The Greater Casa Grande Chamber of Commerce held its annual dinner on Friday for the first time in a year in light of the pandemic. The chamber waived a rule and chose to honor Fernando Cornejo, owner of Eva’s Fine Mexican Food in Casa Grande, post-humorously, following his untimely death late last year. The Chamber also announced Brian Gardanier, Southeast Division manager of Arizona Public Services, as the organization’s new chair. He replaces Ole Solberg, principal of Solberg Engineering.

Jurors in the ongoing trial of a 31-year-old San Tan Valley man accused of killing his mother will hear additional testimony this week. Taboh Mopecha is charged with second-degree murder in the death of his mother, Gladis, who was found dead in her home of an apparent gunshot wound in April 2021. Last week, jurors heard the testimony of two women who reportedly found Gladis, deceased, in her home.

Did you miss this headline last week? Five juveniles from Maricopa were reportedly involved in an incident during a candlelight vigil in the parking lot of Copper Sky Regional Park, in which multiple juveniles were reported to be firing guns into the air.

Thousands of people attended former President Donald Trump’s Saturday rally near Florence, and many of them had a lot to say about how they felt President Joe Biden has managed the ongoing omicron outbreak.

See photos from the rally in this gallery. While we were there, we also caught some photos of this GOP elephant and this attendee. Didn’t see these updates? Follow us on Instagram and never miss our coverage of live, local events.

Plus, here’s the latest from our crime beat:

– A San Tan Valley man faces charges for allegedly entering the back door of a fast-food restaurant and stealing several servings of hash browns. He also faces charges for taking items from a local convenience store.

– Eloy police officers were led on a slow-speed chase at speeds up to 15 mph after officers attempted to stop an Eloy man who drove away from the scene of a domestic fight where he allegedly broke in a door to a home.