PHOENIX — From the first Zaxbys coming to the Valley to Gov. Katie Hobbs calling out a school voucher program, here are some of the top Arizona news stories from May 30-June 1.
Fried chicken chain Zaxbys targets more growth in Phoenix, across the state
The Valley’s first Zaxbys location is expected to open this summer, but the Georgia-based fried chicken chain is already looking to grow its presence across Arizona.
Zaxbys currently has two franchisee groups in the Phoenix area — Brian and Jessica Nelson and Travis DeGoey and Thomas DeGoey — that have started leasing land and building locations.
The first Arizona Zaxbys will be owned and operated by the Nelsons and will be located in Queen Creek.
Phoenix breaks daily rainfall record, heavier evening rain anticipated in Valley
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, which the National Weather Service uses for the city’s official readings, received a daily record 0.03 inches of rainfall around 3:40 p.m. on Sunday.
The previous June 1 record of 0.02 inches was set back in 1914, NWS posted on X.
The airport hadn’t received measurable rainfall since April 18. Before then, March 15 was the last time it rained in Phoenix.
Widespread rainfall was expected to come into the Valley late Sunday and heading into Monday after light showers Sunday morning.
There were a few isolated showers throughout Pinal County, near Casa Grande and along the I-10, according to the Phoenix National Weather Service.
Hickman’s Family Farms loses 3 million egg-laying chickens to bird flu
The president of Hickman Family Farms took time Thursday to explain what happens next after a recent bird flu outbreak.
Glenn Hickman told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show that avian influenza was detected at two West Valley egg farms with a total of 3 million chickens.
“We will lose 100% of those birds,” he said.
The company detected the illness on May 15, Hickman said. The Arizona Department of Agriculture later confirmed it.
“We saw an uptick in mortality in the barns, and we took samples and they were diagnosed to have bird flu,” Hickman said.
Hobbs calls Arizona ESA voucher program a ‘billion-dollar boondoggle’
Gov. Katie Hobbs called Arizona’s universal school voucher program a “billion-dollar boondoggle” as it continues to eat up state tax dollars.
Recent reports found that school vouchers were going toward items such as a $16,000 cello and a Rolex watch, according to Hobbs.
“These are tax dollars that are being drained out of public schools, which are really the way that every student across the state has access to the quality education, that they deserve and (it’s) going to individual families,” Hobbs told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Outspoken with Bruce and Gaydos on Thursday.
The Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program allows families who don’t send their kids to public school to apply for and receive state funds to cover education expenses.
The ESA voucher program has no income caps, allowing anyone to apply for the funds regardless of how much money they make. That’s something Hobbs wants to change.
Investigation found that Arizona Family Dollar stores repeatedly “mispriced” store items
An Arizona Attorney General investigation found that Family Dollar was “mispricing” items after prices on store shelves and what customers paid at the register didn’t line up.
The discount store giant agreed to shell out $300,000 in civil penalties and attorneys’ fees. Family Dollar will spend an additional $300,000 by doling out more employee hours and training to improve accurate pricing, according to a Thursday Arizona Attorney General Office release.
Moving forward, Family Dollar has agreed to post signs at each register stating that it will honor an advertised shelf price if it is lower than what is tallied up at the register.
The post Weekend wrap: Here are the biggest Arizona news stories from May 30-June 1 appeared first on KTAR.
