Lottery mania gripped Arizona on Thursday as the rollover Powerball jackpot soared to $550 million and people rushed to buy tickets in the hope that the state would strike lucky twice in six months.
Already the second-largest Powerball jackpot in history, Lottery officials said that at the furious rate of buying seen earlier in the week, Saturday’s drawing could eclipse the $587.5 million of last November’s record payout, which was shared by a winner from Fountain Hills.

Officials found a 60-year-old Phoenix woman Wednesday after she was separated from her hiking party and was reported missing in the Havasupai Canyon area Tuesday, authorities said.
Judy Jones was found in an area known as Red Wall in Rattlesnake Canyon by Bureau of Indian Affair rangers about 9 a.m. Wednesday. Jones was conscious when she was found, said Gerald Blair, a spokesman for the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office.

Police are searching for a man who robbed a cellphone store in Scottsdale on Tuesday, authorities said.
The man entered Agile Wireless near Thomas and Hayden roads about 10:30 a.m. and pointed a handgun at an employee, according to the Scottsdale Police Department.

Temperatures in the Valley are expected to dip into the 90s heading into the weekend before creeping up again next week, according to the National Weather Service.
Wednesday should be the last day to see triple-digit temperatures until next week. The high is expected to be 100 degrees, while the low is expected to be 72, the Weather Service said.

A Marcos De Niza High School senior was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of possessing an improvised explosive device, authorities said.
Joshua Prater, 18, was taken into custody on suspicion of misconduct involving weapons and possessing a prohibited weapon and improvised explosive device, or IED, said Sgt. Mike Pooley, a spokesman for the Tempe Police Department.

A Valley Metro bus collided with several other vehicles on westbound Loop 202 near Stapley Drive in Mesa on Thursday morning, authorities said.
No one involved in the collision suffered life-threatening injuries, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

Interstate 40 is closed in both directions for more than 30 miles near Arizon 99 because there are wind gusts of up to 60 mph and a one-vehicle collision occurred Tuesday morning, authorities said.
Wind gusts of up to 60 mph hit Winslow on Tuesday morning, causing low visibility on the highway, the National Weather Service said.

Interstate 10 westbound has partially reopened after a FedEx semitruck reportedly rolled over at milepost 94 near Tonopah on Thursday morning, authorities said.
Lanes westbound were initially closed but one lane has been reopened, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

A man was arrested Monday on suspicion of murder after his wife and son were fatally stabbed on in what officials described as a domestic incident, authorities said.
Eugene Maraventano, 64, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of murder on Monday, said Lisa Kutis, a spokeswoman for the Goodyear Police Department.

A man was arrested on suspicion of murder on Monday after police sought him for questioning in a recent Maryvale homicide, authorities said.
Clint Eastwood Maez, 21, was booked into jail on suspicion of murder and an outstanding warrant. Maez was arrested near 40th Avenue and Granada Road, said Sgt. Steve Martos, a spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department.

A longtime Phoenix Parks and Recreation employee first accused of sexual misconduct with three underage boys 12 years ago was fired Thursday following his arrest over the weekend on suspicion of the acts.
Arthur Rey Juarez, 42, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of one count of sexual conduct with a minor, three counts of molestation of a child, two counts of sexual abuse and one count of attempt to commit molestation of a child, according to Phoenix police.

A man was killed after he drove his motorcycle off the road near Cactus and Cave Creek roads in Phoenix early Tuesday morning, authorities said.
The man, who was not wearing a helmet, died on scene, said Steve Martos, a spokesman for the Phoenix Police Department.

Authorities are searching for a man suspected of shooting and killing a woman in her home in Aguila Monday, authorities said.
Authorities believe Jose Zarate, 25, shot and killed the woman in her home at about 9:30 p.m. after they had an argument, according to the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Cooler weather and wind gusts highlight Phoenix’s forecast heading into a dry weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Highs of 86 degrees are expected Thursday and Friday with lows of 59 and 56 degrees, respectively, said Charlotte Dewey, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Cooler weather and wind gusts highlight Phoenix’s forecast heading into a dry weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Highs of 86 degrees are expected Thursday and Friday with lows of 59 and 56 degrees, respectively, said Charlotte Dewey, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

Deputies have cleared the area north of Mesa near Arizona 87 where they had found buried explosives.
The items appeared to have been buried for some time, according to Sgt. Brandon Jones, a spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office.

Phoenix might see rain as early as late Thursday evening with temperatures expected to drop into the low-60s Friday heading into the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Clear and sunny skies are expected Thursday with a high of 78 degrees and a low of 55 degrees, reminiscent of the weather seen on Wednesday, said Dan Leins, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service.