RJ Hamster
AZ Briefing: Nearly 1 in 5 Arizonans late on…
Read in browser AZ BriefingYOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUPThu Dec 4 2025  Lorenzino EstradaDigital ProducerGood morning, Arizona. Here’s what our reporters are working on and what you should know about what’s happening across the state before you start your day.A growing number of the hundreds of thousands of Arizonans paying back their student loans have fallen significantly behind, according to recent estimates.More on the number of borrowers in Arizona who have fallen behind and how Arizona compares to other states. Other big stories➤ Maricopa County health inspectors cited four metro Phoenix restaurants in the latest restaurant inspections. Here are the restaurants that received 17 health violations.➤ Scottsdale residents will still have three minutes to address their elected leaders at city meetings, but here’s how long they’ll have to wait to do so.➤ Building a successful downtown is a challenge. These metro Phoenix cities are all looking for X factors to help their city centers thrive.➤ Grocery stores across Maricopa County were cited for safety issues in November, including unsafe food temperatures, cross-contamination risks and improper storage practices.➤ Peoria Mayor Jason Beck announced Dec. 3 he would not be seeking re-election. See his career in photos.➤ News alerts in your inbox: Don’t miss the important news of the day. Sign up for azcentral newsletter alerts to be in the know. ➤ Today, you can expect it to be mostly sunny with a high near 68 degrees. Expect it to be mainly clear and chilly at night with a low near 43 degrees. Get the full forecast here.JD Vance to speak at Turning Point conference in Phoenix  U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks during a memorial service honoring Charlie Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sept. 21, 2025.Diannie Chavez/The RepublicVice President JD Vance will speak at Turning Point’s pre-Christmas conference in Phoenix. Here’s what we know about the date of the event and who’s speaking.If you like our work, please consider becoming a subscriber.Today in historyHere are just some of the historic events on this date in the past.•On this day in 1943: With American employment high during World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt shuttered the Works Progress Administration, part of the New Deal he launched in 1935 amid the economic stranglehold of the Great Depression, when 1 in 5 people were unemployed. The WPA provided jobs for 8.5 million Americans over the eight years, fueling the construction or renovation of many roads, bridges, buildings, parks, airports and more federal projects. The total cost to U.S. taxpayers was about $11 billion.•In 1945: By an overwhelming vote, the U.S. Senate approved of America joining the United Nations, which was founded just over a month prior as a replacement of the League of Nations – created after World War I – to help prevent a third world war after the end of WWII. The U.N. charter was ratified by a majority of the 50 nations whose representatives had helped draft and sign it, including China, France, the USSR, the U.K. and the U.S.•In 1971: An attendee of a Frank Zappa concert in Switzerland shot a flare gun, spawning a blaze that gutted the Montreux Casino along Lake Geneva. The fire inspired Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water.” Casino Barrière de Montreux, as the casino is known, was rebuilt.•In 1986: The first of about 500,000 gallons of crude oil began leaking into Georgia’s seaport on the Savannah River. Inspectors determined the next day the Amazon Venture tanker was the most likely source, and further investigation showed the tanker had three malfunctioning valves.•In 1991: Associated Press journalist Terry Anderson was freed by his captors, members of the militant Shiite Muslim group Hezbollah, after nearly seven years as a hostage in Lebanon. Anderson, who wrote about it in a 1993 memoir called “Den of Lions,” died at age 76 in 2024.•In 2017: Downed Southern California Edison power lines sparked the Thomas Fire, which burned more than 280,000 acres in California’s Santa Barbara and Ventura counties over 39 days until it was fully controlled. Cal Fire called it the largest wildfire since the state agency started keeping records about 85 years prior. Over 1,000 structures were destroyed and nearly 300 more were damaged. There were two confirmed reports of injuries.– Charlie White, USA TODAY NetworkTOP STORIESWhat’s your downtown? Thriving, growing or stagnant?Building a successful downtown is a challenge. These metro Phoenix cities are all looking for X factors to help their city centers thrive.READ MORE Sign up for breaking news alerts and get real-time updates directly to your inbox.SIGN UP NOW Get world news FREESign up to receive GlobalPost, the leading daily newsletter devoted to world news. It’s free with your subscription.GET GLOBAL NEWS FREEPlay Your Way to a Relaxing BreakUnwind with crosswords and challenges that recharge you. USA TODAY PLAYCrosswords, Puzzles, Comics & HoroscopesSEE ALL GAMES |
