Category: Phoenix, Arizona Local News

Three brothers cleaning out their late mother’s attic struck gold when they found an old comic book.

A Superman No. 1 comic from 1939 was hidden in a cardboard box beneath layers of dust and old newspapers in their mother’s San Francisco home.

The comic sold for $9.1 million at a Texas auction house this month, breaking the previous record for the world’s most expensive comic book.

The brothers said their mother had told them about her valuable comic collection, but they had never seen it until they put her house up for sale.

The comic is one of fewer than 500 copies still in existence from the original print run of 500,000.

“It was just in an attic, sitting in a box, could have easily been thrown away, could’ve easily been destroyed in a thousand different ways,” Lon Allen, vice president of comics at Heritage Auctions, told the Associated Press. “A lot of people got excited because it’s just every factor in collecting that you could possibly want all rolled into one.”

Heritage Auctions said the comic sat in the attic of a Northern California, and the region’s cool, dry climate helped preserve the comic.

It’s been one year since U.S. lawmakers called for a federal investigation into the wrongful arrest of a Valley woman.

ABC15 asked Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs for an update. He says he recently asked for a face-to-face meeting with OIG federal investigators.

Biggs and Ohio Representative Jim Jordan both signed a letter in November 2024 demanding accountability after U.S. Marshals wrongfully arrested then 66-year-old Penny McCarthy outside her Phoenix home in March 2024.

Just weeks later, the DOJ’s Office of Inspector General launched an investigation.

“I’m loving it. I love how it was written. I love the truth behind it. I’m thrilled,” McCarthy said in a previous interview with ABC15.

McCarthy’s arrest was captured on police body camera video.

“We have an arrest warrant,” an officer said in the video.

“For me?” McCarthy asked.

“Yes. For you,” the officer replied.

“Who am I?” McCarthy said.

“Turn away. Turn around. Turn away. We’ll discuss it later. Turn away. You’re gonna get hit,” the officer said.

But the arrest warrant U.S. Marshals had was for a 70-year-old Canadian woman who wasn’t McCarthy. It was for a two-decade-old parole violation for non-violent crimes in Oklahoma. This has raised even more questions about how federal agents made such a critical mistake.

“The fact that you guys were reporting on this actually brought it to our attention. And if you hadn’t reported on it, it likely would have gone without notice of myself and the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Mr. Jordan,” Rep. Biggs said in a previous interview with ABC15.

Both Biggs and Ohio Representative Jim Jordan saw ABC15’s reporting and demanded the DOJ’s Office of Inspector General investigate.

“The big question is why even if you had the right person. It’s a 66-year-old lady. Do you need to? I mean, do you need to treat her that way?” Rep. Jordan said in a previous interview with ABC15.

The lawmakers wrote in the letter: “We are very concerned at both the USMS’s (Marshals) carelessness and the excessive force during this encounter. The USMS’s lack of regard for Ms. McCarthy’s due process rights is very troubling and oversight is necessary to ensure similar abuses do not happen in the future.”

McCarthy says OIG federal agents interviewed her in December 2024, but a year later, no official or final report has been released by the DOJ.
“Why are you still fighting this?” ABC15 asked.

“Because it’s wrong. It’s so unbelievably wrong,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy has also filed a federal civil rights lawsuit seeking accountability for what her attorney calls “unaccountable government.”

The non-profit Institute for Justice took McCarthy’s case after ABC15 Investigators aired multiple reports exposing serious failures by U.S. Marshals.

“I don’t care if I don’t get a dime. I’m not signing any non-disclosure agreement. I need to know how this happened and why this happened,” McCarthy said.
ABC15 is still waiting for the final report from the OIG.

The U.S. Marshal Service has previously said it is aware of the pending lawsuit and doesn’t comment on ongoing litigation. ABC15 will keep asking questions.

Two women are dead and a man is seriously injured after a crash on Friday on Loop 101 and Bell Road.

Officials say it happened just after 5:30 p.m.

Police responded to a crash where several individuals had to be extricated from a vehicle.

Peoria fire crews say a woman was pronounced dead at the scene, and a man was taken to a hospital in critical condition.

Officials later confirmed a second woman had also died from her injuries, and three minors were also taken to a hospital in stable condition.

Glendale police say Bell Road is shut down in both directions, as well as the on and off ramps of the Loop 101. Drivers are encouraged to use alternative routes.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Thanksgiving leftovers can be just as traditional as the holiday’s main meal. But if you’ve also been traveling, you may want to be careful about what foods you try to bring home through airport security.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration has published a helpful list of what Thanksgiving foods are and aren’t allowed through in carry-on luggage.

Foods you can safely carry on the plane include meats like turkey, fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, stuffing, and even casseroles in a pan or dish.

But forbidden foods include gravy, canned goods, syrup and jelly. Homemade or canned cranberry sauce is also right out.

RELATED STORY | Winter storm meets Thanksgiving holiday travelers in Midwest and Northeast

Drinks like wine or sparking cider, and any other alcohol, are also not permitted.

Liquids in general are subject to the usual travel rules: The TSA says “Any food item larger than 3.4 ounces that can be spilled, spread, sprayed, pumped, or poured” must go in checked luggage.

TSA recommends keeping food items easily accessible and removing them ahead of time for separate screening, like you might do with a laptop.

The full list of travel-safe Thanksgiving foods is available on TSA’s website.

A senior Kremlin official confirmed Wednesday that U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit Moscow next week as efforts pick up speed to find a consensus on ending the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine.

But Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs adviser, insisted that Kremlin officials haven’t officially received the initial U.S. peace proposal, although they have acknowledged that they have seen a copy obtained through back channels. Representatives of the United States, Russia and Ukraine held talks earlier this week in the United Arab Emirates.

“Contact is ongoing, including via telephone, but no one has yet sat down at a roundtable and discussed this point by point. That hasn’t happened,” Ushakov told Russian state media.

Ukrainian officials didn’t confirm whether U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who in recent weeks has played a high-profile role in the peace efforts, would be in Kyiv in the coming days, as U.S. President Donald Trump indicated Tuesday.

Russia cautious on peace prospects

Trump’s plan for ending the war became public last week, setting off diplomatic maneuvering. The initial version appeared heavily slanted toward Russian demands for halting Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor.

