar Patch Inn in Sedona as the state’s top bed-and-breakfast, followed by Bespoke Inn Scottsdale and The Lodge at Sedona. (Top 10)

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➤ Tombstone hosted its annual Wild West Days festival, honoring veterans and celebrating America’s 250th birthday. (Watch)

➤ Ahwatukee residents say foul balls from a nearby school’s baseball and softball fields have caused damage and safety concerns, with one tenant collecting nearly 300 balls. (Watch)

➤ First responders rescued a hiker in San Tan Valley who fell into an embankment and became stuck in a cactus. (More)

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