Tuesday, August 18, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1969, workers at El Presidio Garage in Tucson began assembling a 105-foot-tall crane with a 170-foot horizontal boom, considered at the time the largest of its kind in Arizona.

Before you pour the coffee, go take a look at your thermostat. Do you know why it’s set to that number, or did you pick it years ago and never touch it again? You’re not alone. A federal energy survey found that only 12% of American households program their thermostats to match their actual schedules. Everyone else runs one flat number all day on the single biggest expense in their power bill. There’s a specific setting, a certain number of degrees for a certain number of hours, that unlocks real savings with no new equipment. Ayla has the numbers on today’s Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Later today, watch for a message from our partner Fisher Investments on 13 common retirement investing mistakes that could quietly cost you over time, and how to spot them before they derail your long-term plans.

We’re always interested in products that take an everyday task and simply make it easier. That’s what caught our attention about today’s sponsor, the Sonic Glow Brush. If you’ve ever wished brushing your teeth was quicker without sacrificing a thorough clean, this is worth a look.

Mesa Airport Adds to Record Run

Allegiant Air will add more round-trip winter flights at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, expanding service months after the carrier trimmed schedules nationwide.

Meanwhile, the airport reported handling more than 2 million passengers in the fiscal year ending June 30, its second straight record year.

Phoenix-Mesa Gateway now offers nonstop service to more than 40 destinations, with airport officials crediting low fares and routes to smaller cities that larger carriers skip.

The added Allegiant flights will connect to more than a dozen cities the carrier serves, including St. Cloud, Minnesota; Moline, Illinois; and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. You can see the flight additions here.

Fake Agents Take $4.3M

A Verde Valley woman lost more than $4.3 million to scammers posing as FBI agents and New York police officers, Yavapai County deputies said.

Deputies say the scammers used spoofed numbers, forged documents mirroring FBI records, and camera-off online conferences to convince the woman she faced a federal money-laundering probe.

Told the money needed to be “scanned” to prove her innocence, she transferred the money in Bitcoin over two months. She reported the fraud on June 26.

Statewide, Arizonans lost an estimated $177 million to cryptocurrency fraud in 2024, a figure that helped spur transaction limits on crypto kiosks that took effect last September.

Injuries Sideline Top Picks

The Arizona Cardinals’ hopes for the future are hurting, with two of the team’s top four draft picks already out for the season and the other two injured just weeks into training camp.

First-round running back Jeremiyah Love is out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain.

Second-round guard Chase Bisontis went on injured reserve Saturday after tearing his MCL against Las Vegas. Coach Mike LaFleur said Bisontis needs surgery.

Third-round quarterback Carson Beck sat out the Las Vegas game with a rib injury suffered in the previous week’s Hall of Fame game.

And fourth-round defensive lineman Kaleb Proctor went on injured reserve in July with a torn meniscus.

Flying together with our sponsor

A Smarter Way to Brush in Just 30 Seconds

Most of us spend two minutes brushing our teeth twice a day. The Sonic Glow Brush takes a different approach. Its soft, U-shaped mouthpiece surrounds your teeth and uses sonic vibrations to clean them all at once, delivering a full brushing routine in as little as 30 seconds.

It’s easy to see why so many people are making the switch. Whether you’re trying to get out the door faster in the morning, simplify your evening routine, or just want an easier way to stay consistent, this brush offers a refreshing alternative to a traditional toothbrush. It also features multiple cleaning modes, built-in blue light whitening technology, and a rechargeable battery that’s perfect for home or travel.

If you’re looking for a smarter, faster way to brush, see how the Sonic Glow Brush works here.

