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A Gilbert homeowner says a roofing job arranged through Lowe’s ended up costing his family far more than just roof damag...
05/30/2026

A Gilbert homeowner says a roofing job arranged through Lowe’s ended up costing his family far more than just roof damage.

Eric Naddy says he hired a Lowe’s contractor in 2020 to repair his roof. According to Naddy, workers overloaded the roof with shingles, and after a contractor walked across it, the structure was compromised.

The next day, rain caused major water damage inside the home. Mold spread, repairs dragged on, and the family says they were eventually forced to move out — spending nearly four years living in a trailer on their own property while waiting for the situation to be resolved.

In 2024, Maricopa County reportedly ordered the home to be demolished or the family would face daily fines. With no other option, Naddy says he paid about $28,000 out of pocket to tear the home down.

An arbitration ruling later found both Lowe’s and the roofing company at fault, but Naddy says the money awarded still wasn’t enough to rebuild. Because the dispute went through arbitration, he says he can’t file a lawsuit or take further legal action.

Now the house is gone, replaced by an empty lot — and a family says a basic home repair cost them everything they built.

What would you do if this happened to you?

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Every year, Cactus League Spring Training turns the Valley into one of the biggest baseball destinations in the country ...
05/30/2026

Every year, Cactus League Spring Training turns the Valley into one of the biggest baseball destinations in the country — and it brings a major boost with it.

Past league and tourism reports have estimated Spring Training brings over $700 million in economic impact to Arizona, with money flowing into hotels, restaurants, bars, rental cars, flights, local shops, stadium workers, and seasonal jobs.

The Cactus League includes 15 MLB teams playing across 10 stadiums around the Phoenix metro, bringing fans from all over the country during February and March.

Cities like Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Glendale, Goodyear, Peoria, Surprise, and Phoenix all feel the spike when baseball fans come out for games, food, drinks, hotels, and weekend trips.

For a lot of local businesses, Spring Training isn’t just a fun time of year — it’s one of the most important revenue stretches of the season.

Baseball season doesn’t just start in Arizona.
It helps fuel the Valley’s economy.

Have you been to a Spring Training game before?

Have a story we should cover? DM us.

Via Cactus League / Arizona Office of Tourism

As the Valley heads into June and temperatures start climbing, SRP is using one of its more unusual tools to keep canals...
05/29/2026

As the Valley heads into June and temperatures start climbing, SRP is using one of its more unusual tools to keep canals clear: white amur fish.

SRP says about 12,000 white amur are being released into Phoenix-area canals this year to help control underwater weeds and algae across the canal system.

It sounds random until you realize these fish basically work as a natural cleanup crew. They eat vegetation that could otherwise clog canals, slow water delivery, and force crews to rely more on machines, herbicides, labor, and fuel.

SRP has reportedly used this method since 1989, and the number of fish released is based on how much vegetation control is needed across the system.

So no, they’re not just dumping fish in the canals for fun — they’re part of how water keeps moving through the Valley heading into summer.

And yes, removing them from SRP canals is illegal.

Would you rather have fish handling the job or more chemicals and machines?

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Via Arizona’s Family

Shipping containers aren’t just sitting at ports anymore — in Phoenix, some of them are being turned into full apartment...
05/29/2026

Shipping containers aren’t just sitting at ports anymore — in Phoenix, some of them are being turned into full apartment complexes.

Back in 2022, downtown Phoenix saw the completion of IDA on McKinley, a six-story multifamily project built with repurposed steel shipping containers. At the time, it was considered one of the tallest shipping-container apartment projects in the country.

Now, more container-style housing is popping up around the Valley, including Stacks on Polk near Papago Park — a 19-unit complex reportedly built using 45 recycled shipping containers, with rents starting around $1,250 a month.

Developers say the idea can help cut down construction time and reuse materials, while still creating modern apartments with insulation, HVAC, and regular finishes inside.

But as Phoenix keeps growing and rent stays expensive, it also raises a real question: are creative housing projects like this part of the solution, or just another trend?

Would you live in one?

Have a story we should cover? DM us.

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office reached a settlement with Reynolds Consumer Products over Hefty’s clear blue recyc...
05/29/2026

The Arizona Attorney General’s Office reached a settlement with Reynolds Consumer Products over Hefty’s clear blue recycling bags, after officials said the packaging could mislead shoppers into thinking the bags were recyclable in Arizona.

According to the state, the bags themselves are not recyclable in Phoenix and other Arizona cities — and putting recyclables inside plastic bags can actually cause problems at recycling facilities because the bags can get tangled in equipment.

As part of the settlement, Reynolds has to change the packaging and remove imagery that suggests the bags can be recycled. Future labels will also have to say: “These Bags Are Not Recyclable.”

The company will also pay restitution, state penalties, and legal costs — and Arizona residents who bought the bags may be able to file a complaint for restitution through the Attorney General’s Office.

