Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Jan. 3-5
Jan 5, 2020, 6:00 PM | Updated: Jan 6, 2020, 9:14 am
(U.S. Attorneys Office for Utah via AP, File)
(U.S. Attorneys Office for Utah via AP, File)
A new state law that aims to crack down on forged opioid prescriptions, a wrong-way driver killed on the newly opened South Mountain Freeway and the return of a familiar name at a West Valley raceway.
Here are some stories that headlined the news cycle, both locally and nationally, over the weekend.
Paper prescriptions for certain opioids no longer allowed in Arizona
As part of Arizona’s response to the opioid epidemic, a state law banning paper prescriptions for certain painkillers went into effect across the state when the calendar turned to 2020.
As a result, health care professionals are now, in most cases, required to submit prescriptions to pharmacists electronically for schedule II controlled opioids, including OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin.
The provision, intended to crack down on forged prescriptions, was part of a comprehensive bill signed by Gov. Doug Ducey in January 2018 to combat the opioid crisis.
The e-prescription mandate was initially set for rollout last year, but a February 2019 bill pushed the deadline to Jan. 1, 2020.
Wrong-way driver killed in wreck on South Mountain Freeway
A wrong-way driver was killed in a collision on the South Mountain Freeway early Saturday morning, according to authorities.
Reports of a wrong-way vehicle traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of the South Mountain Freeway near Ray Road began coming into the Department of Public Safety just before 3 a.m.
A collision occurred between the wrong-way driver and a semi car-hauler in the Elliot Road area.
The wrong-way driver, a 31-year-old male, was deceased at the scene. The driver of the semi car-hauler was not injured, DPS said.
Welcome back Phoenix Raceway as ISM naming right deal ends
If you never stopped calling the West Valley’s racetrack Phoenix Raceway, you’re ahead of the game.
The Avondale facility announced Friday it had reached a mutual agreement with ISM Connect to end their naming rights deal after two years.
The track went by ISM Raceway – named after the Pennsylvania-based company that specializes in venue technology — in 2018 and 2019.
Luxury garage storage company bringing 2 new locations to the Valley
Luxury garage storage company Toy Barn is adding not one, but two new locations to the Valley.
In a partnership between Brycon Construction and Wesley Development & Denali National Trust Partners, two new Toy Barn locations have been announced for Chandler and north Phoenix.
“We are excited to be able to offer these two areas unique options for storage,” Jason Phillips, co-owner and founder of Toy Barn, said in a press release. “We know partnering with Brycon is going to help produce top-quality construction and keep us on track for opening next fall.”
The Chandler location broke ground in December and will include 66 units ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 square feet.
Traffic near The Pavilions in Scottsdale restricted after bomb threat
Traffic around a Scottsdale shopping center was restricted Friday afternoon while authorities investigated a bomb threat.
Around 1:30 p.m., the threat was reported by staff of an armored vehicle at The Pavilions at Talking Stick near Talking Stick Way and the Loop 101 Pima Freeway, according to the Salt River Police Department.
Police evacuated the area to investigate the validity of the threat.
While the investigation was underway, Indian Bend Road/Talking Stick Way was closed between the Loop 101 and Pima Road until around 6 p.m.
