Weekend wrap: Here are the biggest Arizona news stories from Dec. 12-14
From Buc-ee’s first Arizona location having an opening date to a raised speed limit, here are some of the top Arizona news stories from Dec. 12-14.
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PHOENIX — From Buc-ee’s first Arizona location having an opening date to a raised speed limit on an Arizona highway, here are some of the top Arizona news stories from Dec. 12-14.
Buc-ee’s reportedly has opening date in mind for 1st Arizona location
We’ve got good news and bad news for Buc-ee’s fans who are anxiously waiting for the iconic travel center’s Arizona debut.
We’ll start with the good: The Texas-based chain reportedly has an opening date in mind for its massive West Valley gas station and convenience store.
The bad: The Goodyear premiere is still over six months away.
Citing city officials, the Phoenix Business Journal reported Friday that Buc-ee’s will open on the southeast corner of Bullard Avenue and Interstate 10 in June 2026. The unveiling will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony, although the exact date was not released.
Why is Buc-ee’s Arizona debut a big deal?
Buc-ee’s has developed a cult following for its kitschy style, seemingly endless variety of snacks and abundance of unique souvenirs.
The privately owned beaver-branded company has been around for decades, but its TikTok-optimized atmosphere seems custom-made for the social media era.
Bathroom cleanliness is a point of pride for Buc-ee’s, and the fuel pumps are only for passenger vehicles. It’s not a truck stop, because it doesn’t serve big rigs.
Speed limit raised on southeast Valley highway after ADOT evaluation
The Arizona Department of Transportation announced Friday that the speed limit on State Route 24 in the southeast Valley was raised.
SR 24 is a 5-mile stretch of highway between Ellsworth Road and Ironwood Drive. It currently functions as a divided interim roadway and opened in 2022.
ADOT said that the speed limit on the four-lane highway was adjusted from 45 to 55 mph after it did a speed study. The traffic authority added that crews replaced the speed limit signs along the highway on Thursday night.
It noted that one of the essential roles of speed limits is to enhance safety by encouraging motorists to travel at the same speed.
An improvement project to transform SR 24 into a six-lane access-controlled urban freeway is scheduled to start in 2027. The project will be funded in part by Prop 479, which is a half-cent sales tax that Maricopa County voters approved in 2024.
Eastbound Interstate 10 reopens near South Mountain Loop 202 in Phoenix after crash
The eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 were reopened in Phoenix after several hours following a crash on Friday evening, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.
The crash was near southbound Loop 202 (South Mountain Freeway).
The westbound lanes were unaffected by the crash, ADOT said.
Get the latest KTAR News 92.3 FM traffic alerts sent straight to your phone by texting “TRAFFIC” to 620620.
2 killed including minor, 3 officers injured after fiery crash in Mesa
Two people were killed, including a minor, and three officers were injured after a fiery crash in Mesa on early Saturday morning, authorities said.
According to the Mesa Police Department, the fatal crash occurred near Dobson Road and Southern Avenue just before 12:30 a.m.
Investigators determined that a vehicle was traveling westbound at a high rate of speed when it hit the rear of another vehicle that was exiting a private drive.
Police said that the collision caused the second vehicle to catch fire.
The driver of the first vehicle, later identified as 39-year-old Dominique Bowie, and a juvenile passenger in the second vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said that responding officers helped occupants in the burning car, which Mesa Fire and Medical said prevented further loss of life.
Several of those occupants were taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
In addition, three officers were treated for minor injuries then released.
No charges will be filed for the deadly Mesa crash, police said.
NXP to exit radio power market and shutter Arizona manufacturing facility
NXP Semiconductors Inc. plans to cease production of its radio power product line and close its radio frequency gallium nitride fab in Chandler by 2027, the Dutch global semiconductor manufacturer said Wednesday.
NXP’s (Nasdaq: NXPI) radio power product line primarily serves the telecommunications infrastructure sector, supplying RF power components for cellular base stations. However, a lack of return on investment for mobile operators and understated global 5G base station deployments led to NXP’s decision to exit the radio power market and scale down operations at its ECHO GaN fab in Chandler, a company spokesperson told the Business Journal.
NXP’s ECHO fab manufactures power amplifiers for 5G equipment based on gallium nitride chips.
“Given the market realities with no outlook for recovery, the RP business no longer fits into the company’s long-term strategic direction,” an NXP spokesperson said. “Therefore, NXP has made the decision to ramp down its radio power product line.”
This story is posted in partnership with Phoenix Business Journal. Click to read the full story.
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