Arizona
Desmond Ridder trade grades: Who won Falcons-Cardinals deal including Rondale Moore?
Breaking down the Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins free agent signings
USA Today’s Lorenzo Reyes breaks down the biggest quarterback free agency moves.
The Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons reportedly pulled off a surprise trade on Thursday, agreeing to terms on a deal that sends quarterback Desmond Ridder to Arizona and wide receiver Rondale Moore to Atlanta.
So did the Cardinals or Falcons win the trade?
Check out these NFL trade grades for the deal involving Ridder, who is expected to be the backup quarterback in Arizona, and Moore, who gives Atlanta another receiving option for new quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Do writers like the deal better for Atlanta or for Arizona?
Ridder threw 12 touchdown passes and had 12 passes interceptions last season, throwing for 2,836 yards and completing 64.2% of his passes.
Moore had 40 receptions for 352 yards and one touchdown.
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CBS Sports: Falcons get an A in Desmond Ridder trade; Cardinals receive a C+
John Breech writes: “This isn’t a horrible trade for the Cardinals. They had a need at backup quarterback, and they filled that need by adding Ridder. Giving up Moore is somewhat of a surprise, especially since Arizona will likely be losing Marquise Brown in free agency. With both guys out, that means Arizona will be going into 2024 without two of their top-four receivers from last season. Before this trade, the Cardinals had Clayton Tune behind Kyler Murray on the depth chart, but now, that job will go to Ridder.”
Fansided: Cardinals earn a B for Desmond Ridder trade; Falcons land a B-
Mark Powell writes: “Frankly, it’s tough to pick out a winner here. Ridder started 17 games with the Falcons and performed well enough with a decent offense around him. He’ll be asked to do much more should Murray go down for a significant period of time. As for Moore, he’s just the cherry on top of what’s been a very successful offseason in Atlanta. The Falcons already boast a receiving corps with London and Darnell Mooney, who they signed this week alongside Cousins. Moore had 352 receiving yards last season but was also used as a rushing threat, which could be an intriguing motive for an Atlanta team that used Cordarrelle Patterson in a similar role for years.”
More: Arizona Cardinals trade WR Rondale Moore to Falcons for QB Desmond Ridder
Bleacher Report: Cardinals receive a B in Desmond Ridder trade; Falcons get a B-
Gary Davenport writes: “Essentially, this trade boils down to a swap of two players who have yet to meet expectations and who could potentially benefit from a change of scenery. Ridder is younger and a quarterback, though, so the Redbirds got the better of the deal — if only slightly.”
Walter Football: Falcons land a B+ for Desmond Ridder trade; Cardinals earn a B-
It writes: “Ridder was woeful last year. He’ll obviously make for a better backup, but I’m not even sure he can be an average backup. Perhaps the Cardinals believe they can develop him into being a solid No. 2 option behind Kyler Murray, but Arizona can’t count on winning many games if/when Murray gets hurt. The Cardinals, however, didn’t give up much, surrendering only Rondale Moore. The 24-year-old receiver has seen his receptions drop in each of the past three seasons, as he’s looking more and more like a second-round bust. However, the Falcons have a promising offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson, so perhaps Robinson can figure out a way to utilize Moore. I think Atlanta has more upside in this trade, but this is a swap that could very easily become insignificant for both parties.”
NFL mock draft: Arizona Cardinals pass on Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024 NFL Draft
Sportsnaut.com: Falcons get a B+ grade for Desmond Ridder trade; Cardinals receive a C+
Vincent Frank writes: “A rare player-for-player swap with no draft picks involved. After signing Kirk Cousins earlier in the offseason, the Falcons moved their incumbent QB to Arizona. A third-round pick of the Falcons back in 2022, Ridder will now serve as Kyler Murray’s backup. Meanwhile, Atlanta nabs another weapon for Cousins in the 5-foot-7 Moore. He failed to take off in three seasons with the Cardinals, but could fit this Atlanta offense to a T.”
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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Arizona
3 men sentenced in Arizona for multi-million dollar scam against Amazon
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Three Valley men have been sentenced for their roles in what prosecutors described as a “sophisticated fraud scheme” against an online shopping giant.
In a news release, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Mughith Faisal, 29, of Glendale, was sentenced on Feb. 5 to 18 months in prison. His brother, Basheer Faisal, 28, of Glendale, was also recently ordered to spend 18 months in prison.
The feds said a third defendant in the case, Abdullah Alwan, 28, of Surprise, was sentenced to six months in prison after the trio pleaded guilty to wire fraud.
Prosecutors said the three were also each ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution to Amazon.
According to federal officials, Alwan worked in Amazon’s logistics division and left the company in 2021 when he reportedly used his knowledge to manipulate rates for transportation deliveries assigned to Amazon’s third-party carriers.
The feds said Basheer and Mughith Faisal used “Blue Line Transport” to knowingly get to increased transport rates that Alwan would then input into Amazon’s system, ripping them off out of $4.5 million.
