Gov. Ducey plans to “finish the job” on I-10 expansion
The plans to expand the I-10 and improve the trip from Phoenix to Tucson announced this year are going full steam ahead, according to Gov. Doug Ducey. The $700 million project, announced during Ducey’s State of the State address in January, is focused on adding more lanes to the segment between Chandler and Casa Grande known as Wild Horse Pass. This part of the freeway is the last stretch to only have two lanes.
Read full storyPinal County’s homelessness resources recover from pandemic impacts, but now more people could be at risk
Affordable housing, evictions and homelessness have remained prevalent topics nationwide as the economic impacts of COVID-19 continue to resonate. In Pinal County, data shows that the population of people who are experiencing homelessness hasn’t grown drastically. The pandemic did, however, cause disruption to resource access, and many people are at risk of losing housing.
Read full storyONE Community to host virtual career expo highlighting inclusive businesses
The Arizona coalition ONE Community will be holding a highly interactive virtual event to give job seekers the opportunity to learn about inclusive companies and network with professionals.
Read full storyDogs are getting a new recreation destination in Apache Junction
Apache Junction dog owners will have a new spot to take their pups with the opening of the Dutchman Dog Park on the County's Apache Junction Complex. The park was created as a collaboration between Pinal County and the City of Apache Junction.
Read full storyOne-of-a-kind townhouse development proposed for Maricopa
Maricopa has approved a development that could bring the city its first townhomes. The proposed development, called Villas at Stonegate, is a 16.1 acre plot at the southwest corner of Stonegate Road and Alan Stephens Parkway. The current plan is to put in 318 units with options of one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes.
Read full storyHere’s how Pinal County restaurants fared in April food inspections
Pinal County restaurants had another month of stellar performance on their food inspections in April. Almost all restaurants received an Excellent rating, only a handful were given a Satisfactory rating, and none got marks lower than that.
Read full storyReal estate fraud scheme highlights the importance of choosing the right realtor
Last week, a former Pinal County real estate agent was sentenced to almost four years in prison for defrauding an acquaintance with a fake real estate investment. Sarah Nicole Kelley of Coolidge was found guilty of scamming two family friends. In 2017, she took $55,000 from one in a Pinal County real estate investment and another $130,000 claiming it was to help save her sister’s home from foreclosure. She also defrauded another family friend out of $647,000 in a similar way.
Read full storyPest patrol: Recent mosquito infestation inspires preventative measures
With a recent mosquito outbreak in Maricopa, Pinal County officials are warning residents to take precautions to avoid bites. Mosquitos are as synonymous with Arizona summers as scorching heat, but with some simple measures, you can keep them away from your yard and off your skin. Here’s 5 tips to prevent mosquitoes from sticking around, and what to do to treat a bite.
Read full storyPinal County reported more new COVID cases out of any Arizona county this week
As most of Arizona counties’ new COVID-19 cases dwindle to low double digits, Pinal County reported 982 new cases this week. Pinal had more cases than any other county in the state, and over 200 more than Pima County, which had the second highest amount. Pinal has the third highest number of cumulative cases in the state by county behind Maricopa and Pima.
Read full storyLGES battery manufacturing facility to be built in Queen Creek
LG Energy Solution will be opening its first North American cylindrical-type battery facility in Queen Creek. Construction for the facility will start this year with a $1.4 billion initial investment from LGES. Production is expected to start in 2024 and will bring thousands of new jobs to the area. The facility will implement smart factory technology like remote support, logistics automation and manufacturing intelligence.
Read full storyMeet the 11 Arizonans who made Forbes’s 2022 rich list
Of the 2,668 billionaires named on Forbes’s 2022 World’s Billionaires list, 11 are from Arizona. The officially published rankings came out on Tuesday, but the list is more volatile than one might think. In just days after its publication, some of these billionaires have fallen and risen by as many as 100 spots in their placements. This list is in the order of Tuesday’s rankings.
Read full storyMansion shopping? Here are four Pinal County homes if your budget starts at $1 million
Pinal County homes might be more affordable than other parts of the state on average, but it still has a wealth of million-dollar mansions for sale. These are four of Pinal’s most luxurious homes going for over $1 million right now.
Read full storyHere's how Pinal County's restaurants fared in March's food inspections
Dozens of Pinal County’s restaurants underwent routing inspections in March, and the vast majority were rated as in full compliance with the inspection. There are four categories for ratings, Excellent (E), Satisfactory (S), Needs Improvement (N), and Unacceptable (U).
Read full storyFour of Arizona’s favorite restaurants opened in Pinal County this year, and more could be on the way
Several new restaurants have opened in the Pinal County area so far this year with reports of more incoming. The Mesa-based seafood restaurant Angry Crab Shack cut the ribbon on its first Casa Grande location this month. The popular chain, which specializes in seafood boils with Asian-Cajun flavors, was opened in 2013 by former NFL player Ron Lou. Since then, the chain has expanded across Arizona and its new location in Casa Grande is the 14th in the state.
Read full storyOn the rise: Pinal County sees population growth while Maricopa tops the list
Earlier this week, the U.S. Census released a report naming Maricopa County as the largest by numeric growth, and the rise is spilling over into Pinal. Maricopa County ranked fourth in population in 2021, and it topped the list for numeric growth. According to the report, Maricopa saw an influx of 58,246 in 2021 with 46,866 coming from domestic migration.
Read full storyArizona counties are rallying to bring internet to rural schools
There’s a large digital divide for students between rural and urban areas in Arizona, but counties across the state are working to bridge the gap. In Arizona, 31.6 percent of residents have no access to internet connection at home or in their community according to BroadbandSearch. Five percent live in areas with no infrastructure to support broadband. Only 2.8 percent of Arizonans have access to fiber optic internet, a data connection carried by a cable which allows users to download more and faster than WiFi. Additionally, in many regions the available resources are either too expensive or well below the Federal Communications Commission’s benchmark.
Read full storyNew federal funds allocated to expand internet access in Pinal County communities
Matthias Rietschel / Picture Alliance via Getty Images. New federal funds allocated to bring internet access to Pinal County communities. This year, some federal funds are headed to Pinal County to bring internet access to rural residents.
Read full storyFive vehicle thefts and recoveries were reported in the first five days of March in Apache Junction
Three vehicle thefts were reported stolen and two were recovered in the first week of March, according to Community Crime Map Data. According to crimegrade.org, Apache Junction has a D rating for vehicle thefts with a rate of 2.37 per 1,000 residents in a standard year. Based on 2018 data, Arizona as a whole ranked eleventh for motor vehicle theft. Any vehicle bears some risk of theft, but authorities say there are ways to mitigate the chances of having a car stolen.
Read full storyNewly-filed bipartisan LGBTQ non-discrimination bill will be discussed in the House this legislative session
A new bipartisan bill designed to give a statewide LGBTQ inclusive update in employment, housing, and public accommodations is expected to be discussed in the Arizona House of Representatives in the coming week.
Read full story312-unit affordable housing development breaks ground in Maricopa
As the housing shortage in Arizona continues to take the forefront of state issues, the property management company Real Estate Equities broke ground on the 312-unit affordable housing development Copa Flats in the city of Maricopa.
Read full story