After weekend talks in Geneva between U.S. and Ukrainian officials, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the plan could be “workable,” although key points remain unresolved. A Ukrainian official said Zelenskyy hoped to meet with Trump in the coming days.

Witkoff’s role in the peace efforts came under a renewed spotlight Tuesday when a report indicated that he coached Ushakov, the Putin aide, on how Russia’s leader should pitch Trump on the Ukraine peace plan.

Trump described Witkoff’s reported approach to the Russians in the call as “standard” negotiating procedure.

“He’s got to sell this to Ukraine. He’s got to sell Ukraine to Russia,” Trump told reporters Tuesday night. “That’s what a deal maker does.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that he “wouldn’t exaggerate (the) significance” of the leaked call, Russian state news outlet Tass reported.

However, “it’s clear that there will be a very large number of people in various countries, including the United States, who will try to disrupt these efforts toward peace,” Peskov said from Kyrgyzstan, where Putin traveled this week.

Asked whether a peace agreement is closer than ever, Peskov told reporters, “It’s a little too early to say that,” according to Tass.

Russian drones hit a Ukrainian university dorm

The southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia came under a large Russian drone attack overnight, damaging more than 50 residential buildings, including a university dormitory filled with people, the head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov, said Wednesday.

The attack wounded at least 19 people, he said.

Russian air defenses, meanwhile, downed 33 Ukrainian drones overnight over various Russian regions and the Black Sea, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Ukrainian forces struck a manufacturing plant in Cheboksary, western Russia, that produces equipment and components for cruise and ballistic missiles, Ukraine’s General Staff said Wednesday.

RELATED STORY | Trump eyes meeting with Putin, Zelenskyy as Russia-Ukraine peace talks progress

Europe wants to be heard

European countries, which are alarmed by Russia’s aggression and see their own future at stake in negotiations over Ukraine, are fighting to make their voices heard in the talks as Washington takes the lead.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Wednesday that Europe wants the war to end as quickly as possible.

“But an agreement negotiated by great powers without the approval of the Ukrainians and without the approval of the Europeans won’t be a basis for a real, sustainable peace in Ukraine,” Merz told lawmakers in Berlin. “Europe is not a plaything, but a sovereign actor for its own interests and values.”

The head of the European Union’s executive, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, was upbeat about recent developments, saying there is “an opportunity here to make real progress” toward peace.

She insisted that any settlement must include future security guarantees for Ukraine. At the same time, she said a deal can’t contain limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces or block its path to NATO membership. Those limits were part of the initial proposal.

“There can be no limitations on Ukraine’s armed forces that would leave the country vulnerable to future attacks,” she said during a speech at the European Parliament. “This is as much about deterrence as it is about Europe’s security, because Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security.”

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, expressed doubt about Russia’s willingness to engage in peace talks.

“Right now, we see zero indication that Russia is ready for a ceasefire. Russia is not winding down its military machine, but ramping it up,” Kallas said after a meeting of foreign ministers of the 27 EU nations in Brussels.

Additional pressure on Russia, such as more economic sanctions and seizing Moscow’s frozen assets, is needed to push Moscow to the negotiation table, she told a news conference: “We still need to get from a situation where Russia pretends to negotiate to a situation where they need to negotiate.”

A total of 37 infants have now been hospitalized amid an outbreak of infant botulism, a type of severe illness caused by botulinum toxin, federal health officials say.

Cases of infants with “suspected or confirmed” infant botulism have expanded to two more states, for a total of 17 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration said in updated advisories published Wednesday.

The total includes six new cases, up from the 31 included in the FDA’s and CDC’s previous updates on Nov. 20.

The outbreak now spans Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin, according to the CDC.

The FDA advisory stated that for the 36 cases with available onset information, illnesses started on dates ranging from Aug. 9, 2025, to Nov. 19, 2025.

FDA

“All 37 infants were hospitalized,” the advisory stated.

Of the 35 infants with age and sex information available, ages ranged from 16 to 264 days, and 15 are female, the FDA added.

According to the FDA, no deaths have been reported to date.

The infants who fell ill were all fed “various lots” of ByHeart Whole Nutrition powdered infant formula, the FDA said.

“Laboratory confirmation for some cases is ongoing,” the agency said.

The multistate outbreak investigation is being carried out by the FDA and CDC, in collaboration with the California Department of Public Health Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program and other state and local health authorities, the FDA advisory stated.

The agencies’ investigation into the outbreak ” is ongoing to determine the point of contamination,” the advisory said.

ByHeart first announced a voluntary recall of two batches of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula on Nov. 8, “following notification from the [FDA] of a broader ongoing investigation into a recent outbreak of infant botulism.”

On Nov. 11, the company said it was expanding its earlier recall to include all batches of its ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula cans and Anywhere Pack single-serve sticks nationwide.

ByHeart said in a Nov. 19 update shared on its website that recent testing showed some samples of ByHeart formula contained the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which can cause botulism.

“We tested 36 samples from three lots and, as shared on November 19th, we received positive test results for Clostridium botulinum Type A in five of the 36 samples across all three lots. Based on these results, we cannot rule out the risk that all ByHeart formula across all product lots may have been contaminated,” the company said in its latest statement.

“We want to reaffirm the critical direction for parents and caregivers to stop using ByHeart formula immediately,” the company added in part. “We continue to strongly recommend monitoring for symptoms of infant botulism and to contact a medical professional immediately if your child develops symptoms.”

ByHeart president and co-founder Mia Funt previously told ABC News in a statement that “the safety and well‑being of every infant who uses our formula is, and always will be, our highest priority.”

Clostridium botulinum bacteria can appear in food and produce the botulinum toxin that can result in botulism.

Botulism is a rare but serious illness. According to the CDC, the botulinum toxin can attack the nerves, leading to difficulty breathing, muscle weakness and paralysis, visual disturbances, trouble swallowing, speech issues and even death.

Infant botulism occurs when a baby swallows Clostridium botulinum spores, which can then grow in the gut and produce the botulinum toxin, the agency states.

According to the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, infant botulism can affect children under 12 months of age, “but most commonly those under 2 months of age.” It can occur after they eat foods such as honey that “contains spores of C. botulinum that germinate, colonize, and produce neurotoxin in the infant’s intestinal tract.”