The FBI’s Phoenix Division helped in the investigation, which was then prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona.
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Arizona
Arizona Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for March 3, 2026
Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Tuesday, March 3, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers
07-21-53-54-62, Mega Ball: 16
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers
2-0-8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Fantasy 5 numbers
02-05-18-27-41
Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Triple Twist numbers
11-14-17-19-23-24
Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news and results
What time is the Powerball drawing?
Powerball drawings are at 7:59 p.m. Arizona time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
How much is a Powerball lottery ticket today?
In Arizona, Powerball tickets cost $2 per game, according to the Arizona Lottery.
How to play the Powerball
To play, select five numbers from 1 to 69 for the white balls, then select one number from 1 to 26 for the red Powerball.
You can choose your lucky numbers on a play slip or let the lottery terminal randomly pick your numbers.
To win, match one of the 9 Ways to Win:
- 5 white balls + 1 red Powerball = Grand prize.
- 5 white balls = $1 million.
- 4 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $50,000.
- 4 white balls = $100.
- 3 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $100.
- 3 white balls = $7.
- 2 white balls + 1 red Powerball = $7.
- 1 white ball + 1 red Powerball = $4.
- 1 red Powerball = $4.
There’s a chance to have your winnings increased two, three, four, five and 10 times through the Power Play for an additional $1 per play. Players can multiply non-jackpot wins up to 10 times when the jackpot is $150 million or less.
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All Arizona Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $100 and may redeem winnings up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Arizona Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket and a copy of a government-issued ID to P.O. Box 2913, Phoenix, AZ 85062.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID to any of these locations:
Phoenix Arizona Lottery Office: 4740 E. University Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4400. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Tucson Arizona Lottery Office: 2955 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85716, 520-628-5107. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Lottery Office: Terminal 4 Baggage Claim, 3400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4424. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.
Kingman Arizona Lottery Office: Inside Walmart, 3396 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ 86409, 928-753-8808. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://www.arizonalottery.com/.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arizona Republic editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Arizona
Autopsies show Arizona teens were both shot in the head while camping
Man arrested in connection to teens’ shooting deaths appears in court
Thomas Brown, who was arrested in connection to the shooting deaths of Evan Clark and Pandora Kjolsrud, appeared in court on Oct. 3, 2025.
A 17-year-old boy who was fatally shot while camping with a female classmate northeast of Phoenix died from gunshot wounds to the head, according to the first page of his autopsy report.
Evan Clark, 17, and Pandora Kjolsrud, 18, were camping just off State Route 87 near Mount Ord when the two were shot and killed. Investigators discovered their bodies, which had been moved into nearby brush to conceal them, on May 26, 2025.
The first page of Clark’s autopsy report, which The Arizona Republic obtained March 3, found that his death was a homicide with multiple gunshot wounds to the head. The first page of Kjolsrud’s autopsy report also ruled her death a homicide with her cause of death being gunshot wounds to the head and upper body.
Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office detectives ultimately arrested Thomas Brown, 31, of Chandler on Oct. 2, 2025, in connection with their deaths. Brown was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder and remained in jail on a $2 million cash-only bond.
Detectives found Brown’s DNA on gloves inside Clark’s SUV that had Kjolsrud’s blood on them as well, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Partial autopsy reports made available following legal fight
While The Republic has obtained the first pages of both Clark’s and Kjolsrud’s autopsy reports, the remaining pages appeared to remain sealed as of March 3 since Simone Kjolsrud, Pandora’s mother, petitioned to have the autopsy reports sealed or redacted. Simone Kjolsrud argued that various details about her daughter and aspects of her personal life, potentially included in such documents, should remain private and outweigh the public’s right to know.
A Sept. 25, 2025, motion that sought to block the report’s release argued the report could contain information law enforcement hasn’t yet shared and could impair the ongoing criminal investigation.
“Simone Kjolsrud fears that, if released, her daughter’s Medical Examiner’s Report may end up on the internet or be broadcast on the news, which would undoubtedly cause additional trauma and even jeopardize her constitutional right to justice in this case,” the motion stated.
Kjolsrud asked that Clark’s autopsy be sealed as well, arguing that it would likely contain details similar to her daughter’s.
Matthew Kelley, an attorney representing The Republic and other Arizona media outlets, previously objected to the autopsies being sealed and asked that the temporary protective order be vacated.
“To be sure, these killings are particularly traumatic for a surviving family member,” Kelley wrote in his objection. “But the pain felt by a family member cannot override the public’s right to inspect public records reflecting the performance of law enforcement and other public agencies entrusted with investigating such crimes. A veil of secrecy only raises unnecessary speculation about such public performance.”
It was not immediately clear whether Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Geoffrey Fish, who initially ordered the autopsies remain sealed as he reviewed their contents, would unseal additional pages in their entirety or with redactions.
Reach the reporter Perry Vandell at perry.vandell@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-2474. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @PerryVandell.
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