Sunday, June 7, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1896, Congress divided Arizona’s White Mountain Apache Reservation into two sovereign nations—the San Carlos Reservation to the south of the Salt River and Fort Apache to the north, drawing boundaries that persist today.

From colorful wildflowers to cool mountain escapes, the June issue of Arizona Highways celebrates some of Arizona’s most beautiful summer scenery. Get a sneak peek in Et Cetera.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla broke down a Social Security shift that quietly took effect this year, one that could permanently shrink your monthly check if you claim at the wrong time. Retirement experts say knowing your exact number before you file could mean the difference of hundreds of dollars a month for the rest of your life. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor, United States Tungsten, is highlighting a rare opportunity to invest in a critical mineral essential to industries from aerospace to electronics as the company works to revive domestic tungsten production at a historic North Carolina site.

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.

Senate Passes $70B Border Bill

The U.S. Senate passed a $70 billion bill earlier this week funding Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol through the remainder of President Trump’s second term.

Senators voted 52-47 along party lines to approve the legislation, with Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska casting the sole Republican vote against it. The legislation is designed to strengthen immigration enforcement efforts, expand detention capacity, increase staffing for border agencies and provide resources for ongoing deportation operations. Republican lawmakers have argued that the funding is necessary to address illegal immigration and provide long-term support for agencies tasked with securing the nation’s borders.

The bill now heads to the House, where a vote is expected early next week after members left Washington for the weekend without acting. Passage would send the measure to President Trump to sign.

Arizona shares more than 370 miles of border with Mexico and is home to major ports of entry at Nogales, Douglas, and Yuma—among the nation’s busiest land crossings for both legal commerce and enforcement operations.

Hiker Dies After Falling at South Mountain

A man died Friday afternoon after falling a “significant distance” while hiking near the Mormon Trail on South Mountain in Phoenix, authorities said.

Phoenix fire crews responded around 1 p.m. after a family member hiking with the man called 911 for help. Officials estimated he fell roughly 30 to 40 feet.

Rescuers climbed down to reach him, then used a Phoenix police helicopter to hoist him off the mountain. He was hospitalized in extremely critical condition but later died from his injuries.

Authorities said no foul play is suspected, and the cause of the fall remains undetermined. Officials noted the heat may have been a factor and urged hikers not to hike alone.

Mesa is a Base Camp for World Cup

The 2026 FIFA World Cup opens June 11, and Arizona is deep in the action before the first goal is scored.

In Mesa, Arizona Athletic Grounds has been tapped as Turkey’s official training site for the tournament. Turkey drew Group D alongside the United States, Paraguay, and Australia—meaning the Mesa facility is where the squad prepares to potentially face the Americans. A public fan day is also on the schedule for Valley soccer fans.

The Team Base Camp Training Sites are spread across three host countries with 39 of the 48 participating nations setting up base camps across the United States—more than any previous World Cup host.

Iran’s team arrived with its own Arizona subplot: the squad had Tucson earmarked as its training base before the federation relocated to Tijuana over U.S. visa complications. The State Department approved the players’ visas Friday—right after Iran had already packed up and crossed the border into Mexico.

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North Carolina’s Moment in the $10 Billion Tungsten Boom

The global tungsten market is surging toward $10 billion by 2030, and a historic site in North Carolina is drawing attention as domestic minerals become a national priority.

Modern industry has no substitute for tungsten. From the precision drills that build cities to the high-heat engines that power flight, it’s the indispensable backbone of global manufacturing:

Automotive: $3T+ market
Electronics: $500B+ market
Aerospace: $800B+ market

With global prices surging 557%, the demand for a domestic source has reached a boiling point.

That’s exactly where United States Tungsten comes in. The company is working toward reopening a domestic recovery and processing facility at the Tungsten Queen, which holds approximately 1 million tons of tungsten-bearing minerals.

The opportunity is here. Lock in up to 23% bonus shares as an early-stage United States Tungsten investor before June 12.

➤ Phoenix: Five freeway closures on SR 51, Loop 202, I-17, and Loop 101 are affecting Valley drivers through Monday morning; ADOT urges drivers to plan alternate routes. (More)

➤ Statewide: A Red Flag Warning is in effect for much of Arizona through the weekend, with hot, dry conditions and gusty winds sharply elevating wildfire danger. Residents are urged to avoid outdoor burning. (More)

➤ Tucson: A developer is planning a nine-story student dormitory across the street from the University of Arizona that would house approximately 1,300 students, with a target opening of fall 2028. (More)

➤ Sedona: A retired police officer moonlighting as an Uber driver stopped scammers targeting a woman in her 90s after spotting the warning signs of a bank fraud scheme and intervening before she could be victimized. (More)

➤ Maricopa County: A 15-year-old was arrested in connection with the Desert Sky Mall shooting that killed 17-year-old Kevin Zamora, who was working at the west Phoenix mall when he was fatally shot earlier this week. (More)

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➤ Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers surrendered five home runs on Friday night against the Washington Nationals, the league’s No. 1 offense, in a 14-1 loss. (More)

➤ The Phoenix Mercury earned a gritty victory in the team’s third Commissioner’s Cup game on Friday, defeating the Portland Fire 78-72 despite missing two of their top offensive players. (More)

➤ Arizona Cardinals special teams coach Michael Ghobrial hinted that the team may use 2026 No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love in the return game this season, despite Love never doing so in college. (More)

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This Metal Has Already Jumped 557%

Tungsten powers everything from aerospace to EVs. That’s why it’s projected to be a $10 billion industry by 2030, and one company is positioning itself to transform the domestic tungsten supply chain.

United States Tungsten is working to reopen a domestic recovery and processing facility through the Tungsten Queen, which holds approximately 1 million tons of tungsten. Demand is expected to surge as the U.S. rebuilds its domestic mineral supply. With critical mineral legislation accelerating and defense budgets rising, domestic suppliers have a unique opportunity to lead the market. United States Tungsten is already in talks with the government about supply contracts.

You can now invest in United States Tungsten and lock in up to 23% bonus shares before June 12.

This is a paid advertisement for United States Tungsten Corp. Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.unitedstatestungsten.com/

➤ Arizona Highways magazine’s June issue embraces summer with a focus on Arizona’s high country, featuring stories on Flagstaff wildlife and a desert wellness retreat. (Watch Video)

➤ Honor Flight Southern Arizona’s 36th mission returned home to Tucson, bringing two Korean War and 21 Vietnam War veterans back from a three-day trip to Washington, D.C. to visit war memorials. (See Details)

➤ The Phoenix Zoo and state wildlife officials released 21 captive-born narrow-headed gartersnakes into Canyon Creek in the Tonto National Forest, bolstering a threatened species that has been part of a zoo breeding program since 2009. (More)

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