“For this reason, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that honey not be given to children under 1 year of age,” the agency states. “Also, fruits and vegetables should be washed before being fed to infants.”

Symptoms of infant botulism can include poor feeding, constipation, pupils that are slow to react to light, drooping eyelids, fewer facial expressions than usual, low muscle tone or a weaker-than-normal cry.

“Seek immediate medical care if your infant has consumed ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula and has any of these symptoms: poor feeding; loss of head control; difficulty swallowing; decreased facial expression,” the CDC states.

ByHeart has advised anyone with recalled ByHeart infant formula cans to stop using the product and dispose of it, and to seek emergent medical care for any infant that may be exhibiting any symptoms related to infant botulism.

As of Nov. 24, ByHeart is also offering a full refund for all products purchased on its website on or after Aug. 1, 2025, a change from the company’s previous policy.

“This refund approach is guided by the most complete data available from FDA identifying the first infant in the outbreak on August 9, 2025, despite the initial notification to ByHeart on November 7, 2025,” the company said in its most recent update.

Parents can contact the company via phone at 866-201-9069 and visit the company’s website for refund process instructions.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump said Thursday evening that U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, one of the two West Virginia National members wounded in a “targeted shooting” near the White House on Wednesday, has died.

Trump made the announcement as he made calls to the U.S. military on Thanksgiving.

Calling her a “highly respected, young magnificent person,” Trump said, “She’s just passed away. She’s no longer with us. She’s looking down at us right now. Her parents are with her. It’s just happened.”

The other wounded National Guard member, Andrew Wolfe, 24, was in critical condition.

Earlier Thursday, federal officials revealed more details about the attack that left two National Guard members in critical condition in an apparent “targeted shooting” near the White House.

The shooting took place around 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday near the Farragut West Metro station.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor for the nation’s capital, Pirro said the suspect, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, allegedly drove cross-country from Washington state to target the guard members.

She said the suspect, an Afghan national, ambushed the guard members, opening fire with a .357 Smith & Wesson revolver.

“One guardsman is struck, goes down, and then the shooter leans over and strikes the guardsman again. Another guardsman is struck several times,” she said.

Other National Guard members quickly responded and helped subdue the suspected shooter after he was shot by a Guard member, she said.

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey went to D.C. Wednesday night and visited the Guard members in the hospital overnight, according to his office.

“I’m asking every West Virginian to pray for our two Guardsmen as their families, friends, and neighbors struggle with this unspeakable tragedy,” Morrisey said in a statement.

Morrisey did not provide any updates on their conditions. The governor also met with the president to discuss the investigation.

“These facts demand a comprehensive investigation so we can bring those responsible to justice. We will continue working closely with federal authorities to get clear answers,” Morrisey said.

Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, commander of the D.C. National Guard, was emotional as he talked about the struggles Beckstrom and Wolfe’s families were facing as other Americans celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday.

“Regardless of the outcome, we know that their lives, their family lot, their families, lives are all changed forever because one person decided to do this horrific and evil thing,” he said.

Pirro said that the suspect will be charged with several counts, including assault with intent to harm and criminal possession of a weapon. She noted that those charges could change depending on the fate of the wounded guard members.

The suspect’s motive is still unclear, according to officials, speaking at a news conference.

FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters the probe is “ongoing investigation of terrorism.”

Investigators searched the suspect’s Bellingham, Washington, home and interviewed tenants for more information, according to Patel. Patel also said interviews were taking place in San Diego, but declined to provide further details.

He noted that the FBI received confirmation from the Department of Defense and CIA “that the subject had a relationship in Afghanistan with partner forces.”

“We are fully investigating that aspect of his background as well, to include any known associates that are either overseas or here in the United States of America,” Patel said.

Lakanwal, who Pirro said had a wife and five children, came to the United States in 2021 under the Biden administration, Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement Wednesday evening.

He applied for asylum in 2024 and was granted that status in April of this year, under the Trump administration, according to three law enforcement sources.

“He previously worked with the USG, including CIA, as a member of a partner force in Kandahar that ended in 2021 following the withdrawal from Afghanistan,” CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement.

“[The suspect] would have been vetted against classified and unclassified holdings when he came here and as part of the asylum process,” said ABC News contributor John Cohen, former head of intelligence for the Department of Homeland Security and a former U.S. counterterrorism coordinator.

“He was actually granted asylum under the Trump administration … This does raise the question whether the administration is focusing enough on terrorism threats versus civil immigration enforcement.”

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are spending Thanksgiving at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and were not at the White House during the time of the incident.

Trump released a video statement Wednesday night calling the shooting an “act of hatred,” and ordering the reexamination of all Afghan immigrants admitted under the Biden administration.

He also ordered an additional 500 Guard troops to be deployed to D.C. Trump planned on making a traditional phone call to members of the military Thursday night, but it was not immediately known if he would speak to any National Guard members.

The National Guard was deployed to the nation’s capital as part of Trump’s federal takeover of the city and crime crackdown in August. According to the most recent update, there were 2,188 Guard personnel assigned to D.C.

On Tuesday, during the traditional turkey pardoning at the White House, Trump touted his administration’s takeover of D.C. streets. He said it was “one of our most unsafe places anywhere in the United States. It is now considered a totally safe city.”

“You could walk down any street in Washington and you’re going to be just fine. And I want to thank the National Guard. I want to thank you for the job you’ve done here is incredible,” Trump said at the event.

ABC News’ Ahmad Hemingway and Alex Presha contributed to this report.

PHOENIX — The parents of David Denogean and the community are preparing to honor the beloved track coach shot and killed on Black Friday three years ago. It’s a case ABC15 recently covered after learning new details about the investigation and potential suspect.

“I look at his picture every day, and I tell Frank, how could this have happened to us?” said David’s mom, Judy Denogean.

For the Denogean family, sometimes it’s still hard to believe what happened three years ago.

David Denogean was a beloved track coach at Camelback High School, but his life was cut short when he was shot and killed seemingly at random.

The shooting happened while David, 30, was walking his dog near 12th Street and Maryland Avenue on Black Friday in 2022.

“We’re not going away,” said David’s dad, Frank Denogean. “We’re very realistic that [regardless] of what happens from this point, David will never come back.”

