Weekend wrap-up: Here are the biggest Arizona stories from Oct. 29-31
Oct 31, 2021, 6:00 PM
(Facebook photo/Valley Metro)
(Facebook photo/Valley Metro)
PHOENIX — The city of Phoenix is offering free light rail and bus passes to those most in need, more than 80% of inmates in Arizona prisons have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and Cindy McCain resigned from the Arizona Human Trafficking Council after being confirmed to an ambassador post in the Biden administration.
Here are some of the biggest stories that headlined the Arizona news cycle over the weekend.
Phoenix offering free transit passes for those most in need
The city of Phoenix is helping residents with the cost of riding public transit by offering free light rail and bus passes to those most in need.
Residents can fill out a short survey about how they’d utilize the passes to see if they qualify for the assistance.
Phoenix officials are hoping to help people with transportation to and from work, school, medical appointments and more.
Money for the passes — $1 million — will come from the American Rescue Plan Act, according to a press release.
Arizona prisons vaccinate more than 80% of inmates against COVID-19
The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry said more than 80% of its inmates have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
More than 50,000 inmates have been tested for the virus since February 2020, with 12,408 testing positive for COVID-19 and 56 confirmed deaths, according to the department’s dashboard.
The department is one of the only correctional agencies in the country to test their entire inmate population for the virus twice, officials said.
COVID-19 vaccines are also available to inmates across its state and private prison facilities, and at intake facilities.
Ambassador Cindy McCain resigns from Arizona Human Trafficking Council
Cindy McCain resigned from her position as co-chair of the Arizona Human Trafficking Council on Thursday following her confirmation by the U.S. Senate to an ambassador post in the Biden administration.
The council, which serves as a statewide multidisciplinary team focused on developing a service plan for victims, during McCain’s time has provided training on how to identify, report and respond to victims of trafficking to more than 44,000 professionals and community members statewide.
A statewide human trafficking outreach and awareness campaign with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was also launched, according to a press release, along with more than 30 research studies being supported that revealed the human trafficking landscape in the state and provided insight on how systems of care can better support survivors.
Man arrested after leading police on car chase on Phoenix freeways with 2 kids in vehicle
Mesa police arrested a man Saturday night after he led police on a car chase on Phoenix freeways with two children in the vehicle, authorities said Sunday.
Police said they responded to a call about a domestic violence situation near Gilbert Road and Southern Avenue around 8 p.m. The caller said her boyfriend, identified as 30-year-old Luis Enrique Fernandez, assaulted her and left with the children, according to the probable cause statement.
After locating Fernandez, who had the children in Mesa and attempting to stop him, he fled police by driving through multiple cities into Phoenix while causing multiple accidents.
Officers took him into custody and determined he was under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
Fernandez faces charges, including driving under the influence, assault and child abuse.
The children, a 6-year-old and 3-month-old, appeared to be unharmed but were taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Mesa man allegedly fired 26 shots at parents’ home after getting kicked out
A Mesa man was arrested earlier this week for allegedly shooting 26 shots into his parents’ house in multiple incidents after they kicked him out, authorities said.
Ruben Flores III, 22, was taken into custody Monday and booked on three counts of discharging a firearm at a structure and one count of firearm theft. He also had a warrant out against him, according to a Mesa Police Department crime blog post.
Police said Flores was kicked out Oct. 20 after allegedly threatening to kill his father.
The next night around 9 p.m. the house was hit by 13 bullets. Ten more bullets entered the rear of the house on Oct. 23 around 10 p.m., with three more the next day.
