Friday, June 26, 2026

On this day in 1990, six firefighters died when the Dude Fire blew up in the Mogollon Rim country northeast of Payson amid record statewide heat and a three-year drought. The wildfire reshaped how wildland firefighters train and deploy on dangerous terrain.

Wildfires are again a threat this summer, including the Sycamore Fire north of Globe, which spread to more than 10,000 acres. You can check the status of the state’s current wildfires here.

Today, we’re partnering with Convoy of Hope to support families devastated by the recent earthquakes in Venezuela. If you’re able, please consider joining us in providing urgently needed relief to those who have lost so much. In moments like these, it’s easy to feel helpless watching tragedy unfold from afar. But together, we can make a real difference.

Court Backs Border Controls

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 Thursday that foreign nationals stopped by agents on the Mexican side of the border do not have a right to gain entry by simply claiming asylum.

The ruling clears the way for the Trump administration to possibly revive the metering policy once used at ports in Arizona and elsewhere to limit illegal immigration.

Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said a person stopped on the Mexico side has not legally arrived in the U.S. and therefore cannot claim the right to asylum screening. In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote that Congress intended protections to extend to anyone at the doorstep of the U.S.

The court also ruled Thursday that noncitizens in the U.S. under temporary protected status are not shielded from deportation once their TPS protections expire.

Laser Strikes Bring 10-Month Sentence

A Buckeye man was sentenced to 10 months in federal prison after admitting he pointed laser lights at F-35 fighter jets training near Luke Air Force Base in Glendale.

William Wilson, 56, of Buckeye, pleaded guilty to pointing red and green laser lights at the jets between September 2024 and January 2025. Multiple pilots reported their vision was affected.

Wilson said he believed the aircraft were spy planes and he was frustrated they were flying close to his home. During the investigation, a surveillance plane captured footage of Wilson in his backyard pointing laser devices toward the plane.

Laser strikes on aircraft remain a safety threat nationally, but were down 14% last year, with Arizona ranking fifth in the nation with 574 reported cases.

County Issues $6M in Tax Refunds

More than 630 Pima County property owners will receive a combined $6 million in tax refunds for properties that were overtaxed over recent years.

The release of the funds follows the June 12 resignation of county Treasurer Brian Johnson, who had challenged the county assessor’s findings of excess valuations.

Assessor Suzanne Droubie said the errors were found when her office was transitioning to a new tax valuation software. County Supervisor Matt Heinz said Johnson overstepped his authority and that the final decision on valuations rested with the assessor.

The county has launched a search for a treasurer to replace Johnson, who cited “urgent changes” in his personal life for leaving before his term ends in December 2028.

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Rush critical aid to survivors in Venezuela

You’ve seen the reports. The devastating death toll and massive destruction after earthquakes in Venezuela. More than 180 people are dead, 1,500 are injured, and numbers are sure to rise. You can be part of the urgent response.

Convoy of Hope is on the ground in the disaster zone, providing emergency food, clean water, and critical supplies to those who need them most. More support is needed.

We’ll be matching the first $4,000 donated. Please help now!

Two powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 collapsed buildings and trapped people in the rubble. Families with missing loved ones cling to hope as rescue teams work around the clock. Urgent needs include food, water, and other essentials.

Since 1994, Convoy of Hope has served more than 350 million people affected by disasters, hunger, and crises. They are ranked by Forbes among America’s Top Charities. You can give with confidence.

The Flyover will match every dollar of the first $4,000 donated. Your compassionate gift will bring hope and help to families who have lost everything.

➤ Glendale: Big Air, a roughly 31,000-square-foot indoor trampoline park with obstacle courses, slides, and a competition arena, opens this weekend. (More)

➤ Flagstaff: A Fire Weather Watch takes effect across much of northern Arizona today through Sunday evening, with winds and low humidity pushing wildfire danger into the critical range. (More)

➤ Tucson: This year’s Día de San Juan Fiesta took place at Mission Garden, continuing a nearly 30-year tradition of offering prayers for summer rain. (More)

➤ Metro Phoenix: Health officials confirmed Maricopa County’s 16th measles case of the year, with a public-exposure alert issued for anyone who traveled through Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor on June 17. (More)

➤ Pima County: County supervisors approved $170,000 to fund GED classes at the county jail after Sheriff Chris Nanos moved to cut the 35-year-old program. (More)

➤ Maricopa County: County supervisors unanimously approved a 2026 election plan as early voting opened, with Recorder Justin Heap absent amid an ongoing feud over who administers local elections. (More)

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➤ Arizona guard and Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley was taken No. 50 by the Toronto Raptors in the second round of the NBA draft. (More)

➤ Arizona Cardinals radio play-by-play announcer Dave Pasch will not return for the upcoming season after accepting an offer for an expanded role at ESPN. (More)

➤ The WNBA suspended Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for a game after she hit Indiana Fever player Caitlin Clark in the throat in Wednesday’s matchup. (More)

➤ The Arizona Diamondbacks dropped 40-year-old first baseman Carlos Santana from the roster after he hit .083 in eight games and missed more than two months with a strained adductor. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | WNBA | Golf

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➤ The Agritopia neighborhood in Gilbert began offering its first community classes at its pavilion, with a bouquet-making workshop first up. (More)

➤ Small businesses near the new Buc-ee’s in Goodyear braced for increased competition, with one gift shop optimistic that its niche products and loyal customer base will help. (More)

➤ Canada celebrated the opening of its consulate in downtown Phoenix with a ribbon-cutting ceremony this week. Nearly $6 billion of imports and exports are exchanged between Arizona and Canada each year. (More)

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➤ Are you taking one of these 9 “memory erasing” prescriptions? You may think your memory loss is just a sign of getting older, but one of these 9 drugs could actually be damaging your brain… If you’re over the age of 60, your brain could be at risk. (More)

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Double Your Impact. Earthquake Recovery.

Earthquake survivors in Venezuela need your help. Two powerful earthquakes have devastated communities across the country. Buildings have collapsed, families have been displaced, and lives have been upended. More than 180 people are dead, and 1,500 are injured, with numbers sure to rise.

Convoy of Hope is on the ground now, supplying food, clean water, and essential relief. Please support these efforts with your gift today!

The Flyover will match the first $4,000 donated for double impact.

This means your quick response can help twice as many families recover.

Please give now and bring hope where it’s needed most.

➤ A narrow slice of the Valley known as the “magic zip code” continues to attract homebuyers by offering a rare combination: a Scottsdale mailing address, Paradise Valley school boundaries, and the lower tax rates of the city of Phoenix. (More)

➤ Dr. Larry Grogin, a 71-year-old endurance athlete with Parkinson’s who is running 100 marathons in 100 days across the country, passed through Arizona this week. (More)

➤ A Phoenix man visiting the small city of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, faces charges for allegedly taking a construction excavator on a drunken joyride and causing about $40,000 in damage to a restaurant and hotel. (More)

➤ The legal fight over a $12.8 million lottery ticket sold at a Phoenix Circle K became more complicated, with a court filing naming two additional possible claimants. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ The world’s first trillionaire held the title for less than two weeks. What knocked him back down to mere billionaire? (Press Play)

➤ A federal judge just blocked a major piece of the President’s mail-in voting overhaul, and it comes down to one constitutional question. (Hear the Ruling)

➤ It nearly went extinct, until one Missouri farmer admitted she’d been quietly growing it all along. Meet summer’s most star-studded fruit. (Take a Bite)