Friday, August 22, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1933, the Southern Pacific Railroad offered a round-trip fare from Phoenix to Tucson for $2.45. This historic photo shows a Southern Pacific locomotive.

Pumpkin spice or triple-digit temps? A month out from the fall equinox, AccuWeather released its forecast for Arizona’s autumn weather. Spoiler: You might want that latte on ice.

Protect your retirement savings against threats from artificial intelligence with today’s sponsor, GoldCo.

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.

Hero Who Saved Wife from Fire Remembered

The family of a Maricopa man hailed him as a hero after he died saving his wife from a house fire this month.

On the morning of Aug. 8, Michael Blunt, 63, noticed that a fire—likely from an outdoor trash can—spread to his attic, and he re-entered the burning home to save his wife, Luz.

Blunt then tried to stop the fire from spreading to his neighbor’s home before collapsing outside, likely due to a heart condition. His official cause of death has not been released. The house was a total loss.

The community continues to raise funds to support Blunt’s widow.

Competency Ruling Allows Refiled Charges

The Arizona Supreme Court ruled this week that prosecutors can resubmit charges against defendants previously deemed mentally incompetent if they think the person is now competent to stand trial.

The decision stems from a 2018 case in which Joel Carson shot and killed Efran Hernandez in a Phoenix Circle K before being subdued by customers.

Carson was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and multiple counts of aggravated assault, but the case never went to trial after he was declared mentally incompetent.

The ruling allows for the refiling of charges without prior court approval if prosecutors think a defendant is now competent.

Coffee Chain Eyes $1B Valuation

Scottsdale-based Black Rock Coffee Bar filed for an initial public stock offering, aiming for a valuation of $1 billion.

The chain is charting a similar path to Dutch Bros, which went public in 2021 and is relocating its headquarters from Oregon to Tempe. Black Rock plans to list on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BRCB.

Black Rock currently operates 158 company-owned locations in six states, with its newer stores featuring lobbies and indoor seating as the chain moves beyond its original drive-thru-only format.

The company earned $95 million in revenue in the first half of 2025, with two-thirds of sales coming from loyalty members.

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WARNING: AI Threats That Could Shatter Your Dreams of Successful Retirement

The media is calling artificial intelligence a “revolution,” but for many Americans, its real impact might result in a significant loss, not a gain. In fact, new reports reveal that AI is already driving three major threats to the global economy and your retirement.

Here are the three major AI threats you should be aware of:

Skyrocketing market risk due to overvalued tech stocks.
Tens of thousands of job losses in just the first half of 2025.
Banking security and privacy under siege.

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Don’t wait until Artificial Intelligence potentially robs you of your financial future.

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➤ Saguaro Lake: A search team recovered a body believed to be that of 65-year-old paddleboarder Richard Powers, who was last seen near a boat ramp early Sunday. (Watch)

➤ Southern Border: U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the entire southern border wall will be painted black to make the surfaces hotter to deter illegal crossings, per President Trump’s request. (Watch)

➤ Forest Lakes: Fire crews lifted pre-evacuation warnings for areas along Highway 260, including Canyon Point Campground, as the threat eased from the Sheep Spring Fire. (Watch)

➤ Grand Canyon: Several South Rim trails closed by the Dragon Bravo Fire reopened, including parts of the South Kaibab, Tonto, and Bright Angel trails. (Watch)

➤ Mohave County: County supervisors demanded the resignation of three county airport authority officials over alleged unprofessional conduct and open meeting law violations. (More)

➤ Tucson: The city temporarily closed McCormick Park on Wednesday over safety concerns, including trash, biohazards, drug use, and encampments. (Photo)

➤ The Arizona Diamondbacks relieved coach Shaun Larkin of third-base coaching duties, though he will remain with the organization as an infield defense coach. (More)

➤ The Arizona Cardinals signed former Arizona State offensive lineman Dohnovan West, seeking to add depth to the unit following injuries to Hayden Conner and Christian Jones. (More)

➤ Phoenix Mercury forward DeWanna Bonner keeps climbing the all-time WNBA leaderboard in minutes played, now ranked No. 4 with 15,784 minutes of game time. (More)

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➤ The federal government began offering low-interest disaster loans to small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the Dragon Bravo and White Sage wildfires on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. (Details)

➤ Prince St. Pizza, a New York City chain known for its square slices and Neapolitan pies, will open its first Arizona location this month in a 1,329-square-foot Tempe storefront on Mill Avenue. (Photo)

➤ An unidentified automotive business purchased a 7,033-square-foot building at 3951 W. Costco Drive in Marana. (More)

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AI Threats That Could Shatter Your Dreams

The impact of artificial intelligence isn’t just hype anymore; it’s happening right before our eyes. While it may be shaping the future, it could also unleash major damage to the U.S. economy, potentially putting millions of retirement savers at risk.

That’s why more and more Americans are turning to time-tested strategies to help protect their life savings, and they’re starting with a free copy of The Case for Silver ebook.

➤ Facing foreclosure on the family home after her father died from diabetes, Kaley Petersen launched a sidewalk bake sale that has become the home-based Woojis Bakery in Queen Creek. (Photos)

➤ The Yuma Union High School District in Yuma continues to achieve a low dropout rate, with five of its seven schools under 1%, below the state average of 4.5%. (Watch)

➤ The Super Mario Bros.-inspired “Super Barrio Bros.” mural that wrapped around three sides of a Van Buren Street building in Phoenix was removed following the property’s sale. (Photo)