Editor-in-Chief. A native of Nogales, Mariam has over 20 years of experience in Arizona journalism, including a decade at the Arizona Republic. She is a two-time recipient of the Arizona Press Club's Excellence in Journalism Award.
257 articles published
Daily chances for showers and thunderstorms are expected across much of Southeast Arizona this week, with Monday and Wednesday forecast as the most active days. A Flood Watch is in effect Monday afternoon through 10 p.m. for Pima and Santa Cruz counties as temperatures fall toward and below seasonal normals.
Homeowners near Sloan Park on Mesa’s West Mesa are reporting a surge in low-altitude aircraft noise as nearby airports and flight schools expand operations. Federal review and re-design of approach and departure routes remain stalled, leaving residents uncertain when—or if—noise relief will arrive.
A 20-year-old University of Arizona student has been taken into custody in Germany on an arrest warrant charging him with first-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of his 19-year-old girlfriend in Tucson. Authorities say the suspect left the United States after the alleged killing and was detained upon arrival in Germany as part of a coordinated law-enforcement effort.
Infineon Technologies America is closing its semiconductor manufacturing facility at 550 West Juanita Avenue in Mesa and will lay off 98 employees as the site winds down operations by Sept. 30. The company is shifting production of its 6/8-inch frontend epitaxy wafers to external foundry partners and filed a formal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification with the state on Aug. 3.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is the subject of a pay‑to‑play corruption investigation being led by Attorney General Kris Mayes, a fellow Democrat, who has said the probe is near its conclusion and results will come before the November election. The inquiry centers on a group‑home operator that received a large rate increase from the state after making substantial political donations; Mayes herself has faced scrutiny over payments to her legal fund from a national Democratic group.
Residents and farmers in the Three Points area have organized meetings and raised concerns after a developer proposed a solar installation spanning more than 5,500 acres near Robles Junction. Local leaders say the land is state trust property and no formal county application has been filed, while supporters argue a transition to renewable energy requires difficult choices.
Two consecutive Category 5 dust storms swept across the Phoenix region this week, producing blinding walls of dust, 50 mph winds and sharply reduced visibility but causing no major reported damage. Meteorologists say the timing — both events occurring later at night — limited impacts to commuters, while researchers call the rapid succession of high-intensity storms unprecedented in local records.
Declassified investigative records show a 2020 cyberintrusion into Maricopa County’s public voter systems resulted in the exfiltration of more than 633,000 voter registration records and exposed over 900 records with sensitive information. The FBI traced the activity to a Fountain Hills residence and obtained a confession, but several prosecutorial offices declined to bring charges and the criminal file was closed in 2023.
Fresh reports that people believed to be FBI agents were seen searching desert brush near the Catalina Foothills home of Nancy Guthrie have brought renewed attention to the case six months after her disappearance. Investigators have released images of a masked man and two ransom notes but have made no arrests; local law enforcement says no recent task force search took place.
Mesa City Council has lowered the posted speed limit in the Lehi neighborhood from 35 mph to 30 mph following years of complaints from residents about dangerous driving on narrow, rural roads. Homeowners and local equestrians say the change — approved unanimously on July 27 — is a step toward greater safety for people, animals and students who use those streets.
Authorities say the public posting of two ransom notes sent after the Feb. 1 abduction of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie produced only a modest uptick in tips and none that have broken the case. Investigators continue to follow up on every lead as the family renews public pleas for information.
High winds and dust that buffeted the Phoenix area Monday night — producing gusts over 40 mph and reducing visibility below 2 miles in some locations — could return for a second consecutive night on Tuesday. Residents were advised to fold up and stash lawn furniture as the region prepared for another round of windy, dusty conditions.
An active monsoon pattern is expected to persist across southeastern Arizona through the end of the week and into the weekend, bringing thunderstorms capable of producing damaging wind gusts, blowing dust and localized flooding. The greatest chances for heavy rain remain east and south of Tucson, but metro areas will also have a notable shot at storms over the next several days.
High tariffs and security limits keep Chinese-built electric cars off U.S. dealership lots, yet thousands of the same vans are being imported for use in autonomous ride services. Waymo has been bringing in Zeekr CM1e vans—branded internally as the Ojai—and converting them in Arizona for use in multiple American cities.
Tucson Electric Power recently provided an explanation of how it restores electricity and meets customer demand during periods of extreme heat. The utility outlined its approach to service restoration and demand management for customers in the Tucson area.
The San Diego Padres travel to Chase Field to open a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday, Aug. 3, 2026, with first pitch set for 9:40 p.m. ET. Right-handers Michael King and Brandon Pfaadt are slated to start, while market pricing and bullpen and lineup uncertainties will be major determinants for bettors.
A Mesa woman is pressing lawmakers for stricter penalties on speeding after her husband, an Army Ranger who survived the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu, was killed in a February 2025 crash. The driver, a 23-year-old man alleged to have been driving 113 mph, is expected at a hearing this week where a plea deal could be offered.
A weekly roundup of Maricopa County Environmental Services inspections names several Valley restaurants with multiple 'risk factor' violations, including improper temperature control and employee behavior that could affect food safety. The report also lists local establishments that earned perfect inspection scores.
Pima County authorities say testing on a strand of hair recovered from Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson-area residence failed to yield a usable DNA profile. Detectives are now focused on a complex mixed DNA sample recovered inside the home, with multiple labs and investigative genealogy efforts still working to produce leads.
Arizona State coach Molly Miller has unveiled Molly’s Momentum, an initiative intended to strengthen the Sun Devils’ women’s basketball program through community engagement, NIL opportunities and sustained supporter investment. Sixteen months after taking the job, Miller says the most important progress has been cultural — a player-led identity rebuilt from the locker room outward.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos told an interviewer that the probe into Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is ongoing and that he feels confident about its progress, citing DNA testing and incoming tips. He described a dedicated local task force working with FBI agents, said the case is not cold, and confirmed he has not recently spoken with Savannah Guthrie.
The East Valley Institute of Technology and local East Valley school districts have reached an agreement that centers on career and technical education. Images from the EVIT campus highlight its health services building and a woodshop classroom featured in the announcement.
City officials are inviting Tucson residents to four community engagement sessions this month as they continue implementing the Transit Safety and Security Action Plan approved in December 2025. The meetings will provide an opportunity to hear about current and planned safety measures, ask questions and offer feedback.
A Mesa man has been arrested and charged with kidnapping and first-degree murder after reporting his girlfriend unresponsive. Investigators say the victim had visible bruises and officers found evidence at the home that led to probable cause for the arrest.