Good Day
Maricopa
Friday, January 9th, 2026
Good morning, Maricopa. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 9th of January.
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Global superstar Bruno Mars has announced his new Romantic Tour; it will start in Las Vegas on April 10 and will include a performance at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on April 14 with presale tickets available on Jan 14 and general sale on Jan 15. 12 News
- ➤ Joe Giacinto (21), a blind and autistic musician from Mesa, fulfilled his lifelong dream by playing the National Anthem at a major Atlanta Hawks game. 12 News
- ➤ On January 7, experts discussed how autonomous vehicles could reshape transportation by drawing on lessons from older auto tech. Mary Jo West — Arizona’s first female TV anchor — now works three days a week at Sky Harbor Terminal 4 as a one-person welcome committee. KJZZ
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Sen. John Kavanagh proposed a bill on Jan. 7 requiring petting zoos to set up supervised handwashing stations following E. coli outbreaks at the state fair last fall; the measure mandates posted signage & hygiene checks & inspections. KJZZ
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Local health officials report that the flu strain subclade K has raised statewide influenza activity from moderate to high as of Jan. 5. Experts say the variant is not more dangerous than typical seasonal flu — however, residents with preexisting conditions should get vaccinated. The Arizona Republic
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ HomeToGo named Queen Creek, Bisbee and Marana as top travel spots for 2026 with rising search trends and appealing desert and western vibes — these towns saw increases of 117% to 297% in searches and offer median nightly prices of $53 to $99 for visitors planning affordable getaways. The Arizona Republic
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Arizona State has reloaded its football roster through the transfer portal with top wide receivers (including Omarion Miller, Reed Harris, and Raiden Vines-Bright), quarterback Cutter Boley, running back Marquis Gillis and others. The Sun Devils are now ranked No. 8 by 247Sports following key losses to graduation and the draft. The Arizona Republic
- ➤ Famous alumni including Eli Manning (Ole Miss) and Michael Irvin (Miami) are set to attend the 2026 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale today. The game between Miami and Ole Miss will decide which team advances to the national championship (Jan. 19). The Arizona Republic
- ➤ Phoenix Suns guard Grayson Allen returned after missing nine games with a knee injury and scored 19 points during his second game back on Jan. 7 at FedExForum in Memphis. He said he feels good and will gradually increase his playing time as the team builds momentum. The Arizona Republic
- ➤ The Arizona Cardinals have requested interviews with eight head coaching candidates including Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley (a defense specialist) as they search for a coach to strengthen the team's performance. The Arizona Republic
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Welcome to the Good Day Maricopa, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Maricopa, Arizona community. If you like the Good Day Maricopa, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Maricopa.
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