Listeria Prompts Voluntary Food Recall

A listeria outbreak tied to ready-to-eat foods that hospitalized at least 10 people in California and Nevada prompted voluntary product recalls in Arizona and other states.

The products, made by Fresh & Ready Foods, include sandwiches and snacks sold in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Washington. Thus far, those who have become ill and received hospital care are from California and Nevada.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the items were commonly available at retailers and food service locations, including convenience stores, hospitals, hotels, airports, and airliners.

Listeria infection is caused by a type of bacteria that can survive and grow even during refrigeration. Each year in the U.S. on average, listeria infections affect about 1,600 people and cause 260 deaths, according to the CDC.

Wildfire Forces Town’s Evacuation

The small town of Greer was ordered to evacuate on Tuesday as a wind-driven wildfire surged through thousands of acres in Apache County. The unincorporated community is home to about 60 people.

As of Wednesday, the wildfire had spread to more than 7,000 acres and is one of several burning in Arizona, with the ongoing Bryce Fire and Coyote Fire also scorching thousands of acres. Track the state’s wildfires here.

The Greer Fire, initially reported as a 10-acre wildfire, grew substantially on Tuesday due to dry vegetation and 25 mph to 35 mph winds, prompting officials in the area to issue an emergency declaration.

Petition Seeks End to Reverse Lanes

A petition to eliminate Phoenix’s reverse traffic lanes on Seventh Avenue and Seventh Street was delivered to the Phoenix City Council, which could discuss the issue at its May 21 meeting.

More than 4,000 residents signed the petition to get rid of the lanes, which have drawn years of criticism from some residents over accidents and near-accidents.

The lanes are intended to ease rush-hour congestion by making the middle lane available only to southbound traffic in the morning, and only northbound traffic in the evening.

A 2021 study said travel times would increase by as much as 40% without the lanes.

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➤ Pima County: A 65-year-old doctor was indicted on multiple counts of alleged sexual abuse and sexual assault. (Watch)

➤ Flagstaff: Interstate 17 will narrow to one lane in each direction near milepost 326 to allow for the construction of a wildlife overpass. (More)

➤ Coolidge: A downed power line is the suspected cause of a Mother’s Day fire that destroyed the home of a single mother of five. (Watch)

➤ Statewide: Highway troopers cited poor working conditions as they called for station upgrades in rural areas. (Watch)

➤ Spring Valley: A deputy is recovering after being exposed to meth during a traffic stop. (Watch)

➤ Tucson: Residents left ribbons and signs around Santa Rita Park calling for more homeless shelters after the park, which was frequented by homeless people, was closed and fenced off for a year-long renovation. (Watch)

➤ Former Arizona guard Caleb Love was not invited to the NBA Combine after an “inefficient” performance at the G-League Elite Camp, an analyst said. Freshman Carter Bryant was the only Arizona player invited. (Details)

➤ The Arizona Cardinals signed four of their seven NFL draft picks to rookie contracts. (Details)

➤ Non-scholarship athletes argued that a proposed fix to a roster limit rule as part of an ongoing lawsuit doesn’t do enough to protect walk-ons and those cut from teams. (More)

➤ A law signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs authorizes the state’s four Division I universities to directly pay students for use of their name, image, and likeness. See more stories like this at NIL Wire.

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NBA | NHL | Soccer

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➤ A Tucson Costco purchased a neighboring strip mall for $4.2 million, with plans to use the space to expand its gas station. (More)

➤ A planned 6,200-square-foot penthouse at the base of Camelback Mountain in Scottsdale will be one of the priciest luxury condos ever listed in Arizona at $10.3 million. (Photos)

➤ The future of horse racing at Tucson’s Rillito Racetrack remained uncertain after Pima County did not receive any proposals for a new operator. (Watch)

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➤ A novel program in Cave Creek pairs donkeys with autistic children to provide them with social and emotional benefits. (Watch)

➤ A Prescott woman said she was scammed out of $50,000 by a conman who told her she’d be arrested for unpaid Apple fees unless she paid the amount to him in cash. (More)

➤ A vintage World War II aircraft, the Philippine Mars flying boat, will soon go on display at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson. Only a handful of the aircraft were built. (Watch)

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