Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1993, Phoenix topped out at 85 degrees, the lowest high temperature for the date, ending a streak of 76 days of 100-degree highs.

New state editions alert: We’re launching The Michigan Flyover and The Pennsylvania Flyover on Sept. 1! If you call one of these great states home (or just want to stay informed on them), click the links and sign up. We’ll see you in a week!

Flying over the Atlantic Sunday night, passengers on a red-eye to Rome felt the plane suddenly drop. Then the captain came over the intercom and said one of the engines had “blown out.” Inside the cabin, some passengers prayed while others screamed, fearing this flight might be their last. What happened next, and during the long night that followed, is a story no other outlet is covering. In a first-of-its-kind exclusive for The Flyover Podcast, Ayla spoke directly with a passenger who lived through it all, including one moment nobody saw coming. Tune in here!

Later today, our partner Fisher Investments is sharing seven habits high net worth investors use once their portfolios reach $1 million, including a few that may be surprisingly easy to overlook.

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SNAP Rolls Plunge

Arizona posted the nation’s steepest drop in food-stamp enrollment for the 12 months ending in April, declining by 55%, or more than 400,000 recipients.

Nationally, SNAP enrollment fell more than 13% in the same 12 months as stricter work requirements and other changes took effect, a steeper decline than the government projected.

Other states reporting declines of 20% or more include Georgia, Louisiana, Nevada, and Florida. You can see a state-by-state breakdown here.

Proponents of welfare reform say the decline shows policy changes are working. Arizona is also under federal pressure to reduce its high rate of SNAP payment errors.

Others said many people who would otherwise qualify are being rejected over missed deadlines or missing paperwork.

Cattle Cross Again

The Douglas port of entry reopened to Mexican cattle Monday, becoming the first Southwest border crossing to accept livestock in more than a year amid New World screwworm concerns.

The Trump administration framed the move as a step toward easing record beef prices, although economists do not expect grocery relief for months.

The USDA kept Monday’s opening date despite the Mexican state of Sonora confirming its first screwworm case last week, detected about 300 miles from the border.

Ports closed in 2025 to keep the flesh-eating parasite out of U.S. herds. Every animal will undergo a full federal inspection.

Seniors Take Over Weathercast

A Scottsdale senior center handed its members a microphone this week and put them on camera to deliver the weather forecast.

The Granite Reef Senior Center borrowed the idea from ABC15’s KidCasters segments, reasoning that its residents would enjoy the experience, too.

Residents were also asked to share their weather memories. One described standing inside a dust storm—a scene the Valley revisited Sunday night—and another recalled 14 inches of Wisconsin snow.

One of the first to try her hand at a forecast was resident Mary Helen Garduno, who called for a daily high near 100 degrees, a little cooler than the more widely predicted high of 105 to 110.

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➤ Phoenix: Two police officers were fired and arrested on charges including kidnapping and aggravated assault after a violent Aug. 5 traffic stop that was never reported. (More)

➤ Tempe: Downtown restaurants and shops reported a welcome sales bump as Arizona State students return for the fall semester. (More)

➤ Cibola: The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation intends to replace the collapsed section of the Hart Mine Road bridge but must first secure funding. In the interim, farmers are detouring up to 15 miles through California. (More)

➤ Youngtown: The small West Valley town operates a Flock camera on nearly every block, and Mayor Michael LeVault says the license plate readers are helping deter crime. (More)

➤ Ajo: The municipal airport won more than $830,000 in federal grants for airfield improvements, part of a plan to draw travelers heading toward Mexico. (More)

➤ Lake Havasu City: Two California women suffered serious burns when a 28-foot boat exploded and burned near a boat ramp on Friday. (More)

➤ Navajo County: More than 1,300 ballots came back undelivered for the county’s primary election, a higher rate than other counties. Statewide, about 50,000 went undelivered. (More)

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➤ An Arizona State hockey player remained hospitalized after collapsing during an outdoor team workout in last week’s extreme heat. (More)

➤ Arizona basketball capped its Lithuania tour with an 88-74 win over a national team squad. Forward Ivan Kharchenkov led the Wildcats with 30 points. (More)

➤ Surprise teenager Aubrey Hilgers earned a captain’s pick to represent the U.S. against Europe in the PING Junior Solheim Cup in the Netherlands. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | U.S. Open | WNBA | Little League World Series

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➤ Amazon expanded its Phoenix-area drone delivery zone to 16 ZIP codes, days after Walmart announced its own expansion, intensifying a race between the two retailers in the Valley. (More)

➤ Construction began on a 700,000-square-foot industrial campus in Avondale, designed for advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and semiconductors. (More)

➤ Patricia Tate was promoted to president and chief executive of Salt River Community Gaming Enterprises, the first woman and first enrolled tribal member to lead the organization. (More)

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➤ Two restaurants in Phoenix and one in Tucson landed on The New York Times ranking of the nation’s 41 best Mexican eateries. (More)

➤ Arizona drivers can vote through Thursday in the state transportation department’s highway safety message contest, with the top two finishers appearing on overhead boards. Finalists include “Watch the road, not the screen” and “That phone? Drop it like it’s hot.” (More)

➤ Twelve-year-old Sloan Petty of Phoenix collected nearly 30,000 diapers in her fifth annual drive, delivering them to a central Phoenix food and clothing bank. (More)

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