Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Dec. 13-15
Dec 15, 2019, 6:00 PM | Updated: 7:00 pm
(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
(AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
Another rideshare giant threatening to end service at Phoenix Sky Harbor, the conclusion of a 2-week search for a missing 6-year-old girl and good news for the Phoenix fire chief diagnosed with breast cancer.
Here are some stories that headlined the news cycle, both locally and nationally, over the weekend.
Uber planning to pull services at PHX if City Council approves rate hikes
Rideshare giant Uber told Phoenix City Council they will cease operations at Phoenix Sky Harbor if recommended ground transportation increases for the airport are approved.
In a letter sent by Uber to Phoenix Aviation Department director James Bennett, the company said they will make their decision based off a re-vote scheduled for Dec. 18 that would approve rate hikes on rideshare companies.
“If the Phoenix City Council approves the ground transportation fee structure currently recommended by PHX, Uber will be forced to cease operations at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport effective January 2020,” the letter said.
Child’s body found at Roosevelt Lake confirmed to be missing 6-year-old
Gila County Sheriff’s officials found a child’s body at Roosevelt Lake on Friday that was confirmed to be 6-year-old Willa Rawlings.
The body was found shortly before 2:30 p.m., approximately 20 miles south of where Willa initially went missing.
She had been missing since the family’s military-style vehicle was swept away by flood waters near the Bar X Crossing in the Tonto Basin on Nov. 29.
“My condolences and prayers go to the Rawlings Family, who have lost three young children and I am grateful we were able to find Willa today,” Gila County Sheriff Adam Shepherd said in a news release.
Phoenix Fire Chief Kara Kalkbrenner recovering from surgery
Phoenix Fire Chief Kara Kalkbrenner is out of surgery and recovering after undergoing a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery on Friday.
According to Assistant Chief Sally Jamison, Kalkbrenner’s surgeons said the procedure went “extremely well.”
Kalkbrenner announced Wednesday that she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
She said in her original announcement that she intends to continue leading the department after the initial recovery period from the surgery.
SuperShuttle to end service to Phoenix airports in 3 weeks
Once a leader in the shared-ride business, Scottsdale-based SuperShuttle will be locking up the vans and closing shop at Phoenix airports at the end of the year.
The company could be going out of business completely, according to a report.
ABC15 reported the van service notified Phoenix Sky Harbor and Phoenix-Mesa Gateway airports Thursday it was ending operations there Dec. 31.
“The company says that all reservations will be honored up to 12/31/2019,” the service said in an email to the TV station.
Video shows Glendale police tackling, shooting man holding forceps
Body camera and dashboard footage posted online Thursday by the Glendale Police Department shows one officer tackling a man carrying a metal object and another officer fatally shooting the suspect during the ensuing struggle.
The footage is part of a 10½-minute critical incident briefing video about the Nov. 4 shooting in a Taco Bell parking lot at Olive and 43rd avenues.
The full video (WARNING: graphic images and language) includes audio from the 911 call that brought officers to the location around 5:15 p.m.
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