Sunday, May 24, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1869, John Wesley Powell launched the first scientific expedition down the Colorado River. The journey carried his crew through what is now the Grand Canyon.

Happy Memorial Day weekend. Whether you’re out on the road or staying home, here’s your Arizona briefing.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown highlighted new research on a kitchen staple that scientists say could play a surprising role in protecting brain health. Multiple long-term studies found people who ate it regularly had a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, adding to growing evidence that everyday diet choices may have a bigger impact on memory and cognition than once thought. Listen here.

If you’re ready to finally take control of your weight and your health, today’s sponsor, DirectMeds, makes it simple to start—with trusted GLP-1 treatments prescribed online and delivered straight to your door.

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.

Court Dismisses Suit Against DCS

The Arizona Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit against the Department of Child Safety (DCS), ruling the agency had sufficient cause to remove two children even though the underlying dependency case was eventually dropped.

Stephanie Stephens sued DCS after the case was dismissed and after her children revealed their father had coached them to make false allegations against her and her boyfriend.

Stephens argued DCS lacked probable cause, but the court found prior dependency rulings established that standard and that Stephens failed to show DCS knew the allegations were fabricated when it acted on them.

The ruling vacated the Court of Appeals’ decision and affirmed the trial court’s dismissal, a significant precedent for families challenging child welfare agency decisions in Arizona.

GCU Dining Switch Cuts 500 Jobs

Grand Canyon University is switching its campus dining provider, and the contract change will eliminate nearly 500 jobs this summer.

Sodexo filed layoff notices with the state Department of Economic Security after GCU awarded its dining contract to Aramark. The Sodexo contract expires July 14.

GCU says Aramark has expressed intent to hire workers currently employed by Sodexo—including full-time staff and part-time student workers—and has already held on-campus meetings with affected employees.

The 489 layoffs make it one of the largest single-employer job cuts in metro Phoenix this year.

UA Lands $3.8M Grant for Sleep Study

University of Arizona researchers have received a $3.8 million federal grant to study why people awake in the middle of the night make worse decisions and how that connects to elevated suicide risk.

The five-year study, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, tests the “mind after midnight” hypothesis: the idea that the brain is ill-equipped to handle stress and complex choices during hours it expects to be asleep.

Lead investigator Michael Grandner, an associate professor of psychiatry at UA, found that suicides occur far more often between 2 and 3 a.m. than random chance would predict.

Study participants will visit a sleep lab twice—staying awake until 2 a.m. one night, waking at that hour the next—so researchers can compare brainwave activity and mood at both overnight points.

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Katie Hobbs expanded ReadyTechGo to Mohave, Coconino, and Yavapai community colleges, extending the advanced manufacturing program’s reach into rural Arizona. The talent pipeline connects graduates directly to employers, including Intel, TSMC, and Lucid Motors. (More)

➤ Flagstaff: Coconino County deputies are stepping up Memorial Day off-highway vehicle (OHV) patrols following a string of deadly crashes in northern Arizona this year. Off-road vehicles can reach 70-80 mph, authorities warn, and violations carry serious penalties. (More)

➤ Tucson: The Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind held its last day at its Tucson campus on Thursday, closing a site that served students for over a century. The school is relocating to Oro Valley. (More)

➤ Florence: Arizona executed Leroy Dean McGill, 63, at the state prison in Florence on Wednesday in the state’s first lethal injection this year. McGill was convicted of killing Charles Perez by setting him on fire in a Phoenix apartment in 2002. (More)

➤ Phoenix: More than 300 downtown parking meters have gone dark due to a battery shortage, leaving drivers unable to pay for spots. The city is directing drivers to the mobile app or to pay online instead. (More)

➤ Southern Arizona: Tucson Values Teachers named six seniors as its 2026 Future Educator Scholarship recipients, each receiving a $1,000 renewable award toward teaching. Honorees hail from Bisbee, Cienega, Empire, Canyon del Oro, Rio Rico, and Marana high schools. (More)

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➤ Arizona State softball faced off with No. 2 seed Texas last night with an opportunity to advance to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2018. (See Score)

➤ The Arizona Diamondbacks had their season-best five-game winning streak snapped on Friday, falling to the Colorado Rockies 3-2. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. drove in both of Arizona’s runs. (More)

➤ No. 21 Arizona State baseball fell to No. 9 West Virginia in the Big 12 tournament semifinals on Friday. The Sun Devils held a 3-1 lead after the top of the 6th, but fell 7-3 after allowing three runs in the bottom of the sixth and eighth innings. (More)

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Take control of your weight and health with DirectMeds. Their licensed providers prescribe trusted GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide—clinically proven to curb appetite, balance blood sugar, and promote lasting fat loss. Lower your risk of diabetes, boost energy, and feel confident again. Start today with a quick online consultation and 24-hour approval.

➤ Two new bridges on US 93 mark progress on a major highway widening project connecting the Las Vegas-to-Phoenix corridor—a stretch that sees heavy Memorial Day traffic and has long been a bottleneck for northwest Arizona travelers. (More)

➤ Scientists are forecasting a potential Super El Niño developing by late 2026, which could bring an unusually wet and cold Arizona winter. (More)

➤ Ranking Arizona named the top 10 large and small Arizona resorts, as determined by public vote. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess was ranked No. 1 among larger resorts, while the Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa was the No. 1 smaller resort. (More)

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