Thursday, February 5, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1911, construction finished on Theodore Roosevelt Dam, originally known as the Salt River Dam and the world’s largest masonry dam at the time.

In Top Stories, a possible ransom note surfaces in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. In Around Arizona, more details emerge about a college student’s alleged hazing death. Hear more in today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast.

A quick note from The Arizona Flyover team: This week, our entire Flyover team is doing something we don’t get to do very often: we’re all flying into Colorado to be in the same room together.

Because our writers, developers, and sales folks are spread across the country, most of our work happens over Slack, Zoom, and email. This fly-in gives us the chance to plan, debate, whiteboard, and—importantly—get to know each other better as humans.

We’ll be spending our time talking about how to make The Arizona Flyover even better for you in 2026.

As a result, a few of our editions this week may be a bit more abbreviated than usual. That’s intentional—and temporary. We’ll be back to our regular edition on Sunday.

And while we’re together, we’d love your input. If there’s something you love, something you’d like more of, or something we could improve, hit reply and tell us. Many of our best ideas come directly from readers like you. Thanks for reading, and thanks for being part of The Flyover community.

— The Flyover Team ✈️

Today’s sponsor is Splash Spotless Cleaning Products, a maker of a hands-free foam toilet cleaner that tackles stains and odors without scrubbing—just pour, let it foam, and flush.

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.

Possible Ransom Note Surfaces

Pima County authorities confirmed a possible ransom note in the presumed abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today host Savannah Guthrie.

Guthrie, 84, was last seen Saturday night and reported missing Sunday after she was absent from church. Investigators later declared her Catalina Foothills home an active crime scene.

Tucson news outlet KGUN received the note, which demands millions in Bitcoin and threatens to kill Guthrie if unpaid by Monday. It also cites unverified crime-scene evidence and has since been shared with local police and the FBI.

Officials said they are taking all leads “very seriously” as they also analyze cell phone and tower data. No suspects were identified as of Wednesday morning.

Noem Visits

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem made stops in Phoenix and Nogales to tour federal immigration enforcement operations and the border.

Noem touted significant decreases in illegal crossings and drug smuggling since President Trump took office.

Her visit came after recent immigration raids at Zipps Sports Grill locations in the Phoenix Valley and her agency’s $70 million purchase of a warehouse in Surprise as a possible site for an immigration processing center.

The warehouse purchase drew a packed crowd at a Surprise City Council meeting on Tuesday, with speakers voicing mixed reactions. Council members said the city lacks the authority to block the project.

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➤ Grand Canyon: Park leaders said informational signs about a Native American tribe’s history were taken down as part of routine repairs or replacement, with possible changes to messaging also under review. (More)

➤ Flagstaff: Witnesses said a Northern Arizona University student who died this past weekend was allegedly pressured to drink a large amount of vodka during a fraternity rush party, according to newly released court records. (More)

➤ Statewide: Viorel Pricop, 67, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for a year-long arson spree targeting Swift Transportation semi-trucks in Arizona and other states. (Watch)

➤ Yuma: Martial arts training center Bad News Bears Jiu Jitsu opened in Yuma, with experienced fighter CJ Monsour inviting students of all ages to train. (Watch)

➤ Mesa: A librarian filed a $4,000 claim against Mesa Public Library after her service dog, trained to detect peanuts and other allergens, was banned over alleged safety and disruption issues. (More)

➤ The WM Phoenix Open tees off at 7:20 a.m. today at TPC Scottsdale, with streaming coverage on ESPN+. (Tee Times)

➤ Bryce James, the son of LeBron James, will redshirt his freshman season with Arizona men’s basketball after not playing in the first 22 games. (More)

➤ Newly-hired Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur declined to comment on the team’s plans for quarterback next season, adding that he holds “a lot of respect” for Kyler Murray as a player. (More)

➤ The Arizona Diamondbacks signed first baseman Carlos Santana to a one-year, $2 million deal to shore up their infield. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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