Prison Attack Prompts Call for Changes

Graphic footage from the Arizona State Prison Complex in Tucson shows prisoners using padlocks as weapons in an assault against fellow inmates.

The incident took place in the same prison where Ricky Wassenaar killed three fellow inmates in April.

Prison reform advocate Donna Hamm criticized the use of padlocks on cell doors as a dangerous practice, and alleged the response by guards was slow.

The state corrections department issued a statement saying the agency “is continuing its efforts to curtail the recent spike in violence across the inmate population,” including calling for more staffing and higher pay for current workers.

Queen Creek State’s Fastest-Growing Town

Queen Creek was the state’s fastest-growing town and 23rd fastest-growing town in the U.S. last year, based on the U.S. Census Bureau population growth rates.

Queen Creek grew by an estimated 6,286 residents between July 2023 and July 2024, an 8.1% growth rate. Casa Grande also experienced significant gains, growing by 7.7% (4,900 people), the 27th fastest growth rate in the country. 

Three Phoenix Valley communities showed a decline in population, including Fountain Hills, with a drop of 0.1%, or about 19 people. Chandler lost an estimated 312 people, while Tempe shrank by an estimated 537 people.

Couple Marries After 49 Years Apart

An 80th birthday party turned into a surprise wedding when two high school sweethearts tied the knot after almost five decades apart, thanks to a reunion on Facebook.

Arizona residents Steve Gove, 80, and Judy Mutal, 78, first met as high schoolers in 1963 in Seattle. They dated for several months before Gove went to college and later served in Vietnam.

For the next 49 years, the two lived separate lives with marriages, children, careers, and divorces, sometimes living only miles apart near Seattle.

Within months of reconnecting via social media in 2013, they began planning a future together at Robson Ranch in Eloy. Earlier this month, they were crowned king and queen at the Robson Ranch senior prom.

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➤ Apache County: Windy conditions continued to challenge the hundreds of firefighters battling the Greer Fire, which has topped 20,000 acres. (Watch)

➤ Flagstaff: Arizona Snowbowl extended its ski season until June 1, making it the longest season in the resort’s 87-year history. (More)

➤ Phoenix: One person died and at least one other was seriously injured in a three-vehicle crash overnight Sunday on Interstate 10, which caused a partial freeway closure for six hours. (Watch)

➤ Lake Havasu: Sheriff’s deputies shot and killed a 38-year-old domestic violence suspect who opened fire on them after a standoff inside a home. (Watch)

➤ Mohave County: Authorities shared a photo of clothing items as they asked for the public’s help identifying a woman whose body was found at the bottom of an 80-foot cliff. (Photo)

➤ Tucson: Sixteen University of Arizona students created a new 8-foot by 12-foot micro-shelter for homeless people. (Watch)

➤ Queen Creek native Brock Purdy became one of the NFL’s highest-paid players after agreeing to a five-year, $265 million contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers. (More)

➤ Arizona softball’s season ended with a loss to Ole Miss, marking the first time the team was eliminated during regional play since 2013. (Details)

➤ The Phoenix Suns narrowed the search for a head coach to nine candidates, including Miami Heat assistant coach Chris Quinn. (More)

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

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➤ AMC Theaters will offer half-priced movie tickets for AMC Stubs loyalty members every Wednesday beginning July 9. (Details)

➤ The Record Room will close its Phoenix Valley locations after 13 years as the owner relocates the music store to California. (More)

➤ Construction began on Peoria’s first Caldwell County BBQ restaurant, joining two existing locations in Queen Creek and Gilbert. The new location is expected to open in 2026. (More)

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Zillow’s Co-Founder Has a Big New Idea

Spencer Rascoff co-founded Zillow, scaling it into a $16B real estate giant. But everyday investors couldn’t invest until after the IPO, missing potential early gains.

“I wish we had done a round accessible to retail investors prior to Zillow’s IPO,” Spencer later said. 

Now he’s doing just that. Spencer has teamed up with Austin Allison, another Zillow exec, to launch Pacaso. Pacaso’s co-ownership marketplace is disrupting the $1.3T vacation home market. And unlike Zillow, you can invest in Pacaso as a private company.

With $110M+ in gross profits and rapid international expansion, Pacaso is scaling fast. Investors like Softbank, Maveron, and more are already on board. They even reserved the Nasdaq ticker PCSO.

But you don’t have to wait. Join them as a Pacaso shareholder for just $2.80/share by 5/29.

➤ Several Arizona libraries are offering summer rewards for students who log their reading minutes or books, awarding them items like museum passes, gift cards, toys, and free meals. (Details)

➤ Arcadia Little League umpire Eric Newman received a gift of a $6,600 check after players and parents organized a GoFundMe campaign to thank him for his longstanding dedication to the league. (Watch)

➤ A wild javelina attacked a dog and its owner while they were walking through a West Valley neighborhood. (Watch)

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Have you ever been to the Arizona Snowbowl?

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Would you support a total cell phone ban in K-12 schools?

1. Yes: 59%
2. No: 22%
3. No opinion: 19%

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