AI Cameras Aid Wildfire Detection

Power company Arizona Public Service has installed artificial intelligence-aided cameras on some of its utility poles in hopes of discovering wildfires during their early stages.

The cameras can identify smoke from up to 25 miles away. Placed in high-risk fire areas in northern Arizona and monitored by a fire mitigation team, the cameras continuously scan their surroundings. 

Similar technology was used during the Salt River Project in 2023 when AI-aided cameras were installed on transmission towers and “trained” to recognize smoke.

AI is also helping other first responders, with some law enforcement agencies turning to the technology as a way to streamline bodycam footage.

ASU Picks Location for Medical School

Arizona State University on Monday announced its medical school building will be built in downtown Phoenix’s Bioscience Core area. Watch the report.

The nearly 200,000-square-foot, multi-story ASU Health building will be erected near 5th and Fillmore streets. See a video rendering.

The building will be home to the university’s schools of medicine, advanced medical engineering, and public health technology. Construction is set to begin in 2026.

“What we’re really focused on is how do we up Arizona’s game in all things related to health,” ASU President Michael Crow said. “… We’re constructing a whole series of things, and this headquarters in downtown Phoenix will be the brain and the innovation center for all of that.“

Playoff Decides PGA Senior Event

Two of the PGA senior tour’s best “out of nowhere” stories rallied late Sunday to force a playoff at the Cologuard Classic in Tucson, where Steven Alker emerged victorious. 

Alker and Long Island pro Jason Caron entered the event’s first-ever playoff after each golfer shot 12 under in regulation at the La Paloma Country Club. 

During the first playoff hole, Alker sank a 12-foot birdie putt for the win. Watch the final putt.

The win marked Alker’s ninth PGA Tour Champions title.

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➤ Phoenix: More than 100 members of the National Guard received a big sendoff as they began a year-long deployment to Germany. (See Video)

➤ Flagstaff: The Arizona Dental Board revoked the license of a dentist who used household pliers on a patient. (See Video)

➤ State: A legislative proposal seeks to create an AMBER Alert-style system for missing Indigenous people. (See Details)

➤ Tucson: Police released enhanced photos in hopes of solving a decades-old arson death. (See Video)

➤ Statewide: A group of lawmakers seek to strip the state Department of Agriculture’s ability to require cage-free housing for hens. (More)

➤ Tempe: A Chicago police officer arrested for a traffic violation filed a notice that he plans to sue for discrimination. The police department “strongly denies” the claim. (See Video)

➤ The Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners set an MLB spring training attendance record when 16,161 showed up for the game this past weekend at Sloan Park in Phoenix. (More)

➤ The Phoenix Suns’ win over Dallas put them within 1.5 games of Dallas for the final spot in the play-in tournament. (More)

➤ The Arizona Cardinals re-signed Evan Brown, one of two offensive linemen to start every game for the team last season. (More)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte received a position-high 96 rating in the MLB The Show 25 video game. (More)

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

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➤ Medina Station, a 64-acre commercial project in Mesa, will be home to a Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target, Boot Barn, and Einstein Bros. Groundbreaking is set for next week. (More) 

➤ Indiana-based Rose Acre Farms purchased a 3.64-acre property in Bullhead City as the company continues expanding its farming operations. (See Details)

➤ The Casa Grande Planning and Zoning Commission is considering a request to build a 120,000-square-foot self-storage facility near Florence Boulevard and Arizona Road. (More)

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➤ About 500 families received free groceries this past weekend as part of an outreach program during the NOAHFEST Carnival and Health Fair in Scottsdale. (See Video)

➤ Select Harkins Theatres will screen six of director Quentin Tarantino’s most popular films for $5 each. The series will run from Saturday through April 2. (More)

➤ The Tucson Festival of Books returns to the University of Arizona campus this weekend. The annual event unites authors and readers, drawing more than 100,000 attendees. (Details) 

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How do you most enjoy a book?

1. On paper
2. E-book
3. Audio
4. Other

Yesterday’s results:

Are you a fan of NASCAR?

1. Yes: 39%
2. No: 61%

Where was Arizona’s first state park established?

Show me the answer