Thursday, August 13, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1940, stormwater flooded Tucson’s power plant, plunging the city into darkness.

Do you remember exactly where you were on 9/11? Most of us can still picture the room, the faces, and the TV screen as if it were yesterday. Scientists call it a “flashbulb memory,” a moment so powerful your brain takes a photograph and keeps it sharp for decades while ordinary days vanish completely. Only a handful of events in modern history have burned themselves into nearly every American’s mind that same way, and researchers have measured which ones cut the deepest. So, where does your moment land? Today on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla counts down the moments Americans will never forget. Tune in here!

If shedding extra pounds and feeling your best this summer is on your agenda, today’s sponsor, Direct Meds, is offering $150 off your first order of doctor-supervised GLP-1 weight-loss treatment delivered right to your door.

Car insurance rates have climbed for many drivers over the past few years. Later today, watch for a message from our partner, Insurify, about a simple way to compare quotes and see if you could save.

Giles Won’t Debate Kerr

Former Mesa Mayor John Giles will not participate in any debates as Gov. Katie Hobbs’ running mate, leaving the state’s first-ever lieutenant governor debate on Oct. 5 without a Democrat participating.

Former state Sen. Sine Kerr, the running mate of Republican governor candidate U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, said she is disappointed but not surprised by Giles’ decision.

Earlier in the week, Kerr posted that she was looking forward to debating Giles on issues such as her proposed Arizona Women’s Bill of Rights that Hobbs vetoed.

Separately, Hobbs continues to refuse to debate Biggs. Hobbs last agreed to a debate in October 2018 when she was a state senator running for secretary of state.

Hobbs campaign manager Nicole DeMont said the campaign believes face-to-face engagement with Arizonans is more effective than debating.

Audit Flags School Letter Grades

An ongoing investigation by KOLD 13 News in Tucson detailed a recent state finding that Arizona’s school letter-grading system failed to comply with state law for eight years.

The June audit report also determined that the school report cards do not accurately reflect how schools are performing.

Auditors found that in 2025 most schools earned 80% or more of available points on indicators other than proficiency, masking weak test scores. KOLD 13 News cited one school that jumped from an F to a B in four years even though its proficiency score remained low.

State school superintendent Tom Horne said changes are in progress.

The $100 Cheesesteak Comes West

A $100 cheesesteak at a new Scottsdale restaurant was first introduced in Philadelphia more than 20 years ago.

Todd Mark Miller, executive chef at The Guest House, originally introduced the sandwich at the Philadelphia restaurant Barclay Prime as a tribute to that city’s cheesesteak tradition.

When The Guest House opened in January at Scottsdale Quarter, Miller made sure the sandwich was available to Arizona diners. He recommends pairing the sandwich with champagne.

What’s in it? A house-made hoagie with Australian wagyu, truffle-butter caramelized onions, a Gruyère-fontina-provolone cheese sauce, seared foie gras, shaved truffles, mustard-pickled shallots, and chives.

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Scottsdale: Mayor Lisa Borowsky’s speeding ticket and $344 fine for allegedly going 58 mph in a 40 mph zone last fall were dismissed in February after a process server visited her home three times without making contact, court records show. Police said they generally do not serve a summons at a place of business, including City Hall. Borowsky said she was unaware of the ticket. (More)

➤ Willcox: Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative said storms damaged 60 poles across Cochise County, and crews on Wednesday were expected to restore service to the last 53 customers without power. (More)

➤ Statewide: A national civil engineering association graded Arizona’s infrastructure a C across 11 categories, with roads earning the lowest mark at D+. (More)

➤ Flagstaff: A study found that the area’s median home sale price nearly tripled from 2011 through last year, going from $230,000 to $685,000. (More)

➤ Tucson: The Pascua Yaqui Tribe gave a media tour of the nearly completed Casino Del Sol Vahi Taa’am, set to open Nov. 15. (See Images)

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➤ The Arizona Cardinals were valued at $8 billion in Sportico’s annual NFL franchise rankings, 28th among the league’s 32 teams. The Jaguars, Colts, Saints, and Bengals ranked lower. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ starters will play for the first time this preseason in tonight’s game at Las Vegas, with head coach Mike LaFleur planning one to two drives for the first unit. (How to Watch)

➤ Arizona Cardinals rookie Jeremiyah Love told ESPN he plans to save his entire $53.9 million rookie contract and live off his endorsement money. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis | Soccer

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➤ Mesa Gateway Airport posted new highs in passenger activity, operating revenue, net income, fuel sales, and parking revenue for the fiscal year ending in June. (More)

➤ Developers of the Halo Vista industrial, apartment, and office community in Phoenix are courting TSMC suppliers, noting that about 1,500 firms do business with the chipmaker. (More)

➤ Walmart awarded a $250,000 grant to the Center for the Future of Arizona to expand workforce development across the Phoenix area. (More)

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➤ The Flagstaff Family Food Center received a $1 million anonymous donation to help fund an expansion into rural northern Arizona. (More)

➤ Tucson School for the Blind opened to serve students displaced when the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind closed its Tucson campus in June. (More)

➤ A four-month-old Australian Labradoodle named Daisy became the state Department of Public Safety’s first crisis response canine. (More)

➤ The Mesa International Film Festival runs through Sunday, featuring more than 130 films from around the world and talks by movie industry professionals. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Most people focus on what they eat when thinking about A1C and blood sugar. But when you eat dinner may also affect your body in surprising ways—including changes you might notice in your urine. These everyday signals could offer clues about your overall health. Click here to discover what your dinner habits could reveal about your blood sugar and health.

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

➤ These seven moments burned themselves into nearly every American’s memory. (See List)

➤ Party leaders spent weeks pressuring their own Senate nominee to quit ahead of a ballot deadline that could reshape a key race. (Hear Details)

➤ Video gamers are being hired by the thousands to guide real planes amid a deepening air traffic controller shortage. (Listen Now)