Wednesday, April 1, 2026

A Pipeline Break, Immaculate Pitching, and 4D Movies

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2025, the ASU football program marked April Fools' Day with a mock plan to paint its field maroon, even sharing a graphic of the proposed change.

In Top Stories, we're not joking when sharing how balloons knocked out power to more than 8,000 Phoenix Valley residents over the weekend. Have you ever been pranked on April Fool's Day? Tell us in today's Poll.

We're excited to announce the official launch today of The California Flyover, the 10th and newest state to join the Flyover network, covering the news from Sacramento to San Diego and all points in between. If you're interested in keeping up with daily happenings in the Golden State, click here to subscribe.

Today's sponsor, Incogni, helps protect you from scams by removing your personal data from hundreds of broker sites, making it harder for bad actors to find and target you online.

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.

Man Arrested for Attempted Base Breach

A man is in custody after allegedly attempting to breach a security gate with his van at Tucson's Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on Monday morning.

Security forces activated barriers around 8 a.m. at the Craycroft Gate to stop the van—which then caught fire—prompting base firefighters to extinguish the blaze.

The driver was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for treatment as Tucson Police investigate a possible DUI.

This marks the second breach attempt in the past year. Last August, a man was shot and killed by security forces after trying to force his way onto the base, with his family citing a possible diabetic episode.

Pipeline Break Triggers Canyon Closures

A pipeline break along the North Kaibab Trail is triggering limited closures and water conservation measures at Grand Canyon National Park after disrupting water delivery to the South Rim.

Closures are focused in the inner canyon, including Phantom Ranch to overnight guests through Saturday, along with water shutoffs at Bright Angel Campground, Boat Beach, and other sites.

The issue stems from the aging Transcanyon Waterline, a 1960s-era system slated for a $208 million multi-year repair after seeing more than 85 major breaks since 2010.

Park officials are urging visitors and residents to conserve water by taking shorter showers and limiting laundry and dishwasher use as crews work to repair the break.

Balloons Spark Weekend Power Outages

Two separate balloon-related incidents in Chandler and Peoria temporarily knocked out power to nearly 9,000 customers over the weekend.

Arizona Public Service (APS) officials said foil balloons drifted into power lines knocking out power for about 2,700 customers in Peoria for roughly a minute on Saturday. Additionally, officials said that a cluster of Mylar balloons hit a power line in Chandler on Sunday night, leaving about 6,000 households in the dark for up to an hour.

The shiny foil balloons, also known as Mylar balloons, with their metallic coating, conducts electricity and can trigger short circuits, power surges, and fires when coming into contact with high-voltage power lines.

APS urges residents to keep balloons weighted or indoors and to safely dispose of them to prevent future outages.

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➤ Statewide: Defense attorneys for Tyler Robinson seek to delay a preliminary hearing in the killing of former Arizona resident and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, citing inconclusive ballistics evidence as prosecutors pursue the death penalty. (Watch)

➤ Pima County: Former sheriff Richard Carmona and local officials criticized Sheriff Chris Nanos’ handling of the Nancy Guthrie case as deputies issued a no-confidence vote, while Nanos defended his actions. (More)

➤ Phoenix Valley: Spring training attendance rose for a fifth straight year, drawing more than 1.75 million fans, with an expected $953 million economic impact despite record March heat. (Watch)

➤ Benson: A judge dismissed a Benson zoning challenge over a proposed aluminum plant, ruling the plaintiffs lacked standing because they did not show a specific, direct harm. (More)

➤ Prescott: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and city officials opened a state-of-the-art flight training complex at Prescott Regional Airport to expand operations and boost aviation training. (Photos)

➤ Bullhead City named Paul George Jr. as its new police chief following a nationwide search, with a May 4 start date pending certification. (Photo)

➤ Diamondbacks pitcher Michael Soroka threw the franchise's fourth immaculate inning against the Tigers, striking out three batters on nine pitches, and finished with a career-high-tying 10 strikeouts over five scoreless innings. (See Highlight)

➤ Chase Field's new ribbon board displays are obstructing views for fans in the 300 level, forcing some to lean forward or stack seat cushions just to see the field. (More)

➤ ASU's new basketball coach Randy Bennett says he's being treated at the Mayo Clinic for a health issue that delayed his introductory press conference, assuring fans he expects to return at full strength soon. (More)

➤ Phoenix is preparing for its first NCAA Women's Final Four with days of fan festivities across downtown and a surge of tourism expected ahead of Friday's tipoff at Mortgage Matchup Center. (Details)

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➤ Arizona realtors weighed in on small, low-cost upgrades—from fresh paint to updated fixtures—that can boost home value and attract buyers. (See List)

➤ Harkins will launch Arizona's first 4D movie experience this summer at Norterra in north Phoenix, featuring motion seats and sensory effects. More locations are planned but have not yet been announced. (More)

➤ Construction is underway on the $7 billion Halo Vista master-planned development in north Phoenix near TSMC as developers begin infrastructure work and plan Costco as the first retail anchor. (More)

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➤ Local running coach Sarah June completed a 247-mile Maricopa Trail loop around the Phoenix metro in 84 hours, 17 minutes, setting the women's fastest known time for the route. (Watch)

➤ Two suspects were arrested in Ash Fork after deputies uncovered a suspected bill washing scheme capable of producing over $1 million in counterfeit currency. (Photo)

➤ Safford unveiled Owens Family Park with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, bringing new playground equipment, courts, and two dog parks to the area. (Photos)

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Supreme Court Ruling, Pet Store Bill, and Ethereal Bliss

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1954, the U.S. Air Force Academy was established. The committee in charge of recommending a location for the new academy had traveled 21,000 miles and looked at hundreds of sites before eventually selecting land north of Colorado Springs as its first choice.

