Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Jan. 25-27
Jan 27, 2019, 6:07 PM | Updated: May 5, 2019, 4:50 pm
(TripAdvisor Photo)
(TripAdvisor Photo)
Top Arizona hotels, scooter trouble and a (temporary) end to the government shutdown.
Here are some stories that headlined the news cycle, both locally and nationally, over the weekend.
Need a staycation? Here are 7 Arizona hotels ranked best in nation
Seven Arizona hotels were ranked among the best in the nation by a popular travel website.
TripAdvisor released its 2019 Travelers’ Choice Hotel winners, grouped both internationally and by country, on Thursday.
While no Arizona hotels made the overall top 25 list for the U.S., they did get recognized in several smaller categories.
See photos from all seven hotels here.
Why one metro Phoenix city and Bird scooters are parting ways
The marriage between Peoria and Bird scooters just wasn’t meant to be. The sides couldn’t even agree on who called it off.
The city announced Thursday that it was ending a test program with Bird, alleging that the dockless scooter provider tried to alter its agreement with the West Valley suburb in a way that could have exposed the city to potential lawsuits.
However, Bird said it made the decision to leave the program and called the city’s regulations “onerous.”
Peoria isn’t closing the door permanently on scooters and will continue to explore alternative transportation options, including bicycle rentals, a city press release said.
See both sides of the story here.
President Donald Trump signs bill to end government shutdown
President Donald Trump signed a bill Friday night that temporarily opens the federal government for three weeks, ending the longest shutdown in U.S. history at 35 days.
The White House says Trump signed the measure after the Senate and House each passed it Friday.
Trump backed down from his demand that Congress provide more border wall money before federal agencies get back to work. But he warns that the government could shut down again “if we don’t get a fair deal from Congress.”
The terms were not immediately known, but CNN reported that it did not include any new funding for Trump’s U.S.-Mexico border wall, which the president had sought more than $5 billion for.
Trump said a bipartisan committee of lawmakers would be formed to consider border spending before the new deadline.
High-tech digital license plates now available for Arizona drivers
Arizona drivers are among the first in the nation to be offered high-tech license plates that can display alerts if a vehicle is stolen.
The digital Rplates, which were created by Reviver Auto, were tested by the Arizona Department of Transportation before being cleared for use.
ADOT worked with the Arizona Department of Public Safety to make sure the plates met the state’s legal requirements.
The plates currently are available only in Arizona and California, with Florida and Texas lined up for later in the year.
The Reviver website is currently accepting pre-orders, and the plates will be mailed out this spring. The RPlate Essential costs $499, while the Rplate Pro runs for $799.
The Rogue Bar shutting its doors after 12 years in Scottsdale
South Scottsdale’s The Rogue Bar will be closing its doors for good after 12 years, the bar announced on Facebook.
“The Rogue will be buried and stay buried in South Scottsdale,” the post said.
The bar will still be open until May 1, as shows have been booked through the spring.
The closing is due to the landlord of the property not renewing the lease, according to the post.
“Plans have been in the works to beautify South Scottsdale and unfortunately we’re not in the mix because we’re ugly,” the post said.
“Maybe not ugly, but not super attractive.”
