Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Thrift Stores Thrive, Under 30 Summit, and Holiday Boat Parade

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1938, the community of Window Rock hosted the first Navajo Tribal Fair, shown here in 1951.

Arizona may have missed the sweater weather memo. Phoenix's high of 82 degrees on Sunday set a daily heat record amid above-normal temperatures statewide.

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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.

AI Regulation Sparks Debate

Arizona is at the center of a growing debate over artificial intelligence regulation as the Trump administration calls for a single national framework to prevent conflicting state rules.

Last Thursday, Chandler rejected a proposed $2 billion AI data center, joining other Arizona cities opposing similar projects over water, environmental, and neighborhood concerns.

Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke said he understands concerns about the patchwork of AI regulations across the country, but that many AI-related decisions—such as approving data centers—are primarily local land use matters.

President Trump, in an executive order signed last week, said streamlined regulations are the key to keeping the U.S. competitive in the global AI marketplace.

Watershed Restoration Begins

Trout Unlimited launched the $1.8 million Thompson-Burro Meadow Restoration Project near Alpine to restore streams, reconnect wetlands, and revive water habitats.

The project aims to repair damage from the 2011 Wallow Fire, boost groundwater storage, and strengthen the watershed that feeds the Phoenix Valley and surrounding areas.

Improvements planned include wood log jams, sod plugs, and native vegetation to increase drought and wildfire resilience.

The project comes as Colorado River states remain deadlocked on water-sharing, fueling concerns over declining river levels and potential federal intervention.

Secondhand Stores Surge

Arizona's secondhand retail market has expanded to a $955 million a year industry, with strong growth since 2020.

The trend mirrors a broader national rise in secondhand shopping as consumer habits shift amid economic uncertainty and growing interest in sustainability.

Major players like Goodwill have seized the opportunity, opening new, modernized locations, while luxury resale, independent shops, and national franchises have also expanded statewide.

Beyond cost savings, thrifting is increasingly seen as a recreational experience, with events and curated stores drawing in new shoppers.

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➤ Deer Valley: No injuries were reported in a low-impact taxiway collision between two aircraft at Deer Valley Airport on Sunday morning. (More)

➤ Statewide: Law enforcement will increase security at Hanukkah events following a deadly attack in Australia. (Watch)

➤ Statewide: Pedestrians in Arizona are nearly twice as likely to die in road crashes compared to the U.S. average, a AAA study found. (More)

➤ Maricopa: The fire department said a pungent, gas-like smell reported in several neighborhoods is harmless and caused by ongoing water treatment activities. (More)

➤ Phoenix: Echo Canyon Trail at Camelback Mountain reopened after a two-month closure for storm-related safety repairs, including the stabilizing of loose boulders. (More)

➤ Seligman: A seat on the school board for the Seligman Unified School District opened following a member's resignation, with a Jan. 2 deadline for applicants. (Details)

➤ Arizona men's basketball remained No. 1 in the nation in the latest AP rankings. (Full Poll)

➤ The Arizona Diamondbacks signed pitcher Merrill Kelly to a two-year, $40 million contract. Kelly returns to the team after being traded to the Texas Rangers last year. (More)

➤ Arizona State football coach Kenny Dillingham is on Michigan's list of top potential head coaching candidates, following last week's firing of Sherrone Moore. (More)

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➤ Forbes announced Phoenix as the host city for its 30 Under 30 Summit from 2026 through 2028, with the event expected to draw between 5,000 and 10,000 participants a year. (More)

➤ Some businesses in Nogales report sluggish holiday sales, citing fewer shoppers from Mexico crossing into Arizona due to longer border security delays and rising prices. (Watch)

➤ State Attorney General Kris Mayes accused Kinder Morgan of potentially violating state law, amid disputes over the location and approval of the company's Haystack Ranches compressor site now under construction. (Watch)

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➤ Crowds lined Lake Havasu's Bridgewater Channel for the annual Boat Parade of Lights, showcasing holiday-themed boats and festive activities. (Photos)

➤ Super Late Model drivers will compete for $25,000 prizes at next month's 2026 Wild West Shootout in Casa Grande. (More)

➤ The annual Gwyn Noble Holiday Shopping Experience in north Phoenix donated up to $350 each to more than 300 children to buy toys, clothes, and books. (Watch)

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Voter Poll, 911 Drones, and a Scavenger Hunt

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1883, a plot to rob Durango's First National Bank ended in tragedy when Cellas Hawkins was ambushed by lawmen and shot Bruce Hunt before fleeing. Pursued and surrounded by a posse, Hawkins jumped off a cliff and later died.

Data suggests Coloradans registered as politically unaffiliated, or independent, will soon make up a majority of the state's active voters. A new poll sheds light on the trend in today's Top Stories.

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.

Poll Finds Party Distrust Among Voters

A new poll found the vast majority of Colorado's unaffiliated voters chose to register that way, challenging assumptions that the rising number of unaffiliated voters is caused by automatic registration.

As of Dec. 1, unaffiliated voters make up half of active registered voters statewide. Of those polled, 86% said they intentionally became or chose to remain independent.

Roughly half reported former party affiliation, with 25% as Democrats and 21% as Republicans. Respondents cited a dislike or distrust of the two major parties, and nearly two-thirds want both to be more moderate.

The poll also found independents tend to be younger—with a median age of 42, compared to 49 for Democrats and 54 for Republicans—and to favor Democrats in Colorado elections.