This time of year is full of bittersweet emotions for the Denogeans. While they mourn the loss of David, the family also holds holiday events in his honor.

“You dread it, yeah, but we know it’s coming,” said Frank. “And we prepare for David, and his memory, and the vigil walk.”

In 2024, their other son, Daniel, welcomed a new baby boy on Black Friday.

ABC15’s interview this year comes just months after a new police report was released in David’s case, showing Phoenix detectives zeroed in on a suspect in the days and weeks following the 30-year-old’s death.

Police noticed similarities between David’s fatal shooting and another that happened less than 24 hours later at a north Phoenix gas station.

The shooter in that case, a now 32-year-old man who was arrested on scene and is now behind bars.

“I still feel bad for that individual, and all he was doing was putting gas in his truck,” said Frank. “All David was doing was walking his dog.”

Back in September, police told ABC15 that 32-year-old was still their only suspect, but they didn’t have enough evidence to move forward with potential charges in David’s death.

“We hope, I hope that David’s case continues to be forefront,” said Judy.

Ahead of this story, our team was told by police that David’s case is considered a cold case. An email from Phoenix Police said detectives are still following up on leads.

“That’s why we do all these activities for him, to keep him relevant, to keep people, reminding people about who David was,” said Judy.

The Denogeans now hold multiple events throughout the year for David, including a special vigil that’s set for this Saturday.

They are also now collecting toys for their annual toy drive and free Christmas party set for December 20.

“We’ve already gotten a lot of donations, so I have over 100 gifts already going,” said Judy.

They feel this year toys and even a meal may be needed now more than ever.

“We’re just kind of excited to see all this,” said Judy. “You know, because I know this year might be super hard for some parents.”

Finding the joy in giving back, even as they wait for answers.

“Just a time to reflect and enjoy, and be thankful for what we have,” said Frank.

PHOENIX — Governor Katie Hobbs announced on Nov. 24 the nomination of Debbie Johnston as the new director of the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS).

Johnston is a seasoned health care professional. She previously worked for the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA), where she focused on policy development and regulatory affairs.

In the announcement, Hobbs highlighted Johnston’s extensive experience and what she will bring to the role.

“[Johnston’s] longstanding relationships, strong leadership, and extensive experience with Arizona health care providers, especially our rural hospitals, will be assets to Arizonans and to the hundreds of thousands of health care providers that ADHS licenses,” Hobbs said in a statement.”

Read more of this story from the Business Journal.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has just over three weeks to release documents tied to the investigation of disgraced, late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

The deadline follows President Donald Trump signing a bipartisan bill into law that requires the DOJ to make the files public — despite months of calling the controversy a “Democratic hoax.”

RELATED STORY | These loopholes in the Epstein file law could block full release of records

Congress moved swiftly to pass the measure, which mandates the DOJ to provide all records, with redactions only if necessary. Under the law, each redaction must be accompanied by an explanation for why the information is withheld.

Bipartisan Concerns Over What Could Be Revealed
Members of Congress from both parties are voicing uncertainty about the potential fallout. FBI Director Kash Patel recently said the agency is reviewing what can be made public, but Rep. Thomas Massie criticized Patel’s comments as deflective.

Some Democratic sources allege the White House is engaged in a cover-up — claiming President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi are directing efforts to limit disclosure. The House Oversight Committee recently sent Bondi a letter reminding her of an existing subpoena that requires the DOJ to turn over unredacted Epstein files to the committee, including classified materials.

Grand Jury Testimony Dispute Resurfaces
The long-running battle over grand jury testimony in the case is also back in focus. Earlier this year, judges in New York and Florida ruled against releasing such testimony, saying the content was minimal and already included in other case files.

Now, in light of the new law, the DOJ is formally asking those judges to reconsider their rulings so the testimony can be included in the document release.

Victims and Maxwell to Weigh In

In a new court filing Tuesday night, a New York judge ordered convicted Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and his victims to submit letters by Dec. 3 outlining any concerns about the release — including requests for specific redactions. The judge emphasized the urgency of the process, given the 30-day deadline set by law.

The release of the Epstein files, including any grand jury testimony, is shaping up to be one of the most closely watched disclosures in recent years — with implications that could reach the highest levels of government.

PHOENIX — A battle is brewing over the name of Arizona’s newest political party, after the No Labels Party rebranded to the Arizona Independent Party.

Arizona’s Citizens Clean Elections Commission is questioning the legality of the name change and says it could confuse voters.

“What this means is that there will be a party that people will think is the same as being an independent,” said Tom Collins, the commission’s executive director. “That’s real confusion.”

The name change will take effect on December 1.

The Arizona Independent Party’s chair, former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson, told ABC15 he doesn’t think the name is confusing. The change is aimed at making it easier for independent candidates to run for office, he said.

“They’ve given special privileges to parties,” he said. “Parties have the ability to do a variety of things, but one of them is, it levels the playing field in terms of how many signatures people have to get.”

Democrats and Republicans only need to get 6,000 signatures – far fewer than independents, Johnson said.

“If you run as an independent or unaffiliated voter, you have to get 45,000,” he said. “Now, that’s intentional. They don’t want unaffiliated or independent voters to be able to run for office, and in fact, none do.”

The Clean Elections Commission asked Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, who approved the name change back in October, to reverse his decision.

But Fontes is holding firm on his decision, telling ABC15 he followed state law.

“At this time, our office is working with counties, the Governor’s Office, and Attorney General‘s office to determine how to implement the change from an administrative standpoint,” Fontes’ office said in a statement.

His office said it is working on how to change the state’s online voter registration system and paper forms “to make sure there’s no confusion” and other logistical issues.

Clean Elections Commission could sue

The Clean Elections Commission is meeting on Friday to determine if it will take legal action.

“We need to make sure that those voters who don’t want to be in a party don’t get confused and accidentally get affiliated with a party,” Collins said.

He told ABC15 that people registering to vote online could be confused if they see “Arizona Independent Party” in the drop-down menu.

“That is going to, without some clarification, cause a number of people to think, ‘I’m an independent. That’s what I want,” Collins said.

Johnson predicted most of Arizona’s independent voters won’t register with his party, adding that people will still have the “no party preference” option.

“What we’re trying to do is to give them a choice,” he said. “I don’t think that the choice is a bad choice. I don’t think it’s a confusing choice.”

