Thursday, September 3, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2005, U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who practiced law in Phoenix for 16 years, died at age 80 at his home in Arlington, Virginia.

Do you remember what evenings felt like when you were a kid? The whole family at the table by six, a phone call after dinner, maybe the sound of neighbors talking out on the porch. These are five after-dinner habits that once defined American life, and they've all but vanished or been replaced. Join Ayla on The Flyover Podcast as she counts down all five and takes you on a trip down memory lane. Tune in here!

Thanks to the incredible generosity of Flyover readers, we raised $26,638 for Convoy of Hope’s Nepal flood relief efforts. Your support is making a meaningful difference for families affected by this disaster. If you haven’t had a chance to give, or would still like to participate, you can make a contribution here.

Later today, watch for a message from our partner, Incogni, about how much of your personal information may be available online and how to remove it before scammers or identity thieves can use it.

Today’s sponsor is Aerless Vacuum Travel Bags, helping fall travelers pack bulky sweaters, jackets, and layers while saving up to 60% of valuable luggage space.

Feds Arrest 95 Illegal Immigrant Truckers

Border Patrol agents in Arizona's Yuma Sector this month arrested 95 truck drivers who were in the U.S. illegally but held state-issued commercial driver's licenses, officials said.

The five-day operation from Aug. 10 to Aug. 14 produced 143 arrests in all, involving people from 18 countries, according to Customs and Border Protection.

Agents also broke up two human-smuggling attempts and seized a firearm, 74 pounds of methamphetamine, and 169 pounds of marijuana. Of the 95 drivers, 76 carried California licenses, six held New York licenses, and the rest held licenses from other states.

In May, a similar initiative called Operation Checkmate resulted in the arrest of 52 illegal immigrants, including 36 semi-truck drivers.

Hoover Dam Power at Risk

A federal report warns Hoover Dam could lose more than 70% of its expected generating capacity if projections for Lake Mead's future water levels materialize starting next year.

A reduction in available power would require Arizona utilities to acquire electricity from other suppliers. Currently, about 19% of the dam's firm power comes to Arizona.

The federal report weighs possible water levels and impacts for Lake Mead and Lake Powell over the next two years. Twelve of the dam's 17 turbines cannot run once the reservoir falls below 1,035 feet.

Leaders from across the West met in downtown Phoenix this week to discuss the water and power challenges facing the Colorado River basin, including new federal water-sharing rules.

Couple Donates $10M to U of A

Mary and Felipe M. Rodriguez pledged $10 million to the University of Arizona's new undergraduate program combining engineering and business, now named after the couple.

Felipe Rodriguez, who came to the U.S. from Nicaragua at 19, founded Aeronautical Systems Incorporated (ASI) in 1988 and remains its chief executive. Mary Barrett Rodriguez, a former teacher, oversees the company's charitable giving efforts.

"We see this gift as a partnership to build a bridge between two brilliant colleges, forging a new kind of leader who speaks both languages fluently," the couple said in a statement.

The combined program blends engineering design, software, artificial intelligence, and biomedical devices with business analytics, accounting, marketing, and entrepreneurship.

Flying together with our sponsor

Fall travel means packing bulkier layers, sweaters, and jackets—but Aerless Vacuum Travel Bags can help you make room for it all. Designed to compress 15+ clothing items and save up to 60% of your luggage space, they make it easier to pack more without immediately reaching for a bigger suitcase.

With durable, anti-rip construction and a portable vacuum pump, Aerless lets you compress clothes wherever your fall adventures take you. Pack smarter, stay organized, and leave extra room for everything you bring home.

➤ Metro Phoenix: A Utah judge ordered Tyler Robinson to stand trial and also left the death penalty available in the assassination of Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Phoenix-headquartered Turning Point USA. Robinson pleaded not guilty and is due back in court Oct. 23. (More)

➤ Tempe: Arizona State University began offering three-year bachelor's degrees in elementary and special education, a move the school says is a more accessible path into teaching. (More)

➤ Yuma: Dove hunting season opened this week and runs through Sept. 15, drawing thousands of hunters for one of the region's most anticipated annual events. (More)

➤ Phoenix: Police searched for thieves who stole 17 bronze plaques worth about $25,000 from St. Francis Cemetery on Aug. 12. Last week, other bronze items were taken from a nearby church. (More)

➤ Statewide: Republican superintendent nominee Kimberly Yee filed a complaint with the state attorney general alleging Democrat Teresa Leyba Ruiz used public school staff and students in campaign content. Leyba Ruiz called the complaint meritless. (More)

➤ Tucson: Voters will decide Proposition 421 on Nov. 3, a measure approving a new 25-year franchise agreement between Tucson Electric Power and the city. (More)

➤ Surprise: The city council voted to allow setbacks of 100 feet to 500 feet for renewable energy battery storage facilities, giving the city discretion over how far each project must sit from homes. (More)

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➤ Arizona State hockey player Matthew Mayich is unlikely to recover after collapsing during an Aug. 20 outdoor workout in Tempe, his family's attorney said. (More)

➤ Chandler High School's football team received new uniforms through a partnership between Patrick Mahomes and adidas. (More)

➤ Arizona Diamondbacks players and coaches settled their fantasy football draft order with dizzy bats and golf balls, a team-bonding exercise players devised amid the team's playoff push. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: US Open | MLB | Soccer

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➤ A Scottsdale-based investor group acquired 60-year-old Phoenix pool builder Shasta Pools and plans to expand sales nationwide. (More)

➤ Coffee chain 7 Brew won a bankruptcy auction for 73 shuttered Salad and Go leases, 41 of them in Arizona, bidding $143.18 million and topping Dutch Bros. (More)

➤ The state chamber of commerce rolled out a tongue-in-cheek Arizona Offline Pledge challenging data center opponents to give up streaming, social media, and online banking. (More)

➤ The University of Arizona and a Taiwan university plan a chip research and workforce partnership, announcing the project at SEMICON Taiwan in Taipei. (More)

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➤ Entrepreneurs are growing Arizona snack brands, from pancake sandwiches to sweet-and-spicy chamoy candies. (Watch)

➤ The state will pause road construction closures for the Labor Day weekend travel period from Friday afternoon through late Monday night. (More)

➤ Arizona teens reported less drug use, fighting, theft, and gun carrying in the 2026 Arizona Youth Survey, which drew responses from 41,235 students at 264 schools. (More)

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