Monday, May 18, 2026

Good morning! On this day in 1912, Arizona’s first legislature established the state’s public school system and approved free textbooks for students. This photo offers a historic glimpse inside a Tucson classroom.

Nearly a year after Arizona’s seventh largest wildfire devastated the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, the area reopened to visitors on Friday. In Top Stories, we look at the region’s rise from the ashes.

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North Rim Reopens After Fires

The Grand Canyon’s North Rim reopened Friday for its first full summer season since wildfires shut down the area for nearly 10 months, bringing renewed hope for tourism and nearby businesses.

Visitors again have access to roads, overlooks, and the North Kaibab Trail, though overnight lodging inside the park remains unavailable after the Dragon Bravo Fire destroyed the historic North Rim Lodge.

An area business owner called the North Rim’s recovery “resilient” after the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires burned a combined roughly 205,500 acres last summer.

Elsewhere in Arizona, the Bronco Fire in the Tonto National Forest reached 50% containment Sunday, while the Jones Fire near Wickenburg reached full containment on Friday.

Fraud Probe Cuts Billing 92%

State Attorney General Kris Mayes says billing through Arizona’s Medicaid program dropped 92% after a sweeping crackdown on fraud tied to the state’s behavioral health system.

Billing reportedly fell from more than $3.1 billion between 2021 and 2023 to about $230 million from 2024 to 2026 as investigators targeted fraudulent sober living homes and treatment providers.

The update came as nurse practitioner Rita Anagho was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for fraudulent Medicaid claims involving minors, incarcerated people, and deceased patients.

Mayes said additional prosecutions remain possible as the state’s investigation into the fraud schemes continues.

From Rejection to Record Breaker

A Corona del Sol High School junior who was cut from the varsity baseball team is now one of Arizona’s fastest-rising javelin athletes.

Kelson Hogan switched to track and field just hours after being cut, throwing a javelin for the first time and quickly discovering a talent for the event.

Less than three months later, Hogan broke an Arizona javelin record with a throw of 211 feet, 2 inches, finishing fifth overall at the state meet.

Hogan has since won the Division I state javelin title with a throw of 214 feet, 9 inches, topping his own state record and moving up to No. 6 nationally.

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Is Your Retirement Plan Built to Last?

Planning for retirement means preparing for the unexpected: increased cash flow needs, heightened health care costs, or a longer life than you might think. One key risk many retirees face is underestimating how long their savings need to last. Another is inflation, which can quietly reduce your purchasing power over time.

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➤ Statewide: Arizona is receiving more than $110 million in FEMA disaster funding to support COVID-19 response costs, Havasupai Tribe flood recovery, and emergency management efforts. (More)

➤ San Luis: Authorities said a driver rammed multiple vehicles and triggered a chaotic scene involving gunfire near the port of entry before fleeing into Mexico. (Watch)

➤ Statewide: Honor Flight Arizona will fly 91 war veterans to Washington, D.C., today on its first standalone charter flight to visit memorials and Arlington National Cemetery. (More)

➤ Tucson: No injuries were reported after a small biplane landed on a Southside street Friday afternoon and struck a pole. (Photo)

➤ Cochise County: Bisbee, Willcox, and Huachuca City are among the communities receiving state funding for infrastructure, workforce training, and downtown improvement projects. (Details)

➤ Yuma: Residents at a Yuma RV park say repeated power outages have left them without air conditioning for days at a time ahead of summer heat. (Watch)

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➤ Arizona softball and Grand Canyon University softball each saw their seasons come to an end yesterday at the respective regional tournaments. Arizona dropped back-to-back games to Duke, while Grand Canyon suffered a 1-0 loss, recording just one hit in the contest. (More)

➤ Arizona State softball advanced to the Austin Super Regional yesterday after a walk-off grand slam by senior infielder Brooklyn Ulrich clinched a 9-1 run-rule victory. (See Home Run)

➤ Arizona Cardinals rookies Jeremiyah Love and Carson Beck suited up in Cardinals gear for the first time at the NFLPA Rookie Premiere. (See Photos)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks ace Eduardo Rodriguez was tagged with his first loss of the season on Saturday after allowing three runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 4-2 loss to the Rockies. (More)

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➤ Chipmaker TSMC approved a $20 billion investment into its Arizona subsidiary as the company continues expanding its massive semiconductor campus in north Phoenix. (More)

➤ Bullhead City leaders are considering a new vision for Laughlin Ranch that would replace plans for a second golf course with thousands of acres of light industrial development. (More)

➤ Tucson restaurants and bars near the University of Arizona saw a major business boost Friday as graduation celebrations packed businesses around campus. (Watch)

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A comfortable retirement requires a plan that accounts for all your cash flow needs, as well as inflation’s quiet erosion of your savings. Our guide offers insights to help you prepare. If you have $1 million or more, get your guide to help build a portfolio that lasts.

➤ The popular Fridays with Frank series from the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office shows a traffic stop spiraling after a driver calls her grandmother for help before yelling at her on speakerphone. (Watch)

➤ A new sculpture exhibition opens tomorrow at Elizabeth C. Archuleta County Park in Flagstaff, featuring large-scale public art inspired by nature and history. (Details)

➤ Families can enjoy free summer activities from dinosaur encounters to Jurassic Cupcake Wars as part of Prescott Valley Public Library’s Unearth a Story reading program through July 31. (More)

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