This week, Colorado Springs held one of many ceremonies marking National Vietnam War Veterans Day, observed annually to commemorate the 1973 withdrawal of U.S. troops from Vietnam. Read about the events below. If you’re a Vietnam veteran or family member, feel free to hit reply and tell us how you marked the day.

We're excited to announce the official launch today of The California Flyover, the 10th and newest state to join the Flyover network, covering the news from Sacramento to San Diego and all points in between. If you're interested in keeping up with daily happenings in the Golden State, click here to subscribe.

Today’s sponsor, Incogni, helps protect you from scams by removing your personal data from hundreds of broker sites, making it harder for bad actors to find and target you online.

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.

Court Rules Against Conversion Ban

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against Colorado’s ban on conversion therapy for minors, the practice of trying to change a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity through counseling.

In the 8-1 ruling, the court sided with Kaley Chiles, a Christian counselor in Colorado, who argued the 2019 law violates the First Amendment by regulating counselors’ speech.

The majority opinion, with which two liberal justices concurred, found that the law “censors speech based on viewpoint” and fails to be neutral. The sole dissenting opinion argues the state has a right to regulate healthcare, even by restricting speech.

More than 20 states have similar bans in place, meaning the ruling will likely have nationwide implications. The case now returns to lower courts for further review.

Top Medicaid Official Resigns Amid Scrutiny

Kim Bimestefer, head of the state agency overseeing Colorado's Medicaid program, resigned Monday as the state Senate prepared a no-confidence vote.

Bimestefer, appointed director of the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) in 2018, had come under fire for alleged mismanagement, including billing errors and misspending totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.

A draft bipartisan resolution urging Gov. Jared Polis to remove her had been signed by at least 26 senators, more than enough for it to pass.

Polis, in a statement, credited Bimestefer with increasing price transparency, reducing prescription drug costs, and holding the health care industry accountable.

Vietnam Veterans Day Observed

In recent days, ceremonies were held nationwide and across Colorado in honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day, observed annually on March 29 to mark the 1973 withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Vietnam and honor those who served.

Hundreds gathered at Memorial Park in Colorado Springs to remember the courage and sacrifice of nearly 3 million service members. The event also served as a “welcome home” for veterans, many of whom received no formal recognition when they first returned from service.

In Fruita, at the Western Slope Vietnam War Memorial Park, the names of 21 service members were added to a memorial wall or placed on commemorative bricks. Keynote speakers at the event reflected on the difficulties of returning to civilian life.

Jerol Arguello, a Purple Heart recipient in Thornton, was one of a dozen who recently returned to Vietnam through the Eagle Society, a nonprofit that helps veterans visit countries where they served. Watch a report here.

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Jared Polis signed into law Senate Bill 26-11, requiring social media platforms to acknowledge court-ordered search warrants within eight hours and comply within 72 hours. A separate proposal tied to the Evergreen High School shooting would shorten that window to 24 hours. (More)

➤ Statewide: Polis also signed Senate Bill 26-032, allowing Colorado to consider vaccine guidance from medical associations beyond the CDC to expand and ensure vaccine access amid shifting federal policy. (More)

➤ Statewide: A new state law taking effect today requires young drivers to complete more driver’s education classroom hours before receiving a permit, with the changes applying to applications starting in 2027. (See Details)

➤ Baca County: Two Buttes Reservoir has dried out completely amid extended drought conditions, wildlife officials said, highlighting the challenges faced by Colorado’s eastern prairie reservoirs. (See Details)

➤ Black Canyon of the Gunnison: A man found dead below the Gunnison Point Overlook at the park’s South Rim on March 24 has been identified as a 40-year-old Denver resident. (More)

➤ Fort Collins launched a new, multiagency drone-as-city-resource program—possibly the first of its kind—earlier this year, allowing police, firefighters, and utility departments to respond quickly to emergencies and other situations. (See Details)

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➤ Former Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is switching back to his college jersey No. 2 with the Browns after wearing No. 12 during his rookie season. (More)

➤ The University of Denver is sending swimmers Finn Holdredge, Paige Reilly, and Genevieve Franklin to the USA Swimming Open Water National Championships in Sarasota, Florida, this week. (More)

➤ Nuggets center Nikola Jokić was named NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for the 20th time in his career after averaging 26 points, 17 rebounds, and 14 assists during a 4-0 week. (More)

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➤ Three ski areas—Purgatory, Monarch, and Wolf Creek—will close for the season this Sunday due to warm weather and low snowpack. Wolf Creek will host its annual Easter egg hunt the same day. (See Details)

➤ A bill to ban pet stores from selling dogs and cats statewide cleared its last major vote Monday, passing the Senate 19-16. Similar bans are already in place in seven states and many Colorado cities. (See Details)

➤ The Meadow Gold Dairy distribution facility in Grand Junction is reducing its workforce, Dairy Farmers of America said, citing "changing market conditions." (More)

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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.

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➤ A father-son pilot duo flew a final flight to Denver as captain and first officer, marking the father’s retirement from Southwest Airlines, with family onboard to celebrate. (More)

➤ Ethereal Bliss, a 23-foot-tall, stainless-steel abstract sculpture, has been installed at a roundabout in the Aurora Highlands, joining the neighborhood's growing art collection. (See Photos)

➤ A historic caboose and boxcar in Louisville will be kept in the community after the city stepped in to purchase the train cars, which a local man spent years restoring. (Read Story)

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