Good morning, Maricopa.

After the Fourth of July holiday, Valley shelters have seen an increase in lost pets and MCACC is working to reunite them with their owners—people are urged to check local notices for updates.

Maricopa County Animal Care and Control maintained its no-kill status in 2024 by saving more than 94% of nearly 15,800 pets, even as 45 to 70 dogs came in daily.

The shelter expanded its foster network, added new teams for care and evaluation, and opened an adoption center in Scottsdale with 46 kennels — steps to meet rising intake challenges.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced that Isaiah Adams—who attacked homeless people at La Pradera Park near 39th and Glendale while on pretrial release for drug offenses and shot one victim, leaving him permanently disabled—was sentenced to 19 years in prison.

Arizona voters will decide next year on a ballot measure asking if state and local governments should be barred from imposing mileage-based vehicle taxes—lawmakers sent the proposal amid concerns that rising electric vehicle use may erode the 18-cent-per-gallon gasoline tax used for road maintenance. The measure reflects a debate over how best to fund infrastructure as more drivers switch to electric vehicles.

Arizona State football coach Kenny Dillingham was not on the preseason watch list last season but is now named on the 2025 Dodd Trophy watch list after his team won the Big 12 championship and earned a College Football Playoff appearance—an honor that rewards coaching success, leadership, and integrity.

The Big 12 announced its 2025 Preseason All-Conference Football Team with five Arizona State players selected.

Quarterback Sam Leavitt was named Offensive Player of the Year — his teammates include WR Jordyn Tyson, OL Ben Coleman, DL C.J. Fite and DB Xavion Alford.

The Arizona Cardinals will play three preseason games starting Aug.

9—a 5 p.m. MST home match against the Chiefs, a 6:30 p.m. MST road game at Denver, and a 7 p.m. MST home game against the Raiders—with all games airing on Arizona’s Family and KOLD News 13 while NFL Network will also air the first two contests. The team will hold a joint practice with the Broncos on Aug. 14.

Six-time WNBA All-Star DeWanna Bonner was waived by the Indiana Fever on June 25 and is set to return to the Phoenix Mercury as an unrestricted free agent.

She was seen courtside at a recent game on July 7 and her return may reunite her with fiancée Alyssa Thomas.