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Turf Paradise may relocate under new owner over land issues

The horse track's new owner may need to find a new location as his predecessor seeks to sell the land.

News

Turf Paradise is under new ownership, and in a few years it&#x27;ll likely have a new location as well.Why it matters: Moving Turf Paradise would bring the end of a long era for that region of north Phoenix, which has been home to the racetrack for generations.

Sneak peek: Phoenix gets a smaller Ikea store

Arizona&#x27;s newest Ikea will have the meatballs, the iconic showroom and a grab-and-go marketplace, but it won&#x27;t take you an hour to peruse.What it matters: Phoenix residents have been clamoring for another, more central Ikea for decades.

Phoenix unveils new South Mountain Activity Complex

After more than two years of work, Phoenix unveiled the South Mountain Activity Complex.

If you&#x27;re looking for a scenic event space, a spot for a family picnic or a good place to start a hike, the new South Mountain Activity Complex may be the place for you.State of play: After more than two years of work, the city of Phoenix unveiled the new activity center, off Central Avenue near the South Mountain Visitor Center.

Clean energy team prevails in SRP board election

Clean energy advocates won  a majority on SRP's board.

Clean energy advocates won a majority of the seats in Tuesday&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="election" data-vars-click-url="https://media.srpnet.com/srp-announces-2026-board-and-council-election-results/" data-vars-content-id="98b7216f-a310-4140-877a-8845cbb373b2" data-vars-headline="Clean energy team prevails in SRP board election" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://media.srpnet.com/srp-announces-2026-board-and-council-election-results/" target="_blank">election</a> for the Salt River Project power board, prevailing over the side heavily <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="backed by the conservative organization Turning Point" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/02/24/srp-election-clean-energy-business-slate-turning-point" data-vars-content-id="98b7216f-a310-4140-877a-8845cbb373b2" data-vars-headline="Clean energy team prevails in SRP board election" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/02/24/srp-election-clean-energy-business-slate-turning-point" target="_self">backed by the conservative organization Turning Point</a>.Why it matters: SRP provides energy for about 1.1 million Phoenix-area customers, and the district board sets the utility&#x27;s electricity rate and power generation policy.

Phoenix may bar ICE from using city property without authorization

The Phoenix City Council will vote on a policy to bar ICE from using city property without permission.

The Phoenix City Council will vote Wednesday on a policy that would bar federal immigration agents from using city property without authorization.Why it matters: Residents have shared growing concerns about how federal law enforcement activities &quot;adversely impact the community,&quot; city staff wrote in the meeting <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="agenda" data-vars-click-url="https://www.phoenix.gov/content/dam/phoenix/cityclerksite/city-council-meeting-files/2026/3-25-26%20Formal%20Agenda-FINAL.pdf" data-vars-content-id="95584b7c-dba4-4806-813d-e5b3cba72fd4" data-vars-headline="Phoenix may bar ICE from using city property without authorization" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.phoenix.gov/content/dam/phoenix/cityclerksite/city-council-meeting-files/2026/3-25-26%20Formal%20Agenda-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">agenda</a>.

Sky Harbor part of nationwide ICE deployment for airport security

Sky Harbor was one of the airports where the Trump administration sent ICE to assist with security.

The Trump administration <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deployed ICE agents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/22/trump-ice-agents-airports-tsa-dhs-shutdown" data-vars-content-id="ab84a7ed-6a15-49a3-b7a7-2366cfbbd68c" data-vars-headline="Sky Harbor part of nationwide ICE deployment for airport security" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/22/trump-ice-agents-airports-tsa-dhs-shutdown" target="_self">deployed ICE agents</a> to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to assist short-staffed TSA officers amid the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="partial federal shutdown" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/17/dhs-shutdown-tsa-fema-ice-democrats-discharge" data-vars-content-id="ab84a7ed-6a15-49a3-b7a7-2366cfbbd68c" data-vars-headline="Sky Harbor part of nationwide ICE deployment for airport security" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/17/dhs-shutdown-tsa-fema-ice-democrats-discharge" target="_self">partial federal shutdown</a>.Why it matters: The administration&#x27;s move thrusts the agency that sparked the shutdown <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="with its conduct in Minnesota" data-vars-click-url="http://link/" data-vars-content-id="ab84a7ed-6a15-49a3-b7a7-2366cfbbd68c" data-vars-headline="Sky Harbor part of nationwide ICE deployment for airport security" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://link/" target="_blank">with its conduct in Minnesota</a> into the nation&#x27;s airports to deal with the consequences.

Immigrants rely on habeas petitions to fight Trump's mandatory detentions

A federal judge overturned Trump's mandatory detention policy, castigating the administration for refusing to comply.

Federal courts in Arizona and nationwide are flooded with habeas corpus petitions from immigrants alleging they&#x27;re being wrongfully detained.The big picture: The Trump administration last July implemented a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="policy" data-vars-click-url="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/28/g-s1-79972/immigrants-in-the-us-illegally-fight-the-trump-administrations-new-no-bail-policy" data-vars-content-id="466c30ff-8ea4-4bdf-b07c-e6b9984caf7c" data-vars-headline="Immigrants rely on habeas petitions to fight Trump&#x27;s mandatory detentions" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.npr.org/2025/07/28/g-s1-79972/immigrants-in-the-us-illegally-fight-the-trump-administrations-new-no-bail-policy" target="_blank">policy</a> barring immigration judges from granting bail to people in ICE custody who entered the country illegally.