911 Drones See Early Success, Skepticism

Two Skydio X10 drones have been deployed to 215 calls for robberies, burglaries, assaults, and other incidents since Denver launched its Drone as First Responder (DFR) pilot program in October.

In over 30% of missions, drone pilots determined that no patrol response was needed, saving resources and time. In 95% of missions, they provided critical information—such as a suspect's location—to officers on the ground.

Some city leaders remain concerned about privacy and transparency. Denver has separately contracted with Flock Safety, a surveillance company at the center of national controversy, for a drone program that has yet to begin.

Denver joins a growing number of communities with DFR programs, including Castle Rock and Commerce City. The current no-cost program with Skydio runs through March 2026.

Shutoffs Possible Amid Dry, Warm Week

Xcel Energy warns that Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) are possible tomorrow as near-record temperatures, dry conditions, and high winds contribute to severe fire risk on the Front Range.

The utility also said it will implement Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings, which may trigger shutoffs if a powerline issue—such as a tree branch touching the line—is detected.

Restoring outages from significant weather events or a PSPS can take several hours to several days, Xcel said. Customers can track outages using this map.

While snow is forecast in the high country Wednesday into Thursday, Denver's stretch of unseasonably warm, dry weather will continue for several more days.

Flying together with our sponsor

Tired of scam calls or scared of identity theft? Time to go anonymous.

Becoming truly anonymous online is hard—but it's not impossible. Experts say there are several steps you can take:

➤ Use a VPN all the time

➤ Buy a burner phone instead of a smartphone

➤ Use a secure email service instead of Gmail or Yahoo

➤ Delete your social media accounts and associated data

Hide what should stay hidden—start with Incogni. The Flyover readers get 55% off your subscription with code FLYOVER.

➤ Statewide: Several state and religious leaders issued statements condemning the Dec. 14 mass shooting in Sydney, Australia, where a father and son opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 15 people. (More)

➤ Boulder: The police department released its annual update on the JonBenét Ramsey investigation, a homicide cold case now 29 years old. Police say new and retested evidence has generated new leads, aided by evolving forensic technology. (See Details)

➤ Pueblo County: A substitute teacher plans to sue Pueblo School District 70, alleging it violated his First Amendment rights when it temporarily suspended him over Facebook posts criticizing the late Charlie Kirk. (See Details)

➤ Mesa County: Deputies responding to an explosion near Whitewater Cemetery on Saturday traced the cause to a man-made explosive device. No injuries were reported, and an investigation is ongoing. (More)

➤ Denver: Three city police officers have been arrested in the past three weeks on various charges, including sexual assault, assault related to domestic violence, and felony eluding. (More)

➤ Fort Collins: A church in Old Town has been shut down due to methamphetamine contamination. The discovery follows reports of drug-related behavior in and at the building, which doubles as an overnight shelter. (See Details)

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➤ The Colorado Rockies hired former San Francisco Giants first baseman Brett Pill as their new hitting coach. The 41-year-old has never coached in the majors but served as the Dodgers' minor league hitting coordinator for three seasons. (More)

➤ University of Northern Colorado football player and cancer survivor Myles McClarity was invited to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York over the weekend by the Joy+US Foundation. "I always watch the Heisman ceremony," he said. "But you never, never think that you're going to be in the room." (More)

➤ Neither Colorado State (9-2) nor Colorado (9-1) made the AP Top 25 men's basketball poll this week. (See Poll)

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➤ A Steamboat Springs billionaire bought two new apartment buildings in the town for $95.3 million and is renting them out to local workers at below-market rates. (See Details)

➤ Christmas tree prices have doubled over the past decade after adjusting for inflation—a surge felt especially in Denver, where long-haul transportation drives up the final cost. (More)

➤ Michelin-recognized restaurateurs plan to open a new Italian restaurant, Dear Emilia—described as a love letter to the Emilia Romagna region of Italy—in Denver on Jan. 29. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Ten weird little hacks Costco shoppers should know. Do you shop at Costco? Then you know the thrill of saving money. But you might be missing other smart ways to stretch your dollars. Check out our list of genius money hacks—almost as good as that $1.50 hot dog! (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

Remove the target on your back

Scammers don't need to hack you—they just buy your info.

Your name, phone number, and address are currently on dozens of public websites, making you an easy target for phishing, fake calls, and financial fraud.

No data, no scam.

Protect yourself today—save 55% with code FLYOVER.

➤ About 25 pilots helped spread holiday cheer by airlifting 12,000 pounds of toys, food, clothing, and other donations to veterans and their families across rural Colorado, flying everywhere from Durango to Pueblo to Greeley. (See Details)

➤ Cheyenne Mountain State Park is hosting its annual ornament scavenger hunt through New Year's Day. Visitors who find a single Christmas ornament hidden among the park's 21 trails can choose from a selection of prizes. (See Details)

➤ A local author dedicated her novel to the Arvada coffee shop where she spent months writing it—an acknowledgement that blossomed into a friendship and went viral on Instagram. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ This method has been vetted by scientists from the University College Cork. Their studies, made on 674 women dealing with deep wrinkles, dark spots, and saggy skin, clearly showed how, by simply doing this for 10 seconds in the mirror, they dramatically improved their appearance in less than a few weeks. This odd method is so effective that scientists have deemed it to be 10 times better than retinol, but with none of the side effects. 10X Better Than Retinol (With None Of The Side Effects!)