➤ Phoenix: Fire crews made three separate Camelback Mountain rescues in one day, including a woman flown off Echo Canyon Trail in critical condition with a 104-degree body temperature. (More)

➤ Tucson: Construction reached the halfway point on a $600 million project to widen 3 miles of Interstate 10 southeast of downtown, the largest highway project in southern Arizona history. (More)

➤ Mesa: The city council authorized outside counsel to sue fire truck manufacturers over claims of inflated prices and long delivery times. Tempe, Gilbert and Tucson are also suing. (More)

➤ Page: Lake Powell fell to a record low of 3,519.91 feet Saturday, leaving the reservoir about 30 feet above the level where Glen Canyon Dam’s turbines stop generating hydroelectric power. (More)

➤ Scottsdale: A police spokesperson defended the department’s Flock license-plate readers as a crime-solving tool, citing arrests in homicide and trafficking cases. (More)

➤ Tempe: A donation of more than $61,000 from Tempe Community Action Agency will keep the Church of the Epiphany cooling center open for vulnerable residents amid extreme heat. (More)

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➤ French swimmer Nathan Muratory, one of the best backstrokers in the world, flipped his college commitment from Michigan to Arizona State. (More)

➤ Arizona State sold out its initial 6,000-ticket allotment for the Union Jack Classic against Kansas on Sept. 19, the first-ever college football game at Wembley Stadium in London. (More)

➤ The Phoenix Mercury retired Diana Taurasi’s No. 3 jersey and inducted the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer into the team’s Ring of Honor. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Upgrade Your Kitchen with Tivano. The Tivano Cutting Board features a non-porous TitaniumShield™ surface designed to resist odors, stains, and bacteria while staying gentle on your knives. It’s microplastic-free, waterproof, durable, and dishwasher-safe, making everyday meal prep cleaner and easier. Upgrade to Tivano today >>

➤ Farmers in the Valley report a summer surge in sales as food-safety worries and grocery prices push more shoppers toward local farmers’ markets. (More)

➤ Luxury homebuilder Azori will enter the Arizona market with its first Scottsdale projects, planning one to two home completions a month. (More)

➤ A group of Arizona municipal and business leaders called for an upgrade to the widely used industry standards followed for data center development. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Quiet Nights Start with SleepZee. SleepZee is a customizable anti-snoring mouthpiece designed to gently reposition your jaw and support better airflow while you sleep. Its moldable, compact design offers a personalized fit without complicated equipment—helping reduce snoring for more peaceful nights for you and your partner. Try SleepZee today >>

Flying together with our sponsor

A Small Upgrade You’ll Use Every Day

Some products promise to change your life. Others simply make your daily routine a little better. We think this falls into the second category. If you’re going to brush your teeth every day anyway, it makes sense to see if there’s a faster, easier way to do it.

Learn more about the Sonic Glow Brush and see if it’s right for you today.

➤ The 80-foot Boardwalk Big Wheel opened at Arizona Boardwalk in Scottsdale, featuring 18 fully enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas. (More)

➤ Stray Café opened in central Phoenix as the state’s first dog cafe, pairing coffee service with adoptable rescue dogs brought in by local rescue groups. (More)

➤ Willcox veteran Michael Stark, who received a $1,000 Tractor Supply gift card through the Farmer Veteran Coalition, plans to put the money toward his Cochise County pecan orchard. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ What’s the Best Breakfast Food in 2026? Oatmeal, eggs, cereal, coffee…The best breakfast choice may not be what you think and how you prepare it could make all the difference. A leading cardiologist reveals his surprising breakfast recommendation, plus one simple morning change that may help support a healthy metabolism and your weight-management goals. See the Full List of Breakfast Recommendations >> “

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:

➤ Most Americans never program their thermostats, and it’s costing them. There’s an exact degrees-and-hours setting that can trim real money off heating and cooling costs. (Hear Setting)

➤ Newly declassified files show the FBI stumbled onto former Rep. Eric Swalwell’s affair with a suspected Chinese spy while trying to recruit her as a confidential informant. (Hear Story)

➤ A popular Maryland state park is partially closed after rabid beavers attacked two teens. Experts say there are warning signs to watch for. (Hear Warning Signs)