Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Jan. 24-26
Jan 26, 2020, 6:15 PM
(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The first confirmed case of coronavirus in Arizona, a ‘disruptive’ major freeway project in the works and an officer-involved shooting in Queen Creek.
Here are some stories that headlined the news cycle, both locally and nationally, over the weekend.
Health department confirms first case of coronavirus in Arizona
The Arizona Department of Health Services on Sunday confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the state.
The patient is a Maricopa County resident and a member of the Arizona State University community who recently returned from traveling in Wuhan, China, the department said in a press release.
ADHS added that the person, who does not live in university housing, is not severely ill and is currently in isolation to keep the illness from spreading.
‘Disruptive’ major freeway project planned in metro Phoenix
Transportation planners are spreading the word that the start of a multiyear project to rebuild a critical freeway corridor in the heart of the metro area is only about a year off.
The project includes adding traffic lanes and building new bridges on parts of an 11-mile (17.7-kilometers) stretch of Interstate 10. That stretch extends northward from the junction with the State Route 202 freeway in Chandler to where I-10 meets Interstate 17 in central Phoenix near Sky Harbor International Airport.
“This is going to be the most disruptive project we’ve had in this region from a transportation perspective,” warned Eric Anderson, executive director of Maricopa Association of Governments.
No officers injured in shooting at Queen Creek shopping center
No officers were injured after a shooting took place in Queen Creek Friday evening.
Around 5 p.m., police responded to the Queen Creek Marketplace near Rittenhouse Road and Ellsworth Loop.
Multiple agencies were on scene including Goodyear Police, Maricopa County Sheriff’s office and the Department of Public Safety.
MCSO said Goodyear Police were following up on a current ongoing investigation out of their city.
Mesa unveils brand to highlight Asian businesses in the area
The city of Mesa has unveiled a new brand to highlight the Asian culture, community and commerce in the area.
The brand, Asian District, Mesa, AZ, consists of more than 70 Asian restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses on or near Dobson Road between Main Street and Broadway Road.
The first businesses in the area opened about a decade ago, and since then, it has grown exponentially.
Mesa man dies after small plane crashes near Payson
A 59-year-old man from Mesa is dead after a small plane with three people on board went down near Payson on Friday, authorities said.
The Gila County Sheriff’s Office said it received a 911 call around 3:15 p.m. from somebody on the plane who reported the crash in the Mazatzal Mountains.
The Piper P28A went down about 8-10 miles southwest of Payson, according the Federal Aviation Administration.
GCSO deputies and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Helicopter Ranger located the three individuals.
