Saturday, June 6, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1933, workers poured the first concrete at Hoover Dam on the Colorado River—launching the multi-year project that would help turn Arizona’s desert into a modern state.

It’s been called the “photo of the day“—a brilliant meteor was photographed streaking across the sky above southern Arizona’s Kitt Peak National Observatory. Learn more and see what other night sky events are happening this month in Top Stories.

A fast food restaurant is taking a victory lap after the candidate it endorsed beat a Trump-backed rival, handing the president his first major statewide primary loss of the 2026 midterms. So how did a burger chain end up in a governor’s race, and why is it bragging now? Today on The Flyover Podcast, Amy digs into the story and the politics behind it. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, EnergyX, is positioning itself at the center of America’s growing lithium boom with patented extraction technology, major industry backing, and access to millions of tons of untapped lithium reserves across the Americas.

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.

Over 20 Dogs Rescued from Suspected Puppy Mill

Glendale police and the Arizona Humane Society removed more than 20 dogs and two rabbits Tuesday from a condemned Glendale home tied to a suspected Dalmatian breeding operation, authorities said.

Investigators reported finding feces, filth, and outdoor pools of moldy, algae-filled water. Inside, 15 Dalmatian puppies were discovered in a plastic bin registering a surface temperature of 105 degrees.

Citing electrical violations, blocked exits, and illegal structures, officials had the residence declared unfit for living. The Humane Society took custody of the animals for evaluation.

Five people are under investigation for animal cruelty, with at least two possibly facing charges. The case remains open, and neighbors said they had long reported concerns.

Arrests Made in Northern AZ Train Heist

Two men were arrested and two suspects remain at large after a May 29 freight-train burglary in northern Arizona, with authorities recovering more than $500,000 in stolen goods.

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office said BNSF Railway workers reported people loading merchandise from a stopped train near Meteor Crater, west of Winslow, into a van and a box truck.

Detectives stopped the van and arrested two men. A box truck later spotted near Williams fled, crashed, and two occupants escaped on foot, authorities said.

An investigator said such heists occur 8-12 times monthly along the I-40 corridor. The probe continues, and a railway task force is planned.

Meteor Photographed Above Kitt Peak Observatory

A meteor streaked across the sky above the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) located southwest of Tucson and was featured in Space.com as the “photo of the day.”

Photographer Petr Horálek captured the meteor streaking above the observatory in southern Arizona, framing the blaze beside telescope domes, glowing nebulae, and bright constellations.

Meanwhile this month, Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury are aligning in the western evening sky. Venus and Jupiter pass closest on June 9, while elusive Mercury stays visible through about June 22.

A slender crescent moon joins the lineup on June 16 and 17. Such three-planet gatherings are rare; the next comparable June grouping isn’t expected until 2085.

The Hidden Cost of ChatGPT: A Lithium Crisis

That ChatGPT answer you just got? It ran on electricity. A lot of it.

OpenAI’s data centers consume more power than some small countries, and every one of them runs rows of lithium-ion battery backup systems to keep servers alive if the grid hiccups.

The world isn’t producing enough lithium to keep up. And one company is making major moves to fill the gap.

EnergyX just announced plans for a second lithium project in the United States, sitting on approximately 2.4 million tons of lithium in Utah. They’re projecting $600M+ in annual revenue at full scale, and retail investors can currently claim an early-stage stake.

Here’s why the timing matters.

Demand is projected to hit 5.5 million tons by 2040. And that was before the AI buildout got priced in.

McKinsey now projects battery demand growing 30% annually through 2030. The supply gap is widening and not going away.

EnergyX is positioned at the center of it.

Invest before the 7/16 deadline.

➤ Statewide: Hot, dry conditions and gusty winds are raising fire danger across much of Arizona this weekend, with meteorologists warning that rapidly spreading wildfires are possible in northern and central parts of the state. (More)

➤ Tucson: Hughes Federal Credit Union pledged $5 million to the historic Fox Tucson Theatre’s planned Events Center expansion in a naming rights deal, giving the downtown arts project its largest private funding commitment. (More)

➤ Statewide: For the first time since statehood in 1912, Arizona voters will elect a Lieutenant Governor this November following Prop 131’s passage, creating a joint ticket with the Governor and reshaping the state’s succession line. (More)

➤ Phoenix: Phoenix police deployed K9 units near Sky Harbor Airport after a suspect fled a vehicle chase and crash tied to an aggravated assault on Thursday. (More)

➤ Flagstaff: Sweet Shoppe Candy Store recently relocated from its original location on Aspen Ave. to a new, larger space at 102 Historic Route 66 in downtown and to celebrate, the shop gave away free caramel apples to its first 100 customers last week. (More)

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➤ The Arizona Cardinals signed defensive back Isaiah Oliver this week, bringing the Brophy Prep product home to the Valley after an eight-year NFL career. (More)

➤ Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas avoided serious injury after a full-speed collision with Dodgers infielder Max Muncy on Thursday. Both players were on the dirt for several minutes, but walked away with just soreness. (More)

➤ FireRock Country Club in Fountain Hills became the first course in Arizona to drop the water-intensive annual overseed, switching to a drought-tolerant turf the club says saves about 40 million gallons of water a year. (More)

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Discovered: 328 Years Worth of Lithium

The United States just discovered a massive lithium reserve in the Appalachia region, a 328-year supply based on America’s 2025 import totals.

With Morgan Stanley forecasting an 80,000-ton shortage this year alone, the sooner we can tap into it the better.

For companies like EnergyX, that spells opportunity.

Their patented technology can recover lithium 500X faster than traditional methods. It’s why industry leaders like General Motors have already invested.

Now, they hold rights to up to 13 million tons of untapped lithium across the Americas. And they just announced plans for their second U.S. lithium production facility.

All of which puts them on the short list of companies capable of turning massive reserves into fast results.

Claim your piece of this lithium boom as an early-stage EnergyX investor before the 7/16 deadline.

➤ Tucson Ballet studios are welcoming a surge of adult beginners stepping into class for the first time to stay fit and find community, part of a growing national trend in ballet-inspired fitness. (More)

➤ Arizona State University graduated its first cohort from an online bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering through the Fulton Schools, a milestone for the state’s push to grow its healthcare and life sciences workforce without requiring students to be on campus. (More)

➤ The Postal History Foundation has reopened its 2026 Tucson Birthday Art Contest for students ages 5-17; winners will have their designs featured on commemorative postcards and collectible envelopes. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Scientists are taking a closer look at a little-known herb after studies suggested it may help reactivate dormant hair follicles, even later in life. What surprised researchers most wasn’t just the results…It was that this herb outperformed some of the most popular commercial hair growth treatments. Read the full story here.