Good Day
Maricopa
Thursday, December 18th, 2025
Good morning, Maricopa. Here's your local news at a glance for Thursday, the 18th of December.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Developers have started turning the former Fiesta Mall site into a women's sports center to support local athletic talent + offer new recreational opportunities for residents. The project will repurpose a historic space to boost community sports programs. 12 News
- ➤ On Wednesday, County Attorney Rachel Mitchell introduced Coco, the new K-9 for the Maricopa County Victim Support program + trained to help victims as part of the community initiative. 12 News
- ➤ Maricopa made the list of top Arizona cities to live in 2025, recognized for its quality of life alongside places such as Queen Creek, Gilbert, and Marana. Studies show local areas stand out due to strong job markets, safety measures, and affordable living + promising economic growth. The Arizona Republic
BUSINESS NEWS
- ➤ Circle K is offering a 40 cent per gallon discount today at its Arizona and Nevada locations & customers can enroll online, via the app, or at checkout before fueling to qualify, with the offer available from midnight until 11:59 p.m. KTAR
ECONOMY NEWS
- ➤ Farmers in Arizona voiced concern over a federal proposal announced on Dec. 17 that could lower H‑2A wages. Some workers fear a pay cut (up to nearly $2 an hour) will worsen financial challenges for those who depend on harvest work. The Arizona Republic
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Arizona law treats e-bikes with pedals like regular bicycles (giving them access to bike paths) while bikes without pedals are considered motorcycles that require a license and proper equipment. Mesa PD and local codes across Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert, and Chandler set different sidewalk rules and speed limits for safety. The Arizona Republic
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ Maricopa County Environmental Services inspected gas stations and convenience stores in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler plus Phoenix and cited priority food safety violations. The reviews reported issues including improper storage of medications and dairy products and unsafe temperatures for hot foods and hot dogs during early November through mid-December inspections. The Arizona Republic
LIFESTYLE NEWS
- ➤ Grocery store staff advise shoppers to buy holiday items like eggnog, seasonal bakery treats and specialty meats early since limited supplies risk selling out on Dec. 22—Dec. 23. The Arizona Republic
SPORTS NEWS
- ➤ Hamilton senior Samaya Taylor-Jenkins won the Ed Doherty Award on Dec. 13 at Ocean 44 in Scottsdale for her standout play+ she led her team to a 21-0 season and a state championship while finishing as the state’s all-time leader in yards, touchdowns and receptions. The Arizona Republic
- ➤ Collin Gillespie, who is on a breakout run — averaging a career-high 13 points — helped the Suns prepare for today’s game at Mortgage Matchup Center against the Warriors. Coaches praise his steady effort and teammates point to his growing confidence on the court. The Arizona Republic
- ➤ Jonathan Gannon, the Cardinals’ head coach (15-33 in three seasons), faces questions from NFL experts about his future as the team sits at 3-11 with three regular season games remaining, and some suggest a coaching change may be on the horizon. The Arizona Republic
- ➤ Arizona State running back Raleek Brown and cornerback Keith Abney II declared for the NFL Draft on Dec. 17; they had standout seasons (Brown set a rushing record and Abney earned first-team All-Big 12 honors) and join five other Sun Devils in the draft process. The Arizona Republic
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
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Reveal the authorAbout Good Day Maricopa
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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