Holiday Travel Meets Rising Heat

Arizona drivers heading out for the Fourth of July weekend will find no construction closures on state highways, but they should brace for heavier traffic and a warming trend into the holiday.

ADOT suspended all full highway closures, including on Valley freeways, through Monday morning, with peak congestion expected Thursday afternoon and Sunday.

Forecasters expect Phoenix’s high temperature to climb to around 107 degrees by the Fourth—near normal for the date—before a bigger push into the 110s Sunday and into next week, prompting a heat risk warning for the holiday weekend.

Officials urge travelers to pack extra water and expect the unexpected, since crashes and wildfires can close roads. Game and fish officers will patrol lakes and rivers statewide.

Border ‘Smart Wall’ Races Ahead

U.S. Customs and Border Protection continues to move rapidly in building a “smart wall” at the U.S.-Mexico border that pairs 30-foot steel fencing with AI-powered cameras, sensors and surveillance towers.

CBP has added 74 miles of physical barriers since President Trump returned to office. An additional 535 miles of rugged terrain are getting sensors and towers instead of fencing.

“It’s a smart wall. It’s not just a barrier. It maximizes the use of our most valuable resource, which is our agents,” CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said during recent congressional testimony.

The federal government is also reinforcing existing barriers.

Inland immigration security measures include the use of license plate readers disguised as barrels and traffic cones, with some in place earlier this year more than 100 miles from the border near Apache Junction, Buckeye, and Maricopa.

Records Show Dispute over Toddler’s Care

More details emerged about a Gilbert hospital’s handling of an 18-month-old boy who was pronounced dead after nearly drowning and was later discovered alive in the hospital morgue.

Body-camera footage shows Gilbert police officers noting possible signs of life before the boy was declared deceased. Later, one officer wrote that the toddler was pronounced dead in error, despite a tense exchange with the doctor.

Mercy Gilbert Medical Center said in a statement that an investigation was conducted but declined to release details. An attorney for the toddler’s family declined to comment.

A medical examiner’s transport found the child breathing, and he was flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. An MRI later showed the boy suffered brain damage and will likely need lifelong care.

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➤ Flagstaff: The launch of a robotic rescue spacecraft built by locally based Katalyst Space Technologies to boost NASA’s sinking Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory was postponed Thursday due to a launch vehicle issue, with no new date set. (More)

➤ Northern Arizona: The Pocket Fire burning north of Sedona triggered FAA flight restrictions around Flagstaff Pulliam Airport, canceling numerous flights since Sunday. (See Details)

➤ Grand Canyon: Park rangers are searching for a tourist who broke a historic Hopi headpiece inside the Desert View Watchtower on June 17, after climbing onto furniture for a photo. (More)

➤ Statewide: Organizers of a campaign to enshrine mail-in voting in the state constitution said the proposal won’t make the November ballot because their roughly 439,000 petition signatures won’t yield the 383,923 valid ones required. (More)

➤ Navajo County: Arizona Public Service is converting the former Cholla coal plant near Joseph City to run on natural gas, with enough power for about 61,000 Arizona homes. (More)

➤ Scottsdale: A traveling interactive Titanic exhibit opens this weekend, giving visitors a new perspective on the ship’s story. (See Details)

➤ Tucson: Parking meter rates went up 50% across downtown Tucson, from $1 to $1.50 per hour. Some business owners worry the higher prices will keep customers away. (More)

➤ Phoenix Metro: Phoenix has joined a regional water-sharing program as Colorado River cuts loom, part of the city’s effort to shore up supply amid the ongoing shortage. (More)

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➤ Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride said on a podcast that the team struggles with fan support because most Arizona residents are transplants rooting for their home-state teams. (More) 

➤ ESPN gave the Cardinals a “D” for their offseason, the lowest grade in the NFL, citing the handling of quarterback Kyler Murray’s release and the drafting of running back Jeremiyah Love third overall as key reasons. (More) 

➤ The Arizona Diamondbacks’ eight-game win streak against the San Francisco Giants ended this week. (More) 

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

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➤ Scottsdale City Council approved a plan that would clear the way for the Old Town Tavern to expand, after months of debate over parking requirements. (More)

➤ Utilities in the state launched a joint study to review possible locations for a future nuclear plant, if one is ever approved. (More)

➤ TSMC interns led Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley youth through STEM activities at the Arizona Science Center in Phoenix, part of a partnership that includes a $100,000 grant from the company to the club. (More)

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➤ A 9-week-old eaglet is settling into a foster nest near Flagstaff after surgery at Liberty Wildlife to remove a fishing hook it swallowed. (More)

➤ An 8-year-old with a rare heart defect will fulfill his dream of throwing out the first pitch at an Arizona Diamondbacks game. (More)

➤ Incoming sixth graders from six Chandler Unified elementary schools graduated from a summer program that gives them an early start thinking about college. (More)

➤ Two rescued mountain lion cubs at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum were named Moonbead and Pretzel, chosen by children facing serious illnesses through a museum partnership. (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:

➤ Trump Accounts launch on the Fourth of July with a $1,000 federal deposit, though most eligible families have yet to enroll. (Hear Details)

➤ Wisconsin school officials barred a graduating senior from including a Bible verse in the ceremony slideshow. (Hear Episode)

➤ Brooklyn bodegas are openly selling an experimental weight-loss drug over the counter, despite a federal ban on its commercial sale. (Listen Now)

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