Arizona
$100,000 reward in Arizona wolf killing mystery
A protected Mexican gray wolf named Hope was found dead on November 7 near Flagstaff, Arizona, prompting a significant reward for information leading to a conviction over her killing.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Arizona Game and Fish Department announced a combined reward of $103,500 for details about her death.
Her killing has sparked outrage among wildlife advocates who see her as a critical messenger for Mexican gray wolf recovery efforts.
Mexican gray wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Killing a Mexican wolf is a serious federal offense that can result in substantial fines and potential imprisonment.
So far, details of the animal’s death have not been publicly released and an investigation is underway.
Newsweek contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via its website for comment.
gnagel/Getty
Having dispersed from the Tu Dil Hil pack in the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area, Hope had carved out a territory north of Interstate 40, an area outside the official wolf recovery zone. She had been seen traveling with another Mexican wolf in the area, according to a Fish and Wildlife Service statement.
Conservation experts viewed her presence as evidence that suitable wolf habitat extends beyond current designated regions.
“Hope was a sentient individual being and a messenger of the changes needed in the Mexican gray wolf recovery program,” Claire Musser, executive director at Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project, said in a statement.
Her territory challenged existing conservation boundaries and demonstrated the potential for wolf populations to naturally expand.
Wildlife advocates have questioned how the death could have occurred, as the animal would have been instantly recognizable as a wolf.
Cyndi Tuell from Western Watersheds Project said in a statement that Hope’s tracking collar was clearly visible, making it impossible for a shooter to mistake her for a coyote or claim an accidental killing.
“If someone killed Hope, the full weight of the federal and state law should be brought to bear against the person or persons who took her away from our human community which found inspiration and joy in her existence, and from the nonhuman community that depends upon top predators to bring balance to the landscape,” Tuell said.
Hope’s presence had garnered significant public support. In 2021, Flagstaff passed a resolution supporting Mexican gray wolf recovery, recognizing both the ecological importance and potential economic benefits of wolf-related tourism.
Scientists have recommended expanding wolf recovery plans to include additional subpopulations, particularly in the Grand Canyon ecoregion and southern Rockies. Hope’s journey represented an example of this potential.
Sandy Bahr from the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter demanded accountability. “If the investigation into Hope’s death reveals that a person killed her, we expect the Arizona Game and Fish Department to advocate for justice for Hope,” she said in a statement.
Taylor McKinnon of the Center for Biological Diversity added: “Hope embodied the dreams of many in Flagstaff, including the school children who named her. Her death is not just a loss for wildlife, but for our entire community.”
The fate of the other wolf, named as Mystery, which was traveling with Hope remains unknown, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.
Anyone with information about Hope’s death is urged to contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents in Pinetop, Arizona at (346) 254-0515.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about gray wolves? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
Arizona
Babies hospitalized with infant botulism linked to formula under recall in Arizona
PHOENIX (AP) – Federal and state health officials are investigating 13 cases in 10 states of infant botulism linked to baby formula that was being recalled, authorities said Saturday.
ByHeart Inc. agreed to begin recalling two lots of the company’s Whole Nutrition Infant Formula, the Food and Drug Administration said in a statement.
All 13 infants were hospitalized after consuming formula from two lots: 206VABP/251261P2 and 206VABP/251131P2.
The cases occurred in Arizona, California, Illinois, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas and Washington.
The formula can be purchased at Target, Amazon, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Albertsons, Walmart and more. For a full list of locations, click/tap here.
No deaths were reported. The FDA said it was investigating how the contamination happened and whether it affected any other products.
Available online and through major retailers, the product accounted for an estimated 1% of national formula sales, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People who bought the recalled formula should record the lot number if possible before throwing it out or returning it to where it was purchased, the CDC said in a statement.
They should use a dishwasher or hot, soapy water to clean items and surfaces that touched the formula. And they should seek medical care right away if an infant has consumed recalled formula and then had poor feeding, loss of head control, difficulty swallowing or decreased facial expression.