Johnson said AIP has about 25 candidates interested in running, and at least five of them will fight any litigation brought against the name change.

“The system has been completely rigged against them, and we’re doing our best to try to change that,” he said.

PHOENIX — One Valley mother is pushing for answers and change following her daughter’s murder. Destiny McClain was shot and killed in Phoenix four years ago.

Now, as her family works to raise awareness, they are also giving back and hoping this journey leads them to the Capitol.

“I believe that what happens in the dark will eventually come to light,” said Brena Gilliam-Miller.

Even years after losing her daughter, Gilliam-Miller holds on to that faith.

“I’ve been very emotional lately because it’s coming up on her birthday, and I don’t have that closure,” said Gilliam-Miller.

In July 2021, the 23-year-old was shot and killed while ordering at a food truck near 17th Street and McDowell Road.

“So, for me, that’s hard enough just the fact that I don’t have her,” said Gilliam-Miller. “But to have no answers, not know who did this, it’s even harder. That makes it even more difficult.”

Police released this surveillance video of a vehicle of interest seen leaving the area after the early morning shooting. Four years later, the case is still unsolved.

This Friday would mark McClain’s golden birthday.

Since her death, the family started a non-profit in her honor, “Our Destiny Our Future Foundation.” This winter, they have organized multiple events in connection with the foundation.

“Friday is the birthday tattoo event, and then Saturday we’re doing a virtual vigil,” said Gilliam-Miller.

A portion of the proceeds from the flash tattoo fundraiser will go back to the non-profit.

The virtual vigil won’t include any type of live stream, but Gilliam-Miller hopes it can serve as a time to remember and honor her daughter.

“All we’re asking is wherever you are, your time zone at 7 p.m., light a candle, take a photo of it, and upload it to social media with the hashtag #JusticeforDestiny or a light.”

Earlier this year, a digital billboard with information on McClain’s case went up here in the Valley. But Gilliam-Miller said this virtual vigil also serves as another way to raise awareness.

“Because every person who shares the story is just one extra person is going to hear about it, and that could bring us closer to answers,” said Gilliam-Miller.

She is also hoping she can spark change in McClain’s honor legislatively. Recently, she started a petition and began talking to lawmakers about a potential bill to require front plates in Arizona.

A page on the Arizona Department of Transportation’s website said front plates stopped being required in the 1990s.

“I just got a photo of a vehicle, and I have no clue what model it is,” said Gilliam-Miller. “I just know what kind of what color it is. So a plate or some type of identification on that front could have given us a lead, and maybe we wouldn’t be here four years later.”

She said she feels called to push for this legislation and hopefully help other families.

Gilliam-Miller said she knows there will be people who disagree with her push.

“But at this point, it’s not about me,” said McClain’s mom. “It’s not about my case, because it can’t help my daughter at this point. I don’t want another mother to have to go through this.”

Gilliam-Miller said she has been talking with state lawmakers and is waiting for feedback after submitting a proposal. Her hope is for a potential bill to be introduced next session.

ABC15 reached out to Phoenix police, but our team was told there’s no update on the case.

Officers are encouraging anyone with information to reach out; those who want to remain anonymous can provide a tip through Silent Witness.

A judge on Wednesday dismissed the Georgia election interference case against President Donald Trump and others after the prosecutor who recently took over the case said he would not pursue the charges.

Pete Skandalakis, the executive director of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, took over the case last month from Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who was removed over an “appearance of impropriety” created by a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor she chose to lead the case.

The abandonment of the Georgia case is the latest reflection of how Trump has emerged largely unscathed from a spate of prosecutions that once threatened to imperil his political career and personal liberty.

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith, who had charged Trump with conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election and hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, dropped both cases after Trump won the White House last year. Smith cited longstanding Justice Department policy against the indictment of a sitting president.

And though Trump was convicted of felony charges in New York in connection with hush money payments during the 2016 election, he was sentenced in January to an unconditional discharge, leaving his conviction intact but sparing him any punishment.

It was unlikely that legal action against Trump could have moved forward while he is president. Fourteen other defendants still faced charges, including former New York mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.

RELATED STORY | Rudy Giuliani reaches settlement with Georgia election workers

Steve Sadow, Trump’s lead attorney in Georgia, applauded the case’s dismissal: “The political persecution of President Trump by disqualified DA Fani Willis is finally over. This case should never have been brought. A fair and impartial prosecutor has put an end to this lawfare.”

The Associated Press has reached out to a spokesperson for Willis seeking comment on the dismissal.

“The strongest and most prosecutable case against those seeking to overturn the 2020 Presidential election results and prevent the certification of those votes was the one investigated and indicted by Special Counsel Jack Smith,” Skandalakis wrote in his court filing Wednesday.

He added that the criminal conduct alleged in the Georgia indictment “was conceived in Washington, D.C., not the State of Georgia. The federal government is the appropriate venue for this prosecution, not the State of Georgia.”

After the Georgia Supreme Court in September declined to hear Willis’ appeal of her disqualification, it fell to the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council to find a new prosecutor. Skandalakis said last month that he reached out to several prosecutors, but they all declined to take the case. McAfee set a Nov. 14 deadline for the appointment of a new prosecutor, so Skandalakis chose to appoint himself rather than let the case be dismissed right away.

He said Willis’ office only recently delivered the case file — 101 boxes and an eight-terabyte hard drive — and he hadn’t had a chance to review everything yet. Citing the public’s “legitimate interest in the outcome of this case,” he said he wanted to assess the evidence and decide on appropriate next steps.

Skandalakis, who has led the small, nonpartisan council since 2018, said in a court filing last month that he will get no extra pay for the case but that Fulton County will reimburse expenses. He previously spent about 25 years as the elected Republican district attorney for the Coweta Judicial Circuit, southwest of Atlanta.

Willis announced the sprawling indictment against Trump and 18 others in August 2023, using the state’s anti-racketeering law to allege a wide-ranging conspiracy to illegally overturn Trump’s narrow loss to Democrat Joe Biden in Georgia.

Defense attorneys sought Willis’ removal after one revealed in January 2024 that Willis had a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she hired to lead the case. The defense attorneys alleged a conflict of interest and said Willis profited from the case when Wade used his earnings to pay for vacations the pair took.

