WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1837, U.S. Army Chaplain Winfield Scott was born. The career minister, officer, and politician retired in present-day Scottsdale—a city that was eventually named after him. Here’s a photo of Scott along with more details of his ties to Scottsdale.

Like Scottsdale, several Arizona cities got their name from interesting circumstances. For example, the City of Surprise was so named because its founder reportedly said she’d be “surprised” if the town amounted to anything. See more.

If you’re planning your travel be sure to include today’s sponsor, Babbel, in your travel plans.

Bill Aims to Protect Against Heat Injuries

State lawmakers advanced a bill aimed at protecting construction workers after record-breaking heat swept through much of the state last year.

Democratic Sen. Analise Ortiz’s bill would require municipalities to allow construction work to begin earlier in the morning from May to September. See a PDF file of SB 1182.

The legislation advanced out of a committee with a unanimous vote, something similar bills recently failed to accomplish, such as HB 2382, which asked employers to develop heat mitigation plans.

The bill comes after Phoenix experienced its hottest year ever in 2024 with temperatures exceeding 110 degrees 70 days of the year.

53 Public Schools Get A+ Rating

Fifty-three Arizona schools—including six in Gilbert—were named recipients of the A+ School of Excellence Award.

The Arizona Educational Foundation (AEF) developed the recognition program 42 years ago to highlight school achievements and combat negative stereotypes surrounding public schools.

While the award is different from the Arizona State Board of Education’s A-F letter grade system, only schools with an A or B rating from the state can qualify for the A+ status.

The award, offered once every four years, is given to schools considered to have the best teachers, leadership, and rigorous curriculum.

Tucsonan Picked to Drum for ‘The Killers’

Tucson resident Christian Burrola checked an item off his bucket list this weekend: play the drums onstage with his favorite band, The Killers. Watch the report.

The music group often picks people from the crowd to fill in on drums, so in the year and a half leading up to Saturday’s show in Tempe, Burrola learned how to play them.

“I was like you know what? I’m going to learn how to play drums. And I’m going to make it my goal to play with The Killers. That was my goal. That’s what I set out to do,” Burrola said.

Burrola made a sign that caught the band’s attention, and when they called him onstage, he aced a song he’d “practiced thousands of times.” Watch his full performance.

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➤ A federal jury awarded a 74-year-old Arizona woman $7.25 million after she suffered a spinal injury from a fall while exiting the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride at Universal Studios Hollywood. (More)

➤ San Simon: A truck driver is on life support after being assaulted at a rest stop near the Arizona-New Mexico border. (See Report)

➤ Sierra Vista: Officials released a public notice regarding rabid gray foxes in the south Sierra Vista and Hereford areas after several attacks were reported. (See Details)

➤ Tucson: Sunnyside High School boys wrestling won its 38th Division I state championship this week, its eighth consecutive title. (More)

➤ Statewide: A bill awaiting a Senate vote would make it a traffic violation for anyone to drive with a pet on their lap. (More)

➤ Statewide: A bill that would limit cell phone usage in public and charter school classrooms passed the House and will now move on to the Senate. (See Video)

➤ Arizona State football head coach Kenny Dillingham delivered a motivational message to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo was impressed, calling Dillingham “special.” (More)

➤ Arizona men’s basketball fell three spots to No. 22 in the AP Top 25 poll this week after losing to BYU earlier in the week on a controversial end-of-game call. (More)

➤ Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant posted a flurry of posts on X complaining about the way local media portrayed him, specifically Arizona sportscaster Dan Bickley. The posts were deleted shortly after. (More)

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➤ All 800 Joann Fabric and Craft stores, including 10 in metro Phoenix, are closing pending bankruptcy court approval, the retailer announced on Monday. The company initially said only four Valley locations would close. (More)

➤ Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café opened its first Arizona location in the Scottsdale Quarter. The French-inspired restaurant specializes in crepes, but also offers omelets, soups, salads, and coffee. (See Photos)

➤ A woman looking to start a mobile coffee shop out of her 1966 Aloha travel trailer had it stolen from her Phoenix home while it was undergoing renovations. (See Video)

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➤ An unlikely friendship is once again going viral—that of Spanky, a miniature horse, and Dally, the Jack Russell Terrier that often hitches a ride on its back. The duo were the subject of a 2023 Sony Pictures film after their owner, Francesca Carsen, wrote a children’s book about them in 2016. (See Video)

➤ A saguaro cactus that looks like a dinosaur is drawing hikers to the Superstition Mountains. It’s been dubbed the “T-Rex cactus.” (See Photo)

➤ Several historic and current fighter jets will take to the Tucson skies as part of the Heritage Flight Training Course that runs from Feb. 27 through March 2. The honorary event is not open to the public but will be visible from most points around Tucson. (More)

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