Saturday, August 22, 2026

Good Morning! On this date in 1921, Cave Creek flooded the entire west end of Phoenix. Two feet of water engulfed the State Capitol.

Specialty license plates in Arizona generate millions annually for designated charities and the state just added three more to its assortment of over 100 plates. Learn which ones are the newest in today’s Top Stories. Do you have one of the state’s 107 specialty license plates? Let us know in today’s Poll and feel free to respond to this email to tell us about yours and why you selected that specialty license plate.

Have you ever wondered what actually determines how long you’ll live? Most people think it’s diet or exercise, but neither one cracks the top three. When researchers tracked tens of thousands of people for decades, the habits that mattered most weren’t the ones anyone expected. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Amy counts down the 10 habits that actually predict longevity and reveals the number one predictor science keeps landing on. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, AutoCamp, is bringing boutique hotel comfort to the great outdoors, backed by major partnerships with Hilton and Airstream as it expands its footprint in the growing outdoor lodging market.

AZ Unveils New Specialty License Plates

The Arizona Department of Transportation has released three new specialty license plates—Italian American Heritage, Kidney Disease Awareness, and Suicide Prevention—bringing the state’s total options to 107.

Each plate costs $25, with most of the proceeds going to designated charities. Specialty plate sales generated more than $15.8 million for Arizona causes in the fiscal year ending June 30.

Beneficiaries include the National Italian American Foundation, the National Kidney Foundation of Arizona, and statewide mental health crisis services, with the suicide prevention plate highlighting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which offers 24/7 support via call or text.

Redesigned University of Phoenix and Arizona PBS plates were also unveiled and are now available for motorcycles. Plates can be ordered at ADOT MVD.

Cross-Border Wastewater Concerns

Federal and state agencies met in Tubac to address wastewater concerns in Nogales along the Arizona-Mexico border, sharing plans to keep the region’s water clean.

The U.S. International Boundary & Water Commission, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Arizona’s Department of Environmental Quality are coordinating on wastewater treatment, with residents invited to hear the latest plans.

The meeting follows a federal funding bill allocating over $12 million to repair monsoon-damaged pipelines, with proposals including infrastructure upgrades and limits on metals entering water.

The federal government says Mexico unexpectedly put $41 million toward sanitation projects in Nogales and officials said the U.S. and Mexican governments are jointly pursuing long-term solutions, including continued operation of the Nogales treatment plant.

Wide Price Gap Among AZ Supermarkets

Arizona shoppers could pay 52.3% more for an identical basket of groceries depending on which major supermarket they choose, according to a new Freedom Debt Relief analysis.

The analysis found ALDI is the state’s most affordable major chain, while Whole Foods ranks as the most expensive—meaning a $100 basket could exceed $152 elsewhere.

The findings draw on Consumer Reports’ 2026 grocery price comparison, which ranked retailers against Walmart; warehouse clubs were excluded because membership fees complicate direct comparisons.

Researchers note prices vary by store, product, and promotion, but the gap—among the nation’s widest—suggests comparison shopping can meaningfully affect household budgets.

Flying together with our sponsor

Hilton Hotels Enter High-Growth World of Outdoor Lodging

Hilton Hotels didn’t become a global hospitality giant by standing still. When they see a category worth backing, they move.

So it didn’t take long for them to form a first-of-its-kind partnership with AutoCamp.

AutoCamp brings boutique hotel comfort to the great outdoors, transforming $732B in markets. As the first outdoor lodging brand ever bookable on Hilton.com, AutoCamp’s 700+ rooms are in front of 200M+ Hilton Honors members who can earn and redeem points on every stay.

In fact, direct AutoCamp bookings on the Hilton channel are up 30% year-over-year.

It’s not just Hilton Hotels partnering with Autocamp, either. Iconic American travel brand Airstream also formed an exclusive partnership. In total, AutoCamp’s model has earned more than $150M in location revenue since inception.

For investors, it’s a signal: some of the travel industry’s largest players are backing AutoCamp in the outdoor lodging race. Become an AutoCamp shareholder before they expand to 10,000+ rooms.

