Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Phoenix news stories from Sept. 6-8
Sep 8, 2024, 6:00 PM
30 people were injured after a car crash at Elks Lodge in Apache Junction. (Apache Junction Police photo)
(Apache Junction Police photo)
PHOENIX — From 30 people injured after a car crashing into an Elks Lodge in Apache Junction to Chief Michael Sullivan reflecting on a Phoenix police officer’s death, here are some of the biggest news stories from over the weekend.
30 people injured after car crash into Elks Lodge in Apache Junction
Thirty people were injured after a car crash at an Elks Lodge in Apache Junction on Saturday, authorities said.
At 8:27 p.m., police responded to a call of a vehicle crashing into Elks Lodge, located on Apache Trail and Lost Dutchman Boulevard.
Thomas Edward Kain, 73, was at the Elks Lodge when he got in his truck to leave, he accidentally drove into the building.
Chief Michael Sullivan on Phoenix police officer death: ‘This is a huge loss’
Interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan and Mountain View Precinct Commander Leif Myers both reflected on the death of Phoenix police officer Zane Coolidge in an exclusive interview with KTAR News 92.3 FM on Saturday.
Sullivan and Myers both served alongside Coolidge, who worked the past five years in the Mountain View Precinct.
“This is a huge loss,” Sullivan told KTAR News 92.3 FM. “This is a loss of somebody who dedicated themselves to service and this city and there’ll be a hole. There’s a hole in this department’s heart that will never be filled. There’s a hole in the family that will never be filled ever, ever again.”
Arizona Senate Committee accuses Clean Elections of unlawful debate rule change
The Arizona Senate Committee claimed on Thursday that the Clean Elections Commission has illegally barred the Green Party’s U.S. Senate candidate from participating in upcoming general election debates.
Eduardo Quintana, 2024 Arizona Senate candidate and chair of the Green Party in Pima County, won his side of the primary as a write-in candidate but is not featured in the Oct. 9 debate to be broadcasted across several platforms by Arizona Media Association. As is, the scheduled debate will feature Republican Kari Lake and Democrat U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego.
The accusation was submitted via letter by Committee Chairman Jake Hoffman in response to Clean Elections’ recent rule change that requires a candidate to have received at least 1% of total ballots counted in their primary election. According to Arizona Media Association, that 1% minimum threshold was 12,400 votes for Quintana, who only garnered 282.
Maricopa County attorney Rachel Mitchell accuses Arizona lawmaker of spreading falsehoods
Maricopa County attorney Rachel Mitchell on Thursday accused Arizona Rep. Alex Kolodin of spreading false information regarding her office’s involvement with a company that provides election services.
The residing attorney said Kolodin, a state representative for District 3 since elected in 2022, claimed that the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office rejected a change in terms in a contract with Runbeck Election Services, Inc. However, Mitchell said the MCAO has no authority to accept or reject the contractual terms, according to a press release.
“MCAO only can advise the Board of Supervisors as to what the law allows the Board to do,” Mitchell said in the release.
Police investigating plane crash into Cottonwood home
Authorities are investigating a plane crash that occurred in a neighborhood area in Cottonwood on Sunday, authorities said.
The plane crashed into a home on Spur Drive.
Authorities say damage to the plane was limited and there was no damage to the house.
New automotive facility opens in Surprise to help underserved Hispanic communities
A new automotive reconditioning facility that aims to provide for underserved Hispanic communities officially opened its doors in Surprise.
Tricolor, a used automotive retailer, cut the ribbon to its new 258,000-square-foot facility on Wednesday. Surrounded by Arizona government officials and business leaders, the company underlined its focus on addressing the needs of Hispanic consumers.
“We are both proud and excited to join the community in Surprise as we grow to meet the mobility and financial needs of underserved Hispanic consumers everywhere,” Daniel Chu, founder and CEO of Tricolor, said in a press release.
Animal Crossing-themed aquarium attraction coming to Tempe this fall
Animal Crossing: New Horizons National Aquarium Tour, an aquarium attraction based off the popular video game series, is coming to Tempe this fall.
The new attraction will be at the Sea Life Arizona Aquarium at Arizona Mills Mall, located on the southeast corner of US 60 and Interstate 10 from Oct. 4- Nov. 17, according to a news release.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the latest main entry in the series, released in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch.
