Friday, September 19, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1963, the official groundbreaking ceremony took place for Phoenix International Raceway, with construction already underway.

Step right up! The Arizona State Fair in Phoenix opens today, featuring rides, games, food, and live music. Get the details in Top Stories.

Phoenix-based Turning Point USA named Erika Kirk as its new CEO. Tune into today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, available here, for the story.

This week's Feel Good Flyover Podcast shares more details on a story we recently covered: a dog that lost a leg after being shot has found her perfect match in her new Arizona owner. Watch here.

If constant tingling or burning in your feet has been holding you back, you’ll want to see the simple at-home device from today's sponsor Vita Feet that’s helping seniors finally find fast relief without drugs or costly treatments.

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.

San Tan Valley's First Council Appointed

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors appointed seven candidates from a pool of 86 applicants to serve as San Tan Valley's first town council.

The new council members—Tyler Hudgins, Bryan Hunt, Gia Jenkins, Daniel Oakes, Daren Schnepf, Brian Tyler, and Rupert Wolfert—were chosen following interviews with all of the applicants.

The appointments follow an August vote in which the community of about 120,000 approved a measure to incorporate as a town.

Council members will be sworn in during a ceremony at the Central Arizona College campus in San Tan Valley on Sept. 25 and will serve until an open election is held in August 2026.

Phoenix Gas Prices Near $4

Gas prices in Phoenix have climbed about 50 cents over the past month, bringing the average to $3.86 per gallon, well above the national average of $3.20.

The average price in Tucson was $3.27 as of Thursday, according to AAA. Statewide, the average price was $3.60, up about 30 cents in a month. You can track gas prices here.

It's not unusual for Phoenix's prices to be higher than elsewhere in the state, with seasonal refinery maintenance, supply constraints, and longer transport distances often cited as factors.

Short-term relief is expected in the coming weeks with the introduction of winter-grade gasoline, which could lower prices by 10 to 30 cents over the next four to six weeks, an industry analyst says.

State Fair Opens Today

The Arizona State Fair returns today for its 141st year at the State Fairgrounds in Phoenix. The expo runs through Oct. 26.

Gates open at 5 p.m. for September Nights through Sept. 28 and at noon starting Oct. 2. Regular admission costs $17.50. The expo is closed Monday through Wednesday.

Visitors can enjoy live music, including an Oct. 18 performance by country star Brett Eldredge, along with new food, rides, and games.

Attendees are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and a portable phone charger, while leaving food, weapons, alcohol, and other prohibited items at home.

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➤ Statewide: Diné College and Tohono O'odham Community College will receive double their federal funding as part of the Trump administration's nationwide effort to boost tribal and historically black universities. (More)

➤ Phoenix: A suspicious bag near a Charlie Kirk memorial outside Turning Point USA's headquarters prompted a police response Wednesday, but it was deemed safe. (Watch)

➤ Statewide: Gov. Katie Hobbs issued an executive order allowing Arizonans to get the COVID-19 vaccine at pharmacies without a doctor's prescription, challenging federal guidelines and prompting a potential lawsuit. (Watch)

➤ Tortilla Flat: A woman whose son survived a car crash off a cliff has launched a petition for guardrails on State Route 88. (Watch)

➤ Tonto National Forest: Canyon Lake will close for four months starting a year from now, on Sept. 16, 2026, as the Salt River Project drops water levels for 20-year maintenance. (Watch)

➤ Cottonwood: Northern Arizona Healthcare will build a nearly $40 million cancer center at Verde Valley Medical Center, with completion expected in the fall of 2027. (More)

➤ Arizona State football will play at Wembley Stadium in London in September 2026. (More)

➤ The Phoenix Mercury and New York Liberty play in a win-or-go-home matchup tonight in Phoenix, following the Mercury's dominating WNBA playoff win on Wednesday. (More)

➤ Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray apologized after posting a picture with his pitbull while wearing a Michael Vick jersey. Vick spent two years in prison for involvement with illegal dog fighting in the 2000s. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NFL | NCAAF | MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ Arizona Public Service, the state's largest utility, will hold hearings on its proposed 14% rate hike starting Jan. 20, with final approval expected next July. The proposal comes after an 8% increase last year. (More)

➤ Tucson, Mesa, and Phoenix rank among the top 20 U.S. cities for household income growth, with median incomes rising between 7% and 8.5% between 2023 and 2024. (Details)

➤ XNRGY will open a 330,000-square-foot facility in Mesa to produce artificial intelligence-enabled cooling systems for commercial and industrial use, creating 500 jobs and marking its fourth expansion in three years. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Save more at the pump with EcoEnergy—a breakthrough electronic fuel saver that improves your car's burn efficiency, reduces waste, and boosts mileage. Easy to install and compatible with most engines, it helps your vehicle run cleaner, use less fuel, and cut costs trip after trip. (LEARN MORE)

Flying together with our sponsor

Struggling with foot pain can affect your whole body—impacting posture, mobility, and even energy levels. VitaFeet Relieve is designed to ease discomfort, improve circulation, and support proper alignment so you can move freely again.

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➤ A divided Phoenix City Council voted 5-4 to rehire former city manager Ed Zuercher, who will return in November with a salary of $415,542, despite opposition from some community groups. (More)

➤ Ed Sheeran will kick off the North American leg of his LOOP Tour at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on June 13, 2026, with presale tickets starting Sept. 23. (Photo)

➤ Lake Havasu dance instructor Angie Horton, known as the Dance Whisperer, offers free weekly line dancing classes at The Shops on Wednesdays through September and at Ironwood Golf Club starting Oct. 1. (Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

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