Arizona Accuses TikTok of Hooking Kids

Arizona sued TikTok Thursday, accusing the company of designing its app to keep kids hooked while hiding the risks from parents.

The lawsuit cites company records showing about 543,000 Arizona minors used TikTok in an average month. Attorney General Kris Mayes alleges endless scrolling, autoplay videos, frequent notifications, and beauty filters are built to keep them on the app longer so TikTok can sell more ads.

The suit says TikTok’s 60-minute daily screen time limit for teens doesn’t work because they can switch it off. It also accuses the company of letting kids under 13 use the app despite banning them and of failing to catch material that sexually exploits children.

A TikTok spokesperson said the lawsuit relies on ”misleading and inaccurate claims” and ignores safety measures the company adopted voluntarily. Arizona wants a court order, consumer refunds, and fines of up to $10,000 per willful violation.

White House Threat Traced to Tucson Man

Federal authorities arrested a 46-year-old Tucson man Wednesday, accusing him of emailing a local TV news station that a bomb strike on the White House was imminent.

KGUN 9 received the Sept. 23 email and passed it to the FBI, which identified Jacob Aaron Hicks as the sender. Investigators also found unsent drafts in his account, addressed to other news outlets, with similar threats against Washington, D.C.

In an earlier text, Hicks allegedly claimed access to anthrax to destroy Tucson and C4 explosives to hit a federal building. He has said he’d loaned his phone to a homeless person when the email was sent.

Hicks is charged with making an interstate threat to injure and made his first federal court appearance Thursday. “We must take threats of violence like this one seriously,’ U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine said.

Arrests in Burglary of MLB Player’s Storage Unit

Phoenix police arrested two men accused of raiding MLB player Daniel Johnson’s storage unit and carrying off about $93,000 in team gear, sneakers, and other valuables.

The thieves hit the unit at a storage facility off 24th Street on Sept. 27, police said. They made off with player-issued gear, high-end purses, collector’s shoes, and several laptops.

Johnson, 31, has played for Cleveland, Baltimore, San Francisco, and Houston, and was storing the items while his home was being remodeled. ”That’s stuff you can’t really replace,” he said.

Daniel Thompson, 48, and Michael Hummel, 30, were arrested Friday after detectives learned they’d tried to sell a pair of the stolen shoes. A search turned up footwear, electronics, and clothing bearing Johnson’s name, police said.

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➤ Phoenix: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is testing self-driving shuttles in a partnership with a company called Ohmio. The shuttles, with no driver and no steering wheel, will operate only in the east economy lot during testing phase. An attendant stays aboard, and the trial runs weekdays only. (See Shuttles)

➤ Tucson: Thieves rammed a vehicle into a gun store near Palo Verde and Ajo Thursday and fled with rifles and handguns, the area’s second such burglary this week. The ATF has joined the case, and no arrests have been announced. (Watch Report)

➤ Also Tucson: The Kitt Peak National Observatory renamed its science center to honor the Tohono O’odham Nation, naming it Taṣogida Ki, meaning “a place of illumination and understanding.” Tribal leaders signed a lease opening the summit to astronomers in 1958. (Learn More)

➤ Sedona: Two F-35s will make formation flybys today at Sedona Airport’s Wings and Wheels show, which also features a simulated firefighting water drop and 100-plus classic cars. Admission is a $2 donation or nonperishable food, both benefiting the local food bank. (More)

➤ El Mirage: The medical examiner ruled that a 35-year-old man who died after being detained on a July 4 domestic violence call suffered a cocaine-triggered irregular heartbeat and called the death an accident. The report found officers’ restraint and Taser use played no role. (More)

➤ Prescott Valley: A woman burned Sept. 24 while someone tried to relight a backyard fire pit has died, and relatives say gasoline was involved. Police are investigating but haven’t said whether anyone will face charges. (More)

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➤ The Phoenix Suns started Oso Ighodaro at center over Khaman Maluach in their first two preseason games, losses to Detroit, 109-107, and Chicago. Head coach Jordan Ott said he’ll keep mixing lineups over the final three exhibitions. (Read Takeaways)

➤ The Phoenix Coyotes hosted their first Valley game 30 years ago today at America West Arena. The franchise left for Salt Lake City after 27 seasons, and its first captain, Keith Tkachuk, enters the Hockey Hall of Fame Nov. 9. (Read History)

➤ Arizona’s triathlon team, the back-to-back national champions, hosts Arizona State in the Cactus Collegiate Cup today at Hillenbrand Aquatics Center. The race covers a 400-meter swim, 9.3-kilometer bike, and 2.58-kilometer run. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | WNBA | NHL | Soccer | NBA | Golf

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Genius Gadgets: The 37 That Actually Earn Their Keep

Smart shoppers know the secret: the best gadgets earn their keep. These 37 picks prove it. They aren’t gimmicks or dust collectors, they’re practical innovations that deliver real value every single day.

Whether you’re organizing your space, upgrading your routine, or getting a head start on gifts, this list highlights what’s genuinely worth buying right now. The catch? These popular items are selling faster than anticipated, so availability won’t last.

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➤ Disney On Ice brings Jump In! to Tucson Arena this weekend through Sunday, with more than 50 characters, aerial acrobatics, and special effects. Characters from Moana 2 and Inside Out 2 make their ice debut. (See Details)

➤ Korean master painter Kim Chong Hak is getting his first Arizona exhibition at Phoenix Art Museum, with more than 80 paintings, drawings, and sketches from his long career. The show runs through Feb. 21. (Learn More)

➤ A third grader at Phoenix’s Mountain View Elementary became the 500,000th student to get a free book from Delivering Dreams of Arizona on Friday in celebration of October being National Book Month. Her verdict, from under a sparkly crown: “Good and exciting.” (More)

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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. 

➤ The IRS is mailing notices about $1,000 in free retirement money, but strict cutoffs apply. (Listen Now)

➤ This year’s Nobel Peace Prize went to a South African jurist, drawing swift condemnation from Israel. (Hear Details)

➤ Severe turbulence forced a Colombia-to-New York flight to divert to Miami, sending at least eight people to the hospital. (Podcast Available)

Which social media platform do you mostly use?

1. Facebook
2. Instagram
3. X/Twitter
4. TikTok
5. Other
6. No social media for me

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever seen a meteor streak across the sky in person?

1. More than once: 58%
2. Not yet: 22%
3. Once: 20%

Which Arizona airport is widely known as America’s Most Scenic Airport?

Show me the answer