Infant botulism is caused by a bacterium that produces toxins in the large intestine.
Symptoms can take weeks to develop, so parents should keep vigilant, the CDC said.
A ByHeart spokesperson did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment Saturday.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Arizona
How Arizona Can Limit Kansas’ Rushing Attack
Arizona and Kansas are both vying for the sixth win of the season on Saturday, qualifying for a bowl game and showing improvement after missing out on the postseason in 2024.
The Wildcats would like to keep some momentum going after throttling Colorado last weekend. Earning bowl eligibility in front of a sold-out crowd for homecoming in Tucson is a perfect way to do so.
The Jayhawks took down Oklahoma State in their last outing, 38-21. Jalon Daniels has led the way for the Kansas offense all season long, throwing for 1,991 yards and a career-high 20 touchdowns. He’s also had just three interceptions this season.
While Daniels has plenty of big-play ability, he didn’t throw for at least 150 yards in each of the past two games. The Jayhawks instead have been finding more chunks on the ground.
The Arizona front seven hasn’t been pushed around this season, but they have run into issues against running quarterbacks and talented backfields, which Kansas has.
Kansas ran for 232 yards against the Cowboys, which isn’t all that impressive given what other teams have done to that defense this season. However, they leaned on the ground even while the game was close, possibly to try to develop that identity.
Devin Neal carried the running game for the Jayhawks last season, rushing for 1,266 yards and 16 touchdowns on 219 carries. With Neal off to the NFL, the ground attack has not been as explosive.
Daniel Hishaw Jr., who ran behind Neal last season, and Leshon Williams, an Iowa transfer, have combined for 754 yards and 10 touchdowns. Williams has cracked the 100-yard mark once this season, but that’s all for the backfield.
Despite the lack of overwhelming success, they still lean on it often. Kansas averages 4.5 yards per carry this season and continues to grind runs between the tackles and on outside zone. Both backs are a big part of that, but so is their quarterback.
Daniels has run for 271 yards and two scores this season. He’s very athletic and has decent speed and enough toughness to lean into a few hits.
Arizona’s struggles with dual-threat quarterbacks have been well-documented this season. Houston and BYU both gave them fits on the ground, allowing 490 rushing yards between the two games. Last week, they had success stopping Kaidon Salter outside the pocket, but Colorado also fell into an early hole and had to throw for the whole day.
The Wildcats allow 138.4 rushing yards per game, which ranks 55th nationally. It really has been a case of just a few games blowing that number up, but the Jayhawks can slow the game down and win on the edge if they find some running lanes early on.
An X-factor in this game for the Wildcats is Taye Brown. The inside linebacker has been great this season at reading and flowing instinctually into run fits against zone-schemed runs. Kansas does a lot of that, making him and fellow inside linebacker Max Harris crucial to the team’s success.
Brown is second on the team with 54 tackles this season, but is one of Arizona’s best run defenders. Defensive coordinator Danny Gonzales has also turned outside linebackers Chase Kennedy and Riley Wilson into more of an edge rushing duo, which will still be important this week, but they are the edge pieces that will have to stop the quick motion runs Kansas works on.
On the inside, Deshawn McKnight has been fantastic, and Leroy Palu has really stepped up in recent weeks. This game will be all about fits against a zone scheme, so they don’t necessarily need to be the ones in space making plays, but with all of the pre-snap motion the Jayhawks run, getting a good initial push to change the route of the play can be a big help.
Overall, this game could develop into a shootout with Noah Fifita and Daniels taking chances downfield and connecting, but there’s a way Kansas could control this game on the ground. Either way, it’s a big week for the Arizona defense to make a stand.
What do you think of Arizona’s game against Kansas? To let us know, just click the link to find us and be sure to give us a follow while you’re there.
