Feds Arrest 36 Illegal Immigrant Truckers

U.S. Border Patrol said that Operation Checkmate arrested 36 illegal immigrants found driving commercial tractor-trailers on Arizona roads.

The operation, which ran May 11–15, identified 52 illegal immigrants in total. Officials framed the operation as an immigration enforcement action and a trucking safety initiative.

Of the drivers arrested, 29 possessed commercial driver’s licenses from states such as California, New York, Washington, and Virginia. Three did not have a license. Thirty were from India, while six were from Mexico, El Salvador, and Russia.

Most of the drivers carried Employment Authorization Documents obtained during the Biden administration, which are no longer valid.

Wildcats Keep Golf Title Hopes Alive 

Arizona men’s golf team advanced to the NCAA Championship quarterfinals for the first time in school history, while Wildcats senior Filip Jakubcik tied for fourth in individual play Monday in Carlsbad, California.

Jakubcik entered Monday’s final round one shot off the lead, hoping to become the first Wildcat ever to win an individual title. Preston Stout of Oklahoma State held on for the win.

Arizona will face Vanderbilt this morning in the eight-team match-play bracket. The winner will advance to the semifinals later in the day.

You can find the team and individual leaderboards here.

Motorists Bid Farewell to DQ Pit Stop

The Picacho Peak Dairy Queen Travel Center—where generations of Arizonans stopped during trips along I-10—closed after 40-plus years.

Bowlin Travel Centers announced the pending closure last month, with chief operating officer Valkyrie Musarra saying the company is “deeply grateful for the overwhelming support and loyalty shown by our customers.”

The company’s newer Picacho Plaza, located directly across from the property, remains open. The company is exploring restaurant options for the plaza site.

The travel center sits at the base of Picacho Peak, roughly equidistant between Phoenix and Tucson, making it the natural stopping point for road-trippers, snowbirds, and truckers.

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➤ Region: A judge in Provo, Utah, denied defense attorneys’ request that an upcoming preliminary hearing for suspected Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson be closed to the public. (More)

➤ Grand Canyon: The park has assigned Blue, a trained Catahoula Leopard Hound, to help keep animals such as elk and bighorn sheep away from its busiest areas as part of a pilot project. (More)

➤ Phoenix: A group of motorists renewed calls to update the city’s e-bike rules after a dangerous near-miss between an e-bike and a vehicle at an intersection. (More)

➤ Tucson: A teen suspect in a sheriff’s deputy-involved shooting made his first court appearance. Authorities said the shooting happened after deputies responded to reports of shots heard at a property, and the suspect pulled out a gun. (More)

➤ Statewide: With the state’s July 21 primary seven weeks away, an Arizona Republic voter guide provides information on the governor’s race, congressional contests, and key state legislative seats, along with registration deadlines and polling locations. (More)

➤ North Phoenix: State Rep. Justin Wilmeth, R-Deer Valley, spoke in defense of data centers, calling attacks against them “short-sighted.” (More)

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➤ The NBA Finals will feature four former Phoenix Suns: Mikal Bridges and Landry Shamet are key pieces for the New York Knicks, while reserve centers Bismack Biyombo and Mason Plumlee round out San Antonio’s bench. (More)

➤ The state will open a new sports betting licensing window later this month with room for up to six new operators. Arizona currently has 14 licensed sportsbooks out of a maximum of 20, and bettors have wagered $33.9 billion since legalization in 2021. (More)

➤ The Arizona Cardinals’ over/under win total for next season is set at 4.5, tied with the Miami Dolphins for the lowest in the NFL. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | NCAASB | NCAAB | WNBA | Tennis

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➤ The average gas price in Phoenix dropped 16 cents over the past month, but the $4.67 per gallon cost as of Monday remained among the highest in the western U.S. (More)

➤ A satellite-powered platform gives the state’s farmers real-time water consumption data, a valuable tool amid the region’s water challenges. (More)

➤ A new state law aims to crack down on deed fraud scams, including providing property owners with opt-in alerts whenever there are record changes to their land. (More)

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➤ The state’s libraries and bookstores launched their 2026 summer reading programs, with challenges and prizes for all ages. (More)

➤ Starlite Lanes bowling alley in Flagstaff will celebrate its 69th anniversary this fall, opened during bowling’s heyday in the U.S. and now a favorite Route 66 stop. (More)

➤ Creative collective Squidsoup will present the 3D light and sound immersive display Arizona Clouds on Saturday in Scottsdale. (More)

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