During an extraordinary hearing the following month, Willis and Wade testified about the intimate details of their relationship. They said the romance didn’t begin until after Wade was hired and that they split the costs for vacations and other outings.

The judge rebuked Willis for a “tremendous lapse in judgment” but found no disqualifying conflict of interest, ruling she could stay on the case if Wade resigned, which he did hours later.

Defense attorneys appealed, and the Georgia Court of Appeals removed Willis from the case in December 2024, citing an “appearance of impropriety.” The state Supreme Court declined to hear Willis’ appeal.

The Trump administration’s move to no longer classify nursing as a professional degree has sparked concern for many who wonder what the change means for student loans and how they’ll be limited for future nurses.

Becoming a nurse isn’t easy, but for University of Utah Doctor of Nursing Practice graduate student Laura Linton, it’s a passion.

“I actually started out 20-something years ago as a nurse in labor and delivery, and I loved it,” Linton said Monday.

Now a graduate student, Linton went back to school to help make a difference in the nursing field. When she read that nursing would stop being considered a professional degree, her initial reaction was one of hurt.

“A stab in the heart,” she admitted. “I feel like for someone who loves the field, and I have other people medical in my family, I think nursing is a very caring profession.”

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Trump Administration details plans to further dismantle Department of Education

According to the Department of Education, borrowing will be capped for graduate programs and professional degrees come July 2026. The new change will eliminate the Grad Plus Loan program and limit federal graduate student loans to $20,500 per year, with a total cap of $100,000.

The department claimed that loan limits will drive down the cost of graduate programs and that most students borrow below the annual limit, and said it would not have an impact on undergraduate programs.

Dr. Melissa Hinton with the Association of Utah Nurse Practitioners believes the new limits could hurt the workforce.

“At this point, nurse practitioner school is close to $100,000. A nurse is usually over $50,000. Those numbers being so concrete, just completely says that nurses aren’t important,” said Hinton.

When it comes to affordability, Rieneke Holman, Associate Dean of Nursing at Weber State University, says the price of their nursing programs is within those proposed limits.

FROM THE ARCHIVES | Colorado Council of Black Nurses is helping to further ‘space nursing’ as a medical specialty

“We need people to go on and become nurse practitioners or nurse educators,” Holman said. “There’s so many different things in addition to bedside nursing that’s so important. All of those pieces are really important.”

For current students like Linton, she continues to work hard towards her degree.

“I think that nursing has worked hard to get the respect that it has,” she said. “I think that that’s kind of pulling away from that. That’s kind of a challenge for a lot of people.”

This story was originally published by Julia Sandor with the Scripps News Group in Salt Lake City.

President Donald Trump appears to have a health care plan — one he teased during the debates — but pushback from some Republican lawmakers has stalled its rollout.

Reports indicated the plan would be announced this week. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson was reportedly part of the opposition to Trump’s proposal, which included a two-year extension of certain Affordable Care Act tax credits. That same extension has been the focus of Democratic-led legislation on Capitol Hill, though efforts have not yet succeeded.

RELATED STORY | White House circulates a plan to extend Obamacare subsidies as Trump pledges health care fix

Currently, a petition in the House seeks to force a vote on the ACA tax credit extension. However, support within the Republican conference appears fractured.

“We need a longer-term plan because health care is unaffordable,” Nebraska Congressman Don Bacon told Scripps News. “I mean, the ACA keeps requiring more and more tax dollars to prop it up.”

Bacon said any extension should come with income caps and accountability for premium reductions.

“If we’re going to do an extension, we’re going to have to have some kind of income caps, I believe, and somebody to assure that every dollar spent on these premiums — or these tax credits — lowered premiums,” he said. “And right now about a third of that money is not.”

RELATED STORY |  Premium Pain: Why your health care monthly premium is going up & what you can do about it

Republican Congressman Mike Flood, who chairs the Republican Main Street Caucus, expressed support for Trump’s efforts to address the expiring ACA tax credits.

“Any effort to address this cliff needs to include income caps and make serious reforms to the credits, including addressing the rampant fraud and abuse in the program,” Flood said in a statement. “Our caucus is committed to working with President Trump, our House leadership, and the committees of jurisdiction to find a solution that can pass Congress before the end of the year.”

Democrats, meanwhile, will need to back any deal to pass legislation by year’s end.

PHOENIX — A Phoenix man experiencing homelessness discovered a lifeline when he was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer earlier this year, finding not just medical care but a path to sobriety and self-worth at Circle the City’s Medical Respite Center.

Todd B., who asked that his last name not be used, had been living on the streets for decades when he received the devastating health news in January. The cancer diagnosis came after he had already battled colon cancer, adding another layer of challenge to his already difficult circumstances.

“Drugs, alcohol, I couldn’t pay rent,” Todd said, explaining what initially led him to homelessness. “Even if I had the money to pay for rent, I probably would have went and bought something else.”

Now receiving care at Circle the City’s Medical Respite Center, Todd has access to meals, shelter, medical treatment, substance use intervention and behavioral health services. He credits the program with saving his life.

“I got emotions when I got sobriety, and that’s one of the biggest gifts that was given to me is being able to feel,” Todd said. “Coming in and accepting help from people was hard, and the fact that I had a hard time trusting people.”

Walking through the facility brings back memories of his journey. Todd acknowledges he still has flashbacks to when his struggles began, but now he’s on a different path.

Circle the City was founded in 2012 by Sister Adele O’Sullivan, who recognized a critical gap in Phoenix’s healthcare system for people experiencing homelessness.

“The biggest gap in Phoenix was there was no place for the sickest to go,” O’Sullivan said. “So, if you got out of the hospital with a fresh surgical wound, pulling an oxygen tank or unstable heart failure, whatever it was, there was nowhere for you to go but the street or shelter.”

The organization now operates two respite centers serving 100 patients, providing medical care combined with what O’Sullivan calls “added humanity.”

When asked about the key to helping people transform their lives, O’Sullivan pointed to her staff’s approach.

“What I’m most proud of is the compassion our staff really meet people where they are when they come in the door, wherever it is that they are that brought them here, they’ll meet them there,” she said.

For Todd, the transformation has been profound. The program has helped him develop something he hadn’t felt in years.

