Wildfire Forces Evacuations

The Jones Fire near Wickenburg remained active Tuesday, with some evacuation orders remaining and crews working to strengthen fire lines.

As many as 10 RVs were destroyed after flames spread into an RV park on Monday. No injuries were reported.

The brush fire started Monday in the Hassayampa River bottom, prompting school and residential evacuations, highway closures, and an emergency response involving more than 125 firefighters.

Most of U.S. 60 reopened, but firefighters warned flare-ups remain possible as temperatures rise. A relief site was set up at Wickenburg High School.

Missing Canyon Visitor Found Dead

Fugitive Faked Cartel Kidnapping

The search continued Tuesday for a Prescott man who never returned midway through his trial on charges that he faked his own cartel kidnapping to get money from his employer. 

A judge ordered the trial to continue, and a Yavapai County jury last week found 33-year-old Mark Ellis guilty of attempted fraud, attempted theft, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ellis was initially arrested after he asked his employer to wire more than $17,000 to his account, saying he’d been kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel and would be killed if he didn’t pay.

Investigators later determined that the basement shown during Ellis’ FaceTime plea was actually Ellis’ garage. They said Ellis admitted to making up the kidnapping to cover gambling losses.

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➤ Southwest Arizona remained on earthquake alert after hundreds of small quakes struck neighboring Imperial County in California over the past week. (More)

➤ Tempe: Arizona State University graduated a record 22,631 students during spring commencement, where actor Harrison Ford delivered the keynote address. (Photos)

➤ Pinal County: Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against notorious state prison inmate Ricky Wassenaar in the killings of three fellow inmates last year. In 2004, Wassenaar took prison guards hostage during the longest prison siege in U.S. history. (More)

➤ Navajo County: State Attorney General Kris Mayes plans to challenge the eligibility of recent state lawmaker David Marshall to serve as county recorder. (Details)

➤ Santa Cruz County: Local leaders are gathering public input on a long-term plan focused on tourism, infrastructure, water supply, street safety, and natural resources. (More)

➤ Tucson: The Tucson Fire Department highlighted how all-terrain vehicles speed up rescues and fire responses in remote desert areas. (Watch)

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➤ An analyst said the Arizona Cardinals face the NFL’s most difficult schedule next season, largely because they play in a division with the Seahawks, Rams, and 49ers. (More)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Carlos Santana, the oldest active MLB position player at 40, suffered a setback in his recovery from a groin strain while playing minor league ball. (More)

➤ Willcox won the Arizona Class 2A state softball title 5-3 over Mohave Accelerated, the Cowgirls’ first state championship since 2010. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | MLB | WNBA | NCAAB | Soccer

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➤ Alaska Airlines will add nonstop seasonal flights between Phoenix and California’s Santa Rosa-Sonoma wine country beginning Nov. 1. (More)

➤ Arizona ranked among the nation’s worst states for working moms in a WalletHub study, cited for poor child care access, limited career opportunities, and work-life balance challenges. (More)

➤ Five restaurants in the Valley are set to close by the end of the month, including Serrano’s Mexican Food and Raffaeles Pizza. (Details)

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Lithium prices are up 2X+ since last summer, and Morgan Stanley forecasts an 80,000-ton shortage in 2026. In other words, those with a reliable supply are sitting pretty.

So it’s a big deal that EnergyX just commissioned the single biggest lithium production facility of its kind in the United States.

EnergyX’s patented tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods at 500X the speed of evaporation ponds. With this facility, they’re preparing to produce it at scale.

They’ve got nearly 150,000 acres of lithium-rich land spread across the Americas, including the rights to up to 9.8M tons in Chile alone.

➤ Students from Arizona College Prep High School placed second in an international math competition in New York City, earning $15,000 in scholarships. (Watch)

➤ Three Tucson artists are creating a large mural in the city’s historic El Presidio district, honoring women’s contributions to the community. (Photos)

➤ Cowboy boots, country music, and live entertainment will take over Trophy Bar in Chandler during a May 30 kickoff party for this summer’s Country Fest. (Event)

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