A lot of people probably bought these thinking they were doing the right thing.

Have you ever found out something you thought was recyclable actually wasn’t?

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Arizona’s geography is shaped by tribal land more than a lot of people realize.Nearly one-fourth of Arizona’s land is Na...
05/29/2026

Arizona’s geography is shaped by tribal land more than a lot of people realize.

Nearly one-fourth of Arizona’s land is Native American reservation land, one of the highest shares of any state in the country.

Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with tribal nations holding major cultural, historical, and political importance across the state.

The largest reservation in Arizona is the Navajo Nation, which stretches across parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico — and is also the largest Native American reservation in the United States.

Altogether, tribal lands make up a huge part of Arizona’s identity, from the land itself to the communities, traditions, languages, and governments that have been here long before statehood.

It’s a reminder that Arizona’s history doesn’t start with cities, highways, or development — it starts with Native Nations.

Did you know nearly a quarter of Arizona is tribal land? 👇

Via Arizona State Land Department / Tribal Nations data

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05/29/2026

One of the wildest Sky Harbor incidents of the year happened back in February when a man allegedly made his way onto airport property and ended up near active runways.

According to reports, 34-year-old Jaime Mendoza abandoned his vehicle near 24th Street and Old Tower Road before climbing an airport perimeter fence and entering the airfield at Phoenix Sky Harbor.

Air traffic control recordings and witness reports said the man was seen near taxiing aircraft before dropping to his knees on the tarmac. Officials said he did not touch any planes, but reportedly got dangerously close as crews worked to stop runway operations and respond.

Phoenix police later took Mendoza into custody. Authorities said he appeared to be in crisis and was taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Airport officials said safety and security remain their top priority, and that multiple layers of protection are in place across the airport system.

Incidents like this are rare, but at one of the busiest airports in the country, even a few minutes on the runway can create a serious safety concern.

If you were on a plane and saw someone running near the aircraft, what would be going through your mind? 👇

Send us stories you think we should cover next.

Arizona’s Capitol has one of the most underrated copper facts in the state.The copper roof on the Arizona State Capitol ...
05/29/2026

Arizona’s Capitol has one of the most underrated copper facts in the state.

The copper roof on the Arizona State Capitol building reportedly contains enough copper to make about 4.8 million pennies.

That’s millions of one-cent coins worth of copper sitting right above the building that represents the state.

And it makes sense — Arizona isn’t called the Copper State for nothing.

Arizona produces about 70% of all copper mined in the United States, making it the backbone of America’s copper supply.

The greenish tint you see on historic copper roofs and statues is called patina. It’s a natural protective layer that forms over time and helps preserve the metal underneath.

The Capitol building was completed in 1901, during the height of Arizona’s early mining boom, when copper was helping shape the state’s economy and identity.

More than a century later, copper is still one of Arizona’s most important industries — from massive open-pit mines to the roof of the Capitol itself.

Did you know the Capitol roof had that much copper? 👇

Via Arizona Capitol Museum

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Arizona families aren’t just carrying credit card debt — more people are falling behind on it.WalletHub’s latest state d...
05/29/2026

Arizona families aren’t just carrying credit card debt — more people are falling behind on it.

WalletHub’s latest state data lists the average credit card balance per user in Arizona at $7,769, while Arizona also ranked 8th in the country for credit card delinquency.

That means a lot of people are not only using credit to keep up, but struggling to stay current once those balances start building.

With rent, groceries, car insurance, gas, and everyday bills still putting pressure on Arizona households, credit cards are becoming a backup plan for many people — until the interest starts stacking up.

And with credit card APRs still sitting above 20% nationally, even a balance that feels manageable can get expensive fast if it gets carried month to month.

Arizona isn’t just above average on debt.

It’s top 10 for falling behind.

Are credit cards helping people survive right now — or trapping them deeper? 👇

Via WalletHub

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The former owner of Phoenix’s Royal Inn motel has been sentenced after federal officials said the property had become a ...
05/29/2026

The former owner of Phoenix’s Royal Inn motel has been sentenced after federal officials said the property had become a long-running problem spot near I-17 and Bethany Home Road.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, 57-year-old Varsha Patel was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to using a facility of interstate commerce in aid of racketeering enterprises.

As part of the sentence, Patel was ordered to forfeit the Royal Inn property, give up $744,000, and pay a $5,000 fine.

Federal officials say the case followed a 2024 investigation by Phoenix Police and the FBI, which led to a search at the motel and the property later being shut down and fenced off by the U.S. Marshals Service.

Prosecutors said the Royal Inn had been tied to years of criminal activity, with nearby residents, businesses, and schools raising concerns about what was happening around the property.

Officials say the case is an example of federal and local agencies targeting properties accused of allowing illegal activity to continue in Arizona neighborhoods.

Do you think probation was enough in this case? 👇

Via U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona

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