Axios Phoenix

May 07, 2026
It's Thursday. The weekend is near.
☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, high of 95. Our recent run of delightful weather is coming to an end.
Situational awareness: The Phoenix City Council voted 6-3 last night to restrict medical services and food distribution at parks.
- Starting June 5, events will require permits that will be limited to two per month.
Today's newsletter is 934 words — a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Planning for Turf Paradise's future
Turf Paradise could be in line for a massive redevelopment project soon, and Arizona State University real estate students have some big ideas about what it should look like.
Why it matters: Redevelopment of the 247-acre site could transform that area of north Phoenix.
The big picture: Students from ASU's Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) program each year participate in "synthesis projects" in partnership with cities and towns or other organizations to craft development proposals for a specific property.
- It's one of three synthesis projects MRED students participate in annually.
The intrigue: Synthesis project proposals sometimes influence real-life redevelopment plans, Mark Stapp, executive director of the MRED program, tells Axios.
- Affordable multifamily housing that replaced a brake shop in Mesa was shaped by a synthesis project proposal, he said.
- Students pursued an arts-focused housing project in Tempe based on a project proposal and got city approval, but were unable to raise the money they needed. "They learned how hard it is to make this stuff work," Stapp said.
Catch up quick: Longtime owner Jerry Simms sold the track to Southern California real estate developer and race horse owner Gary Hartunian last year.
- But Simms still owns the land and the two have been unable to agree on a price, so Hartunian expects to relocate Turf Paradise elsewhere in the Valley.
Between the lines: Seven teams of students presented their proposals last Friday at ASU's SkySong innovation center, with three advancing to a final challenge yesterday, per Stapp:
- A mixed-use development with various types of residential and retail space that features a large central park with a lake that could serve as an event venue, a community garden, pedestrian-only corridors and a new school.
- Another featuring residential, retail, dining and a green belt, with a trade school, business park, auto campus and industrial sites.
- A huge sports and entertainment complex with golf, tennis, pickleball, padel and karting, along with workforce housing, a hotel and a sports medicine complex.
2. Federal-to-state campaign cash
Election officials said Republican U.S. Rep. David Schweikert is permitted to transfer hundreds of thousands of dollars from his federal committee to his campaign for governor.
Why it matters: In deciding an unsettled area of campaign finance law in Schweikert's favor, the Secretary of State's Office approved the financial boost for his cash-strapped campaign while also giving Republican rival Andy Biggs a green light to do the same.
- And other members of Arizona's congressional delegation who might be considering runs for state office now know they can count on leftover federal funds for their campaigns.
Catch up quick: Schweikert, a seven-term U.S. House member who's seeking the Republican nomination for governor, transferred nearly $600,000 from his congressional campaign committee to his gubernatorial campaign last year.
- A Chandler woman filed campaign finance complaints with the Citizens Clean Elections Commission and Secretary of State's Office, arguing that Arizona law prohibited the use of federal campaign funds for state races.
Driving the news: The Secretary of State's Office on Tuesday told Lisa Dearing, who filed the complaint, that it found "no reasonable cause to believe state statute was violated" by Schweikert's fund transfer.
- Clean Elections dismissed the complaint after reaching the same conclusion in March.
What we're watching: Biggs, a five-term House member and front-runner for the GOP nomination for governor, appears to now have the option of using money from his congressional campaign committee as well.
- As of the end of March, he had about $364,000 on hand. It's unclear how much he would be able to transfer.
3. Chips & salsa: Supervisors OK data center permit
🎖️ Maricopa County supervisors approved a permit for a contentious data center and power plant to locate near Luke Air Force Base. (KJZZ)
👀 Trump administration border czar Tom Homan, speaking at a security expo in downtown Phoenix, threatened to "flood" cities and states with ICE agents if they don't cooperate with the president's immigration agenda. (AZcentral)
✈️ More than 40 of Spirit Airlines' distinctive yellow planes, which were leased by a private owner, are at a maintenance facility in Goodyear after the budget airline went out of business. (KTAR)
🔥 The Hazen Fire near Buckeye is now 45% contained. (ABC15)
4. Mother's Day fun
Mother's Day is this weekend, and if you're still looking for something fun to do and show mom how special she is, we've got some ideas.
Moms get free admission at the Desert Botanical Garden, with a complimentary flower bar, wine bottle engraving, a photo booth and more.
- Sunday, 9am-1pm, free admission for moms with one paid ticket.
🛍️ Special Mother's Day Market
The Uptown Farmers Market this week features Mother's Day specials, photo ops, a raffle and more.
- Saturday, 8am-noon.
Enjoy a buffet brunch, desserts and cocktails among the violins, mandolins and drums at the Musical Instrument Museum.
- Sunday, 10am or 11:30am, $95 per person.
We3 and guest drummer Janet Daniel put on an afternoon jazz matinee at the Nash.
- Sunday, 3pm, tickets start at $36.
🏜️ Jeremy still thinks of hantavirus as the "Four Corners disease" because of the family vacation it canceled when he was 13.
👶 Jessica enjoyed her trip to Salt Lake City, but is happy to be home with her little one.
Thanks to our editor Bob Gee.
Sign up for Axios Phoenix