“The belief that I’m worth it, that pride when I do look in the mirror and say I’m proud of myself, I feel that, and I didn’t feel that for a long, long, long, long time,” Todd said.

SCOTTSDALE, AZ — A nurse pleaded not guilty Tuesday to allegations she illegally offered Botox and a weight-loss drug at a Scottsdale med spa without proper medical oversight.

Alexandria Blair Baggett, 25, of Scottsdale, is facing felony charges, including conspiracy, fraud and the unlawful practice of medicine.

An undercover agent with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, acting on a tip, visited Levy Aesthetics near Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard earlier this month, according to court records.

During the visit, prosecutors allege Baggett offered the agent Botox and a prescription weight-loss drug.

Prosecutors allege she was working at the medical clinic without a licensed Arizona doctor providing oversight.

Court records say Levy Aesthetics, based in Bellevue, Washington, was founded by Dr. Daniel Levy, who is licensed in that state. Prosecutors say he contracted with two registered nurses to open the Scottsdale location in Arizona in October 2025.

In a statement to ABC15, Phoenix attorney Flynn Carey, who represents Levy Aesthetics, said:

“Levy Aesthetics takes any concerns seriously and is appropriately evaluating the AG’s stated concerns. There is a time and place for a more fulsome comment, but now is not the time or place.”

Hector Diaz, an attorney who represents Baggett, declined to comment to ABC15.

In a statement, the AG’s office said unlicensed or improperly supervised nurses operating in med spas are a growing problem in Arizona.

“Before you receive injections, laser treatments, or other medical services, you should always confirm that your provider is properly licensed and in good standing. 

For nurses, the Arizona State Board of Nursing has an online tool where you can search by name and see license status and any Board actions. 

The Arizona Medical Board also has a portal where you can search to see if your doctor is appropriately licensed,” the statement said. 

The statement goes onto say:

“If you believe a nurse or other medical provider is unlicensed or has acted unsafely, you can file a complaint with the Arizona State Board of Nursing or the Arizona Medical Board at their respective websites. If you think you’ve been misled or harmed by a med spa’s deceptive or unfair practices, you can also file a complaint with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office using the online complaint forms at azag.gov.”

Email ABC15 Investigator Anne Ryman at anne.ryman@abc15.com, call her at 602-685-6345.

GLENDALE, AZ — An everyday moment of getting into a patrol car represents a milestone years in the making for Glendale Police Lieutenant Wade Kamman, who has returned to full-time duty after overcoming serious mental health challenges and life-threatening medical conditions.

“It feels amazing,” Kamman said. “It’s like I’ve gotten a new lease on life.”

Kamman’s journey began more than two years ago when the trauma of serious child abuse cases took a significant mental and physical toll on him.

“I was dealing with PTSD and depression,” Kamman said.

His life changed forever during a motorcycle training exercise while preparing to join the traffic unit.

“It sling-shotted me off of the high side, which is the right side of the bike,” Kamman said.

Dr. Anup Shah, an orthopedic surgeon at Banner University Medical Center, treated Kamman’s initial injuries.

“An ACL tear with a lateral bucket meniscus tear. His knee was locked; he couldn’t walk,” Shah said.

While at Banner University Hospital, after surgery to repair his leg, doctors discovered even more dangerous, life-threatening conditions hiding beneath the surface: multiple blood clots, pulmonary embolisms and a heart defect Kamman didn’t know he had.

“They were able to remove all these clots and really probably save his life, but it was the recognition and the combination of that skillset by the vascular surgeons to get this taken care of,” Shah said.

Any of these conditions could have ended Kamman’s career permanently. Instead, they became his motivation for a new life.

“You can choose to let it affect your life negatively and just focus on the bad, or you can choose the path where it can be one of the best things that ever happened in your life,” Kamman said.

Kamman spent years healing not just his leg, but his entire body and mind.

“I went from 440 or so pounds. I am now about 220 pounds. I literally cut myself in half,” Kamman said. “When I finally understood the importance of that mental health piece, like therapy and being able to talk about it with my peers and my family and being able to really seek that help, is when I really was able to get to a happier place.”

Kamman now leads the same traffic unit that almost ended his career just a couple of years ago.

“If I can do it and I can overcome my struggles, anybody can. It just takes that first step along that journey to really break through and become better,” Kamman said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The 17-year-old patient, clad in a light blue, patterned hospital gown and her pink and purple bonnet, sat in a hospital chair attached to wires and tubes, a butterfly sticker affixed to her face to connect one tube to her nose.

On Nov. 5, following two visits to the emergency room, medical professionals at Phoenix Children’s Hospital diagnosed the teenager, Aaliyah James, with hemolytic uremic syndrome resulting from the Shiga toxin, which originated from certain strains of E. coli, according to her mother, Tykeshia Thompson.

James underwent three blood transfusions and six rounds of dialysis, all because she visited the Arizona State Fair, according to Parker’s Promise, a nonprofit organization meant to support and “represent those affected by environmental pathogenic illness.”

On Thursday morning, James was discharged from the hospital after her condition improved. Thompson said that her daughter’s kidneys are still not functioning properly, but her creatinine levels are dropping, so doctors said it was safe to send her home.

“It’s not over,” Thompson said. “It’s going to take a minute for her body to actually get back to normal. It’s still an ongoing thing.”

Thompson credits support and prayers from family to get through the harrowing ordeal.

“She cried. She had to be sedated. She had to be held down for her IVs. She had to be held down for her feeding tube,” Thompson said of her daughter’s stay in the hospital. “It was very distressing on her. She’s getting tortured basically. I know they’re helping her, but in her mind that’s what it felt like.”

Mary McGonigle-Martin, vice president of Parker’s Promise, said the organization reached out to the family of another patient, a 16-year-old, who also fell ill not long after visiting the Arizona State Fair on Oct. 26.

McGonigle-Martin said that James is part of an outbreak that has affected nearly 200 people that Parker’s Promise has heard about so far.

“They were at the state fair,” McGonigle-Martin said, referring to the family of Aaliyah James. “So something is happening at the state fair.”

McGonigle-Martin had her own experience with hemolytic uremic syndrome when her young son was afflicted with the toxin in 2006.

“My son spent 56 days in the hospital, he was on a ventilator for nine days, he had acute pancreatitis, along with his kidneys, he had seizures,” McGonigle-Martin said. “It’s hard to believe by going and petting animals at a petting zoo, that could happen, and it does – every single year.”

