Solar Company Lays Off 283

Swiss solar manufacturer Meyer Burger laid off 283 workers at its Goodyear plant a year after opening, citing an inability to secure refinancing.

The affected jobs include production leads, materials handlers, and quality assurance supervisors. The layoffs were disclosed in a letter filed with the Arizona Department of Economic Security on May 22. 

Last November, D.E. Shaw Renewable Investments, one of the largest solar developers in the U.S., canceled a large order with Meyer Burger.

Father, Son Plead Guilty in Sports Complex Fraud 

A father and son from Phoenix pleaded guilty to defrauding several of the nation’s biggest investment firms about the prospects of the failed Legacy Park Sports Complex in Mesa, costing municipal bondholders more than $280 million.

Randy Miller, 70, and Chad Miller, 40, entered their pleas on Wednesday, admitting to securities fraud and aggravated identity theft in a Manhattan federal court. 

The duo acknowledged forging documents and inflating revenue projections before defaulting on payments months after opening in 2022. 

The Millers face up to seven years in prison and agreed to a combined fine of more than $12 million.

Audit Sought of Utility’s Special Fee

An advocacy group called for an audit of Arizona Public Service (APS) after the utility banked tens of millions of dollars more than projected from a pandemic-recovery fee it charged customers.

The extra $12 monthly fee charged by APS raised $973 million in 2023 and 2024, which was $123 million more than the amount the utility had projected. About $290 million of the money remains in the utility’s accounts.

Another utility in Arizona that imposed a pandemic-recovery surcharge, Tucson Electric Power, met its revenue goal within the first year and refunded excess collections. APS refuted the comparison, saying the utilities are governed by different rules.

The call for an audit comes as APS seeks another rate increase.

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➤ Gilbert: The city was named the eighth best place in the nation to raise a family based on family-friendly activities, housing costs, schools, and health care. (More)

➤ Cochise County: Wildlife officials removed four Mexican gray wolves from a ranch, relocating them to New Mexico. (Watch)

➤ Santa Cruz County: The county has recovered $5.9 million of the $38 million embezzled by former county treasurer Elizabeth Gutfahr, who is scheduled to be sentenced next month. (Watch)

➤ Tucson: School board members voted to place a measure on the November ballot that would boost teacher salaries and increase funding for district programs. (Details)

➤ Pima County: The county’s board of supervisors voted 4 to 1 to oppose any reduction in the size of the nearly 130,000-acre Ironwood Forest National Monument for energy development. (Watch)

➤ Ahwatukee: The Maricopa County Attorney will not pursue charges in a teen’s fatal stabbing. (More)

➤ Nearly 30 Arizonans will represent Team USA across multiple divisions in the World Championships of dragon boat racing, a canoe-like competition rooted in 2,000 years of Chinese culture. (Watch)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks General Manager Mike Hazen addressed the team’s late-game losses, saying, “This is my problem to fix and figure out a way to get this group in a spot where we are consistently locking down leads.” (More)

➤ Former Grand Canyon basketball player Tyon Grant-Foster will transfer to Gonzaga to play the final season of his college career. (More)

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➤ AZ Snow Zone officially opened in Phoenix, debuting as Arizona’s first indoor ski and snowboard facility. (Watch)

➤ Castelion, a California-based hypersonic missile manufacturing startup founded by former SpaceX employees, is considering opening an unspecified facility in Tucson with support from state and county officials. (More)

➤ The owners of Caffe Boa Ahwatukee said a visit from celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay “definitely helped” the restaurant, which will be featured on Ramsay’s new show, Secret Service. (Photo)

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➤ Developers began relocating the 116-year-old Seargeant-Oldaker House in Phoenix to a nearby site to clear space for a housing project. The historic home may be converted into a community venue or restaurant. (Watch)

➤ A 9-year-old girl from Goodyear who posts about her everyday life has acquired 1 million followers on TikTok. (Watch)

➤ High schoolers will attempt to build an underwater robot as part of Arizona State University’s robotics camp that starts Tuesday. (Photos)

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