Fugitive Returned to AZ after 25 Years on the Run

A Phoenix man wanted for more than 25 years in a 2000 stabbing death has been returned to Arizona after his arrest in Mexico, the U.S. Marshals Service said.

Abraham Rafael Pedroza-Garcia, 65, faces murder, aggravated assault, and burglary charges. Investigators say he fatally stabbed his ex-girlfriend and wounded her partner inside her home on April 1, 2000.

A warrant was issued in September 2000, but the case went cold. Phoenix police and Maricopa County prosecutors asked the Marshals Service to take over the fugitive search in 2023.

Investigators located him in Mexico in 2024. Mexican authorities arrested him in May under an April warrant, and deputy marshals escorted him across the border this week without incident.

Lyft Driver Follows Hit-and-Run Suspect for Miles

A Phoenix Lyft driver chased a hit-and-run suspect for miles early Friday after watching a driver run a red light near 27th Avenue and Northern Avenue and strike a pedestrian Phoenix police said.

Octave Gwin, a former delivery driver, said he briefly lost sight of the car but tracked it by the damage it left behind—a downed sign and a tree—and followed the car until officers, with SWAT help, arrested the suspect, who is believed to have been impaired.

Gwin acknowledged the pursuit was dangerous. “Everyone is somebody and no one should be left like that. And that’s just pretty much why I did it just because of, you know, I have a lot of empathy and I just love people,” Gwin said.

The pedestrian was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries. Police have not released the suspect’s name or charges.

Minimum Wage Rises to $15.65 in January

Arizona’s minimum wage will increase 50 cents to $15.65 an hour on Jan. 1, under a 2006 voter-approved law.

Federal figures released Friday put annual consumer price growth at 3.4%. Applied to the current $15.15 rate and rounded to the nearest nickel, that yields the new minimum.

Two cities set higher local rates. Tucson’s minimum rises to $16, and Flagstaff’s to $19. Tipped workers in Arizona and Tucson may be paid $3 less hourly; Flagstaff makes no such exception.

Business groups describe the yearly increase as one of several rising costs employers absorb. Local group Living United for Change in Arizona, which backed the 2006 and 2016 measures, says it may seek a larger increase through another ballot initiative.

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➤ Statewide: Arizona’s new law took effect Saturday, reclassifying motorcycle lane splitting as reckless driving, a class 2 misdemeanor that can cost riders their license for up to 90 days. (More)

➤ Rio Rico: A federal court sentenced Hugo Jesus Munoz, 34, of Rio Rico to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to drug-distribution conspiracy and money laundering. (More)

➤ Phoenix: Three people were hospitalized in stable condition after a two-vehicle crash Friday night near 51st Avenue and Bell Road left one car on its roof. (More)

➤ Globe: Globe High School has been named a winner in T-Mobile’s Friday Night 5G Lights $5K Fridays sweepstakes, receiving $5,000 in funding and putting the school in contention for a $1 million grand prize. The funds would be used to restore its Harbison Field, including repairs to its cracked track, uneven playing surface, poor drainage, failing lights, outdated locker rooms, and accessibility needs. (More)

➤ Bullhead City: Police identified Melissa Marie Miley, 55, as the woman whose body was recovered from the Colorado River on Friday; no foul play is suspected. (More)

➤ Pinetop-Lakeside: The town council weighed two sites for eight outdoor pickleball courts, as club supporters backed the town gym location and officials questioned costs. No decision followed. (More)

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➤ Arizona State cut No. 10 Texas A&M’s lead to four points in the third quarter on Reed Harris’ 58-yard touchdown catch, only to watch two Cutter Boley turnovers come back for Aggies touchdowns in a 48-20 loss at Kyle Field. (More)

➤ Arizona carried a 17-14 lead into halftime at No. 15 BYU on Saturday, then didn’t score again and finished with minus-2 rushing yards after the break in a 28-17 loss. (More)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Justin Martinez tossed an immaculate inning on Friday night—a rare feat where a pitcher strikes out three batters in an inning, each on three pitches. The Diamondbacks went on to win the game 9-1. (See Inning)

➤ The Arizona Cardinals officially kick off their 2026 regular season today against the Los Angeles Chargers at 2:25 p.m. The Cardinals enter the game as significant underdogs. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | US Open | MLB | Soccer | FIBA Basketball

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➤ A young entrepreneur, 22-year-old Trevor Harris, runs Sonoran Standard, a Mesa junk-removal company he started as a Mountain View High School freshman, while studying business at Mesa Community College. (More)

➤ Nogales native, Chef René Andrade, who owns Bacanora and Huarachis Taqueria in Phoenix, received the 2026 Michelin Guide Southwest Young Chef Award in August. Huarachis Taqueria was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand, honoring restaurants that offer outstanding food at a great value. (See Details)

➤ More than 1,500 people climbed 2,071 steps at the Tucson Convention Center on Friday for the 9/11 Tower Challenge, the event’s largest turnout, organizers said. (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. 

➤ America’s colleges receive a brutal free speech report card. (Hear More)

➤ While other retailers chase AI, one legendary retailer chooses models, cameras, and catalogs over tech shortcuts. (Listen Now)

➤ This tiny workout creates a surprisingly mighty molecular response. (Podcast Available)

Did you watch college football this weekend?

1. Yes
2. No

Yesterday’s Results:

Are you concerned about freedom of speech on college campuses?

1. Yes: 64%
2. No: 19%
3. No opinion: 17%

What restaurant located in Page claims to be the “world’s largest floating restaurant?”

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