MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, Arizona Territorial Governor John Goodwin instructed U.S. Marshal Milton Duffield to conduct the state’s first census. The results showed 4,573 residents. Here’s a portrait of Duffield from the 1860s.

Pancakes and cookies are on the menu! In today’s issue, we’re serving up a story about a stolen car packed with Girl Scout Cookies and another about a world-record attempt for the tallest stack of flapjacks. Let’s dig in!

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Authorities Seize 1.7M Fentanyl Pills, 28 Guns

Twenty-five people were arrested in a multiagency operation that recovered 1.7 million fentanyl pills, 28 firearms, and $210,000 in cash as part of a seven-month mission. Watch the report.

Dubbed “Operation Double Down,” the Phoenix Police Department worked alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration and others to review 2,000 hours of surveillance that amounted to hundreds of warrants and court orders.

Also confiscated in the busts were 14 vehicles, 370 pounds of methamphetamine, 13 pounds of heroin, 24 kilograms of cocaine, and 26 kilograms of fentanyl powder.

According to Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Director Dawn Mertz, Arizona authorities over the past three years have been responsible for half of all fentanyl pill seizures within the U.S.

Arrest Made for Arson in Watch Fire

A member of the San Carlos Apache tribe was arrested Friday for allegedly starting a wildfire last July that destroyed 21 homes and forced the evacuation of hundreds of people from their reservation in southeastern Arizona.

Keanu Dude, 25, was charged with arson for starting the Watch Fire that burned more than 2,000 acres in San Carlos, temporarily displacing 400 people in what the tribe said is the reservation’s worst fire in 30 years.

The fire damaged power lines and took a week to contain, even forcing a state of emergency as the flames engulfed about three square miles.

Nobody was hurt during the incident. Dude, who already had a criminal record, is due for his first court appearance today.

Fox Tests Positive for Rabies in Maricopa

Pinal County officials are cautioning residents to ensure their pets are vaccinated against rabies after a gray fox recently tested positive for the disease in Maricopa County.

The captured fox was confirmed positive when tested at the Arizona State Public Health Laboratory, and officials are advising the public to take precautions when dealing with wild animals.

Infected animals often show changes in behavior such as acting aggressive, lethargy, paralysis, and difficulty swallowing. Rabies can also be transmitted from animals to humans, though rare.

Pinal County Animal Care and Control is offering multiple reduced-cost vaccination clinics from now through April.

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➤ Tucson: The University of Arizona issued an apology for what it called an “unacceptable chant” from the crowd after the men’s basketball team lost 96-95 to BYU on Saturday. (More)

➤ Pima County: An ordinance requiring gun owners to report when their firearms were stolen or lost has been struck down by a federal court. (More)

➤ Scottsdale: A mother helping her daughter set up to sell Girl Scout Cookies at The Promenade Scottsdale shopping center on Friday had her car stolen with all the cookies inside. (See Video)

➤ Williams: Investigators are asking for the public’s help as they continue looking into the 2023 disappearance of Chelsea Grimm. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: A proposed bill is designed to make it easier to become a veterinary technician as the industry faces employee shortages. (See Video)

➤ Statewide: A bill that would have required public bathrooms for the homeless did not advance through the state senate. (More)

➤ Tempe: One person was hospitalized after suffering burns when a propane tank caught fire at Tempe Town Lake. (More)

➤ Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal all scored over 20 points in Saturday night’s 121-117 win over the Chicago Bulls, ending the team’s four-game losing streak. (More)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ketel Marte drove in three runs on a flyout during a bizarre play in the team’s second spring training game of the year. (Watch Video)

➤ No. 19 Arizona men’s basketball lost to BYU 96-95 after a controversial foul call in the final seconds gave BYU two free throws that secured the win. (Watch Video)

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➤ Homes in southern Arizona are staying on the market longer than usual due to high prices, mortgage rates, and worker shortages. Still, the number of houses under contract is higher now than last year. (See Video)

➤ The Mission, a modern Latin restaurant, will open a new store at Gilbert’s Epicenter at Agritopia. It will feature a mission-style storefront and its well-known glowing Himalayan salt block wall. (More)

➤ Andretti Indoor Karting & Games will soon open a location in Glendale, its second in the Phoenix Valley. The 98,000-square-foot facility will have a high-speed electric Superkarts track, arcade, virtual reality experiences, and a 7D Xperience motion theater. (See Video)

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➤ Joe’s Diner in Phoenix will make its second attempt at creating the world’s tallest stack of pancakes on March 4. In their last attempt, they managed to construct a pile more than two feet high, about one foot shy of the world record. (More)

➤ A Paradise Valley home with four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and 6,965 square feet just hit the market for $8.5 million. (See Photos)

➤ Christopher Columbus Park in Tucson was renamed to Danny Lopez Park last week. Lopez was a teacher and elder in the Tohono O’odham community. (See Video)

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