$2B Mine Gains Approval

The U.S. Forest Service on Tuesday approved South32’s Hermosa zinc, manganese, and silver mine in the Patagonia Mountains, completing the final federal environmental review needed for the project.

South32 has committed $2.16 billion to develop the deposit. A 2022 study projects the mine would add billions to the state economy over its decades-long life.

The Forest Service’s decision clears the company to build roads, a tailings facility, and part of a power line on Coronado National Forest land southeast of Tucson. Construction on adjacent private land is already about half finished. 

Opponents of the project focused in part on water demands. In response, South32 said it plans to use about 90% less water and work with the community to treat and recharge water supplies.

Military Base Bans Six Businesses

Fort Huachuca declared six Cochise County businesses off-limits to military personnel, saying they pose risks to service members’ health, safety, and welfare.

Four of the six sell cannabis, CBD, or smoke products. The list also names St. Elmo Bar in Bisbee and a shuttle service. The order states the businesses are “adversely affecting the health, safety, morals, welfare, morale, and discipline” of soldiers.

The owners of the businesses were notified and given a chance to appeal before the order took effect, but none chose to challenge the decision or change their practices. The designation lasts one year and is reviewed every 90 days.

Wildfire Hurts Town’s Tourism

The Pocket Fire kept tourists away from Sedona over the Fourth of July weekend, despite gains in containing the blaze.

Jeep tours, guides, and retreat operators that depend on public-land access were hit hardest, the local chamber of commerce president said.

Tourism generates about $1 billion a year for the town of roughly 10,000 and accounts for 77% of its sales tax revenue, with the July Fourth weekend typically one of its busiest stretches.

Fire crews on Tuesday reported more progress in battling the 27,000-acre fire, reaching 51% containment. State Route 89A remained closed through Oak Creek Canyon.

This week, the state forestry agency awarded nearly $1.8 million for 12 wildfire mitigation projects on about 4,500 acres statewide.

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➤ Statewide: Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes settled a two-year lawsuit brought by the Goldwater Institute, dropping a requirement that school voucher parents tie each supplemental purchase to a specific curriculum. (More)

➤ Oracle: The Trust for Public Land and the Coronado National Forest announced a deal to protect 695 acres in the northern Santa Catalina Mountains, the forest’s largest addition in two decades. The parcel secures public access for hiking, hunting, and camping. (See Details)

➤ Grand Canyon: The National Park Service is investigating a cluster of illnesses among Colorado River rafters who ran the canyon in May and June, several of whom reported fevers, joint pain, pneumonia, and infections. (Read Story)

➤ Glendale: A 15-year-old Phoenix boy was arrested in Saturday’s shooting at the Westgate Entertainment District that injured five people, including the suspect’s 8-year-old sister. (See Details)

➤ Morenci: A Freeport-McMoRan employee was killed in a haul-truck accident Monday at the Morenci copper mine. (More)

➤ Yavapai County: Two truck drivers were killed early Monday when a car hauler and another truck collided and caught fire on U.S. 93. The highway was partially closed. (More)

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➤ Former Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa was indicted on five counts of wire fraud in an alleged $2.2 million scheme. Prosecutors allege the Estonian guard convinced victims to send money over four years by fabricating stories about his mother’s cancer treatment and creating fake identities. (More)

➤ Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita, Arizona State wide receiver Omarion Miller and Arizona State defensive lineman C.J. Fite were named to the Preseason All-Big 12 first team. (More)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks catcher James McCann was reinstated from the injured list after missing six weeks with a quad injury. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | Wimbledon | MLB | WNBA

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➤ A study that compared 180 rental markets in the U.S. ranked Scottsdale, Gilbert, and Chandler as the best places for renters in the nation. (More)

➤ Federal disclosures show President Trump bought $1 million to $5 million in stock of Scottsdale-based Taser and body-camera maker Axon before federal immigration authorities sought a $220 million Taser contract. The White House said there is no conflict of interest. (See Details)

➤ The FBI is investigating former Cyber Dive CEO Jeffrey Gottfurcht on allegations he transferred about $1.5 million from the Mesa tech startup’s funds to his personal accounts, with investigators saying the money was used to buy a house, a Lamborghini, and other luxury items. (More)

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➤ The Gila County Sheriff’s Office warned drivers not to always trust Google Maps after the service rerouted several vehicles onto rough, essentially impassable forest service roads about 20 miles northeast of Payson over the weekend. (More)

➤ University of Arizona astronomers helped confirm 31 quasars from the early universe, including the two most distant ever observed. (See Report)

➤ An Arizona State University team produced the first complete high-resolution map of the world’s seagrass, published in Nature. The data shows a roughly 1% annual decline but also pinpoints recovery zones to guide restoration. (See Report)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Iran has resumed missile strikes on ships in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. officials say, threatening the peace deal. (Hear Details)

➤ Ukrainian forces have struck deep into Siberia, putting Russia’s largest refineries within reach for the first time. (Hear Episode)

➤ Discarded items found behind a Georgia Cracker Barrel have helped authorities crack a man’s 1985 killing in Ohio. (Listen Now)

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