Wednesday, August 13, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1940, stormwaters flooded Tucson’s power plant, plunging the city into darkness.

All aboard! Upcoming stop: Top Stories for details on one of the world’s richest men proposing a big rail hub near a small Arizona community, a project some residents oppose.

Today’s sponsor is M2i Global, presenting an investment opportunity in the U.S. minerals market.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Rural Critics Seek to Unite Against Rail Proposal

Some residents of Wittmann want their rural community northwest of Phoenix to incorporate as a town to gain leverage in talks over a proposed $3.2 billion rail hub.

The proposed 4,320-acre project by BNSF Railway, owned by billionaire Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, currently awaits a Maricopa County zoning decision.

Supporters of incorporation say the move would position the community to preserve its way of life. “Trying to preserve it without incorporating is like riding a horse without reins—you’d just go in circles,” said resident Jeff August, who helped submit the incorporation letter.

BNSF officials say the project will bring more than 70,000 direct and indirect jobs and other economic opportunities through rail, with plans in place to mitigate traffic and other impacts.

Pet Surrender Surge Crowds Shelters

Arizona animal shelters report increased crowding, with Maricopa County over its optimum 640-dog capacity and Pinal County accommodating two to four dogs per kennel.

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control recorded 241 pet surrenders from May through July, up from 182 the previous year, with owners citing financial strain and lack of time.

A similar trend is taking place in Pima County. Nationally, shelters say immigration enforcement is also adding to the numbers.

Shelters are urging the public to help by adopting and fostering pets, and sharing information about available pet owner resources.

Prison Guard Bodycams Make Impact

The state Department of Corrections says the May rollout of body-worn cameras in state prisons has reduced use-of-force allegations and sped grievance resolutions.

The cameras were introduced as part of state prison director Ryan Thornell’s push to improve safety for corrections staff and inmates amid rising reports of violence.

The high-definition cameras capture video and audio, and activate automatically during actions such as Taser removal. The cameras can also be turned on manually.

The cameras were developed by Arizona-based Axon and cost about $900 each.

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What the U.S. (and Investors) Learned From Israel vs. Iran

When Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a gateway for 20% of the world’s oil, it reminded us why the U.S. keeps up to 714M barrels in the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

As for the critical minerals we rely on for national defense and consumer electronics, the situation is far worse. For example, China controls 80% of the global lithium supply, but the U.S. has no strategic reserves of these critical minerals.

M2i Global plans to fix that. They’re shoring up the U.S.’s critical mineral supplies by rolling out a three-tiered approach – revitalizing abandoned mines, recycling reclaimed scrap metal, and forging public-private partnerships across industry, academia, and government at all levels.

The federal government is actively working with them at Nevada’s Hawthorne Army Depot to launch the first phase of a U.S. Strategic Mineral Reserve. They recently secured an $850M copper offtake agreement. It’s not hard to understand why M2i is already publicly traded.

But now that M2i Global’s finalized a reverse takeover of Volato Group, they’re preparing to uplist onto the NYSE and open even bigger doors. Even better? For a limited time, investors in this round can unlock up to 20% bonus shares as M2i scales across a $163B+ U.S. market.

➤ Marana: Police said a domestic violence call led to an hours-long standoff with a barricaded man, ending in a deputy-involved shooting. The person who was shot survived, but no injury details were immediately available, authorities said. (Watch)

➤ Prescott: The 14th annual Prescott Valley Healing Field will honor Sept. 11 victims with nearly 3,000 American flags displayed Sept. 5-12 on the Prescott Valley Town Center lawn. (More)

➤ Phoenix: The nonprofit Regional Center for Border Health says the federal government owes it $3 million for housing 237,000 immigrants over four years. (Watch)

➤ Camp Verde: An 11-year-old girl who went missing from Phoenix several months ago was found at a campsite with her non-custodial mother and grandmother. (Watch)

➤ Mesa: Gulfstream Aerospace opened a training center to expand its sheet metal, avionics, and airplane maintenance workforce through on-the-job learning. (More)

➤ Lake Havasu: The city is accepting applications for its inaugural Havasu Residents Academy, a free eight-week program offering residents a behind-the-scenes look at local government. (More)

➤ Former Arizona Wildcats receiver and 2025 No. 8 overall NFL draft pick Tetairoa McMillan will be inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor ahead of the Wildcats’ season opener against Hawaii on Aug. 30. (More)

➤ The Arizona Diamondbacks took an early 5-0 lead against Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, one of the favorites to win the Cy Young Award, but lost 7-6 in the 10th inning. (More)

➤ The Phoenix Suns will open the 2025-26 NBA season at home against the Sacramento Kings on Oct. 22. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ A Paradise Valley residence known as the Donut House for its circular shape and open center sold for $4.53 million. (Photos)

➤ Arizona’s cannabis revenue is falling for the second straight year due to price decreases, down more than 10% from a year ago. (Watch)

➤ Phoenix metro home prices continue to drop, with the median price dipping to $440,000 in July—$8,000 below June—and the average price down to $567,459, nearly $50,000 less than in January. (Watch)

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The Government-Backed Minerals Stock Hiding in Plain Sight

The U.S. has set aside billions to secure the minerals that power EVs, missile defense systems, and grid-scale storage batteries.

But while most companies are years from breaking ground and bolstering supply, one is already working with federal officials to produce real results. No wonder they’re publicly traded.

Meet M2i Global ($MTWO). Combining abandoned mine revitalization, recycled metals, and public-private partnerships, they’ve become an authority on U.S. minerals.

Their Nevada facility is on track to generate $8.3M by 2027, they’re working with the federal government to launch the nation’s first Strategic Mineral Reserve, they recently secured a $850M copper offtake deal, and just completed a reversed takeover that will allow for a NYSE uplisting.

Best of all? Investors in this round can unlock up to 20% bonus stock.

Invest in MTWO and claim your bonus today.

This is a paid advertisement for M2i’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.m2i.global/

➤ Phoenix dancer Jossette Sanaphav advanced to the national finals after winning a regional Red Bull dance contest. (More)

➤ Awake Window & Door Co. in Gilbert utilizes a novel hiring model, employing a workforce in which more than half are former inmates. (Watch)

➤ The annual Nightfall attraction returns to Old Tucson between Oct. 2 and Nov. 1, featuring haunted houses, spooky mazes, and new eerie characters. (Watch)

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