Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from March 1-3

South Mountain Freeway construction, Little Foot’s adoption and a golf resort up for sale.

Here are some stories that headlined the news cycle, both locally and nationally, over the weekend.

Construction on new South Mountain Freeway could finish 3 years early

Builders are excited for commuters and truckers because they’ll have a brand new freeway ahead of schedule.

The construction company’s CEO called it proof that projects can finish effectively.

“We’re three years early, and $100 million under the original plan,” David Seaton of Fluor Corporation said.

He said the South Mountain Freeway could open in December for a total cost of $1.7 billion, and he credits a strong private-public partnership.

The 22-mile stretch of highway will provide a new connection for motorists traveling between the East Valley and West Valley that bypasses downtown Phoenix.

With paws healed, Little Foot ready for adoption at Phoenix shelter

A puppy who was hobbled by rubber bands on his ankles is ready for his forever home.

Little Foot was adopted Sunday at the Arizona Humane Society campus at 1521 W. Dobbins Road in Phoenix.

A good Samaritan found the 2-month-old pit bull in January and turned him over to the Humane Society.

The rubber bands binding his ankles had cut off circulation, causing his paws to swell and making it hard for him to walk.

Little Foot was nursed back to health with treatment that included laser therapy to stimulate healing and warm compress massages to boost circulation.

Gold Canyon Golf Resort and Spa listed for sale at $34 million

Gold Canyon Golf Resort and Spa has been listed for sale at a price of $34 million.The facility is located southeast of Apache Junction near Superstition Mountain.

Gold Canyon is a 370-acre property that includes 107,887 square feet of buildings.

The listing mandates that all parts of the property must be purchased together.

To go along with a spa and salon, the resort has two restaurants, 34,000 square feet of space for business meetings and conferences, and even a helicopter port, according to Gold Canyon’s website.

Scottsdale man arrested for allegedly stabbing his service dog to death

In a disturbing incident, a Phoenix-area man has been arrested for allegedly killing his service dog in a violent knife attack.

Scottsdale police arrested 27-year-old Jacob Bushkin on Thursday evening at his attorney’s office, Sgt. Ben Hoster told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday.

Cub, a 4-year-old golden retriever, was a state-qualified service animal.

“This is a very brutal attack on a very gentle animal, and obviously it shocks the conscience,” Hoster said.

Bushkin faces charges of killing a service animal and animal cruelty, both class 6 felonies.

Mesa to raise sales tax starting Friday; funds to go toward public safety

Shoppers in Mesa will see a slight uptick on their receipts starting Friday, after residents voted last year to increase the sales tax by a quarter cent to raise money for public safety.

City spokesman Steve Wright told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Thursday that the sales tax is expected to bring in about $25 million a year.

That money will allow the police department to hire 65 officers and the fire department to hire 45 first responders.

The increase will also bring Mesa’s sales tax to 2 percent, putting it in the middle of the pack among Phoenix-area cities.

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