Another Drug Bust: Mexico Promises Troops

Officers in a recent Phoenix drug bust confiscated 1,600 pounds of meth, 735,000 fentanyl pills, and 47 pounds of fentanyl powder—enough to kill 15 million Americans, or every Arizonan twice over.

The discovery came after authorities found 50 pounds of meth during a traffic stop, after which a residential warrant was issued to search a Phoenix-area home. There, $3.4 million in additional drugs were located. See photos here.

The event comes days before Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum—in the face of President Donald Trump’s tariff threats—promised to send 10,000 Mexican troops to the border to help reduce drug smuggling operations.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office worked the case alongside DPS and DEA. Special Agent Cheri Oz of the DEA’s Phoenix Division said of the bust, “This seizure represents lives saved and a direct hit to the criminal networks flooding our neighborhoods with poison.”

  AZ Bill Says ‘Hostile’ Entities Can’t Buy Land

Republican lawmakers are pushing a bill that would make it illegal for foreign entities “hostile to the United States” to buy land in Arizona unless granted approval from the state legislature—though exactly who such restrictions apply to is still up for speculation.

Sen. Mark Finchem (R-AZ), proposed SB 1066 to mirror Arkansas legislation that restricts certain foreign businesses from acquiring real property in the state. Finchem specifically mentioned the bill as it relates to the Chinese Communist Party and Russia, but left it open for a broader interpretation when he said during a hearing it could apply to “anybody who has said ‘Death to America.’”

The bill was met with opposition from Democrats and the Council on American-Islamic Relations of Arizona (CAIR). Azza Abuseif, who lobbies for the CAIR, said the bill is a bad idea not only because it raises constitutional concerns, but also since it’s the federal government, and not the state, which control foreign relations.

The bill passed a Senate committee last week on a party-line vote.

  Solution to Gilbert’s Cow Problem Still in Limbo

Gilbert Assistant Police Chief Mike Angstead said during a council meeting there’s not much his department can do to resolve the ongoing problem of cows roaming the streets of an Adora Trails neighborhood.

It’s an issue the department has dealt with for almost 30 years, and one that originates from the fact the cows are coming from the Gila River Indian Community, which has its own set of laws. Further complicating it all is the fact Arizona has open-range laws.

Still, it’s a problem that derives not malice or indifference, Angstead said, but from upkeep. The Gila River Indian Community has been making repairs to its fences to prevent cows from roaming freely, but its proven challenging with 500 square miles to maintain. The Gila River Police Department has also helped respond to 911 calls about the cattle, as seen in this video.

The mayor and council are exploring the possibility of building a fence around the neighborhood. The Gilbert Police Department has received 74 calls reporting the cattle, and 17 this month alone.

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➤ Yuma: Members of the Department of Defense arrived in Yuma to help Border Patrol secure a 126-mile sector. (See Video)

➤ Capitol: Two Republican lawmakers have proposed a plan to boost teacher salaries by $4,000 per year without raising taxes. (See Details)

➤ Statewide: A federally-funded project that officials say is necessary to deal with Arizona’s unpredictable water supply will link the Central Arizona Project and Salt River Project, which together serve 80% of the state’s water needs. (More)

➤ Ahwatukee: The roof of a two-story apartment building collapsed as firefighters battled a blaze over the weekend. (See Photos)

➤ Bisbee: Jackie Oatman, owner and head baker of Patisserie Jacqui, was named a semifinalist in the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award. (See Photo)

➤ Casa Grande: Professional boxer and Casa Grande native Jesus Ramos Jr. had arguably the biggest win of his career this weekend when he defeated former junior-middleweight champion Jeison Rosario in eight rounds in Las Vegas. (See Highlights)

➤ Tucson: Officials are considering running a city-based electric company in place of Tucson Electric Power. (See Video)

➤ Tempe: Multiple utility projects near Arizona State University are expected to cause traffic restrictions for the next six months. (See Details) 

➤ The Phoenix Suns will continue their pursuit of Miami Heat star forward Jimmy Butler after the Golden State Warriors dropped out of trade talks. Suns guard Bradley Beal remains the biggest issue with a potential trade, as he has one of the NBA’s only no-trade clauses, which effectively allows him to veto any trade involving him. (More)

➤ The Arizona Cardinals are hiring the Minnesota Vikings’ former defensive line coach, Winston DeLattiboudere, as the team’s new defensive line coach. The hiring comes after the Cardinals parted ways with coach Derrick LeBlanc. (More)

➤ The Arizona Diamondbacks have announced their 2025 Spring Training roster. This is the organization’s 28th Spring Training camp, and 15th to take place at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. (More)

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

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➤ The first two buildings of Meta’s massive data center in Mesa are now operational. Three more data centers will be constructed on the 396-acre site that was purchased in 2021 for $123 million. (See Photo)

➤ Scottsdale residents may have the opportunity to vote on the future of technology company Axon Enterprises after a referendum petition gathered enough votes to place the company’s planned development on the November 2026 ballot. Axon CEO Rick Smith said the company would likely seek out alternative locations rather than wait. (See Details)

➤ Norway-based Cognite, an industrial software company that implements generative artificial intelligence, will move into the ninth floor of downtown Tempe’s Hayden Ferry Lakeside complex. (More)

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➤ Four rescue puppies from Arizona animal shelters were among the 142 dogs chosen to participate in Puppy Bowl XXI on Super Bowl Sunday. They include two Shih Tzu-Miniature Poodle brothers, a Doberman Pinscher, and an American Pitbull Terrier mix. (See Photos)

➤ The Chandler Film Festival broke a Guinness World Record for largest display of movie posters when it featured more than 1,300 posters from films shown in previous years. The display at the LOOK Dine-in Cinema topped the previous poster display record by more than 300. (See Video)

➤ Four secluded Arizona mansions are on the market, including a $2.5 million Catalina Foothills estate, and a 40-acre family compound with almost 10,000 square feet in the Patagonia/Sonoita area. (See Photos) 

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