Saturday, May 2, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1878, the first issue of the Arizona Silver Belt was published in Globe City, giving the booming mining camp its first local newspaper.

Welcome to Saturday’s edition of The Arizona Flyover! We’re delivering the news seven days a week now, and we’re glad you’re here to kick off the weekend with us. Today’s edition has plenty to dig into—wildfire coverage up north, Arizona’s data center boom, and a little Kentucky Derby Day flavor to round it out. Let us know what you think by replying to this email.

It’s been a wild week of news, and some of the biggest stories may have flown right under your radar. President Trump hinted that a major UFO file release is coming “in the near future,” engineers are using sound waves to extinguish wildfires, and Saudi investors are pulling the plug on LIV Golf. Tune in to The Flyover Podcast as Amy Hess takes an in-depth look at some of the most interesting stories of the week. Tune in here!

Mother’s Day is right around the corner. If you haven’t started shopping, start here: our 2026 Gift Guide has thoughtful, practical, and indulgent picks for every kind of mom.

Today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is sharing 19 smart expenses to cut when money gets tight—practical tips that could help you save more, reduce stress, and take control of your finances faster.

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.

Flagstaff Loses Wildfire Crew Amid Drought

The Bear Jaw crew—a wildfire prevention team that shielded communities south of Flagstaff for nearly 20 years—is being disbanded, leaving residents in Kachina Village, Munds Park, and Mountainaire on edge as Arizona enters what fire scientists are calling its most dangerous wildfire season in years.

Both the Highlands and Pinewood Fire Districts chose to redirect the crew’s federal and state grant funding toward other priorities, ending a program that cleared more than 1,400 acres of private property. State foresters have stepped in with a weeklong cleanup effort in the affected communities, though the agency has not committed to making it permanent.

Statewide, drought is amplifying the danger: Arizona is deep in a 30-year dry stretch, last winter was nearly snowless, and April fuel hazard levels hit a record high for this time of year. Invasive grasses, pine beetle-killed trees, and a dry spring have primed the landscape to burn earlier and hotter than usual, with scientists warning peak fire season has effectively arrived.

AZ Data Center Growth Among Top in Nation

Arizona has emerged as one of the nation’s top data center hubs, with 98 facilities already operating and 86 more in development, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis.

Most of that growth has centered on the Phoenix metro, but developers are now pushing north—where land is cheaper and power more accessible. The Town of Page recently sold roughly 500 acres to private developers for a proposed $10 billion data center less than a mile from Horseshoe Bend, raising local alarms over tourism and environmental impacts.

While states like Virginia are rewriting zoning codes to slow the buildout, Arizona has leaned the other way. Cheap land, favorable regulations, and available power have made the state one of the few places in America where AI infrastructure is still reliably welcome.

Not everyone is ready to roll out the welcome mat. Flagstaff’s City Council is set to discuss potential zoning restrictions—including an outright ban—at its May 5 meeting, citing concerns about water demand and energy use.

Career Training Lifts State Graduation Rates

Arizona Career and Technical Education programs are graduating students at nearly twice the statewide rate, with new data showing a 97.7% CTE graduation rate compared to Arizona’s overall 80%.

More than 160,000 students are enrolled in CTE programs across 326 schools statewide, with fields ranging from sports medicine to engineering and cybersecurity. The Arizona Department of Education celebrated over 40,000 seniors completing the programs this year, crediting the hands-on model for keeping students engaged through graduation.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said career pathways motivate students who might not be on a traditional college track. “Our philosophy is every student, without exception, graduates career or college ready,” Horne said.

Flying together with our sponsor

Money is tight, and with prices on the rise, deciding where to cut back can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight to see a difference.

Here is how to start: Browse FinanceBuzz’s list of money-saving strategies below and choose just one or two to try today. Even a single small change can create the breathing room you need to breathe a little easier.

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➤ Statewide: A federal indictment of Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and nine Mexican officials renews focus on Arizona’s border corridors. A former DEA official says Arizona and Southern California are the Sinaloa cartel’s two biggest U.S. supply routes. (More)

➤ Tucson: Arizona Public Media has opened the Paul & Alice Baker Center for Public Media, a new facility for broadcasting, student training, and community storytelling. (More)

➤ Pima County: The Arizona State Land Department closed more than 3,600 acres of State Trust Land near West Ajo Highway and West Valencia Road after sustained damage from illegal off-roading and trespassing. All existing permits are void. (More)

➤ Statewide: An Arizona Education Association report shows teacher pay at roughly $65,613—a 1% gain that hasn’t kept pace with inflation—while Arizona ranks 49th in per-student spending. Budget negotiations at the Capitol have stalled progress on meaningful raises. (More)

➤ Phoenix: EōS Fitness members say they’re locked into contracts they never agreed to and can’t cancel, despite Arizona law allowing cancellation within three days. (More)

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➤ Ildemaro Vargas extended his hitting streak to 27 games Friday, setting the MLB record for a Venezuela-born player and surpassing Wilson Ramos’s 26-game mark from 2019, all while the D-backs lost 13-1 to Milwaukee. (More)

➤ Four Arizona Wildcats received invitations to the 2026 NBA Draft combine in Chicago (May 10-17), including Koa Peat, Brayden Burries, Tobe Awaka, and Jaden Bradley, reinforcing Arizona’s standing as college basketball’s premier NBA pipeline. (More)

➤ Calais Campbell is heading to Baltimore, signing a one-year deal with the Ravens at 40 for what will be his 19th NFL season. The longtime Cardinal leaves Arizona as a team leader and fan favorite. (More)

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Your money is getting tight. Prices are going up. And figuring out what to cut back on can feel overwhelming. Here’s what you can do: Read FinanceBuzz’s list of money-saving strategies below, and start with one or two today. Even doing just one can help you breathe a little easier.

LEARN MORE

➤ Derby DayClub brings Kentucky Derby pageantry to Turf Paradise in Phoenix today, with live horse racing, DJs, cocktails, and trackside betting alongside the Run for the Roses. Gates open at 10:45 a.m. (More)

➤ Tucson Mountain Market is hosting its first-ever night market this weekend, bringing local vendors, food, and after-dark entertainment to Tucson’s west side for the first time. (More)

➤ The Cinco de Mayo Phoenix Festival will take place tomorrow, May 3 at 2nd Ave. and Washington. The family-friendly festival in downtown Phoenix will feature live music, folklórico dancing, food, and cultural performances celebrating Mexican heritage. Gates open at 12 p.m. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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