Weekend Wrap: Here are the biggest Phoenix news stories from March 7-9

PHOENIX — From freeways closed for winter weather to a consumer fraud case and more, here are some of the Valley’s top news stories from March 7-9.

Multiple highways leading toward Flagstaff temporarily closed for winter weather conditions

Two northbound highways along routes to Flagstaff were temporarily closed on Friday due to winter weather conditions, the Arizona Department of Transportation announced in the early afternoon.

A roughly 22-mile stretch of SR 89A going from Sedona toward Flagstaff up to the I-17 interchange marked one closure.

Officials later announced southbound I-17 was also closed at Munds Park, reopening about two hours later around 2:30 p.m.

There was another closure for about 41 miles on I-17 starting near the SR 179 interchange up to near where the aforementioned SR 89A meets the I-17.

ADOT said “multiple vehicle slide-offs” had occurred due to the weather system that also brought rain, power outages and travel delays to the Valley in the morning.

“Heavy snowfall in the area is making travel difficult, and ADOT encourages motorists to delay travel plans until the winter storm passes,” officials said in a news release. “If conditions deteriorate, other highways may become impassable and be closed for public safety.”

Etsy business agrees to pay nearly $32,000 to settle Arizona consumer fraud case

An Etsy business has agreed to pay nearly $32,000 in restitution to settle an Arizona consumer fraud case, Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Thursday.

Urban Wood, a company Maricopa County couple Victoria DeWitte and Andrew DeWitte founded, operated in Phoenix and sold custom wood furniture and other goods to costumers in Arizona and across the United States from 2016 until January 2024 on Esty and its website.

According to court documents, the company said that all furniture would be delivered to customers within 16 weeks after payment; however, on at least 10 occasions the company failed to deliver products that costumers had paid for and failed to offer refunds that were promised.

The company will now be ordered to make 36 monthly payments of $887 for a total of $31,932.

ADOT seeks public comment on 5-year road construction plan

The Arizona Department of Transportation is soliciting public comment on its tentative $12.7 billion five-year construction program.

The full list of proposed projects for 2026 to 2030 is subject to public comment through May 23, ADOT announced Monday.

Feedback through an online form, via email at fiveyearconstructionprogram@azdot.gov or by calling 855-712-8530.

The public can also weigh in at the State Transportation Board hearing scheduled for May 16 at 9 a.m. The board is expected to take formal action on the plan on June 20.

More than 225 charged for immigration-related crime in Arizona over a 1-week period

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona charged 227 people with immigration-related crimes from March 1 through March 7.

Seven different federal agencies referred or supported the cases, most of which pertained to individuals re-entering the United States illegally.

The District of Arizona highlighted two notable cases that involved smuggling or other immigration-related charges in a news release on Friday.

Man dead in Scottsdale after officer-involved shooting

One man was shot and killed in Scottsdale on Friday night after allegedly ignoring officer commands at an “emergency traffic” stop, authorities said.

Scottsdale police responded to the area of 400 N. Scottsdale Road at about 10:13 p.m. after receiving reports on a man “threatening a person” with a gun.

Though the man later identified as 42-year-old Joseph Santos fled the scene before police arrival, he soon returned and drove his vehicle “directly behind a patrol vehicle,” according to authorities.

While still in his vehicle, Santos reached back for an “object” behind him and did not follow office instructions. One officer at the scene sent a service dog toward the vehicle and fired his gun, which struck Santos and dog.

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