The Arizona State Fair, which ran from Sept. 19 to Oct. 26 at the fairgrounds in Phoenix, sent a contact to Cronkite News on Tuesday, but failed to respond to multiple inquiries.

Who is this affecting? 

Shortly after she was admitted to the ICU, one of the doctors at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Arrowhead Campus in Glendale asked Thompson if she and her daughter had attended the Arizona State Fair. When Thompson confirmed that they had, the doctor told her she would receive a call from Maricopa County health officials.

James was not the first case they had seen, Thompson said.

“One of the ICU doctors actually told me a bunch of kiddos contracted the same exact strand as her,” Thompson said. “And they all went to the fair.”

In late October, multiple teenagers and children began appearing at emergency rooms around the state with severe symptoms that included bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps and vomiting. Doctors determined the children had been getting sick from a toxin called Shiga.

The Shiga toxin originates from certain strains of E. coli affected by the Shigella dysenteriae bacteriophage, a virus that infects and alters the genome of bacteria to replicate.

When an affected strain, known as a Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, also known as STEC, dies off, the Shiga toxin is released into the host’s body.

According to a 2023 study, Shiga toxin is responsible for 90% to 95% of hemolytic uremic syndrome cases, as seen in James.. Hemolytic uremic syndrome damages blood vessels in the kidneys, destroying red blood cells and threatening the kidneys and other organs, according to the Mayo Clinic’s website.

The “Maricopa County Department of Public Health, along with the Arizona Department of Health Services, is investigating a statewide increase in E. coli cases relative to historical trends during the month of October,” according to Courtney Kreuzwiesner, the preparedness communications supervisor at the Public Health office of Maricopa County, in a statement to Cronkite News.

On Nov. 13, the Arizona Department of Health Services alerted health care providers across the state to be wary. Kreuzwiesner said an investigation into E. coli is ongoing.

“ADHS issued a Healthcare Advisory related to a two-fold increase of E. coli,” said Juan Pablo Martin, ADHS media director, in a statement to Cronkite News. “There has also been an increase in hospitalizations involving (HUS).”

Two cases from Oct. 26

According to Parker’s Promise, the pair aren’t alone; the nonprofit has received reports of 186 cases as of Tuesday.

“There is an outbreak of STEC from the AZ State Fair and many children are hospitalized – we have heard of at least 186 cases,” according to a Facebook post by Parker’s Promise.

The Facebook post features two of 186 cases the organization said originated from the state fair. James first went to the emergency room on Halloween, and she was sent home. She returned to the ER the next day. On Nov. 2, she was transported to Phoenix Children’s Hospital. She had her third blood transfusion on Nov. 14 and a sixth round of dialysis on Nov. 15.

Another Facebook post said the 16-year-old was hospitalized for four days at Phoenix Children’s hospital in November. She had a much shorter stint in the hospital than James.

Health officials are investigating a ‘historical trend’

The correlation between the Arizona State Fair and an E. coli outbreak is under investigation; however, as of Wednesday, the Maricopa County Environmental Services Department hasn’t received confirmation that the two instances are linked to each other or the state fair, according to MaFernanda Pacheco, a communications officer for the department.

Although E. coli is found in people’s colons, the Shiga toxin is primarily native to cows, sheep and pigs, and contact with them can lead to harm, according to Dr. Jonathan Blum, an infectious disease doctor in Santa Clara.

“The amount of bacteria that are needed to cause an infection in a human with this particular strain is exceptionally small,” Blum said Thursday. “Even a really microscopic amount of bacteria can cause an infection.”

Blum advises people who visit petting zoos to properly sanitize by washing their hands and avoid touching their faces or mouths, and be especially careful of small children or those who don’t have the capacity to “manage hand hygiene.”

“Contact with animals does not require actually touching the animal. Contact with contaminated surfaces can also spread this infection,” Blum said. “Because the infectious dose is so small, very small amounts of fecal contamination on surfaces can lead to infection. When you were a kid, your parents probably told you to wash your hands before dinner. They were right.”

The Arizona State Fair advertised the access children have when they attend the petting zoo, according to the fair’s website. “Get up close and personal with furry and fuzzy friends. Snap a selfie with a sheep.”

Phoenix Children’s Hospital media relations specialist Grace Culqui said they cannot confirm any cases of STEC at their hospital.

“In the interest of patient privacy, we’re not able to release specific patient census data,” Culqui said in an email. “I believe your questions are better suited for the county health department.”

A Michelin star chef and restaurateur believes that shifting drinking habits among younger Americans is posing a “real existential threat” to the restaurant industry, where profits are often tied closely to alcohol sales.

David Chang, founder of the restaurant group Momofuku, appeared on a recent episode of the TBPN podcast and pointed to places like Los Angeles where he said younger people are “drinking much less” and it’s taking a toll on restaurants’ bottom lines.

“The crazy thing is kids just don’t drink anymore,” Chang said. “Like, kids start, when they start a tab — which is crazy to me — they close it out every time. What is going on?”

“It is hurting small businesses,” he added. “… If you look at … only the blended numbers for most restaurants or beverage sales, I think that it might look flat or down, but it’s actually I think way worse.”

RELATED STORY | How much alcohol do you drink? Why it’s important to answer honestly when the doctor asks

According to a Gallup poll conducting earlier this year, just 54% of U.S. adults reported they consume alcohol — the lowest percentage in the survey’s 90-year history. Among young adults surveyed, alcohol consumption has already been on the decline for the past decade, but the trend has accelerated in recent years, with the rate dropping from 59% in 2023 to 50% today.

Americans’ drinking habits are also continuing to shift as more people consider it to have a detrimental impact on their health. But after decades of relative steadiness, Gallup found that the proportion of U.S. adults who drink alcohol has fallen for three consecutive years.

“The continuation of these trends may hinge on whether recent pronouncements about drinking’s risks are the final word on the subject, similar to how the U.S. surgeon general’s warnings about tobacco in the 1960s marked the start of a long-term decline in smoking,” Gallup reported. “The trajectory of U.S. drinking could also depend on how much doctors, health authorities and policymakers reinforce the message that no amount of alcohol is risk-free.”