Arizona
ASU, state of Arizona launch initiative to power up the public workforce
Arizona’s public employees keep the state moving — maintaining infrastructure, supporting families and serving communities.
Through a new initiative from Arizona State University and the state of Arizona, these employees have the opportunity to strengthen key skills and apply them in service to their communities.
This statewide initiative brings together a broad portfolio of professional learning offerings developed by ASU’s schools and colleges — spanning business, data analytics and visualization, collaboration, leadership and more — to meet the evolving needs of Arizona’s workforce.
Participating ASU schools and colleges
The collaboration was created in response to employee engagement survey feedback that professional learning and development ranked among employees’ top priorities. Data also showed that employer-paid certifications are among the most valued workplace benefits, evidence that continued learning builds both satisfaction and performance in the workplace.
Due to its strong alignment with the needs of Arizona state employees, the program reached capacity just two weeks after launch. More than 1,000 employees expressed interest, and 600 have already enrolled. Additional enrollment will be offered as more space or funding becomes available.
In collaboration with their supervisors, employees were able to choose what fits their goals, such as a short course to sharpen computer application skills or a longer certificate that builds leadership, data and technology expertise. Every option is flexible, practical and available to eligible employees at no cost.
“Arizona’s state employees are the heart of public service. This partnership invests in them — helping our workforce strengthen its skills, stay adaptable and continue delivering the best possible service to the people of Arizona,” Gov. Katie Hobbs said. “The incredible demand for the program shows how much state employees value high-quality professional development and the opportunity to earn a credential, which will generate a strong return on investment for the state.”
Preparing Arizona’s workforce for the future
Across industries, work is being reshaped by new technologies, automation and artificial intelligence.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2025 “Future of Jobs Report,” nearly 40% of job skills will change within the next five years, while more than 170 million new roles will emerge globally as others evolve or disappear.
Arizona’s public agencies are navigating that same transformation. The ASU-Arizona partnership provides a structured, accessible way for employees to build digital fluency, strengthen leadership and enhance problem-solving skills relevant to their roles in government.
ASU, ranked No. 1 in the nation for innovation by U.S. News & World Report for 11 consecutive years, already has supported more than 1 million learners worldwide through its continuing and professional learning programs.
A leader in workforce development, the newest Global Employability University Ranking and Survey, or GEURS, again ranked ASU second among public U.S. universities for employable graduates — ahead of UCLA, the University of Michigan and Purdue. That same expertise now supports Arizona’s public workforce, offering learning experiences that help employees meet today’s challenges while preparing for those ahead.
“As a lifelong Arizonan, I’ve seen firsthand the impact public employees have in every community across our state,” said Nancy Gonzales, executive vice president and university provost. “Arizona will continue to thrive thanks to programs like this one, which ensures that our public employees have opportunities to learn and grow throughout their careers. This partnership reflects ASU’s commitment to transforming the university experience into a lifelong relationship that empowers people at every stage of life.”
Practical learning with measurable value
Eligible employees were able to participate in one of two program types designed to meet different professional goals:
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Skills-based courses, focused primarily on digital and project management skills — including areas such as data analytics, agile project management and technology-enabled collaboration — many of which can be completed in eight hours or less.
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Career certificate programs, providing deeper study in leadership, strategic thinking and data-driven decision-making.
Each offering provides practical, job-relevant tools that employees can apply immediately in their work. Upon completion, participants earn a digital credential from ASU, which can be shared in professional portfolios or annual performance evaluations.
The partnership also includes up to eight keynote sessions throughout the year, led by ASU experts, on leadership, innovation and managing change — giving employees a chance to learn together and share ideas across agencies.
By connecting the state’s workforce goals with ASU’s learning resources, the collaboration strengthens leadership and innovation across public service and supports Arizona’s capacity to adapt, grow and shape what’s next.
Learn more
While the program is at capacity, eligible employees can visit hr.az.gov/asu-careercatalyst-program to explore available offerings and join an interest list.
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