ARIZONA NEWS

Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Aug. 12-14

Aug 14, 2022, 6:00 PM

(Twitter Photo/@ArizonaDOT)...

(Twitter Photo/@ArizonaDOT)

(Twitter Photo/@ArizonaDOT)

PHOENIX — Arizona’s monsoon season is consistently inconsistent, the search for a missing 6-year-old from Phoenix ended after police located the child in Las Vegas with his uncle early Saturday and a man was arrested and booked for a first-degree murder charge Friday after intentionally running over a resident multiple times in east Mesa.

Here are some of the biggest stories that headlined the Arizona news cycle over the weekend.


Climate experts warn Arizona’s monsoon season is changing

Arizona’s monsoon season is consistently inconsistent.

Variability year in and year out between dry versus wet summers is not strange for the Sonoran Desert.

However, Arizona State Climatologist Erinanne Saffell said there has been a trend over the past 25 years.

After an “exceptionally wet” 1993 across the state, rainy seasons started to become rarer.


Heavy rain, strong winds roll through the Valley on Friday

Parts of the Valley were hit with heavy rain and strong winds on Friday, causing flooding on highways and power outages.

Areas across Phoenix were in a dust advisory and Maricopa County continued to have flash flood watches.

A flash flood warning was issued for Indian Bend Wash near Scottsdale and Tempe, with fast-flowing water in the area.


Mesa suspect booked for repeatedly running over, killing man, police say

A man was arrested and booked for a first-degree murder charge Friday after intentionally running over a resident multiple times in east Mesa, authorities said.

Mesa police responded to the area of 64th Street and Alder Avenue just after 12:30 p.m. Friday afternoon and took John Lagana, 61, into custody, according to a press release.

Upon listening to witnesses and reviewing surveillance video, police learned Lagana allegedly swerved out of the roadway and struck the victim, 63-year-old Christopher Heimer, with his vehicle.


Lottery ticket sold in Glendale hits jackpot for $285K

A lucky lottery player hit the jackpot Thursday in Glendale to win $285,500.

The victor of the Arizona Lottery’s Triple Twist Jackpot bought the winning ticket at a QuikTrip convenience store near Glendale and 67th avenues.

The winning ticket matched all six numbers for the jackpot.

The numbers chosen for the draw win were 9, 16, 28, 34, 35 and 39.


Navajo Code Talker commemorates national holiday at Arizona memorial

Code Talker Thomas H. Begay and others commemorated Navajo Code Talkers Day on Sunday morning in Phoenix, honoring their contributions that have been credited with helping the United States win World War II.

At a memorial located by the Wesley Bolin Plaza, Begay, one of the last three Code Talkers alive, said the holiday is to remember those that didn’t return from their service.

The Code Talkers communicated messages in the Pacific during World War II using a code with their native speech — a then un-written language.

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Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Aug. 12-14