ICE warehouse purchase fuels immigration enforcement concerns

Federal officials confirmed plans to convert a Surprise warehouse into a large detention facility.

The Department of Homeland Security purchased a Surprise warehouse in late January to convert into an immigration processing center, furthering speculation that the federal government plans to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ramp up enforcement" data-vars-click-url="http://riminal-investigation-zipps-protests/" data-vars-content-id="9b86a33b-9118-405b-88e8-1ac4e7c22301" data-vars-headline="ICE warehouse purchase fuels immigration enforcement concerns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://riminal-investigation-zipps-protests/" target="_blank">ramp up enforcement</a> in the Valley.Why it matters: Phoenix has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="braced for an escalation in federal immigration activity" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/01/07/ice-enforcement-valley-surge" data-vars-content-id="9b86a33b-9118-405b-88e8-1ac4e7c22301" data-vars-headline="ICE warehouse purchase fuels immigration enforcement concerns" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/01/07/ice-enforcement-valley-surge" target="_self">braced for an escalation in federal immigration activity</a> since an early January story in the Bulwark reported that DHS planned to focus on the city.

Valley attorneys and activists brace for ICE enforcement ramp-up

Attorneys and advocates say rumors of increased ICE raids are spreading fast.

Immigration attorneys, activists and others are preparing for a possible surge by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Valley.Why it matters: As a major population center in a border state with large numbers of both documented and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="undocumented immigrants" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/11/19/phoenix-unauthorized-immigrant-population-hit-225k-in-2023" data-vars-content-id="f105357e-675c-4f85-9013-6bf2e4b66d26" data-vars-headline="Valley attorneys and activists brace for ICE enforcement ramp-up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/11/19/phoenix-unauthorized-immigrant-population-hit-225k-in-2023" target="_self">undocumented immigrants</a>, a ramp-up in immigration enforcement by the Trump administration would affect hundreds of thousands of people here.

Immigration crackdown cuts child care and sidelines moms

Immigration policy shifts are driving mothers out of the labor market.

Increased <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="immigration enforcement" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/04/trump-ice-immigration-arrests-deportations" data-vars-content-id="646c8063-a08c-42c2-a78d-c418c2a5a87f" data-vars-headline="Immigration crackdown cuts child care and sidelines moms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/04/trump-ice-immigration-arrests-deportations" target="_self">immigration enforcement</a> under the Trump administration is upending the child care industry and pushing many American mothers out of the labor market, per a new data analysis.Why it matters: The already-understaffed child care industry, in which 1 in 5 workers is an immigrant, is shrinking in response to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deportation fears, the" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/11/undocumented-parents-temporary-guardianship-deportation" data-vars-content-id="646c8063-a08c-42c2-a78d-c418c2a5a87f" data-vars-headline="Immigration crackdown cuts child care and sidelines moms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/02/11/undocumented-parents-temporary-guardianship-deportation" target="_self">deportation fears, the</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new report" data-vars-click-url="https://d1y8sb8igg2f8e.cloudfront.net/documents/The_Impact_of_Increased_ICE_Activity_on_the_Child_Care_Workforce_and_Mothers_E_ipNMo5s.pdf" data-vars-content-id="646c8063-a08c-42c2-a78d-c418c2a5a87f" data-vars-headline="Immigration crackdown cuts child care and sidelines moms" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://d1y8sb8igg2f8e.cloudfront.net/documents/The_Impact_of_Increased_ICE_Activity_on_the_Child_Care_Workforce_and_Mothers_E_ipNMo5s.pdf" target="_blank">new report</a> from the Better Life Lab at New America found.

New jaguar seen in Arizona as Trump border wall threatens habitat

"Cinco" is the fifth jaguar documented in the area since 2011.

A new jaguar was spotted in southern Arizona last month — the fifth documented in the area since 2011 — showcasing the endangered species&#x27; resiliency in the face of climate change and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="habitat destruction" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/07/trump-border-wall-immigration-watchdog-report" data-vars-content-id="80b023eb-d5c6-47a3-b39c-586093b30480" data-vars-headline="New jaguar seen in Arizona as Trump border wall threatens habitat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/07/trump-border-wall-immigration-watchdog-report" target="_self">habitat destruction</a>.Why it matters: The presence of big cats — apex predators that require an expansive and balanced ecosystem to thrive — indicates that the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sky Islands region" data-vars-click-url="https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/beauty/Sky_Islands/index.shtml" data-vars-content-id="80b023eb-d5c6-47a3-b39c-586093b30480" data-vars-headline="New jaguar seen in Arizona as Trump border wall threatens habitat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/beauty/Sky_Islands/index.shtml" target="_blank">Sky Islands region</a> of southern Arizona has retained its health and biodiversity in spite of significant conservation headwinds, said Susan Malusa, director of the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wildcatresearch.arizona.edu/" data-vars-content-id="80b023eb-d5c6-47a3-b39c-586093b30480" data-vars-headline="New jaguar seen in Arizona as Trump border wall threatens habitat" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wildcatresearch.arizona.edu/" target="_blank">University of Arizona Wild Cat Research and Conservation Center</a>.

Draganfly drones could be "game changer" on the border for Cochise County sheriff

New drones with longer flight times could be border security "game changer" for Cochise County.

The Cochise County Sheriff&#x27;s Office is getting a high-tech assist from dronemaker Draganfly in policing the U.S.-Mexico border.Why it matters: The sheriff&#x27;s office&#x27;s current drones can stay airborne for only short bursts before their batteries die.