➤ Buckeye: A family was shaken after someone intentionally set a vehicle on fire outside their home, prompting police to investigate the incident as arson and seek information from neighboring residents. (Watch Report)

➤ Cottonwood: After the Cottonwood Police Department won a $214,000 grant from the Arizona Department of Public Safety to fight human trafficking, public records obtained from the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office’s Flock data show that CPD has not used that county’s camera network for human trafficking interdiction. (More)

➤ Bisbee: Cochise County supervisors voted to keep the property tax burden flat, approving a budget that maintains current tax rates while addressing county spending needs. (More)

➤ Tempe: A firefighter was hospitalized after lightning struck twice during a storm, according to officials, who said the firefighter was responding to weather-related calls. (More)

➤ Window Rock: Navajo Nation police said a bear killed a man during an attack, marking a rare fatal wildlife encounter and prompting authorities to investigate the incident. (More)

➤ Grand Canyon: Officials eased water restrictions after supplies recovered, restoring some normal operations while continuing conservation measures amid ongoing concerns about water availability. (More)

Enjoy reading The Arizona Flyover? Click here to share with your friends and family.

➤ Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte was moved to the 10-day injured list after meeting with the front office about his unexplained absence this week in Boston. An MRI revealed knee inflammation, and Marte received an injection. (More)

➤ Phoenix Rising supporters group Los Bandidos staged a silent protest during the first half of Wednesday’s win over Colorado Springs, raising banners calling for club president Bobby Dulle and sporting director Brandon McCarthy to step down. (More)

➤ Questions are growing around Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia’s finances after his mortgage company reported a $452 million quarterly loss and its stock dropped more than 70% since 2023. A spokesperson said the situation will not affect his team ownership. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Life Insurance Without the Hassle. Getting covered shouldn’t take weeks or a medical exam. Ethos makes it simple to get a life insurance policy in as little as 10 minutes, all online, with no needles and no waiting rooms (just answer few health questions online). Affordable Term Life coverage up to $3M. Click here to get your instant quote and help protect your family’s future today.

Flying together with our sponsor

How Solving Camping’s Biggest Problem Earned $150M+

Most people love the idea of being outdoors. Almost nobody loves what it takes to get there.

Campsites book months in advance. Gear’s expensive and collects dust. RV ownership’s a financial and logistical burden. Hotels are comfortable, but lose the very thing people were chasing in the first place.

AutoCamp solves all that. Guests arrive with a suitcase, check in like a hotel, and wake up at an iconic outdoor destination like Yosemite or Joshua Tree. But instead of hard ground and outhouses, they have a boutique room or custom-designed Airstream trailer with a spa-inspired bathroom.

And travelers can’t get enough, with 1M+ happy campers so far. That’s earned $150M+ in location revenue for property owners operating with the Company’s Brands since inception.

Now you can invest as AutoCamp works to scale from 9 locations to 100+.

This is a paid advertisement for AutoCamp Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.autocamp.com/

➤ Researchers at Arizona State University developed an app that helps pedestrians find shaded walking routes, giving people a way to avoid extreme heat during triple-digit temperatures. (Watch Report)

➤ Flagstaff officials are seeking public input on a proposed large-scale sculpture featuring an Abert squirrel, “Coco,” at the Spruce Wash Wedge Detention Project. (See Squirrel)

➤ The University of Arizona and Arizona State University rank among the nation’s top party schools, according to a USA TODAY college ranking based on student surveys and campus life. (See Rankings)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Swollen Feet and Ankles? There May Be Another Approach. Tight rings and swollen ankles are often blamed on salt, standing, or aging. But researchers are exploring how a specific type of Antarctic omega-3 may help support the body’s natural response to age-related swelling. Discover why adults over 50 are taking a closer look at this unique omega-3. Learn More >>

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

➤ How long will you live? Decades of research say your daily habits already know. (Hear Details)

➤ The Pentagon and independent trackers are telling two very different stories about oil moving through the Strait of Hormuz. (Listen Now)

➤ Eight people were aboard a charter plane headed for a remote Alaska military radar site when it crashed. (Podcast Available)