Arrests Made in Immigrant Smuggling Ring

Federal authorities busted “one of the largest human smuggling rings in the nation,” charging four men for allegedly transporting nearly 20,000 immigrants from Guatemala into Phoenix and Los Angeles over five years.

Prosecutors said the men operated a criminal organization in which they demanded at least $15,000 per immigrant. Those who couldn’t pay were held hostage in a Los Angeles stash house.

The group also is charged in connection with a 2023 car accident that killed seven people, including three children. If convicted, they face a maximum sentence of life in prison or the death penalty.

One member of the group, Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, who allegedly threatened to kill ICE agents after search warrants were executed, remains a fugitive.

Preston’s Law Vote Turns Controversial

The proposed Preston’s Law that would stiffen penalties for group assaults passed the state House, but not without some finger-pointing between a state lawmaker and the Maricopa County attorney. 

The bill is a response to the 2023 beating death of 16-year-old Preston Lord by a group called the Gilbert Goons. Afterward, Gilbert authorities came under criticism for failing to recognize a pattern of similar attacks.

State Rep. Alexander Kolodin, R-District 3, opposed the measure as unnecessary and issued a statement saying, “I will not cover for the prosecutors who killed Preston Lord at the expense of our children.” 

His comment drew a response from Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, who said Kolodin “is either ignorant of the actual facts, or intentionally ignoring the facts to support his soft-on-crime agenda.”

  App Lets Parents Track School Bus Rides

Mesa Public Schools will soon launch its SMART tag program, which lets parents know when their child gets on and off the school bus.

The tracking will also improve student safety, aid schools, and allow bus drivers to carry out their duties more effectively, officials said. The district tested the program at three schools starting last spring.

The district’s governing board unanimously approved a $250,000 contract with Secured Mobility for subscription fees, maintenance, updates, and supplies.

Parents will be notified of the app’s availability via email, texts, and other methods.

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➤ Yavapai County: A manhunt ended after SWAT arrested a car passenger who ran from a traffic stop and allegedly attempted to take a utility worker hostage. (See Details)

➤ Glendale: Three men who used the Turo app to rent a car were surprised to learn the rental vehicle was reported stolen. (See Video)

➤ Statewide: State Attorney General Kris Mayes sued an umbilical cord blood bank for deceptive practices. (See Video)

➤ Marana: An FAA Safety Team held a seminar at the Marana Regional Airport following a recent deadly mid-air collision. (More)

➤ State: The Mexican gray wolf population increased 11% in Arizona and New Mexico in a year. (See Video)

➤ Sierra Vista: A SWAT standoff ended with the arrest of a man who was allegedly pointing a laser at police vehicles. (More)

➤ Peoria: An animal shelter seeks help to relocate after its current site was put up for sale. (See Video)

➤ No. 24 Arizona men’s basketball defeated Arizona State 113-100 on Tuesday night, completing a regular season sweep. (More)

➤ A teammate sued former ASU running back Cam Skattebo, claiming Skattebo jumped on a golf cart which then flipped over and injured him. (More)

➤ The Phoenix Suns overcame a 19-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Clippers 119-117, the largest fourth-quarter comeback in the team’s history. (More)

➤ Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will host a charity celebrity softball game on May 17 in Scottsdale. Proceeds will be donated to help local people in need. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | Soccer

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➤ Laveen composting business AZ Green Guys faces fines of $1,000 per day until all compost is removed from its site. The company closed on March 1 amid complaints about the site’s odor. (See Video)

➤ Tucson’s economic growth has lagged other parts of the state, according to an analysis that examined 20 years of data. (See Video)

➤ Construction began on a 144,000-square-foot industrial center across from the Arizona Cardinals training facility in south Tempe, set for completion in 2026. (More)

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➤ A mother and daughter from Chandler are among the 14 teams competing on the 37th season of The Amazing Race, which premiered Wednesday. (See Report)

➤ Joe’s Diner fell short of a Guinness World Record during its second attempt at creating the world’s largest pancake stack. Its flapjack tower collapsed at 29 inches, shy of the record of 40 inches set in the U.K. in 2016. (See Video)

➤ Students from Rivera Elementary School in Tucson were surprised with 24 new bikes for their physical education program, paid for by a grant from the HDR Foundation. (See Video)

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After this week’s launch of The Ohio Flyover, we’re curious: Do you have any ties to Ohio?

1. No: 62%
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Before the advent of air conditioning in the early 1900s, how did Phoenix residents keep cool while sleeping?

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